Spring break was supposed to be a time for relaxation, but for Mystery James, it quickly turns into a series of spine-chilling adventures. After a burial at Garcia Graves & Funeral Home, Mystery begins to suspect the ghost of one of Ellis Town’s most eccentric residents may be lingering in her home…or worse, haunting it.
With her trusty arachnid companion, Coffin by her side, Mystery must contend with creepy mortuary salesmen, a sinister presence creeping through her Tia Lucy’s home, and changing friendship dynamics, all while uncovering clues that lead her deeper into an increasingly complex—and personal—mystery.
Soon, the Olde Ellis Town Cemetery becomes the backdrop for a showdown between the past and the present, where Mystery must confront her deepest fears and uncover the truth behind the supernatural events that have plagued her since childhood.
I feel like I’ve fallen a bit behind on middle grade horror! It wasn’t anything intentional, it’s just been a little bit.
So I can’t think of a better way to get back to reviewing MG horror than with my most anticipated read for 2026, MYSTERY JAMES RETURNS FROM THE GRAVE!!
Ally Russell’s MYSTERY JAMES DIGS HER OWN GRAVE was one of my very favorite books from 2025, and is easily one of my favorite middle grade horror novels of all time. I recommend it frequently, and even went back and listened to the audiobook (it’s great!) in anticipation of the second book of this wonderful duology.
Saying I was thrilled when Ally offered to send this ARC my way would be drastically underselling the point. I’ve been doing the book blogging thing a long time now, and getting an early look at MYSTERY JAMES RETURNS FROM THE GRAVE is for sure one of the coolest things that’s happened!
It’s bittersweet in a way, knowing this will be the last we’ll see of Mystery James! But both of these books are so much fun, and I can see myself reading them again & again!
THIS REVIEW WILL CONTAIN SPOILERS FOR MYSTERY JAMES DIGS HER OWN GRAVE! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!
The story picks up a few months after the events of MYSTERY JAMES DIGS HER OWN GRAVE, during spring break. The vampire/ghost Baron is safely in the ground where he belongs, and Mystery’s life has returned to normal.
Well, mostly.
Actually, maybe not at all. It’s spring break! It’s supposed to be fun, restful, relaxing.
Unfortunately, Mystery & Garrett have hit a rough patch in their friendship. After the whole business with Baron and the now-famous (or famous in Ellis Town, anyway) photograph that Garrett took in the cemetery, Mystery & Garrett have become local celebrities, however reluctantly.
Garrett has made some new friends, and seems to have less and less time for Mystery.
Back at the Garcia Graves & Funeral Home, Tía Lucy isn’t quite herself, which has Mystery worried.
And then after a local man with a reputation for being quite eccentric dies, Mystery begins to suspect this man has started to haunt the funeral home, as a troublesome poltergeist! Strange & spooky things are happening, more than I can describe in a review. But it’s going to take everything Mystery has to figure out what in the world is going on, both inside her own house and back in the cemetery.
And as always, the truth about Mystery’s birth mother looms large.
I couldn’t believe everything Mystery and her friends and family were up against in this one…this book is so intense! There’s at least one scene that genuinely unnerved me, and I’d go so far as to say it’s one of the (if not the) scariest scenes I’ve read in a MG horror novel! You get so comfortable with the setting of Garcia Graves & Funeral Home. It feels like a very safe place. Sometimes a sad place, no doubt. But also a place of comfort and peace, and of course love. And so I was seriously rattled by some of the supernatural spookiness that Ally Russell unleashed inside this quaint, cozy, and familiar setting.
I’ve looked back at my review for MYSTERY JAMES DIGS HER OWN GRAVE quite a lot, not just for the purposes of this review. But just to refresh my memory periodically about the book, about what felt so special about it. And in looking back on it, I’m APPALLED at myself for never mentioning the absolutely beautiful cover! Both covers in this duology are jaw-dropping, mesmerizing, and so perfectly evocative of the story within. The artwork is by Devin Forst, here’s a link to his Instagram for more of his incredible artwork. The cover design is by Carol Ly and it’s just flawless. I think cover design is one of the most important & underrated aspects in the book world, and the Mystery James books are lessons in how it’s done. Great artwork does not always equal a great cover, and that’s why the cover design is such an important part of the whole package. So kudos to everyone involved in bringing the Mystery James covers to life, they are easily some of the best in middle grade horror!
The Mystery James duology is a total gem in the middle grade horror world. These books are so warm and funny, and written with so much love and compassion for the characters. I love Mystery & Tía Lucy’s little family. I love the realness and messiness of Mystery and Garrett’s friendship. I love Taylor being like a big sister to Mystery when she really needs it.
I love Ellis Town. Yeah, I just adore this quirky, vibrant, and spooky small town that Ally Russell has created. There’s real scares in these books! And there’s also some profound grief and thoughtful explorations of mortality. More than anything, though, these books are so incredibly fun. The Mystery James books will forever be some of my favorite middle grade horror novels, and I would always recommend these as THE place to start if someone was thinking of checking out middle grade horror for the first time!
Endless gratitude to Ally Russell for sending the ARC my way! MYSTERY JAMES RETURNS FROM THE GRAVE releases on September 15th!
Grimdark Dad 