THE PAINTED SAND

A young woman’s fate is forever changed when she catches the eye of Death in Esposito’s supernatural novel.

Ruth Weber is an old woman languishing in a hospice during what seem to be her last days. She makes friends with a mysterious man who visits her room to change out paintings on the wall and perform other odd jobs. She learns that his name is Mortimer Nach; through flashbacks, readers discover that Mortimer is actually Death itself, and that he and Ruth have a history. As her health declines, Ruth begins having incredibly vivid “dreams” that force her to confront and question all that came before in her long and storied life—from an overbearing father to the death of her child to an ongoing struggle to help her rebellious sister. Jumping back and forth in time, the narrative also includes Ruth’s previous interactions with Death. These include a forbidden romance that forces Mortimer to make a shocking decision—one that will have unimaginable consequences in both the earthly and supernatural realms. A wide cast of characters (including an empathetic archangel) contributes to this intricate exploration of life, death, and what it all means. While the plotline can sometimes become convoluted when switching between memories and the current timeline, the writing and dialogue remain smooth and approachable (even when discussing such heady topics as wielding Time as a weapon, which is one of Mortimer’s handy tricks). Esposito excels at maintaining a steady thread of hope throughout an often heart-wrenching tale, such as when Mortimer tells Ruth: “Life will always be more important than me. I’m nothing more than the last breath, that’s all. Dying doesn’t take from a life, that’s what makes it so beautiful.” With its strong themes of heartbreak and forgiveness, the novel astutely conveys the bittersweet experience of loving someone despite knowing that one day they—and life itself—will have to end.

A complex tale of life and death that deftly weaves family drama with supernatural elements.