Gravestone picks up where Solitary left off, right after New Year's Eve and all the events that happened. Chris Buckley is isolated, alone and terrified, wondering who he can trust or believe in. He is broken, tired, terrified.After the cliff hanger ending of Solitary, we are taken deeper into the turmoil caused by Pastor Jeremiah Marsh and the New Beginnings Church, which Chris believes to be the root of the evil in Solitary. Problem is, pretty much, no one else seems to think this.I won't say I was confused by parts of this book, I was mystified, which I think is the author's purpose, to keep us guessing, because in life there aren't always easy, complete answers to the important stuff.Again, this is dark, edgy, frightening. Again, Chris is an amazing narrator! Again, we have a cliff hanger ending! Well done! Chris Buckley is looking for answers but it seems like he doesn't know quite whom he can trust anymore. The one person who meant the world to him has been murdered and his mom seems to be in a perpetual drunken state all the time. Now that he finds himself back in high school again, he reaches out to the only three friends he had left, but he can't find Rachel. She doesn't seem to be in school any longer and Poe, refuses to acknowledge him except for angry outbursts. Relying on the only friend left, he meets with Newt over lunch. But all Newt will say to him is that lunch is the place for eating only.When Chris pushes him for more, Newt simply tells him to meet after school. When the boys arrive in Newts basement the only thing he tells Chris is that Rachel has moved away. He warns Chris that the less he is told, the less Newt knows. He also tells Chris that, "they have a way of making thing like this happen. People disappearing. People moving, People moving on. There are reasons I remain quiet and if I were you, I'd get as far away from this place as I could."But can Chris simply forget and walk away from the town of Solitary? Can he let go of the murder of Jocelyn and not do anything, tell anyone? And just what if he does? Will he disappear or will he move on?In the chilling sequel to Solitary by Travis Thrasher, the reader is brought back with the aftermath of what happened in the deep dark forest with Jocelyn and the cult that murdered her. There appears to be something happening in this Zombie-like town but Chris isn't sure who he can trust any longer. When an encounter with a man who claims he is Chris's cousin Jared who is searching for his father Robert who has gone missing, he isn't sure what is real any longer. Is Jared someone he can truly trust. He tells him that his mother is part of what the town is hiding and that knowing just who he can trust will make the difference between choosing light or darkness in the battle for his own soul.I received Gravestone as a personal purchase to continue in series of Travis Thrasher's Solitary Tales. I enjoyed Solitary so much I had to see where the story picked up with Chris on the verge of wondering just what is going on and how much of it is crazy and how much of it is a chilling reality that the town wants to remain a secret. What will it cost for Chris to solve the mystery? You'll have to pick this one up to find out, but I would advise reading book 1 in the series first, to gain an understanding of the darkness keeping this town in secrecy! This one rates a 5 out of 5 stars and I can't wait to review the 3rd book in the series, Temptation!
What do You think about Gravestone (2011)?
Second book in the series carries the tension to the next level as new questions are raised.
—juliet613
Amazing. Thought provoking. Will keep you on the edge of your seat!
—Michela
Creepy!!! Yeah, I'm so smart reading this at 1:00 in the morning.
—Nonnie
