Guest post written by X Marks The Haunt author Lindsay Currie
Lindsay Currie is a #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of mysteries for young readers, including the Delta Games series and It’s Watching. She grew up on Nancy Drew and loves a good twisty tale. When she’s not writing, Lindsay can generally be found looking for an adventure of her own. She loves researching forgotten history and recently relocated from Chicago to a 220 acre farm in downstate Illinois where she finally gets to see stars every night, and take hikes every day.
About X Marks The Haunt: From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Mystery of Locked Rooms, when a centuries old crypt key is lost—unleashing a dark force—it’s up to the son of the local crypt keeper to end the haunting for good. Out January 6th 2026.
I write a particular brand of middle-grade horror. It’s not slasher, not bloody. My books feature more classic scares and even though I didn’t love the subject growing up, they highlight a ton of history.
X Marks the Haunt is no exception. I’ve featured Graceland Cemetery in bits and pieces over the years, but as I was preparing to move out of Chicago after being a resident for over twenty years, I decided to write a full novel set there, to truly pay homage to a place that has shaped my writing career in so many ways.
The research phase for this story was incredible. Not only did I get to prowl around a gorgeously maintained cemetery for hours on end, but thanks to the kind staff there, I was invited deep into their world for several months. I shadowed the director, Jensen Allen, as she walked me through a typical day in her life as a person dedicated to protecting and preserving the history and architecture of Graceland – otherwise known as a “cemeterian”. I was allowed to witness burial vaults being placed in the ground, was given tours of various tombs and provided access to death records over a century old.
It was fascinating.
But it was also bittersweet. Cemeteries are a place of mourning for many, and I witnessed plenty of grieving families throughout those months. The truth is, I found my time at Graceland to be complex; both sad and beautiful. Scary and inspiring. It may seem these things cannot exist at the same time, but I now know they can.
This is, in part, why I wanted to write X Marks the Haunt. It’s a ghost story that acknowledges the mysterious and sometimes frightening elements of the death industry, while also paying tribute to how special and challenging it is to follow that career path. Most folks have no idea what people who work in graveyards do. It isn’t just digging graves or mowing the lawn. It’s genealogy. It’s caring for people. It’s protecting and sharing important history. And yes, at night when the sun is gone and the entire cemetery is quiet save for the howls of the resident coyotes … it can be scary.
If you or a reader you know have ever held your breath while passing a cemetery because superstitions told you that act would keep you safe, this book is for you.
And to everyone at Graceland who so generously shared your world with me, thank you. I was honored to represent you and all you do in X Marks the Haunt.
For more information on Graceland Cemetery, or for details on how to visit, check out their website.
