“There are three things I’ve learned from the dead. One, they always have something to say. Two, you can almost guarantee what they’re going to show you won’t be pretty. And three, the dead don’t like being ignored.”

The set up to this story and the premise in general is a really unique and intriguing idea. I was drawn in right away but I do think the storytelling lacked what it needed to make this really good.

In general it felt a little disjointed and clunky. After the initial set up I got lost in a lot of the flashbacks and building of Hollis’ story. It wasn’t always clear when or why a flashback was being told and they were quite frequent making it difficult to keep track.

I also felt Hollis’ motivations didn’t make a lot of sense. She is very motivated from the start of the story to get her event planning business off the ground. That seems to be a major theme. However, as the story progresses and the plot mystery starts to unfold, she is very quick to make risky, career ending choices, and almost pushes aside her responsibilities to hunt down grave bird clues. For what and why? I’m still not really sure. My initial impression of the Grave Birds was that Hollis really felt this was a curse and she seems very unfamiliar with dealing with them at the start of the story. However, her actions make her out to be a regular Nancy Drew when it comes to town and Grave Bird business.

I finished this, not just because it was a NetGalley ARC, but because it had its moments of really beautiful prose, crazy happenings and some cleverness. Like Chapter 12!? It was so good. I also felt all the weird weather and ghostly events really added to the tension so well. The FMC is mostly likable, the MMC is intriguing in the best way. However, I really did feel a little lost and a little confused the whole time unfortunately.


Thank you NetGalley & HarperCollins for this ARC.

Grave Birds is an absolute must-read for anyone who craves a Southern Gothic tale with a delicious paranormal twist.

From the moment I started, I was utterly absorbed by Hollis Sutherland, who, after a childhood brush with death at age eleven, can now see "grave birds." And these aren't just any birds – they're manifestations of the dead's unfinished business, allowing Hollis to glimpse their past just by touching one. Talk about a unique superpower!

Hollis is in her twenties, trying to kickstart her event planning business, but then Cain Landry rolls into town, and suddenly her dreams are on hold as strange things start to happen. Hollis soon finds herself tangled in the dark, buried secrets of the illustrious Hawthorne family, and let me tell you, unravelling their ugly truth with Hollis and her grave birds was pure reading gold.

Hollis herself is the perfect blend of Southern charm and paranormal prowess – she's the hometown girl with a haunting secret, and I adored her! While Cain's character took a bit of a swerve that left me scratching my head (a personality change with no real explanation? Odd!), the side characters shine, especially Hollis's grandmother, who is just fantastic. And the Hawthorne family? Oh, they're the kind of wealthy, seemingly perfect family you just know are hiding something sinister beneath their polished surface.

Elmendorf weaves in ghostly moments that amp up the haunting atmosphere, making the mystery unfold beautifully. I literally flew through this book in one sitting, completely captivated by the mix of Southern charm, paranormal elements, a touch of romance, and a gripping mystery.
If you're looking for a book that checks all these boxes, seriously, pick up Grave Birds. It's a hauntingly good time! 🐦👻

I jumped at the opportunity to read Dana Elmendorf's latest book, as I had loved In the Hour of Crows. Set in a small South Carolina town, where religion is the beating heart of the community, we meet Hollis Sutherland, a young woman forever marked by having been clinically dead for 32 minutes. Since the accident at age 11, she sees grave birds tethered to the ground in cemeteries and unmarked graves. Each bird is "the manifestation of the dead's unresolved issues." In many small towns, powerful families have dark secrets to protect, and Hawthorne's founding family has a past darker than most. The deadly combination of religion, power, and wealth ensnares Hollis, as she cannot avoid the grave birds determined to get her attention. I loved the combination of Southern Gothic atmosphere with unexplained natural disasters that hint at Biblical-like retribution. Juxtaposed to the eerie visions of violence and murder is Hollis's wonderful relationship with her grandmother. It was a welcome respite from the feeling of impending doom. Having lived in a small town, I easily identified with the community. (I think I've met a few of these characters.) I highly recommend Grave Birds for readers who enjoy Southern fiction with more than a touch of paranormal activity.

This is Southern Gothic done with reverence: ancestral guilt, spiritual reckonings, divine ambiguity, and the slow, agonizing burn of secrets left too long in the dark and it was so fun to unravel!

Hollis Sutherland died when she was nine. And then she came back—dragging with her the ability to see ghostly birds that circle the grieving and the guilty alike. In small-town South Carolina, this sort of “gift” is more curse than curiosity. When Cain Landry, brooding and beautiful, shows up amidst a flurry of supernatural signs, Hollis is forced to unravel generations of buried secrets, spiritual trauma, and possibly her own damnation.

It’s Practical Magic meets The Sixth Sense, with the moss-draped mysticism of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil and a whisper of YA-esque angst—even though it leans solidly into adult themes.

Elmendorf’s prose sings like cicadas at dusk, thick, humming, and utterly Southern and I loved every sweltering moment of it! The town of Hawthorne is rendered with such textural richness that it becomes a character in and of itself: full of whispering woods, church pews with creaking secrets, and heat so dense it sticks to your ribs.

The Grave Birds are spectral birds that act as psychopomps, omens, and emotional barometers. It’s a deeply symbolic construct that conjures shades of death, memory, and the unbearable weight of witnessing. Think Edgar Allan Poe’s raven meets the Morrigan’s crows with a Southern spin.

Hollis herself was a fantastic protagonist. She’s flawed, self-aware, and emotionally raw but she’s also grounded, stubborn, and tired of being a haunted woman in a town full of buried truths. Her complexity elevates the story.

We have death and resurrection, faith vs. fear, and inheritance of grief. The pacing meanders at times but it’s like picking up breadcrumbs that lead you to a grand revelation.

This is an intoxicating blend of myth, mystery, and mourning wrapped up in a Southern Gothic with contemporary teeth and emotional resonance. A ghost story not about the dead, but the living who keep death close. Highly recommend!

Haunting and atmospheric. This is a southern gothic mystery touched by the paranormal.

This is magical realism exactly how I like it — atmospheric, slightly spooky, but not too scary to keep you up at night.

Hollis Sutherland is a small town girl, but she’s been touched by death. Ever since a traumatic car accident, she can see grave birds that are invisible to others. When she touches one, she’s catapulted into the mind of the deceased, their memories shattering her waking consciousness.

🕯️Haunting and atmospheric, I could see the vivid scenes and the ghostly charm in my mind’s eye.

🎧 Brittany Pressley brings the voice of Hollis Sutherland to life in this cozy horror murder mystery! I recommend the audio format, although both work.

🐦‍⬛ I had high hopes for this one as I loved In the Hour of Crows and I would say that if you liked that one, you’ll also enjoy this one. The vibes are on point.

🪶 Get your copy preordered — this releases July 1st.

Thank you to @danaelmendorf and @readmirabooks for the review copy!

This is an eerie mystery/thriller with a supernatural flare. And I gotta say, those supernatural elements were on point.

Dana sets the vibe for her novel straight away-presenting us with information to explain Hollis’ ability to connect with the dead. Not everyone can do it, and those who can take on a calling they can’t ignore. This acknowledgement quickly bleeds into the present-surrounding Hollis’ life with mystery and intrigue, but also a splash of danger. She not only has to follow the clues that these grave birds are giving her, but they seem to be leading her to the one family that could ruin everything she has built-the Hawthorne family. How can she possibly take on a monolith that has its grip firmly around their small town?

Not only that, but the author throws yet another curveball at Hollis-Cain Landry, the new owner of her uncle house. Cain is surrounded by an air of mystery that may, or may not, have anything to do with the act-of-God weather that soon rains down on the town. It’s unsettling and creates a tension that continues throughout the book. And the more you, the reader, finds out about Cain, and the Hawthornes, the more the author pulls you into the stories Hollis uncovers through the grave birds-leading to the deepest secrets breaking through the surface-like a plant desperate for the sun.

Dana does a splendid job creating an engaging story with a gothic vibe. It lures you in, and keeps you invested until the very end. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25

I was initially drawn to Grave Birds for its promise of gothic atmosphere and magical realism, but I found myself struggling to stay engaged with the novel. Some of the subplots, while clearly intended to add depth to Hollis’s character, felt more distracting than enriching. The overall tone also leaned a bit YA for my taste, which made it harder to fully connect.

Hoping a different format would help, I turned to the audiobook, and I’m so glad I did. Brittany Pressley is a phenomenal narrator, and her performance elevated the material in all the right ways. Her voice is warm and immersive, and her ability to shift accents without sounding forced is genuinely impressive.

While the story didn’t quite work for me, I would still recommend Grave Birds to fans of romantic, gothic tales with a touch of magical realism. If you enjoy audiobooks, Pressley’s narration makes this one worth a listen.

Thank you to Dana Elmendorf, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and NetGalley for sending me the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

LOVED this one! As previously mentioned, In the Hour of Crows by @danaelmendorf was one of my favorite reads in 2024, and I'm now adding Grave Birds to my top 25 of 2025 even though we're only halfway through the year. I think more attention needs to be given to this amazing author! Dana does southern gothic so well. The atmospheric vibes, magical realism, and mystery surrounding the story were 🤌🏻 I enjoyed the grave birds giving hints to the overall mystery and trying to piece things together. I see Dana's growth as a writer as there was no sophomore slump here! I can't wait for her next book!

This was a really cool read! I liked the premise and the plot. This is a great spooky and morbid read for anyone who is into that or wants to expand their reading horizons.

I didn’t know I needed Southern Gothic in my life, but here we are! I need more of this, please.

The grave birds concept was actually pretty cool and felt unique. After death, a bird is tethered to the sight. Hollis is able to see moments of regret from the dearly departed. This is her gift, after she herself died at the age of 11 and came back to life.

The mystery was interesting and kept trying to piece it all together. There were some creep factors throne in too, where I had some goosebumps of my own! There is a bit of romance.

Thank you netgalley and HTP for the earc.

The best way to describe this book in two words? "cozy horror". It gave murder mystery, family secrets. I loved the nods to the south, and her description teleported me. The concept of the gravebirds, their meaning and who can see them. As they are manifestations of unsettled spirits. I wish there would have been more Cain, amd a little more spark, as he is the book boyfriend everyone will be wanting 😉. It ended with a twist, I definietly did not see coming (and I had 2 different versions of the ending while reading it). The writing is smooth, easy to read, and you shouldn't miss adding this to your TBR.

I am obsessed with every single part of this book- from the prose and wonderful writing to the storyline and atmospheric setting to the main characters and every supporting member. It felt like I was thrust head first into this world and got to witness evening play out real time.

This book has such an original and interesting premise. I enjoyed how the mystery gradually unfolded throughout the story. The ties to religion were a bit much for me, but that is just my personal preference. Thanks to Harlequin Trade publishing and NetGalley for providing an ARC.

I loved Dana Elmendorf's In the Hour of Crows so was so excited to read this one.. I tried, I really did but I had to dnf it at 35%. There were so many incomplete sentences that started with And and But. This doesn't usually phase me if I'm engaged with the characters but it stood out so much that it really interrupted the flow of the story There's also an overabundance of colons used in the story. I don't think I've ever seen so many colons used in so few pages ever. That also didn't help with thw flow, I was rereading sentences left and right. The main character also just KNEW the mysterious guy's name out of nowhere when it had never been mentioned. I wasn't invested in the character's story and after reading for 3 weeks and only getting 35% in, I had to call it quits.

I may literally be the only person who could not get into this book, but for some reason I just couldn't find my way into the story - despite a fabulous opening, marvelous cover, and compelling concept. I found the writing to be uneven, and think that's why. I would be clicking along, thoroughly engaged and curious, and then hit a section that felt completely different in tone and tenor. This repeated for me and I kept struggling to stay with the characters, but the Cain Landry-plague stuff just kept losing me.

I also struggled with the eponymous grave birds' revelations. The first few were very oblique and confusing, then they started to turn into straightforward hints about what was to come, then they became more oblique again. What should have been intriguing just felt like obfuscating. That may have been the point, but I just kept getting pulled out and then shoved back in and finally found it to be too much.

This one wasn't a good fit for me, despite it's fabulous bones. Nearly everyone else loves it, so I'm definitely the outlier here...

When Hollis was young she died drowning for 30 minutes until her uncle brought her back. Since then she sees the grave birds of people who have died as well as their ghosts, and has to help them. Trying to launch her event planning business and purchase her uncles mansion while bidding for the prestigious Hawthorne gala , it’s sold not to her, but mysterious newcomer Cain Landry.
Southern gothic at its finest, with ghosts and magic realism, all three being the perfect combination. I hated for this book to end, and to leave the characters of Hollis and Cain. These characters would be prefect as the start of a new series where they solve other murders and mysteries together. I love the authors style of writing, she can really spin a tale full of suspense and magic. If you like Sarah Addison Allen and Alice Hoffman, you will love this book as well.

Grave Birds is exactly what I needed for my soul, a southern gothic with a little romance thrown in the mix! After feeling in a literary rut of books with the same plots and premise Dana Elmendorf finally gives readers a fresh taste of something new. Did I read this book in a matter of two days, absolutely, and I regret nothing! A must add to book lists for 2025!

Dana Elmendorf’s writing is so beautifully atmospheric and just the perfect amount of spooky that it’s like a chilly hug. I’m hereby creating a new subgenre: cozy horror. This subgenre is perfect for people wanting to try horror but don’t want to be so scared that they’ll be having nightmares for weeks.
I loved the author’s previous book, In the Hour of Crows, so I’ve been so excited for her next one. And it did not disappoint! I had so much fun reading this. I loved the paranormal aspects in the book, and the bit of romance that was snuck in (Cain Landry was so dreamy to me!). But the added mystery really puts the icing on the cake. I’m usually able to guess the twists in books, but this one threw me for a complete surprise!
I honestly loved this one as much as In the Hour of Crows, and I can’t wait til the audio comes out, because Brittany Pressley is narrating it!

𝑾𝒉𝒐 𝑰'𝒅 𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒐:
Anyone wanting to dip their toes in the horror genre; lovers of mysteries, the paranormal, and atmospheric writing; and those that loved In the Hour of Crows!

When Hollis Sutherland died at the age of eleven and was brought back to life, she returned with the ability to see grave birds. The birds are manifestations of the dead's unfinished business, and Hollis can glimpse the deceased person's past just by touching one of the grave birds. Now, in her twenties, she's trying to get her event planning business off of the ground by hosting an event for the illustrious Hawthorne family. But when a mysterious stranger, Cain Landry, arrives in town, Hollis' business dreams are crushed and strange things start to happen. Hollis finds herself caught up in the dead's past, as she starts to learn that everything isn't what it seems when it comes to the Hawthorne family.

Do you ever read a book and feel like it was written just for you? That's exactly how I felt reading Grave Birds!! This book had everything I want when it comes to a Southern gothic novel. The idea of the grave birds, and Hollis' ability to see them and help find peace for those who died, had me completely absorbed. I also loved that Elmendorf included ghostly moments in the story, that added to the haunting atmosphere of the book.

I really liked Hollis' character. She was the perfect Southern hometown girl, with a twist of the paranormal. I didn't feel like Cain's character was as well-developed as Hollis' character. He had a complete personality change in the book, with no real explanation, and I found it to be somewhat of an odd moment for his character. There are some great side characters, my favorite being Hollis' grandmother. And the Hawthorne's made for a great wealthy family, that you question from the start, and feel like there is more below the surface of what they present to the townspeople.

I enjoyed watching the mystery in the story unfold, and Hollis being able to use her ability to connect with the grave birds to unravel the ugly truth of the past. It offers peace for those that have been wronged over the years, and helps Hollis find her own personal peace, after the tragedy she experienced when she died.

I flew through Grave Birds, and read it in one sitting! If you love Southern settings, with a mix of religion, paranormal, romance, and mystery, then I would definitely recommend Grave Birds.

With Grave Birds, Dana has been solidified in my mind as one of the great Southern Gothic writers. This eerie tale of a town with its rich citizens, the Hawthorns, and secrets long buried coming to light and a mysterious stranger (Cain) that seems to have brought apocalyptic plague elements with him.. It's sure to spook and thrill readers.

The concept of grave birds is fascinating here. They are meant to be "unfinished business" signs from those that have passed and to give our FMC, Hollis, this ability because she died for a few minutes at a young age was brilliant. We get to see the past through these birds and they help Hollis discover what she needs to take the Hawthorns down. Cain is this just unknown, puzzling MMC who you don't trust until you do. All the paranormal aspects were just top notch and I had to just stay with this book until I had devoured it all!