Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Aided by her friends, 12-year-old Raven Gallows finds a mummy and attempts to solve a murder, which provides a lead for an investigation into her own mother’s death. With their dad on an archaeological dig in Chile, Raven and her older sister, Annabel Lee, live and work with Grams and Aunt Lenore at the family’s funeral home. Recently, Raven’s best friend, Cosmina, received an unusual message from a spirit guide concerning Evangeline, Raven’s art historian mom who passed away years ago under mysterious circumstances. When the friends go to the renowned haunted hotel Moonrise Manor to communicate with Cosmina’s guide, Raven crashes into a wall, exposing a mummified body. The duo—plus new friend Miles and tech-savvy Eric—resolve to learn who murdered the man and enclosed him in the wall. The many Edgar Allan Poe references and quotes give this contemporary tale a gothic feel. As the characters race to expose the killer, the Ozarks setting of Sassafras Springs, Missouri, with its razor’s edge ridges, plays its own role in building the tension. Meanwhile, everything Raven uncovers during her investigation about art heists and a secret society convinces her that the mummy is somehow linked to her mother. Most main characters read white; Eric is cued Chinese American. Offers ghoulish thrills and the promise of more adventures ahead. (discussion questions)(Mystery. 8-12) Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Publishers Weekly
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This savvy mystery set in Sassafras Springs, Mo., stars 12-year-old Raven Gallows, for whom death is the family business. Ever since her mother’s death six years ago, Raven has helped Grams and Aunt Lenore run Gallows Gardens, the family funeral home. While Raven is preoccupied with the more practical aspects of grief and mourning, her best friend Cosmina Wilde is obsessed with all things ghostly and supernatural. As such, Cosmina coerces newcomer Miles Farnsworth into helping her—and a reluctant Raven—meet ghosts in his family’s apparently haunted hotel, Moonrise Manor. Exploring the premises while Cosmina attempts to communicate with spirits, Raven discovers a mummified body hidden behind drywall—as well as a mysterious vase and her late mother’s locket. Along with Cosmina, Miles, and Chinese American–cued friend Eric Wong, Raven endeavors to uncover the truth about her findings, and determine the cause of her mother’s death once and for all. In her fiction debut, Bearce (Mary Anning and Paleontology for Kids) imbues Sassafras Springs with eerie ambiance. The town’s history feels lived-in, and the high stakes are never too scary, striking a balance between frightening adventure and youthful, levying humor. Major characters read as white. Ages 8–12. Agent: Heather Cashman, Storm Literary. (Feb.)

Book list
From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission.

Raven Gallows’ mother passed away six years ago, leaving her and her older sister under the care of a grandmother and aunt while her father is away on work. Together, the family runs the small-town funeral home. Raven is a serious science enthusiast while her best friend, Cosmina, dabbles in the paranormal. Events take an interesting turn when the pair accidentally discovers a dead body in the wall of a nearby hotel. When Raven finds her mother’s precious locket in the pockets of the mummified man, she, Cosmina, and two other friends join forces to solve the mystery. Sneakiness and rule-breaking ensue, but these behaviors are tempered by excellent educational moments and clearly established family values that are highlighted without becoming dogmatic. In a spooky but delightful way, this mystery is a cross between Scooby Doo and The Addams Family. Clearly a series-starter, Bearce’s debut will hold appeal for middle-grade scientists, budding detectives, and perhaps those with a taste for ghost hunting.