Drawn to Death

Skillfully blending the mundane and the macabre, Shehata (the Russian Tattoos trilogy) presents a delightful paranormal romance built on a foundation of suspense. Evelyn is an artist with a secret: ever since a near-death experience, the spirits of the dead contact her through her art. On the cusp of opening her own gallery in Chicago, she crosses paths with Det. Leo Ricci, a member of the violent crimes task force and avowed denier of the paranormal. After a coffee shop meet-cute, the pair are quickly thrown into a deadly game of cat and mouse when Evelyn’s real estate agent friend, Sydney, is murdered—and Leo reluctantly teams up with Evelyn to crack the case. Clues and red herrings abound, though character development occasionally gets lost in the shuffle, especially when it comes to the secondary cast members who play key roles. The supernatural aspects are where this truly shines, with Evelyn’s spirit encounters, automatic drawing, and clairvoyance presented in all of their spine-tingling glory. Aficionados of old-school paranormal romance will be eager for more. (Self-published)