Book Review: The Mortician’s Wife by Maralee Lowder

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Maralee Lowder’s The Mortician’s Wife is a chilling but deeply moving story that blends gothic horror, heartfelt emotion, and an intriguing narrative that has me chomping to buy book 2. This novel delivers a creepy atmosphere using the reportedly haunted Old Mortuary in Dunsmuir, California as Lowder write a chilling tale of abuse yet resilience, and unlikely friendship.

Written in the perspective of Emily who we meet as a youngster and eventually a mature woman who becomes a nurse the story follows Ada the mortician’s wife as she tells Emily her life story. 

Ada was once a young woman who married a charismatic but sinister mortician Horace, only to endure years of torment at his hand. 

Lowder brilliantly wrote a decades-long bond with these two woman that keeps you hooked as she shifts between the two timelines of Ada. The real-life inspiration of the haunted mortuary adds an eerie authenticity, making the story feel unnervingly real.

What makes this book stand out is its emotional depth. Ada’s suffering is portrayed with raw honesty and her strength and quiet defiance make her a character you root for and fall in love with. The friendship between Ada and Emily, built on shared moments of music and storytelling, is the heart of the novel, offering warmth among the darkness. The gothic light tone, balances human horror; spousal abuse and betrayal with the supernatural, creating a story that’s as unsettling as it is touching.

The vivid characters, haunting setting, and Lowder’s skillful storytelling make The Mortician’s Wife a captivating read. If you love creepy, atmospheric tales with a heartfelt core, this book is a must read!  I loved it for its ability to both chill and move me and I will be buying book 2 in the series.

Rating: 5/5 stars

Perfect for fans of gothic horror, paranormal mysteries, and stories of human resilience.