Brilliantly funny and entertaining paranormal mystery, featuring a lady necromancer who uses her talent to help hr policeman brother to solve crimes. Witty, engaging and fast paced, this is going to be a great series.

This book is absolutely ridiculous. I mean that as a good and a bad thing. The plot, the characters, the situations they find themselves in are hilarious and unique. I’ve never read anything like it. However, that for me was the only aspect of this book that kept me going. The events were so all over the place that by the end nothing seemed exciting. The final scene, which of course should be this incredible event, was pretty lackluster. I didn’t relate to any of the characters and although they entertained me, I didn’t connect enough for me to really care about what was happening. 

Ultimately I think certain readers will enjoy this book, it just depends on the style of writing you enjoy. Because I didn’t connect, I didn’t love it. I think though that the conversations between characters was creative and charming, so if you like your books to read like a rollercoaster, you may really enjoy this! Unfortunately, this is a pass for me.

This was a great beginning to a new series, Toni is a necromancer, who helps her policeman brother with some of his cases by raising the dead to ask them questions. She also has recently met a vampire and fallen in love with him. Oh and because of her involvement with the vampires she has been targeted by an anti-vampire group. Luckily her zombie friend saves her. I am hoping that she ends up with either Peter or Benedict. For some reason I just didn't warm up to Oscar as Toni's love interest. Although that could change in future books. 

This book is said to be like sookie stackhouse, not having read that series I could say if thats true or not. But it did give me slight vibes from the Anita Blake series. At least from the point that both main characters are necromancers that are compelled to raise the dead, and well they both love vampires. It did have a lot of fun, and sass thrown in which I loved.. Also they mystery was well done, and I loved that Toni takes charge and does what she thinks is right. 
I would definitely like to continue the series.. 
I did receive this arc in exchange for an honest review.

This book was just plain fun :)  all matters of the undead...dead...living...a good bit of humor and you've got yourself a wild ride ;)  This is a great start for anew series, and I am looking forward to many more!

Estate agent by day, by night Toni feels a Compulsion (note the capital) to raise the dead as zombies.  Then she gets a vampire client to find a house for, and things start to get complicated quickly.

There is lots to like about this book - lots of humour and plenty of action, much of it gory.  The vampires plot and scheme in various sinister and convoluted ways and both they and the zombies behead and maim with abandon.  Toni isn't perfect but she's likeable and she really carries the book along.

The romance let the book down though.  Not only did she and Oscar fall in love after spending barely any time together, he tried to mesmerise her 'for her own good' (UGH) and the first time they fell into bed?  I didn't like the vibe there at all.  In fact, I think Oscar was my least favourite character in the book.  The rest of her friends were fine though and her new zombie friend Bredon Havers was excellent - and even Benedict has potential. 

This book wraps up all its loose ends, but it is clearly the start of a series and I certainly liked it enough to look out for the next one.

Toni Windsor is a bit of a hot mess. Living in her family home in the countryside, trying to make it as a real estate agent. And, oh, by the way, raising zombies at night to help out her cop brother with his murder investigations.

Vampires have come out of dark. The US is violently anti-vamp so Europe is seeing an influx of vamps as they flee to Europe with its more accepting laws. But now there are turf wars as the fleeing vamps encroach on territories established for centuries.

In between kidnappings and raising her new zombie friend, Toni falls in love with a gorgeous vampire. Even better, Oscar likes her back. What’s not so great is that he keeps trying to drink her blood. Ugh.

Utterly charming with quippy banter, Toni was a delight to read about. I’m excited to see what happens next in the series.

Thanks to NetGalley and Solaris for the DRC.

This book has so much potential but it is crushed under the weight of all the cliches the author has loaded on. It starts very promising, very much a Sookie Stackhouse meets Bridget Jones situation which I loved. But by the end, it’s just another cheesy vampire romance with every man lusting after the protagonist. I’m very disappointed.


I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not paid for this review.

I really enjoyed this book, great characters especially the main one and lots of things going on.The pace of the book was good and so was the writing it gets 5 stars from me and I want to read more.

An exciting new series, full of Zombies and Vampires.
Lavington (Toni) Winsor is an estate agent by day, and by night she raises the occupants of the local cemetery, following her family tradition of being a necromancer. 
Her brother is a policeman; she has helped him on Murder cases by talking to the dead victims.
Her best friend is a 250-year-old zombie, and she is dating a vampire, what could possibly go wrong?
The plot is pacy and has a lot going on, the sex and violence are quite explicit and certainly beef up the storyline.

I want to thank NetGalley, Rebellion and author Alice James for a pre-publication to review.

Absolutely loved this book, a very British heir to True Blood. It's a stonking read full of dark humour, sex mad vampires, romantic zombies and one hell of a feisty human heroine.  Alice James has a masterfully touch which is a real delight to read. Feel like she has created a new niche in Village Gothic. Can't wait to see where she takes this series. When is the next book due please?

What a fun book! There was so so much to love. This book isn't like other paranormal mysteries I've read. First, Toni was a very badass main character. Full of sass and confidence, she told everyone exactly how she felt, but in a fun and not over the top way. I liked that she was fully capable of and even enjoyed using her powers - that was refreshing to read.  I don't want to give too much away, but the book is full of fresh characters that I am excited to read more about. 

The mystery/suspense aspect was done well, and kept me on my toes! I never really feared for her, so that was new too. The only thing I didn't buy was the romance, I am hoping it goes the way it seems to be setting up for, but it was a lot at first. 

I can't wait to read what's next for Toni and vampires. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this early!

I can honestly say that I've never read a book like it.  I was hooked from the first paragraph - the first sentence in fact.  The whole book is delightful, it made me laugh, it made me cringe and it made me want Lavington's life.

Loved it - please write more.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher I read an advance review copy.  This review is voluntary, honest and my own opinion.

This book was amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!! Full of wit and charm, vampires and zombies, murder and mayhem!!!

I loved the pace of this book.  She had many characters that stand out front.  I can identify with the protagonist in a way.  I have many times stood by a grave and wondered what they might have looked like or what was their life like.  She touched on this desire and brought a character up and told us a bit about one.   I felt like I was reading a Charlaine Harris or Janine Frost book.   I had to stay up late on the last half of the book and finish it.

This book was an absolute breath of fresh air!  I've seen it compared to 'True Blood' which I can understand in terms of the subject matter and the feisty heroine, but I think this is something different again.  The fact that the main character, Lavington Windsor, has powers of her own as a necromancer and the (rather British) humour in the book make this an engaging and unusual read even compared to the Sookie Stackhouse series.

The novel follows necromancer Lavington as she leads a dual life:  estate agent by day, raising the occupants of the local cemeteries by night.  Even before she gets involved with vampires, or more specifically the gorgeous Oscar, her life is pretty odd.  Once she gets caught up in finding vampire real estate and a romance with Oscar, her life takes a dangerous turn.

What makes this book unusual is that it looks like a cosy read but is actually far from;  the sex and violence is actually quite explicit and surprising, although it fits perfectly in the book.  The humour is also a nice surprise and I found myself being pleasantly pulled along by Lavington's narrative voice.  The plot is pacy and there is a lot going on - a second book is definitely needed to iron out some of the plot strands!  However, if it is anything like this book, a second book will be eagerly awaited.

I should add that this really is not my usual genre of choice so it has really won me over!

Grave Secrets was a fun and fluffy urban fantasy / paranormal romance. Despite there being mystery in the title, this is not a mystery and marketing it as such does a disservice to the book as I went in with incorrect expectations. The mystery is a framing mechanism at the start and end of the book and gives you background on the Toni and her brother, which is nice. However, the overwhelming plot is the new American vampires who have moved into the neighborhood and who are threatening Toni and the resident vampires. My favorite character mind Toni was Parker. I really liked how that story line appears to be resolving and some of Toni’s hesitancy seems realistic. The main love interest is a bit flat and one-dimensional but that is credible and adds to some of the other characters concerns about the relationship. All in all, it was a very fast read. It was charming and quirky and the zombies were a clever touch. I look forward to more in the series.

I really enjoyed this book. 

Lavington (Toni) Windsor is an estate agent living in Staffordshire living a thoroughly modern life  but she also happens to be a necromancer. Her brother is a police officer and Toni will occasionally use her "skill" to help him out. 
Toni is the kind of woman that I would love to have been but am far too cynical.  She is kind, funny, sarcastic and has a fantastic moral compass.  

Toni meets up with some local vampires and gets involved in their lives from the off. 

This is a book / series that is and will, I hope, continue to be chock full of fantastic characters who I am hopeful we will continue to get to know but also one particular character who I really did not like. . .yes, I'm looking at you, Oscar. 

I've seen a fair few reviews comparing this to the Sookie Stackhouse series, and I can see that, of course but there is also a feel of Stephanie Plum to me and that is definitely no bad thing. 

I rarely read an ARC that is the first in a series where I will actively look for future books but I honestly can't wait to read the next of this series. 

Very, very, highly recommended.

‘An adventure with zombies. And vampires. And romance. And croquet’. Grave Secrets does exactly what it says on the tin!

Toni Windsor is a real-estate agent living a double life. By day, she struggles with lecherous coworkers, inability to find a decent date, and finding the perfect homes for her clients, and by night, the overwhelming compulsion to raise the dead is her bête-noire. She’s managed to keep up a double-life under control so far, but when a commission from an all-too-dishy vampire puts her on the radar of a radical anti-undead group, bloody chaos ensues. 

Grave Secrets was a very fun, spooky romp. I went in expecting a supernatural cosy crime, and I got a steamy murder-train with loveable zombies and more beheadings than I can count. James’ vampires are marvellously old school - they’re lascivious, enigmatic, and utterly brutal. It’s hard not to conjure up images akin to Von Krolock from Tanz der Vampire as you’re reading - they’re all fangs, sex appeal, and luxurious hair. And the zombies can be pretty dishy too. 
I’m not the biggest romance fan, but there was still enough blood, guts, and intrigue for my grisly little heart. And Toni’s no-nonsense attitude was definitely a bonus! Grave Secrets will be getting it’s UK and US release in September 2020 - be sure to grab a copy, as it will be the perfect, ‘light-hearted but still creepy’ read for the spooky season!

Thank you to @netgalley and solaris for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Grave Secrets was so much fun! Lavington "Toni" Windsor faces issues that every modern woman faces (creepy boss, terrible exes) but has a very special talent - she is a necromancer.  Toni ends up meeting some vampires, and lands herself in trouble a few times.  She is funny and kind, although quick to fall in love (relatable much?!). 
I was a big fan of her friend Bredon, who is a very proper English undead gentleman.  Peter was also a great character but I felt a little sad for him.  Oscar was definitely not my favorite.  I am very intrigued to see where Toni's story will go, and I'm rooting for a love connection with Benedict! Alice James, please make that happen!!
This was the perfect book for me, especially during a quarantine!
If you are looking for something similar to the Sookie Stackhouse series, this book is definitely for you.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, as the description given doesn't fully do the book justice. The main character Toni is likeable for the most part , she can be quite irritating at times but those are rare.
The plot and characters are well written, the overall story was interesting to read with just a few annoyances. 
It didn't follow the normal tropes that some books in this genre regularly fall into, Toni is a strong female lead who is intelligent and at times funny. 

There are some parts of the book which are slightly more adult than I was expecting but they worked with regards to the story. 
There are also spelling, grammatical errors in the book and places where one sentence was started but never finished and were out of place in the context of the paragraph they were included.  

Overall though it was enjoyable to read and reread. I would recommend it and would like to read more about Toni and her adventures.