Back in Memphis after splitting from his girlfriend and on a leave of absence after the death of his partner, Sergeant Detective Billy Able gets back to unofficial work more quickly than he thought. Old friend and bluesman, Little Man Lacy is found dead in a construction pit, shortly after speaking with Billy; Lacy had mentioned death charms.

Shortly after, Lacy's music partner Red Davis, is also found dead at the train station, where he had spoken with Billy earlier. Patrol Officer Frankie Malone had found Red, who had some sort of powdered substance on his face and clothing. She suspects the dust was a curse and it killed Red. It is said that, an ebbo, a charmed dust, when blown in the face of a believer, causes death; Frankie is familiar with Santeria, a religion that uses those charms.

Upon investigating the building where Little Man and Red were squatting, Billy and Frankie found their precious instruments smashed, and the place thrashed. Frankie says it was cursed. Seeing this, Billy pockets the conjure bag that contained the magic dust he found on Red's body, as well as pictures in the pockets of the coat Red has purchased at Goodwill. Billy finds a picture dating back from the 1960s, where a man is wearing the same jacket. As Billy and Frankie dig further, the murders seem intimately tied to the civil rights movement and unfortunate relationships that were formed during those difficult times.

Ms. Turner sets the mood at the beginning with mentions of great bluesmen and classic songs so we really feel enveloped by the sounds and the atmosphere of Memphis. The character development is superb, and what seemingly innocuous details the author includes are in fact crucial elements in the intricate plot and the denouement. I loved the interaction between Billy and Frankie: although there might be a hint of some romance between the two law officers in the future -- and I sincerely hope THE GONE DEAD TRAIN is the beginning of a series -- they remain professional work colleagues, and Frankie is a terrific female lead. Ms. Turner weaves a spider's web out of the characters' quirks, new-formed and long-time relationships, and events that happened half a century ago into a solid mystery.

Readers who might feel hesitant at the mentions of death charms and magic need not worry: THE GONE DEAD TRAIN is an excellent police procedural; the magical aspect is but one of the many pieces of the puzzle in this meticulously crafted and ingenious thriller. I also very much appreciated that nothing is black or white; appearances can be quite deceiving indeed. THE GONE DEAD TRAIN is a first-rate suspense which kept me on my toes until the thrilling conclusion!