Outrageous: Graveminder by Melissa Marr

Rating: 3

Maylene Barrow may be odd with her weird traditions - three sips of a silver flask. But she is the only true family she has left.

So when Maylene passed away, Rebekkah had to return to the place she never intended to go back, only to find out that her dear grandmother was bloodily murdered and to learn that she has a bigger role in Claysville than the step granddaughter who left - along with the person she never intended to reconcile with. 

Author: Melissa Marr
Series: standalone (with an e-novella prior to the story)
Published: 9th of May, 2011
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Format: 324 pages, hardcover
Source: purchased



Graveminder started off great - a lot of mystery that keeps on the edge, desperate for answers to questions that aren't even directly asked. It was riveting and thrilling, especially in its gradual pace. I find my heart always beating fast when I flip to the next page because maybe then we would get some clarification. But we don't, not really. And it keeps getting better and better.

Until the moment when we actually discover the truth, the facts, all the hidden town secrets buried in its own land. The suspense of the continually mentioned "Graveminder" and "Undertaker" build up a lot and the big reveal didn't really match up to it, for me, anyway.

What made it worse is the romance that felt so incredibly forced. At the beginning, when everything makes you crazy - good crazy - Rebekkah and Byron's romantic ties made sense. It was believable due to the circumstances surrounding their relationship. And then the answers came flooding in and their love and affection became fake.

As the story progresses, the well-written mystery decreased - although it is still there but predictable - and the question - the sole focus - turned into, "Should I tell him that I love him or not?" The grief that was supposed to be there transformed into fondness that was too much at times.

Their whole dilemma with the love they uncontrollably obtain towards one another ruined the progression of the book. Or maybe because it felt a lot like insta-love (number one book turn off) or rather, a mandatory insta-love.

It would've been better if their romance is modified somehow.

The murder mystery case wasn't one I enjoyed too. Yes, I admit I did not figure out the mastermind beforehand and I found myself disbelieving upon knowing. The whole murder plot in Claysville is pretty impressive for Claysville. I just had a huge problem with the execution.

There weren't a boxes of sparks that really set you on fire. Rebekkah didn't even do much to put an end to the mayhem.

The beginning of Graveminder sent me spinning but the rest just annoyed me.

Goodreads || Melissa Marr