The Prophet (The Graveyard Queen)

Contemporary paranormal - with unprotected sex.

Well, we finally get the conclusion of Amelia & Devlin's troubles. I was satisfied with the story & the ending. Of course, the end is open for other books to be written.

They finally have sex, but it's unprotected. I'm still not convinced Devlin & Isabelle are "just friends". Friends with benefits maybe. Still not cool to have unprotected sex with a guy when birth control isn't even mentioned, let alone STDs.

Amelia is still the weak link for me in this story. I just don't care for her & that's the kiss of death usually for me in a novel. This book does have a strong sense of atmosphere & the peripheral characters are interesting. She does seem to have a stronger back bone in this, but then the stalker behavior is a turn off.

All in all, I would recommend this trilogy if you enjoy paranormal. At least give the first book a try.

This third book in the Graveyard Queen series was filled with the same Gothic creepiness that infused the first two volumes. If you haven't read the first two books in the series, you might want to stop reading now and quickly find yourself copies of The Restorer and The Kingdom because this story begins shortly after the events of The Kingdom.

Amelia is back in Charleston. She quickly gets back involved in the life of John Devlin. John is a Charleston police detective that she met during The Restorer. They had started a romance but Amelia ended it because John was still being haunted by his dead wife and daughter. Losing Miriama and Shani left him feeling both grief and guilt. Seeing ghosts herself, Amelia had been raised by his father to never have anything to do with a haunted man.

Getting close to Devlin, allowed other ghosts to come to her too. In the mythology of this story, ghosts are like "parasites drawn to our energy, feeding off our warmth. If they know you can see them, they'll cling to you like blight. You'll never be rid of them. And your life will never again be your own." The most persistent and least ghostlike of the ghosts that haunt Amelia is Robert Fremont. He, Devlin, and Tom Gerrity all graduated from the police academy together. He and Devlin were rivals for the affection of Devlin's dead wife. He wants Amelia to find out who murdered him. Amelia is also haunted by and sympathetic to Shani who was Devlin's four-year-old daughter.

Her efforts to find Robert Fremont's muderer and find a way to send Shani to her rest lead Amelia to explore a lot of the ancient African beliefs of the Charleston area. She has to deal with spells, and potions, and magical visitors. She also manages to learn a lot about the relationships between Devlin, Fremont, Gerrity, and Ethan Shaw. Shaw is another forensic anthropologist and the son of a paranormal investigator who has been acting as a mentor to Amelia.

As Amelia untangles the twisted relationships between all the players and delves more into the magic around her, the creepy atmosphere gets even more intense. This was an excellent mystery with wonderful paranormal aspects. I recommend it to fans of ghost stories.

Again borrowed from my library, but I will be buying.

So with this story, we find out more about John Devlin. We solve a murder or 2 and are back at Oak Grove. Fortunately, not as many bodies this time around. This one wasn't as chilling as the 1st 2 books were. Maybe I am just getting used to her writing, but I didn't think there were as many ghostly meetings.

There were some twists in this one that I was so completely not expecting. To be honest, I wasn't really looking, just reading, but I was surprised by the ending. Amelia does something that I really think wasn't too bright of her. She jumped blindly into something that I don't really think she should have done without some precautions, but all's well that ends well, I guess.

This is not a HEA, but it is a HFN, and with the end of this book, I have to temporarily stop reading the series as my library doesn't have the next ones. But, I do recommend it, and I will be back for the others.

5 Stars... What an intense ride from start to finish... I was not sure which way this book was going to turn out; it certainly twisted me through a frightening mystery that had me second guessing the outcome on multiple occasions... Once again, Amanda Stevens provides a hauntingly descriptive dialogue that reaches out to captivate all one's senses evoking such strong emotional reactions... The layers to this story continue to unfold compelling me to want to ingest the next read in the series:)

Conclusion didn't really "conclude", it just left me with more questions and a sense of foreboding. Also, the last few pages seemed quite rushed and uncertain. I did like how all of the rules that Amelia used to abide by were thrown by the wayside. No more safe side for her.

This book was far darker than the previous two. Not only did it still have the ghosts, but there were many more elements introduced, mainly dark spells and perhaps a bit of magic. Not quite sure if that it the proper word for it, but it included roots and different substances. Voodoo/hoodoo maybe? Either way, it added a deeper element to the story that I appreciated. Cemetary restoration certainly took a backseat in this book. Many questions and mysteries were solved, mainly that of Robert Fremont. Amelia works with him again, only this time she is helping to solve his murder. We also learn a great deal more of Devlin's past, and Fremont ties into that quite heavily. There is a new bad guy who plays a big part in this book - Darius Goodwine. He is Miriama's cousin, and is heavily into the roots and substances, mainly gray dust. I can't say too much about that without giving something away, so I am trying to keep this as vague as possible.

What I missed was the sense of longing and the forbidden element that Devlin and Amelia had in the first book. While I realize that cannot possibly go on forever, I liked the feeling of anticipation it gave me. Will they or won't they? That was missing in this book, but I realize why. Something had to change in order for them to move forward.

The part that leaves me on edge is the conclusion of Devlin and Amelia. It left me with a sense of foreboding because it seems like something bad is going to occur in a future book. It was very cryptic and not detailed. It made me think that future books are going to be even darker than this one, which is a good thing. Unless you like rainbows and butterflies.

I definitely can't wait for the next installment in this series, book 4 The Visitor. This is the third in the series, book 1 is The Restorer, book 2 is The Kingdom. I also saw on Ms. Stevens website that she has 2 new series coming out. One is YA and is called the Soul Jumper series, the second appears to be adult, and is paranormal mystery with the main character of Lucy November.

This is the third book in the Graveyard Queen series so if you haven't read The Restorer or The Kingdom please be warned that this review may contain spoilers for them. I highly recommend these books they are sort of Urban Fantasy meets horror with spooky mysteries that are difficult to solve and really interesting facts.

The Prophet is set some months after The Kingdom and Amelia is back in Charleston. Even though she received a text message from Devlin saying he needed her back there she hasn't seen him since her return. However she is lured back into his life by a nightingale bird and his ghost daughter Shani who wants something from Amelia. Another person who wants something from Amelia is Robert Fremont who we met in book 1. He wants her help so badly he is even going so far as to blackmail her. Then we have the new character Darius Goodwine, a strange scary man from Devlin's past who becomes enamoured with Amelia and is yet another person that wants something from her. All are related to the same cause somehow with the common factor in all three cases being Devlin. Amelia just has to work out how they are all connected.

Once again I couldn't figure out the plot, it kept me guessing throughout and the interesting things I learnt in this book were about root doctors and their plants. All of the characters from book 1 make an appearance and we find out lots about their pasts and Amelia's powers.

I really like Amanda Steven's writing style it is quite detailed and slow but not slow paced if you know what I mean and I really want to visit Charleston now. The only negative thing I can say about this book was that the ending seemed rushed but that can't detract from the book as a whole and I am giving it 5 stars.

THE PROPHET (The Graveyard Queen #3) by Amanda Stevens

From Amanda's website:

Never acknowledge the dead.
Never stray far from hallowed ground.
Never associate with those who are haunted.
Never, ever tempt fate.

My name is Amelia Gray. I am 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.

THE PROPHET is the third instalment in The Graveyard Queen paranormal series by Amanda Stevens. Amelia Gray is a caulbearer-born behind the veil in the Gray-the place between the Light and the Dark. With her ability to see and speak to ghosts, Amelia dismisses her father's warning and inadvertently acknowledges a couple of ghosts who's spirits have refused to move on. But these ghosts have a history-one is the young daughter (Shani) of her ex-lover and the other is a cop murdered in one of the cemeteries that Amelia was restoring-and somehow these two ghosts were haunting Amelia for her help.

The ghosts are drawn through the veil (The Gray) by a hunger for human warmth or a desire to rejoin the living. But there are some who continue to be earthbound-beyond their control-when a lover or family member refuses to let go.

John Devlin is a police officer and Amelia's ex-lover. He does not understand why Amelia has pushed him away. But Devlin is haunted by guilt and the ghosts of his deceased wife and daughter, and it is through these associated hauntings that Devlin has inadvertently released the spirits that continue to draw on Amelia's life force. But when Robert Fremont (aka The Prophet), the murdered police officer, is able to cross onto the hallowed grounds where Amelia lives she knows she now has a much bigger problem. Her sanctuary was her protection and now the ghosts are able to make contact. And Robert needs Amelia's help to solve his murder and cross-over. But it is through Amelia's search, that she soon realizes that Robert's murder and the death of Devlin's wife and daughter are connected and it is up to Amelia to solve the case, and allow Devlin's hauntings a peaceful retreat. But not all ghosts are so easily convinced and one in particular is willing to disrupt and haunt Amelia for as long as it takes.

We are introduced to a cast of eccentric characters who live and haunt the cemeteries and homes of Charleston. Ethan Shaw a forensic anthropologist and his father Dr. Rupert Shaw-who heads the centre for parapsychology studies: Darius Goodwine-Shaman and brother to Devlin's late wife Mariama: And Isabel and Clemetine Perilloux-sisters with a long-standing connection to John Devlin.

There is plenty of storyline surrounding the use of African medicine and the practice of witchcraft and voodoo. Some religious cultures believed in the rite of passage for the young initiates to enter the spirit world and converse with their dead ancestors-before being accepted into the cults. With their ability to pass through into another realm by consuming plants with magical powers and it is these medicinal plants and their powers that will be at the apex of Amelia's investigations.

Blackmail, drugs, murder, ghosts, witches, shamans and voodoo all play an important role during Amelia's search for answers. But it is the persistence of a small female ghost that will push Amelia further into a world that she may never return (from).

THE PROPHET is a well-written story about murder, hauntings, spiritual beliefs and the use of powerful hallucinogens. I did not read the first two storylines in the series and I was somewhat at a disadvantage through much of the novel, when the author made reference to incidences in the previous books. I would highly recommend reading THE RESTORER (book 1) and THE KINGDOM (book 2) before attempting THE PROPHET. I am looking forward (or backward ) to reading the first two books in this series.

Copy provided by Netgalley

see all of my reviews at : thereadingcafe.com

The Prophet is the third book in the graveyard series by Amanda Stevens. It mixes in the paranormal with touches of magic, and of course plenty of ghosts. You'll eagerly follow Amelia as she tries to solve a homicide, and free herself of the ghost that haunts her. However, she may find more than she bargained for as she digs up evidence that might just pin the murder on the man she loves, Devlin.

Within the pages of The Prophet you will find plenty of mystery, ghosts, African magic, and a love that runs deeper than Amelia could ever compete with. You won't even need to read any other part of the series, but I do recommend the previous books too. So if you've been seeking a new series to sink your teeth into I highly suggest you give The Prophet a try.

When we first meet Amelia she has just gone through a major ordeal of her own. She still wears the scars, and it's apparent to those who know her that something horrid happened to her. Amelia is being haunted by not one, but two ghosts, and it's up to her to help them move on.

The author gave plenty of insight to explain the story as well as the character backgrounds. I also loved the setting for the story, and the historical significance. It was a real fresh read for me. There is plenty of mystery, ghostly feelings, and the descriptive talent was top-notch. It left me wanting to read the first two books, and wanting to continue reading this series. I feel this is best read by older teens, and adults as there are a few adult themes, violence and such.

I loved Amelia, and how she broke the rules to do what was right. She even has to battle her father's warnings of `the rules' of being a graveyard queen. This leads to a lot of inner struggle that rears its head on a regular basis. Amelia is forced to overcome far more than the average gal, and all while she is battling her own internal demons of the past.
I recieved an advance copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for my review. All opinions are my own.

The Prophet by Amanda Stevens picks up right where The Kingdom left off. Amelia leaves Asher Falls behind to deal with some unfinished business in Charleston. The third installments answers some much needed questions and gives the reader more insight to our complex Amelia Gray.

Resident ghost seer Amelia Gray returns to her hometown in Charleston to get some answers from her family and to determine if a future with Devlin is a possibility. We meet old friends and are introduced to new ones. While questioning her relationship with the haunted Devlin, Amelia promises to find the murderer of a ghost who has been haunting her.

I really enjoyed this book, maybe more than The Kingdom. Amelia is back on familiar ground after she receives a mysterious text. In this book, we are reunited with characters from the first novel who are key players in the plot. Like I've stated in my reviews for the preceding novels, Amanda Stevens knows how to make a book spooky. While the plot is not complex nor is it driven by action, it is interesting enough to keep you coming back for more. And the plot is simple enough that you don't have try to remember what happened to who and how. I really enjoyed the pacing of the novel, I felt that it lent itself to the overall creepiness of the novel.

The characters are exceptional as always. Amelia is a great complex heroine who does not let her emotions dictate how she reacts to certain situations. She is extremely logical but not logical to a fault. I feel like I am repeating myself because the same praise I am giving The Prophet can be found in my last two reviews of the Graveyard Queen series. Everyone is so real and believable, they react as you would expect a person in a situation to react and mirror real life every closely.

I can't even talk about the writing without copying and pasting everything I have said in previous reviews! The writing lends itself to the creepiness of the novel and the writing style keeps the reader coming back for more even though this is not an action book. Stevens' command with words is such that you can easily digest the book within a day or two.

I really enjoyed this novel and I hope that it isn't the last in the series! I can never have enough of Amelia and Devlin!

[...]

Amelia returns back to Charleston ready to face Devlin and his ghosts after her harrowing experience in Asher Falls. She quickly learns that by breaking Papa's steadfast rules she has opened the door and let the ghosts into her life. Her once safe, hallowed sanctuary has been invaded by the ghost of Devlin's daughter, Shani. Again, Shani returns the garnet rings and begs Amelia to help her. Amelia is also haunted by the specter of Robert Fremont, the prophet, a murdered police officer. Fremont needs her to help solve his murder. He insists the stars are aligned and the time is right. Amelia finds herself immersed into the murder mystery that ultimately leads back to Devlin and his dead wife and daughter. To make matters worse, a man has returned to Charleston. A man well practiced in voodoo and dark magic, a man who was raised with Devlin's dead wife Mariama. Soon Amelia is dealing with root magic, tea leaves, palm readers and the deep superstition that lives and breathes in the South. The door is open and something is haunting Amelia. Can she piece together the mystery, catch a killer and finally rid Devlin of his ghosts?
What I Liked:
* Again Ms. Stevens takes us back to the Old South as we pick up where book one, The Restorer, leaves off. Amelia is forced to once again face Devlin and take on his ghosts. Tensions run high and the attraction between the two is electric and explosive. I love the way the romance in this series builds and builds. If you love a high voltage, tense romance this one fits the bill.
*The writing is haunting and beautiful and full of rich, detailed descriptions. Ms. Stevens has a gift in her ability to paint such amazing pictures that you can almost smell and feel all the sights, sounds and smells as they leap off the page. This book also gives plenty of heart pounding, adrenaline filled scenes as Amelia encounters ghosts, witch doctors and more.
*I loved that this book brings us back to the original story line that began in The Restorer and follows through to a dramatic and intense finish. To say the plot thickens is an understatement! There are some jaw dropping surprises along the way.
*I was delighted that Angus, her dog, returns with Amelia from Asher Falls and becomes her constant protector. He has won my heart!
*I really loved that this book takes us through many of the deep secrets that are renowned in the South. We meet palmists, root doctors, explore palmistry and voodoo and of course encounter plenty of ghosts. The only thing missing is mouth watering descriptions of Southern cuisine.
*Finally, I love that Amelia's character is growing and evolving. She is starting to let go of her father's steadfast rules and she hesitantly begins to communicate with the ghosts instead of constantly ignoring them. I like that she is finally beginning to embrace her gift and hopefully she will continue to use her talent to help ghosts.
And The Not So Much:
*I was disappointed that none of the story lines from The Kingdom were revisited. All of the characters and events that were present in the second book are buried and forgotten. I had hopes that Tilly and Sidra and Thane would be back for this installment, but alas they do not make an appearance.
*I missed some of the creepy atmospheric tension that is so prominent in the first two books of this series. There are some chilling scenes but they were not as frightening. You can read this book before bed with no worries. I can't say the same for the other two books.
*I was disappointed that Amelia hardly spends anytime in the graveyard. I love all the discussion and revelations about gravestones and graveyards and this books does not have much about graveyards. Granted, Ms. Stephens instead works in other symbols and information regarding voodoo, root doctors and such that it makes up for the lack of graveyard information.

The Graveyard Queen is one of my new favorite series. It is filled with rich imagery, chilling scenes, ghosts, superstition, secrets and a fiery romance. If you are looking for a new series to try, I highly recommend checking out these books. I am fascinated by all the information on graveyards and their restorations. Ms. Stephens plunges you deeply into the superstitious South, haunts you with ghosts and leaves you gasping for more!

Favorite Quotations:
"She always said it was a foolish woman who relied solely on the discretion and generosity of a man, even one as wealthy and as smitten as my grandfather."
"I didn't yearn for him in the middle of the night, didn't awaken to his conjured whisper in my ear, the phantom caress of his fingers along my spine."
"My foreboding grew with the wind. The harbor sparkled with sunlight but somewhere in the distance, darkness gathered."
"A fragrance should haunt, don't you think? Like an elusive memory."
"I no longer believed in the randomness of the universe or the happenstance of everyday occurrences. Everything happened for a reason, and I was very much afraid this current synchronicity would be the death of me."
"My gaze flashed to his desk where papers fluttered like bird wings beneath an upside down tumbler."
"He wasn't yet free of his ghosts, might never be free of them, so where did that leave us? With a life half lived before twilight?"
"I sat there and watched her stitch, the rhythm and shimmer of her needle and thimble almost entrancing."
"The glow on the horizon began to fade, and in the rising wind, the dead leaves sounded like tiny clappers. There was a strange rhythm to the sound. A stirring of energy that made my heart quicken."
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own and I was not compensated for this review.

Amelia is back in Charleston and before long ghostly Robert Fremont (whom you will remember from the Restorer, book 1) contacts her, telling her she has to help him find out who murdered him or he’s going to haunt forever. On top of this, she’s being visited by Shani, the ghost of John Devlin’s young daughter, who also wants Amelia’s help. And then there’s John Devlin—the man Amelia secretly loves, but who seems to be impossibly out of her reach. Amelia and Devlin are quickly thrown together, battling ghosts and real life bad guys at the same time.

I thought this was the best book of the series—lots of creepy ghost encounters and a well-done murder mystery, all wrapped up in thick romantic tension. We finally get some answers about Devlin and his past, and some of the answers took me by complete surprise. The ending was well done and unpredictable, and it provides closure to the characters and storylines. However, the door is left open just enough to leave room for another book in this series.

The Prophet is the third book in The Graveyard Queen series by Amanda Stevens.

After almost losing her life in Asher Falls (The Kingdom) Amelia is back in Charleston recovering and trying to assimilate everything she learned about her past and origins. She knows her actions have consequences but she never thought not following her father's rules will have that much repercussions.

"Never acknowledge the Dead. Never stray from hallowed ground. Never associate with the haunted. Never tempt fate."

Soon after her arrival to Charleston the ghost of Robert Freemont approaches her. He wants her to help him find his killer; he helped her once (The Restorer), now he wants her to pay back the favor and he won't stop haunting her until she accepts. Amelia is forced to say yes, not only she feels obligated, but for some reason Freemont can approach her in holy ground, her house that was her unbreachable haven is not offering the same security that once had. To add to this, Devlin's daughter, Shani is also haunting Amelia and requesting her help and if that wasn't enough for poor Amelia Mariama's ghost is doing her best to keep her away from Devlin, even taking her to a house where she sees Devlin in the arms of another woman.

The Prophet wasn't as creepy and scary as The Kingdom but still it had a good dose of spookiness.

In this book Amelia is doing everything contrary to what she once believed. She is going against her father's rules, but that's the only way to achieve what she must. I loved Amelia in previous books but in this one I didn't like the woman she becomes when Devlin is around, She feels weak and becomes a shadow of her old self. I understand their almost metaphysical connection but still I don't like them together and that was my big issue with this book.
Devlin is still the same Devlin from The Restorer, dark, moody and secretive. We learned more about him and his life with Mariama, but still there are many questions left unanswered and not enough for me to like him.

I've loved Robert Freemont since The Restorer, he is a very mysterious character/ghost that was able to do the unexplainable. The mystery behind his death and the circumstances around it were well done and even though I had my suspicions about whom the killer was the why of it was a complete surprise.

Another character I loved in this series and especially this book is the child ghost of Shani, I really wanted Amelia to help her find her peace, although I didn't agree with the method Amelia used to do it, I kind of understood there was no other option. The resolution to Shani's case was more than acceptable; it was perfect and completely unexpected.

New characters were introduced in this book; from those the one that gave me the willies was Mariama's cousin Darius Goodwine. He is a dark magic practitioner with an agenda; if that wasn't enough I think he knows more about Amelia than what she knows about herself. He did things in this book that were impossible to understand, his actions were sometimes contradictory to what I was expecting but I guess this is where his dark plans come in. I'm sure he will play an important role in books to come and I really can't wait to see what Mrs. Stevens has planned for him.

Even though The Prophet was not my favorite book in this series I can honestly say it is still a great book. All the elements that made Mrs. Stevens' writing magical are still present in this book. Her words are fluid and evocative. The plot moves at a good place, the mystery is well done and with many twist and turns that it will leave you scratching your head and saying: "I didn't see that one coming" time after time. Many questions are answered in this book, but many others are left open. Like what it was said by more than one character about Amelia, that she didn't know what she truly was and what she was able to do. I really hope to find out more about this in future books.

I recommend you this book as I have recommended you previous books, especially if you like modern gothics, paranormal fiction or a good book with a nice dose of mystery.
You should read these books in order and preferably during daytime is you are easily scared.

This is the third book in the Graveyard Queen series by Stevens. I've heard rumors that a fourth book is planned for this series but haven't found the title yet. I got an advanced reading copy of this book to review through NetGalley(dot)com. This was a very good addition to the series, I did think it was the weakest book of the series, but given how much I loved the last two book in this series...this book was still a good book.

Amelia returns to Charleston somewhat beat up about everything that happened during The Kingdom. She is happy to be able to be near Devlin again, but unsure of her reception. Things start getting complicated for Amelia right away. Devlin's daughter constantly haunts Amelia pleading for help and then another ghost blackmails Amelia into hunting down his killer. The mystery draws Amelia deep into the dark side of Charleston; full of root doctors and other questionable magic.

The writing in this book is just as beautiful and haunting as in the previous books and I really enjoyed it. There is an interesting mystery and it ends up being somewhat complex but is intriguing to read about.

I did have some problems with this book though. Amelia doesn't spend much time doing cemetary restoration; not like she did in the last two books. The history and strange peacefulness that accompany the cemetary restoration scenes are part of what drew me to this series, it is just such an interesting career. So I was disappointed that we don't' get to read much about the cemetery restoration in this book.

This book also did not have as high of an eerie or creepiness factor as previous books in the series. I love that this series has been creepy and strange without getting super scary. This book was more of a mystery and had less of a creepy gothic overtone than previous books.

The last problem I had was Amelia herself. When she is around Devlin she gets so...well...weak. She lets Devlin make all of the decisions and her personality seems to fade in his presence. After all the backbone she shows in The Kingdom I didn't enjoy seeing her like this. It made me kind of sad that this was where she ended up. Devlin is kind of a secretive jerk at times in this book and I didn't like how Amelia just put up with it.

The above complaints aside, this book was still a beautifully written and well done mystery. A lot of the strands that were presented in the first two books are nicely tied together and wrapped up in this book. It was just that a lot of the things that made this series really special to me weren't as present as they were in the last two books.

Overall this was a good addition to the series. There is a lot of great mystery in here and a lot of questions answered. The writing is absolutely beautiful. Amelia seems weaker than in the last book and doesn't spend as much time doing cemetary restoration. The gothic creepiness factor was less than in previous books as well. So there is some good and some bad here; but overall I think this is the weakest book in the series so far. I am curious to see if there is a fourth book and, if so, where this story ends up going. I would recommend to people who were fans of the first two books. I also recommend to those who like a gothic tone to their urban fantasy.

In this exciting new stallment of the thrilling paranormal series, our Graveyard Queen, Amelia Gray, returns to Charleston, home of her love, John Devlin and all of his ghosts.

The ghost of Shani, Devlin's daughter continues to follow Amelia around, like she started in the last book, but this time more insistently, begging to be found and to be helped.... but every time Amelia comes even a bit close to finding answers, Mariama's ghost pushes her away. And now Darius, a master of the dark arts and Mariama's cousin, is also in the picture, ready to terrorize and confuse Amelia.

But his time the ghost Prophet needs her help as well. Robert Fremont, a murdered cop and an old friend of Devlin's, wants Amelia to find his killer. Except that with his memory loss and erratic prophetic powers in the way, the investigation promises to be not only difficult, but very dangerous.

Amelia has broken all of her father's rules. Rules she's been raised with, created to keep her safe from the darkness and evil creatures that walk between worlds. Now she's being followed by something. Something very strong and very dark. And this murder investigation involves much more than she first thought it would. Dark magic, blackmail, betrayal and even more murders threaten to be unveiled...

Surrounded and bothered by ghosts most of the time, Amelia sometimes forget that the living can be just as frightening as the dead... and she's just about to discover that when they work together, things can get very, very ugly.

I can't believe I forgot how mysterious and exciting Amanda Stevens' writing can be! She drives us crazy with curiosity over every small detail that is slowly unearthed throughout the story, tempting us to join in the investigating process, making us writhe with the urge to discover everything that is going on as quickly as possible. Nothing is as simple as we first thought, nobody is completely innocent and everything is somehow interconnected. Really, this author has the gift of writing the best thrillers! With such a thick cloud of mystery over every case, it should become a tiring, even repetitive read, but it's not! It's always powerful, provoking and stimulating tales! She surprises us at every page. With this one you can be sure you'll NEVER guess the ending before you should. And that is such a relief, let me tell you.

It probably sounds a bit like over-gushing, but this series deserve every praise. As soon as we finish one volume we start to think that there's no way the next one will be as good... but then the author comes and hits us over the head with the awesomeness that is her new story. Every single one turns out even better than the next. I have no idea how she does it, but I'm glad her already fantastic writing always manages to improve!

Amelia is such a smart, gifted, independent character. I just love her. And her feelings for Devlin? Gods, they are almost palpable! Their awareness is so strong, their physical link so intense that you almost expect them to slip off the pages. It's almost unsettling, stirring and compelling, all at the same time. I especially like this romance because it didn't just spring up from nowhere. It slowly built up. It was violently ended. It built up again, was denied, tried to be ignored... but they still can't stay away from each other! Even when everything and everyone seems to be against them. Pretty much themselves included, most of the time. That is real, powerful love. Not the instant, fleeting, weak thing that wants to be called real that we get from most books these days.

But, obviously, the book is not all about romance. It is just a part of it, a very important part, sure, but the story is so much more complex than just that. You get horrified over the haunting ghosts and creepy entities and their actions, you get intrigued over the clues and old secrets that are slowly discovered, you get suspicious over new odd characters we are introduced to and very surprised over the actions of old characters you thought you knew. There is never a boring moment with Amelia, that's for sure. That ending was supposed to make us readers feel better, to have some sort of completion... but it only managed to make us even more distressed and desperate to read the next volume! LOL. Way to go, Miss Stevens.

If you like surprises, a romantic and mysterious thriller with a fast pace and very creepy moments, then you'll go insane over this series. I know I did.

* I was lucky enough to receive an eARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*

This review is also posted at The Bawdy Book Blog.

Amanda Stevens, you've done it again. You have me twisted around your finger with your story-telling ways and I can tell, you're not letting me go.

The Prophet is the third installment in the Graveyard Queen Series (can I pause a moment and say I am OMGsogladit'snotjustatrilogybecausesogoodWANTMORE?!) and we follow the beautiful Amelia back to her home base in Charleston, South Carolina, after her close brush with death in Asher Falls. Asher Falls has changed her, made her stronger, and at the same time, weaker, because she knows something is missing in her life. There is something so ghostly about Amelia, as if she is only living half a life, because she is too afraid to live it fully. At the same time, she knows she must or she'll only be a shell of a person and never have everything she wants - or the one person she wants: John Devlin. And yes, while she lusted after Thane Asher, she realizes it's Devlin she loves and Devlin who holds her heart, even if she might never have him.

By now we know Devlin is haunted by the ghosts of his wife and daughter, who died in a car accident two years prior. He is nearly gaunt and almost hollow-looking, but Stevens still manages to make him appear dark and beautiful. Their reserved passion for each other is so palpable you almost feel as if you can touch it, and yet so restrained you want to pull your hair in frustration, as if that will help them each deal with their demons so they can move on with each other.

Asher Falls was cruel to Amelia, but it opened her eyes to the fact that she can't hide from her abilities or who she is forever. Or...where she comes from. Facing her destiny, she is approached to assist those who wish to move on to the Other Side. Helping them flies directly in the face of her Papa's rules, the rules which have safeguarded her her entire life. She promised to bring the walls back up when she left Asher Falls, but she can't deny the urge to help, even if helping these ghosts means inviting haunting, witches and murderers into her life.
I'm not giving away a single more detail of this book, because I think you just need to read it yourself. It's stupendous and again, Stevens has become one of my favorite authors. I hope she never stops giving us stories. Amanda Stevens' writing is simply some of the most beautiful and fluid I've ever read. It's so richly detailed, it's impossible not to see her world in your imagination; no, in fact, she brings HER imagination to YOU. Her words wash over you like iced tea on a hot day in the South, refreshing and vital. She very neatly ties all three books together in The Prophet, masterfully engaging the reader in yet another creepy (although not as creepy as The Kingdom, which is FINE with me!) story of murder, ghosts and mysteries. What IS a truly southern gothic tale without those elements, really? And while the series could potentially end very satisfactorily with The Prophet, Stevens has left just enough morsels trailing behind her to lead to a 4th book. God, I want more! I just may be reduced to begging.

**I received this eARC from the publisher for review**

After being so wonderfully caught up in the atmospheric and entertaining second book of the Graveyard Queen series, The Kingdom, I ignored my schedule and plunged straight into The Prophet. Picking up just a short time after Amelia returns to Charleston after receiving a text from Detective Devlin proclaiming his need for her, The Prophet sees Amelia struggling to find her feet. Her experiences at Asher Falls have raised more questions than answers and Amelia feels lost and vulnerable.

Unfortunately, The Prophet failed to be as mesmerising as The Kingdom as Amelia succumbed to constant self doubt and self pity. I lost count of how many times Amelia repeated she was breaking her father's rules, but it was far too many. She was also either frozen or paralysed with fear whenever something began to happen or alternatively, helpless because of the effects of the voodoo drug wielded by the mysterious Darius. Amelia's lack of drive and action irritated me, she just seemed so deliberately passive instead of actively seeking answers.
I wanted her investigation into Robert Freeman's death to be an active one but mostly she seemed to waft around waiting for something to happen. Partly I think because she spent a lot of time agonising over Devlin, but their complicated relationship wasn't enough to sustain me.
The sense of atmosphere in The Prophet was not as strong as in The Kingdom but it does remain a feature of this series, the hair stood up on the back of my neck as messages appeared in steam and the swing moved back and forth in the stillness of moonlight. Stevens truly has a way with words, her writing is evocative and enchanting.

I am glad that the Graveyard Queen series has been extended, originally it was a trilogy, but there will be at least a fourth with a possibility of a fifth book from what I understand. Hopefully I will find the next installment as engrossing as The Kingdom.

Amanda Stevens really put me through the wringer with this third installment of her Graveyard Queen series. When we last saw Amelia, she was on her way back to Charleston to answer a summons for help from John Devlin. It's almost like The Kingdom was a "time-out" from the action of The Restorer in many ways.

But now Amelia is back in the thick of things. Back at the old cemetery where she was working before. Surrounded by the same ghosts. In love with the same man. With the same roadblocks. Only maybe it's worse this time around.

My heart ached right along with Amelia's when Devlin came back on the canvas. They've been apart for months and to call things tentative between them would be an understatement. There are even questions now about whether he has moved on with someone else. This, as the presence of his dead wife Mariama continues to hold onto him with both hands.

The ghost of former cop Robert Fremont is haunting Amelia, pushing her to solve his murder. It's a tangled mystery, wrapped up in Devlin's past, Mariama's treachery, blackmail, betrayal, adultery, and the occult. It's very, very creepy. Not just the ghosts, which are indeed scary, but the bugs and the zombie drugs really put it over the top.

The distance and deception between Devlin and Amelia kept me tense and unhappy for the first half of the book.
But when things started to pick up between them, the book was off and running. I loved the way Stevens kept me guessing until the very end. About who the killer was. About the motive. About the real circumstances surrounding Mariama & Shani's deaths. I loved the tie in to the African root magic. And the ending. Oh. My. God. I thought I was going to have a heart attack.

There will be a fourth book, thank goodness. And I am anxious to find out what repercussions will come from the big climax here. 4 stars.

In the third book in the Graveyard Queen Amelia has returned back home to Charleston and once again, she isn't alone.

She is being haunted.

And not just by one ghost but by two, both connected to Devlin and both dangerous in their own way.

Amelia decides this time, she will have to break the rules if she ever wants to find peace again.

Once again this series is just awesome. So dark and creepy and mysterious. This time it is even better.

It is creepiness at its best.

This one started off right away with giving me chills and once again thankful that I had started it during the day, with the bright sunshine outside to keep away any lurking shadows in the dark.

The spirits are getting restless and there is an evil lurking in the shadows, only this time, the evil isn't only in the dead but also the living.

Gah! Can I just say for the record that I think Amanda Stevens is a genius? I absolutely love her writing style. Everything just flows so nicely together and the storyline never has a lull or is ever too predictable. I am constantly on the edge of my seat frantically turning the pages wanting to know what is going to happen next.

I am so glad that we finally got some Devlin time in this one! Yay! I love his broody dark self, he is such a strong character and yet vulnerable too. I admire his love for his daughter and devotion to the people he cares about.

Devlin has so many secrets and finally they too are starting to unravel one by one. In fact, many people's secrets are uncovered in this story.

This truly was a thrilling read!

I want more! I can't help but wonder though with the way the book ended if there will in fact be another one, I really truly hope there will be.

This book had another feel to it than the intense book 2. That one was eerie and haunted me. This one is more calm, but not in the good way that calm is. No it's more like being drugged and calm. Waking around in a mist.

"Never acknowledge the Dead. Never stray from hallowed ground. Never associate with the haunted. Never tempt fate."
All things Amelia has done and in this book we see what it does to her. She is on the case to find a murdered, she associate with a ghost, and she is back in Charleston and can't stay away from Devlin and his ghosts.

Strange drugs, old magic and trickery. A Charleston where the darker side is shown. Amelia meets new friends, and new enemies and we get a few questions answered. But when the book ends, there is still so much left to be told and I was happy to read that Stevens is working in 3 more books. Things are yet to be told and Amelia will surely deal with the darkness that is gathering.

Sure it was not as good as book 2 but then book was utterly amazing! It was because it was intense while this one had that weird calm over it.

A southern Gothic mystery. A series I recommend to everyone

While I do feel that the Graveyard Queen series is best read in order, I'm not sure how much of that stems from my immense enjoyment of the series and how much of it is really the feeling that new readers wouldn't quite "get" it. While old fans of the series will relish the plotline deeply involving not only John but also both his ghosts and his history, I do think newcomers will be able to easily follow along, though of course they won't get the benefit of having witnessed the developments in both John and Amelia's lives.

As a very solid member of Team Devlin, this book absolutely thrilled me. Not only was there the same arcane mystery, complete with plenty of twits and red herrings, as I've come to love from this series, but Devlin played an enormous part in the story -- possibly even moreso than in The Restorer if that's possible.

The final chapters of this book left me breathless, and I'm anxiously awaiting future installments in the Graveyard Queen Series.

A very solid 5/5 Stars.

{This title was received free of charge via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Full review appears on The Romanceaholic}

Rating: 4.5

(Note: Review originally posted 4/26/2012 at Book Lovers Inc.)

This series is like Alice in Wonderland`s rabbit hole; like a thousand-piece puzzle; like a foggy day in London Town. Having read through the book-savoring as much as possible of its language, imagery, and complexity-I know I'll still need to read it all over again to really grasp the magnitude of the major developments and the nuanced connections between the more subtle revelations.

Ultimately, this book (as well as the previous one, in my opinion) is largely about protagonist Amelia's self-discovery. Sure, the main plot thread revolves around Amelia's investigation of an unsolved murder, but in attempting to do so she realizes that she carries an as-yet undiscovered purpose, one that will require her to embrace her unique mystical abilities and surmount her fears related to the Beyond. It's rather cool, getting to discover her as she discovers herself. I haven't yet figured her out, but that might be the point; she herself is just as much an enigma as any murder mystery.

Though there's a lot going on within the pages of The Prophet, this book requires a slower, more deliberate read...and a good bit of patience. You have to be in the mood for a slow-moving mystery. More often than not, the plot progresses through sudden, unexpected occurrences-synchronicity, as Amelia defines it-rather than through consistent, deliberate action. This makes for many tense, creepy moments. It may also make one feel as though the plot isn't driving forward with a clear direction-hence the need for patience. Rushing through this story won't give it its due; and believe me, the patience pays off. ^_^

One thing about the structure of this book is constant: the lush detailing and the moody atmosphere. So much attention is paid to surroundings and small details in this Deep South setting. It's easily my favorite part of Stevens's stories, because the visuals just leap off of the page. Envisioning Amelia's world is absolutely easy to do-which means that the scares and thrills are just as readily evocative. I'll admit that I was not as outrageously creeped out as I was when I read first book-which I attribute to getting somewhat used to the dark unknowns, kind of like Amelia learns to get used to her ability to see the dead-but there's always an undercurrent of chilling, unsettling mystery that's undeniable.

I'm very excited that the romantic element plays more a bit more significantly into this story than in the past. Detective John Devlin is a darkly enigmatic character, full of an alluring mystery that'd been niggling at me throughout the first and second books. Finally, some more of his character is revealed through Amelia's attraction to him-which is admittedly gushing, at times, even to me. Devlin and Amelia, both haunted in the literal and figurative sense of the word, make for a very intriguing pairing, and I was clamoring for more of the two, right up to the end.

And as for the ending, well. It's not a cliffhanger in the most maddening sense, so don't worry. But this book provides enough twists and turns that you'll be really eager to continue exploring Amelia's journey and the mysteries that continue to develop right up to the last page.

Bottom Line: If you've not yet read the first two books, make sure you do before picking this one up. The Prophet builds upon its predecessors marvelously, exhibiting the same lush visuals and chilling mystery that's becoming a hallmark of the series. Its complex, lingering developments prove that this series is just getting going-and considering its awesomeness thus far, that's saying something. ^_^

I just finished this thrilling conclusion to a planned trilogy and now I really wish the story was not the end of a trilogy. It's so good that I would be thrilled to read another installment. I'll keep my fingers crossed that maybe this won't just be a trilogy...

Amelia Gray go back home to complete the renovations on a cemetery that was the centerpiece of the first book in the trilogy. Meanwhile, Amelia is in love with a haunted man and one of his ghost is far less than friendly. I don't want to spoil the plot so I won't say much more.

This story is written in first person point of view which, with this tale, heightened the suspense all the more because we could only know what Amelia is feeling and seeing. You are removed from the place you are and placed directly in the main character's shoes. Amanda Stevens manages to heighten the suspense so much that I couldn't stop reading. Again, more a thriller than romance - regardless of the fact that this one is categorized as romance, any reader who loves thrillers would enjoy this book.

The Prophet is book 3 in The Graveyard Queen series. In all truth, you could skip book 2 as this book 3 continues the story and characters that you meet in book 1 (The Restorer). There are only a couple references to things that happened in book 2 (The Kindgom) and they don't really affect the story line in this book.

Several other reviewers have summarized the book and it is a conclusion to the story line started in book 1. It did wrap up they mystery and connect the dots between all the major characters and entities you have met along the way. Author Stevens does a great job setting the mood and atmosphere in the cemetaries, houses, and settings where Amelia spends her time. Though the time line or time between events didn't seem as natural as in the first book, this was worth the read to finish the story line.

I want a happy ending for Amelia and John and it is implied in this book. But, the last chapters do make me wonder if another book will be coming out in the series, I sure hope so.

I absolutely loved The Restorer and was thrilled that I happened upon it. I waited all those long months for the next book, The Kingdom, to be published and I was a disappointed girl when it came out. Not set in Charleston, no Devlin, or any of my other favorite characters. Anyhow, The Prophet takes up right where The Restorer left off. I'm not going to recap the tale as that's been done very well in other reviews.
Suffice it to say that if you liked The Restorer, you will be glad to see how Stevens has tied some of the loose ends up. Amanda and Devlin's relationship played out very well I thought. The murdered cop and his story really surprised me. Didn't see that coming. And, I have to say, I'm a little intrigued by Darius Goodwine and feel sure we'll be seeing him again.
This is my favorite series right now and I eagerly look forward to more from Amanda and Devlin. I think Stevens has more adventures for them. Charleston is the perfect setting for stories such as these.

Amelia Grey. Cemetary restorer and a person who sees ghosts.
Clever premise. Interesting people. Fabulous location. Great story. Terrific use of southern folklore and myths as well as just a touch of the Gullah traditions. Not the traditional romance. Touches of romance genre, enough to keep most romance readers happy. Enough of the urban paranormal readers happy. Really all around well done.

The entire series held up, really one long story. Plenty of twists and turns with very interesting and engaging characters.

I plan to go back and check out the author's other books. Not sure if she intends to continue on with these two leads. I hope not, since it seems like their story is over, perhaps they will be sidelines in another series. I think more about the Gullah people would be great.

Highly recommend this series.

Good book but not as the ones before , many characters involved and the prophet no even one prophecy came out good.
I was disappointed at first cause the story was diving into boring , getting annoyed with Amelia for not having a backbone about her feelings towards Devlin and disappointed with him for not pursuing their chemistry or finding out what was going to happen.
Just when I was starting to give up on the story ,TA DA !! My reading turn in into that creepy, scary world that characterized the graveyard queen .

Taking a very different direction to the first two books in the series, The Prophet chronicles Amelia's investigation into the death of Robert Freman. While at it, she uncovers several secrets - some of which pertain to Mariama Goodwine, deceased wife of John Devlin, the man Amelia is in love with.

A lot of the plot in this book was fairly predictable and it missed the thrill of the graveyard setting, but it shone in other areas. I'm a big fan of John Devlin and I really enjoyed watching the relationship between him and Amelia grow as the book progressed.

The book also gave a fascinating look into traditional African spiritual beliefs. The lore behind them had me just as hooked as the story itself.

Amanda Stevens has a great, strong voice in Amelia. As soon as the Amelia Gray books opens, I get hopelessly sucked in.

Now I'm just hoping that it won't be too long before a fourth book is released!

The third book in Amanda Stevens' Graveyard Queen Series Amelia is back home in Charleston. She is trying to process what she learned in Asher Falls and come to terms with the fact she has broken all her fathers rules what that means for her future. She is also trying to forget Detective John Devlin but strange things are happening and she continuously finds herself in his path.

As if Amelia doesn't have enough to deal with Robert Freemont is haunting her. Robert needs Amelia's help finding his killer so he can move on. During her investigation she attracts the attention of a powerful voodoo practitioner and the lives of everyone around her converge.

I cannot say enough good things about the Graveyard Queen series. Amanda Stevens can weave a thick web of secrets and tell a creepy tale. The scene are dark and Gothic. There were a few times while reading the hair stood up on the back of my neck and I got goosebumps.

Received from NetGalley for review.

Book three in a series.

This book focuses on Amelia and John Devlin. I read this book without the benefit of reading the first two in the series. That's a mistake. If you choose to read this book, and I encourage you to, pick up the first two and read them before attempting The Prophet. I have since read both and then reread The Prophet, enjoying it much more.

A wonderfully written story. Amelia is a great character. Imagine, a Graveyard Queen! And I just love the role of Devlin.

Oh, and ghosts!!!! I love reading about ghosts.

Upon finishing this book, I have several unanswered questions. I look forward to the next book to find out what happens with Amelia and Devlin.

4 stars

4+ stars. I liked this better than The Kingdom, but slightly less than the first book, The Restorer. I was glad for Amelia to be back in Charleston to continue the story line with Devlin and the ghosts introduced in The Restorer.

This book tied up a lot of questions raised in the first book. About Devlin and his relationship with his wife and daughter, the accident that killed Mariama and Shani, the reason for Shani communicating with Amelia, who killed Robert Fremont and why.

There were mention in this book by several characters that Amelia had changed but the change to me as the reader wasn't an entirely positive one. Like in The Kingdom, she seemed more fearful and was very impulsive with her decisions. I actually found that her impulses gave her somewhat of a stalker quality, more than once she found herself hiding in the bushes eavesdropping!

One of the key elements I found missing in this book is the lack of continuity with the "door opening" that occurred in The Restorer in the night Amelia ran away from Devlin. That was a big part of the reason she stayed away in the first place but somehow it didn't make an appearance in this book. That was a jarring inconsistency.

There were twists in the end that were unexpected but also made sense. The ending was intriguing but I didn't like how it creates doubt as to the reason for Devlin coming back, was it his choice or was it because of Darius? No doubt that was the point.

The third installment of Amands Stevens "Graveyard Queen" series answered a lot of questions that have ligered since book 1 "The Restorer". The ending was rushed and there's a lack of explanation as to why such and such has to happen this way and events occur that leave you scratching your head. I am looking foward to book 4 "The Visitor". The ending "The Prophet" leaves you hanging and just when you think you get closure more questions appear.

I really like this author and have read several of her books. This series is my favorite of her works but I will have to say this particular installment wasn't as captiving as the last one. As some others have said, Amelia spent a lot of time ruminating over the same things throughout the book, which became annoying. After all that she learned about her birth and family from the previous book, I felt these revelations could have been expanding on more in this one. But overall, the book was still a great read & I can't wait for the next one.

Wow, I am really loving this series!  Great mystery, characters, and settings with crazy plot twists at every turn!  Fabulous read for horror, mystery, and paranormal fans alike!  And let's not forget sexy romance!  I banged through all three books in a week, and now I'm jonesing for more!! Can't wait for the next book! Keep them coming!!

The ending is so powerful that it leave satisfied but at the same time keyed up and wanting more.This story is the most powerful one in the series. I am having a hard time disengaging myself and coming back into the real world. Read the books in order. They are well written and never stale. They give glimpses in ghosts ,grave yard restorations and the many forms of root work which most people today mistakenly think is only Voodoo.It can be likened unto it and even a part of it but it can be a practice all it's own, with its own set of rules and religious practices.

I actually discovered this author this past summer and read her other novels and they were really dark and creepy. I was so glad to see she started a series. And may I say what a creepy and spooky series at that!! These are by far the best I have read. I like cozy mysteries and paranormal but holy cow can she give me the willies. This book was good and well written and so were the other two. I can't wait for more!!

Best if read by moonlight!!!

After the ordeal of narrowly escaping the revelations from her past in the small town of Asher Falls, Amelia was very eager to be back home. Unfortunately, things aren't much safer as no matter where she goes, the evil will never stop trying to consume her. She's got a ghost tied to her, demanding his killer be found or he will continue to drain her energy. To make matters worse, John Devlin is back in her life despite her vow to stay away from him and his ghosts. And this time she may not have the strength to walk away again, even if it means her life.

The creepy factor was severely lacking in The Prophet compared to the two previous installments. In fact it seemed to focus more on Amelia's inner turmoil over her attraction to Devlin as well as her fear at abandoning Papa's rules. The latter really started to grate on me after a while because she just kept worrying over it continuously. I guess I just found this to be a little frustrating since she had already made the irreversible decisions to break those protective rules by directly helping ghosts. I just wish she would have accepted that fact and moved on the best that she could, especially since she continues to break the rules. It isn't like she wasn't warned, nor can she go back to that bubble of safety, so I just think it's more than time at this point to put her big girl panties on and accept the way thing are. Perhaps I am being a little hard on Amelia, but I just miss the iron strength she displayed in the first installment and into the second. I'd love to see that Amelia come back with a vengeance.

In the first and second books all I wanted was for Amelia to get together with Devlin. I just found him to be so yummy despite his baggage and secrecy. Now, however I am really not sure. In The Prophet, Devlin is the same as he has ever been, but Amelia is definitely not. I really just don't care for the person she becomes around him. She loses all of her self-confidence, and to be honest becomes rather weak. I understand she has a soft spot for him, and really cannot resist him, but that doesn't mean she had to become quite so needy. It just seemed completely out of character, and made it really hard to support her.

While The Prophet was still an enjoyable read, I just wasn't as sucked into things as I had been in the previous installments. In fact I found myself easily distracted at times, and I kept walking away from it Between the lack of the expected creepy factor, the repetitiveness of her angsting over papa's rules and the change in Amelia, it was really hard to stay attached. However, that being said, based on the ending of The Prophet, I have a feeling those issues won't be a problem in the next installment. In fact, I'm still rather anxious to get my hands on the next book as this series is still quite phenomenal despite my frustrations this time around. In all honesty, if it had not been for the very high bar set by the previous installments, The Prophet probably would have earned a higher rating from me. So, putting all that aside, The Prophet was an enjoyable read in the stellar Graveyard Queen series that fans won't want to miss for the long running subplot resolutions.

Amelia "Graveyard Queen" Gray is renowned for her talent to restore lost respect to neglected cemeteries. A prime reason she is adept at what she does is her secret skill, seeing ghosts. As a child her dad gave her four rules to strictly adhere to when dealing with ghosts; but during her travels Amelia has smashed each of them (see The Restorer and The Kingdom).

She vows to obey her father's admonition. However, this proves difficult when the dead cop pleads with her to find his killer. Clues take Amelia to the darkest evilest sector of Charleston and to haunted police detective John Devlin who haunts her heart. Soon Amelia's good intentions to undo any damage she may have caused between the realms of the living and dead forces her to choose between her love and her dad's rules.

This is a superb dark urban fantasy as readers learn more about who Amelia Gray is. Action-packed but character driven, fans will relish the trek into Stevens' world as a beleaguered heroine finds mending what she wrought a seemingly impossible task even without considering her feelings towards Devlin as Amelia's soul is at risk if she does nothing, fails or succeeds.

Harriet Klausner

ugh, seriously i'm so over the angst about devlin. it worked for the first book, i liked the 2nd book because we moved away from charleston and devlin. but now we're back and just ugh. get over it already. i gave up halfway through the book - not even the mystery of "who killed whats-his-face (see, i can't even remember his name)" could keep me interested.