Girl at the Grave

September 17, 2018
Debut author Black adroitly fashions a believable historical thriller, carefully unfolding layers of generational deceit and heartbreak, and creating well-rounded characters and a believable 19th-century New England town. Valentine Deluca, 18, has always lived in the shadow of her infamous mother, who was hanged for the murder of Nigel Blackshaw when Valentine was six years old. Now finishing her final year at the exclusive Drake Academy, Valentine finds that her past has come back to haunt her. After the church rector, Mr. Oliver, informs her that her mother was innocent, Valentine’s long-buried memories of the night when Nigel died begin to resurface. Then Mr. Oliver is poisoned and killed, and Valentine’s father and friend Birdy go missing. With the help of Nigel’s son, Valentine begins to piece together the twisted history of her family and the Blackshaws. By allowing readers to understand the various motivations for some of the characters’ bad behaviors, Black offers a story interested in empathy and a search for the truth. Ages 13–up. Agent: Barbara Poelle, Irene Goodman Literary.