Chilling Murder Mystery Takes Deeper Look at Complexities of Loss and Grief

The Gray Line by B.J. Cyprian

Death is not always black and white. Perhaps that has never been so clear — or gray, if you will — as in B.J. Cyprian’s The Gray Line, a combination exercise in group therapy to cope with the loss of a loved one and at the same time an intriguing mystery stemming from strange events that befall members of the group.

How do you cope with the death of the love of your life? That’s the question Angel Lamb has been struggling with since her wife tragically died in a car crash three months ago in which Angel was the driver. How did it happen? Plain carelessness? Something more? She’s looking to channel her grief with the help of the weekly therapy group.

However, things take a turn when unexpected violence hits members of the group.

Raw & Emotional Portrayal of Grief

On the one hand, The Gray Line covers the process of grieving from multiple perspectives and the wounds that still linger from past experiences. It’s raw and emotional, touching on issues such as abuse, discrimination against race and sexual orientation, familial upbringings, and more. The most prevalent theme is the question of how to deal with the painful circumstances that are unfairly bestowed upon us.

But what happens when it’s not death by natural causes? Is it right and/or fair to point fingers or blame someone for what happened? To make others suffer in the same way that we ourselves have suffered?

Alex, the other central figure and creator of the group, carries her own struggles while helping others heal from theirs. She says it best: “When you lose someone, no amount of vengeance or tit for tat will bring them back. At the end of the day, they’re still gone. You have to go through the process.”

Chilling & Thought-Provoking Mystery

But this book isn’t just about healing from the past. It’s also a murder mystery, in ways that take the narrative beyond simply grieving for lost ones. Who would have thought that a weekly grief therapy group would leave readers on the edge of their seats?

Angel certainly didn’t think she’d find herself in this position, now playing detective along with Alex to discover the meaning behind mysterious, vicious attacks. The assailant’s reasoning for committing brutality seems to lie within Angel and Alex’s circle. But why?

This unsettling question leads the characters to doubt the faith of those closest to them, also leaving the readers questioning if anyone can truly be trusted. A thought-provoking, yet chilling, quote from Angel summarizes the uncertainty of being blind to a person’s true intentions: “Most kids are taught that monsters aren’t real, but we know better. We are aware they exist, and don’t always have talons or fangs. Sometimes they pose as people who are supposed to take care of us.”

Gut-wrenching, insightful, and at times humorous, The Gray Line is a story about what it means to be human and how to keep on living without those we love. Additionally, it will have readers flipping the pages with its plot twists and shocking turn of events.