Review: Dig Two Graves by Gretchen McNeil

We are long time fans of Gretchen McNeil and were thrilled to see her add a mystery thriller to her lengthy list of reads. Dig Two Graves came out earlier this year but I’m sharing about it as part of spooky season. Check out my 5 reasons to read it this fall!

Dig Two Graves

by Gretchen McNeil
on April 26, 2022
Bookshop
Goodreads

I did my part, BFF. Now it’s your turn.
Seventeen-year-old film noir fan Neve Lanier is a girl who just wants to be seen, but doesn’t really fit in anywhere. When Neve is betrayed by her best friend, Yasmin, at the end of the school year, she heads off to a girl’s empowerment camp feeling like no one will ever love her again. So when she grabs the attention of the beautiful, charismatic Diane, she falls right under her spell, and may accidentally promise to murder Diane’s predatory step-brother, Javier, in exchange for Diane murdering Yasmin. But that was just a joke…right?
Wrong. When Yasmin turns up dead, Diane comes calling, attempting to blackmail Neve into murdering Javier. Stalling for time, Neve pretends to go along with Diane’s plan until she can find a way out that doesn't involve homicide. But as she gets to know Javier – and falls for him – she realizes that everything Diane told her is a lie. Even worse, she discovers that Yasmin probably wasn't Diane's first victim. And unless Neve can stop her, she won't be the last.

Review

First and foremost – you should read all of Gretchen’s books simply because she’s amazing and the queen of horror. But here’s 5 reasons why you should read THIS book in specific.

1. The camp setting. The setting is like a subconcious character in this story since it drives much of what happens. Also, it perfectly captures Gretchen’s slightly snarky way of writing.
2. Never knowing who to trust. One of my favorite tropes is when everyone seems guilty.
3. Twists and turns. This goes with point 2. Whiplash is a feeling I enjoy in mysteries and thrillers.
4. Hitchcock inspired. Have you seen Strangers on a Train? I love finding new stories through retellings.
5. New genre; purely Gretchen. Maybe it’s not entirely fair to say “new” but this book is focused more on the mystery and thrills over the horror aspects. But it’s still camping and