The Restorer (Graveyard Queen, #1) in SOS: Serious Overload of Series

Feb 23, 2011 Alisha rated it it was amazing

Shelves: ac-g, favorites

Rating: 4.5 (After some more thought: A five, really.)
Quick Take: Loved it. Loved. It. Steven's writing style is so easy to get into. To say that I look forward to more of this series is a serious understatement. Highly recommended to all of my ghost-story-friendly urban fantasy peeps. It might give you a fright, but it's well worth the thrill.

Review:
Freaking A, man. What an awesome book this is!
I must confess that, as a scaredy cat and ghost-story wimp, I was hesitant at first to read Amanda St Rating: 4.5 (After some more thought: A five, really.)
Quick Take: Loved it. Loved. It. Steven's writing style is so easy to get into. To say that I look forward to more of this series is a serious understatement. Highly recommended to all of my ghost-story-friendly urban fantasy peeps. It might give you a fright, but it's well worth the thrill.

Review:
Freaking A, man. What an awesome book this is!
I must confess that, as a scaredy cat and ghost-story wimp, I was hesitant at first to read Amanda Stevens's trilogy opener. The book description sounded very intriguing, but it was obviously meant to give the potential reader a taste of the eerie setting and chilling theme of the full novel. Boy, am I glad I got past that hesitancy. I was thoroughly creeped out whilst reading this tale, but more importantly, I was exhilarated.

So let's start with that emotion. Yes, this book is creepy; the author is quite skilled at creating atmosphere. Stevens's writing style is resonant, engaging, and very easy to fall into. The language is crisp and easily accessible--not simplistic--and yet descriptions are vivid, crafting a clear visual and understanding of both the characters and the settings. I'd imagine that's precisely what one would want when attempting to scare the pants off of someone. ^_^

It's perhaps good that the mechanics of the language used does not confound, because this is indeed a dense book. There are numerous details that are integral to the storyline, and the main mystery is quite multilayered. In fact, there are elements in play that suggest the author is focused on the bigger, series-wide picture at all times. In that regard, this story's events solve mysteries, but titillate even more. The narrative barely scratches the surface of the main characters' struggles and inner scars. Protagonist Amelia Gray is one complex individual; amiable as far as protagonists go, but clearly haunted (literally and figuratively). That she finds herself drawn to an equally haunted man will provide a lot of arresting emotional material in upcoming installments.

If you can manage a highly atmospheric, spooky and complex book that absolutely must be read as part of a series arc, you need to pick up The Restorer. This will be a standout series, just you wait n see! ^_^ ...more

18 likes · Like · see review

Jun 09, 2017 D.G. rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook, mystery, reviewed, paranormal

The Restorer has the worst interrupted love scene I've ever seen in a book. YIKES!

But I'm getting ahead of myself. This book was simply marvelous, specially if you are more into Gothic books than Horror (as I am.) The atmosphere was magnificent - I simply love Charleston - the language was luscious and very Southern, the love interest and sexual tension were hot as hell, the narration was perfect, and the plot/pacing were extremely well done. If it weren't for Amelia's tendency to shiver every ...more

12 likes · Like · see review

Apr 14, 2011 The Flooze rated it liked it

Shelves: vanquished_2011, mystery, urban-fantasy-paranormal

**3.5**

In a tone and pacing that call to mind an evening of Masterpiece Mystery, Amanda Stevens’ The Restorer introduces us to a woman who can see ghosts, a tantalizing and (literally) haunted detective, and the series of murders that bring them together. Although it had its quirks, it was an enjoyable read that kept me guessing most of the way.

Stevens chooses an interesting profession for her protagonist - that of graveyard restorer. It struck me as an odd career for a woman who can see ghosts ...more

6 likes · Like · see review

Jan 06, 2014 Thenia rated it liked it

Shelves: paranormal, 2018, series, reviewed, contemporary, r-ab

A story about Amelia Gray, a graveyard restorer with the ability to see ghosts, and John Devlin, the homicide detective she consults for when a fresh body is found at the latest cemetery she's tasked with restoring.

Amelia has always followed the rules her father, who can also see ghosts, has taught her ever since she first discovered her ability. One of those rules is never letting the ghosts realize that she can see them and another is staying far away from haunted people.

When John Devlin reque A story about Amelia Gray, a graveyard restorer with the ability to see ghosts, and John Devlin, the homicide detective she consults for when a fresh body is found at the latest cemetery she's tasked with restoring.

Amelia has always followed the rules her father, who can also see ghosts, has taught her ever since she first discovered her ability. One of those rules is never letting the ghosts realize that she can see them and another is staying far away from haunted people.

When John Devlin requests her assistance, though, she has no choice but to accept, despite the two ghosts she can see haunting him. She also has to pretend she's not attracted to him, which proves harder than she expects.

The case is more complicated than anyone ever expected and Amelia is more than a little invested in figuring out who the killer is, especially since (view spoiler).

Interesting story, but a heroine that frustrated me with her willingness to accept non-answers to her questions. She accepts her father's rules without challenging them, she accepts her mother's vagueness regarding her father's past that's alluded to and she does not utilize her sources properly, all things that irritated me more than a little. I kept waiting for her to actually confront at least one of those issues, yet by the end of the story we're still left guessing, partly in an effort to foreshadow things to come I imagine.

Their story continues in The Kingdom, where I sincerely hope we'll get some answers! ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Aug 03, 2011 Arlene rated it it was amazing

Shelves: ghosts, detective-mystery

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

Like · see review

Mar 03, 2013 Patricia rated it it was amazing

This was one of those stories that you start and you can't put down. The whole concept of the cemetery restorer who can see ghosts caught my interest immediately. These are not your run of the mill ghosts either, but parasitic spirits who drain energy. Amelia the heroine in this story has seen ghosts since she was a child, and her father who also sees them gave her rules to avoid them ruining her life. All these years she has followed his rules until a dead body is found in the cemetery she is c ...more

Like · see review

Mar 09, 2011 Shelleyrae at Book'd Out rated it liked it

Shelves: netgalley-reviews

The premise of the Restorer immediately intrigued me, a heroine who works to repair graveyards, scary ghosts and serial murder, a combination I find almost irresistible.
From the first I found Amelia Gray engaging. As the story is told in the first person it creates an immediate intimacy as we are privy to her thoughts and emotions. She is reserved and self contained, a product of her father's rules of protection from the ghosts that linger behind the veil. Her occupation as a graveyard restorer The premise of the Restorer immediately intrigued me, a heroine who works to repair graveyards, scary ghosts and serial murder, a combination I find almost irresistible.
From the first I found Amelia Gray engaging. As the story is told in the first person it creates an immediate intimacy as we are privy to her thoughts and emotions. She is reserved and self contained, a product of her father's rules of protection from the ghosts that linger behind the veil. Her occupation as a graveyard restorer is something unusual and Stevens weaves Amelia's knowledge seamlessly into the storyline. While I have always been fascinated by gravestone epitaph's I had never given much thought to the symbolism that permeates old cemeteries.
Amelia's unconventional relationship with Devlin offers elements of romance without overwhelming the plot. Devlin is handsome, aloof and enigmatic as hero's tend to be but his mysterious background gives him some depth that I expect will be explored in further installments.
Stevens plays up the stereotypes of southern eccentrics and the old monied privileged with several characters but also includes a lesbian colleague and Gullah mystic. The varied cast allows for a wide pool of suspects in the murders.
One of the particular strengths of this book lies in the atmosphere that Steven's creates with lyrical description and a menacing undertone that builds to the climax as Amelia is stalked by both human and ghost. There are moments that gave me goosebumps as I imagined the ghost child swaying slowly on the backyard swing.
Despite a majority of wonderfully well written scenes I was regularly jarred out of the narrative when some desperately melodramatic sentences slipped into the prose. Since I have read a galley I will not quote them, but I found them disruptive.
The Restorer is a solid debut for the Graveyard Queen southern gothic mystery/urban fantasy series. I look forward to continuing the series with The Kingdom due to be released later this year (2011) ...more

1 like · Like · see review

May 09, 2012 Christal rated it really liked it

Shelves: pi-detective-cop, shady-government-agency, female-lead, angels, ghosts, mystery-and-thrillers, reapers-and-ghost-whispers, voodoo, magical-or-paranormal, murder

The atmosphere of The Restorer was creepy and mysterious. It made me want to read faster and faster to find out whodunit. I enjoyed the world building very much and the characters were interesting. I really want to know the full story with Devlin, what Amelia's father hasn't told her, and of course what's up with Robert Freemont. Amanda Stevens left plenty of routes open for future stories, while still making this story feel complete.

Amelia Gray is a cemetery restorer and she can also see ghosts The atmosphere of The Restorer was creepy and mysterious. It made me want to read faster and faster to find out whodunit. I enjoyed the world building very much and the characters were interesting. I really want to know the full story with Devlin, what Amelia's father hasn't told her, and of course what's up with Robert Freemont. Amanda Stevens left plenty of routes open for future stories, while still making this story feel complete.

Amelia Gray is a cemetery restorer and she can also see ghosts. She's been taught all her life to ignore the spirits, but that becomes very difficult when police detective John Devlin recruits her help on a murder case involving her current cemetery project. Amelia soon finds herself involved in a mystery that spans over a decade and will change the way she thinks about ghosts and the world around her.

I liked Amelia; she was strong in a quiet way and kept her wits about her. Surprisingly, I found her job fascinating and enjoyed reading the restoration tidbits sprinkled throughout the novel. I appreciated that Ms. Stevens left some of Amelia's past hazy; it gives us more to learn about her life and her ability to see ghosts in the future books. I also liked that she did not let herself fall in instalust, even though it was very apparent how attractive she found Devlin. Amelia realized there were other forces at work and detached herself appropriately. While she might not be the funniest heroine around, I think Amelia's somberness and steady determination fit her character and are supported by the way she was raised and the rules she had to follow.

John Devlin was an enigma. He swept into Amelia's life and changed it in ways we (and Amelia!) still don't understand. It was hard to really pin his character down. He is an honorable cop, yet also a member of a shady secret society. He has his own personal pain that he carries always, but there is a definite attraction to Amelia. I hope we learn more about his wife and daughter in the future books. I also hope the way that he physically affects Amelia is further explored as well.

Ms. Stevens created a kooky but intriguing set of secondary characters. I feel like we have so much more to learn about them all, but especially Temple Lee, Rupert and Ethan Shaw, and most definitely Robert Freemont. I think the Order of Coffin and Claw has to come back in the story somehow as well. It doesn't seem like we are done learning about them and their enigmatic and powerful members.

The story clipped along at a good pace and the mystery was intriguing enough that I didn't want to put the book down. I read it mostly in one sitting. Ms. Stevens did a good job of keeping the murderer and his motivation a secret until the end. My only (mild) complaint is that the ending wrapped up too quickly; the murderer seemed to be found and dealt with a little too easily. The ending of the book wasn't super satisfying on the romantic front, but it was a responsible decision for now. I don't think Amelia will be able to stay away from Devlin for long, but at least she realizes she needs some distance from him and time to figure things out.

I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it more for mystery readers than urban fantasy readers. While the world building was beautiful and the plot well written, it didn't follow the traditional urban fantasy path and those looking for that might be disappointed. This book has the creepiness and detailed plot line of a Hitchcockian thriller. If you are looking for something outside of the UF norm, definitely give this book a try. It was a beautifully creepy and atmospheric mystery. ...more

Like · see review

Apr 30, 2023 Kelly (Maybedog) rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: what-uniforms-and-investigations, what-mystery, what-ghosts, what-modern-fantasy, what-cliffhanger, what-female-protagonist, what-suspense-thriller-action, what-het-romance

2.5 stars

One of the biggest problems for me in this book is that there’s zero comic relief. Nothing funny or even mildly amusing. Not even for the character. She’s always glum. It makes the book depressing. It drags.

I definitely know how different they treat cemeteries in the south. I visited Virginia to meet up with who would eventually become my fiancé and he took me around to see several old gravesites. Unfortunately, Seattle is too new. All of our cemeteries are well-kept, lawns mowed, grav ...more

Like · see review

May 28, 2011 Deyara rated it really liked it

Shelves: death-and-dying, crime-paranormal, paranormal-mystery, time-contemporary

Nice mystery, I liked the detective-y parts, and learning about the grave art and traditions. Didn't really enjoy the "romance", it was a bit unnecessary, it wasn't satisfying as a romance, and didnt really add to the story. I liked Amelia, and will read more in this series. ...more

Like · see review