Grave Expectations: The hilarious and gripping BBC Radio 2 Book Club pick for 2023

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The way that the ending is written, and judging that the next part of the story is a novella and NOT a full length novel of only Lincoln's point of view, leads me to believe that a true happy ending for Charlie (Charlotte) and Lincoln is impossible.

Thus far, probably my favourite out of the series. I felt like the last three books have done very little in terms of moving the plot along with each one of them having a small mystery, which Charlie gets dragged into despite opposition from the Ministry and ends with either her in trouble or Lincoln 'supposedly' in trouble. A clever and playful contemporary cosy mystery by Cobh-based debut author, the talented Alice Bell. Think Ghosts meets Knives Out. -- Catherine Kirwan Funny, fast, sharp, original, and addictive ... a unique breath of fresh air. Brilliant!" - Andrea Mara Alice Bell grew up in South West England, in a sort of middle-of-nowhere where teenagers spend their weekend drinking Smirnoff Ice in a field that also has at least one horse in it. The following review, will contain spoilers. If you haven't read the book or you just don't wanna be spoiled, don't read the rest of the text.

Clever, unpredictable and a genuinely humorous modern day country house murder mystery which left me guessing. Perfect for anyone who fancies themselves as a detective." - Nadine Matheson Despite this traumatic past, Claire and Sophie are still unprepared for what they encounter when they arrive at the manor: a ghost, tragic and unrecognizable, and clearly the spirit of someone killed in a rage at the previous year’s party. Given her obsession with crime shows—not to mentionSophie’s ability to walk through walls—Claire decides they’re the best people to solve the case. And with the help of the only obviously not-guilty members of their host family—sexy ex-policeman Sebastian and far-too-cool non-binary teen Alex—they launch an investigation into which of last year’s guests never escaped the manor’s grounds. A very funny, entertaining, twisted take on the country house murder mystery. Wonderful." - S J Bennett Speaking of inconsistencies, let’s talk about Mrs. Webb for a moment. Are you honestly going to try to convince me that an insignificantly average woman ON HER OWN could lift not only Charlie by herself but Gus as well?? You’re kidding, right? I’ve personally tried to lift someone who was a complete dead-weight (and probably weighed 90 pounds soaking wet) with the help of another woman and it was ridiculously hard (and PS, I’m not a weak person). So yeah, no. I don’t think I can believe that.

Teaming up with the least unbearable members of the Wellington-Forge family – depressive ex-cop Basher and teenage radical Alex – Claire and Sophie determine to figure out not just whodunnit, but who they killed, why and when. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. First things first, the concept of a medium and a ghost solving a murder really works for me. And it was executed perfectly. She grew up in Southwest England, and after spending several years in London now lives in Cork, Ireland.C.J. Archer is the USA Today bestselling author of historical mystery and historical fantasy novels including the GLASS AND STEELE series, the CLEOPATRA FOX MYSTERIES, the MINISTRY OF CURIOSITIES and the FREAK HOUSE books. I’m so looking forward to waking the dead with Corvus and PRH in 2023 and beyond," she said. "To see Grave Expectations published at all is almost unbelievable, let alone getting to work with editors as smart and passionate as Sarah and Anna, who have helped bring Claire and Sophie to life, and un-life, in ways I never expected. It’s very invigorating to be so supported in my efforts to put more swearing, crying, and falling over into cosy crime.” This novel was an absolute gem, funny and clever with really engaging characters. I loved the dynamic between eternal teen Sophie and millennial Claire. The capable, unflappable Alex takes everything in their stride, their enthusiasm for the investigation sweeping Bash reluctantly along with them.

Teaming up with the least unbearable members of the Wellington-Forge family - depressive ex-cop Basher and teenage radical Alex - Claire and Sophie determine to figure out not just whodunnit, but who they killed, why and when.When the pair arrive at The Cloisters it's clear this family is hiding more than just the good china, as Claire realizes someone has recently met an untimely end at the house. Teaming up with the least unbearable members of the Wellington-Forge family - depressive ex-cop Basher and teenage reactionary Alex - Claire and Sophie determine to figure out not just whodunnit, but who they killed, why and when.

I really liked all the characters, especially Claire, Sophie and Alex. They all felt completely realistic even with their various eccentricities and there were some parts that made me genuinely laugh out loud. Although the story is primarily a mystery, it is very character driven and we spend a lot of time with the characters as their relationships develop. This slowed the pace down a bit, but also added an extra dimension and helped me to be more invested in the outcome. You've never read a country house whodunit quite like Grave Expectations. Nor is there a generation gap quite as wide as the one between Claire and Sophie. Fast, funny and furious, this book has bags of humour, bags of heart and a proper murder mystery at its core. Alice Bell writes with real verve and crafts a preposterous premise into a sharp, well written and lively story that's at once out of this world and yet reassuringly real. As reader, you're along for the ride, and it's a runaway ghost train of a ride at that! Bell is one to watch. -- Janice HallettThis book positively lit up my weekends with its cosy, affectionate, funny, awkward brand of ghostly crime-solving. Perfect for fans of BBC's Ghosts, Alice Bell has a keen eye for characterisation and the ridiculous, creating a story that will both send chills down your spine and wrap you up in a hug. -- Ally WIlkes, author of All the White Spaces Book four takes you for an emotional roller coaster that you will both love and hate. Just when you think things are going great, the rug gets pulled out from underneath Charlie (very much how it sometime goes in real life.) If you’ve read the series up to this point and are invested in the characters, this book will infuriate you, but it is still worth the read. I won’t say too much about this book as it would give away the good parts, but I will say that the characters are so well written and described that I was actually mad at one of them (in my opinion if an author can make you love or hate somebody, they clearly did their job.) I can’t wait till I find out what happens in the next book “Ashes To Ashes.” Grave Expectations is the debut crime novel from author Alice Bell, following washed-up Claire and her best friend Sophie, who must solve a cold case at a stately home in the British countryside, home to the secretive Wellington-Forge clan. So far, so pat – except for the bit where Claire is a disgraced medium and Sophie is dead, having died mysteriously at seventeen and now tethered to Claire as both a spectre and a keen assistant to Claire’s amateur sleuthing. That old story indeed. I am already desperate for a sequel and let out an audible groan when I realised that this book will be releasing on 4th May, so I will have to wait a little while to get more investigative shenanigans from this quirkily endearing little Mystery Inc-style found family.