The Orbriallis Institute, by Charlotte Zang and Alex Knudsen, a sequel to Lost Grove: Part One, is an unconventional crime story set in small town Lost Grove in contemporary America.

The novel continues the story of former San Francisco Police Department homicide-detective Seth Wolfe, who, having returned to his hometown and commenced working for the local police department as a sergeant, becomes embroiled in a complicated investigation into the mysterious death of a local girl named Sarah Elizabeth Grahams.

Contributing to Seth’s ongoing investigation this time are several returning characters, including witchy librarian Story Palmer, chief-of-police Bill Richards, socially awkward modern-day vampire Mary Germaine, and a gang of investigative youths fronted by high-schooler Noble Andalusian, whose inquiries into a series of inexplicable goings on in Lost Grove set them on a collision course with Seth’s investigation and with egotistical Orbriallis Institute recluse Dr. Neil Owens.

As in the first novel, the authors are skilled at blending horror, fantasy, science-fiction and crime story elements, ensuring the unsettling atmosphere developed in the previous book permeates this narrative throughout. As the various plot strands relating to Sarah’s death, a missing baby, Noble et al’s investigation, and the mystery of the Orbriallis Institute draw together, the novel’s pace quickens, building to a revelatory and satisfying climax.

Seth’s overqualified detective remains the novel’s main protagonist as he seeks to unravel the mystery of Sarah’s death and come to terms with his own uncanny experiences. However, as with Part One, it’s Lost Grove’s ensemble of eccentric denizens who bring the story fully to life, ensuring readers are invested in their character arcs and the ultimate outcome of the novel.

Those who haven’t read Part One prior to commencing this follow-up will find The Obriallis Institute extremely confusing, as it continues the events of the previous book without explaining the backstory. That aside, this is a thoroughly entertaining novel. Fans of Part One will find plenty to enthrall them here.

Also available as an ebook.