Some gates are meant to open. Others must never be breached.

When Scottish groundskeeper Callum Fraser follows an inexplicable pull to Eternal Escapes Cemetery outside New Orleans, he expects a fresh start. Instead, he encounters a mysterious black hound that vanishes without a trace, strange disturbances among the oldest tombs, and a presence that seems to be watching his every move.

Eternal Escapes is no ordinary cemetery. For generations, it has offered refuge to desperate souls, opening pathways to safety when the world has left them nowhere else to turn. But someone has discovered its secrets, and a dangerous attempt to force open a forbidden doorway threatens everything the cemetery protects.

As an ancient guardian grows weaker and something hungry presses against the boundary between worlds, Callum and cemetery director Lily must unravel a forgotten history before the gates are breached.

For some, death is the end of duty. For others, love keeps them standing watch long after their names have been forgotten.

Recommended for fans of: Charles de Lint, Neil Gaiman, Simone St. James, and Darcy Coates.

9400 words

Content Advisory – The Graveyard Grim

Genre(s): Contemporary Fantasy • Supernatural Mystery • Southern Gothic

Age Guidance: 13+

Content Ratings (Wolf Paw Scale: 0–5)

Language: [no paws]

Sexual Content: [no paws]

Violence: 🐾🐾

Dark Themes: 🐾🐾🐾

The story explores grief, remembrance, and the dangers of attempting to reclaim the dead. Although it contains moments of supernatural horror and emotional distress, its central themes emphasize compassion, loyalty, and protection.