There are a lot of things that I loved about this book, as well as a few that I didn’t. Cemeteries are beautiful if lonely and sad places. Their allure is balanced by the loss they represent. Enriquez has the gift of making you feel like you’re there with her, walking among the graves in the world’s most beautiful cemeteries. She visits graveyards in Europe, America, and even in Australia. She also combines a bit of memoir and travelogue, reminiscing about the moments in her life and what each visit represented, including the people she met and her own impressions. She adds historical facts and information about the artistic movements in each location. It took me a while to read because I had to keep looking up photographs on the internet. I wish there were more pictures, especially her own. All that said, the book is also a little too long. There are only so many ways to describe funerary sculptures, and sometimes the historical part is too detailed for what I was looking for. Other than that, I enjoyed this read. I share with Enriquez a love of cemeteries, and she can make her visits seem lovely and relaxing, but also super-creepy. Megan McDowell’s translation is great, because I could almost hear what the author was saying in her original Spanish (also my mother tongue), in a beautiful, evocative English version. This is not a guide book, you won’t find any practical information to organize a trip. It is also not religious nor political. It is like visiting cemeteries in a dream.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Random House | Hogarth.

It was creepy, it was perfect and it was written so so well! It was a good story. I would recommend this to my fellow creepy story lovers.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this eARC!
This was such a unique approach to a nonfiction, and it had Mariana Enriquez written (pun?) all over it.
Overall, it was interesting and the writing/translation was good, but I found my attention waning while I read through it.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book before its release. Enriquez is an incredibly gifted writer, and their newest book fits right in with their powerful body of work. Somebody is Walking on Your Grave is, to me, a unique approach to nonfiction for lovers of cemeteries and their many inhabitants. I’d love to see more work like this from Mariana.

Reading Somebody Is Walking on Your Grave is absolutely surreal. This travelogue...grave-alog feels like being personally invited into Mariana Enriquez’s darkly creative mind. This is a true work of art encompassing the social and the political as
Enriquez's essay center around a cemeteries around the world including : Havana, Prague, New Orleans, Buenos Aires, Broome, and beyond. But this isn’t just a history tour or travelogue in any traditional sense. It’s more like wandering through the ruins of colonialism with a flashlight. Enriquez, a goth flâneuse, as she puts it, is a walker, a watcher, and someone who finds meaning in mausoleums, and she whispers her secrets through your travels...

Enriquez doesn’t romanticize the dead; she interrogates them. She’s a woman from Argentina who knows the long shadow of the dictatorship, who knows what it means for the dead to stay unnamed, for bodies to vanish without rites or remembrance. When she describes a funeral for a mother who had been missing since 1976, a woman “disappeared” by the regime, you feel the reverence in every word. The grave becomes not just a resting place but an act of political defiance.

Then, she’ll flip to Kafka’s tomb, ridiculing colonial Australian cuisine, or recounting the time she casually pocketed a human bone from the catacombs in Paris (!) This book reminded me that cemeteries aren’t just about mourning—they’re about meaning. And Enriquez doesn’t let you forget whose deaths are recorded and whose are erased.

Enriquez’s voice remains fierce and haunting. If you’ve ever felt comforted by the silence of headstones, if you’ve ever wondered what it means to bury someone with dignity—or without it—if you crave nonfiction that has just the right amount of morbid curiosity, this one is for you. Expect bones. Expect ghosts. Expect truths

#randomhouse #somebodyiswalkingonyourgrave #marianaenriquez

“…where dying seems much more interesting than being alive”

Part memoir, part history, part anthropological survey of death customs, Somebody is Walking on Your Grave is unique. If you are interested in macabre history, you will like this book. Enriquez tackles themes like globalization, tourism, and voyeurism through a dark, yet compelling, lens.

Most chapters end rather abruptly, which mirrors how life can end instantaneously and unexpectedly. Some chapters are sparkling, and some were more dull. Overall, I found the structure a bit unbalanced and definitely preferred the second half to the first half of the book.

Apparently, I didn't realize this was non-fiction, but honestly, I am glad for the happy mistake! I have been to the catacombs of Paris and some graveyards there as well, and I completely get the hype around the mystery of graves. This was a beautifully written homage to burials sites across the world where Mariana Enriquez has visited. She retells these places with respect and wonder. I absolutely loved the insight into her own life through the stories she told about the cemeteries.

Enriquez gives us a fantastic combination of travelogue, local history, personal reflections, esoteric facts, and architecture via some amazing essays about all the cemeteries she's visited and experienced in her life. I am the type who will absolutely visit graveyards like the ones she mentioned, so I actually really appreciate this, and love the list she's made at the end of the places she wants to visit.

Mariana Enriquez’s first foray into non fiction is an apropos one if you are familiar with her previous work. Her fascination with the macabre is on full display in Somebody Is Walking on Your Grave, a collection where each essay is related to a cemetery around the world. In her previously published short story collection, A Sunny Place for Shady People, the best stories were the ones where her sense of humor shone through in the dark. The same goes for this collection. Enriquez can be ruthless, especially when talking about Kafka, Australian cuisine, or the time she stole a bone (yes, a human one) from the French catacombs in Paris.

I was surprised at how much actual history is woven throughout these stories. I was even more surprised at how much I enjoyed learning through this lens. I am not a fan of reading history, whether nonfiction or fiction, but something about Enriquez’s writing really held my attention, even at the most monotonous bits. It also helped that Enriquez’s understanding of history is very straightforward and matter of fact when it comes to genocide, colonialism, and overall brutality. Her obsession with the macabre allows her to write things as they are or were. Being Argentine, she is deeply aware of the kind of government sanctioned brutality that happens in the world. Megan McDowell, who has translated Enriquez many times before, is the translator here as well and continues to provide a clear, unmistakable voice. Enriquez’s sardonic wit and weirdness translates well, even in non fiction.

A standout chapter was “The Moon over Bourbon Street” because Enriquez writes about New Orleans with such affection. Anyone who has also been to New Orleans would see themselves in her words. Especially if you’ve visited St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 or know anything about Buddy Bolden. Another one was “A Bar in Broome” where she visits Australia and dissects its colonial history. An unexpectedly beautiful one that made me cry was “The Apparition of Marta Angélica,” where she joins friends and colleagues on a sojourn to bury a coworker’s mother in 2011. The mother had been kidnapped and disappeared in 1976. The tenderness with which she colors the whole trip is so loving and respectful. In a moment where she steps away from the gathering, she comes across a community altar with so many different photos and offerings. It reminded me of the community altars that have popped up every Day of the Dead since COVID. There are so many other cemeteries Enriquez visits and so many personal anecdotes, both horrifying and hilarious, that make Somebody Is Walking on Your Grave a worthwhile read. It feels like a travelogue and memoir rolled into one, and if you have any curiosity about being a cemetery tourist consider this your guide.

Mariana Enriquez’s beautiful storytelling shines in this nonfiction collection. The stories explore death, mystery, and the lives of everyday people, with a touch of dry humor woven throughout. The included photos were a lovely surprise, adding another layer to the short stories. Truly appreciated this collection.

Thanks for the arc!

I really wanted to love this. Cemeteries and death culture are absolutely fascinating to me. But this book just didn't hit for me. Full disclosure, I found some of the author's actions and experiences to be completely disrespectful. Sure cemeteries are neat and unusual and straight up fascinating, but there's a line of decency that has to be respected in order for us to keep enjoying the culture of cemeteries.
Reading the book itself was a challenge as I found my mind wandering during any of the chapters. Interesting material but this one just fell short.

Mariana Enríquez has, so far, been known in the English-speaking (or reading) world for her fiction—specifically, three collections of short stories (The Dangers of Smoking in Bed, Things We Lost in the Fire, A Sunny Place for Shady People) and her novel Our Share of Night. Somebody Is Walking on Your Grave presents another facet of her writing. Subtitled My Cemetery Journeys, this book is a collection of essays describing—and inspired by—Enríquez’s visits to various cemeteries around the world, from Latin America to Europe (a visit to the Paris Catacombs stands out), the US to Rottnest Island in Western Australia.

Mariana the taphophile is, in certain respects, a slightly different person from what her readers might expect. Certainly, the dark Gothic tones that underlie her speculative fiction are also reflected in the chapters of this book—her vivid descriptions of cemeteries, her penchant for the legends and ghost stories associated with these liminal places, and her attraction to the occult (evident, for instance, in her essay on New Orleans), all combined with a sensitivity to social themes, will feel like familiar territory to her followers.

However, this book also blends in elements of aesthetics, history, travel writing, and memoir. I particularly enjoyed the longer pieces which, more often than not, are more intimate and tinged with a strong sense of melancholy and nostalgia. I found the chapters about Savannah (“The Absent Girl”) and Cuba (“Crystal Roses”) particularly moving and poetic. Enríquez fans will also get a glimpse of her personal tastes—Suede, Manic Street Preachers, and, perhaps rather surprisingly, Mucha and the Pre-Raphaelites.

Is this Mariana’s best book? Quite possibly. It is certainly her most personal. And, in the hands of her brilliant and dependable translator Megan McDowell, one can be assured of yet another dark delight from the Argentinian “sorceress of horror.”

https://endsoftheword.blogspot.com/2025/06/somebody-walking-on-your-grave-cemetery-journeys-mariana-enriquez-megan-mcdowell.html

This was a very fascinating and informative read. It's a bit of a travelogue, a bit of memoir, and also a wealth of information. As someone who does not know a lot of South American history, I found the exploration of the areas and the cemeteries in that region interesting. Being peppered with Mariana's own experiences adds a human touch to what can be a very grim subject.

This book gives a good look at how different cultures handle death and how important (or not) it is to remember the dead.

Thank you for the ARC, NetGalley and Hogarth Books.

In this memoir from Mariana Enriquez, she investigates cemeteries as she travels to different locations around the world. Included are the catacombs of Paris, Prague's Old Jewish Cemetery, Elvis's grave at Graceland, the above-ground mausoleums of New Orleans, her hometown of Buenos Aires's Recoleta, in addition to others. She combines her own personal experiences with interviews and local folklore. Somebody Is Walking on Your Grave is so well written and really gives us a glimpse into the mind of one of our greatest horror writers today. Thank you so much to Hogarth & NetGalley for the ARC. You can pick this up when it publishes September 30, 2025!

This book isn’t without its flaws. Some sections drag, especially when the visits feel repetitive or the historical context becomes overly detailed and dry. A few cemeteries didn’t really capture my attention, and I kept wishing for more visuals to break up the text and bring the places to life. In that sense, the reading experience can feel a bit uneven.

That said, Mariana Enríquez is a skilled observer—even if her talent shines far more in fiction. What elevates the book are the personal anecdotes woven throughout; they add texture and intimacy, and often say more than the facts themselves. It’s a book best read with a browser open, because the references are constant—graves, cities, bands, obscure books—and you’ll want to look them all up. It’s immersive, if occasionally exhausting.

What stayed with me most weren’t the travelogues, but the reflections: on death, memory, legacy, and our compulsive need to make sense of the unknowable. The chapter on Montparnasse, in particular, stands out as a beautiful balance of place and personal meaning.

Megan McDowell (like always) did a beautiful job on the translation!

A lovely, relaxing memoir set in cemeteries around the world. Excellent rainy-day reading, as well as insight into the author's perspective on death and the life surrounding it.

First off, thank you NetGalley, Random House, Mariana Enriquez and Jaylen Lopez of Hogarth Books for the ARC!! I would love to hold this book even more than to read it online! I would rate it 4.5, there were some times where I lost a little interest with some of the moments of facts in the end (sometimes I think maybe the dry parts of translation) but ultimately it was a great blend of fascination with death, wonderfully described cemeteries, a lot of facts, history and the best part; all of Mariana Enriquez’ mood and vibes (my favorite part). I also have a love for cemeteries and am intrigued but the history of our dead, so this was right up my alley. I will definitely recommend this book. I also recommend looking up some of the places (so awesome that she included photos, I wanted even more). I will be visiting some of the cemeteries in future travels and love to read something that I can really relate to!

This book didn’t work for me. I have read ALL of Mariana Enriquez’s short stories and her debut novel, but I couldn’t get into her upcoming release. I like nonfiction so the genre wasn’t a problem for me. I also didn’t mind the content which is about her weird obsession with cemeteries, which is not a huge surprise since she writes about death a lot. Her prose in this book is very meandering and stream of consciousness-like. I am not a fan of that type of writing style. I really tried to find some enjoyment in this kooky little book, but ultimately this was a major disappointment. The cover art is gorgeous though.

Thank you Hogarth books for the arc! This meant a lot to me because Mariana Enriquez is my favorite writer and this was the other book I haven't read from her (I'm still missing
"Things we lost in the fire" but we'll get there one day). The truth is that I might be a little bit biased here because Enríquez could write anything and I would still read it. In this case a book full of essays about people's graves and stories... sounds boring; but Enriquez beautifully combines the feeling of visiting these places with a touch of journalism and a little bit of humor. I didn't really know how this book was going to go but I can say that it is one of her best works. A lot of different stories, different lives and beautiful vivid moments and anecdotes on her personal life. From stories of her first love, and dare I say her first time, to stealing a bone and giving it a name. There is a lot of personal experiences throughout the book and this didn't stop her from giving each grave their own moment. She talked about the history of every grave she stepped on in a beautiful gothic way. I got to learn from these stories and even empathize with a majority of them. For example, the last essay about a woman that went missing and her body was found 35 years after her death. The eerie feeling that story left on me. As the closing of the book it reiterated the importance of having a cemetery, and graves, and all of the things necessary to represent and memorialize the people that existed before us. Just really mind blowing.
An experience.

3.5 stars

I truly had no clue what I was really getting in to when I picked up this book, but it was one of the most unique and darkly charming books I’ve encountered in recent years. A travel, memoir, & essay collection all in one, and it worked!
I’ll definitely look into to more by this author.