Secret Lives of the Dead is a folk horror novel written by Tim Lebbon, published by Titan Books. A gripping plot about revenge and grievance mixed with an ancient family curse and a pinch of noir thriller, with two individuals on opposite sides of the search for a relic, excellently paced while playing with their timelines in order to give the reader all the pertinent background.

Jodi, BB, and Matt, close friends, are breaking into a local mansion with a legend of being haunted; a fun adventure that shouldn't have consequences. Soon, the situation spirals out of control, as Lem, a psychopathic killer, arrives at the estate, looking for the same relic Jodi was secretly trying to find. Two lives that were already tied by the relic in the past, a past that will be slowly unveiled by Lebbon's multiple timelines in this novel, while we follow a high-paced chase across Mariton in the present.

Even with the author taking a more thriller-like approach to the novel, Lebbon puts a ton of effort into creating nuanced characters, especially on the two sides of the quest: Lem and Jodi. Lem is trying to finally get rid of the curse that has afflicted his family for years, and reuniting the relics has made him a ruthless and emotionless man, something that makes many situations to end in a bloodbath; he has a clear goal, and he won't stop for anything.
Jodi was part of his past, even if he doesn't remember; but she's trying to get the relic as a way to get revenge for her father's death, a moment that she partly feels guilty about. Her past is a secret even to her friends, and that will bite her back.

Lebbon manages to build an excellently paced story while introducing us to the backstories that move our characters; all perfectly marked so there's no possibility of confusion. It was really effective as a way to ease the tension, with many parts ending on a cliffhanger that precedes a jump back in time. The structure is more akin to a thriller than to a horror novel per se; that's partly my only complain, as I feel the horror elements to be more a plot device than actually relevant (there's a rich lore behind the relics, but still, they could have been anything).

Secret Lives of the Dead is a great blend that you will enjoy if you prefer horror novels with a more thriller-oriented idea, without losing in character development, an aspect where Lebbon shines. An enjoyable read that will glue you to the pages until the end.