Hear the Dead - a former punk rock scene photographer returns to New York and seeks to uncover mysteries from her past.

Elena Altieri is 66 years old and lives a quiet life in Vermont. Her talent as a photographer had put her in the middle of New York City's punk rock scene, but that chapter of her life is long behind her. Now, she faces mounting bills and day-to-day issues including hearing problems. The recent death of punk rocker Eddie Carcinogen brings her out of her reclusive existence when the Guggenheim decides to showcase a retrospective of her work, including her photos of Eddie. Once she is immersed in her old life, she begins hearing voices that seem to be from people she once knew, including her best friend Sin, who was believed to have died from an overdose. She starts to suspect that these women are reaching out to tell her they had been murdered. As pieces of the past resurface, Elena knows she has to do her own digging into the deaths of these women. 

Hear the Dead by Ann Dávila Cardinal caught my attention because of its 80s punk rock backdrop. The author effectively captures the period and the gritty atmosphere of the clubs. Although I'm usually not drawn to stories featuring the paranormal, I was able to accept the supernatural activity Elena was experiencing. And while I was interested in learning about the women's deaths, I was most interested in Elena and why she walked away from such a promising career as a photographer. If the 1980s punk rock scene intrigues you, or if you experienced it, this book is worth checking out. (Anyone else have memories of CBGB, Mudd Club, Danceteria, The Palladium, Area?)

Many thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark for the advance.

Rated 3.75 out of 5 stars.

Mystery Thriller.

Publication Date: October 8, 2026.

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