Six Feet Under meets Succession with a gothic twist after the suspicious death of a midwestern funeral home empire’s wealthy patriarch in New York Times bestselling author Lisa Childs’ dark, twisty, horror-tinged new series for readers of Megan Collins, Samantha Downing, Stacy Willingham, and Rachel Hawkins. In Gold Creek, Michigan, legend has that the ghost of a local grave digger still walks the cemetery, swinging his shovel, looking for his next victim to bury. But when the town’s wealthy undertaker dies, his estranged daughter must contend with the ghosts that haunt her own family . . . After she left home at seventeen, River Gold swore she would never return to Gold Creek. Growing up at the Gold Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens was a nightmare. Classmates constantly teased her for being part of the “Ghoul” family, while her own family denied that she was actually a Gold. Her father, undertaker Gregory Gold, certainly never acted like a father. He was far more interested in profiting off other people’s tragedies. But now Gregory has died. And River has surrendered to her mother, Fiona’s, pleas that she come back for his funeral. But the mourning period is cut short when it’s revealed that Gregory died of poisoning—and Fiona is arrested for his murder. Clearly, Fiona, his third wife and the funeral home’s cosmetologist, is being framed. There are plenty of more likely suspects, and River is determined to prove her mother’s innocence. That she’ll have to work with the sheriff—her high school enemy—is a small price to pay. With a fortune at stake, River is sure the killer lies among Gregory’s first two wives, their children, and grandchildren. Yet soon, other discoveries will be made, and longstanding secrets unearthed. But when teenagers start disappearing from the cemetery, the danger hits closer to home than River imagined possible. Drawn back into the lives—and lies—of the Golds—she’ll have to use her every resource to keep herself, and her loved ones, safe.
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I was hoping for more horror action than the “ghost” of the grave digger. The “ghost” is probably a living person, at least that is what is hinted at. This made me think of Six Feet Under, so I liked that trip down memory lane. Although the Gold Family was a lot more successful than the Fisher family. Whenever the book mentioned how the dead patriarch Gregory Gold I was vain and wanted to live forever I thought about that part in the Fame song “I wanna live forever”. I was caught up in the family dynamics for most of the book. There are some truly unlikable characters and some endearing characters. I knew the killer wouldn't be Fiona, River's (MC) mom. I often felt Lisa Childs was trying to force us into believing Fiona did kill her husband which I didn't like. The underlying Spoiler DNA story was interesting. It was a recurring theme in the book. I also liked the small love story between River and Luke. If you like stories that talk about family dynamics especially toxic ones or slightly cozy mysteries this book might be for you.
