Rise the Dark by Michael Koryta

Back Bay Books, 416 pages, $15.99 (c2016)

“Rise the Dark” follows the first Markus Novak story, “Last Words” (c2015). A third book will follow as day does night, and that’s because Markus’ story is not yet over.

Markus Novak is an private investigator in Florida. He is still mourning the death of his wife, Lauren, a couple of years previously. The man who he believes killed his wife, Garland Webb, has been released from prison. Webb sends Markus a gloating message, then disappears.

There are answers in the little town of Cassadaga, Florida. A medium whom Lauren went to see in that town populated by many mediums, spiritualists, and other woo-woo people just before she died has agreed to see Markus. He hopes to find out what Lauren had gone to Cassadaga to find. Then he wants to kill Webb. A mysterious man and woman instead try to kill Markus in Cassadaga. That just makes him even madder.

With the help of a Pinkerton agent, Lynn Deschaine, he begins a hunt for the woman, Webb, and another strange man who has inserted himself into the dialogue, Eli Pate. Markus and Lynn travel to Wyoming, to the home town Markus hoped never to see again, the place where his family came apart. His mother was a woo-woo hippie, his father non-existent. What Markus and Lynn piece together is something large in scope and crazy in intent

Unbeknownst to Markus and Lynn, a lineman from Montana, Jay Baldwin, provides the key to a disaster looming over the country. His wife is being held hostage by Eli Pate. Pate wants him to do something terrifying and dangerous. And Jay is going to do it.

All parties converge on a compound in the wilderness. Who will die and who will live to fight another day in Michael Koryta’s sequel? 

“Rise the Dark” is done in Koryta’s trademark thrilling, fast-paced manner. Just don’t expect a total resolution at the end.