THE VISITOR, the long-awaited fourth book in Amanda
Stevens' Graveyard Queen series, has finally arrived, and
it was well worth the wait. Stevens experienced a
devastating personal tragedy, and I can't help but think
her pain impacted both her writing and the storylines as
well. Stevens gives readers a gritty, haunting novel in
which Amelia's insecurities are highlighted and her
emotions are more raw than in the previous three tales.
Stevens has hinted all along that Amelia's gift has much
more to it than just seeing ghosts. In THE VISITOR, she has
two entities to confront, but uncovering their intentions,
if they're not the same, becomes a difficult task. She
feels pulled to Kroll Cemetery where a mass suicide took
place nearly a half century ago and begins to understand
her calling might encompass solving the mysteries of the
dead. Readers will learn more about the depths and
complexities of Amelia's power as well as secrets of her
family's past.
Amelia has never shared her ability to see beyond the
living world with her lover, John Devlin, partly because
she's always been secretive, but also because he disdains
the supernatural world. But Devlin has secrets of his own,
and we only get glimpses of them. THE VISITOR is the first
story in which we truly see them as a couple, so the fact
they both appear to face a crossroads becomes even more
compelling. With both concealing so much, it's hard to see
how they can navigate a path together.
I heartily recommend this series, but I do think the
stories will have more meaning and a stronger draw if
readers start at the beginning with The
Restorer. Stevens
has a talent for character development, vivid descriptions
and completely brining the reader into her world.
Charleston, where this series takes place, is one of my
favorite places to have stories take place as well.
My name is Amelia Gray. I'm the Graveyard Queen. Restoring lost and abandoned cemeteries is my profession, but I'm starting to believe that my true calling is deciphering the riddles of the dead. Legend has it that Kroll Cemetery is a puzzle no one has ever been able to solve. For over half a century, the answer has remained hidden within the strange headstone inscriptions and intricate engravings. Because uncovering the mystery of that tiny, remote graveyard may come at a terrible price. Years after their mass death, Ezra Kroll's disciples lie unquiet, their tormented souls trapped within the walls of Kroll Cemetery, waiting to be released by someone strong and clever enough to solve the puzzle. For whatever reason, I'm being summoned to that graveyard by both the living and the dead. Every lead I follow, every clue I unravel brings me closer to an unlikely killer and to a destiny that will threaten my sanity and a future with my love, John Devlin.
This is a wonderfully dark, gothic, romantic series with ghosts and other entities. Start with the first book and read it through to The Visitor. Then you will be whining for the next installment which comes out in September or October. This series is creepy and beautifully addictive. (Pat Dupuy 4:40pm April 11, 2016)
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