Thomas Cobey’s Eternally Mortal is a paranormal story intertwining the lives of several people. William Fennerman was living in Japan with his wife, Yoshi, when the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima. Joanne Arnet was afraid of her husband’s increasingly violent behavior. Her best friend, Darcy, calls her wife to tell her about Joanne’s situation. Tabatha has an awful premonition about the entire situation. Michael comes home early to find the women packing. He kills Darcy and shoots Joanne. Michael is a paranoid schizophrenic, and his voices lead him into the dark world as a criminal. Each person’s individual story is told from the perspective of a life-altering event. A gold bracelet, a premonition, a gun with a voice, and a traumatic brain injury will link all four people together in unexpected ways.

Thomas Cobey wrote a detailed account of each person, and his transitions between each character provided an easy-to-follow timeline. William’s bracelet seems to be the link between his longevity and his visions of the past and future. The alternating perspectives placed me in the mind of each person. Michael’s mind was frightening, especially since he seemed to have no remorse for his actions. Joanne’s rehabilitation should have given her the ability to process what happened to her. The vivid description of every moment made me feel like I was standing in the same room as each person. It was intriguing to see Tabatha get a premonition that affected her feelings. Every person cared more about the feelings of others than they did about their own. Even Michael negotiated with the voices in his head. Readers who enjoy stories about unexplainable events that bring people together will enjoy Eternally Mortal.

Eternally Mortal by Thomas Cobey is a supernatural novel that revolves primarily around Joanne Arnet, a woman escaping an abusive marriage, who reconnects with childhood friend Darcy, planning a fresh start in Washington, D.C. Joanne's husband Michael intervenes, resulting in Darcy's death and Joanne's injury. Struggling with memory loss, Joanne seeks answers with therapist Sharon's help. Michael descends into a life of crime and drugs, in tandem with an AIDS-afflicted man named Larry. Tabatha, seeking solace from personal losses and with ulterior motives of her own, meets the immortal William Fennerman, who weaves throughout the character arcs, which all begin to interconnect. Joanne works as a nurse and helps Tabatha secure work as their relationship grows. Michael, surviving a near-death experience, intensifies his pursuit of Joanne. As Michael closes in, a bloody climax looms, with long-held secrets poised for revelation.

Eternally Mortal by Thomas Cobey is unique in the elements that hint at the supernatural in that the author harnesses the actual plot into features that are distinctly human. Themes of grief, loss, and love are at the core of Joanne's character progression. Michael is fuelled by revenge. Tabatha has emotions of her own that drive her motive. Cobey writes in an assertive and clear voice, balancing heavy themes with moments of tongue-in-cheek wit that will elicit a smile, such as when Joanne considered the phrase "being at a loss for words" as “something writers used when they could not figure out what to write next.” I loved the way Cobey has William undergo significant development, and scenes where his history is revealed are often almost cinematic in scope. The standout for me was a ship battle with thick white and black smoke, complete with sensory details of the sea and the billowing sails. The ending is a surprise and is nicely bittersweet, and readers who enjoy literary fiction with paranormal elements will find both here.