Graveminder by Melissa Marr
How can you not be intrigued by a book with the line “Sleep well, and stay where I put you” on the cover? I was intrigued and entered the strange town of Claysville where no one ever gets ill until they are at least in their 80th year.
The residents of Claysville made a contract with Mr. D a century or so ago and since then the Graveminder and Undertaker (roles passed down to those deemed worthy) have been ensuring the dead don’t walk and become the Hungry Dead. Unfortunately this book starts with one of the Hungry Dead killing the current Graveminder. The Graveminder’s step-granddaughter comes home for the funeral and finds herself the new Graveminder: a role she never knew existed in a town that is much more unusual than she ever knew.
While there are many unanswered questions at the end of the book, the immediate issues are resolved. The mystery (why are these dead suddenly hungry?) is well crafted with the resolution being at once satisfying and creepy. The book leaves you satisfied but curious and wanting to travel to Claysville once again.
