GRAVEYARD SHIFT is a novella by M.L. Rio that takes place over one night and has creepy vibes, cool characters, off-the-rails research, and an academic setting that will leave readers wanting more. Five people meet every night at midnight in a graveyard close to a university campus to have a smoke. They all have varying levels of sleeplessness, whether in part due to their jobs, pursuits, or straight insomnia. Edie is the editor-in-chief of the campus newspaper, Hannah is a rideshare driver, Tamar works at the library and a local hotel, Theo is the general manager at a bar and Tuck is the unofficial rector of the cemetery.

On this particular October night, they notice a hole has been dug in the graveyard. When Tuck and Edie later see an individual unload something into the hole, they soon realize that something very wrong is occurring on campus. All five members of the group play a part in identifying the strange gravedigger and learning exactly what he is involved in. From Theo’s coordinated encounter to Hannah’s lift home to Tamar’s researching skills and Tuck’s scientific knowledge to Edie’s tenacious news-gathering nature, this fearsome fivesome will find the truth and uncover the reason why so many hostile incidents have been reported on campus.

GRAVEYARD SHIFT pulls readers in with its eerie graveyard setting and ensemble of eclectic sleep-deprived characters. The mystery starts quickly, with each character using their unique talents to find their way to the truth. The academic setting introduces disillusioned students, rogue researchers, contaminated specimens, and experiments that don’t follow protocol. It sets up a delicious combination of what could go wrong. And what happens when it does? Told over a period of less than ten hours, this novella tackles and accomplishes a lot. The characters are immersive in their jobs, insecurities, homelessness, and insomnia, and they feed right into the action. GRAVEYARD SHIFT is a cool, quick, creepy read that makes you wonder what ramifications poorly tested therapies or rushed science can have on the human race.