A ndrew and Eddie are the closest of friends, until Eddie leaves to pursue his undergrad in American Studies at Vanderbilt. However, days before Andrew’s meant to start the same program himself, Eddie is found dead by apparent suicide. Andrew suspects foul play though. He believes that Eddie’s research thesis paper on regional occult folklore came back to haunt him, so he tries to continue Eddie’s work in hopes of uncovering the mystery behind his death. Meanwhile, a hungry ghost appears to have latched onto him, and he’s forced to confront both his own dark past as well as Eddie’s. Summer Sons by Lee Mandelo is a brooding tale about guilt, loss, and an inherited curse—written in deliciously lush and atmospheric prose. However, I think what drew me most to this book was how raw and believable its relationships felt. It wonderfully captures a sense of angst, longing, and wistful nostalgia as the story navigates flawed characters and their equally messy relationships. Because at its...