Review of In Lieu of Flowers

[María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "In Lieu of Flowers" by Keith Steinbaum.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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Do you believe in evil? Whatever our religious beliefs, we all know evil exists in one form or another. Most of us have also pondered what happens after death. In Lieu of Flowers by Keith Steinbaum opens with a Romani father-to-be, Gunari, who, desperate for money, accepts an offer from a mysterious entity to kidnap a particular baby: Petre, the son of a Jewish woman named Naomi. However, Naomi was a midwife who, even though not Romani like Gunari, was highly respected by his community. Gunari and his sister take Petre back, but the evil entity makes an eerie premonition about the baby’s future.

The story jumps to Terrence, a worker at the Evergreen Cemetery, who is married to Juana, a particularly intuitive woman battling a disease that’s causing her to go blind. Terrence and Juana will play a crucial role in fighting the creature terrorizing the country. But how do these stories connect? How far back do our past shapes our present? Are the dead truly gone? Can we communicate with them?

The premise of the book is original. While it may be true that there’s nothing new under the sun, it all lies in the execution. Steinbaum found a unique and engaging way to broach the topics of evil, death, the afterlife, and permanence. The combination of lore and historical events with present-day situations makes for a layered and deep narrative experience. The author focuses on a small part of WWII, Operation Tidal Wave, that has often been overlooked in other books. Steinbaum also broaches meaningful topics, mainly discrimination, while keeping an engaging supernatural vibe throughout the book.

In my opinion, the stellar aspect of the novel is the character cast. It’s a diverse cast, from immigrants to veterans to homeless people. The character’s motives are perfectly outlined and coherent. I especially loved Terrence’s friendship with Rabbi Michael. In such divisive times as these, it’s encouraging to see that two people from such different walks of life can still find common ground and respect each other’s beliefs.

The main flaw of the book is the structure of the narrative arc. Honestly, by the time the first storyline takes relevance again, I was so invested in Terrence’s life that I had almost forgotten about the beginning of the book. Some subplots could almost be read as short stories, which results in a choppy reading flow. Also, the Romanian lore mentioned at the beginning was left underexplored. Besides a small note at the start of the book, the reader is left to decipher what the evil entity is.

The latter part could also be considered one of the book’s assets. By not overfocusing on a specific lore, Steinbaum allows the reader to adapt the plot to their own imagination and beliefs. And there’s nothing more horrifying than what we can concoct in our imagination. For Christians, this could be demons, or for non-religious people, it could be serial killers. They all fit into the world created by Keith Steinbaum.

I also dislike the suggestion that there could be something supernatural behind Hitler’s actions. While I fully understand that the amount of evil committed during the Holocaust is something that seems beyond human comprehension, it’s necessary to acknowledge the atrocious acts committed by the Nazis and their leader were deliberate human acts. Otherwise, we risk lessening the importance of this historical event or even falling into conspiracy theory territory.

The editing of the book is practically flawless. While there are a couple of issues that could be improved, the story is original and engaging. It has memorable characters, meaningful topics, and moving scenes. For these reasons, I rate the book 4 out of 5 stars.

This is a perfect book for spooky season. I recommend this novel to readers who like history, folklore, and the supernatural.

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In Lieu of Flowers
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[Stephanie Runyon]

This sounds intriguing in some of areas. However, spooky stories tend to give me nightmares. I think it's because I can form a mental picture of the horror and sticks in my subconscious. Good review!

[María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda]

This sounds intriguing in some of areas. However, spooky stories tend to give me nightmares. I think it's because I can form a mental picture of the horror and sticks in my subconscious. Good review!

Right? I can often watch a scary movie and go to sleep afterward, but scary books depend on our imagination, and that's wild.
Thank you for your comment!

[NetMassimo]

I have mixed feelings about supernatural thrillers after some bad experiences but this one seems engaging despite some fragmentation. The story is effective in channeling the characters' emotions, which make the reader feel immersed in the story. Thank you for your great review!

[María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda]

I have mixed feelings about supernatural thrillers after some bad experiences but this one seems engaging despite some fragmentation. The story is effective in channeling the characters' emotions, which make the reader feel immersed in the story. Thank you for your great review!

I understand your hesitation. I love the supernatural, but, as with every genre, some iterations are disappointing. I hope you enjoy this book!
Thank you for your comments.