Once to Die: The Other Side of Dead by T.S. Epperson is a book that encompasses suspense, mystery, paranormal, and literary fiction into a gripping tale. The story follows two main characters, uniquely connected by spiritual and real-life events that tear apart the life and world they know. Perry, a young homeless man, navigates the streets, chased by evil, while Father John, a local priest, is beaten down and spiritually shaken. Both men have faced hardship, as spiritual unrest is underway for the living and the dead. Is there any hope left for all those involved?

The author provides the readers with a unique plot and complex characters. I found the story’s pace quick and engaging, introducing the reader to exciting plot twists and characters while never losing focus on the story. It’s important to note that it has a Catholicism undertone, with views that may not align with some readers, though I did enjoy the author’s writing style and the concise but effective description. The topics highlighted in this book are handled sensitively, including homelessness, spiritual unrest, and drug use.

I found the character development was augmented by the incredible experiences they must face, which made the story enjoyable to read. The timeline is well established and gives the reader a sense of each character’s history and how this impacts them in the present. Overall, I think Once to Die: The Other Side of Dead by T.S. Epperson can be a perfectly enjoyable read for the right audience. It has many gripping aspects to its plots and explores the topic of spiritual unrest uniquely and interestingly. You won’t find anything like it on the shelves of libraries and stores today.

ASIN B0BNLTM9JS | Pages: 459