I love when a book doesn't quite fit into the expected genre. Lebbon's latest novel starts out as a thriller, with Jodi persuading her friends to break into an allegedly abandoned house to retrieve an item that should be worth a great deal of money. But when they get inside, they find that someone else is also seeking this object -- and they're not about to ask nicely for it to be handed over. Jodi, of course, has her own reasons for seeking this object, and she knows all too well who these intruders are. They're linked to her past, her father, and a lot of violence. But just as we think we have a handle on what's happening, Lebbon throws in a family curse, a living tree, and a hunt for something not quite of this world. As the book moves from crime/noir to body horror, Lebbon's skilful characterisation and propulsive prose makes us truly believe in the world he has created, and the left-turn in apparent genre. Of course, you go into a Lebbon book expecting some kind of horror, but here there's a moment where you think he might just have written a straight thriller, but of course he's not about to make things that simple at all.

I had an absolute blast with this novel -- and the last third, as we delve deeper into the curse and the nature of the object that Jodi was seeking -- is a nightmarish trip to hell that will get those palms sweating. Absolutely brilliant.

A gripping tale of revenge and obsession!
Told through multiple POVs we see these events of a single day unfold with flashbacks sprinkled throughout.
I enjoyed the overall premise (witchy, gore, curses and generational horrors) though I found some parts dragging a little? A story like this I think would benefit from some shorter, sharper chapters at times!
But the book was well written and I found myself really feeling for the characters (which, not to mention, all felt well fleshed out!)

Oh! This book held so many components of horror that I absolutely love! Revenge and the occult in the form of a family curse, a relic, and gore! The action was well-paced, and I could not stop turning pages! I loved the morally gray, yet strong main characters and I also appreciated the conflicts and dilemmas. Definitely do not snooze on some of the flashbacks if you feel the book slowing a bit because you may miss an integral piece of information in relation to the plot of the book! An amazing horror book that also read like a thriller!

Secret Lives of the Dead is a grim little tale of revenge, obsession, and the dark things people do in the name of family. It’s violent, bleak, and full of death (which I usually love) But despite a killer concept and a great villain, this one didn’t fully land for me.

The story unfolds mostly over the course of a single day, with time jumps that are well-executed and easy to follow. At the center of it all is Lem, who’s on a brutal quest to lift the curse haunting his family, and he’ll do just about anything to make it happen. His chapters were easily the best part of the book. Twisted, relentless, and genuinely compelling, Lem brought the energy and madness I was craving. Every time the narrative shifted back to him, I perked up. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for the rest of the cast. Jody, BB, and Matt, our trio of main characters, never quite clicked for me. Their perspectives felt flat, and I found myself pushing through their chapters just to get back to Lem.

And while the book is filled with brutal moments and dark tension, I wanted even more of the eerie, witchy, supernatural stuff it flirted with.

Lebbon keeps a solid pace through most of the book, but the last third started to drag, especially given how straightforward the story really is. Honestly, it could’ve been shorter and sharper, and I might’ve enjoyed it more.

Still, if you're into gritty, blood-soaked stories with a villain worth following, Secret Lives of the Dead might scratch that itch. Just be prepared to slog a bit for the good parts.

Thanks to Titan Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

#SecretLivesOfTheDead is an effectively creepy folk horror from @timlebbon that centers around a family cursed by a witch and a woman whose life was forever changed as a teenager by the man who has spent his life trying to break that curse. Though a quick, short read, Lebbon creates several well-rounded characters whose fates we care about, a thrilling adventure, and a creepy mythology around the witch and associated relics that the cursed family is attempting to reunite. Thanks to #NetGalley and @TitanBooks for the review copy.

This is a solid, fast-paced thriller with tense scenes, violent action, and an extremely compelling supernatural backstory. It's a quick and easy read, with the story unraveling over a single, bloody day (with plenty of flashback scenes in between). Unfortunately, the best elements were glossed over in favor of the concluding battle between Jodi and Lem. The inception of the witches' curse could have made for an incredible story, and I honestly hope for a prequel. In fact, Lem is the most intriguing character, and while his flashbacks did become repetitive by the end, his origin story would make for a great book as well. But by coming in at the very end of this epic tale, we don't really have time to bond with the main characters, and Jodi isn't a particularly likable protagonist. There is a great story in here, I just can't help feeling like this wasn't the best chapter of it to focus on.

With smooth, descriptive writing and tons of on-page fights, I do think this will be a great read for those who enjoy heist-type thrillers and action movies.

Thank you Titan Books and Netgalley for the ARC.

I thought this was a really interesting premise, I enjoyed the mystery surrounding this.
The writing was emotional, dark and atmospheric - which really sucked me in.
I was a little worried about how many POVs there were, but actually I think it built a really interesting reading experience.
Enjoyable and quick read.

Combine the opening to Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade with some supernatural and a little more murderous obsession, and you've got the overall atmosphere in Tim Lebbon's Secret Lives of the Dead. A multi-POV horror novel that leans more toward adventure than crime while providing a satisfactory back story behind the macguffin. Lebbon chronicles an action-packed day in the life from every conceivable angle, complete with twists, turns, double crosses, and revenge.

I enjoyed the first 70% of this book. The premise of a family curse intrigued me. However, towards the end, it seems to lose its way, the witch keeping the people she hates the most alive to "bring her together" didn't make sense, why didn't she want their blood? Then for Jodi just to steal the relics back and after all the tension of her getting a car and petrol and needing food and the toilet which all seems so real it takes two senses for her to get rid of the relics in the same stolen car, the police are looking for about 30-40 miles. I was expecting more of a bang at the end or more to do with the witch but it didn't happen. More spooky ghosts and more on the witch would have made this a soild horror book however it was an okay thriller.

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.