Hear the Dead

Lens and Sin have big dreams: Sin will be lead bassist for a famous punk-rock band, and Lens will be the professional photographer capturing her greatness. Years later, Lens, now known by her real name, Elena, teaches visual art online from a quiet wooded retreat in Vermont, having put her punk days behind her, or so she thinks. When Eddie Carcinogen, one of NY punk’s biggest stars, dies at the ripe old age of 70, folks are mostly surprised he lived that long, considering his heroin addiction. After Elena is contacted about her photographs of Eddie being displayed at the Guggenheim, her world is shaken. Sin died of an overdose shortly after she fled NYC in 1983, and Elena is forced to confront memories, good and bad. And what a time for her gift, a connection with the dead through touch, to surface. Suddenly, she’s hearing the last moments of other female punk musicians, all allegedly dead from overdoses in the 80s, and she must investigate. Dávila Cardinal weaves magic realism into this gritty mystery that has a unique Nuyorican vibe, leading readers to question everything that Elena must immerse herself in to avenge the women’s deaths. Fans of punk music will be delighted with the playlist provided by the author.—Dodie Ownes