Author, Rosanna McCoy, sent me a review copy of Soul Survivor .
Description from Goodreads:
Awakening from a coma, University of New Mexico’s Professor, Grayson Lane, finds himself in a living nightmare. He remembers a delivery truck hitting him while out on a leisurely run, but he has no memory of his near-death experience in ICU or his soul encountering the soul of Sophia Cruz, the woman lying in the hospital bed next to his.
Bewildered by the entanglement of Sophia’s ghost, Grayson seeks the help of University of New Mexico’s parapsychologist, Dr. Prothro. But Grayson is skeptical of Prothro’s explanation, and he does not believe Zuri, his long-time lover, has become too busy with her pottery business to spend time with him.
Zuri is horrified when Grayson reveals the ghost that is possessing his soul to be that of Sophia Cruz, the dead wife of State Senator Domingo Cruz, the predator who is sexually extorting her. Dom is powerful and dangerous, and when Grayson tells her that Prothro suspects the Senator of murdering his wife, she pleads with him to steer clear of Dom.
Desperate, Zuri also turns to Dr. Prothro for help. He enlists Tate Edwards, a PI with a ghost of his own, to help her break free of Dom’s control. But none of them are prepared for the events that unfold when the ghost of Sophia Cruz begins using Grayson to accomplish her revenge on those who have betrayed her
Soul Survivor has ghosts in it, but I wouldn’t call it a ghost story. They play a decidedly secondary role. After a traumatic head injury Grayson Lane can see ghosts, meanwhile his girlfriend Lani can see monsters (and not the supernatural kind). He probably got the better end of that deal.
The book is very well written. Most of the characters are sharp and well defined. I especially like Tate and, though I know it probably makes me a bad person, Spyker. But I had a hard time reading it. This isn’t a happy, happy, joy, joy type of book. Lani is stuck in hell and the reader is forced to ride along side her. Luckily McCoy wasn’t inclined toward titillation and avoided being gratuitous. I don’t think I could have finished it if she had described the details of what we know Lani went through. But she is especially strong and determined to survive.
It has a happy ending of sorts, but I didn’t find the it particularly gratifying. I think that some people will though. Those who are comfortable with the idea that the rewards for a life well led come in the next will stand up and cheer. Those of us who want it here and now and aren’t so sure about the whole heaven thing might feel a little disgruntled. I did, as I often do when strong religious themes are sprung on me unexpectedly. I would have preferred the book without, but suspect the author wouldn’t have cared to write it that way. (But what do I know?)
The cover doesn’t really do it justice. Overlook it. The book is worth reading.
