When The Dead Come Calling

It's 1869 and in the town of Lazarus, California, the dead don't stay that way. Luella Pembry arrives in town with a plan to stop the Risings taking place, for a price. Haunted by her own dark past, she enlists the aid of Sheriff Drake to help her find out what is causing the Dead to rise. Together, they race to unravel the mystery that threatens the town.

Lazarus by Lori Titus is a supernatural novella filled with mystery and suspense. Titus once again reveals her talent for creating a metaphysical drama, not unlike a terrifying soap opera. In this case, Luella comes to Lazarus to help them with their undead problem, but she finds herself drawn into a family history full of betrayal, deceit and murder. A ghost from the past requests Luella's assistance in tying up a loose end...with a noose. Luella knows she will likely die in the process, but she never refuses the dead.

I'm not necessarily a fan of stories set in this time period, but Titus avoids getting caught up in an elaborate setting and, instead, focuses on the characters and their interactions with each other. The result is a well-paced thriller about several dark secrets buried within the town.

As always,

AstraDaemon