Beyond the Cemetery Gate: The Secret Keeper's Daughter
"This taut, suspenseful mystery goes beyond the cemetery gate and settles, creaking, into our very bones." - Silvia Acevedo, author of the award-winning God Awful series.
When the police rule her dad's death an accidental overdose, 16-year-old Chloe refuses to believe it and vows to find his killer. Alone against a potentially corrupt, small-town police force, a persistent social worker seeking proof that she has adult supervision, and precariously low funds, Chloe learns that her dad's life as a cemetery caretaker masked a web of family secrets that quite possibly led to his death-and are now putting her in mortal danger.
Needing freedom to investigate, Chloe pretends that her only surviving relative, a famous war correspondent, has returned from an overseas assignment to be her guardian. But living alone in the caretaker's house in the middle of the cemetery, mere feet from the crime scene, puts Chloe's nerves on edge even before she unearths clues about the shadowy side of her small town. Help comes from unlikely and surprising allies: the colorful owner of the local retro diner, the quiet new classmate with his near-perfect memory, and a spirit who visits in her moments of greatest need.
But as Chloe gets closer to the truth, someone else is getting closer to Chloe, watching her every move. And when her aunt turns up on international news reporting from a war zone, Chloe's cover is blown. Now the race is on to reveal her dad's killer-but perhaps-Chloe isn't as alone as she thought.
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"A gripping mystery that succeeds due to a headstrong protagonist who's unwilling to fail." - Kirkus Reviews
"... a must-read and recommended for fans of mysteries looking for a gripping and compelling story." - 5-Stars Reader Views Kids
"A haunting YA mystery. Touching on everything from police ineptitude and community solidarity to the endless frustration of being patronized as a young person, this paranormal thriller confidently combines timely and relatable themes within a page-turning storyline." - Self-Publishing Review
"Not all secrets are buried in the grave. Beyond the Cemetery Gate is a nonstop read through a dark, twisting plot and the dangerous world of shadows and sinister people that 16-year-old Chloe must outrun and outsmart." - Patricia Skalka, Author of the Dave Cubiak Door County Mysteries
"Valerie Biel's writing is fast-paced and sharp!" - Christy Wopat, author of Almost a Mother and Always Ours
"Vulnerable but also whip smart, brave, and daring, Chloe investigates her dad's murder, ultimately putting her own life at risk. This heart-in-your-throat novel pulsates with suspense as Chloe roots out secrets and exposes lies, ultimately discovering who she really is." - Jeannée Sacken, author of the award-winning Annie Hawkins series
"With its many layers of secrets, tightly woven plot, and great characters, Beyond the Cemetery Gate tops my list of books worth reading this year." - Terri Karsten, author of A Mistake of Consequence
"Biel's writing is intense, suspenseful, and passionate." - K.M. Waldvogel, award-winning author
"Blending an amazing portrayal of a sometimes-stark reality with human willpower and the hope that comes in friendships . . . a novel that is both tender-hearted and thrilling." - author Laurie Stevens
"This story has everything: a protagonist who earned my empathy from the first pages, a supporting cast of colorful characters, small-town corruption, lies, secrets, betrayal, and crisp pacing that made this brilliantly crafted novel impossible to put down." - Gregory Lee Renz, multi-award-winning author
"Told in Chloe's, her father's, and a mysterious watcher's point of view, the story is thrillingly woven together. Mystery, suspense, twists, and romance in a cemetery-spookily fun!" - Kristin Oakley, award-winning author
