Abandoned in a cemetery and raised in a funeral home, a girl who can see and smell the supernatural must solve the mystery of a priceless heirloom stolen from her family's business. Perfect for fans of Netflix’s Wednesday and Beetlejuice!
"A new middle grade heroine you’re going to love."—BookRiot13-year-old Mystery—who was abandoned in a cemetery and raised in a funeral home—is plagued by sleep paralysis and the smell of ghosts, but she's used to that. Even though her life might seem "strange" on the outside, she loves it.
That is until a priceless heirloom goes missing and her family's funeral home is in danger of being shut down. To clear her Tia's good name, Mystery embarks on an adventure to figure out what really happened to the misplaced necklace.
But to do so, she must contend with the angry patriarch of the town’s wealthiest family, a sleep paralysis demon, a graverobber, and the ghastly half-vampire, half-ghost that’s lurking in the Olde Ellis Town Cemetery.
On sale: September 16, 2025
Age: 10 and up
Grade: Grade 5 & Up
Page count: 320 Pages
ISBN: 9780593896914
Reading level: Lexile: 860L
Ally is the author of
It Came from the Trees. She grew up on a steady diet of Halloween parties, horror films,
Unsolved Mysteries, and Goosebumps books. She has always loved scary stories, and got her MFA from Simmons University and, eventually, a job working in children’s publishing. She hails from Pittsburgh—ground zero for the zombie apocalypse. Ally lives with her husband and her two black cats, Nox and Fury. She’s afraid of the woods, the dark, and heights.
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection!"
Fast-paced and
deliciously thrilling."—
Kirkus Reviews
"The
eerie,
thrilling plot moves rapidly leaving breathless readers
eager for the next chapter. Some unfinished threads by the end of the novel will have tweens
awaiting the sequel."—
SLJ
"Russell crafts an
engaging blend of
supernatural adventure and
classic whodunit with a Faustian twist...this will surely satisfy the curiosity of well-rounded Tim Burtons in the making."—
The Bulletin
"A
great addition to the middle-grade horror canon."—
Booklist
"Hand this novel to middle grade readers who love
thrills,
detective work, and
page-turning adventures."—
Literary Hub "
Twisty,
thrilling, and bursting with
dastardly shenanigans. Move over Wednesday Addams—Mystery James is on her way to the top!"—Mary Averling, author of
The Curse of Eelgrass Bog
"
Surprising,
chilling,
funny, and
full of heart,
Mystery James Digs Her Own Grave is one mystery you're going to want to savor. I loved every page of it!"—Josh Roberts, author of the Witches of Willow Cove series
"Ally Russell has created a wonderful new spooky detective that fans of
Wednesday and
Sherlock Holmes alike will love. Filled with
heart,
intrigue and the right amount of
scares,
Mystery James Digs Her Own Grave should be on the
must-read list of everyone who likes thrills and chills."—Samantha M Clark, author of
The Boy, The Boat, and The Beast
