''Graveminder'' is a 2011 Gothic mystery novel by

Melissa Marr Melissa Marr (born July 25, 1972) is an American author of young adult/urban fantasy novels. Biography Marr, a former university English teacher, currently resides in Arizona. Her first novel was published in 2007, the New York Times bestseller ...

. The novel was released on May 17, 2011 by

William Morrow and Company William Morrow and Company is an American publishing company founded by William Morrow in 1926. The company was acquired by Scott Foresman in 1967, sold to Hearst Corporation in 1981, and sold to News Corporation (now News Corp) in 1999. ...

and follows a young woman that returns to her hometown to discover that she is expected to fill the supernatural shoes of her now deceased grandmother. In 2011 ''Graveminder'' won the 2011 Goodreads Readers Choice Award for "Best Horror".

Synopsis

The book follows Rebekkah Barrow, a woman that returns to the small town of Claysville in order to attend the funeral of her grandmother Maylene. She remembers that Maylene always attended the funerals of each townsperson, always taking three sips from a flask and telling the dead to "sleep well and stay where I put you". Once back in Claysville, Rebekkah meets up with her old love interest Byron Montgomery and discovers that she is expected to perform the same ritual that her grandmother did for each funeral, as she is the new Graveminder. Not only is Rebekkah the new Graveminder, but Byron is her Undertaker and her helper in placing the dead back in their grave if the ritual is not performed exactly right. When performed incorrectly or not at all, the dead will walk the earth in an attempt to fulfill their hungers, which is exactly what happens. Rebekkah is soon drawn into a web of secrets, bargains, secret worlds, and murder that threatens to ruin the peace of those in Claysville.

Characters

Rebekkah Barrow, Byron Montgomery, William Montgomery, Elaine, Amity Blue, Cecilia "Cissy" Barrow, Troy, Daisha, Maylene Barrow, Chris the Sheriff, Bonnie Jean Blue, Nicolas Whittaker, Mr. D or Charlie or Charles, Alicia Barrow, Ward

Reception

Critical reception for ''Graveminder'' was mostly positive, garnering positive reviews from NPR and

Publishers Weekly ''Publishers Weekly'' (''PW'') is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers, and literary agents. Published continuously since 1872, it has carried the tagline, "The International News Magazine of ...

. A reviewer for the Independent remarked that the book was "lifeless" while the Journal Gazette remarked that the book had "repetitive conversations

hat A hat is a head covering which is worn for various reasons, including protection against weather conditions, ceremonial reasons such as university graduation, religious reasons, safety, or as a fashion accessory. Hats which incorporate mecha ...

suck some of the energy out of the plot" but gave an overall positive review.

USA Today ''USA Today'' (stylized in all uppercase) is an American daily middle-market newspaper and news broadcasting company. Founded by Al Neuharth on September 15, 1982, the newspaper operates from Gannett's corporate headquarters in Tysons, Virgi ...

and Kirkus Reviews both praised the entry, with USA Today calling it "a creatively creepy gothic tale for grown-ups".

Awards

* 2011, Goodreads Readers Choice Award, "Best Horror"

References

External links

Official author page for Graveminder
Urban fantasy novels 2011 American novels Novels set in the 2010s Southern Gothic novels William Morrow and Company books {{2010s-gothic-novel-stub