A Song for the Dead

Wray Mallory #3

by H.P. Bayne

Forty years later, the unexplained disappearance of a drummer has become as legendary as the rock group he played with.

When a TV crew stumbles upon a dismembered finger inside the band’s old tour bus, Sergeant Mars Donovan finds himself with some macabre new clues. But the passage of time has left the trail cold.

Not cold enough for Wray Mallory.

Her psychometry skills uncover long-buried secrets and evidence of a vicious killer known only as Barber. At every step, she’s dogged by the ambitious TV crew, eager for the show of a lifetime—one they’ll stop at nothing to get.

The case will lead Wray from the seamier side of Kimotan Rapids to England, where the only living people once connected with the band reside—and where they’re haunted by far more than bad memories.

With time ticking, Wray reluctantly accepts help from her ghost-seeing ex-husband. But Carter Pryce has his own motives for getting involved, and he might prove more a hindrance than a help.

Can Wray and Mars put to rest the mystery behind the drummer’s vanishing—or will the case prove to be their swan song?

The Wray Mallory series—mystery and suspense with a paranormal twist—includes characters introduced in the Sullivan Gray series and the Braddock & Gray Case Files.

355 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 31, 2024

About the author

Raised on a farm on the Canadian Prairies, words quickly became my means of exploring the world around me and giving life to the one created in my imagination. Fascinated by ghost stories and crime fiction, I have been writing both for well over two decades, drawing on more than fifteen years in a career in a criminal justice setting. When not putting Scrivener through its paces, I enjoy reading, portrait drawing, travel and spending time with family and friends.

Reviews

[Claudia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this was such a fantastic read!

And I must say, I didn't expect that things would get so dangerous so fast, that's for sure. The story is intricate and, although rooted in the past, its tendrils expand into the present threatening the lives of more people than I had imagined.

I loved how we are slowly getting to know the people involved at the beginning of the story; those young, damaged guys for whom music was their life and their bandmates their family. It's a sad story but not hopeless. A story about how, if we can't confront our past it will haunt our present. In this case, literally :P

I loved some of the characters, others I deeply despise. Carter, obviously, is the one I loathe the most, but Rich is right there fighting first place, argh! Ruby redeems herself by the end, so she's forgiven *laughs*

And hey, we have brief apparitions of Sully and Emily! ♥

Another thing I enjoyed is the way the relationship between Wray and Mars evolved. Wray is such a prickly person! She has her reasons, and shees! those are very valid but here she's learning that she can, maybe, let some people close to her. As Micky says:

That’s what life comes down to. You find someone like that—a mate, a lover, whatever—you hold onto them for dear life. In the end, that’s the only security you’ve truly got.”

I like she has the strength to open herself up and be willing to trust others. She might not know it, but she truly needs it.

And, OMG! London! What can I say? I love London, and I love revisiting it even through the pages of a book *g*

And the ending was beautiful, full circle :D

Every book is better than the previous one, and I can't wait for the next one :D

[Georgia Tumbleweed McNabb · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book a famous Rock Band's drummer disappeared touring bus and all never to be seen again. Ow 25 yrs later the bus is discovered by a Antique TV couple and while looking it over inside they find a ring around a amputated finger at least 25 yrs old. Wray gets ask by Mars (the detective) to on the down low to look into it.

[Larry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read all of the Wray Mallory books, as well as all of the Sullivan Gray series and The Braddock and Gray Case Files series. H.P. Bayne is a fantastic author. Like all of her other books, A Song for the Dead was excellent. The story was interesting and intriguing. I loved the surprise, which you’ll find out about when you read this. And it’s refreshing to read about such a strong female protagonist. She had been in the military and able to take care of herself. But she can accept help when needed. I highly recommend this book.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

PHENOMENAL! ABSOLUTELY HAIR RAISING!

MAN! This was a page turner like no other!! Literally ,until i ripped through the last series of pages , my heart was pounding!
Wray is A BEAST! I have NEVER read a female character written so GRITTY and TOUGH! She is fearless and as BAD-ASS as any MALE counterpart in a NOVEL.
The meat of the story is made of some truly heinous acts perpetrated decades earlier. Wray gets wrangled into this case which involves a Cold blooded sociopathic murderer. The intensity level goes OFF THE CHARTS !
No spoilers here but when Wray goes into "battle mode", tighten your seat belts for one if the most intensely written fight scenes you could ever hope to read! Wray doesn't get out unscathed... this encounter changes her in ways I don't think even she imagined. Incredible!

[Cheryl Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

As ever an excellent book, I was yelling indignantly at Wray for what she was doing, making a lot of silly mistakes, but of course there wouldn't be the story if she didn't make them would there?
The most satisfying bit was when Mars comes and what they say to each other.
Sully doesn't really appear much though he did lend a hand, this was all Wray and Mars. Some old rockers and a mystery that gets unravelled throughout the book.

Love it and can't wait for book 4 and any more Sully books too.

[Phthon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each book H. P. Bayne writes is better than the last, which is saying something because her first book was phenomenal. This is another masterpiece. I love Wray. She is just herself, as hard as she can be. She also really cares about people despite her hard exterior. She has a wonderful gift that she uses to bring justice to those without a voice. Those she has help are quite the motley group. I loved this book! I recommend this book!

[Thompson615 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!!

A junk collector, a picker tv show, a huge 80’s rock band and Mars is on the case. Wray is helping Mars by doing a reading but ends up right smack in the middle of a murder case. This book is full of twists and turns and is so fast paced that I couldn’t put it down! I can’t wait for the next book!

[Robin L DiSalvo · Rating 5 out of 5]

By far one of the best paranormal series I’ve ever read. Wray continues to puts herself in dangerous situations to protect the people she cares about and the idiots causing the situation. I hope this is not the end of this story because she has more to give now that her and Mars are taking steps in the right direction.

[Lynne Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant

Wow what a read. Loved this so much and so good to have a check in with the "boys". Mallory is amazing as ever and Mars is another of my favourite characters
Plenty of twists and turns. Thoroughly enjoyed 😊

[Wendy Monk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read, couldn't stop once I'd started.

Intrigue from the very beginning..
Couldn't put it down once I'd started, but had to sleep, then go to work.
Can't wait for the next Wray & Mars adventure.

[Lesley Hewitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic book

Absolutely fantastic, I love these books. Wray Mallory has an ability similar to Sully's but she can read items like jewellery she can also see spirits. This book had plenty of action although I felt like some of the characters needed a good slap. I hope there will be more Wray Mallory books.

[Jennifer Wilcoxson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paranormal, crime, mystery, and action

I enjoy the Wray Mallory series so much. This book pits her up against living evil and ghosts who are looking for resolution to events from their lives.

[Stacey Wright Aumock · Rating 2 out of 5]

First part of the book - 1 star bc Wray was acting like such an idiot. Even military needs backup. Last part was better but she was still too vigilante for my taste, especially after the events of the previous book.

[Evelyn Polischuk-Schmidt__ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another great read, I love Wray and the character she portrays, strong, independent, smart but also sensible and compassionate. The story line is intriguing and suspenseful right to the very end . This author definitely knows how to keep us captivated. Can't wait for the next book

[Mrs Joy Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant story.

As always This book kept giving, storyline and

Action was excellent.
It advice to especially back in helping by doing what he does best.
Already got the next book in the series at the ready.

[Maureen ~Bitch Can Write A Book · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wowza! I could not put this down. I absolutely love the characters Wray & Mars. This series is fast…like break neck paced, fun and as I have said before the perfect combination of mystery & paranormal. I can’t wait for more. Now to dive into the authors backlist.

[Shereen · Rating 5 out of 5]

thrilling must read

This review covers all 3 books in the series. I loved it. Loved the intricate characters and plots, everything about each book. Read all 3 in 4 days. Could not put each down until I was at the end and then just had to know what happened next. Amazing!!

[Margarita Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic read. Great story with lots of action. It slowly pulls you in and won't let you go until the very end. This is a great series and I can't wait for more... Loved it.

[Toni Hammack]

Loved it, can't wait for the next one.

[Alan Butts · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this author, Her books make me stay up and read all night like when I was young! Hard to put down!!!!

[Lilian Baity · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book.

This was also a well written book by the author. Really enjoyed it! Look forward to more books from author.

[Sandra Moss · Rating 5 out of 5]

a Hard to Put Down Read

This was a good book with a lot of action and likable good guys and a couple of unlikable characters; as well as a villain I enjoyed this as well as all others by this author

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best of the 3 books in the series. Not that the other two weren't good but I really loved this one.