Reviewed by Liz Konkel for Readers' Favorite

Passing Through by Jenny Sundstedt follows Dana as she goes about her daily routine, helping people in limbo deal with their unresolved issues in order to move on to the afterlife. A new and difficult client named Dominic challenges her in ways she never expected. He insists he's not the cause of his wife's disappearance, despite the claims of the police and his father-in-law. She's reluctant to take his case, but decides to give him the benefit of the doubt. Returning to earth was supposed to be simple, but nothing about this investigation is easy. Working with a private investigator, she starts feeling like she hasn't felt in a long time: alive. The more clues she uncovers, the more secrets she discovers Dominic is hiding, but he may be what she needs to deal with her own unresolved issues.

I couldn't put it down! Each chapter got better and better. Jenny Sundstedt weaves together mystery, the paranormal, and relationships. The characters that work at this limbo place each have a tragic element to how they died. None of them is perfect, they're flawed, honest, and real characters. Some of the deaths are eye opening in the sense that it raises the question, “Why did this have to happen?” One of the ways Sundstedt succeeds is by asking “What does this mean?” She doesn't give all the answers to the afterlife. Dana constantly answers Dominic's questions with “I don't know,” which allowed me to put my own thoughts into everything that's happening. The afterlife is up for interpretation. Sundstedt does give answers to the mystery of Dominic's wife's disappearance, and the personal journey Dana takes. Another way is through the honest way the characters develop. They all made mistakes, they grow, at times they're brutally honest, but they're never sugarcoated, so they're easy to relate to and connect with. Passing Through is charming, honest, sincere, addictive, and a real triumph. This is a must-read!