It is Halloween, not the best night to spend in a cemetary. However Taylorville, has a ghost. Or at least Greenwood Cemetery seems to have a ghost.

Jenny’s ghost to be exact. Well, Jenny said she saw a ghost.

Of course the Miller Twins Rod and Todd, were right in the big middle of the story Pete Turner had to tell.

Marybelle Roberts, a love letter, an enigmatic stranger and Mrs Clark’s jewels all figure in the narrative. The young teens see mysterious lights, make a trip to the Overstreet house, and Pete has to face his father who is not at all pleased with his son’s behavior. Brad Overstreet ends up in jail, and the teens go out to the cemetery at night.

The Overstreet money is gone, laughter, thumps, and creaks do not inspire courage to those who may be sitting in a crypt. Three hazy figures, broken head stones, and a light in a vault will all come into play before the tale is told.

Mean Dean, a halloween party, and a Mausoleum, Roger Overstreet, and King Solomon all have a part to play. Kids often find themselves being pulled in many directions as they are growing up. Parents, teachers and other adults offer one or more set of restrictions while kids themselves apply more pressure upon their peers. The rules parents set down may be unrealistic, too strict or just plain silly. Peer pressure can be overwhelming at times.

For Pete Turner growing up in Taylorsville it seems he is always on the losing end of a running battle with authority. He cannot resist the wacky schemes of the Miller Twins for whom pushing all the limits is a full time job. When Jenny tells Pete and the Miller twins that she has seen a ghost the die is cast.

The group must go to the cemetery and confront the ghost. The only mystery is why the ghost first appeared at Overstreet house before going on to the cemetery. Of course, despite anything his father may have said, Pete cannot refuse to go along, he cannot appear a coward to his friend.

The Graveyard Mystery is a congenial narrative illustrating how a group of adolescent kids plunge into the unfamiliar. Young readers will identify with the uncertainty facing the kids. Realizing that others face the same relationship ups and downs type problems with parents somehow helps ease some of kids’ own frustrations as the teens are learning to think for themselves. Writer Berry unerringly portrays the world of teen years with its long standing exigency for teens to comply with peer notions and to never give in to being afraid.

The Graveyard Mystery ingeniously keeps the reader spellbound until the ultimate, gratifying culmination. Writer Berry competently hooks reader interest into Pete’s life as he attempts to not lose face with his friends while trying to keep his father from finding out what he is doing late at night.

The Graveyard Mystery seems to be a simple mystery until the real thief is revealed. Action, mystery to keep you guessing, realistic characters.

The Graveyard Mystery has something for everyone. The book will keep the reader guessing, laughing and turning the page.

Enjoyed the read, happy to recommend.

Reviewed by: Molly's Reviews molly martin 20+ years classroom teacher

Genre: upper middle grades/ young adult Author: Jeanine Berry Line/Publisher: Books Unbound E-Publishing Co ebook formats only available ISBN: 1-59201-003-2