With Grave Birds, Dana has been solidified in my mind as one of the great Southern Gothic writers. This eerie tale of a town with its rich citizens, the Hawthorns, and secrets long buried coming to light and a mysterious stranger (Cain) that seems to have brought apocalyptic plague elements with him.. It's sure to spook and thrill readers. 

The concept of grave birds is fascinating here. They are meant to be "unfinished business" signs from those that have passed and to give our FMC, Hollis, this ability because she died for a few minutes at a young age was brilliant. We get to see the past through these birds and they help Hollis discover what she needs to take the Hawthorns down. Cain is this just unknown, puzzling MMC who you don't trust until you do. All the paranormal aspects were just top notch and I had to just stay with this book until I had devoured it all!