Graveyard Shift: the highly anticipated new book by the author of the BookTok sensation If We Were Villains...

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M. L. Rio

Graveyard Shift

the highly anticipated new book by the author of the BookTok sensation If We Were Villains

M. L. Rio

$19.99

Paperback

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English

WILDFIRE
10 June 2025

Crime & Mystery; Thriller & suspense; Classic horror & ghost stories; Horror

The bestselling author of international BookTok sensation If We Were Villains returns with a story of a group of misfits who meet in the local cemetery each night to unearth the secrets lurking in an open grave.

Every night, in the college's ancient cemetery, five people cross paths as they work the late shift: a bartender, a rideshare driver, a hotel receptionist, the steward of the derelict church that looms over them, and the editor-in-chief of the college paper, always in search of a story.

One dark October evening in the defunct churchyard, they find a hole that wasn't there before. A fresh, open grave where no grave should be. But who dug it, and for whom?

Before they go their separate ways, the gravedigger returns. As they trail him through the night, they realize he may be the key to a string of strange happenings around town that have made headlines for the last few weeks--and that they may be closer to the mystery than they thought.

Atmospheric and eerie, featuring an ensemble of misfits that fans will love and a delightfully familiar academic backdrop, Graveyard Shift is a modern Gothic tale in If We Were Villains author M. L. Rio's inimitable style.

By: M. L. Rio
Imprint: WILDFIRE
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 196mm, Width: 128mm, Spine: 18mm
Weight: 149g
ISBN: 9781035421138
ISBN 10: 1035421135
Pages: 160
Publication Date: 10 June 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

M. L. Rio is the author of international bestseller and BookTok sensation If We Were Villains. She holds an MA in Shakespeare Studies from King's College London and Shakespeare's Globe and a PhD in early modern English literature from the University of Maryland, College Park. Her research explores representations of madness and mood disorder on the early modern stage. She lives in Washington, D. C. with too many books, too many records, and a mutt called Marlowe.

Reviews for Graveyard Shift: the highly anticipated new book by the author of the BookTok sensation If We Were Villains

Graveyard Shift is shot through with cool . . . Rio presents a world of nihilistic macabre only to strip it back, painting the gruesome with a softer brush and her singular gift for portraiture. * Olivie Blake * Graveyard Shift is wonderful-dark, strange, and hair-raisingly tense. It spills over with atmosphere, full of flawed, fascinating characters. * Catriona Ward * A rad, crisp, creepy read. * Chuck Wendig * [M. L. Rio has] no doubt got another hit on her hands here, combining the dark academia genre with a classic spooky tale .... A fun and fast-paced read. * Daily Mirror * The Crazies by way of an academic thriller (with a little bit of sporror thrown in for good measure), Graveyard Shift by M.L. Rio is nothing short of an absolute blast. * Polygon * Rio's latest promises to deliver a mysterious and compelling story that will no doubt appeal to those who love gothic horror. After the success of If We Were Villains, Graveyard Shift shouldn't be missed. * ScreenRant * If you love stories that blend macabre mystery and sinister horror centred around mycology and ethics, then Graveyard Shift will deliver all the creepy, Scooby-Doo-for-adults vibes you could want. * Culturefly * Showcases [Rio's] talent for blending suspense, psychological depth, and literary drama, much like her acclaimed debut, If We Were Villains ... The novel is rich in atmosphere and character development ... Graveyard Shift proves Rio's growing mastery of crafting gripping, character-driven stories that keep readers hooked until the final page. * Glamour *