Between the Living and the Dead is a compelling supernatural novella that weaves Peruvian culture with paranormal mystery. While its brevity leaves readers wanting more, this is precisely its strength—a tightly crafted introduction to what promises to be an engaging series.
The Author delivers a haunting story where teenager Cavilla Ramirez discovers her ability to communicate with the dead following the tragic murder of her best friends. What begins as a personal tragedy evolves into a supernatural calling, as Cavilla becomes a medium helping restless spirits find peace which in turn lead her to uncover dangerous family secrets.
Character 4 stars : Cavilla Ramirez emerges as a credible and relatable protagonist whose transformation from ordinary teenager to supernatural detective feels authentic and earned. The Author grounds her in recognisable adolescent experiences—clarinet rehearsals, Agatha Christie novels—before thrusting her into extraordinary circumstances. The supporting cast, from her protective god-turned-cat companion to her Aunt Tia Luz, creates a tapestry of relationships that anchor the supernatural elements in emotional reality. The character arcs demonstrate clear growth, while some secondary characters could benefit from deeper exploration, the novella’s length constraints make this a minor limitation rather than a significant flaw.
Pace 4 stars: The narrative maintains momentum throughout, balancing supernatural mystery with character development. The Author demonstrates pacing control, allowing tension to build naturally while providing satisfying revelations that propel the story forward. The author’s use of mystery elements—each solved case revealing new questions about Cavilla’s heritage—creates compelling narrative hooks that sustain reader engagement. The pacing occasionally feels rushed when introducing complex cultural and supernatural concepts, but this reflects the novella format rather than poor storytelling choices.
Dialogue 4 stars. Character voices feel distinct and authentic, with dialogue that successfully conveys both the ordinary concerns of teenage life and the extraordinary circumstances Cavilla faces. The author differentiates between the voices of the living and the dead, creating subtle but noticeable distinctions that enhance the supernatural atmosphere. The conversations reveal character motivations and relationships effectively.
Plot 5 stars. The plot structure weaves together multiple mystery threads while maintaining focus on Cavilla’s personal journey. The central premise—a teenager who must help murdered friends find justice—provides strong emotional stakes that ground the supernatural elements in recognisable human emotions of grief, guilt, and determination. The Author’s revelation of family secrets creates additional layers of complexity without overwhelming the primary narrative. The mysterious antagonist presence introduced toward the end establishes intriguing series potential while providing satisfying closure to the immediate story.
The novella functions as both a standalone story and a series introduction.
Between the Living and the Dead represents supernatural fiction that combines authentic cultural representation with compelling mystery elements. While its brevity occasionally constrains character and world development, this limitation reflects format constraints rather than storytelling weaknesses.
The Author has created a protagonist and supernatural framework with significant series potential, delivering a satisfying story while establishing foundations for future exploration. For readers seeking diverse supernatural fiction with compelling mystery elements, this novella is recommended. The only legitimate complaint is that readers will finish wanting more.
Overall I award 4.5 stars.