Meet everyone at Spence Mansion
Begin with Dying to Meet You, which introduces Seymour, Ignatius, Olive, and the document-based format used throughout the series.
Book Series · 7 Books
43 Old Cemetery Road Books
In order from Dying to Meet You to The Loch Ness Punster.
Seven funny ghost mysteries tell the story of a boy, a grumpy writer, and a ghostly housemate through letters, newspaper clippings, drawings, and other documents.
Reviewed by the Bookroo Editors Updated
Reading order
How to Read the 43 Old Cemetery Road Books
Read the seven books in numbered order, beginning with Dying to Meet You. Each mystery has its own comic problem, while the unusual family at Spence Mansion grows and changes across the series.
These are illustrated chapter books told through documents rather than graphic novels. The letters, clippings, and drawings carry the story, so children who enjoy visual variety may find them especially approachable.
For parents
What Parents Should Know
The series is full of ghosts, graveyards, death jokes, and spooky wordplay, but its tone is warm and silly rather than frightening. Olive is a friendly ghost and the supernatural elements are usually played for mystery or comedy.
The opening story includes a child whose parents have left him behind, and the books develop themes of abandonment, adoption, belonging, and chosen family. Those feelings are handled with humor and affection.
Where to start
Where Should My Child Start?
Where the story begins
First Book in the Series
Graphic Nov.
Sale price
$958
Book #1 · Chapter Book · Ages 8–11 · 2009
Dying to Meet You
By Kate Klise, M. Sarah Klise (Illustrator)
A grumpy writer, a boy, and a ghost clash in a haunted mansion. Can they find harmony?
160 pages
$9.99Save 4%
Paperback
Summary: I. B. Grumply seeks solitude to overcome writer's block in a Victorian mansion, but it's already home to young Seymour, his cat, and a ghost named Olive. As tensions rise, can this unlikely trio find common ground and help each other? Discover a tale of unexpected friendships and quirky adventures through letters, drawings, and more in this whimsical story.
In reading order
43 Old Cemetery Road Series
7 books · Published 2009–2015
#1
#1 in Series
Graphic Nov.
Sale price
$958
Dying to Meet You
Chapter Book · Ages 8–11 · 2009
A grumpy writer, a boy, and a ghost clash in a haunted mansion. Can they find harmony?
#2
#2 in Series
Graphic Nov.
Sale price
$958
Over My Dead Body
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2009
A boy, a writer, and a ghost defy rules to stay together.
#3
Sale price
$759
Till Death Do Us Bark
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2011
A mysterious dog at Spence Mansion may hold a secret that could change everything.
#4
Sale price
$1049
The Phantom of the Post Office
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2012
A post office's fate hangs in the balance as a mysterious plan unfolds.
#5
Sale price
$759
Hollywood, Dead Ahead
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2013
A ghostly trio heads to Hollywood, but fame threatens to tear them apart.
#6
Sale price
$759
Greetings from the Graveyard
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2014
A ghostly trio starts a greeting card company amidst a crime wave and escaped convicts.
#7
Sale price
$1049
The Loch Ness Punster
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2015
A boy inherits a mysterious castle, but secrets and family tensions loom large.
Good to know
Common Questions
How many books are in the 43 Old Cemetery Road series?
There are 7 books in the 43 Old Cemetery Road series. It began with Dying to Meet You in 2009, and the newest book, The Loch Ness Punster, was published in 2015.
What order should you read the 43 Old Cemetery Road books in?
Start with Dying to Meet You and follow the series order — the books above are numbered #1 through #7.
What ages are the 43 Old Cemetery Road books best for?
The series is best for ages 8–12, based on the age ranges of the individual books.
The people
The Creatives Behind the Books
The people who bring 43 Old Cemetery Road to life.
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