Review: The Gravedigger's Brawl by Abigail Roux

Reviewed by Fehu
The Gravediggers Brawl by Abigail Roux
Riptide Publishing
Novel: 250pgs
5 Pants Off

Blurb:
Dr. Wyatt Case is never happier than when he’s walking the halls of his history museum. Playing wingman for his best friend at Gravedigger’s Tavern throws him way out of his comfort zone, but not as much as the eccentric man behind the bar, Ash Lucroix.

Ash is everything Wyatt doesn’t understand: exuberant, quirky, and elbow deep in a Gaslight lifestyle that weaves history into everyday life. He coordinates his suspenders with his tongue rings. Within hours, Wyatt and Ash are hooked.

But strange things are afoot at Gravedigger’s, and after a knock to the head, Ash starts seeing things that can’t be explained by old appliances or faulty wiring. Soon everyone at Gravedigger’s is wondering if they’re seeing ghosts, or just going crazy. The answer to that question could end more than just Wyatt and Ash’s fragile relationship—it might also end their lives.

Review:
Just the right book to get into the mood for Halloween!  So let me ask you something...Are you afraid of ghosts? No, well Wyatt wasn't either, at least at the beginning...

Dr Wyatt Case works as curator of a history museum in Richmond and the most exiting things that happen to him, are his run ins with the board trustees. He loves his job, but recently the trustees have made it their goal to haunt him in his workplace so he is glad to escape when his best friend Nick, suggest visiting a new place: Gravedigger's Tavern.

At the tavern, Wyatt meets a very charming bartender, Ash and they couldn't be any more different, but here at least opposites attract. After Wyatt’s less than stellar behaviour in the aftermath of their encounter, he searches for an excuse to visit Ash. Gravediggers history is the excuse and its there where Wyatt finds inspiration for a new exhibition, to attract a younger crowed. What is more interesting than ghosts and haunted sites, right?

Meanwhile strange things happen at the Gravedigger’s Tavern, odd noises, music playing on its own, reflections of a man in the mirror and electricity acting up, but then again it’s an old building, with a lot of history, or that’s what they tell themselves. Especially Ash seems to be attracting the strange happenings and soon it follows him outside the bar.

At the same time, Wyatt is researching the taverns history and finds out about mysterious murders happening there and a lot of skeletons, which were literary buried in walls. It’s up to Wyatt, Noah and the Gravedigger’s crew to find some answers and get some help, and think fast, if they want to save Ash, because it turns out that even if you don’t believe in ghosts, they do believe in you!

The ghost story is spooky and while Wyatt’s and Ash’s relationship didn’t pull me in that much, the story did. I loved the descriptive writing and could see the places in my mind; the sense of place was really well done. The supporting characters were interesting and I think I would have loved to read more about Noah and Caleb’s relationship. Also, the history parts appealed to me.

This story has the right Halloween atmosphere, suspense, romance and horror and while the first copy I had went missing, at least my ereader proved itself immune to the books curse. Gravediggers Brawl kept me turning pages up to the very end.

5 Pants Off