Grave Secrets

The Lavington Windsor Mysteries Book 1

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Pub Date 01 Sep 2020 | Archive Date 20 Aug 2020
Rebellion, Solaris

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Description

Agatha Raisin meets Sookie Stackhouse, with croquet and zombies.

Toni Windsor is trying to live a quiet life in the green and pleasant county of Staffordshire. She’d love to finally master the rules of croquet, acquire a decent boyfriend and make some commission as an estate agent. All that might have to wait, though, because there are zombies rising from their graves, vampires sneaking out of their coffins and a murder to solve. And it’s all made rather more complicated by the fact that she’s the one raising all the zombies. Oh, and she’s dating one of the vampires too. It can’t be the best decision she’s ever made, but he’s so pretty. Really, what’s a girl meant to do? 

Agatha Raisin meets Sookie Stackhouse, with croquet and zombies.

Toni Windsor is trying to live a quiet life in the green and pleasant county of Staffordshire. She’d love to finally master the rules...


A Note From the Publisher

Fancy being part of the Grave Secrets blog tour? Email hanna.waigh@rebellion.co.uk for more information!

Fancy being part of the Grave Secrets blog tour? Email hanna.waigh@rebellion.co.uk for more information!


Available Editions

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ISBN 9781781088616
PRICE $11.99 (USD)
PAGES 300

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Average rating from 118 members


Featured Reviews

Absolutely wonderful witty book! This series could easily be a runaway best seller. Cross Charlaine Harris and Mary Janice Davidson and you’ve got this book, Going to be a great series, a fun filled, laugh out loud page turner. Can’t wait for the next one.

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A good and fun start to a new series. Toni is a necromancer, who can raise the dead. Works great to help out her cop brother, to ask the bodies who killed them. Her best new friend is a 250 year old zombie, and she is dating a vampire. What is not to like? Highly recommend.

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Heads up to all fans of True Blood and Buffy, our new favorite heroine is here, she's a necromancer, and she's kind of a hot mess! Estate agent by day, zombie-raising necromancer by night, Toni is straggling along in a world where vampires have been unveiled - but while they've been embraced in Europe, the USA is a stake-on-sight zone. When her cozy English countryside begins to bustle with import vamps, her life gets a little out of control! I absolutely flew through this fun and frothy urban fantasy and can't wait for more in the series!

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Grave Secrets by Alice James a thrilling five-star read. I had high hopes for this one and in many ways it was a five-star read, the mystery and the necromancy were all spot on and the rest of the characters were brilliant but I was left cold by Oscar and not in the usual sense, because of this I nearly gave it four-stars, but then I realised one man doesn’t make the story. This was funny and Toni was brilliant, I would read so much more about her and the rest of the characters, even Benedict. It may just be me as I have never been a big fan of blondes, but I will say give this a go and pick it up if you like funny, mystery with a twist of the undead, I will be picking the rest in the series up when they come as I did enjoy it and I will be waiting to see what happens to a certain blonde. (I may secretly be wishing for something different to the main consensus, but hey a girl can dream, who knows maybe I will warm to him in number two, we could always take a sauna together, I will just have to be mindful of the pages wilting.)

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Toni follows her family tradition of being a necromancer, raising the dead to talk to them. Her brother is a policeman and she sometimes helps him with Murder cases by talking to the victim.
Her new best friend is dead, her boyfriend is a vampire and there is a vampire turf war......
An excellent start to a new series, a mix of the paranormal, romance and a touch of humour. I am really looking forward to the next book in the series and can highly recommend this book for those who enjoy paranormal romances.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of this book.

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Alice James gives us a new urban fantasy heroine, Toni Windsor. Toni lives in the in England, out in the country. Despite her ability to raise the dead, Toni lives an ordinary life selling real estate. When she encounters some of the newly emerged vampires, the fun begins.

Toni is a sassy, likeable heroine. The book is fast paced with just the right amount of romance

I can't wait for the next book.

I received a free advance copy of this book. I am leaving my honest review.

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trigger warning
<spoiler> gore, torture, molestation, rape attempt </spoiler>

By night, Toni raises the dead in the local cemetery. By day, she sells houses - in theory only to finance her life, but things get interesting as she aquires a vampire customer, looking for an old house with extensive cellars. An possibly a love interest.

This was so fun I had to force myself to let go last night to sleep. If I had started sooner in the day, I am sure I'd have read this in one sitting.

The comparison to the Sookie Stockhouse series feels apt, but mind, I only read one novel and a collection of short stories from there. To break it down: We have a female human with some kind of magical ability who comes into contact with the local vampires and gets drawn into their shemes and intrigues.
I was struck by the decisions of the characters. They try to do the right thing, but for various reasons, shit happens nonetheless.

Toni's brother is in a happy gay relationship, and the main relationship that's depicted evolves into a poly-something. Toni is finding that weird, but normal hasn't really worked out for her in the past, so she's willing to give it a try. Since positive poly rep is so rare, I already told a friend who likes to read about it, and I am curious about what she'll say, should she chose to give it a try.

What else can I say? Don't pick this book up on sex-repulsed days and expect a little bit of gore.
The plot is solved in this one book, but there is the option for more, especially to do with Toni's abilities and her grandfather, who taught her. I'll keep a watch out for further books of this series, because I'm sure I'll like them.

My only complaint would be that due to the blurp I expected more whodoneit segments. Yes, a crime is solved, but it's a teeny-tiny sideplot that doesn't get much more room. For the novel as such it's not a problem, it fits in there neatly, it's just not what I expected.
So if you're intrigued for that aspect, you should probably just go to Agatha Christie instead.
If you're in for the paranormal romance, you'll have a blast.

I recieved a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, as the description given doesn't fully do the book justice. The main character Toni is likeable for the most part , she can be quite irritating at times but those are rare.
The plot and characters are well written, the overall story was interesting to read with just a few annoyances.
It didn't follow the normal tropes that some books in this genre regularly fall into, Toni is a strong female lead who is intelligent and at times funny.

There are some parts of the book which are slightly more adult than I was expecting but they worked with regards to the story.
There are also spelling, grammatical errors in the book and places where one sentence was started but never finished and were out of place in the context of the paragraph they were included.

Overall though it was enjoyable to read and reread. I would recommend it and would like to read more about Toni and her adventures.

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I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Grave Secrets was so much fun! Lavington "Toni" Windsor faces issues that every modern woman faces (creepy boss, terrible exes) but has a very special talent - she is a necromancer. Toni ends up meeting some vampires, and lands herself in trouble a few times. She is funny and kind, although quick to fall in love (relatable much?!).
I was a big fan of her friend Bredon, who is a very proper English undead gentleman. Peter was also a great character but I felt a little sad for him. Oscar was definitely not my favorite. I am very intrigued to see where Toni's story will go, and I'm rooting for a love connection with Benedict! Alice James, please make that happen!!
This was the perfect book for me, especially during a quarantine!
If you are looking for something similar to the Sookie Stackhouse series, this book is definitely for you.

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‘An adventure with zombies. And vampires. And romance. And croquet’. Grave Secrets does exactly what it says on the tin!

Toni Windsor is a real-estate agent living a double life. By day, she struggles with lecherous coworkers, inability to find a decent date, and finding the perfect homes for her clients, and by night, the overwhelming compulsion to raise the dead is her bête-noire. She’s managed to keep up a double-life under control so far, but when a commission from an all-too-dishy vampire puts her on the radar of a radical anti-undead group, bloody chaos ensues.

Grave Secrets was a very fun, spooky romp. I went in expecting a supernatural cosy crime, and I got a steamy murder-train with loveable zombies and more beheadings than I can count. James’ vampires are marvellously old school - they’re lascivious, enigmatic, and utterly brutal. It’s hard not to conjure up images akin to Von Krolock from Tanz der Vampire as you’re reading - they’re all fangs, sex appeal, and luxurious hair. And the zombies can be pretty dishy too.
I’m not the biggest romance fan, but there was still enough blood, guts, and intrigue for my grisly little heart. And Toni’s no-nonsense attitude was definitely a bonus! Grave Secrets will be getting it’s UK and US release in September 2020 - be sure to grab a copy, as it will be the perfect, ‘light-hearted but still creepy’ read for the spooky season!

Thank you to @netgalley and solaris for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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I really enjoyed this book.

Lavington (Toni) Windsor is an estate agent living in Staffordshire living a thoroughly modern life but she also happens to be a necromancer. Her brother is a police officer and Toni will occasionally use her "skill" to help him out.
Toni is the kind of woman that I would love to have been but am far too cynical. She is kind, funny, sarcastic and has a fantastic moral compass.

Toni meets up with some local vampires and gets involved in their lives from the off.

This is a book / series that is and will, I hope, continue to be chock full of fantastic characters who I am hopeful we will continue to get to know but also one particular character who I really did not like. . .yes, I'm looking at you, Oscar.

I've seen a fair few reviews comparing this to the Sookie Stackhouse series, and I can see that, of course but there is also a feel of Stephanie Plum to me and that is definitely no bad thing.

I rarely read an ARC that is the first in a series where I will actively look for future books but I honestly can't wait to read the next of this series.

Very, very, highly recommended.

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This book was an absolute breath of fresh air! I've seen it compared to 'True Blood' which I can understand in terms of the subject matter and the feisty heroine, but I think this is something different again. The fact that the main character, Lavington Windsor, has powers of her own as a necromancer and the (rather British) humour in the book make this an engaging and unusual read even compared to the Sookie Stackhouse series.

The novel follows necromancer Lavington as she leads a dual life: estate agent by day, raising the occupants of the local cemeteries by night. Even before she gets involved with vampires, or more specifically the gorgeous Oscar, her life is pretty odd. Once she gets caught up in finding vampire real estate and a romance with Oscar, her life takes a dangerous turn.

What makes this book unusual is that it looks like a cosy read but is actually far from; the sex and violence is actually quite explicit and surprising, although it fits perfectly in the book. The humour is also a nice surprise and I found myself being pleasantly pulled along by Lavington's narrative voice. The plot is pacy and there is a lot going on - a second book is definitely needed to iron out some of the plot strands! However, if it is anything like this book, a second book will be eagerly awaited.

I should add that this really is not my usual genre of choice so it has really won me over!

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This book was amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!! Full of wit and charm, vampires and zombies, murder and mayhem!!!

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I can honestly say that I've never read a book like it. I was hooked from the first paragraph - the first sentence in fact. The whole book is delightful, it made me laugh, it made me cringe and it made me want Lavington's life.

Loved it - please write more.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher I read an advance review copy. This review is voluntary, honest and my own opinion.

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What a fun book! There was so so much to love. This book isn't like other paranormal mysteries I've read. First, Toni was a very badass main character. Full of sass and confidence, she told everyone exactly how she felt, but in a fun and not over the top way. I liked that she was fully capable of and even enjoyed using her powers - that was refreshing to read. I don't want to give too much away, but the book is full of fresh characters that I am excited to read more about.

The mystery/suspense aspect was done well, and kept me on my toes! I never really feared for her, so that was new too. The only thing I didn't buy was the romance, I am hoping it goes the way it seems to be setting up for, but it was a lot at first.

I can't wait to read what's next for Toni and vampires. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this early!

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Toni Windsor is a bit of a hot mess. Living in her family home in the countryside, trying to make it as a real estate agent. And, oh, by the way, raising zombies at night to help out her cop brother with his murder investigations.

Vampires have come out of dark. The US is violently anti-vamp so Europe is seeing an influx of vamps as they flee to Europe with its more accepting laws. But now there are turf wars as the fleeing vamps encroach on territories established for centuries.

In between kidnappings and raising her new zombie friend, Toni falls in love with a gorgeous vampire. Even better, Oscar likes her back. What’s not so great is that he keeps trying to drink her blood. Ugh.

Utterly charming with quippy banter, Toni was a delight to read about. I’m excited to see what happens next in the series.

Thanks to NetGalley and Solaris for the DRC.

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Brilliantly funny and entertaining paranormal mystery, featuring a lady necromancer who uses her talent to help hr policeman brother to solve crimes. Witty, engaging and fast paced, this is going to be a great series.

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This book was an amusing and entertaining read! I expected the zombies, but this story had so much more! The characters draw you in and the scenes are vividly set. If you are a fan of Christopher Moore than I think this book should definitely be on your to read list!

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Toni Windsor is a real estate agent during the day and a necromancer during the night. Her favorite hobby: going to the local cemetery at night to raise the dead one by one. This gift of hers comes in handy especially because her brother is a cop and he sometimes needs help finding the murderer. But the actual plot kicks off when a vampire, Oscar, asks Toni to find him a house. They start a passionate romance and Toni's life is turned upside down with all the trouble that brings.
So, I unexpectedly freaking loved this book. It reminded me a lot of true blood but in a British setting which turned out to be a lot of fun. I loved the main character Toni. She was feisty, fiercely loyal, protective of her loved ones, smart,brave and sarcastic, you got to love a sarcastic character. Actually there was a lot of humor and sarcasm in this book and I found myself smiling and laughing a lot. The pacing was good,was not bored at any point. Pretty much the only thing I didn't love was the romance. And it wasn't even in a bad way,I just hardcore ship Toni with Benedict. Oscar wasn't bad or anything like that but I didn't really feel the chemistry between him and Toni. With Benedict though the sparks were flying. So I hope that my ship will sail in future books.
Highly recommend this one if you like paranormal romance, it was so much fun,and I can't wait for the next book in the series.
Huge thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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What a fun read! For those that like a supernatural twist to their mystery book, and are fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, zombies and True Blood, here's the perfect book for you. Toni is a necromancer by night and plays at being an estate agent in the daytime. It seems there are vampires and they are popping up all over the English countryside and something needs to be done about it.

The author did a great job with the plot and her characters. They are well developed and interesting. I wasn't a big fan of Oscar, but all the other characters pulled me right in and I look forward to the next book in the series. Kudos to Alice James on book one of her new series.

I would like to thank Alice James, Rebellion/Solaris and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

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I requested Grave Secrets by Alice James from NetGalley, with no obligations, as an uncorrected Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) but even without the final polishing, there is no doubt this one is a gem. It’s been an exceptionally long time since I’ve had to stop reading to wipe the tears from my eyes because I was laughing so hard. That’s what happened before I was even a quarter of the way into the book. The protagonist, Lavington (Toni) Windsor, a real estate agent by day and necromancer by night, is delightful as the first-person narrator of this story, a twist on Stephanie Plum with Vampires and Zombies. With lines like, “What I lack in strategy, I make up for in overkill!” Toni barrels through a fast-paced adventure that is not without its share of blood and guts but is also full of warmth and friendship, romance, and great humor. The setting of rugged rural Britain, with cozy village life, is seamlessly woven into the plot and further reinforced by the British colloquialisms peppered throughout the dialogue.
Grave Secrets is the first of a series and the author hints in the Acknowledgements that at least nine more are in the pipe. This debut is due out September 1, 2020 (US) and September 3 (UK) and I would suggest that anyone who enjoys Janet Evanovich and Patricia Brigg’s will love this one.
Posted: June 29, 2020
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3417254213
https://www.facebook.com/bcdeeks
https://bcdeeks.com/writers-read-too/

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Hilarious, steamy, and ... gory. Sign me up.

Zombies, vampires, and a necromancer! Oh yes, all of that blended into a delicious tale, I couldn't put down.

This was totally unexpected. I laughed, cringed, and swooned. What a delicious dark mix that was also somehow light. I was hooked from the start with the fun premise and light feel. I read a lot of genres and love a range of tones and themes, so when heads rolled and guts squished I was all in. Of course add to that a sexy vamp or two and the heated chemistry and really all the things I needed to get done today were going to have to wait while I read, and read, and finished the story.

There is so much character here. Toni is sassy, holding her own with some pretty domineering personalities without being obnoxious. Oscar had me at hello and then Benedict came along, what can I say, I like vamps, the bad-ish ones even more so. Peter was so sweet, making a great contrast to the others. However, my heart belongs to Bredon. That really surprised me, because like I said, I'm usually all in for the naughty vamps, but he was so charming. I just adored every little thing about him.

The pace was zippy, the humor refreshing, and settings easy to imagine as I lost myself to world. I loved that most things were tied up, leaving it a complete and satisfying read, yet there was enough left to make me hungry for more - as if I'd just raised the dead, or been raised from the dead.

I hope there will be more in this series soon. I can't wait to step back into it and have a gory, sexy, laugh with characters who I already feel like are friends.

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Can I just say that this book was such fun!
It really was a welcome relief from other books I had been reading and zipped along through the pages with ease, the writing style, for me, made this happen easily and I seemed to be turning page after page and eating up each chapter with interest, watching to see the charecters flesh out, or not as the case my be !
I gues I have to mention that there are alot of Zombies and Vampires in this book, hence the previous joke about flesh.

I have seen a tag line for this book 'Agatha Raisin meets Sookie Stackhouse, with croquet and zombies.' and i have to agree, I read all the Sookie Stackhouse books and Agatha Raisin ones, so I feel confident that I can judge that sentence.
Toni Windor is our protagonist , who, by day, is an Estate Agent, but by night lives a completely different and eerie night life, she is a Necromancer, she leads us through the story with a first person commentary, Toni is a loveable charecter, I love the fact that she is a redhead, we are so unrepresented and enjoyed getting to know her.
This book is not what i call a classic horror book, it is not spooky, in the 'oh shit, iam going to sleep with my light on' type of book, it is hilarious at times, but please know that we do get our fair share of blood and guts and of course the hot vampire men, one of which our lovely redhead falls for, this is when the story really gets going and oh boy does she get herself into trouble.

If you have not read this, you will not know, of whom i am referring to, but BREDON! he is such a gentleman :)

I am really not sure, how to classify this book, i fear that calling it a 'horror' may have mislabelled it, romance, chicklitty urban fantasy type i guess?
I think this book could actually slip into quite a few catagories, or should i say cataGORIES! * walks away giggling*

Thank you Netgalley and Rebellion Publishing for letting me read this for an unbiased review.
I shall for sure, be reading the next book :)
Review will appear on the blog and my social media' s nearer the publication date)

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Alice James' Grave Secrets is, for lack of a better word, a charming vampire zombie novel. Her protagonist is at times both ferocious and endearing, charming and blunt. James writes action and combat well, with just enough violence to remind the reader of the stakes (pun semi-intended) of dealing with the undead. She blends in just enough sex and romance to keep the story moving without encumbering the plot with needless erotica. The supporting cast are fascinating; their motivations and backstories lend to unique voices and desires. I find myself excited for the next adventure of Toni, and can't wait to see what trouble she lands in next.

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What a fun read!

To be honest, I wasn’t sure what I was going to think when I began reading Grave Secrets. You see, I’m not really into stories with a lot of gratuitous sex. Many authors overdo it and end up detracting from the story they’re trying to tell. But James’s sex scenes are well-written and, well, just plain sexy. I loved many of the characters, like Bredon, the gentlemanly zombie, and Peter, the boyfriend of the boyfriend. However, I have to say - and Alice, I hope you’re listening - I am really not all that crazy about Oscar, the protagonist’s love interest. Noooo. Toni should be with dark, smoldering Benedict, the head honcho of the vampires. Now there would be the basis for some hot love scenes. They have a crackling chemistry and are both snarky as hell. Perfect basis for a good vampire / necromancer relationship. But, alas, Toni thinks she loves Oscar. Oh well.

If you love vampires, this is for you. If you love sex scenes, murder mysteries, and supernatural creatures, this is still for you. James’s take on the vampire culture and lifestyle is new and fresh. Various lifestyles and ethnicities are included, which is also a big plus for me.

All-in-all, I really loved this book and I’m looking forward to the next in this series.

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'That very night, I planned to raise Bredon Havers from the dead...'

This first volume (of many, I hope) in The Lavington Windsor mysteries proved a real breath of fresh air. Taking in necromancy, zombies, vampires and protagonist Lavington 'Toni' Windsor's quest for a boyfriend who... just isn't rubbish... the story is set in rural Staffordshire in a reality slightly different from ours, one where vampires are grudgingly tolerated in Europe, but not in the USA. Consequently many have come looking for refuge - and naturally, they need homes.

Toni's day job, as an estate agent, involves meeting this need. As you'd expect there are some rather special requirements. And not unsurprisingly, there are also those who object to the vampires' presence. Sometimes, they object rather forcefully.

Estate agent by day, necromancer by night, Toni finds both sides of her life coming together. And there may just be progress on the boyfriend front as well.

We see her juggling work, relationships, caring for an elderly neighbour and fitting in time for her weird hobby down at the graveyard. It's a very modern life, down to fending off the gropey boss and coping with the works do. Oh, and conjuring up the dead offers some benefits - so when Toni's brother, a police constable, needs help clearing up a murder, she's on hand for that, too.

The book packs so much in: a resourceful and determined heroine, some pretty steamy sex scenes, political violence and even organised crime. Also some epic fights, which frequently see Toni lose her clothing (seriously - count the number of times her outfits are ruined). Behind all this there are hints about Toni's own past - clearly there are mysteries there to be unpacked in future books - and a very sad story of corruption and abuse of power.

Toni is a likeable protagonist who comes into her own when forced to get closer than she'd like to a pack of vampires. While they may be clients, Toni doesn't exactly get on well with most of them, so negotiating the web of semi-feudal obligations that fall on her as part of the coterie is not easy (as is avoiding breakfast - BEING breakfast, that is). It's actually a pretty thoughtful examination of the vampires' way of life and involves a lot of credible worldbuilding, aided by the book's being grounded in Toni's believable, everyday life.

All in all, an involving and fun book and it's top be hoped there will be many more to come.

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Grave Secrets
Author: Alice James
Publisher: Rebellion Publishing
Page count: 300pp
Release date: 3rd September 2020

For those urban fantasy fans of the 90s/00s raised on the likes of Nancy A Collins, Kim Harrison and Jim Butcher, you’ll feel an affinity for Alice James’ debut novel from Rebellion Publishing.
For me, Laurel K Hamilton was the must-read, and I fell in love with Anita Blake’s sassy zombie raiser and her gorgeous entourage including vampire master Jean Claude, but it was the world, not the erotica, that kept me reading.
If you loved the Anita Blake books but then the sex started getting in the way of story, you’ll love ‘Grave Secrets’.

Written in first person snark, Lavington Windsor is estate agent by day, necromancer by night. Like Blake, Lavington started raising zombies from age eight. It’s a Compulsion and if she doesn’t follow through it’s dangerous.
The night in Aug as the book starts, she’s attempting to raise Bredon Havers, armed with blood, salt, a nice packed lunch for the corpse and a bottle of Chanel; every necromancer worth their salt * sorry, not sorry * wears Chanel.
When Bredon arises, nearly three centuries dead, he’s quite well preserved, eloquent and rather dishy.
Her chat is interrupted by a call from her brother Wills, a cop in a sleepy Staffordshire village, who wants her to raise a murder victim for him to interview.
In this world, since the Heidelberg Accord, vampires have come out of the proverbial monster closet and co-exist within human communities. Though some USA States have a kill-on-site order. As a result, quite a few American vampires are immigrating to the UK.
Lavington or Toni, is a very likeable character. She’s not tall and lithe, she’s a short, wild redhead and talks sarcasm as a second language. Her insults are especially inventive, such as calling the head vampire "a fangy tosser". There are real laugh out loud moments in this novel, particularly the interview with dead body Fenella. The jokes are such that I let out a few indelicate snorts along the way.
However, it isn’t just about fun adventures. There are some thinly veiled anti-racism and anti-prejudice analogies in the novel, for instance, the U.K. Anti-vampire Party, AKA UKAP. And so far, given the two vampire characters we have met appear likeable, even friendly, the analogies work very well. Of course, it wouldn’t be a modern urban fantasy - albeit in a rural setting - without one of two hot vampires, in the shape of debonair Oscar, her soon to be boyfriend, and sexy arrogant head vampire Benedict Akil.
At this point I have to tell you I’m from Birmingham UK, and I still found the bumbling jerks from the Moseley Mafia to be very amusing. Speaking of amusing, Peter is a great character - a sweet, domestic Renfield,who also happens to be a talented doctor - and I'd like to see more of him in the next book.
With its cosy paranormal crime setting but it's big city characters and attitude, the series is up there with Kim Harrison, Charlaine Harris, Chloe Neill and Ben Aaronovitch.
Though we're just getting used to this diverse world and the strength of Toni's resolve plus some hotter than hell vampires, this is truly an addictive book with plenty of scope for more adventures. There's also lots of viscera for fans of blood and gore.
This is very much in the vein, ahem, of Buffy meets Midsummer Murders.
A brilliant, funny debut novel.
I can't wait for more of Toni's adventures.

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Often whoever markets books seems to be lying when they make their comparisons. In this case, however, it’s spot on. This definitely feels like Sookie Stackhouse meets Agatha Raisin.

The world that James has created is very similar to the Sookie Stackhouse/True Blood universe. Vampires have recently come out of the closet, and, unwelcome in the US and Canada, they’re flocking to Europe. Our protagonist, Lavington “Toni” Windsor, is a necromancer, and she spends her evenings raising the dead as zombies at the local cemetery. She quickly learns, however, that vampires have nearly eradicated necromancers from the planet, because vampires are dead, and they don’t want anyone to have power over them.

The way that necromancy works in this world is quite fascinating. James has done a great job with worldbuilding while not actually information dumping at any point. I never felt overwhelmed with details, and the pacing never suffered for the explanation of how things work. Toni is a unique necromancer, yet her powers have limits, which are clearly defined as she learns them. I love this–she’s a bad-ass human being with a unique power, yet she’s still extremely vulnerable to her enemies, given that she doesn’t have martial arts training or superstrength. She has to use her wits and her special ability to defeat her enemies, and she does this quite a few times over the course of Grave Secrets.

There’s a lot of romance in the story, as Toni falls for vampire Oscar early in the plot. But of course, being with a vampire isn’t as easy as you’d think. Oscar is sweet and kind (though he’s maybe a tad too bloodthirsty). But it isn’t Oscar that intrigues me. Benedict Akil, the leader of the vampires, is a benevolent leader who enjoys irritating Toni. She’s not afraid of him and she’s really quite rude to him. I love a protagonist with no sense of self-preservation! I’m hoping to see more of their chemistry in the sequel.

This book is light in tone, with quite a few laugh-out-loud moments. That said, this book has phenomenal pacing, with lots (and I mean lots) of action. It felt like there was a scene worthy of a novel’s climax every thirty pages. That said, the story ends quite abruptly, and I was expecting a major development in the plot or cliffhanger. I’m glad there wasn’t one, but still, it was quite surprising!

I recommend this book to anyone who loves a good genre-blender and wants to read a fast-paced, thrilling, and sometimes spooky romance/fantasy/mystery.

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A humorous, lively book about the dead lol. Vampires and Zombies. There are good vampires and bad vampires. Good humans and bad humans. Every race has their bad apples. The author did a wonderful job balancing those., Also, no characters out did the other. Strong smart woman and strong smart men. I love that in a book! Most books nowadays the female character is so overly abundantly smart and strong and the all the male characters are weak and spineless. I did not get that in this book, and for that I want to Thank the author. I love Toni's attitude on things. She gets groped by certain guys and she knows what to expect. She never plays the victim. I love her sarcasm and she can laugh at herself. This is a fun read!
In this book you get wit, sarcasm, blood lots of blood, open minded relationships, and a rabbit that didn't know what hit him. To me it is more if an action book with a small mystery, paranormal and romance. I give this book 5 stars. I am looking forward to the second book in this series. Can't wait to read more about Toni, Bredon, Oscar and Peter.

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