Unbury Carol

October 9, 2017
Malerman’s fantasy gothic is a grinding of gears moving inexorably towards one another, sometimes so slowly that it seems they will never meet. Carol Evers has a uniquely horrific problem: she occasionally dies, but only for two to four days before waking again, and while dead she hears everything around her. Her husband thinks no one besides him knows her secret, and he plans to quickly bury her the next time she dies so he can claim her enormous fortune. But outlaw James Moxie, Carol’s guilt-ridden former lover, rides to save her. While Carol fights to awaken, she is hounded by the insidious personification of Rot, who wants to claim her, and James is pursued by both Rot and a ruthless arsonist assassin hired by Dwight. A few of the side stories feel like distractions, but those of Carol and James, especially their fights against dark beings and metaphorical inner demons, will win this morbid tale some fans. Agent: Kristin Nelson, Nelson Literary.

Narrator Dan John Miller's deep pitch and intense pacing carry listeners through this high-stakes adventure. Carol Evers is a clever woman with an unusual condition--she has died and returned to life many times, each time spending her dying moments in a bizarre realm she calls Howltown. When her husband decides to capitalize on one of her deaths by attempting to bury her alive and steal her fortune, it's up to her first love to rescue her before it's too late. Malerman's prose is rich in intrigue and supernatural elements, and Miller's character portrayals are evocative and bold, leaning heavily into the best and worst parts of each character. Many listeners may think the story needs more of Carol's point of view, but Miller works well with Malerman's material nonetheless. K.S.B. � AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine