The epitome of southern gothic 🤌🏻

You’ve got ghost birds, insane family drama, a mystery, ghosts, hot new stranger and an ending that was perfection.

I loved the gothic vibes mixed with the southern small town drama, Hollis was a great FMC and going back in time when she touched a grave bird was my favorite - it almost reminded me of ghost whisperer, do y’all remember that show? Anyway, this was a very unique read and you should all check it out when it comes out next week!

🪶🪶🪶🪶/5

Thank you @readmirabooks and @danaelmendorf for the finished copy! PUB DATE: 7/1

This book is officially one of my go to books for recommending to people!! Holy wow was it good! The story goes at the perfect pace, not too slow and the ending doesn't feel rushed. You get such a unique concept with those that died but we're brought back seeing these "grave birds" which are essentially a ghost of persons regret in life thats not allowing them to fully move on. You also get to essentially experience the apocalypse unfold in this one town. There is murder, mystery and intrigue around every corner. If you want a more modern Gothic story that gives off the same vibes as Grandy Hendrix's The Southern Bookclub's Guide to Slaying Vampires, please read this book! I already wish I could reread it for the first time!!

Gravebirds is a spooky, twisty story that pulls you in from the first page. Dana Elmendorf blends creepy mystery with emotional depth in a way that’s both chilling and heartwarming.

Just when you think you know what's going on, the story takes another sharp turn. There are plenty of twists and surprises that keep you guessing until the very end.

If you like books with eerie settings, supernatural elements, and a strong emotional core, Gravebirds is a perfect read. It’s spooky, surprising, and full of heart.

Grave birds being manifestations of ghosts with unfinished business lead the main character through the mystery of what’s going on in Hawthorne.

Every time I thought I knew where the story was going you get a little bit more info that has you questioning it. It reminds me of clue with a southern twist. I was so immersed in the story my “just one more chapter” turned into finishing the whole book pretty quickly.

Louisa the cockatiel was also welcomed comic relief “Goddamn it, Hollis!”

“What is done in the dark always comes to light.”

Dana Elmendorf’s Grave Birds is a hauntingly poetic Southern Gothic murder mystery that blends the eerie with the elegant, the supernatural with the deeply personal. At its heart is Hollis Sutherland, a determined event planner on the brink of achieving her dreams—until fate, and a mysterious stranger, upend everything.

Hollis is weeks away from securing her late godfather’s mansion and landing the biggest gala event in Hawthorne, South Carolina. But when the enigmatic Cain Landry arrives in town and unexpectedly purchases the mansion out from under her, Hollis finds herself not only facing eviction but also caught in a storm of unsettling visions and long-buried secrets.

Hollis isn’t just any small-town heroine. After a near-death experience as a child—she was clinically dead for 32 minutes—she returned with a rare and haunting gift: the ability to see “Grave Birds,” spectral messengers tethered to the regrets of the dead. These ghostly creatures offer cryptic glimpses into unresolved tragedies, and Hollis is often the only one who can help them find peace. As more birds begin to appear, their messages grow darker and more urgent, all seemingly connected to Cain’s arrival and the secrets he and his godmother, Paloma, may be hiding.

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.



Elmendorf layers suspense, mystery, and a touch of romance as Hollis navigates her growing attraction to Cain—who is as charming as he is suspicious—while unraveling the town’s hidden past. The supernatural elements are woven seamlessly into the narrative, adding depth and intrigue without overwhelming the story’s emotional core.

The novel’s pacing is strong, with scattered pieces of a puzzle that lead to a satisfying and surprising conclusion. While some supernatural forces remain unexplained—particularly the nature of the town’s ominous natural disturbances—these ambiguities only add to the novel’s mystique and leave room for interpretation. Is Hollis more powerful than she realizes? And why have the spirits waited so long to speak?

Grave Birds is a compelling, well-crafted tale of grief, guilt, and redemption. With its evocative setting, memorable characters, and a mystery that keeps you guessing until the final pages, it’s a standout in the Southern Gothic genre. Elmendorf delivers a story that lingers like a whisper from the beyond—haunting, beautiful, and impossible to ignore.

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Special thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing, NetGalley and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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Wonderful title. Elmendorf never disappoints. I love the birds she uses in her title. This one had the perfect amount of twists and turns and what you thought wasn't what it was at all. A wonderful read and I can't wait to see what's next!

Thank you to NetGalley and HTP for the opportunity to read this eARC and give my honest thoughts!

First of all, let me say that this was absolutely a fast-paced and engaging plot! I loved the small Southern town setting and being from the South myself, I can definitely appreciate the subtleties represented here (neighbors disguising gossip as prayer requests, the obvious “old money” family and their connections being what gives them power, as well as the strong religious undertones that seem to be the foundation in any small Southern town).

What kind of threw me off is that this is listed more as a fantasy and in my opinion this would be better marketed as a Southern Gothic paranormal fantasy rather than a straight fantasy. The Southern Gothic vibes are dark and unsettling especially as you get farther into the story, and I really enjoyed the atmosphere of this book as I read it! The aspect of grave birds and seeing past memories of the deceased was a really interesting part of the plot, and I read this in a day and a night because once I started I couldn’t put it down!

If you like small Southern towns with big secrets, mysterious natural occurrences, themes of good vs. evil, and a mystery begging to be solved, then you should definitely pick this one up!

I had an excellent first experience with Dana Elmendorf's writing last year reading In The Hour Of Crows, which ment that I knew I HAD to add Grave Birds to my shelves as soon as I first heard about it. Then I read the blurb, and I became even more excited to read it... I'm always up for a dose of Southern gothic, and the premise of this book sounded SO good with the South Carolina setting, the grave birds and the hint at something supernatural going on in town. And what an absolutely fantastic and expertly crafted story it turned out to be!

Grave Birds is definitely one of those stories where it's best to go in blind and enjoy the journey the plot will take you on. Trust me, you reading experience will only be enhanced when you don't know the details about everything that is going on or just how far the supernatural will reach... Certain plot twists and reveals will work SO much better this way. Grave Birds turned out to be a fascinating mix of genres, blending Southern gothic with supernatural elements, ghosts, family drama, mystery and even a dose of romance. The supernatural also had a bit of a magical realism vibe, and it is what took the story to the next level for me... Although the resulting genre cocktail in general was simply splendid.

Like I said, I don't want to give away too much of the plot to avoid spoilers, but what I can say is that the writing itself was atmospheric, engaging and simply impossible to put down. There is just something about the way that Dana Elmendorf weaves together her stories that makes them irresistible, and she is a fantastic example of everything I love about the Southern gothic genre. I especially loved the whole idea behind the grave birds and the role they played in the plot; like I said before, this part of the story almost had that magical realism feel to it and it's what made the story stand out for me.

It isn't just about the grave birds and ghosts though, but also about the arrival of an outsider to town and the strange things that start happening afterwards. I'm not always fan of a religious angle or the supernatural, but somehow the way both elements are incorporated into the plot simply works here. The fact that you don't know exactly what is going on and if things are really supernatural or just nature taking revenge only enhances the gothic atmosphere... And then you have the multiple mysteries to solve of course, along with a dose of family drama and the budding romance.

We see everything happen through the eyes of Hollis Sutherland, who with her gift turned out to be the perfect character to lead you through this story. The grave bird moments will give you brief flashbacks to the past, and I loved what they added to the plot... The tone of the flashbacks only adding to the whole experience. I enjoyed getting to know Hollis better, and Cain himself is a fascinating character as well of course (mostly because he is so mysterious). Some of the other characters were easier to like than others, but then again this story wouldn't be the same without its villains.

I think it won't come as a surprise when I say that I ended up having a fantastic experience reading Grave Birds, and I won't be surprised if it ends up hanging out on the list of 2025 favorites. If you enjoy well written and atmospheric Southern gothic that blend different genres, I cannot recommend Grave Birds enough! This second book has only put Dana Elmendorf even firmer on my radar, and I already can't wait to see what this author will have in store for us in the future.

This book was full of surprises. I did think the book started out slow but gained momentum as the story goes on. It was certainly a twisted story that kept me engrossed to the end.

Thank you to Harper Collins/Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC of this book that has landed on my Favorites pile! This is my second book by this author, and I absolutely love the way she incorporates birds into the narrative. This story revolves around Hollis, who has an otherworldly connection to the deceased in the form of birds that remain at the site of the death and contain remnants of the person's memories. The birds told their tales to Hollis, and she was able to uncover the sordid past of her town. The birds were as integral to the story as were Hollis and Cain. I loved the way the birds were described, and that they were different for the different people they represented. I also enjoyed the way the author masked Cain's nature when he entered the town ... he was an unknown in a season of Revelations-type signs. The uncovered crimes were terrible on their own, but the way that they linked together was just evil. This is a story that stays with me, an intriguing Gothic tale with unique portents. This is an author to follow!

Title: Grave Birds  
Author: Dana Elmendorf
Genre: Fantasy   
Rating: 4 out of 5

Grave birds haunt the cemeteries of Hawthorne, South Carolina, where Spanish moss drips from the trees and Southern charm hides ugly lies. Hollis Sutherland never knew these unique birds existed, not until she died and was brought back to life. The ghostly birds are manifestations of the dead’s unfinished business, and they know Hollis and her uncanny gift can set them free.

When a mysterious bachelor wanders into the small town, bizarre events begin to plague its wealthiest citizens—blood drips from dogwood blossoms, flocks of birds crash into houses, fire tornadoes descend from the sky. Hollis knows these are the omens her grandfather warned about, announcing the devil’s return. But despite Cain Landry’s eerie presence and the plague that has followed him, his handsome face and wicked charm win over the townsfolk. Even Hollis falls under his spell as they grow closer.

That is, until lies about the town’s past start to surface. The grave birds begin to show Hollis the dead’s ugly deeds from some twenty-five years ago and the horrible things people did to gain their wealth. Hollis can’t decide if Cain is some immortal hand of God, there to expose their sins, or if he’s a devil there to ruin them all. Either way, she’s determined to save her town and the people in it, whatever it takes.

This was a fun, quirky book. I loved the setting and the characters. Hollis was a lot of fun, and Cain was interesting. The small-town life was portrayed well, with enough eccentricities to be believable. I really enjoyed Hollis’s greenhouse home. That was so unique to me! The one problem I had with this was how abruptly Hollis and Cain’s relationship went from antagonist to romantic, with almost no transition. Other than that, this was a solid read.

Dana Elmendorf is from Tennessee. Grave Birds is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Harlequin/MIRA in exchange for an honest review.)

(Blog link live 7/1).

Wow, wow, wow! This author knows the art of good, old-fashioned storytelling. She drew me in from the first page and I was constantly thinking about the book even when not listening. The characters feel like people you actually know; the author did an incredible job with creating the town and making you feel like you lived there, watching everything unfold. The main character, Hollis, is truly likable and I was invested in her story. The idea of “grave birds” is so unique, both frightening and beautiful. The mystery/plot was unpredictable, and I loved all the little twists bringing the puzzle pieces together.

Big five stars and will be recommending! Thanks for the opportunity to listen!

Who knew southern Gothic was a genre we all needed this summer. This book was eerie, creepy and quite a page turner. I really enjoyed the book very much and would recommend it to any reader looking for a page turner this summer. It would be perfect for all the summer Halloween reading challenges going on in July.

I loved this one. It’s everything I want in a Southern gothic—small town secrets, supernatural omens, and that eerie, decaying beauty that makes you feel like the past is breathing down your neck. The grave birds were such a haunting, original touch, and the mystery kept me hooked the whole way through.

Hollis is the kind of character I love—reluctantly brave with a foot in both worlds—and the story walks that perfect line between eerie and emotional. If you like ghost stories with roots, rot, and revelations, don’t skip this one.

🌟 ARC Review 🌟

𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵...

This book had me from the very start. The entire Southern Gothic premise of it was amazing right until the very end. Dana Elmendorf you did not disappoint on this book!

Grave Birds is an enchanting and captivating story diving deep into the South, right to its roots. Hollis Sutherland is a country girl who died at the age of 11... but was brought back to life. Ever since the accident, she has had the ability to see grave birds. They were once described to her as 'a kind of a representation- a manifestation- of the dead's unresolved issues.' Some of these birds she only sees in passing, but some have a tendency to follow her around until she is able to help make things right.

As Hollis is about ready to start her new business adventure however, things take an unexpected turn with a mystery man swooping into town and buying her dream property right out from under her. This new man in town, who could take your breath away, comes charging into her life... with a grave bird on his shoulder. As her plans spiral out of control, Hollis is faced with mysteries and murders revealed to her by grave birds that keep popping up. She is then forced to follow the leads and put the pieces together all while trying to start her new business.

This story had more unexpected twists and turns than the hairpin roads in a small backwater town. I was hooked by the concept and story right from the start. Dana Elmendorf is the QUEEN of Southern Gothic writing and I loved every page of this book. This is an instant favourite and a five star recommendation!

I remember getting an email about Elmendorf’s first adult book, In the Hour of Crows, last year and thinking, “I am going to hate read this book” because the MC’s name is fucking Weatherly and it’s a mashup of Appalachian and Southern Gothic which are two great tastes that very rarely taste great together unless Tananarive Due is casting spells on them (I’m listening to The Reformatory right now).

Well, I am here to tell you that sometimes, I am an asshole because it was really good. I read it in less than twenty-four hours and when I got an email about Elmendorf’s second adult book, I smashed “read it” so hard on NetGalley that I almost broke my finger. I devoured it in slightly over twenty four hours because I started it Wednesday and Thursday, I had an appointment and the kid had an appointment so I was forced to do actual… life (ew).

Grave Birds is fantastic and it is fantastic because it is dark without being macabre. The best way I can think of to describe it is: like an episode of one of the 80s nighttime soaps, Dallas or Dynasty, with a supernatural twist. And that is high praise from someone whose family pulled over to the side of the highway in their Dodge Caravan, plugged their tiny black and white portable TV into the cigarette lighter, and ran the car battery down to find out who shot JR when we didn’t get to my Grandfather’s house in time. I laughed a lot, I was horrified a lot, I thought I’d figured the surprise out at least five different times, and I really enjoyed following our heroine, Hollis, on her journey. I enjoyed that she wasn’t perfect, that she was trying real hard, and that she had her dream but knew when to say enough. I liked that her found family stuck with her, even when she was being weird, and, perhaps even more importantly, despite their being at different stages of life. And I liked that Cain liked her because she was weird. We weird girls could use a few more like him.

I also really enjoyed the horror element of Grave Birds. Big horror, splooshy horror, monsters… they’re effective and I love them. But the tiny, personal horror in this book was something special because it was personal and it was small and it was something that, because of those two defining characteristics, seemed so very possible, so very real. Something that could happen to anyone. Something that could surprise you one day and never let you go. And that is truly terrifying.

4.5 stars!

GRAVE BIRDS, by Dana Elmendorf, begins with Hollis--a woman who died as a young girl, and was brought back to life by a man she later called Uncle Royce. When she first sees a small bird tethered to the ground in a cemetery, Royce takes notice. Eventually, he explains that Grave Birds are left behind those that died who still had unfinished business, or something they wanted others to know about. Having a death experience himself, Royce believes that those who once "crossed over" and came back, are the only ones able to see these "in between" beings, and help them by listening to what they so desperately wanted to tell.

Along comes Cain, a very rich man, to Hollis's Southern town. Literally prophecies of biblical proportion begin to take place whenever the man is around: Locusts, fire from the sky, etc. Whatever is happening is ramping up the longer he stays. Is the man a devil, or is something else at work on this small town?

Overall, great characterization, fast paced novel without needless repetitions of each event, and a mystery with twists I didn't see coming. I always appreciate an author who can manage to do that, with all the "clues" in place.

Recommended.

*I received an e-ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are uniquely my own.*

“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.