BURY ME IN SHADOWS

Mystery, the supernatural, and history combine in this modern Southern gothic tale of murder.

Freshly out of the hospital (after an accidental overdose following the end of a lopsided relationship—and with a history of an earlier attempted suicide that is described in graphic detail), New Orleans college student Jake is sent to Alabama to look after his grandmother’s home and provide relief to her nursing staff while she recovers from a major stroke. He’s also there to get away from superficial Tradd, who broke his heart. Relationships between the matriarch and her children are strained, perhaps more so now that Miss Sarah (as she’s known) has taken in college football star Kelly, a very distant relative who has an otherworldly connection with Jake. When an archaeological dig on Miss Sarah’s property uncovers more than expected, sins old and new are discovered. Angst and drama hang from this story like Spanish moss, potentially overpowering readers’ interest. Unrealistic plot points and a thin-as-ice story may simultaneously frustrate and underwhelm readers, and the blink-and-you-missed-it resolution of motives will leave many feeling cheated. The combination of murder mystery, gothic horror, romance, and the supernatural overwhelms the story, and the plot suffers as a result. Main characters default to White.

A story that attempts too many things at once.