Three friends, Jodi, BB, and Matt, decide to break into the abandoned mansion in their small town. There’s rumours of treasure within its walls. But Jodi has an ulterior motive for breaking in. Meanwhile, Lem, a tortured and violent man, has spent his life trying to defeat a curse placed on his family by a witch. When the three friends and Lem collide, violence explodes and soon a deadly pursuit begins.

Secret Lives of the Dead hits shelves August 26th.

“Lies, truths, they’re all mixed up, Lem.” “Mixed up like trees and witches?”

Here’s what I loved:

This is an incredibly fast paced read that I devoured in one afternoon. It never lets up and you’ll find yourself gasping by the end. It’s also quite an emotional read as no one is really safe in this story. There were quite a few moments where I was close to tears.

Our main characters, Jodi and Lem, are absolutely fantastic to read. Both with their flaws and complex backgrounds. As the story evolves, we discover more about their motivations and how entwined they are. When Lebbon writes about Lem, there’s an almost poetic turn in the writing. His story becomes a dreamy nightmare of dark lyrics and imagery. And you find yourself questioning what’s real and what isn’t.

There’s also some really brutal violence in this story that adds a grittiness to the story. When you think you’ve reached the extent of the violence, a character will shock you even further. A particular scene at the end when everything is revealed was so visually horrific and devastating, my heart broke.

I also enjoyed the lore in this book around the witch and the tree, and Lem’s family history. It added a fantastical element that kept the story from drifting too far into the noir aspect.

Overall, Secret Lives of the Dead is another great addition to Tim Lebbon’s oeuvre. I never know what he’s going to write next and I love that about him. A big thank you to Titan Books for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review. Pick up a copy for yourself on August 26th.