GRAVESTONE is the second book in the Solitary Tales series (and yes, they must be read in order). Chris Buckley is a normal seventeen-year-old uprooted from Chicago and planted in a tiny, not-so-normal town. Something old and evil is at work in Solitary, and its residents all seem either complicit with said evil or oblivious to it. The losses of the first book forge a new Chris, one who will do anything to understand and prove what has happened here. And what is still happening.

If SOLITARY leaves Chris on a cliff's edge, GRAVESTONE pushes him along to explore it while rocks crumble under his feet, until finally (because Travis Thrasher clearly doesn't believe in things as passe as plot resolution), Chris is pushed right over the edge. Now we leave him in freefall. Wow, thanks, Mr. Thrasher, I guess I'll close this book and move on with my life. (Hold on a second while I check on my shipment of TEMPTATION. Surely it's reached my state by now.)

The best thing about GRAVESTONE: it isn't a stagnant rehash, stalling us until Book Three Where Stuff Finally Happens. I can't say much about the plot without spoiling details, but most of it involves digging for answers, and thank goodness, we get a few this time. The brilliant thing about this book (and about all great second-in-a-series stories) is that we also start asking new questions, the ones we didn't know enough to ask before now. The stakes skyrocket: namely, Chris's soul. Thrasher also introduces some fantastically nuanced secondary characters, and a few we met in the first book prove to be deeper than we thought. (There are two in particular I can't wait to see again.)

Only one thing makes me nervous here, and previous YA reading experience may have scarred me in this ... It's the love triangle. My first thought upon realizing that's where we were headed: No, please, no, I can't take one more of those, ever, for the rest of my life. After reading the blurb for TEMPTATION (book three), I'm even more confused. Another girl? Do we really need another one? I mean, I love Chris, but how many girls are going to fall in love with him?

That said, I'm in this series to stay and if we must have a love triangle, at least it's done well here. Plus, it's not the focus of the narrative. Plus, it's obviously not the primary source of conflict in TEMPTATION.

I'd nearly finished my crazed plow through the book when I realized the writing has improved (not that it had far to go). The paragraphs are cleaner, or something. I don't even know what, but it's better. Seamless. I don't see the author anymore. There's only Chris on these pages. The dialogue and point of view are both honed to this perfect edge that alternates between gleaming humor and slicing sorrow. Chris breaks my heart with his hilarious sarcasm. His post-traumatic stress symptoms (so, so realistic) tremble on the page.

At the end of SOLITARY, I wanted answers and justice. I still want those things. But like every great Book Two, now I want more. I want Chris to be safe and to feel safe. I want him to meet those secret Christians and hear the truth. I want rescue for his soul. And any author who can make me want all those things is dang good at his job. ( )

Chris Buckley is looking for answers but it seems like he doesn't know quite whom he can trust anymore. The one person who meant the world to him has been murdered and his mom seems to be in a perpetual drunken state all the time. Now that he finds himself back in high school again, he reaches out to the only three friends he had left, but he can't find Rachel. She doesn't seem to be in school any longer and Poe, refuses to acknowledge him except for angry outbursts. Relying on the only friend left, he meets with Newt over lunch. But all Newt will say to him is that lunch is the place for eating only.

When Chris pushes him for more, Newt simply tells him to meet after school. When the boys arrive in Newts basement the only thing he tells Chris is that Rachel has moved away. He warns Chris that the less he is told, the less Newt knows. He also tells Chris that, "they have a way of making thing like this happen. People disappearing. People moving, People moving on. There are reasons I remain quiet and if I were you, I'd get as far away from this place as I could."

But can Chris simply forget and walk away from the town of Solitary? Can he let go of the murder of Jocelyn and not do anything, tell anyone? And just what if he does? Will he disappear or will he move on?

In the chilling sequel to Solitary by Travis Thrasher, the reader is brought back with the aftermath of what happened in the deep dark forest with Jocelyn and the cult that murdered her. There appears to be something happening in this Zombie-like town but Chris isn't sure who he can trust any longer. When an encounter with a man who claims he is Chris's cousin Jared who is searching for his father Robert who has gone missing, he isn't sure what is real any longer. Is Jared someone he can truly trust. He tells him that his mother is part of what the town is hiding and that knowing just who he can trust will make the difference between choosing light or darkness in the battle for his own soul.

I received Gravestone as a personal purchase to continue in series of Travis Thrasher's Solitary Tales. I enjoyed Solitary so much I had to see where the story picked up with Chris on the verge of wondering just what is going on and how much of it is crazy and how much of it is a chilling reality that the town wants to remain a secret. What will it cost for Chris to solve the mystery? You'll have to pick this one up to find out, but I would advise reading book 1 in the series first, to gain an understanding of the darkness keeping this town in secrecy! This one rates a 5 out of 5 stars and I can't wait to review the 3rd book in the series, Temptation! ( )

Chris Buckley and his mother moved to Solitary, North Carolina after his parents separated over the issue of his father’s faith. In the first book, Chris’s life is shattered when his new girlfriend is murdered in a ritualistic killing by a group he believes is made up of the town leaders. Every moment he feels watched. When he turns to an old friend, someone manipulates her, forcing her to leave.

The creepy factor increases in this installment to Thrasher’s Solitary Tales, but this is definitely a bridge book with no resolution in sight. As Chris attempts to find answers, the frustration level increases. The book is scary and interesting, but since it does not have much closure, it lags a little. I would definitely recommend it for Christians who enjoy the Twilight series. ( )

“Gravestone” pretty much continues right where “Solitary” left off.

Chris is enraged…enraged over what happened to Jocelyn. Enraged because he can’t trust anyone. Enraged because he still can’t get any answers to what the deal is with Solitary! Out of nowhere, a young man appears claiming to be his cousin Jared, offering help. And then there is Iris, the proprietor of the Crag’s Inn, where Chris finds part time work. Lastly, there is Kelsey, the girl from Art class who reminds him that life goes on. With all Chris has gone through, who can he trust?

These new characters provide Chris with some more food for thought in terms of the mysteries of Solitary. Especially Iris. Her Inn is out of Solitary’s influence and serves as a ray of hope for Chris, and Iris is a guiding light. But it all seems to come down to Chris vs. Pastor Marsh. Marsh is front and center, making Chris’ life a living hell.

This story continues to twist and turn, I don’t even bother to try and figure out what is going to happen because I can’t get a read on who Chris can trust either, I just fasten my seatbelt and hang on. I think the only person I trusted, out right, was Iris. Well, and Kelsey…she certainly didn’t have an agenda other than the fact that she really likes Chris.

We get little hints as to what might be going on in this installment. This is clearly a “good vs. evil”, but we don’t know what form the evil is going to take…and it’s become pretty clear that the forces are fighting for possession of Chris. But why? The story hints as it having something to do with his lineage…but that’s just assumption on my part and I’m not going to take anything for granted until Mr. Thrasher puts it in writing.

I’m still loving this series…there are elements of spirituality without being preachy or self-righteous. There is a ton of suspense that really reminds me of “Salem’s Lot”. And some really great characters! I’m loving Chris, although, at times I want to smack him upside the head and yell, “snap out of it!”. But he’s a typical teen boy…selective and self-serving hearing and memory! I love Poe, Iris, Kelsey, and, of course, Newt! I already have the third book and can’t wait to see what all is revealed! And I’ve discovered there is a prequel that tells the story of Pastor Marsh…that is now on my “to-read” list after I finish book #3. ( )