Ally is the author of It Came from the Trees. She grew up on a steady diet of Halloween parties, horror films, Unsolved Mysteries, and Goosebumps books. She has always loved scary stories, and got her MFA from Simmons University and, eventually, a job working in children's publishing. She hails from Pittsburgh--ground zero for the zombie apocalypse. Ally lives with her husband and her two black cats, Nox and Fury. She's afraid of the woods, the dark, and heights.

A 2026 EDGAR ALLAN POE AWARD NOMINEE!

A BRAM STOKER AWARD NOMINEE!

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection!

"Fast-paced and deliciously thrilling."--Kirkus Reviews

"The eerie, thrilling plot moves rapidly leaving breathless ­readers eager for the next chapter. Some unfinished threads by the end of the novel will have tweens awaiting the sequel."--SLJ

"Russell crafts an engaging blend of supernatural adventure and classic whodunit with a Faustian twist...this will surely satisfy the curiosity of well-rounded Tim Burtons in the making."--The Bulletin

"A great addition to the middle-grade horror canon."--Booklist

"Hand this novel to middle grade readers who love thrills, detective work, and page-turning adventures."--Literary Hub

"Twisty, thrilling, and bursting with dastardly shenanigans. Move over Wednesday Addams--Mystery James is on her way to the top!"--Mary Averling, author of The Curse of Eelgrass Bog

"Surprising, chilling, funny, and full of heart, Mystery James Digs Her Own Grave is one mystery you're going to want to savor. I loved every page of it!"--Josh Roberts, author of the Witches of Willow Cove series

"Ally Russell has created a wonderful new spooky detective that fans of Wednesday and Sherlock Holmes alike will love. Filled with heart, intrigue and the right amount of scares, Mystery James Digs Her Own Grave should be on the must-read list of everyone who likes thrills and chills."--Samantha M Clark, author of The Boy, The Boat, and The Beast

Publisher: Yearling Books

Pub date: 2026-09-15

Length: 320 pages