For the past year, Joanne Walker has spent her time adjusting. She has switched careers, from working under the hood of police cars to becoming a new detective on the police force, died and come back to life with Shamanistic powers, as well as gained and lost a talking coyote that was her only source of knowledge on how to use these powers. She has finally come to accept her new roles, and work at them, as well as having developed a romantic relationship with the mechanic who took her place in the garage, whom she aptly nicknamed Thor.

So with life riding smoothly, helping a friend throw a Halloween party seems like a great idea, until some ghosts try to possess the entertainment. Add to it a murder and theft of an ancient cauldron at the museum and Joanne is off to solve the mystery and save the world, before the dead walk earth for good.

WALKING DEAD is the fourth book in C.E. Murphy's Walker Papers series. Readers have waited two years since the last book, and Ms. Murphy didn't disappoint her fans. Joanne is a strong if not still somewhat reluctant hero, with more interest in working on her car Petite than doing her nails. She is yet awkward using her shamanic powers, but relies more on herself in this book than she has in the past, which shows growth. The mix of Celtic and Native American mythos may confuse some at first, but once you get to know the story, you find that increases the charm of it.