JERICHO

The past won’t stay buried in this supernatural horror story.

Lauren Reardon has defeated the evil that gripped the small town of Gideon, Illinois, but she’s not quite at rest. She’s hearing voices nibbling at the edges of her reality. She knows there’s more danger to face. So when she’s invited to a sort of retreat at the home of the wealthy, notorious Andrew Carmody, it feels like an answer, maybe even a lifeline. Except this trip isn’t quite what it seems. Something is very wrong at the Carmody compound—it may be related to the disappearance of Andrew's wife, Fernanda, which he’s rumored to have had something to do with, or it may be something even darker. The situation is thick with politics, hidden motives, and dangers from the world beyond. Lauren is an engaging heroine, determined to do what’s right, and there’s plenty of ick and ooze here for horror readers to enjoy. But Lauren is fundamentally an outsider in the Carmodys’ world, and that fact weakens the emotional impact of the story. In her previous outing, Gideon (2015), she was searching for the truth about her own family; here, she’s more like a professional brought in to solve a tricky problem. However, the plot moves along quickly enough to keep readers engaged.

This book isn’t as strong as the first in the series, but it's a quick and enjoyable read.