by Sarah Erwin

This week we have a review of The Secrets of the Old Post Cemetery by Patricia Crisafulli, along with an interesting interview with Patricia. Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win a copy of the book and a link to purchase the book from Amazon.

The Secrets of the Old Post Cemetery: An Ohnita Harbor Mystery by Patricia Crisafulli
Review by Sarah Erwin

The Secrets of the Old Post Cemetery is book three in the Ohnita Harbor Mystery Series by Patricia Crisafulli. It is written as a standalone, so readers who are new to the series (like me) can easily start here.

This latest entry into the series opens with a historical prologue, dating back to the American Revolution, about a document called the Traitor’s Map which may be an inaccurate map that might have been used against the British.

Readers are then whisked into the present day where we encounter main character, Gabriela Domenici, a smalltown librarian, authenticator, and adjunct college instructor. On a special field trip with her college students, Gabriela shows the group Traitor’s Map and assigns them a project. Only days later, one of her students is found murdered on the lakeshore. What follows is a suspenseful story that interweaves the past and the present, secrets, lies, and murder.

This fast-paced 300-page mystery reads like a true adventure story. It’s a wonderful blend of historical fiction and present-day mystery set in the small upstate New York town of Ohnita Harbor. The historical details are rich, as are the descriptions of the present-day small town, making this an immersive read.

I enjoyed the story and liked Gabriela the most. She is a terrific main character––a determined librarian using her skills to uncover mysteries from both the past and present. The side characters are also well developed and so real that I could easily imagine each of their roles throughout the mystery.

Readers looking for a well-researched, wonderfully-paced mystery that blends historical and modern-day fiction need look no further than this new title.

Sarah Erwin started her career as a children’s librarian, later becoming a public library director and now she’s a stay at home mom. While her career might have changed, her love of reading has been a constant since 4th grade and she reads over 200 books a year. Read along with her on her blog Sarah Can’t Stop Reading or on Instagram. Sarah lives in St. Louis, MO with her two kids, her husband and a family dog and cat.

Interview with Patricia Crisafulli:

KRL: How long have you been writing?

Patricia: I have been writing for as long as I can remember. In fact, a vivid childhood memory goes back to age seven and my first attempt at writing a story from my imagination. I’ve spent a lifetime learning, exploring, and polishing my craft.

KRL: When did your first novel come out, what was it called, and would you tell us a little about it?

Patricia: My first novel was published in 2022: The Secrets of Ohnita Harbor, the first in my Ohnita Harbor Mystery Series. With a feisty protagonist, quirky characters, and a strong sense of place the novel delivers a classic smalltown murder mystery—revolving around a medieval artifact that places the story at the intersection of ordinary and extraordinary. Since then, two more novels in my series have been published: The Secrets of Still Waters Chasm, with more unique characters, including a green witch, and a 19th century nautical artifact—and, in October 2025, The Secrets of the Old Post Cemetery, which spans more than two centuries of history and features a Revolutionary War-era spy map.

KRL: Have you always written mysteries/suspense and if not, what else have you written?

Patricia: I have written broadly throughout my career—nonfiction books in self-help and leadership and some literary fiction, including short stories. My novels brought me into the mystery genre, which I love for compelling storytelling.

KRL: What brought you to choose the setting and characters in your latest book/series?

Patricia: I am so fortunate to be inspired by my hometown of Oswego, New York, on the shores of Lake Ontario, which has three centuries of history, beautiful scenery, and rugged topography—plus some notable characters (past and present) that help me envision a rich tapestry of people and place.

KRL: Do you write to entertain or is there something more you want the readers to experience from your work?

Patricia: Both! I always want to deliver a story that readers find entertaining and satisfying. At the same time, I hope my stories provide an opportunity for readers to contemplate deeper themes, such as what it means to be part of a community or to feel separate from it. In addition, I believe mysteries are an exercise in critical thinking.

KRL: Do you have a schedule for your writing or just work whenever you can?

Patricia: I try to devote my weekend mornings (I’m a very early riser) to creative writing—though sometimes life gets in the way.

KRL: What is your ideal time to write?

Patricia: Early morning—like five o’clock, when the house is quiet.

KRL: Do you outline? If not, do you have some other interesting way that you keep track of what’s going on, or what needs to happen in your book when you are writing it?

Patricia: I don’t use a detailed outline—I prefer to just start writing. One thing I use to keep track is a calendar. I print out several months for whatever year I’m writing about and note what happens when. It helps me keep track of the events and the passage of time in my story, while also ensuring my pacing makes sense.

KRL: Did you find it difficult to get published in the beginning?

Patricia: Oh, yes. Like most writers I received lots of rejections but, thankfully, also some encouragement and helpful feedback. I persisted, improved, and kept writing.

KRL: Do you have a great rejection/critique or acceptance story you’d like to share?

Patricia: One of my favorite rejections was from an editor who called me “compulsively readable.” What a compliment! But, alas, my novel at the time had an unusual structure—mixing time frames and first-person and third-person points of view—and so the editor passed.

KRL: Most interesting book signing story-in a bookstore or other venue?

Patricia: I love my hometown bookstore: River’s End in Oswego, New York. They’ve hosted me for each of my three novels. Favorite moments—reconnecting with people I haven’t seen since high school, seeing my 90-year-old aunts in the front row, and meeting people who love “Ohnita Harbor” as much as I do. When I was at River’s End in November 2025 for The Secrets of the Old Post Cemetery, so many people asked me, “When’s the next book coming out?” I was thrilled.

KRL: What are your future writing goals?

Patricia: To keep writing. I have more stories in me.

KRL: Who are your writing heroes?

Patricia: I love good writing and great storytelling. For me that means writing heroes such as Louise Penny, Jodi Picoult, Alice Munro—plus Charles Dickens, Jane Austen, and a gazillion others.

KRL: What kind of research do you do?

Patricia: Oh, research is the fun part. Since my mysteries feature an artifact that somehow connects to a modern-day murder, I have to find out all sorts of details—from medieval works of art to early submersible vessels of the 18th century and the battles waged on Lake Ontario between 1750 to 1814. Plus, lots of little details in between—like finding out that the ornate, loopy handwriting of the 18th century is known as round hand.

KRL: What do you like to read?

Patricia: Everything! I’m a very eclectic reader—from mysteries to serious literature and classics, to self-help, science/nature, and philosophy.

KRL: What are your favorite TV shows or movies?

Patricia: Our streaming favorites from the past few years include The Diplomat, Schitt’s Creek and The Queen’s Gambit.

KRL: Have you any advice for aspiring or beginning writers?

Patricia: Keep writing—and don’t get discouraged. Getting “tough love” feedback is part of the process. Learn, practice, and persevere! Remember, it’s all about writing what you love.

KRL: What is something people would be surprised to know about you?

Patricia: I walk/jog 10 miles a day—along with having a busy day job as a consultant. So, I have a very long and active day.

KRL: Do you have any pets?

Patricia: Two rescue cats: Fritzie, a black Siamese mix, who is the model for “Nathaniel,” the stray who makes his home at the library and the police station in Ohnita Harbor, and Beau-Beau, a gray-and-white cat who loves to sit on my lap—between me and my keyboard.

KRL: Is there anything you would like to add?

Patricia: One of the reasons I love being a writer is how it helps me look at the world. Through stories I can make sense of what I see and convey that experience to others.

KRL: Where can our readers find you online?

Patricia: My website: FaithHopeandFiction.com — which stands for faith in ourselves and what inspires us, hope to create, and fiction to tell stories that convey powerful truths.

You can also follow Patricia on Instagram @triciacrisafulli

You can click here to purchase this book from Amazon.

To enter to win a copy of The Secrets of the Old Post Cemetery, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “old post” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen December 6, 2025. U.S. residents only, and you must be 18 or older to enter. If entering via email please include your mailing address in case you win. You can read our privacy statement here if you like.

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Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.