Book Review: The Mortician’s Revenge by Maralee Lowder

Purchase

The Mortician’s Revenge by Maralee Lowder is a book two of The Mortician’s Wife, continuing the eerie saga set in the haunted mortuary of Dunsmuir, California. As a fan of the first book, I enjoyed diving back into this gothic, horror revenge world,

The story picks up with the same atmospheric dread and evil tied to the old mortuary and its dark history. Lowder’s strength lies in her vivid storytelling, and she delivers unsettling moments that build on the supernatural elements introduced in the first book. The concept of the mortician’s malevolent spirit influencing new victims is compelling, and the pacing keeps you hooked. The writing is engaging, blending human cruelty and supernatural terror, though I noticed some reviews mentioning spelling issues, which occasionally disrupted the flow for me too it didn’t take away from this horrifying story. 

If I compare this to the first book, The Mortician’s Wife, this book felt less cohesive. The first novel’s emotional depth, particularly through Ada and Emily’s relationship, gave it a haunting resonance that I found lacking here. The Mortician’s Revenge leans heavily on plot twists and shock value, but some parts felt like filler, dragging out less essential moments while skimming over potentially richer storylines. The shift in focus from the personal stakes of the first book to a broader, more chaotic narrative made it less emotionally gripping.

Unlike the cliff hanger of the first book that forced me to buy the second book I am still undecided if I need to read the third book.

Lowder’s writing shines, and fans of gothic horror will appreciate the creepy ambiance and imaginative scares. My favorite parts were Emily and Ava and their relationship beyond the grave. I loved them both in book 1 and wish there was more of them. If you loved The Mortician’s Wife, this is worth read.