I am obsessed with books set in funeral homes. I worked at one back in the day while finishing my degree and it was the most fun job I've ever had. Seriously. I mean, sure, it's a little creepy when you're working late and everyone else has gone home for the night and you start thinking about all of the potential zombies downstairs in the cooler, but mostly it was just a riot. Who knew that funeral directors could be so much fun?? But anyway, I was super excited to read The House by the Cemetery not only because of the nostalgia, but also because it's compared to Six Feet Under in its blurb, which is one of the best TV shows ever.

And, well, it's definitely a quick and suspenseful read. I finished it in just over 24 hours and that's without even really trying. The “main character returns to the hometown that they swore they'd left for good” trope is one of my favorites, and I was immediately invested in finding out who had killed Gregory Gold. Most of the characters are completely unlikeable, but they're unlikeable in an entertaining (but exasperating) way. And, of course, the setting is great – a big creepy funeral home on the edge of a cemetery!

I did have two issues with this book, however, and the first is with the narrative. One minute you're reading from the perspective of one of the main characters, and then all of a sudden it shifts to the murderer's point of view, where attempts are made to conceal the sex and identity of the killer in a completely awkward way. It totally pulled me out of the story every time. And the bits from Fiona's point of view are grating – they're just so dramatically vague that I couldn't help but to roll my eyes whenever they popped up. Also, the dialogue is stilted at times – what exactly does the Gold family have against using contractions??

The other issue I had is that THE MAIN CHARACTERS DON'T ACTUALLY SOLVE THE MURDER. They're searching for clues and interrogating suspects and such, and then the murderer just kind of reveals him/herself in a dramatic way without Luke or River having ever really figured out anything on their own, other than that (view spoiler).

But still, The House by the Cemetery is a suspenseful and decently entertaining read despite its flaws. It's not an Agatha Christie-tier murder mystery, but it'll still keep you guessing right up until the end. And speaking of endings, this book definitely has a surprising one. I mean, I kind of expected the plot twist, but I expected it to happen much earlier in the story, not in the last couple of pages. I'm guessing that there's maybe a sequel in the works? If so, I'll be more than willing to give it a read when it's released.

My overall rating: 3.45 stars, rounded down.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Kensington for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is August 20, 2024.

If you love family drama with a thriller spin this is the one for you. The cast of characters was large....very large and this was a little confusing at first. The story itself quickly focused on a handful of the family members and following along became easier. The plot was fun in an almost spooky way and I think this would be the ideal spooky season read for readers who are not into true horror. The best part of the book for me was the ending. I absolutely loved it!

I really enjoyed the Gothic elements to this novel, it had everything that I wanted in this type of book. It uses the legend of a ghost perfectly and had that Gothic element in a way that I was hoping for. Lisa Childs has a great writing style and can’t wait for more from them.

Very fun and interesting read! I loved the family tree since there were so many characters and I had trouble remembering who was who!

A million thanks to Lisa Childs for including a family tree because I would have been so lost without it! The Gold family is a huge family, with many secrets and lots of drama, and I loved every second of it!
Gregory Gold runs Gold Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens, a funeral home and cemetery in Gold Creek, Michigan. He is the undertaker there and has earned himself quite the life. Then, he suddenly dies. Even at the age of 85, his family knows it's not due to natural causes. Someone is after the inheritance. Gregory's 3 wives, 5 children, 5 grandchildren,  and 2 great grandchildren all come together to grieve their family patriarch and also find out what happened. There are many secrets within this family, and when more Gold members start dying, it becomes obvious that someone is trying to their hardest to keep them hidden. And as if an unknown killer in the house isn't enough, the cemetery is home to the ghost of a past grave digger, one who still walks the cemetery at night, digging holes for his next victim.
I really enjoyed reading this book! There are quite a few characters to keep up with, but everyone plays their part by the end. No character is unnecessary. The extensive family just adds to the family drama, and boy is it great in this book! There are many suspenseful parts, many jaw-dropping parts, and the epilogue is as spine-chilling as it gets! 4.5 stars!
Thank you NetGalley, Kensington Publishing, and Lisa Childs for such a captivating read!

A mystery that keeps you guessing to the end. I am a fan of Lisa Childs . I enjoyed the main characters. I am hoping that this is the beginning of a series.

I always enjoy Lisa Childs books and this was no different. The storyline was interesting and the characters intriguing and in a way I was sorry to see the book end. Looking forward to her future books.

Lisa Childs is one of my go to authors because she always surprises me with her stories , plus when I read her I tend to get lost and just want to read . The atmosphere of the book was perfect for a day of reading under the covers on a cold day .

This was such a great and interesting book! There are twists and turns and lots of re herrings. This book has some humor. The characters are very interesting. The ending was a surprise. This is a great mystery and thriller. Lots of action. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley.