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Erica Robyn Reads

a horror book review blog

Recent Posts

Indie Bookstore Day 2025 | Book Event

A tablet lies on dry grass and surrounded by dandelions in a natural outdoor setting. The screen displays the cover of the book Everybody Is in the Place by Emma J. Gibbon. The cover features a colorful, fantastical illustration of a female figure with glowing eyes and curved horns, holding something mysterious in her hands. Stars and swirling cosmic elements fill the background, giving the cover a magical and otherworldly feel. The title text is in bold, colorful letters across the top and middle, with the author's name at the bottom.

Everybody Is in the Place by Emma J. Gibbon | Book Review

Spider to the Fly by J.H. Markert | Book Review

[Book Review] In This Ground by Beth Castrodale

January 29, 2019      Erica Robyn      14 Comments

Book Review of In This Ground by Beth Castrodale

In This Ground by Beth Castrodale is a tale about love and friendship, music and art, a cemetery, mushrooms, knitting, music, and letting go of the ghosts that keep some anchored in the past. That may sound pretty random, but I’m sure it peaked your interest! It certainly peaked mine!

I’m so grateful to have been given the chance to participate in the TLC Book Tour to help promote this novel!

This tale was so wonderfully written and the cast was fantastic! I had so much fun reading it.

Let’s dive in!

My Thoughts on In This Ground by Beth Castrodale

If you want to dive into a book and be totally wrapped up in the tangled web of a wonderful cast of characters, then this is a book for you!

I absolutely adored the characters in the novel. I was so interested to learn more about each of them, whether that was through the current timeline or flashbacks into the past. I also really loved how each of their story-lines seemed so separated and random at first, but then they slowly started to cross paths.

While reading, it felt like each chapter was bringing me closer to understanding the full scope of things. And that ending certainly didn’t disappoint! When it comes to the pacing, I hate to say that it was “slow” because I feel that too many people see that as a complaint, and that’s not the case here. The story moseyed along at a leisurely, but perfect speed for the story line.

I found the setting, the cemetery, so interesting! I used to love hanging out in the cemeteries in my hometown, enjoying the quiet and trying to find the oldest headstone. Of course, some of the cemeteries had ghost stories related to them, so that always added a bit of nervousness and excitement to the trips.

In this story, I really enjoyed learning more about the proper upkeep of a cemetery, as well as the funding. Those were two elements that I certainly hadn’t thought about before! I also had never heard about green funerals before, but found the idea wonderfully interesting!

Shout out to Beth Castrodale for also including a lovely handwritten card when sending the book over! I appreciate things like this so much!

My Favorite Passage from In This Ground

Nature will have her way with all of us, son, no matter what tricks we try to pull. If you want someone to stay the same forever you better take a picture.

My Final Thoughts on In This Ground

I highly recommend checking this one out, especially if you’re a fan of music! This was such an enjoyable read. I can’t wait to read it again soon!

Connect with Beth Castrodale: Website | Twitter

Enter to win a copy of In This Ground!
Sorry friends, this one is US only. Enter between now and February 12th for you chance to win!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Check out the other stops on the TLC Book Tour for In This Ground!

  • January 7th: Seaside Book Nook
  • January 9th: Bibliotica
  • January 10th: Books and Bindings
  • January 14th: Patricia’s Wisdom
  • January 15th: The Book Diva’s Reads
  • January 16th: Booklover Book Reviews
  • January 17th: @crystals_library
  • January 21st: Eliot’s Eats
  • January 22nd: Really Into This and @mountain_reader_
  • January 23rd: Lit and Life
  • January 24th: Thoughts on This ‘n That
  • January 28th: Book By Book

Grab a copy of In This Ground:

Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble

Or snag a copy using my Amazon Affiliate link or inquire at your local indie:

Thanks for reading!
As a kid or teen, did you ever hang out in cemeteries? I sure did! Our group loved the quiet and the beauty of the headstones. I still love graveyards. Just wandering and looking at the old carvings is so interesting to me.

Here are a few more recent posts you might like:

  • Indie Bookstore Day 2025 | Book Event
  • Everybody Is in the Place by Emma J. Gibbon | Book Review
  • Spider to the Fly by J.H. Markert | Book Review

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Shooting Stars Mag says

    January 29, 2019 at 1:01 pm

    Sounds like a good one! I do like books that deal with music.

    -Lauren
    http://www.shootingstarsmag.net

    Reply
    • Erica Metcalf says

      January 29, 2019 at 9:46 pm

      Me too!!

      Reply
  2. Barb says

    January 29, 2019 at 1:16 pm

    I love cemeteries and music so this one sounds like it might be for me.

    Reply
    • Erica Metcalf says

      January 29, 2019 at 9:50 pm

      😀

      Reply
  3. Paige says

    January 29, 2019 at 2:17 pm

    This sounds like a really sweet story! And I love the cemetery as a unique setting.

    Reply
    • Erica Metcalf says

      January 29, 2019 at 9:50 pm

      It sure was!!

      Reply
  4. Katherine P says

    January 29, 2019 at 9:55 pm

    My aunt used to work for a cemetery (in sales -it's insanely cutthroat) and she could tell some stories! It's definitely a unique setting and this sounds intriguing and a little reminiscent of the Mia Zapata story which makes this even more interesting!

    Reply
    • Erica Metcalf says

      January 29, 2019 at 10:28 pm

      Phew! I can't even imagine!! I've love to read more about this!

      Reply
  5. chucklesthescot says

    January 30, 2019 at 8:49 am

    Handwritten notes are really nice to receive like that. For me it shows that the author cares about the experience that each reader has, which is good!

    Reply
    • Erica Metcalf says

      January 31, 2019 at 3:04 am

      Right?! It's so thoughtful!

      Reply
  6. Olivia-Savannah says

    February 2, 2019 at 6:52 pm

    Even though I have lost people myself I actually find cemeteries really calming and peaceful and I love being there for some reason. From reading your review it just makes this whole book sound so cozy.

    Reply
    • Erica Metcalf says

      February 2, 2019 at 8:17 pm

      <3

      Reply
  7. McKenzie Allyshia says

    February 18, 2019 at 10:40 am

    This sounds rather interesting, I would definitely be a fan of the setting too. I will have to check this out more!

    Reply
    • Erica Robyn says

      February 18, 2019 at 5:34 pm

      😀

      Reply

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Welcome to Erica Robyn Reads!

Erica Robyn of Erica Robyn Reads
Hello! I’m Erica, a Mainer living in New Hampshire who runs on hot tea, good books, and loud music. Join me as I seek out amazing horror tales and help support the indie horror community!
 

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