Graveyard Shift

A Novella

By: M. L. Rio

Narrated by: Jess Nahikian, M. L. Rio, Max Meyers, Si Chen, Susan Dalian, Tim Campbell

This program features multicast narration.

The author of sales sensation If We Were Villains returns with a story about a ragtag group of night shift workers who meet in the local cemetery 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, with the ensemble cast her fans 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.

A Macmillan Audio production from Flatiron Books.

©2024 M. L. Rio (P)2024 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

"This place has everything—rats, fungus, thrills, chills, mysteries, hostile incidents—and M.L. Rio deftly weaves it all together into a short, sweet (okay maybe not that sweet) story. A rad, crisp, creepy read."—Chuck Wendig, bestselling author of Black River Orchard and The Book of Accidents

“Like all M. L. Rio's work, Graveyard Shift is shot through with cool, heavily dosed with ennui, and dense with people-pleasures. Within this tangled skein of complicated characters (ranging from sweetly unhinged to truly problematic), 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, bestselling author of Atlas Six

“Graveyard Shift is wonderful—dark, strange and hair-raisingly tense—it spills over with atmosphere, full of flawed, fascinating characters. I raced through it.”—Catriona Ward, bestselling author of The Last House on Needless Street

It was a bit boring

It was a bit boring to me. It had 5 pov and was a lot to keep up with for only 10 chapters

This was fun!

This book was so interesting and creepy! But i enjoyed it and definitely recommend! The voices were great! Perf for spooky szn!

All POVs were boring

The narrations were excellent. The story is in my personal opinion boring. I love horror and this was not it.

The story.

I need more. There’s enough to hook the reader in but there needs to be so much more time and information gathered.

Scooby-Doo gang with a nicotine addiction

“Hannah home again, among the monsters. “ ch 5

A cast of characters that we learn about as the mystery that's discovered in the graveyard is uncovered.

I thought this was an intriguing story, while there was a scene or two that made me uncomfortable.

The reason this isn't a five star for me is because I just wanted to know how the story plot ends up & more about these characters, which I understand wasn't the point of the novella.

Though I like the themes and ideas that this story explored along with how M L Rio wrote this little horror/thriller tale.

Great cast

The cast that read this was really good. The story was okayish and the vibes were what kept me coming back to read this.

Okay but not great

So story moved well, characters okay, overall didn’t pull me in the way i had hoped

The Narration. Made Me. Want. to. Scream?

To me the narration was painfully bad. I'm struggling to push through the last 30 minutes.

Intriguing

I liked the different perspectives of each character and the premise. Though I understand it is a novella, I believe this would be even better if the book was longer.

Was disappointed it is a novella

As with all Rio books you will get a strong cast, a bit of an ambiguous ending, and a lovely mix of emotions.
I struggle with most novellas, this one included. I don't mind a solid short story, but I don't prefer a story that feels as though it would work better as a full fledged story. I tell myself I won't buy novellas, however, when I love an author and it's the only format they are currently offering I cave and check them out. With all things Rio, Bardugo, Miller, Schwab, and Morgenstern - I will read it if she writes it.
It's fine. I'm Fine.
I appreciated the discussion of insomnia, as I have (like Rio herself) struggled with insomnia my entire life. It really is a cumbersome and futile fight to live amongst the healthy while being entirely so sleep deprived its hard to eat, drive, or function. Irony of irony was reading this book by audio at 2 am, while I painting- bc I couldn't sleep.
....you and me both Rio <3


This is a fun story to read on a porch, bundled in blanket, with a pumpkin to your right and a dog at your feet. *if you are not utilizing the audio format I highly suggest using her spotify playlist she includes so every part will feels a bit extra moody and spooky.
Excited for her next full length novel!


Concept 3/5
Setting 2/5
Characters 3/5
Mystery Itself 3/5
Clues 2/5
Solvability 3/5
Fear Factor 1/5
Plot 2/5
Coherence 3/5
Romance 1/5
Audio Reader 3.5/5

2.5 Stars

Verdict- Sleep Deprived, but not from the story...