{Gravekeeper Review} The Twisted Dead by Darcy Coates @darcyauthor

The Twisted Dead by Darcy Coates
Series: Gravekeeper #3
Published by Poisoned Pen Press, Black Owl Books on February 7, 2023
Genres: Horror, Fiction, Adult, Mystery/Suspense, Paranormal
Pages: 280
Format: eBook
Source: Netgalley
Buy on Amazon, Amazon UK, Amazon Canada, Available with KU Subscription, Publisher
Goodreads

Keira is ready for her life to return to normal. Though, to be fair, normal is a tall ask when your ability to see ghosts has landed you the job of groundskeeper in a small town’s cemetery.
When Keira receives an invitation to dinner at Dane Crispin’s crumbling ancestral estate, she knows she can’t refuse. The last living descendant of the Crispin family is reclusive. Keira only met him once…on the night he tried to kill her.
The mansion is steeped in history that is equal parts complicated and bloody. Keira senses the presence of restless spirits the moment she steps through its door. And Dane, waiting for her inside, wants to ask for her help.

I received The Twisted Dead for free. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

I’m going to be upfront and let you all know that I have not read the first two books of the Gravekeeper series. I didn’t feel lost as there was enough about the first two books that I felt I knew the basics of the other books.

After killers and a mysterious company bring angst to amnesiac Keira’s life, she faces something she has no idea how to fix. The town hermit, Dane Crispin, who lives in a crumbling mansion is being drained by the ghosts of his dead relatives. Unfortunately, there are a lot of them and at the rate they are going, Keira and friends, Zoe and Mason, don’t think he’ll last much longer.

While Keira practices with her powers to see if she can help Dane with his not so dearly departed family, Zoe and Mason are ready to help. They are best friend goals. Mason and Zoe go through their own transitions and are the best friends Keira could ever wish for. They all have their pasts to contend with as they encounter ghosts, shades, and men in black who want Keira dead.

This is also my first read of Darcy Coates. I usually like my ghost stories with a bit of romance. While I think there is a possibility for Mason and Keira, I loved their friendship throughout the novel. Zoe is a trip! She reminds me of a friend of mine and she has the best fashion sense. *cough* black ball gown *cough* While the story revolves around Keira, Mason, and Zoe, I loved the local goth/aspiring speed metal musician, Harry. He at one point just takes a nap on a grave and Keira sees the ghost the grave belongs to is not happy about it.

Final thoughts, I loved this book and Coates writing style. These books are written in third person, but you are really able to get all the perspectives. I got pulled into the imagery of the graveyard and the descriptions of the ghosts throughout the novel. I will definitely be reading the first two books in the series soon and gobbling up all her other series as soon as possible.