Raising the Dead by Jayne Lisbeth

Raising the Dead by Jayne Lisbeth

Release:: August 15, 2023

Format: Ebook
Publisher: Austin Macauley, London, UK
Source: Pumpup your Book Tours
Find it at: Goodreads, Amazon

Emeline, a new bride,moves from her beloved home in the California Delta with her husband to his mother’s home city, Charles Town, in Virginia. After the deaths of her beloved parents. she befriends a mysterious elderly woman, Felicity. Through Felicity Emeline learns to love reading, cooking. She also becomes confident enough to reach out to others and form new friendships. Felicity teaches Emeline the craft of chair caning, which becomes a lucrative enterprise.

This further assists Emeline in her search for independence and maturity. When Emeline is most dependent on Felicity her friend mysteriously disappears. With the assistance of her new-found friends Emeline searches and discovers for her lost friend. Her husband and her friends assist Emeline in her search for Felicity. Emeline’s mentor and “other mother,” Emeline discovers a frightening spiritual reality which uplifts her in unimaginable ways. Through friendship she learns the value of love and the enduring spirit of those who have touched her life, even if they are no longer among the living.

Raising the Dead is a mystery to be unearthed by the reader in these poetic pages. Loveable and quirky characters, both living and dead, entrance and entertain. Reviewers of Raising the Dead “can’t put this book down” until they discover how and where Emeline finds her dear friend. Emeline’s friendships, the development of her relationship with her husband and her search for Felicity help this young bride to move into her future. Emeline is a beloved heroine worthy of the most sophisticated and avid readers.

About the Author:

Jayne Lisbeth’s birth was in NYC. She continued her life’s journey from Long Island, to New Jersey, Massachusetts, Vermont, California and Tampa. Her first book, a memoir, Writing In Wet Cement got published internationally by London based publisher, Austin Macauley. She was also the publisher of Jayne’s second book, Raising the Dead, a work of historical fiction, mystery, friendship and the supernatural, in 2023. Ms. Lisbeth publishes monthly “Food for Thought” blogs on her website, Jaynelisbeth.com.

Her “Food for Thought” blogs are based on her reflections of life, friendship, love, and topical subjects of interest. Ms. Lisbeth’s non-fiction, poetry, and short stories have been published from Vermont to California to Tampa, Florida where she has received awards at the local level. Ms. Lisbeth’s short stories have been published in the LEC Phoenix Anthologies, 2015-2023. Jayne’s interests include writing, reading, exploring, traveling, calligraphy, gravestone rubbing, entertaining and cooking.

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Raising the Dead Review:

Raising the Dead by Jayne Lisbeth is a profoundly heartwarming and reflective tale about self-discovery, adjusting to life’s changes, and finding strength in unexpected relationships. Despite its title, which may suggest a supernatural or thriller element, the novel is an emotionally rich exploration of personal growth.

The story centers on Emeline, a strong yet vulnerable character mourning the loss of her mother, Cleo while navigating a new chapter in her life. The author portrays Em’s journey of adapting to a new environment beautifully, and her connection with Felicity, who serves as a mentor, adds depth to her character. Their relationship and Em’s evolving bond with Margaret highlight themes of acceptance and change, showing how people can learn from and support each other despite their differences.

Moreover, I particularly enjoyed the side characters, like Adrian and Sadie, whose individual storylines were charming and brought extra layers to the narrative. Adrian, in particular, was a standout character—adorable and full of heart. Randy, on the other hand, was a bit of a mystery. While his character arc didn’t feel as fully developed, particularly regarding emotional growth, he still added an intriguing dynamic to the story. I felt the author didn’t progress the characters as well as the others.

The backstory of Julia and Dani was another element I appreciated, offering further richness to the narrative. While the author attempts a twist toward the end, it’s not the kind of thrilling revelation one might expect. The pacing does slow at times, but it ultimately allows readers to bond with the characters. On a side note, I adored the book references placed in if you are looking for Classics recommendations.

Overall, Raising the Dead is an enjoyable, character-driven novel emphasizing emotional resilience and human connection’s power.