Grave Secrets by Alice James is the first book in The Lavington Windsor Mysteries and piqued my interest when the book blurb indicated it is Agatha Raisin meets Sookie Stackhouse, with croquet and zombies. The summary of the book made it sound like it would be a lot of fun and quirky enough to keep my interest. The sad truth though is the characters were under developed, the romance was eh, the murder mystery was a sub-sub-sub-plot of the story and I just struggled through most of it.

The good parts. The main character Toni is interesting enough. She raises the dead as a necromancer and is pretty strong as a necromancer, but really doesn’t know what that means. She has a few good friends and a loving cop brother who sometimes has her revive victims of crimes to find out who dun it. There are vampires in this world and in America, it is pretty much stake them on sight is the motto, but in England they are a protected class. I was enjoying the beginning enough and then we meet the vampire love interest and it was really all downhill from there.

Now the stuff that didn’t work for me. The romance is just smashed together, literally. There is no build up, there is no tension. Toni meets Oscar, they go on one half date and then they are in love. The MC spends way more time with the vampire’s number one guy Peter than she ever spends with the Vampire so I really never bought into the relationship or her devotion to him. Toni is also really squeamish about letting Oscar bite her, it was just so strange, she’d have sex with him but be totally creeped out by the biting.

So, the romance didn’t work for me, all the men seem to want to sleep with or grope Toni and the murder mystery was so back burner it was practically non-existent. I just would have appreciated some more character development, better scene transitioning, more time spent on the case and general build up to the story.

Not really my cup-o-stuff but for early reviewers I seem to be in the minority so it is working for a lot of people.

https://lynns-books.com/2020/08/31/grave-secrets-the-lavington-windsor-mysteries-1-by-alice-james/
3 of 5 stars
My Five Word TL:DR Review : Sookie Stackhouse meets Bridget Jones

Grave Secrets is the start of a new series involving romance, vampires, murder and necromancy. I requested this one because it promised something fun and light and in that respect it does exactly what it sets out to do.

Toni (Lavington) Windsor is a real estate agent from Staffordshire. By day she’s a bubbly, vivacious character with a head full of curls and snippy comebacks – at night she sneaks into the local graveyard to raise the dead. Toni is a necromancer, she has to keep her strange ability to herself because necromancers are feared and hated in equal measure by vampires who in the past have hunted them down and killed them whenever possible. And, yes, vampires are an accepted part of this world. They live in the open (in Europe at least) and have an accord that allows them to live amongst humans (although there was a lot of deaths in this book alone that did give me pause for thought about how comfortably the two really can live together). As the story begins Toni is seeking a property for a vampire, a hot, sexy vampire who wants a remote property with lots of cellar space. At the same time Toni begins to experience trouble, people trying to kidnap her and all sorts of other shenanigans and the body count starts to rise.

This was a fun read, fast paced, a trifle silly maybe in places, but it was the sort of light popcorn read that I wanted at that particular time and so it fit the bill. I did have a few issues and at this point I’m not entirely sure if those can be laid at the door of first ‘book in series syndrome’. I would probably pick up No.2 to see how things develop though.

Firstly, the plot. It felt a little scattered to me. There is a mystery but it mostly revolves around vampire politics, not a cosy murder mystery which is the vibe I was originally picking up. That being put to one side, I enjoyed the writing style and the injection of humour and the pace definitely has legs.

The characters. Well, and this does sometimes happen for me, I found myself liking the peripheral characters rather than the main couple. So, for example, I really liked one of the characters that Toni kept raising from the grave, and I liked the old lady with the chocolate box cottage who loved to bake, but I felt that Toni was very blaize towards people in general, death and the like didn’t seem to really have an impact on her and considering some of the scrapes she got into I think I would have liked to see a bit more emotion. That, together with the instantaneous ‘love’ between Toni and the client she’s finding a house for didn’t really endear me to either of them. Particularly as, whenever Toni was being harassed by the vampire ‘boss’ her would-be boyfriend seemed to be nothing more than an idle bystander.

In terms of the world building. It’s a little skimpy. I would like to know more about Toni’s abilities which for the moment seem to be accredited quite simply to the ‘some people can and some people can’t’ school of thought. I don’t particularly have a problem with that and it’s possible that more information may be forthcoming as the series progresses.

I realise that probably all sounds a little negative, which isn’t really my intention. I can see this building up into a good fun series . I think it need a few things ironing out, particularly with Toni and her boyfriend because I’m not buying into that particular romance at all at the moment, but, if the author succeeds in generating a little more chemistry and sizzle then this could be a winner for many readers.

A UK-style Sookie Stackhouse with a character not completely unlike Bridget Jones and a few vampire and zombies thrown in for good measure.

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publishers, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

This was a light, fun read. I'm not really a romance fan so this was not my normal book. The romance was the least interesting storyline for me. Except for being "hot, hot, hot," Oscar seemed boring, especially for a vampire. Totally undeserving of the perky Toni. The rest of the characters are way more interesting. I'm sure tons of people are going to love this series!

DNF at 45%

Grave Secrets is a humorous and fun adventure, but there were a few aspects that put me off and, after looking through some other reviews, motivated my decision to DNF.

First, the good. James certainly has a unique voice; I can't say I've ever read something quite like this. The writing style is very informal and very British. As an American, there were a number of seemingly inside jokes and other phrases that I didn't get, but this didn't lessen my enjoyment. The pacing is nonstop (perhaps a little too much so for me, as I'll explain below) and left me constantly eager to read the next chapter.

I also liked the characters. Toni, our protagonist, constantly jumps in to things head first, which often leads to trouble. She's a pretty typical girl (aside from the necromancer thing) but still manages to hold her own among the ongoing murder and mayhem. Bredon, her polite zombie friend, is my favorite character despite how little we see of him. He and Peter, my second favorite character, are rather thoughtful and constantly have Toni's back.

All this sounds great, right? So what's the problem?

Remember how I said this book moves fast? That remains true with the romance, which just didn't work for me. I'm totally down for a sexy vampire love interest, and I can typically deal with instalove even if it's not my favorite. But that's because instalove typically occurs between two people who are perfect for each other. In my opinion, Toni and Oscar are far from that. He's pushy and doesn't exactly respect boundaries (leading to some dubious consent). And while most of the time Toni is relatively logical and self-sufficient, when it comes to Oscar she just goes along with things because, apparently, its inevitable that they'll end up married. (Though to me that seems like even more of a reason to establish boundaries up front.) When I realized I was shipping Toni more with several other people (one of which is an insatiable zombie) than with her actual love interest, I decided I was unlikely to get much satisfaction from the remainder of the book.

Beyond the romance, there were a couple of other contributing factors. The plot was heading in a direction I didn't really care about (I was more interested in the murder mystery than in the political machinations between various vampires clans), Toni was revealed to be [an uber-powerful necromancer which seemed like it was gonna be an easy excuse for her to defeat the ancient evil vampires (hide spoiler)], and sexual harassment was constantly brushed off in an almost humorous manner. Three men introduced so far were well known serial gropers, including Toni's boss, and apparently there was nothing to be done about it but to try to avoid giving them the opportunity. (I understand that at times women can't afford to report these offenses, but I still would prefer it to be taken more seriously.)

If you're looking to spend a few hours with a fast-paced, funny, and romantic paranormal adventure that doesn't require too much brain power, Grave Secrets might be great for you (depending on your tolerance for the portrayal of sexual harassment and dubious consent). I certainly found enjoyment in the story despite all of my complaints and could see myself finishing it if I were in a different mood, but I doubt it would have warranted over 3 stars.

Many thanks to Rebellion publishing and Netgalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the blurb, and the full title, however the book did not live up to my expectations. I definitely enjoyed the idea behind the story and characters more than the actual execution. I couldn’t connect with the characters, and I really wanted more. It felt very superficial to me. Lastly the dialogue kept taking me of the world because it felt stilted and unnatural.

The premise sounded like it would be right up my ally, but unfortunately it ended up being not for me.

I felt no connection whatsoever to the characters. I found majority of the book ridiculous and not in a good way. I couldn't be less invested in what was going on and the romance was too fast for my liking. It also took me way too long to finish because I kept putting it down.

Sure it had its moments and was cute in some parts ; and i'm sure many people will love it, but like I said it just wasn't for me.

Thoroughly enjoyable fun, frolics and mayhem with a Necromancer and a Vampire or three. What’s not to love.

Will definitely look out for the next Lavington Windsor Mystery.

Thank you to netgalley & the publishers for this early read.
I thought this book based on its description was going to be a cosy mystery, but it wasn't.
I would describe it as a paranormal romance which sadly wasn't for me.

Grave Secrets is the first book in the Lavington Windsor Mysteries, and it was so much fun!

Romance is a genre I’m not very well versed in, that being said this was enjoyable paired with an urban fantasy setting. Grave Secrets has a lovely blend of light horror, mystery and a swoon-worthy romance. It’s super fast paced, with epic fight scenes. There’s necromancy, zombies and vampires. What more do you need?

Grave Secrets is out 1st September 2020!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the copy in exchange for an honest review.

Many thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced readers copy of #GraveSecrets.

Based on the cover of this book, and the description, I really thought I was going to be reading some sort of a cozy mystery. It was not. But I was not disappointed! In my opinion this was a really nice paranormal romance. (With a little sex thrown in, but not too much).

It's basically about a necromancer named Lavington Windsor, AKA "Toni", who sells real estate by day and raises the dead by night. Her best friend is a zombie named Bredon. In the course of selling a home to a vampire named Oscar, she runs into trouble with a team of vampire mobsters, but also finds love and friendship on unexpected places. I really liked Toni's character as well as Oscar's "servant" Peter.

The story was fast paced and held my interest throughout. It came to a nice conclusion in the end but definitely left me anxious for more. This was the author's first novel and first of a series. I will definitely be on the lookout for the next book!

I really think the cover will probably be changed later because this one doesn't quite do it justice!

'That very night, I planned to raise Bredon Havers from the dead...'

This first volume (of many, I hope) in The Lavington Windsor mysteries proved a real breath of fresh air. Taking in necromancy, zombies, vampires and protagonist Lavington 'Toni' Windsor's quest for a boyfriend who... just isn't rubbish... the story is set in rural Staffordshire in a reality slightly different from ours, one where vampires are grudgingly tolerated in Europe, but not in the USA. Consequently many have come looking for refuge - and naturally, they need homes.

Toni's day job, as an estate agent, involves meeting this need. As you'd expect there are some rather special requirements. And not unsurprisingly, there are also those who object to the vampires' presence. Sometimes, they object rather forcefully.

Estate agent by day, necromancer by night, Toni finds both sides of her life coming together. And there may just be progress on the boyfriend front as well.

We see her juggling work, relationships, caring for an elderly neighbour and fitting in time for her weird hobby down at the graveyard. It's a very modern life, down to fending off the gropey boss and coping with the works do. Oh, and conjuring up the dead offers some benefits - so when Toni's brother, a police constable, needs help clearing up a murder, she's on hand for that, too.

The book packs so much in: a resourceful and determined heroine, some pretty steamy sex scenes, political violence and even organised crime. Also some epic fights, which frequently see Toni lose her clothing (seriously - count the number of times her outfits are ruined). Behind all this there are hints about Toni's own past - clearly there are mysteries there to be unpacked in future books - and a very sad story of corruption and abuse of power.

Toni is a likeable protagonist who comes into her own when forced to get closer than she'd like to a pack of vampires. While they may be clients, Toni doesn't exactly get on well with most of them, so negotiating the web of semi-feudal obligations that fall on her as part of the coterie is not easy (as is avoiding breakfast - BEING breakfast, that is). It's actually a pretty thoughtful examination of the vampires' way of life and involves a lot of credible worldbuilding, aided by the book's being grounded in Toni's believable, everyday life.

All in all, an involving and fun book and it's top be hoped there will be many more to come.

This was a quick and quirky read. I enjoyed the storyline of the MC being a necromancer and also a real estate agent who sells homes to vampires. There was also a love triangle going on and I thought the Jane Doe storyline was interesting. However, I couldn't find myself connecting with the characters. I liked the idea of the storyline and characters more than I actually liked them. The story felt shallow to me and I wanted there to be more.

I will say that it is different and quirky which is nice. It looks like it's going to be a series so perhaps more of the storylines will be fully fleshed out in the next book.

I was lucky to get an ARC of this book.

I found it a decent read in a world that provided a good backdrop to the story.

Grave Secrets was a really interesting read! I love me a good vampire story and that is kind of what I got here.

I found the actual story and plot to be really unique and fun. An estate agent who NOT ONLY raises the dead during her time off but ALSO sells places to vampires?? Like okay, sign me up!

Where this book lost me was the dialogue. I just did not mesh with the conversations all the characters had. They felt kind of cold and not personal. I did not like the vampire romantic interest. He was just not for me? I didn't like the way he spoke or treated the MC. I felt it was too twilighty. It seemed like the entire relationship was built in 1 day and all that mattered was sex.. which can be okay but in this case it didn't work. All of a sudden they are in love and I didn't even feel a connection. I don't know, it didn't work for me.

I will say though, I felt the story was entertaining and I did like the vampire element. I LOVED the undead element and how the MC raises the dead. I think my favourite character in this book was a zombie!

I would recommend this book if you enjoy a twilight style story with a twist!

"Agatha Raisin meets Sookie Stackhouse, with croquet and zombies.

Toni Windsor is trying to live a quiet life in the green and pleasant county of Staffordshire. She'd love to finally master the rules of croquet, acquire a decent boyfriend and make some commission as an estate agent.

All that might have to wait, though, because there are zombies rising from their graves, vampires sneaking out of their coffins and a murder to solve.

And it's all made rather more complicated by the fact that she's the one raising all the zombies. Oh, and she's dating one of the vampires too. Really, what's a girl meant to do?"

I was really hankering for some Sookie Stackhouse recently, but wanted something new, enter Alice James and Toni Windsor!

Lavington "Toni" Windsor can raise the dead, literally. She started young and, if she were to say so herself, pretty darn good at it. When not engaging in her hobby, she works as an estate agent. Her present task is to find a suitable home for a new vampire in town, Oscar. One look and Toni is hooked. Not necessarily a good thing: vampires kill necromancers! Oops.
There were quite a few laugh out loud moments. Oh, yes, and Toni is to dresses what Stephanie Plum is to cars!
Her brother the police officer has used Toni's talents to help identify the dead, strictly off the books. However, she has had no success with a dead woman with means of identify left.
And then there are the kidnappers after Toni. Can't a girl catch a break once in a while? Sheesh!
I liked the English setting and the fact that the text was not Americanized. I really liked Bredon. I trust he will make more appearances in future books.
On the whole, I really enjoyed Grave Secrets and I look forward to reading more from Alice James.

📖 Book Review:
Grave Secrets By Alice James 😱🧟‍♂️⚰️❤️
(Urban Fantasy)
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫 4.2

Sassy, witty, charming, mysterious and downright sexy! Grave Secrets had me enchanted by the many mysteries and intriguing characters, that had more than a few hidden depths. Alice James has written the perfect blend of mystery and light horror, twists and turns, without giving into vampire and zombie stereotypes. A modern spin on a classic genre. You might lose more than your head in this thrilling debut. Move over Buffy there's a new lady in town... a fiery red head with a handful of salt and a heart full of vengeance.

The plot was continually fast paced, until towards the end and therefore I struggled slightly to finish. But other than that I thoroughly enjoyed Grave Secrets 🙂, there is swoon worthy romance and some very steamy scenes.

Toni Windsor aspires for a peaceful countryside life in Staffordshire, but she's got another thing coming! Her goals: learn the fine art of Croquet, attain a 'decent' boyfriend and finally achieve a commission as an estate agent. But zombies are rising, heads are flying, sexy vampires rioting and murders multiplying. Matters complicate more when Toni continues her art of necromancy, oh and she just so happens to be dating a vampire!

Out September 2020!

'To be continued'... with more books in the series to come, cross everything but your stake if you want to see the next! ➕😉

Thank you to #Netgalley, #Rebellionpublishing and of course #AliceJames , for sending me such a unique and engrossing debut novel. You can guarantee Grave Secrets has won a place in my heart, as well as my book shelves. I look forward to the next book in the series. 😊👍

Lavington (Toni) Windsor is a necromancer- she goes to her local graveyard at night to summon the dead so she can have a little chat. By day she is an estate agent. All rather normal so far (!) so when you add in vampires, zombies and gallons of blood you end up with Grave Secrets, one of the most entertaining books I have read in a while.

Now normally this is not the type of book I would have picked up but thanks to Netgalley I have discovered a fabulous new talent. Funny, gory and even romantic. I am so looking forward to the rest of the series

Grave Secrets is a entertaining page-turner. This is what we are looking when we want to read some light UF with a topping of romance. Also, expensive cars, looots of drinking and not whining narrator.

Grave Secrets is about a real estate agent/necromancer woman Lavington (Toni) Windsor. She occupied her grandfather's house. She lives in a world where vampires came out of closet several years ago and made legal citizens approximately four years ago in the certain parts of the world . Europe, being the center of civilisation, accepted them but America preferred a stake to heart approach because of a bad vampire group.

Toni learned methods of necromancy from her grandfather but it is really about power, so her cop brother Will does not have her gift. Every night she rises the dead out of compulsion and sometimes she helps her brother to solve murders by calling the dead ones from grave or morgue table.

When a vampire named Oscar asks her services for a house, Toni is attacked by a anti vampire group, luckily she holds her own and survives with several scratches but mysteriously there are murders and a blooming romance and savage vampires that came from America.

What I liked most about Toni is that she does not despair, she loses interest what other people are saying very quickly and have no fear. She is snappy, fierce and comfortable with her own sexuality. But sometimes her fearlessness made me question the book and I assumed that when you rise dead every night, you see it just part of your day. And "That is the most British thing ever" jokes were plenty but not too much. so I liked that classic bit too.

❝We really needed to get to first names soon. Still, we were both English and it had only been five years...❞

Of course, when I was reading it, I could not keep myself comparing worlds of Toni Windsor and Anita Blake. Where as Hamilton describes the gruesome details about animated corpses vividly, rotting pieces and whatnot, James does not go into that, just brushes briefly and prefers more spiritual approach. And the animated bodies were more friendly and can eat almost anything. Also for now, magical world limited to necromancers and vampires and mentioned demons. I wonder if there will be witches and shapeshifters.

At first, we do not realise that this is a creatures-of-the-night-are-known-to-world kinda book. It would be nice for the reader if the world was introduced more deeply from beginning. But in the following pages, we learn what it is and what is not. So this is a matter of preference and maybe I am used to explaining narration more. Also necromancy can be worked better in my honest opinion. Magic just happens here and there are gaps to be filled in. Maybe James will go into that better in the second book.

One more good thing about Grave Secrets is that I had no trouble keeping up with the story and the world that is created. It is not brushed but weaved nicely, though this is James' debut. That really surprised me and I am really curious what she will come up with in the future for us.

Grave Secrets includes very diverse characters without making them stand out, which is very nice. Maybe that is the English way also?

To be honest, romance part left questions marks on my mind.Oscar is a nice character but amour between them developed way too early and fast. Also there are too many men who could be more. Peter, Benedict. When Benedict says that Oscar is impulse, I agree with him. James needs to decide who is the main interest.

As an addition, this book wraps up nicely, even at the ends you won't imagine. So in that regard, It has a fulfilling end.

Grave Secrets is really for the fans of Sookie Stackhouse. Also for the Undead series of MaryJanice Davidson.

Thank you Rebellion for approving my request for an ARCs. Got a new series to keep an eye on.

Decent plot.
One dimensional characters.
Good for middle school age children!