Wide Open / Deborah Coates / 304 pages / Horror

Sergeant Hallie Michaels serving in Afghanistan was killed in action. She was brought back to life with the ability to see ghosts.  There is also news her sister has died back in South Dakota. In returning to her town Hallie finds the past isn't always done and finished. What exactly did happen to her sister and why has the town suddenly stopped answering questions? And what are the ghosts doing?

 A novel with many open ended questions about what the town/people are hiding. There is a bad guy but in my opinion not a fully developed one. What evil does he control and why? The deputy sheriff keeps popping up and is so laconic it is frustrating. What is it with all the elliptical sentences? An interesting tale with great potential but ultimately exasperating. The beginning of a series: Deep Down is second installment. 

Some novels with similar themes: American Elsewhere by Robert Jackson Bennett and The Red Tree by Caitlin R. Kiernan.