I picked this up because the cover immediately caught my eye—it’s absolutely stunning. Combined with an intriguing premise on the back, it seemed like a promising choice. Plus, the author’s name, M.L. Rio, is well-known thanks to the buzz around „If We Were Villains“. Even though I haven’t read that book, I figured an author with such acclaim wouldn’t disappoint. Unfortunately, I was very wrong.

„Every night, in the college’s ancient cemetery, five people cross paths as they work the late shift: a bartender, a rideshare driver, a hotel receptionist, the steward of the derelict church that looms over them, and the editor-in-chief of the college paper, always in search of a story. One dark October evening in the defunct churchyard, they find a hole that wasn’t there before. A fresh, open grave where no grave should be. But who dug it, and for whom? Before they go their separate ways, the gravedigger returns. As they trail him through the night, they realize he may be the key to a string of strange happenings around town that have made headlines for the last few weeks–and that they may be closer to the mystery than they thought.“

Blurb

I struggled to connect with this novella from the very beginning. Half the time, I wasn’t entirely sure what was happening, and I found myself reading with a lot of question marks in my head. Now, I should note that English isn’t my first language, but I’ve been reading, studying, and working in English for years. I even completed a marketing degree in English. While I wouldn’t call myself a native speaker, I’m comfortable enough with the language to understand all books. Yet with Graveyard Shift, I found it exceptionally difficult to follow the plot, and I’m not sure if that’s a reflection of the story itself or just my own experience.

Another issue I had was the genre labeling. The book was marketed as “horror,” but there was nothing particularly creepy or scary about it. Yes, it’s set in a graveyard, but beyond that, it lacked the atmosphere or tension I would expect from the genre. To make things worse, the story felt like it ended just as it was getting interesting.

For me, this was a disappointing read, and I can only give it 3 stars. Honestly, it’s closer to 2 or 2.5, but I’ll give it the benefit of the doubt because the concept and setting had potential. Unfortunately, Graveyard Shift ended up being a low point in my reading this year.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️