
Member Reviews

Folk horror isn’t usually my thing, but this dark, gripping tale completely won me over. What begins as a thrill-seeking break-in quickly unravels into a chilling story of curses, obsession, and supernatural dread.
The atmosphere is thick with tension, and the twisted family legacy at the heart of it all is both disturbing and compelling. Sharp, sinister, and utterly absorbing—this is a haunting read that lingers long after the final page.

Secret Lives of the Dead is a page-turner of a novel, that will really suck you in.
Part folk horror, part occult (cursed object), but all in an urban/modern setting, the story takes root and then winds and turns in ways you wouldn’t expect. The story flows naturally, with some time jumps (flashbacks), which work really well to get into the mind of the characters.
The character that I think is developed the most, weirdly, is the antagonist, but that works well to heighten the tension and really amp up the drama.
Lebbon is excellent at creating a story with a focus on the emotional stakes for the characters, and as a reader it makes it difficult to stop reading. You really do get sucked in, even by the characters you don’t (or shouldn’t) like.
If I were giving a criticism, it would be that the ending could have been a little more impactful, it was slightly anticlimactic for me. And at the beginning of the story I struggled with some mixing of tenses. However, this is a well written story that I enjoyed.

I would like to thank NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This novel description to me read as a bit on the supernatural horror side, but it is more of a folklore horror. I would have loved to have gotten a bit more about the witch and her backstory, and less of Jodi and Matt, honestly. Lem's relationship with the witch and how it drove him are the true core of the story, and to me the witch is the main character.
The story was chugging along until about the 70% mark. I feel around that point it drug on a bit, and the scenes of Lem and Jodi racing to get to the Island could have been shortened up; Lebbon did a nice job building tension throughout the first 2/3 of the book, so I felt it wasn't needed to help with that; it slowed the story down.
The characters were kind of all over the place in terms of development. Matt and BB could have been omitted from the story and not much would have changed. Jodi was kind of 2D, but Lem was fully formed and you understood his motives and drive more as the story progressed. Libbon could have written an entire series about Lem finding the relics, and this could have been the final book in the series; that is how interesting I found Lem and his relationship with the curse to be; Jodie ended up being more of a filler than an MC.
Overall, I thought the book was good. Lebbon is a new-to-me author, but I would definitely read more of his work.

No one is as heartbroken about not liking this than I am.
It's not a bad story by any means, but almost during the entirety of it I just wanted it to finish. I think it was a classic case of 'it was just not for me'.
I did enjoy how dark the story could get, at times. But the story & the writing itself just didn't ignite that spark within my brain for me, and reading it felt almost like a chore to me. And, mind you, I'm about 70% in at the time I'm drafting this part of the review.
Almost DNFed it 80% in, could not care any less about the characters. Sorry.

This book ripped the heart out of my chest and tore into little pieces. Yes I'm dramatic about it and you won't stop me. This has to be one of the saddest things I ever read? I don't think it was meant to be this sad but it hit me right in the feels. The entire conundrum of what's the actual curse; the obsession with it or the curse itself? is very compelling. It makes you think about why the characters did what they did. Jodi will remain on my mind for a longtime. And BB, oh my sweet summer child, you didn't deserve what happened to you. I absolutely hated Lem. That goes onto say that just how good this book is. Best to go into this book without knowing too much. You'll emerge a changed person.

(I received this book from the editor and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)
This book was definitely not for me. I was hoping for a folk horror tale and found myself reading an action-packed thriller where the horror elements were scarce. I also did not really like the main character, Jodi. I understood her motivations, but the way she reacted to certain things felt not at all coherent.
I did find the main antagonist more interesting, although the infodump regarding his life and past, instead of reading a little bit here and a little bit there, made me think the author knew he wanted to write the action scenes more than anything else.
Truly a disappointment, because the story started in a very intriguing way with the characters looking for an adventure, the secrets, the house and the relics, but, in my opinion, it did not achieve the level of horror (folk or otherwise) I was expecting.

Creepy. Devastating. Unforgettable.
I picked this book up purely because of the cover - it practically dared me to. When the story finally revealed why the cover looks the way it does? I was creeped out and genuinely impressed. Whoever designed it deserves all the praise. It’s disturbingly perfect. 👏
Okay, random intro thoughts over - let’s talk about the actual book. 🤭
This was a fantastic story. Creepy in the best way. I was hooked from the start and completely invested in the characters. Nothing felt unnecessary - no filler, no wasted detail. Every storyline had weight. Every character felt real. Even the ones I hated… I still pitied. And that’s rare. 🫣
It’s dark, it’s raw and it sticks with you. 🖤✨

I really like Secret Lives of the Dead, it's a grim yet wonderfully written folk story that is centred around a family curse and the quest to break said curse by searching for a certain relic.
Tim Lebbon does a great job of curating a gripping blood-filled novel showcasing the darker side of humans and what exactly they'd do for family and revenge.This story is written in multiple POVS to blend the chaos together into an action-packed rollercoaster for the reader to enjoy.

I think my capacity for attention was shot while reading this. There were so many GREAT things happening. I found all of the characters pretty cool, the plot pretty wild, but I just couldn’t keep up. I want to revisit this one again later… maybe listen to the audiobook.

A short read that I read in one sitting. It was chilling, dark and atmospheric whilst also being more evocative and emotive than I expected. I really enjoyed it

An okay story of revenge with some great gore. I couldn’t really connect to any of the characters except Lem (the actual VILLAIN) who had the best chapters by far. I needed moreeee of the witch/curse and spooky stuff going on in his plotline and less about Jodi and her random father who I never cared about. Oh, and Matt. Piss off Matt. The writing style was a bit fragmented and difficult to follow for me, but the book did fly along which was nice.
Overall quite a disappointing horror read, but an interesting thriller with a great serial-killing villain with a mystical backstory.

A gripping tale about a family cure, the quest for a relic, and a trail of blood! Tim Lebbon's Secret Lives of the Dead is about a quest of both Lem and Jodi, two individuals on opposites sides in the pursuit for a relic. They are both obsessed and have their own motives for obtaining the relic and neither is willing to give up.
Lem is on a mission to right the wrongs of the past. His family has been cursed, and he is trying to obtain the relics needed to free his bloodline from the curse that has haunted his family for generations. He is brutal and willing to kill whoever gets in his way!
Jodi's father was murdered by Lem, and she is on a collision course of revenge. She knows that Lem is after the last relic and has enlisted her boyfriend and friend to help her break into an abandoned family home in search of the relic.
I enjoyed this captivating tale of obsession and revenge. Both Jodi and Lem are fully fleshed out characters and Lebbon did a great job of depicting each's reasons for their actions. This book is a horrific cat-and-mouse folk horror tale with supernatural elements. This book takes place over a single day and man, does Tim Lebbon put all the character through a lot during that time. I enjoyed the POV's and the action. I was hoping for more of the supernatural element but otherwise, I enjoyed the quest, the action, the twists, and the obsession. I enjoyed the blending of suspense, mystery, thrills, horror, and supernatural. They were all included effortlessly.
Dark, wonderfully written, perfectly paced, gripping, and horrific!

Secret Lives of the Dead by Tim Lebbon is a moody, atmospheric novella that blends supernatural intrigue with emotional weight. Lebbon’s writing is taut and evocative, pulling readers into a quiet yet unsettling world where grief and the unknown overlap. It’s a slow burn, but a rewarding one.
The story unfolds with subtle dread rather than overt horror, leaning into character and mood over action. The protagonist’s journey is introspective and haunting, with just enough mystery to keep tension simmering. A few plot threads could have used more development, but the emotional resonance carries it through.
Lebbon sticks the landing with a final act that’s both chilling and strangely tender. Secret Lives of the Dead is a thoughtful, eerie read—perfect for those who prefer their horror with a side of melancholy. A solid 4 stars.

This one totally pulled me in. I love a story where a simple break-in turns into something way darker, and this had that in spades. The mix of family curses, creepy relics, and stormy, isolated settings made it feel claustrophobic and tense in all the right ways.
There’s a slow-building dread that really worked for me, and the way the story unfolds over a single day kept the pacing tight. If you’re into cursed bloodlines, strange antiques, and supernatural suspense with a bite, this is a good one to pick up.

This was a mixture of violent crime novel with a folk horror element. It was an interesting read. To be honest based off the synopsis I thought it was going to be more paranormal but it geared towards folktale horror instead. I do feel that the ending portion of the final showdown was a little tedious at times with the descriptions. It also felt a little anticlimactic because I was really expecting more. I was hoping for a bit more of the lore to come through. I am happy with reading with book.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley.

fun, page turning supernatural horror and thriller work with some awesome vibes. would definitely recommend. 4 stars. tysm for thea rc.

Horror? Thriller? Suspense? Does it matter? This book starts off a little slow, building the world and plan of a trio of friends/lovers breaking into an old, abandoned house for various motives.
Read this book if you like:
☠️ twists and turns and deceptions
☠️ revenge stories
☠️ stories about spirits/supernatural possibilities
Thanks to Titan Books, Tim Levon and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

An absolute gem of a book - a page turner for sure! Leaning more towards thriller than pure horror, "Secret Lives of the Dead" blends occult noir with a revenge tale, continuously escalating the tension, both inner and external conflicts growing more and more serious and dangerous - till the violent and dramatically explosive ending! Building on the horror tropes of the "family curse" and the "cursed object," it complicates matters by throwing in two very strong and morally grey characters in conflict, and never really taking sides or prejudging the outcome. Once it becomes clear how the supernatural is involved, the author goes for the strongest impact on his readers, by razor-sharp characterization and dark, heart-breaking story turns, almost like everyone in the book is on their own suicide mission - a fact which makes you care for the characters, especially for the villain of the piece, who's essentially the one holding the reins and creating so much sorrow and sadness for all involved (even himself), it's a miracle he always sounds fresh and engaging. In fact, the protagonists of the book are both survivors and casualties of a victim mentality which fuels their opposition, sweeping up readers along in their grim and violent story whether they like it or not.
Lebbon's character work deserves special praise. The action scenes are very well-done, but this is pretty much expected, on that front Lebbon never disappoints. But if it weren't for the brilliant characters, I doubt the ending or the story on their own would have had such an impact on me: beyond the blood-letting and the bone-crunching, for me it's the terrifying psychological insights supporting the character building that make this book a real achievement.
The book is dark, brutal, and always moving forward, even when the action stops for a bit, and it's time for some necessary flashbacks. Even then, every little detail counts, it's integral to the plot, and if you think some extended reminiscence is just filler or the author giving you a breather, you'll blink and you'll miss something important. That said, this is no detective thriller or police procedural; it has a different focus, heavily invested in family issues, friendship matters, the conflict of selfless dedication to a life-long mission vs the selfishness of evil.
It's also top-notch entertainment, and even if some hearts break, horror lovers will have their fun! An epic journey I unhesitatingly recommend!

Jodi is on a mission. Lem is brutal. Who will make it out alive when there’s a curse looming over them?
The story was well written, and the pacing was good. Things get going right from the start. I enjoyed the shifting POVs because it didn’t feel like I was reading the same thing over and over like some stories do.
I do feel that the ending portion of the final showdown was a little tedious at times with the descriptions. It also felt a little anticlimactic; I was hoping for a bit more of the lore to come through.
Overall, a gripping story that had me holding on until the end.

"Trees and witches, witches and trees.."
Wow! Great story - a little disappointed with the ending though. I was expecting much more but I can't complain. Like I said - great story.
You are plunged straight into the action from page one and there's no let up until the end and to think it all happens in the space of a day.
At first I thought the horror part of it wasn't too gruesome until Jodi's father is revealed in that sinkhole: that really got me. Morbid is a word that comes to mind.
The lead character is well fleshed out but I suspect Lem - the bad guy is the one most folks will remember.