  Quantum graphs have recently been introduced as model systems to study the
spectral statistics of linear wave problems with chaotic classical limits. It
is proposed here to generalise this approach by considering arbitrary, directed
graphs with unitary transfer matrices. An exponentially increasing contribution
to the form factor is identified when performing a diagonal summation over
periodic orbit degeneracy classes. A special class of graphs, so-called binary
graphs, is studied in more detail. For these, the conditions for periodic orbit
pairs to be correlated (including correlations due to the unitarity of the
transfer matrix) can be given explicitly. Using combinatorial techniques it is
possible to perform the summation over correlated periodic orbit pair
contributions to the form factor for some low--dimensional cases. Gradual
convergence towards random matrix results is observed when increasing the
number of vertices of the binary graphs.
