The Restorer by Amanda Stevens Series: Graveyard Queen, #1
Published by Mira on April 19th 2011
Genres: Ghosts, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy
Pages: 376
Format: Paperback
Source: Library
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Rating:
My name is Amelia Gray. I'm a cemetery restorer who sees ghosts. In order to protect myself from the parasitic nature of the dead, I've always held fast to the rules passed down from my father. But now a haunted police detective has entered my world and everything is changing, including the rules that have always kept me safe.
It started with the discovery of a young woman's brutalized body in an old Charleston graveyard I've been hired to restore. The clues to the killer, and to his other victims, lie in the headstone symbolism that only I can interpret. Devlin needs my help, but his ghosts shadow his every move, feeding off his warmth, sustaining their presence with his energy. To warn him would be to invite them into my life. I've vowed to keep my distance, but the pull of his magnetism grows ever stronger even as the symbols lead me closer to the killer and to the gossamer veil that separates this world from the next.
With the anticipation of Halloween on the horizon, I’ve been in the mood lately for some creepy ghostly reads. After witnessing several of my blogger friends review a new book by Amanda Stevens, I knew I had to go back to the beginning.
So I was introduced to The Restorer and Amelia Gray. Amelia grew up most of her life centering on graveyards. She also has a secret, she can see the ghosts. In order to protect herself from the dead, her father had passed out a very strict set of rules that she had held on to until John Devlin stepped into her life.
A body was uncovered in the cemetery that Amelia had been commissioned to restore and John thinks that there might be something in her pictures or her knowledge that might have them uncover the killer.
I absolutely enjoyed every bit of this book. It was perfect for the cold, gloomy, rainy days that we just got and made it impossible to put it down. The weather here, coupled with the writing of Stevens has made the book very atmospherically heavy. It added to the mood and the chills and thrills.
I liked Amelia and felt her character was very true to self for someone that was just tossed into a very different world. The connection between her and John makes me especially giddy for the upcoming books. John is haunted, he has his ghost, literally that follow him. It’s against Amelia’s rules to get attached to anyone who is haunted, but an unexplained attraction has both of them pulling towards each other. It complicates things, and really makes me wonder how it will play out.
The book was written well, the mystery was a bit dark, but it was the unexplained and the surroundings that gave me the most chills. I figured out who the killer is half way through the book, but it was still interesting to follow the characters as they unravel the secrets of the death and break the code that the killer keeps sending through the cemetery.
I felt like there was a bit of mystery left in the air about the order that was questioned in the book, and wonder if it is something that will become important or get addressed in other books.
I’ve been very happy lately, just sitting back and picking up books I’ve been in the mood to read, even if they are not ARCs. I’ve been impressed with Steven’s first book and already have the second one waiting to be read.
Memorable Quotes
“Don’t look at him.”
I turned in surprise. “You see him, too?”
“Yes, I see him. Now get back to work.”
“But who is he-”
“I said don’t look at him!”
“Do you mind?” Devlin cut in. “If it’s not too much trouble, I’d like to hear your initial assessment.”
“Of Amelia?” Regina gave me a wink. “Lovely girl, handled herself well on camera.”
“I’m talking about the remains,” he said drily.
“Oh, him. Dead as a doornail.”
“Why did you come here tonight?” I asked softly. “Earlier, you said I need to distance myself from the investigation.”
“And I meant it.”
“Then why are you here?”
“Because I can’t stay away.”
It’s nice for you that you can read them back to back. I read the first three and then there was such a long wait after the third book, I have forgotten so much. The order that you mentioned is rearing its head in these latter books, and I wish I could recall more of what happened in the first. Glad you are loving this series.
From bloggers that I follow, I have as well been wanting to pick up an Amanda Stevens book. But oddly for the halloween season I’ve had a craving for shape shifter stories, whether they be creepy, mysterious, or downright funny I want to read them lol.
I’m glad you you enjoyed this one. It’s been a while since I read it but I remember how different it felt. It’s a true-blue gothic novel and perfect for Halloween, for sure!
I didn’t know about this one, but it sounds like a perect read for the Halloween season! Thanks for the review!
I hadn’t heard of this one before, which is weird since by the time this was published, I was reading all the paranormal/fantasy books available. I’m such a scaredy cat though! I used to read paranormal books with no problem and now I can’t read them at night time or I won’t survive haha Great review!
Genesis Latte Nights Reviews
I have this book on my iPod to listen to very soon. I’m really glad you enjoyed it. I need to move this up my TBR. Great review.
These are so good 😀
I’m so excited you are starting this series, it is one of my favorites and definitely perfect for this time of year!
Yay!! You loved this one!! I have this book to read, too!!! I think I actually picked up the slightly used paperback at the library when I worked there 😉 That’s going to be hard, reading an actual BOOK!!! WOW!! But you’ve got me really interested now!!! Great review!!
This is on my TBR, can’t wait to get to it!!
Ooh, sexy and sinister, sounds like a brilliant read. It’s been so long since I’ve read something creepy and even though we don’t really celebrate Halloween, I’m always in the mood for a great thriller even being a little on the predictable side. Wonderful review Lily, so glad you enjoyed it <3
I need to still read these, too. I love how you describe the dark mystery and chills for this stories.
I’d not heard of this book before! The cover is what drew me to this post in particular - it’s very lovely, in a haunting way. I don’t really do horror or creepy, which is why I never really read Halloween-esque novels. This sounds like a great book! Maybe just not for me. 😀 *hides under a rock*
Wonderful review, Lily! =)
Alyssa @ The Eater of Books!
Love the sound of this one. I’d not heard of it before but I was caught by the job description of cemetery restorer! Perfect for this kind of spooky but not read. And different too. I’ve read a few books in this type of genre where the heroines are morgue attendants. Going to go see if I can pick myself up a copy. 🙂 Great review!
Woohoo! Glad you enjoyed it. You’re lucky to be able to read the series so close together.
Oh yes I really enjoy this series, the atmosphere, the characters and the investigation, everything is always so interesting! I hope you’ll enjoy the others too!
Oh wow this sounds amazing! I love paranormal books and I like that you said the mystery is a bit dark because I love dark too! I’m so glad you enjoyed this one. 😀 This is the perfect time of year for these creepy reads.
I do think you’ll enjoy this seres. It is so good! Plus one book does build from the one before. Happy reading!!
Wahoo!!! You cannot see me, but I just jumped up and twerked …bwahaha!
I picked up two Halloween cozies that I plan to read this month. Creepy and mysterious reads seem to be great for this time of the year. I am glad this one was a good one, the mystery sounds well done.
I have not read these books yet. Good review.
Oh I remember seeing this a long while back and thinking about it. Sounds pretty good and maybe not TOO scary for me. lol