Unraveling

Lord’s byzantine standalone second Redemption fantasy (after Redemption in Indigo) follows forensic therapist Miranda Ecouvo, whose work with traumatized witnesses to a series of murders led to the conviction of Walther Gray. While walking home from work one day, Miranda is struck by a bus. Though she narrowly avoids death, the accident plunges her into a realm between worlds, where she meets partly human spirit brothers Chance and Trickster. The brothers reveal that Walther Gray was not responsible for the murder spree—and the real killer is still out there. Aided by otherworldly powers, the killer now seeks immortality. To stop him, Miranda must traverse the labyrinthine spirit realm. As she delves into her investigation, Chance and Trickster embark on their own journey of self-discovery, seeking to understand their role in humanity and perhaps their own connection to the murders. The stakes are high and the suspense is palpable, but the complexity of both the plot and the worldbuilding make it arduous to keep the whimsical whodunit narrative straight. For readers willing to put in the work, however, this is an impressive feat. (July)