The risen dead, ghosts, vampires, and demons roam the streets in Lowie Mortem (Chronicles of a Dead Detective) by J. Rene Munz. Thirty-five-year-old forensic detective Lowie Mortem was shot dead in the head while investigating a macabre crime scene in Metro City. He was brought back to life by a warlock who’s indebted to Lowie for saving his grandson. Stronger and possessing supernatural abilities, Lowie resumes his investigations and discovers evil forces behind certain cold cases, including his own demise. He stumbles upon Angelique, a vampire that has lived for centuries-the legendary “Dark Cross Templar”-and a misunderstanding nearly made the two kill each other before they joined forces to confront the real enemies.
About the Author: J. Rene Munz
J. Rene Munz was born in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, on January 31, 1974. He is the oldest of 5 children. From a very young age, he has been passionate about drawing and the visual arts. As a teenager, he began to explore street art also known as graffiti, and to collect comic books from different American and Mexican publishers that were in vogue in the late 1980s. In high school, the school director offered him the opportunity to paint a mural on the handball court, this being his first exhibition work. In 1992, he began university studies. During that time, he kept making posters and illustrations for other students so he could pay his own expenses. He was part of the university’s theater association. He graduated with high honors. In 1997, he began working for the Puerto Rico Police as an undercover agent.In 2000, he joined the United States Armed Forces, and in 2010, he completed his military service. The writing process of this book began in 2007, Inspired by his own personal and professional experiences, also by esoteric beliefs. At this time he still works for the Puerto Rico Police and continues to practice the art of writing.
REVIEWS: Reviewed by Lit Amri for Readers' Favorite The introduction gives us insight into the foundation of Lowie Mortem, which sprouted from Munz’s own 20-year experience of service as a Law Enforcement Agent, his passion for writing, and his appreciation for actor Morgan Freeman as a source of inspiration. I like the concept of the story which is propelled by an imaginative premise. The plot is fast-paced, sometimes a bit too fast as the narrative itself is succinct. That said, this suits the novel which is accentuated by its eye-catching comic-style illustrations. Lowie has all the traits of a good detective; tough, persistent, intuitive and attentive to details, albeit that he has his own flaws as well. The vampire Angelique adds a medieval fantasy flair to the noir-esque story, making Lowie Mortem a very consuming read for me. At its heart, this novel is a tribute to the brave men and women of police service; a commendable work from J. Rene Munz.
