Where to start with thoughts on Girl at the Grave? It might seem a little macabre, but I definitely picked this book up because of the promised blend of murder and romance. When those two things are well combined in a historical fiction novel, that's my perfect storm. I hoped for a dark and atmospheric story line, since Valentine's past was so riddled with mystery. For the most part, I was definitely given what I hoped for! I just had a few qualms, and I'll outline them below.

Before I say anything else, I should disclose that I am not a fan of love triangles. That's not to say that I don't think they're occasionally necessary for story movement, or acknowledge that others out there love them. It's simply my own personal preference that characters don't beat around the bush when it comes to love interests. So, take my opinions on the romance portion of this book with a grain of salt.

For the most part, I loved everything about our characters. Black does a superb job of fleshing out each one them, and making them feel as realistic as possible. They have real human emotions and, equally valid, evoked the same emotions in me while I read. Valentine's whole persona had me enraptured, and I honestly felt like she did a lot of growing as the story went on. Character growth, for the win! Which is why I was so annoyed by the whole whole love triangle aspect of her romantic life. It was pretty obvious to me who she would end up with, so it felt unnecessary and bogged down the story line. Again though, that's just me. You might love it!

While the plot here is admittedly slow moving, sometimes to a frustrating degree, I can say that it definitely allows the Gothic atmosphere to shine. It weaves an eerie aura around Valentine and her two love interests, and creates ample opportunity for what felt like realistic conversations between them. I would have loved a little more forward movement, but I can't fault the story for what it accomplished. This book is heavy on the tension, and that is enticing in itself. In fact, depending on what you tend to pick up books for, this story might actually appeal to a lot of historical fiction readers out there. The setting is vivid, and the characters are too. If only the plot had picked up a bit, it would have been perfection for me.

Overall, this was a really solid read. I enjoyed my time spent with Valentine, and unraveling the secrets of her past. I loved the atmosphere that Black created, and the character development that she so expertly executed. I give this story a solid three stars, and I'd definitely recommend it. ( )

I received a free copy of Girl at the Grave as part of the FFBC Blog Tour in exchange for an honest review.

Enter the GIVEAWAY on my blog, Absolute Bookishness. (Ends 11/2/2017.)

After enduring years of sidelong glances and vicious whispers of rumors, seventeen-year-old Valentine Deluca has made peace with her mother’s inescapable, dark legacy: the murder of Nigel Blackshaw. Bending under the weight of Isabella Barron Deluca’s crime and society’s opinions and expectations all while caring for and carving out a name for herself, Valentine haunts the graveyard where so many secrets rest and dreams of the day she can help others less fortunate than even she. But Valentine’s world is turned upside down when the Reverend Mr. Oliver reveals that, according to another witness present that fateful night, her mother may have been innocent.

Now, whoever confessed to the reverend is having second thoughts and cleaning up loose ends. There’s a killer on the prowl and all signs point to Valentine. To clear her mother’s and her own name and find justice for victims new and old, Valentine will have to investigate a series of decades-old crimes surrounding a mother she barely knew. To do so, she will need to rely on her mysterious benefactor, her best friend Sam Frye, and a new, unexpected ally Rowan Blackshaw, Nigel’s only son, among others.

Valentine must keep her wits about her as she navigates both past and present, puzzling through local gossip and piecing together fractured memories. She soon discovers that she must be willing to consider the least likely suspects, even when suspicion falls too close to home.

Black deftly creates a complex tale of deadly games, deception, and greed featuring a determined and resilient female lead so as to seize the reader’s attention until all secrets are laid bare. Valentine is real: a young girl with intellect, compassion, and aspirations to emulate a social reformist, Dorothea-Dix-type role model. And her limitations and weaknesses are painfully apparent. But what she lacks in skill and experience, Valentine makes up for with resourcefulness and allies, including her friends turned love interests–Sam and Rowan.

Black eloquently commands an era much like our own with writing and dialog that facilitate the story’s pace with ease. She describes a world where women struggle to find a voice and maintain an independence, a control over their lives (and property). A world where the mentally ill are mistreated and criminalized. Where the haves manipulate the have nots, the few concentrating and wielding power over the many. A world where youths are forced to suffer the burdens of their elders, and the innocent, too often, endure the punishment intended for the guilty.

Black crafts a convoluted plot filled with love, ambition, and murder that will intrigue readers for the very first page to the very last. Still, soft spots linger in what would otherwise be a pretty solid plot and its subplots. (Suffice it to say, weak motives spur the one murder the started it all, the chain of events that eventually threaten Valentine, her family, and her friends when the story begins. Motives not likely to inspire murder–by the culprit responsible anyway.) Black makes up for this by creating a somewhat unreliable protagonist and offering us three of the least-suspected culprits, mentioned since the beginning of the book but most likely overlooked, which help keep the secrets buried longer and the mysteries unraveling slowly.

Girl at the Grave is a captivating pre-American Civil War era mystery that will keep the reader guessing until the end.

The original review was posted on Absolute Bookishness. ( )

It has been many years since I have read such a compelling, total baffling historical romance/mystery!
Throughout the book, I was constantly changes my theories on "Who did it"!
This very talented author captivates the reader's interest from the very first page, then slowly builds the intrigue and mystery of the plot until the very last two pages!
The characters immediately became familiar to s reader, with a perfect mix for the time period. The scenes were vivid and easily visualized. A definite connection between the reader and the story was almost immediate - which is an accomplishment most authors struggle to do, and few succeed.
The Book cover and Title were attractive and well-chosen.
I enjoy many series but it is nice to read a book occasionally that appears to be a "stand alone", although the lives of these individuals could continue very interestingly. Whether the author intends to allow the reader to imagine the future of these individuals or will continue in her journey with sequels, we'll just need to await for her next novel, which I hope is soon!
She is definitely "in the running" for a new "favorite"!!
Young Adults and Adults alike will thrill in being caught up in this amazing mystery! It is even totally "clean"!
I offer a solid Five Stars rating*This book was gifted to me with no request for a positive review. This is my honest review. ( )

Girl at the Grave by Teri Bailey Black
Source: NetGalley
My Rating: 3½/5 stars

**MINI-REVIEW**

The Bottom Line: It took me a very long time to get through this book, in large part because of the tremendously slow start. I didn’t want to DNF this title and am glad I stuck with it as the last third of this book really kicked and got good. At its heart, Girl at the Grave is the story of an unfortunate young lady suffering for the sins of her elders. If the rumors and innuendo are to be believed, Valentine’s family, most of whom are long dead, committed grave sins which have cast a long shadow Valentine is forced to walk in daily. What’s more, the sins and secrets of the past have begun to creep into the present causing Valentine to question everything she has ever been told and believed. As events unfold and Valentine begins to put all the pieces together, she risks everything, including her life to uncover the truth and right the wrongs of the past and the present.

Once this book picked up speed, I didn’t want to put it down, but it took a great deal of page turning to get to that point. Had I tried to read this book in a single go, I think it would have ended up on the DNF list because of the slow start. However, I had hope for this read and quite like Valentine, so I wanted to give it every chance. To that end, I often set this book aside and read something else before going back to Girl at the Grave. My patience and hope were rewarded, and I found the unfolding of events in the last third of the book, the uncovering of the truths to be quite interesting and rather satisfying. I quite like it when everyone, good and bad get exactly what they deserve, and this book delivered. I would encourage readers to give this book a try, but near in mind, you’re going to have to slog through the slow to get to the good. ( )