Helpful Score: 3
I was initially interested in this book because, as an amateur genealogist, I am interested in cemeteries. I index for Family Search, a free site loaded with free searches for ancestors. Indexing for that site has given me a higher sense of the importance of information and history of documents, and has heightened my interest in history, including old cemeteries. So when I was offered this book about an old cemetery restorer for review, I was thrilled.
Amelia is a cemetery restoration professional and she can see ghosts. These aren't the warm fuzzy ghosts of some stories where a door is magically opened for them and they step inside after solving the problems they left behind when they died. These are, something goes bump, terrifying ghosts that Amelia, whose father also sees ghosts, has learned that she must ignore or they will draw energy from her. Enter John Devlin, a haunted man that Amelia has chemistry with, but must avoid, and you have the elements of a possible love story. The love story, however, is not central to the story - a murder mystery is central. Someone is leaving dead bodies in the cemetery that Amelia is working to restore.
All of the aforementioned elements make for a highly suspenseful story that sweeps you away from where you are into another world. This isn't one of those amateur sleuth, cozy mysteries - it's a nail-biting, edge of your seat read that kept me up way past my bedtime.
Sometimes we read a story and hate to turn the last page because you don't want to see it come to an end. This was one of those stories. Though this is the first book in a series, it can stand well on its own. For those of us who want to see more of Amelia and the mysteries of her personal life as well as her relationship with John Devlin, there are more books to come and Stevens leaves just enough room at the end of the story to anxiously await book two.
Amelia is a cemetery restoration professional and she can see ghosts. These aren't the warm fuzzy ghosts of some stories where a door is magically opened for them and they step inside after solving the problems they left behind when they died. These are, something goes bump, terrifying ghosts that Amelia, whose father also sees ghosts, has learned that she must ignore or they will draw energy from her. Enter John Devlin, a haunted man that Amelia has chemistry with, but must avoid, and you have the elements of a possible love story. The love story, however, is not central to the story - a murder mystery is central. Someone is leaving dead bodies in the cemetery that Amelia is working to restore.
All of the aforementioned elements make for a highly suspenseful story that sweeps you away from where you are into another world. This isn't one of those amateur sleuth, cozy mysteries - it's a nail-biting, edge of your seat read that kept me up way past my bedtime.
Sometimes we read a story and hate to turn the last page because you don't want to see it come to an end. This was one of those stories. Though this is the first book in a series, it can stand well on its own. For those of us who want to see more of Amelia and the mysteries of her personal life as well as her relationship with John Devlin, there are more books to come and Stevens leaves just enough room at the end of the story to anxiously await book two.
Helpful Score: 1
I read the novella The Abandoned about a month ago (e-book is free at this time on Amazon!) and the world that Amanda Stevens has created caught me and would not let go. I became so obsessed I finally had to drop everything I was reading to pick up The Restorer. This is an interesting, creepy, beautifully written book which I ate up in two days and still feel a little desperate to read more. I love books like that.
Amelia Gray can see ghosts, just like her adopted father. (Something weird there!) He has taught her four rules, all to keep her safe from hungry spirits who want what they no longer have, life. These four rules basically are to act as though you cannot see the ghosts and to stay far away from people who are personally haunted, ghosts hang around certain people and slowly feed off their warmth and vitality until there is nothing left but a shell of a person. Amelia is a cemetery restorer and working on a cemetery in Charleston where a murderer has left a dead body. Enter handsome and alluring John Devlin, a police detective and a man haunted by two ghosts. Amelia is pulled into working with him even though it is breaking one of her Papas rules, because she feels a deep pull towards him Id come here in the pursuit of the forbidden, though I had never done anything remotely reckless in my whole life. But we also find out from a lot of foreshadowing that things will never be the same for her again. Dun dun dun!!
It really is creepy. The setting is gorgeous, gothic and ethereal. Everything is in first person from Amelias POV. There are a bunch of characters whose motivation we dont understand and act like they are hiding something. There is a secret society implicated in a murder from 15 years before and possible connections between the current murderer and symbols on gravestones. There is also a dark evil entity in the woods. And after all that she throws out lines like, I was oblivious to the creak of my garden gate, the howl of my neighbors dog and the eyes that gleamed with madness peering in through my bedroom window as I slept. Gack! Thank goodness it was light out night when I read that!
The murder mystery is good, there is romance and longing and the action heats up, but the best part for me was the trail of breadcrumbs we are given about the people and places in Amelia's life. The detective Devlin and his past, her mother and father, her own abilities, Dr. Shaw, Temple and the settings themselves, both the graveyards and Charleston...these are fascinating people and places whom we don't know a lot about, but Steven's gives us just enough to tantalize so I want to read and know more. Steven's has perfected the art of giving her reader just enough to entice, enthrall and leave you wanting for more without it being too witholding. There are a lot of little mysteries left unknown at the end of The Restorer and I am excited to read The Kingdom to find out what is revealed! I give this book 4.5 stars. It really got under my skin!
Amelia Gray can see ghosts, just like her adopted father. (Something weird there!) He has taught her four rules, all to keep her safe from hungry spirits who want what they no longer have, life. These four rules basically are to act as though you cannot see the ghosts and to stay far away from people who are personally haunted, ghosts hang around certain people and slowly feed off their warmth and vitality until there is nothing left but a shell of a person. Amelia is a cemetery restorer and working on a cemetery in Charleston where a murderer has left a dead body. Enter handsome and alluring John Devlin, a police detective and a man haunted by two ghosts. Amelia is pulled into working with him even though it is breaking one of her Papas rules, because she feels a deep pull towards him Id come here in the pursuit of the forbidden, though I had never done anything remotely reckless in my whole life. But we also find out from a lot of foreshadowing that things will never be the same for her again. Dun dun dun!!
It really is creepy. The setting is gorgeous, gothic and ethereal. Everything is in first person from Amelias POV. There are a bunch of characters whose motivation we dont understand and act like they are hiding something. There is a secret society implicated in a murder from 15 years before and possible connections between the current murderer and symbols on gravestones. There is also a dark evil entity in the woods. And after all that she throws out lines like, I was oblivious to the creak of my garden gate, the howl of my neighbors dog and the eyes that gleamed with madness peering in through my bedroom window as I slept. Gack! Thank goodness it was light out night when I read that!
The murder mystery is good, there is romance and longing and the action heats up, but the best part for me was the trail of breadcrumbs we are given about the people and places in Amelia's life. The detective Devlin and his past, her mother and father, her own abilities, Dr. Shaw, Temple and the settings themselves, both the graveyards and Charleston...these are fascinating people and places whom we don't know a lot about, but Steven's gives us just enough to tantalize so I want to read and know more. Steven's has perfected the art of giving her reader just enough to entice, enthrall and leave you wanting for more without it being too witholding. There are a lot of little mysteries left unknown at the end of The Restorer and I am excited to read The Kingdom to find out what is revealed! I give this book 4.5 stars. It really got under my skin!
Helpful Score: 1
Amelia has been raised by her father to never acknowledge ghosts, whom attach themselves to the living they once knew or anyone who sees them, slowly draining the life and warmth of the living person.
Amelia has lived by the rules her father set and lived a quiet by lonely life, until one night, she meets up with Det. John Devlin whose haunted by his own ghosts, one of the rule her father dilled into head, never get involved with someone who is haunted. Amelia has not real choice in the matter in the beginning when a body of a young woman is found at the cemetery Amelia is restoring.
Amelia is drawn deeper in the case for the clues left by the killer that only she can interpret. This brings into her world a danger shes tried to avoid all her life, a door she may not be able to close. With many behind her, helping her, to seeking justice. Theres also another danger closer to her, and thats Devlin, that Amelia knows she cant let into her life, but feels their lives are tightly drawn together.
I loved this book. I had the second and third one on my wish list for the site but couldn't wait so ordered them from the internet at AbeBooks.com. I like hardcovers and this site had both books in hardcover and was very inexpensive. I was so intrigued about this story line and found that there will be a t.v. series and I found out she has three more to write in this series. Clean language...gotta love that.
Amelia has lived by the rules her father set and lived a quiet by lonely life, until one night, she meets up with Det. John Devlin whose haunted by his own ghosts, one of the rule her father dilled into head, never get involved with someone who is haunted. Amelia has not real choice in the matter in the beginning when a body of a young woman is found at the cemetery Amelia is restoring.
Amelia is drawn deeper in the case for the clues left by the killer that only she can interpret. This brings into her world a danger shes tried to avoid all her life, a door she may not be able to close. With many behind her, helping her, to seeking justice. Theres also another danger closer to her, and thats Devlin, that Amelia knows she cant let into her life, but feels their lives are tightly drawn together.
I loved this book. I had the second and third one on my wish list for the site but couldn't wait so ordered them from the internet at AbeBooks.com. I like hardcovers and this site had both books in hardcover and was very inexpensive. I was so intrigued about this story line and found that there will be a t.v. series and I found out she has three more to write in this series. Clean language...gotta love that.
Helpful Score: 1
Captivating story, it completely hooked me. I have always been a fan of Amanda Stevens, and she does not disappoint with this book. Amelia Gray is a great character with an intriguing story and an even more intriguing ability to see ghosts. Devlin is a great brooding lead character, and his ghosts add a great layer to the story. The Deep South Charleston history was an excellent backdrop for this drama to play out in, it added a great amount of Old World mystery. I don't want to give any spoilers, but I will say that just when I thought I had it figured out, I was thrown for a loop. This murder mystery had so many layers and I was surprised at who the killer really was. Can't wait to read the next in this series, I'm hoping that Devlin and Amelia's story will develop closer. It looks promising. If you can, you should read the e-book abandoned first, its a nice prequel to this series.
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Helpful Score: 1
I got an eGalley of this book through netgalley(dot)com. I was drawn to it by the haunting cover and the interesting synopsis. I absolutely loved this book. I loved the beautiful writing style, the engaging mystery, the wonderful characters, and the supernatural overtones to the story. My understanding is that this is the first book in a trilogy: Book 2 will be titled The Kingdom and is scheduled for a Nov 2011 release and book 3 will be titled The Prophet and is scheduled for a May 2012 release. There is also supposed to be a prequel story called "The Abandoned" which I plan on downloading soon.
Amelia restores graveyards for a living and was brought up by her father who was a Graveyard keeper. The only twist is; Amelia can actually see ghosts. Amelia has lived her life by a strict set of rules to prevent the ghosts from taking over her life. All those rules fly out the window during her current graveyard restoration. Amelia is restoring Oak Park Cemetery when a body is found on site; a fresh one. This brings Officer Devlin into Amelia's life. Devlin is mysterious and always accompanied by two mysterious ghosts. As Amelia is asked to act as a consultant for the investigation she is drawn deep into the politics and secrets that surround both the town and the graveyard.
I loved this book. The writing is full of beautiful description and is so lyrical; it was easy to read and created such beautiful imagery. There is a Southern Gothic feel to the story that gives it a unique and endearing flavor.
The characters were also wonderful. Amelia is a pretty down to earth girl, but she has rules she needs to follow and a sense of honor about her work. Devlin is a wonderfully brooding male lead and is shrouded in mystery that really keeps the reader wanting to know more. All of the characters in this book are interesting and well-fleshed out.
The mystery is masterfully woven. Details are slowly revealed and, as the mystery deepens, Amelia finds herself in more and more danger. I love how this plot was put together and how it unfolded. I loved how every clicked together so nicely in the end.
I wasn't sure if reading about a character who restores graveyards would be interesting but it really was. You can tell that Stevens did a lot of research on graveyard restoration and I enjoyed learning about what various symbolism meant on the gravestones and also learning about restoration techniques.
The main story thread is wrapped up neatly but some mysteries are left to be dealt with in the next book. This is my favorite kind of series: I love it when each book has its own story to tell but you also have a greater mystery that spans multiple books.
Overall I absolutely loved this book. I read it straight through, it was very hard to put down. I loved the beautiful descriptions and writing, the heartfelt and mysterious characters, and the masterful way the plot was woven together. I just pretty much loved everything about this book and cannot wait to read the next one in this series.
Amelia restores graveyards for a living and was brought up by her father who was a Graveyard keeper. The only twist is; Amelia can actually see ghosts. Amelia has lived her life by a strict set of rules to prevent the ghosts from taking over her life. All those rules fly out the window during her current graveyard restoration. Amelia is restoring Oak Park Cemetery when a body is found on site; a fresh one. This brings Officer Devlin into Amelia's life. Devlin is mysterious and always accompanied by two mysterious ghosts. As Amelia is asked to act as a consultant for the investigation she is drawn deep into the politics and secrets that surround both the town and the graveyard.
I loved this book. The writing is full of beautiful description and is so lyrical; it was easy to read and created such beautiful imagery. There is a Southern Gothic feel to the story that gives it a unique and endearing flavor.
The characters were also wonderful. Amelia is a pretty down to earth girl, but she has rules she needs to follow and a sense of honor about her work. Devlin is a wonderfully brooding male lead and is shrouded in mystery that really keeps the reader wanting to know more. All of the characters in this book are interesting and well-fleshed out.
The mystery is masterfully woven. Details are slowly revealed and, as the mystery deepens, Amelia finds herself in more and more danger. I love how this plot was put together and how it unfolded. I loved how every clicked together so nicely in the end.
I wasn't sure if reading about a character who restores graveyards would be interesting but it really was. You can tell that Stevens did a lot of research on graveyard restoration and I enjoyed learning about what various symbolism meant on the gravestones and also learning about restoration techniques.
The main story thread is wrapped up neatly but some mysteries are left to be dealt with in the next book. This is my favorite kind of series: I love it when each book has its own story to tell but you also have a greater mystery that spans multiple books.
Overall I absolutely loved this book. I read it straight through, it was very hard to put down. I loved the beautiful descriptions and writing, the heartfelt and mysterious characters, and the masterful way the plot was woven together. I just pretty much loved everything about this book and cannot wait to read the next one in this series.
