Jess McCall has made a name for herself as a photo journalist. She left her hometown of Ebony, Massachusetts, to pursue a career, while her sister, Amanda, a stenographer, stayed. Of late, Jess has troubling dreams about Amanda. Her therapist would probably insist it is from unresolved matters. It has been ten years since Jess has seen Amanda. She never found the time, even though she knew she could have made time. After receiving an envelope that says, ‘to be opened in the event of my death, Amanda McCall,’ Jess wonders what is going on. She is thrown for a loop and more so after finding articles on Haitian Voodoo and things concerning zombies inside Amanda’s envelope.

After eight years of living in Los Angeles, Frankie Marshall moved to Ebony. He loves the town and his job as an investigative reporter, of which he has a good reputation among the people. When Amanda fails to meet him for their appointment, he hears she has taken an absence from work for a month. After Jess arrives in Ebony, they begin to work together. He, too, learns about the articles on voodoo and zombies surrounding Amanda. To add more chaos, Mike O’Herlihy, Jess’ ex, is on his way to Ebony. He claims he has information and can help the investigation. One thing Jess doesn’t need is help from the stubborn Irishman. As the search grows more intense, it is hard for Jess and Frankie to trust anyone as they search for answers, and Amanda’s whereabouts.

I have to say after reading Ebony, I still have chills thinking about it. This riveting page-turner had me hooked from the first page. Once I started reading, I couldn’t put it down. Thoroughly engaging to the end, Jess and Frankie really take the reader on a twist and turn of events that holds one spellbound. I could relate to Jess in the way she and Amanda were different in many ways, even though they had love between them. T.C. Lo Tempio has definitely created a horror that this reviewer found utterly amazing. She crafts realistic main characters, as well as secondary characters, that grab hold of the reader and doesn’t let go, long after the story has ended. I thought the blending of the voodoo and zombies was very clever. The ingenious plot and great direction of the characters make this a first-rate read.

Reviewed by: Linda L.