“Memory is a bitch that haunts like no ghost can.”

L.L. Madrid doesn’t hide from hard feelings in her debut novel My Lips, Her Voice. The story follows Audrey, a teenager grieving the recent loss of her cousin Mara, in a small town haunted by its own past. Audrey reunites with Mara’s spirit in a way that is less than ideal: possession. With the help of Mara’s ex-girlfriend Zadie and wisdom from her late grandmother Shirley, Audrey works to solve the case of her cousin’s murder and sever the tether between them before it’s too late.

The girls’ adventure is nestled between Shirley’s, who spends her life grappling with paranormal premonitions. Told from three points of view, My Lips, Her Voice is a tale of grief, girlhood, and of course, ghosts.

This novel is a strong start for L.L. Madrid’s career and is a wonderful addition to the feminist horror genre. My Lips, Her Voice was published by Creature Publishing, a small press dedicated to highlighting female-led horror stories.

In addition to the storyline, there are many things to love about Madrid’s writing. She is a beautifully descriptive writer. Her colorful commentary effortlessly paints a picture of Copper City. From the forest, to the mine, to Las Vegas, it was easy to get immersed in the scenery.

Madrid plays on the senses to elevate her world-building. From twigs snapping to birds singing, reading felt like walking in the woods in tandem with the characters. It was clear when evil lurked nearby because the air became thick and stunk of sulfur. Though Shirley’s visions were fragmented in her mind, they were clear snapshots to readers. Madrid’s ability to personify emotions added depth to the characters’ conquests. Audrey’s guilt will sit in your stomach while Mara’s jealousy crawls across your skin. The possession’s description is equally captivating. It was interesting to see how the girls fought for control in Audrey’s body and read how the mannerisms changed with each mind. 

This novel is driven by its characters, and that’s the element that stuck out the most to me while reading.

Audrey and Mara complement each other with their differences. It was important for them to learn from each other in order to accomplish their goals. Mara was snarky and spontaneous, dreaming up rockstar plans that were bigger than herself and always speaking her mind. Audrey is quiet and calculated, content with her surroundings and eager to turn her passion for baking into a lifestyle. Though they didn’t get along and often made snide comments from the comfort of Audrey’s brain, it was satisfying to see them eventually team up to defeat the antagonist.

In my opinion, the girls represented the importance of understanding and accepting the complexities of one’s relationship with themself. With the novel taking place at such a pivotal point in their lives (senior year of high school), Mara and Audrey are well-rounded representations of the coming of age trope.

Zadie is the only narrator that is not related to the others. I valued her point of view as an outsider, witnessing magic play out in real time. It’s always appreciated to connect with a character who is simply a bystander. Readers can align themselves with someone who has the least knowledge about the situation, but is still curious for more.

Zadie balances Audrey and Mara as the diplomatic dreamer. She harbors a great deal of guilt towards her ex-girlfriend, and uses that as motivation to help the girls. In turn, Zadie is able to take a step forward in grieving both the Mara and the relationship, realizing that she is not a bad person for moving on. I felt that Zadie was integral in solving the mystery, because she held clues to the side of Mara that Audrey had not seen while her cousin was alive. Each girl packed their piece of the puzzle with valuable information for the crime.

Shirley was a standout character for me. I enjoyed how her perspective filled in gaps about the spiritual elements that were left by the teenagers. Shirley’s story begins 40 years before Mara’s death. Her point of view spans across her entire life. She reveals information about Copper City’s spirits to readers, and provides context for Audrey’s visions and premonitions. Taking note of Shirley’s outlook on life is critical to understanding the themes of the novel. She relied heavily on “the light”, which she described as a force of positivity and safety coming from within. Throughout all the hardships she faces, Shirley returns to her light for comfort and reassurance. She shares this sentiment with her children and grandchildren, to carry the light and use it to dispel evil. Her words hold value because at the climax of the story, Audrey uses her own light to win the final battle. 

However, the antagonist was the only component of the story that fell flat for me. For spoiler’s sake, I’ll refrain from naming them. I wanted to know more about the antagonist’s journey. How did they become the villain? What led them to their motives? I understand this would be challenging given that they are not a narrating character, but a monologue could have sufficed. Aside from that, I felt content with the antagonist’s place in the overall plot. They connected to the web of the mystery in a gratifying way.

Overall, I thought My Lips, Her Voice was a thrilling foray into the mystery and horror genre. A character-driven ode to small town girlhood, this is a novel that will inspire readers to step into the woods and face their fears. I would recommend this book to anyone hungry for a satisfying mystery. L.L. Madrid has surely found a fan in me, and I look forward to reading more of her work.

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