How to Read the Cemetery Girl Trilogy
The Cemetery Girl Trilogy is a collaborative graphic novel series co-authored by Charlaine Harris (creator of the Sookie Stackhouse series) and horror/fantasy writer Christopher Golden, with moody illustrations by Don Kramer. The story follows Calexa Rose Dunhill, a teenager who wakes up in a cemetery with no memory of her past, only to discover she can communicate with spirits. Because the series tells a continuous story, it should be read in its original publication order.
Cemetery Girl Trilogy in Publication Order
The series consists of three core graphic novels. Here is the recommended order to read them:
- The Pretenders (January 2014) – Calexa wakes up in Dunhill Cemetery, bruised and with no memories. Hiding in a crypt, she discovers her supernatural ability to see spirits. When she witnesses a murder, the victim's ghost merges with her, pushing her to seek justice.
- Inheritance (October 2015) – Calexa's secret life in the cemetery becomes increasingly complicated as police investigate nearby events, and she begins forming tentative bonds with the living world, including a gruff caretaker and an elderly neighbor.
- Haunted (August 2018) – The final chapter of the trilogy. Calexa's past is finally revealed, and she must confront the forces that left her for dead in the cemetery.
Alternative Editions and Collections
If you are looking to collect the physical books, you may also come across the omnibus edition:
- Charlaine Harris' Cemetery Girl Omnibus Vol. 1 (2018) – Published by Dynamite Entertainment, this volume collects the first two books (The Pretenders and Inheritance) along with a special preview of the final book, Haunted.