The story of a woman's triumphant rise from fear and loss, "Lady Lazarus" is at once both heartrending and inspirational. Author Cheryll Crane introduces us to the unforgettable Mattie Moon, whose life takes a number of twists and turns that have the potential to break her spirit. Mattie is a happy nine-year-old when her beloved father tells her that he is leaving home. He asks her to take care of her deeply religious mother, Claudette. Reeling from the loss, Mattie and her mother close up their house and move to Eloise, Illinois. During her senior year of high school, Mattie begins seeing Lamarr, a smooth-talking college student and former schoolmate, with whom she has been obsessed since she was a freshman. When Mattie becomes pregnant, her young lover abandons her, leaving Mattie to take care of her beautiful baby and eccentric mother. She finds love again and gives birth to a second child. But soon her fear of abandonment and her lack of faith threaten the safety of both her and her children. At Eloise Lake, shattered and on the verge of committing a desperate act, Mattie encounters a mysterious woman she calls Stranger. As Mattie's fears and insecurities threaten to overwhelm her, Stranger and the people of Eloise may have the power to help her rise beyond the despair.