I was so excited to dive into "Grave Birds", especially with Brittany Pressley narrating! She’s one of my absolute favorites, and once again, she delivers. Her voice is effortlessly engaging, and her use of accents feels natural, never overdone or cartoonish.

That said, the story itself didn’t quite land for me. While I appreciated the attempt to deepen Hollis’s character through various subplots, some of those elements felt unnecessary and distracted from the main narrative. The tone also leaned a bit YA for my taste, which made it harder to fully connect.

Still, I’d recommend this to listeners looking for a touch of gothic atmosphere, magical realism, and romantic undertones, especially if you’re in it for a top-tier narration experience.

Thank you to Dana Elmendorf, Brittany Pressley, Harlequin Audio, and NetGalley for sending me the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

The audiobook absolutely blew me away! I never turned the book off after I started listening. The narrator really brought to life the dark, yet beautiful atmosphere. I wouldn’t consider this one horror, per se, but it does have some dark aspects that come out.. Like the “Grave Birds” and them showing flashbacks of what happened to the person when they passed away. I truly loved this idea of when people pass, they each have a bird connected to them. Please be weary of some trigger warnings that may be disturbing for some readers. (ie ch!ld abuse, mvrders). This book pulls in some thriller, some romance, some murder mystery vibes and small town secrets.
There were times I shed a few tears.. right off rip when she was explaining what it was like to pass away, and then be brought back. Because that experience happened to me as a child. I remember standing next to my body in the exact way the author describes, truly got me to the core with that piece.
If you loved Ghost Whisperer (the she can see the dead and helps them move to the other side part), A Southern Book Clubs Guide to Slaying Vampires and Riverdale (the rich people’s family secrets in a small town) then you will LOVE this book.

Dana Elmendorf masterfully weaves a chilling atmosphere in Grave Bird, capturing the eerie beauty of Hawthorne’s moss-laden cemeteries and the unsettling whispers of the town’s buried secrets. From the first chapter, I felt immersed in a world where the line between the living and the dead blurs beneath the haunting calls of the ghostly grave birds. The story’s dark, mystical tone is palpable, with each strange occurrence—blood dripping from blossoms, flocks of ominous birds crashing into homes, fiery tornadoes—adding layers of unease and wonder. Hollis Sutherland’s uncanny gift and her quest to uncover the truth behind her town’s sinister past keep the reader on edge, questioning what is real and what might be supernatural. While the novel pulses with suspense and a sense of foreboding, it also gently explores themes of redemption and the weight of secrets long buried beneath Southern charm. Cain Landry’s alluring yet mysterious presence adds to the tangled web of lies and sins, making every revelation feel like a breath held in suspense. Grave Bird is a beautifully spooky read that lingers in the mind—a perfect choice for anyone craving an atmospheric tale filled with ghosts, grit, and the ghosts of the past. A few moments felt slightly stretched, but overall, Elmendorf delivers a haunting story that will leave you glancing over your shoulder well after the last page.