Beyond the Cemetery Gate by Valerie Biel 
A Guest Post + An Excerpt + Book & Author Info!
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Beyond the Cemetery Gate
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.
Genre: Young Adult Mystery Suspense
Published by: Lost Lake Press
Publication Date: October 31, 2024
Number of Pages: 342
ISBN: 9780998173641 (ISBN10: 0998173649)
Praise for Beyond the Cemetery Gate: The Secret Keeper’s Daughter:
Recently voted Notable 100 Best Indie Book of 2024 (from Shelf Unbound) and a Semi-Finalist for the CIBA YA Fiction Book Award (Chanticleer International Book Awards)
“A stand-out mystery…offering readers an unforgettable journey.” ★★★★★ 5-Stars
~ Readers’ Favorite
“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
“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
To purchase Beyond the Cemetery Gate, click on any of the following links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads
Guest Post — Beyond the Cemetery Gate
Strange but True Stories from the Writing World: Getting the Details Right by Valerie Biel
I have a sticker on my computer that says, “I’m a writer. Don’t judge my search history.” And there’s a running joke in my writing groups that if any of our partners were to die under suspicious circumstances that our browser history could make each of us a very likely suspect.
I write in a number of genres—mystery writing is the ‘thing’ that usually has me researching info on weapons and evidence. Things like blood spatter patterns, what materials make it nearly impossible to lift fingerprints, and what sort of wound does a certain caliber gun make (entrance and exit.) Eeeew. I know, gross! But you have to get these pesky details right. It’s the job of a writer to make sure stories are as accurate as possible.
Even for my fantasy Circle of Nine series, there’s important (and yet sometimes very strange) research . . how much foxglove would one need to fell a grown man? What was the price of a jar of rowan berry jelly in 1450’s Europe? Were women allowed to inherit / own land in Ireland. In what Irish county was the first witch trial held? What did pagan communities historically do to celebrate May Day?
Sometimes, there are things you must guess at, but the less of that you do, the better reading experience!
For Beyond the Cemetery Gate, I didn’t need to research odd historical details or gruesome murder scene forensics, but there were days when I spent more time looking things up than I expected. Things like: (And don’t worry none of these are spoilers.)
When are the leaves in Wisconsin at their peak fall colors?
How can you search court case records in Florida?
What kind of information is included in the kind of police report released to the public?
Can you dial directly to a hotel room anymore without going through the front desk?
What does a person look like when they’re overdosing on narcotics?
How does a social worker confirm that a minor is in the custody of an adult?
What might burn scars look like on a teenager who was severely burned as a toddler.
What’s the flight time from Istanbul, Turkey to New York City.
What are the typical dates for the high school cross country regional, sectional, and state meets?
And, so many, many more ….
You might think that an author would hate that part of the writing process, because – well – it’s NOT writing. And while I can’t speak for all authors, for me that is partially true. Coming up against a bit of missing information can really slow down the writing process. When the info I need is not essential to whether I can keep writing the scene or not, I typically type in RESEARCH [topic]. Then I can easily find the word ‘research’ later and fill the missing information in. This is a particularly good chore for the days when my writing mojo is on low. At least then, I can get some work done and not feel like the day was a complete waste.
And sometimes the research is not just done from my computer, the best times are when real world experiences make it into my stories . . . I’ve incorporated details from a trip to the Amazon in one upcoming novel. My many visits to Ireland’s stone circles and portal and passage tombs have given me insight that would have been nearly impossible to glean from the internet.
Speaking to experts has also helped me write accurately. I’ve consulted psychologists, police officers, private detectives and even archaeologists . . . I was at first surprised at the kind response to my requests when I asked these professionals to provide some insight and advice. These interactions have been fun and informative. Plus, I’m so dang nosy—I’m genuinely interested in learning how “everything” works, and especially so if it’s something I’m including in a story!
This is all done with the goal of writing the most authentic and entertaining stories possible! Enjoy!!
Read an excerpt of Beyond the Cemetery Gate:
Chapter 1
CHLOE
In the space between sleep and wakefulness, a sound seeped into my consciousness. The sense that something wasn’t quite right pulled me fully awake. I listened beyond my own breathing for it to come again.
A wail pierced the silence. An animal in pain? Only it wasn’t. I knew it was human. I slipped from bed to stare out into the cemetery. The tombstones always made for fascinating or eerie shadows, depending on how you felt about graveyards. I never minded, which was a good thing, considering my house was smack dab in the middle of one.
The sound came again, more of a moan this time, followed by a murmur of voices. I couldn’t tell what they were saying, but people were definitely in the cemetery. One of them was scared or maybe hurt. Dad wasn’t going to like this. He locked the gate tight every night. The only way in was to scale the tall, spiked iron fence or pick the lock. Either one was going to piss him off.
In the distance, a pinpoint of light moved away from where I perched. It was too small to be a flashlight . . . maybe a cell phone?
I padded down the hall to Dad’s bedroom, calling for him. His door was ajar, and the hall light was enough to show his empty bed, the covers rumpled and thrown back as though he’d gotten up quickly. He must have heard the same thing.
His boots weren’t in their usual spot by the back door, so I knew for sure he’d gone to investigate. I had to help because Dad and I were a team, small and mighty, he said. We always made it through everything together.
In my hurry I forgot to stop the screen door from slamming behind me when I stepped out onto the porch, cringing when the sound echoed through the night.
I waited a moment and then whispered, “Dad,” as loudly as I dared.
No answer.
I angled toward the part of the cemetery where the small light had been, thinking I’d find him corralling some kids from high school pulling a prank. It happened once in a while but usually in a few weeks—closer to Halloween. I knew more than a handful of idiots my age who would think this was funny.
I hadn’t heard the wailing or voices since I left the house. Maybe whoever it was had left? That hopeful thought disappeared as a weird combination of worry and fear crawled up the base of my spine. Just in case it was something more menacing than kids, I hid my approach behind the cemetery’s largest and oldest tombstones. Maxwell, Bell, Ludington . . . I touched their cold granite and the mossy green lichen growing up their sides as I slid between them. I expected to find Dad by now. Where was he?
A terrible thought pushed me into full fear mode. What if the person making that horrible scream was Dad? It hadn’t sounded like him, but … what if he was out here somewhere and hurt? I had to find him!
My breath quickened and a damp sheen of sweat prickled my skin.
I sped up, more concerned with finding him than being seen. The cemetery was big, but I had to be close to where I’d spotted the light. I calmed myself long enough to pivot in a slow circle, my bare feet sliding on the dewy grass. The main gate was open, obviously where the trespassers came in—and hopefully where they’d gone out.
It was quiet and dark.
The cemetery had no lights of its own, and the glow of streetlights reached only to the second row of graves. Here and there, solar decorations shimmered for dead loved ones as cheerfully as possible but didn’t shine far enough to be helpful. The darkness didn’t hinder me. The cemetery had been my playground since preschool, so even in the dark I was able to avoid every tree root, odd stone, or divot that might trip me up.
I decided to be systematic and jogged a grid pattern, snaking through the rows. I stopped short and gasped at the next turn. A body was slumped against the base of my favorite statue, a white marble angel holding a sword and shield.
“Dad!”
He didn’t move. In two quick strides, I was at his side. “Dad!”
I gave his shoulder a gentle shake, and his head tipped sideways.
“Oh my god! Wake up!”
I needed a better look and found the light on my phone. What I saw scared me even more. Dad’s face was pale, his eyes unfocused. I needed help—fast!
Dialing 911 seemed impossibly slow for three simple numbers.
“911. What’s your emergency?”
“It’s – it’s my dad. He won’t wake up.”
“What’s your location?”
“I’m in the city cemetery. My dad is the caretaker here.”
“What’s your name?”
“C-Chloe Cowyn.”
“Okay, Chloe, can you check whether your dad’s breathing?”
I bent low and placed my face close to Dad’s mouth. “I don’t think so. Please hurry!”
This didn’t make sense. Had someone hit him? I didn’t see any blood. I swept my eyes over his legs and arms—stopping abruptly at what I saw.
“Nooooo.”
At first, I thought the wailing had returned, until I realized that I was the one making the sound eerily like what woke me.
“Chloe, are you okay? I have help on the way. Stay on the line with me until they arrive.”
“No. No. No.” My cell phone dropped from my hand as I backed away.
Tears blurred my view until I could no longer see the needle stuck in my dad’s arm.
***
Excerpt from BEYOND THE CEMETERY GATE: The Secret Keeper’s Daughter by Valerie Biel. Copyright 2024 by Valerie Biel. Reproduced with permission from Valerie Biel. All rights reserved.
Author of Beyond the Cemetery Gate — Valerie Biel
Valerie Biel writes books for middle grade to adult audiences–stories inspired by her travels and her insatiable curiosity.
Her award-winning, young adult fantasy series, Circle of Nine, was inspired by the myth and magic of Ireland’s ancient stone circles. She’s also the author of Haven, a contemporary middle grade novel, and Beyond the Cemetery Gate, a YA mystery suspense story.
She helps other authors with their book promotion and marketing and frequently teaches writing workshops to students of all ages.
When Valerie’s away from the computer, you might find her wrangling her overgrown garden, traveling the world, and reading everything she can get her hands on. Once upon a time, she graduated from the University of Wisconsin with degrees in journalism and political science. She lives with her husband on a (tiny) portion of her family’s century-old farm in rural Wisconsin, but regularly dreams of finding a cozy cottage on the Irish coast where she can write and write.
To learn more about Valerie, click on any of the following links: ValerieBiel.com, Amazon Author Profile, Goodreads – @valerie_biel, BookBub – @ValerieBiel, Instagram – @ValerieBielAuthor, Threads – @ValerieBielAuthor, X – @ValerieBiel, Facebook – @ValerieBielBooks & YouTube – @ValerieBielAuthor
Visit all the Stops on the Tour!
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Elena Taylor/Elena Hartwell
Thanks for letting me hang out here!! I had a lot of fun writing this post about my book research! (And even more fun writing the book!)
I will be reading this book soon so I really appreciate all the research you put into it!
It reminds me of a YouTube video I just watched last night. It was a doctor reviewing Medical Dramas.
He picked apart the new The Pitt (which I am watching) he said it is the most accurate medical drama to date.
It’s all in the details!
I love it when professionals in whatever field do that with TV shows or movies … I have a friend who is a retired homicide detective, and it’s really fun to get her take on police shows. Some are better than others at getting it right! Good to know about The Pitt … that one is on my list to watch!