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Death Works Trilogy #1
Death Most Definite
Steven de Selby has a hangover. Bright lights, loud noise, and lots of exercise are the last thing he wants. But that's exactly what he gets when someone starts shooting at him.
Steven is no stranger to death-Mr. D's his boss after all-but when a dead girl saves him from sharing her fate, he finds himself on the wrong end of the barrel. His job is to guide the restless dead to the underworld but now his clients are his own colleagues, friends, and family.
Mr. D's gone missing and with no one in charge, the dead start to rise, the living are hunted, and the whole city teeters on the brink of a regional apocalypse-unless Steven can shake his hangover, not fall for the dead girl, and find out what happened to his boss- that is, Death himself.
Steven is no stranger to death-Mr. D's his boss after all-but when a dead girl saves him from sharing her fate, he finds himself on the wrong end of the barrel. His job is to guide the restless dead to the underworld but now his clients are his own colleagues, friends, and family.
Mr. D's gone missing and with no one in charge, the dead start to rise, the living are hunted, and the whole city teeters on the brink of a regional apocalypse-unless Steven can shake his hangover, not fall for the dead girl, and find out what happened to his boss- that is, Death himself.
416 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
27 people are currently reading
2518 people want to read
About the author
Trent Jamieson
49 books212 followersTrent Jamieson is a science fiction and fantasy writer.
Trent works as a teacher, a bookseller, and a writer, and has taught at Clarion South.
Trent works as a teacher, a bookseller, and a writer, and has taught at Clarion South.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 156 reviews
January 6, 2016
This was fun. There's lots of humor but there's a lot of action and drama too.
Things that are really great:
Different world from the usual fantasy fare. The only "standard" things in this aren't that common: a being called Death and psychopomps, except these are human. There have been great TV shows with reapers such as Dead Like Me and Reaper but this is still different. It really felt fresh to me.
Non-stop action.
Humor that is fairly funny.
Main characters who actually have families and friends. I don't remember the last time I read a series where the lead is close to Mom and Dad, where they're in his life on a regular basis. They aren't constantly bitching at him or being crazy or evil, and he's not constantly trying to avoid them like is so prevalent in UF, when the parents even appear at all.
This man cries. He's not a crybaby but he weeps when he's faced with things like loved ones dying.
There's a border collie who's just a ordinarily smart dog, nothing supernatural or over anthropomorphized.
Death the character is different in that there are 13 of them. He's not usually amiable and fun, nor is he terrifying all the time which is cool and not the norm for UF.
This author loves science fiction and there are hidden references throughout. My favorite is that Steven says on several occasions, "I'm a pomp not a [insert job here]." Fans of the original Star Trek will understand. I particularly like that no one calls attention to them so you'll only notice if you're a true fan.
His hair. This was laugh-out-loud funny to me. He is always worrying about his hair looking good. He survives a bloody attack and the first thing he asks his ally is, "Does my hair look okay?" He comments more than once, "At least my hair looked good." It was definitely supposed to be funny and it was. It fit the shallow slacker he was.
He wears a suit through the majority of the book. I just love this break from UF stereotypes of tight leather and even tighter t-shirts.
Steven goes through a lot of changes and growing up throughout.
The love interest is awesome; although he falls in love way too quickly, it's not love at first sight, either. If this weren't an excellent story without the love story, I'd label it as paranormal romance. It's the kind where he would do anything for her. I just slurp that stuff up.
The ending was quite a surprise. I knew what was coming only in the last chapter or so and even then I thought there would be a slightly different resolution.
It takes place outside of North America in a city I know nothing about except that it's in Australia. Jamieson made Brisbane come alive for me. It's obvious that he loves this city and really knows it well.
Things I didn't like as much:
Although the women were strong and equal, all the positions of power were held by men (except for one near the end that was mentioned in one sentence). The others were necessarily women for the characterization: Mom, the love interest, and one of two pomps in a heterosexual relationship. The only other women mentioned were a couple of aunts that were scary and no one liked, and another main character's wife. I don't think Trent is consciously sexist. I think that when we think about directors and top leaders we are conditioned to naturally think of men. I think it usually has to be a conscious choice to put a woman in a place of power. I just wish more people would think about it and make that conscious choice.
One solution to the problem at hand was put off even though the world was ending because it would be extremely painful. If he'd known what it entailed, I would understand, but he was used to pain and when he was desperate and almost killed over and over again, he still didn't consider this solution until 3/5ths of the way through the book.
They only talk about Hell as the place where everyone goes. It's not really Hell, it's more like the Greco-Roman underworld, but it is referred to hell several times. I don't think Hell makes sense without a Heaven or at least some relevant mythology so I wish he'd never called it Hell.
Overall:
The likes way outweigh the dislikes for me.
Ironically, I started this book in the wee hours of the morning, and by the time I got back to it, I had had to put my own beloved border collie mix to sleep. I chose to read it because it was funny and light. Then it got heavier and sadder and talked about death a lot but somehow it was what I needed. I'm thankful to the book for that and it will always resonate with me because of it.
Things that are really great:
Different world from the usual fantasy fare. The only "standard" things in this aren't that common: a being called Death and psychopomps, except these are human. There have been great TV shows with reapers such as Dead Like Me and Reaper but this is still different. It really felt fresh to me.
Non-stop action.
Humor that is fairly funny.
Main characters who actually have families and friends. I don't remember the last time I read a series where the lead is close to Mom and Dad, where they're in his life on a regular basis. They aren't constantly bitching at him or being crazy or evil, and he's not constantly trying to avoid them like is so prevalent in UF, when the parents even appear at all.
This man cries. He's not a crybaby but he weeps when he's faced with things like loved ones dying.
There's a border collie who's just a ordinarily smart dog, nothing supernatural or over anthropomorphized.
Death the character is different in that there are 13 of them. He's not usually amiable and fun, nor is he terrifying all the time which is cool and not the norm for UF.
This author loves science fiction and there are hidden references throughout. My favorite is that Steven says on several occasions, "I'm a pomp not a [insert job here]." Fans of the original Star Trek will understand. I particularly like that no one calls attention to them so you'll only notice if you're a true fan.
His hair. This was laugh-out-loud funny to me. He is always worrying about his hair looking good. He survives a bloody attack and the first thing he asks his ally is, "Does my hair look okay?" He comments more than once, "At least my hair looked good." It was definitely supposed to be funny and it was. It fit the shallow slacker he was.
He wears a suit through the majority of the book. I just love this break from UF stereotypes of tight leather and even tighter t-shirts.
Steven goes through a lot of changes and growing up throughout.
The love interest is awesome; although he falls in love way too quickly, it's not love at first sight, either. If this weren't an excellent story without the love story, I'd label it as paranormal romance. It's the kind where he would do anything for her. I just slurp that stuff up.
The ending was quite a surprise. I knew what was coming only in the last chapter or so and even then I thought there would be a slightly different resolution.
It takes place outside of North America in a city I know nothing about except that it's in Australia. Jamieson made Brisbane come alive for me. It's obvious that he loves this city and really knows it well.
Things I didn't like as much:
Although the women were strong and equal, all the positions of power were held by men (except for one near the end that was mentioned in one sentence). The others were necessarily women for the characterization: Mom, the love interest, and one of two pomps in a heterosexual relationship. The only other women mentioned were a couple of aunts that were scary and no one liked, and another main character's wife. I don't think Trent is consciously sexist. I think that when we think about directors and top leaders we are conditioned to naturally think of men. I think it usually has to be a conscious choice to put a woman in a place of power. I just wish more people would think about it and make that conscious choice.
One solution to the problem at hand was put off even though the world was ending because it would be extremely painful. If he'd known what it entailed, I would understand, but he was used to pain and when he was desperate and almost killed over and over again, he still didn't consider this solution until 3/5ths of the way through the book.
They only talk about Hell as the place where everyone goes. It's not really Hell, it's more like the Greco-Roman underworld, but it is referred to hell several times. I don't think Hell makes sense without a Heaven or at least some relevant mythology so I wish he'd never called it Hell.
Overall:
The likes way outweigh the dislikes for me.
Ironically, I started this book in the wee hours of the morning, and by the time I got back to it, I had had to put my own beloved border collie mix to sleep. I chose to read it because it was funny and light. Then it got heavier and sadder and talked about death a lot but somehow it was what I needed. I'm thankful to the book for that and it will always resonate with me because of it.
October 20, 2011
Alright, I've finished the book, and now I’m sure: To my mind, Death most definite is just OK.
Despite an intriguing opening sentence: "I know something's wrong the moment I see the dead girl standing in the Wintergarden food court.",
the book is not particularly original. The main character is familiar (to quote myself) “We’ve yet another male-less-than-stellar-magic users; thrown in to the thick,” but this time the protag’s got more of an occult power. He’s a psycho pomp (Read: grim reaper) whose family business it is to transition dead souls to the afterlife, while keeping nasty beings called Stirrers from inhabiting the vacant body. The idea of Death as a business (or reaping for your daily bread), has been done before too. (Not the best example; but I love the TV show, “Dead like Me”)
The cinema-ready action of this story is built around what amounts to a decidedly hostile and bloody corporate take-over, which our reluctant hero has got to survive and surmount. The protagonist is no inept, for a change. Steven de Selby is more of the "slacker-suddenly-responsible-to-save-the-world" Sort of guy we’ve seen before. So he’s a bit behind the curve in getting the job done.
The book's world view and what happens in the after-life are a bit drear, and not clearly stated until the end, but the character is redeemable enough that I’m mildly interested to see what may happen to him, and his world, after the conclusion of this book. The next book, Managing Death (Death Works, #2) is available and I might pick it up on the cheap from an Amazon.com seller. But truth be told; I think the real appeal I found in Death most definite, is that it takes place in Brisbane with attendant vernacular. I’ve got friends from the region, so as I read, I heard the dulcet tones of Queensland in my mind’s ears. Sad but true, it seems the accents of my Australian friends may have been more influential in my finishing Death Most Definite, than its story and narrative.
If I do get the next book, I’ll have to thank my friends appropriately; perhaps with a chiko roll...
Despite an intriguing opening sentence: "I know something's wrong the moment I see the dead girl standing in the Wintergarden food court.",
the book is not particularly original. The main character is familiar (to quote myself) “We’ve yet another male-less-than-stellar-magic users; thrown in to the thick,” but this time the protag’s got more of an occult power. He’s a psycho pomp (Read: grim reaper) whose family business it is to transition dead souls to the afterlife, while keeping nasty beings called Stirrers from inhabiting the vacant body. The idea of Death as a business (or reaping for your daily bread), has been done before too. (Not the best example; but I love the TV show, “Dead like Me”)
The cinema-ready action of this story is built around what amounts to a decidedly hostile and bloody corporate take-over, which our reluctant hero has got to survive and surmount. The protagonist is no inept, for a change. Steven de Selby is more of the "slacker-suddenly-responsible-to-save-the-world" Sort of guy we’ve seen before. So he’s a bit behind the curve in getting the job done.
The book's world view and what happens in the after-life are a bit drear, and not clearly stated until the end, but the character is redeemable enough that I’m mildly interested to see what may happen to him, and his world, after the conclusion of this book. The next book, Managing Death (Death Works, #2) is available and I might pick it up on the cheap from an Amazon.com seller. But truth be told; I think the real appeal I found in Death most definite, is that it takes place in Brisbane with attendant vernacular. I’ve got friends from the region, so as I read, I heard the dulcet tones of Queensland in my mind’s ears. Sad but true, it seems the accents of my Australian friends may have been more influential in my finishing Death Most Definite, than its story and narrative.
If I do get the next book, I’ll have to thank my friends appropriately; perhaps with a chiko roll...
October 26, 2011
Odin's ravens and the world tree provided a completely unexpected link between the book I read just before, The Age of Odin, and 'Death Most Definite' by Australian Trent Jamieson. The story happens in the present in Australia but it is once again a present seen through a distorting lens. Steven de Selby follows, without terribly much conviction it can be said, the family profession. He is a 'pomp' a human conduit that helps the souls of the dead to transit to the nether world. He has a serious problem, however. Someone has started killing off all the pomps in Australia in a bid to become the new 'regional manager' a.k.a. Death for Australia. Steve is saved by the ghost of a dead girl who then becomes his companion in a wild chase to avoid being killed and find out who is behind the murders. Ravens appear in the middle of the action and couldn't but remind me of Huginn and Muninn, Odin's pair. Then there is the link between the world of the death and that of the living - a huge tree Yggdrasil by any other name. Again, the characters are well drawn and, Death has a family likeness with those of Pratchett, Gaiman and Piers Anthony which the author acknowledges loving. But he creates his own world and his own Death. To end with another blurb: 'Darkly humorous and dangerously hip, this novels breathes new life into the business of death.' I look forward to the sequel.
July 18, 2011
Plot: 4.5 Stars
The structure of the pyschopomps (or reapers) and the way they conducted business was very efficient, unique, and amusing. I thoroughly enjoyed the little details in regards to the psychopomping, and how the souls of the dead moved on. There was also a lot of detail involved in the underworld and the One Tree, without it feeling overwhelming to the reader. This was probably my favorite book containing zombies ever, because zombies tend to be hit or miss for me. And I'll admit, it probably took me a bit longer than it should've to realize that what Steven and his family/co-workers called "stirrers" were indeed zombies. All in all, this was a very unique urban fantasy tale, and I'm glad the main character was male.
Pace: 4 Stars
This novel was split up into two parts. Part one, which took up about two thirds of the book, really set the novel up in terms of worldbuilding and introducing characters. Although it was a bit slow at times, it was definitely needed to fully grasp the rest of the book. It was a roller coaster ride, setting up for the second part of the book which was non-stop action. There were plenty of twists and turns, and quite a few near-death moments. At least twice, I asked myself how Steven was going to make it. There was a point near the end of the book that got a bit philosophical, but the author handled it really well. What could've possibly been a very confusing scene, instead turned into Steven growing up and taking responsibility.
Characters: 5 Stars
Steven is my favorite male urban fantasy main character ever. I related to him so well, between his sarcasm, his laziness, and his lack of enthusiasm for the family business. When everything started going downhill, he really had to buckle down and grow up. I also enjoyed Lisa, the ghost of a fellow psychopomp that helps Steven on his adventure. Although she helps him out throughout the novel, that doesn't stop her from giving him hell along the way. The dynamic between the two was great, the two sharing both highs and lows. I wished we could've seen more of his cousin (and drinking buddy) but I'm hoping that will happen in the next book. And I loved that they referred to Mr. D as such.
Cover: 4.5 Stars
I really enjoyed this cover. I love that the cover model is in a suit, because it really gives off a business feel, and since the novel is about the business side of death it fits. Plus, Steven runs around in a suit for a while, a detail that stayed with me because I would hate to be stuck in a suit while running for my life in the summer. I also really liked the orange and yellow hues chosen for the cover. It's an under-used color choice in the genre and gives the cover a serious feel without being depressing as well. The last detail, the tree in the background, is actually there for a reason. All in all, this cover is very striking, but also very accurate.
Overall: 4.5 Stars
Disclosure: I bought this book for my own enjoyment.
The structure of the pyschopomps (or reapers) and the way they conducted business was very efficient, unique, and amusing. I thoroughly enjoyed the little details in regards to the psychopomping, and how the souls of the dead moved on. There was also a lot of detail involved in the underworld and the One Tree, without it feeling overwhelming to the reader. This was probably my favorite book containing zombies ever, because zombies tend to be hit or miss for me. And I'll admit, it probably took me a bit longer than it should've to realize that what Steven and his family/co-workers called "stirrers" were indeed zombies. All in all, this was a very unique urban fantasy tale, and I'm glad the main character was male.
Pace: 4 Stars
This novel was split up into two parts. Part one, which took up about two thirds of the book, really set the novel up in terms of worldbuilding and introducing characters. Although it was a bit slow at times, it was definitely needed to fully grasp the rest of the book. It was a roller coaster ride, setting up for the second part of the book which was non-stop action. There were plenty of twists and turns, and quite a few near-death moments. At least twice, I asked myself how Steven was going to make it. There was a point near the end of the book that got a bit philosophical, but the author handled it really well. What could've possibly been a very confusing scene, instead turned into Steven growing up and taking responsibility.
Characters: 5 Stars
Steven is my favorite male urban fantasy main character ever. I related to him so well, between his sarcasm, his laziness, and his lack of enthusiasm for the family business. When everything started going downhill, he really had to buckle down and grow up. I also enjoyed Lisa, the ghost of a fellow psychopomp that helps Steven on his adventure. Although she helps him out throughout the novel, that doesn't stop her from giving him hell along the way. The dynamic between the two was great, the two sharing both highs and lows. I wished we could've seen more of his cousin (and drinking buddy) but I'm hoping that will happen in the next book. And I loved that they referred to Mr. D as such.
Cover: 4.5 Stars
I really enjoyed this cover. I love that the cover model is in a suit, because it really gives off a business feel, and since the novel is about the business side of death it fits. Plus, Steven runs around in a suit for a while, a detail that stayed with me because I would hate to be stuck in a suit while running for my life in the summer. I also really liked the orange and yellow hues chosen for the cover. It's an under-used color choice in the genre and gives the cover a serious feel without being depressing as well. The last detail, the tree in the background, is actually there for a reason. All in all, this cover is very striking, but also very accurate.
Overall: 4.5 Stars
Disclosure: I bought this book for my own enjoyment.
April 20, 2013
Unlike a lot of people, I don't have a particular hate-on for present tense narration. I do it myself, often, when I write -- but sometimes it just doesn't work, and it didn't work here. For the first chapter I was just wondering what felt off, but once I noticed it, I couldn't stop noticing it. Because it's in first person, it pretty much has to be the person's own thoughts: but it's impossible to believe that when the narrator keeps explaining things to the reader. It's a difficult line to walk, obviously, because the reader does need to understand what's going on.
The idea itself is kinda fun -- it doesn't feel well-worn, like a lot of urban fantasy does -- but the execution lets it down, and the bland, self-absorbed main character too. I really only skimmed through it, and I didn't find it very memorable at all.
The idea itself is kinda fun -- it doesn't feel well-worn, like a lot of urban fantasy does -- but the execution lets it down, and the bland, self-absorbed main character too. I really only skimmed through it, and I didn't find it very memorable at all.
June 29, 2011
You may also read my review here: http://www.mybookishways.com/2011/06/...
It’s been a bad day for Steven de Selby. He has a hangover from a night of drinking with his cousin, and best friend, Tim, a dead girl is following him around (who he might actually be falling in love with), someone is killing his co-workers, and there’s already been an attempt on his life. Steven is a Pomp, or a Psychopomp, working for the family business (Mortmax), drawing the souls of the newly dead through to the Underworld. He’s been living quietly with his border collie, Molly, and moping over a break up that happened nearly 3 years ago, when all hell seems to break loose at once. His Regional Manager is missing, and Morrigan, family friend and higher up at Mortmax, can barely contain the sudden violence. Steven suspects that Stirrers are involved, who pretty much do the same thing as Pomps, but hunger for both the living and the dead, creating pain and havoc wherever they strike. Losing his co-workers is bad enough, but when the violence hits very close to home, Steven vows to get to the bottom of things, before it’s too late for him too.
I’m a sucker for male protagonists (I like kick-ass chicks too, but this is a soft spot, k?), so when I started Death Most Definite, I was full of hope that I’d discover a new fave. Well, I have. Steven de Selby is everything I love in a male lead. He’s sensitive, kind, and a bit vulnerable. He doesn’t have a tortured past, and except for a rather bad run with women, there’s no serious angst that he’s dealing with when the you-know-what hits the fan. He’s just a (taller than usual) guy, doing the day to day in the family biz (albeit an odd family biz), and trying to catch a bit of happiness wherever he can. See, I get that (except for the guy part), and his humanity is part of what makes him so damn likeable. The author puts Steven though the emotional and physical wringer in this one, and it’s almost more than one man can handle. De Selby reminds me a bit of Jim Butcher’s Harry Dresden, but in Australia, instead of Chicago, and without as much of the snark , although there’s plenty of it for this snark fan. I thought the pacing was just about perfect, and I really enjoyed the little things, like the author’s references to 2001: A Space Odyssey, Firefly, and Mad Max. I love his world of inklings (tattoos that come to life), beautiful fig trees that ease the passing from life into death, and even zombies (of the non-brain-eating variety). Add car chases, explosions, some awesome twists, a chilling trip through the Underworld, and one of the funniest renderings of Charon I’ve ever read, and you’ve got a must read! I’ll definitely be back for more with Managing Death, book 2 in the Death Works series.
It’s been a bad day for Steven de Selby. He has a hangover from a night of drinking with his cousin, and best friend, Tim, a dead girl is following him around (who he might actually be falling in love with), someone is killing his co-workers, and there’s already been an attempt on his life. Steven is a Pomp, or a Psychopomp, working for the family business (Mortmax), drawing the souls of the newly dead through to the Underworld. He’s been living quietly with his border collie, Molly, and moping over a break up that happened nearly 3 years ago, when all hell seems to break loose at once. His Regional Manager is missing, and Morrigan, family friend and higher up at Mortmax, can barely contain the sudden violence. Steven suspects that Stirrers are involved, who pretty much do the same thing as Pomps, but hunger for both the living and the dead, creating pain and havoc wherever they strike. Losing his co-workers is bad enough, but when the violence hits very close to home, Steven vows to get to the bottom of things, before it’s too late for him too.
I’m a sucker for male protagonists (I like kick-ass chicks too, but this is a soft spot, k?), so when I started Death Most Definite, I was full of hope that I’d discover a new fave. Well, I have. Steven de Selby is everything I love in a male lead. He’s sensitive, kind, and a bit vulnerable. He doesn’t have a tortured past, and except for a rather bad run with women, there’s no serious angst that he’s dealing with when the you-know-what hits the fan. He’s just a (taller than usual) guy, doing the day to day in the family biz (albeit an odd family biz), and trying to catch a bit of happiness wherever he can. See, I get that (except for the guy part), and his humanity is part of what makes him so damn likeable. The author puts Steven though the emotional and physical wringer in this one, and it’s almost more than one man can handle. De Selby reminds me a bit of Jim Butcher’s Harry Dresden, but in Australia, instead of Chicago, and without as much of the snark , although there’s plenty of it for this snark fan. I thought the pacing was just about perfect, and I really enjoyed the little things, like the author’s references to 2001: A Space Odyssey, Firefly, and Mad Max. I love his world of inklings (tattoos that come to life), beautiful fig trees that ease the passing from life into death, and even zombies (of the non-brain-eating variety). Add car chases, explosions, some awesome twists, a chilling trip through the Underworld, and one of the funniest renderings of Charon I’ve ever read, and you’ve got a must read! I’ll definitely be back for more with Managing Death, book 2 in the Death Works series.
July 26, 2010
Review courtesy of AllThingsUrbanFantasy.blogspot.com
DEATH MOST DEFINITE is the first in a new urban fantasy series about the corporate side of death, that blends an amalgam of afterlife mythologies, and a zombie uprising, all told from the POV of the underachieving guy who realizes he has to save the world and fight Death itself for the girl he can never get.
Pomps pomp the dead, we draw them through us to the Underworld and the One Tree. And we stall the Stirrers, those things that so desperately desire to come the other way. Every day I’m doing this – well, five days a week. It’s a living, and quite a lucrative one at that. – DEATH MOST DEFINITE
The mythology of death and the afterlife in DEATH MOST DEFINITE, specifically the idea of 9-5 working class Pyschopomps who aid the newly dead to the underworld, Stirrers who reanimate the dead, and Mr. Death himself are fresh and compelling concepts that help elevate this story above the mass of urban fantasy titles released this year.
And while I loved the world building, I did struggle with the pacing of DEATH MOST DEFINITE. It’s broken up into two parts and I almost wish I could review each part separately. The first part, while doing a great job of introducing readers to the dry, deprecating wit of protagonist Steven de Selby, is a bit sluggish in terms of advancing the plot. Once Steven found out what was happening, I got impatient with him as he sort of ran around doing nothing until right before part two when he—and the story--launched into hyper drive.
Overall, DEATH MOST DEFINITE is a sly, subtly humorous urban fantasy with a bittersweet love story and a novel approach to the business of death. The first half is a bit slow, but the breakneck pace of the second half, and an a sarcastic protagonist saves this tale that fans of The Dresden Files should love. The next book in the Death Works series, Managing Death, will be released on January 11, 2011
Sexual Content: References to sex. A brief masturbation scene. A brief sex scene.
DEATH MOST DEFINITE is the first in a new urban fantasy series about the corporate side of death, that blends an amalgam of afterlife mythologies, and a zombie uprising, all told from the POV of the underachieving guy who realizes he has to save the world and fight Death itself for the girl he can never get.
Pomps pomp the dead, we draw them through us to the Underworld and the One Tree. And we stall the Stirrers, those things that so desperately desire to come the other way. Every day I’m doing this – well, five days a week. It’s a living, and quite a lucrative one at that. – DEATH MOST DEFINITE
The mythology of death and the afterlife in DEATH MOST DEFINITE, specifically the idea of 9-5 working class Pyschopomps who aid the newly dead to the underworld, Stirrers who reanimate the dead, and Mr. Death himself are fresh and compelling concepts that help elevate this story above the mass of urban fantasy titles released this year.
And while I loved the world building, I did struggle with the pacing of DEATH MOST DEFINITE. It’s broken up into two parts and I almost wish I could review each part separately. The first part, while doing a great job of introducing readers to the dry, deprecating wit of protagonist Steven de Selby, is a bit sluggish in terms of advancing the plot. Once Steven found out what was happening, I got impatient with him as he sort of ran around doing nothing until right before part two when he—and the story--launched into hyper drive.
Overall, DEATH MOST DEFINITE is a sly, subtly humorous urban fantasy with a bittersweet love story and a novel approach to the business of death. The first half is a bit slow, but the breakneck pace of the second half, and an a sarcastic protagonist saves this tale that fans of The Dresden Files should love. The next book in the Death Works series, Managing Death, will be released on January 11, 2011
Sexual Content: References to sex. A brief masturbation scene. A brief sex scene.
February 17, 2012
I was disappointed by this book. The blurb made the story looked like it would be something I would like and I was actually interested in the background and the universe that it described. The ideas were good. The execution... not so much.
The hero is a reaper who falls in love with a dead girl in the first few pages of the first chapter. Even before we have a chance to learn about him, his work or his world. I couldn't let myself believe that and since that was one of the core elements of the book...
Through the book, Steven seems to be running around aimlessly. His world is in shambles, his family dead, Australia is on the brink of Apocalypse and the guy doesn't act. He reacts at the most. He goes from point A to B to C and wait for the shit to hit the fans and moves again. With his dead new girlfriend. After he is a bit better, but it's roughly 40 pages from the end - not enough to make a difference. And then again, the scenes with the stirrers were a bit repetitive.
That felt pointless, a cheap thrill to give to bored readers. It's kind of hard to believe in the direness of the situation or in the grief of the hero when he is constantly flirting with Lissa or thinking of how he wants her. And they don't have much chemistry, they were supposed to, but I certainly didn't feel it.
All in all, it doesn't make me want to buy the next book. I don't care about Steven, Lissa or anyone. The setting was really interesting though. The plot could have been too. But Steven the underachiever was not the best guide. I had absolutely no empathy for him.
The hero is a reaper who falls in love with a dead girl in the first few pages of the first chapter. Even before we have a chance to learn about him, his work or his world. I couldn't let myself believe that and since that was one of the core elements of the book...
Through the book, Steven seems to be running around aimlessly. His world is in shambles, his family dead, Australia is on the brink of Apocalypse and the guy doesn't act. He reacts at the most. He goes from point A to B to C and wait for the shit to hit the fans and moves again. With his dead new girlfriend. After he is a bit better, but it's roughly 40 pages from the end - not enough to make a difference. And then again, the scenes with the stirrers were a bit repetitive.
That felt pointless, a cheap thrill to give to bored readers. It's kind of hard to believe in the direness of the situation or in the grief of the hero when he is constantly flirting with Lissa or thinking of how he wants her. And they don't have much chemistry, they were supposed to, but I certainly didn't feel it.
All in all, it doesn't make me want to buy the next book. I don't care about Steven, Lissa or anyone. The setting was really interesting though. The plot could have been too. But Steven the underachiever was not the best guide. I had absolutely no empathy for him.
April 13, 2011
I loved this book. I'm so glad I picked it up on a whim, and I'm mad at myself for not reading it the minute I got it. Instead I waited a few months. This book was so different from other urban fantasy books I've read, because it's part horror, part urban fantasy, part... something new.
Steven was such a different character, too. I liked how he didn't care about some things, liked his job because it was easy for him, and is incredibly vain about his hair. And yet when you look into his personal life, he collects strange CDs, has an adorable dog named Molly Millions, and is in general a nerd. The beginning of the book was so sad, with everything that happened, and the entire book was just one fast paced ride that left me hanging on until the end.
I cannot wait to see what Steven does as Death in the next book.
Steven was such a different character, too. I liked how he didn't care about some things, liked his job because it was easy for him, and is incredibly vain about his hair. And yet when you look into his personal life, he collects strange CDs, has an adorable dog named Molly Millions, and is in general a nerd. The beginning of the book was so sad, with everything that happened, and the entire book was just one fast paced ride that left me hanging on until the end.
I cannot wait to see what Steven does as Death in the next book.
January 1, 2015
4 Stars
Death Most Definite is a fun trip into the land of the dead. I have really come to love so many books that have Death as a main character or subject. This book fits right in with my love of Christian Horror.
This book is much more in the Urban Fantasy realm than it is in Horror. Steven is a fun wise cracking protagonist that easily carries this book. Steven is a Pomp. He works for Death by helping dead people cross over to the underworld. The story is made more interesting as we learn more about Death, the Underworld, Regions, Pomps, and more. It is all pretty cool.
I was already a fan of Jamieson before reading this book, as his Roil series is fantastic. I am glad that this is a first book in the series as now I want more. Recommended...
Death Most Definite is a fun trip into the land of the dead. I have really come to love so many books that have Death as a main character or subject. This book fits right in with my love of Christian Horror.
This book is much more in the Urban Fantasy realm than it is in Horror. Steven is a fun wise cracking protagonist that easily carries this book. Steven is a Pomp. He works for Death by helping dead people cross over to the underworld. The story is made more interesting as we learn more about Death, the Underworld, Regions, Pomps, and more. It is all pretty cool.
I was already a fan of Jamieson before reading this book, as his Roil series is fantastic. I am glad that this is a first book in the series as now I want more. Recommended...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 13, 2022
This was a really exciting book, I loved the concept, the world building and the plot kept me hooked throughout!
There is a world hidden within the normal world of Brisbane (No, muggles are not mentioned) where Steven works in the family firm, drinks too much and generally mopes around being nagged by friends and family for not taking life seriously enough.
The book starts when Steven sees a dead girl in a food court in Brisbane, the dead girl does not concern him, as that is part of his job, but the dead girl in question is not after him for a route to the afterlife, but rather to warn him someone is trying to send HIM there. So the story starts with a bang (aren't I funny), Steven running for his life while someone shoots at him and a dead girl runs along beside him, the pace never really slows down much from there.
The family firm Steven works for is slowly revealed through the mayhem, it's provenance is helping souls out of this world through 'Pomps'. They also prevent entry into dead people by creatures from the underworld who want to take over the dead bodies. To the reader with a strong alternative bent Steven calling himself a Pomp is an instant reveal because Pomp stands for Psychopomp as many fantasy and history geeks probably know.
Steven has to run for his life as someone mysterious, high up in the corporation starts killing all of the staff. As the firm is a family concern and has been for untold generations, this means that Steven has to become the gateway for the deaths of his family and friends, as more die the workload on Steven gets heavier and harder. Then, what is worse the creatures from the underworld start emerging through the dead. Without knowing who or why this is happening Steven, never the most motivated employee and never the most organised of people has to stay alive...
The world building was fascinating, impressive and well written! For a start I loved the use of Brisbane as a site, it was so perfect for this story! George street as the site of the Death Firm, too perfect! Mt Cootha as a grounding spot of the world tree, - I also really enjoyed the light touch with which different mythologies were mixed in to the world building. The Wintergarden food count as a site of a supernatural hit shooting - that was genus. Checks and balances of the business of Death were really well plotted, the limitations and penalties of the work were well thought out and made a lot of sense; I tend to overthink world building, but there was little here for me to complain about. The pacing of the story was a big part of how good the world building was because Steven (and the reader) never really had time to sit down and think things through if he wanted to live. As an unmotivated employee, his lack of knowledge about the inner workings of the job also made sense and this meant that the world building was a slow reveal with no information dump on the poor reader and was fascinating as it was revealed step by step.
The whole novel held together really well, while Steven is the focus of the story he is more ineffectual and acted upon than a heroic leading figure. It was more than a bit of a relief to have a flawed character for a leading man, I have been reading too many super powerful types recently, and that gets old.
Finally the ending was really good, while it was clear this story continued (I have a Trilogy, so, duh) the finish was a clear end to this story. No spoilers, but it was gory strange and immensely satisfying. I thoroughly recommend it to anyone who likes fast paced supernatural fantasy and being set in Queensland, Australia it is an added bonus for my Australian reader friends.
There is a world hidden within the normal world of Brisbane (No, muggles are not mentioned) where Steven works in the family firm, drinks too much and generally mopes around being nagged by friends and family for not taking life seriously enough.
The book starts when Steven sees a dead girl in a food court in Brisbane, the dead girl does not concern him, as that is part of his job, but the dead girl in question is not after him for a route to the afterlife, but rather to warn him someone is trying to send HIM there. So the story starts with a bang (aren't I funny), Steven running for his life while someone shoots at him and a dead girl runs along beside him, the pace never really slows down much from there.
The family firm Steven works for is slowly revealed through the mayhem, it's provenance is helping souls out of this world through 'Pomps'. They also prevent entry into dead people by creatures from the underworld who want to take over the dead bodies. To the reader with a strong alternative bent Steven calling himself a Pomp is an instant reveal because Pomp stands for Psychopomp as many fantasy and history geeks probably know.
Steven has to run for his life as someone mysterious, high up in the corporation starts killing all of the staff. As the firm is a family concern and has been for untold generations, this means that Steven has to become the gateway for the deaths of his family and friends, as more die the workload on Steven gets heavier and harder. Then, what is worse the creatures from the underworld start emerging through the dead. Without knowing who or why this is happening Steven, never the most motivated employee and never the most organised of people has to stay alive...
The world building was fascinating, impressive and well written! For a start I loved the use of Brisbane as a site, it was so perfect for this story! George street as the site of the Death Firm, too perfect! Mt Cootha as a grounding spot of the world tree, - I also really enjoyed the light touch with which different mythologies were mixed in to the world building. The Wintergarden food count as a site of a supernatural hit shooting - that was genus. Checks and balances of the business of Death were really well plotted, the limitations and penalties of the work were well thought out and made a lot of sense; I tend to overthink world building, but there was little here for me to complain about. The pacing of the story was a big part of how good the world building was because Steven (and the reader) never really had time to sit down and think things through if he wanted to live. As an unmotivated employee, his lack of knowledge about the inner workings of the job also made sense and this meant that the world building was a slow reveal with no information dump on the poor reader and was fascinating as it was revealed step by step.
The whole novel held together really well, while Steven is the focus of the story he is more ineffectual and acted upon than a heroic leading figure. It was more than a bit of a relief to have a flawed character for a leading man, I have been reading too many super powerful types recently, and that gets old.
Finally the ending was really good, while it was clear this story continued (I have a Trilogy, so, duh) the finish was a clear end to this story. No spoilers, but it was gory strange and immensely satisfying. I thoroughly recommend it to anyone who likes fast paced supernatural fantasy and being set in Queensland, Australia it is an added bonus for my Australian reader friends.
February 5, 2020
Dead Like Me meets The Book Thief. Set in Australia, Steven is a Grim Reaper, or Pomp, working in the family biz that essentially turns Reaping into a bureaucracy. All of a sudden Pomps are murdered en masse and Steven is running for his life.
Good, but not great writing. The main character is a little too blah, and too mentally weak to really be the hero of the story. His weakness makes sense at the end, but doesn't exactly inspire confidence at any point.
Now here's the warnings that should have been on the label: DO NOT READ THIS BOOK IF YOU'VE JUST EXPERIENCED A RECENT LOSS, are otherwise grieving, or are just plain sensitive to sadness and desolation. And here's why: Steven spends much of this book overwhelmed and grieving, and Jamieson writes those emotions almost too well.
Good, but not great writing. The main character is a little too blah, and too mentally weak to really be the hero of the story. His weakness makes sense at the end, but doesn't exactly inspire confidence at any point.
Now here's the warnings that should have been on the label: DO NOT READ THIS BOOK IF YOU'VE JUST EXPERIENCED A RECENT LOSS, are otherwise grieving, or are just plain sensitive to sadness and desolation. And here's why: Steven spends much of this book overwhelmed and grieving, and Jamieson writes those emotions almost too well.
June 1, 2025
This was a fun book. Steven is a very likable character, with a very interesting job. He is a pomp, he helps new souls get to the underworld. Near the start of the book, a dead girls comes to warn him of danger, this is unusual. Then lots of weird shit goes down and we are treated to a romp through Australia and the underworld.
It took me a little while to really get into this, but I was loving it by the time I got towards the end. I think this would make a great Netflix series. I would love to read the second one but I have made a pact with myself, that I will read all of mount tbr before I'm allowed a new book. It's a big mountain, so maybe one day in the future, I will be able to finish the series.
It took me a little while to really get into this, but I was loving it by the time I got towards the end. I think this would make a great Netflix series. I would love to read the second one but I have made a pact with myself, that I will read all of mount tbr before I'm allowed a new book. It's a big mountain, so maybe one day in the future, I will be able to finish the series.
March 12, 2012
Steven is a Pomp. He acts as a conduit for the souls of the recently dead to pass on to the underworld. Working for Mortmax industries with his fellow Pomps, they work in the Brisbane subsidiary (with other branches across the world) to ensure the ghosts pass on and the evil Stirrers don’t come back the other way
Except things are going badly wrong. Pomps are dying, ghosts are going unpomped and the whole organisation has fallen apart. Worse, the Stirrers are coming through in greater and greater numbers, hunting down more Pomps and increasing the amount of bleakness and death in the world.
Leaving Steven alone except for Lissa – a ghost of a Pomp who won’t pass on, is determined to see Stephen survive and for whom he has developed a disturbing attraction. He’s the only one left to track down what is happening, to stop the Stirrers, to Pomp ghosts into the afterlife and, above all, stop a Regional Apocalypse that could consume all of Australia.
I’ve seen a couple of versions of humans acting as Grim Reapers as it were but nothing like this. It’s an original story with a novel world and concept. For uniqueness alone I’d give it a lot of points simply because it is so very new.
Except for the epic ending, the characters are also rather lacking in woo-woo super powers which also adds an interesting twist. This isn’t a “my new shiny ability will save the day” situation. Pomps have, abilities, certainly, but when being chased by people with guns there’s not a whole lot they can do except run or die.
The nature of the stirrers was also an interesting enemy. Creatures dangerous not because they’re zombies (though it’s a new twist on the idea of zombies) but because they suck in life and hope out of the world, leading people to despair, people to just lay down and die, birds fall from the sky, plants wilt, even the microbes in the soil to die from their presence
It’s also set in Brisbane, Australia, which is pretty unusual for most Urban Fantasy I’ve read. Add in, there was a clear sense that the author clearly knew the city well. I get a very strong sense of place and location from the book, a reality to it that comes from knowledge and experience.
It also manages emotional impact. Even while being funny and downright slapstick and silly at times (perhaps a little too much now and then, but I laughed so I won’t criticise) but we still have emotional impact of how much he’s lost – and the Stirrers in the bodies of his loved ones.
Read More
Except things are going badly wrong. Pomps are dying, ghosts are going unpomped and the whole organisation has fallen apart. Worse, the Stirrers are coming through in greater and greater numbers, hunting down more Pomps and increasing the amount of bleakness and death in the world.
Leaving Steven alone except for Lissa – a ghost of a Pomp who won’t pass on, is determined to see Stephen survive and for whom he has developed a disturbing attraction. He’s the only one left to track down what is happening, to stop the Stirrers, to Pomp ghosts into the afterlife and, above all, stop a Regional Apocalypse that could consume all of Australia.
I’ve seen a couple of versions of humans acting as Grim Reapers as it were but nothing like this. It’s an original story with a novel world and concept. For uniqueness alone I’d give it a lot of points simply because it is so very new.
Except for the epic ending, the characters are also rather lacking in woo-woo super powers which also adds an interesting twist. This isn’t a “my new shiny ability will save the day” situation. Pomps have, abilities, certainly, but when being chased by people with guns there’s not a whole lot they can do except run or die.
The nature of the stirrers was also an interesting enemy. Creatures dangerous not because they’re zombies (though it’s a new twist on the idea of zombies) but because they suck in life and hope out of the world, leading people to despair, people to just lay down and die, birds fall from the sky, plants wilt, even the microbes in the soil to die from their presence
It’s also set in Brisbane, Australia, which is pretty unusual for most Urban Fantasy I’ve read. Add in, there was a clear sense that the author clearly knew the city well. I get a very strong sense of place and location from the book, a reality to it that comes from knowledge and experience.
It also manages emotional impact. Even while being funny and downright slapstick and silly at times (perhaps a little too much now and then, but I laughed so I won’t criticise) but we still have emotional impact of how much he’s lost – and the Stirrers in the bodies of his loved ones.
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May 15, 2013
Well a slightly different Urban fantasy read here, Set downunder which has to be one of the few places I don't read about quite as much, and to be honest I don't think I know anymore about Australia after reading it than I knew before, so im not entirely taken by the world building on that side, however there is also the underworld involved here and by comparison theres quite a pretty picture painted about what thats like which is good. The plot element sees Steven De Selby rise from Zero to hero, albeit an unwitting one. Hes a Pomp (an australian version of an exorcist) whose job is to help the dead pass on, and to put down the stirrers (Spirits who inhabit dead bodies turning them into zombies), hes rather relaxed until things all go to hell (more or less literally) and hes suddenly in deep trouble, he has a friendly ghost helping him who happens to be female, and theres some slightly overblown Love at first sight senario at play which slightly puts off the plot some, but is otherwise bearable, however there are a couple of occasions where things seem quite icky and unneeded and ill leave it at that with a reader beware logo to avoid spoilers on that point if you read it you'll know the part I mean. Overall the story wasnt terrible, the plot was quick paced and had a lot of action in it, and I think the author went so overboard on the romance element to try combat all the action, the underworld is most certainly not a nice place to be, and the people who run the business that is "Death" across the world are suitably scary themselves, I did think the ending was well done, and since I bought the omnibus ill read the other two to see how it goes, but it wasnt a fantastic success in my mind so only 3 stars from me.
August 16, 2010
In my search to find urban fantasy novels that don't make me roll my eyes, I thought I'd give Death Most Definite a try. While I'm not going to declare it the find of the year, I'll admit that it kept me entertained on my morning subway ride.
Steven de Selby is a bit of an underachiever: when he's not working as a psychopomp for Mortmax Inc. (a good 9 to 5 job sending souls of the departed on to ... wherever it is they need to go), he's sulking over his ex and drowning his sorrows in a pint (or seven). Then a ghost's timely warning keeps him from being shot in a crowded food court -- and Steven's the only one who's quite so lucky. Someone's murdering Mortmax's employees, their boss "Mr. D" has gone missing, and all signs point to an inside job. With the Pomps dead or on the run, there's no one to stop ghosts from piling up or stirrers from possessing the bodies of the newly dead -- and suddenly Australia's teetering on the edge of a Regional Apocalypse. It's up to Steven to find the missing man in charge, keep the dead from rising, and stop the traitor who's orchestrating events ... all while trying not to fall for the ghost of the dead girl who's keeping him alive.
This might have worked better as the second book in the series -- it might have been nice to understand this system and grow to care about some of the secondary characters before everything starts going to hell -- but that's a minor quibble. I'll give this one a hearty, "Not bad!"
Steven de Selby is a bit of an underachiever: when he's not working as a psychopomp for Mortmax Inc. (a good 9 to 5 job sending souls of the departed on to ... wherever it is they need to go), he's sulking over his ex and drowning his sorrows in a pint (or seven). Then a ghost's timely warning keeps him from being shot in a crowded food court -- and Steven's the only one who's quite so lucky. Someone's murdering Mortmax's employees, their boss "Mr. D" has gone missing, and all signs point to an inside job. With the Pomps dead or on the run, there's no one to stop ghosts from piling up or stirrers from possessing the bodies of the newly dead -- and suddenly Australia's teetering on the edge of a Regional Apocalypse. It's up to Steven to find the missing man in charge, keep the dead from rising, and stop the traitor who's orchestrating events ... all while trying not to fall for the ghost of the dead girl who's keeping him alive.
This might have worked better as the second book in the series -- it might have been nice to understand this system and grow to care about some of the secondary characters before everything starts going to hell -- but that's a minor quibble. I'll give this one a hearty, "Not bad!"
August 7, 2016
Well. Death really IS most definite in this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it though. The action starts from the first page, and by the end, I pretty much just wanted to give Steve a cup of warm Milo and tell him that he deserves a good lie down.
Steve is in the family business - pomping the dead. Basically, he's a reaper, transporting the souls of the dead from this dimension to the next. When other Pomps (including basically everyone he knows) start turning up dead, he's left running for his life.
Steve is the slacker of the business - he does what he has to do to get his pay cheque, but he doesn't really have any aspirations. Despite that, he's a likeable character. There's a LOT of violence - dead bodies can be reanimated by evil beasties called Stirrers, so Steve's basically fighting off dead family members. A blood sacrifice is required to banish them, so the poor guy is wandering around with a craft knife and slicing his palm open at regular intervals. He's helped throughout by the spirit of a dead Pomp from the Melbourne office (it's set in Brisbane) called Lissa, who he promptly falls for, despite the fact that she's dead.
Despite the occasional moment of "Ew, please stop talking about opening a vein", I really liked it and I'll definitely be trying to track down the two sequels.
Steve is in the family business - pomping the dead. Basically, he's a reaper, transporting the souls of the dead from this dimension to the next. When other Pomps (including basically everyone he knows) start turning up dead, he's left running for his life.
Steve is the slacker of the business - he does what he has to do to get his pay cheque, but he doesn't really have any aspirations. Despite that, he's a likeable character. There's a LOT of violence - dead bodies can be reanimated by evil beasties called Stirrers, so Steve's basically fighting off dead family members. A blood sacrifice is required to banish them, so the poor guy is wandering around with a craft knife and slicing his palm open at regular intervals. He's helped throughout by the spirit of a dead Pomp from the Melbourne office (it's set in Brisbane) called Lissa, who he promptly falls for, despite the fact that she's dead.
Despite the occasional moment of "Ew, please stop talking about opening a vein", I really liked it and I'll definitely be trying to track down the two sequels.
July 15, 2022
Mon avis en Français
My English review
I’m always on the lookout for UF and even more so when the main character is male. I had seen this novel pass by a long time ago and bought it without diving into it. But now I have!
Steven doesn’t have an easy life, he’s a soul-crosser. But his life is turned upside down when someone starts killing people like him. He finds himself one of the last of his kind alive. Everyone around him dies and he is only saved by a ghost who helps him in any way he can. This woman is as charming as she is annoying, but she will be of immeasurable help to him. Yes, because Steven has to find out what’s going on and stop it all before it turns into an even bigger nightmare.
I was a little disappointed with this novel because I expected more. It was a decent story, but it didn’t captivate me. Besides, I don’t think I will read the sequel. But it was still interesting to discover this world as well as Steven’s work or his link with the ghosts.
Nice, but nothing more.
My English review
I’m always on the lookout for UF and even more so when the main character is male. I had seen this novel pass by a long time ago and bought it without diving into it. But now I have!
Steven doesn’t have an easy life, he’s a soul-crosser. But his life is turned upside down when someone starts killing people like him. He finds himself one of the last of his kind alive. Everyone around him dies and he is only saved by a ghost who helps him in any way he can. This woman is as charming as she is annoying, but she will be of immeasurable help to him. Yes, because Steven has to find out what’s going on and stop it all before it turns into an even bigger nightmare.
I was a little disappointed with this novel because I expected more. It was a decent story, but it didn’t captivate me. Besides, I don’t think I will read the sequel. But it was still interesting to discover this world as well as Steven’s work or his link with the ghosts.
Nice, but nothing more.
March 28, 2011
Set in Brisbane (where I lived for five years so I was familiar with much of the settings), it's a horror novel with some wit. The reluctant hero Steve is a "pomp". The souls of the recently departed must pass through a pomp to travel to the afterlife. The trouble is, someone is killing all of Australia's pomps. What is worse, stirrers (angry murderess souls) are jumping into the bodies of anyone who dies and causing havoc. With the aid of the soul of a beautiful recently killed pomp, Steve has to discover who is killing the pomps and why, while preventing the stirrers from causing regional armageddon.
The novel is told in the first person, which I found refreshing. It is also full of witty dialogue. The world that the author has created is thoroughly believable. Tension is maintained throughout the novel which rarely has a quiet moment. And the novel reaches a very satisfying conclusion. It is not a nasty horror story, it is one told with a positive brightness. If you liked the television series Dead Like Me, you will probably like this.
A very enjoyable read. I will be buying the sequel.
Graham Clements.
The novel is told in the first person, which I found refreshing. It is also full of witty dialogue. The world that the author has created is thoroughly believable. Tension is maintained throughout the novel which rarely has a quiet moment. And the novel reaches a very satisfying conclusion. It is not a nasty horror story, it is one told with a positive brightness. If you liked the television series Dead Like Me, you will probably like this.
A very enjoyable read. I will be buying the sequel.
Graham Clements.
August 24, 2013
Meh. Started out really strong and got continuously darker and darker. There was a good mystery going that degraded to a mess of going back and forth to "hell" with people who died, but sort of didn't (or at least could still be talked to and learned from) and then died again (or were at least still in the process of dying from a soul standpoint) and morphed here and there...it got pretty tangled and more ridiculous as it went. It's not a horrible book if you like noir, but I think the latter 1/4 was much more back and forth than it needed to be. The action is somewhat relentless and some of the philosophy of dying a bit tedious, especially when the main visits the land of the dead, sees hell and has creatures to fight all the time. Seems to me that it took a good mystery and made it far more complex than it needed to be--instead of one climactic battle, it was more a mess of confusion that went on far too long to really hold my interest. It was one of those where it wasn't bad enough to fight ones way out of hell, no you had to keep fighting this or that or the other. If you like thriller noirs give it a go, otherwise there are better ways to spend an afternoon.
September 18, 2010
I tried to read this novel a couple of times and ended up putting it to the side. There's a reason for that and it followed me until the end of the last page where they joked of baldness. I'm not trying to knock the writer. The reading was just so "boringly blah" and so was Steven, who seriously needed a brain. I didn't connect with any of the characters. Where was the action? Reading this was like a very long conversation that I wasn't paying attention to until it got to the good parts or I had to respond. It got 2 stars for my own effort in finishing it and the time the author spent writing it.
August 26, 2014
How does someone as incompetent as our hero manage to survive the biggest scourge his people have ever faced? Well, thankfully this story answers this question.
Overall, this reminded me somewhat of the Dresden Files, if it were narrated by Richard Mayhew*. He is swept along in events entirely out of his control, puts faith in the wrong places and faces some heart-breaking losses but with a healthy dose of wry, self-deprecating humour. Highly entertaining.
* ie: a man hopelessly out of his depth.
Overall, this reminded me somewhat of the Dresden Files, if it were narrated by Richard Mayhew*. He is swept along in events entirely out of his control, puts faith in the wrong places and faces some heart-breaking losses but with a healthy dose of wry, self-deprecating humour. Highly entertaining.
* ie: a man hopelessly out of his depth.
January 23, 2012
Corporate style grim reapers and corporate efficiencies, zombies, ghosts, love, loss, betrayal, geek humor, first person present POV.
It took me a few tries before I could get into this, and even when I did, the first part was kind of a slog. The second part, however, was awesomesauce -- fast-paced and imaginative. Despite not loving the first half, the strong ending makes me tentatively optimistic about the next book in the series.
It took me a few tries before I could get into this, and even when I did, the first part was kind of a slog. The second part, however, was awesomesauce -- fast-paced and imaginative. Despite not loving the first half, the strong ending makes me tentatively optimistic about the next book in the series.
April 13, 2011
The writing is dull and all the characters are unmemorable. I didn't like the voice of the main character and didn't care about him at all. It did have a story to tell but unfortunately the execution is weak.
August 29, 2011
Won't even finish it. doesn't make much sense, and the main character seems to be a jerk, who I just can't care if the fellow who shot at him had had a better aim. Would have saved me some reading time.
March 5, 2011
I thought this was a lightweight book, and the "hero" had a cavalier attitude toward tragic deaths. And I didn't like the way he treated his dog.
August 6, 2015
I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series!
December 5, 2011
Witty, clever, original, moving, and a great adventure, too. I loved it.
July 22, 2017
This series has definite potential. I gave this a solid 3 stars. I'm hoping that the remaining two books (and the novella) will capitalize on this potential and pick up at least a fourth star in my book.
I've always been fascinated with books, movies, and television shows that use Death itself as a character. And if humor is involved I'm downright giddy.
For me there were a few downfalls but not many. For starters, I kept getting many characters confused. It seemed like there were many supporting characters that didn't get much back story, and for me it kind of made their names interchangeable. This is also partly just my fault, what with my inability to even remember what I ate for breakfast this morning. However none of these characters were irrelevant. They all served their purpose and moved the story along. I also found it a bit difficult to remember which characters were spirits, which were inhabited by Stirrers and which were just done and gone for good. This and some of the workings of the Underworld were a bit difficult to keep straight, but I'm hoping that once I delve into the next book I'll get used to this new world and finish the series with a firmer grasp. For the most part those were the only downfalls.
But let's end on a good note: Our protagonist, Steven de Selby is a rather likeable character. He's a bit of a slacker, happy to go about his job pomping souls as long as it's not his day off. Who can't relate, right? The writing itself was solid, and Jamieson's use of metaphors helped in many instances to form a decent picture in my mind. And that ending... I definitely want to know what's to come.
I've always been fascinated with books, movies, and television shows that use Death itself as a character. And if humor is involved I'm downright giddy.
For me there were a few downfalls but not many. For starters, I kept getting many characters confused. It seemed like there were many supporting characters that didn't get much back story, and for me it kind of made their names interchangeable. This is also partly just my fault, what with my inability to even remember what I ate for breakfast this morning. However none of these characters were irrelevant. They all served their purpose and moved the story along. I also found it a bit difficult to remember which characters were spirits, which were inhabited by Stirrers and which were just done and gone for good. This and some of the workings of the Underworld were a bit difficult to keep straight, but I'm hoping that once I delve into the next book I'll get used to this new world and finish the series with a firmer grasp. For the most part those were the only downfalls.
But let's end on a good note: Our protagonist, Steven de Selby is a rather likeable character. He's a bit of a slacker, happy to go about his job pomping souls as long as it's not his day off. Who can't relate, right? The writing itself was solid, and Jamieson's use of metaphors helped in many instances to form a decent picture in my mind. And that ending... I definitely want to know what's to come.
October 5, 2023
Felt like it was written by someone on an acid trip. First like 100 pages were well paced and thought out. I was following along nicely, enjoying and getting in the groove, but where in the hell did the train go after that 😭
The pacing became weird, with the timeline being off (you travel 3 days out the city but make it back within a couple hours huh 🤨🤨) and the dialogue was just strange. I wouldn't recommend the book but if you're still gonna read it, mild spoilers ahead. BUT TELL ME WHY WORLDS ENDING AND YOU'RE DEBATING WHY THE LOVE INTEREST LIKES MICKEY MOUSE?! 😭 bye almost left at that point.
Also, woman written by men scare me. You get to touch your girl for the first time, AND YOU'RE IN HELL MIND YOU, and so you immediately have sex 💀 please my soul was in hell with yours too because what was I reading??
Inconsistent and watery MC too, mans motivation was seesawing all over the place and I could not stand by for that. Also just call it soul reaping, I cannot get over the fact the author chose to use the word pomping. Could not take anything serious when the word pomping was being thrown around. You're the grim reaper here buddy, not a pomp ok? You sound stupid babes.
The pacing became weird, with the timeline being off (you travel 3 days out the city but make it back within a couple hours huh 🤨🤨) and the dialogue was just strange. I wouldn't recommend the book but if you're still gonna read it, mild spoilers ahead. BUT TELL ME WHY WORLDS ENDING AND YOU'RE DEBATING WHY THE LOVE INTEREST LIKES MICKEY MOUSE?! 😭 bye almost left at that point.
Also, woman written by men scare me. You get to touch your girl for the first time, AND YOU'RE IN HELL MIND YOU, and so you immediately have sex 💀 please my soul was in hell with yours too because what was I reading??
Inconsistent and watery MC too, mans motivation was seesawing all over the place and I could not stand by for that. Also just call it soul reaping, I cannot get over the fact the author chose to use the word pomping. Could not take anything serious when the word pomping was being thrown around. You're the grim reaper here buddy, not a pomp ok? You sound stupid babes.
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