Beyond the Grave

June 11, 2018
Clemens’s gently humorous fifth Grim Reaper mystery (after 2012’s Dying Echo) takes Casey Maldonado, who’s still haunted by the deaths of her husband and baby son, and her traveling companion, Death, an apparition with a penchant for old films and fancy costumes, to the small Idaho hamlet of Armstrong, “a strange town with dark undertones. Lots of old grudges, unsolved mysteries, and layers of resentment.” Still suffering from bruised ribs and a blossoming black eye from a recent dustup with some small-town thugs, Casey accepts the offer of a place to stay and some part-time work from Vern and Dottie, who own Armstrong’s general store and lunch counter. Soon she and Death, whom only she can see, are piecing together the reasons for a 45-year-old vendetta, which has soured local residents, as well as shining some light on more contemporary malevolence. Clemens draws the reader smoothly into this fantasy world while providing an original approach to the iconic figure of the Grim Reaper.

June 1, 2018
A traveler accompanied by the wisecracking figure of Death struggles to put her past behind her as she investigates new friends in a little Idaho town.Ever since the sudden demises of her husband and young son some years ago, Casey Maldonado has been literally haunted by Death. Though she's tried to put her life back together, even trying to commit to Eric VanDiepenbos, her new boyfriend, she's not ready to start living and wonders whether a road trip might help her find inner peace. While journeying through rural Idaho, she's roughed up by some young men who don't reckon with her knowledge of Hapkido. Acknowledging that she can't continue on until she's healed, Casey winds up getting a job and leasing an apartment from Armstrong general store owner Vern Daily. Vern was born and raised in the small town; his wife, Dottie Hass, came from outside--a fact none of the townspeople have ever let them forget, especially not Ethel Bernard, the woman everyone thought Vern would marry. It feels to Casey as if Vern and Dottie pay a daily penance, dealing with harassment and vandalism from town residents who blame Dottie for the death of her infant daughter years ago. Though Casey feels protective of the Dailys, she shies away from Dottie, who's obviously in her final illness. In hopes of stopping some of the bullying, Casey digs into the history of the animosity, learning that something may have happened on a Halloween night many years ago, though she can't get a straight answer about just what happened or who's to blame. The figure of Death, which has changed personalities throughout this series (Dying Echo, 2012, etc.), seems divided this time between assisting Casey and trying on movie personalities for one-liners, as if Clemens still hasn't settled on a role that fits the unearthly creature.The mystery, which involves transitional characters in the series, heats up only at the very end, making it hard to get more invested in the heroine's life than she seems to be.

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August 1, 2018

Two years after the tragic accident that killed her husband and toddler son, Casey Maldonado is still reeling from their loss. She continues her restless wanderings, with only Death, the Grim Reaper, as a companion. This time, her travels take her north to Idaho and a town terrorized by three brutal men. When they attack her, she successfully resists and flees to the isolated town of Armstrong. Although Vern, owner of Vern's Market, provides her a place to live and a job, there are strange undertones of resentment against Vern's dying wife. With Death's hints and warnings, Casey uncovers a horrible past of loss and grudges. The fifth "Grim Reaper" mystery (following Dying Echo) may not be the conclusion of the series, but it certainly completes an ongoing story arc, as Casey learns the necessary lessons to move on with her life. With a strong sense of place, this creepy, disturbing novel of small-town troubles is balanced by dark humor, represented by Death, with his many disguises, often as movie characters. VERDICT Readers of Laura Anne Gilman's "Devil's West" series may appreciate this story of another strong female loner.--Lesa Holstine, Evansville Vanderburgh P.L., IN

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