Desperate Souls

Gregory Lamberson, Medallion, $14.95 paper (270p) ISBN 978-1-60542-170-4

An entertainingly cheesy fusion of splatterific horror and hard-boiled paranormal fantasy, the second installment of Lamberson’s Jake Helman Files (after 2009’s Personal Demons) pits the New York City ex-cop PI against an ambitious drug lord whose lethal new product, Black Magic, is literally turning its users into zombies. The combination of drug epidemic and cost-cutting NYPD layoffs sparks a crime wave of unparalleled brutality. After almost being killed by a gang of zombies, Helman vows to track down the people manufacturing and distributing Black Magic. He soon becomes the prime target of a ruthless drug dealer and his voodoo priestess girlfriend. The zombie battles are cheesily over-the-top, the character development is strong, and the pace is relentless. Dark fantasy fans will be impressed by this action-packed, gory, and witty read. (Oct.)

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