Helpful Score: 11
I did not want to put this one down! This is not a light, cozy read but it was very engrossing. If you can't sit through an episode of CSI, however, you will probably want to skip this book. It is more descriptive of crime scenes than pretty much any book I've ever read and the crime scenes are far from pleasant. But, I loved the main characters and the storyline. I thought some of the clues were very obvious along the way, but missed a big one that was revealed in the final chapter. Kudos to the author for that last chapter because it was fantastic. I was already quite pleased with how things happened, but then I was pleasantly surprised to find just one more twist. If this is the author's first book, I am more than impressed and I expect great things to come from her. I look forward to reading more in this series. Excellent first book in a series and highly recommended for anyone that likes mysteries with a little bit of the paranormal and that doesn't mind a little gore. :)
Susanna S. (quilt938) reviewed The Remains of the Dead (Ghost Dusters, Bk 1) on + 125 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 9
Good book and 1st in this series. There's some description of the work they do (cleaning up after dead bodies/decomposed, etc so don't recommend eating while reading this one!) A murder/suicide that appears legit yet one ghost says it wasn't so. Several twists. It took me a little while to really get into this one but after about 50 pages or so I was hooked and it was hard to put down. I'm glad I have the 2nd book in my tbr because I'll probably read it soon if not tonight.
Helpful Score: 8
I got an advanced readers copy, so i cant post mine, however its well worth it to read it! Sadie can see the dead because she cleans crime scenes. in this first installment, she tries to help a deaf ghost decifer the clues as to who murdered her.
highly reccommend if you like ghosts/paranormal/mystery.
highly reccommend if you like ghosts/paranormal/mystery.
Lesa C. (4fabfelines) reviewed The Remains of the Dead (Ghost Dusters, Bk 1) on + 112 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 6
I loved this book! Very intertaining, and well written.
Sadie Novak is a former teacher, turned crime scene cleaner. She and her hunky co worker clean up the remains of the dead.
Sadie also sees the dead, and helps them "to the other side."
Sadie gets a call to clean a murder/suicide and right off the murdered woman tries to make Sadie understand.
The ghost was a deaf woman, and Sadie does not know that. Then as she is cleaning a man shows up in the house unexpected.
Sadie gets suspicious after seeing a photo of him in the house and looks him up.
Kent was a best man, and Sadie finds herself liking him, in spite of him showing up.
Things start to get strange when a police officer shows up at Sadies house accusing her of stealing from the family and finds a antique brooch in sadies coat lining.
Sadie is furious at Kent, who has left town suddenly, and to make matters worse, her car tyres are slashed too.
This book is a good first in the series and very intertaining and believable.
Sadie's friends, sister and new friend Maeve make it very interesting and the last of the book lends a very unexpected twist.
You won't be disappionted in this book.
Sadie Novak is a former teacher, turned crime scene cleaner. She and her hunky co worker clean up the remains of the dead.
Sadie also sees the dead, and helps them "to the other side."
Sadie gets a call to clean a murder/suicide and right off the murdered woman tries to make Sadie understand.
The ghost was a deaf woman, and Sadie does not know that. Then as she is cleaning a man shows up in the house unexpected.
Sadie gets suspicious after seeing a photo of him in the house and looks him up.
Kent was a best man, and Sadie finds herself liking him, in spite of him showing up.
Things start to get strange when a police officer shows up at Sadies house accusing her of stealing from the family and finds a antique brooch in sadies coat lining.
Sadie is furious at Kent, who has left town suddenly, and to make matters worse, her car tyres are slashed too.
This book is a good first in the series and very intertaining and believable.
Sadie's friends, sister and new friend Maeve make it very interesting and the last of the book lends a very unexpected twist.
You won't be disappionted in this book.
Nancy G. (ComfyReader) reviewed The Remains of the Dead (Ghost Dusters, Bk 1) on + 330 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
Sadie Novak owns a unique cleaning service- it's her job to go in and clean up after suicides and crime scenes. Sadie has other talents as well. She sees dead people. When she is called in to clean up after the murder-suicide of Trudy and Grant Toth she finds Trudy's spirit sitting there on the bed quite unsure of what happened. Trudy is unable to communicate exactly what happened to her; or to prove her husband's innocence. To complicate matters, Sadie is unable to see suicide victims so she can't get Grant's side of the story. Sadie of course set's out to find the truth, putting herself and her friends in peril and introducing us to an expanding cast of characters that will prove quite interesting as this series continues. I don't think I would call this a cozy because there are some graphic moments, but a good mystery. Would have given it a higher rating, but there was a play on words that bothered me. Would have come off better in an audio, but felt lied to in the book version. The ending was a surprise and made up for the deception of the play on words
Helpful Score: 4
Wow I'm adding Wendy Roberts to my favorite author list... Very well written book. Great Mystery book with a paranormal twist. Sadie is the owner of a crime scene cleanup company, she also can see and talk to the ghosts of the victims.. Lots of witty banter and a writing style that makes it almost impossible to put down...
I'm so looking forward to the 2nd book due out in Dec 2008
I'm so looking forward to the 2nd book due out in Dec 2008
Amanda K. (isanurse) reviewed The Remains of the Dead (Ghost Dusters, Bk 1) on + 5 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
I really enjoyed this book and will be anxiously awaiting the follow up in December. If you are a fan of Victoria Laurie, you will enjoy this book. The ending has a very surprising twist that will stay with you for a while.
Helpful Score: 2
I have to say that after all the good reviews I'd read here and on Amazon that I'm disappointed in the book. It seemed like the book was edited in a hurry (there were noticeable errors in the first couple of chapters - at one point it switched from 3rd person to 1st person) and I just really wasn't impressed with the writing, either.
It finally dawned on me what I disliked so much about this book - there was a lot of "telling" rather than "showing". I was told what Sadie liked, didn't like, how she or the people around her acted using words like "vehemently" or "gushed"... but I was never shown the actions. I guess I just really wasn't impressed with the caliber of the writing.
I think that the book could have made up for that if the plot was quicker, but it progressed really slowly and I gave up.
It finally dawned on me what I disliked so much about this book - there was a lot of "telling" rather than "showing". I was told what Sadie liked, didn't like, how she or the people around her acted using words like "vehemently" or "gushed"... but I was never shown the actions. I guess I just really wasn't impressed with the caliber of the writing.
I think that the book could have made up for that if the plot was quicker, but it progressed really slowly and I gave up.
Helpful Score: 2
A fun new series. Stands on it's own.
Helpful Score: 2
I bought this book on a whim and am so glad that I did. I was intrigued from the first page through the last. The characters and plot were all well developed and engrossing. This book had everything: comedy, mystery, suspence, romance, supernatural aspects, adventure, and much more. The Remains of the Dead is a definite keeper and Wendy Roberts has immediately been added to my must have list.
Jennifer W. (GeniusJen) reviewed The Remains of the Dead (Ghost Dusters, Bk 1) on + 5322 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
I'm so mad at myself for not reading THE REMAINS OF THE DEAD sooner! It's been sitting in my to-be-read pile for months, and I'm so sad I missed out all this time! Once I started reading I couldn't stop, and read this one in the course of a day.
Sadie Novak, owner of Scene-2-Clean (a business that cleans up after violent or unattended deaths), has the ability to see ghosts. Usually, she's quite happy to help them "cross over" to the other side. But while dealing with a clean-up after a horrible murder-suicide, Sadie suddenly finds herself embroiled in a mystery.
Things quickly spiral out of control - she's accused of theft, the tires of her company van are slashed, she's even shot at - and Sadie realizes that she's going to have to work hard to clear her name, and the reputation of her business.
This is such a great read! I love cozy mysteries, and this one, with its added paranormal element, is just so good! I loved the supporting characters, especially Zack and Madame Maevra, and hope to see more of them in the next book, which I'm starting later today.
If you like a good mystery with a dab of the paranormal (there's even a twist at the end of the book that I didn't see coming!), then definitely invest in picking up a copy of THE REMAINS OF THE DEAD!
Sadie Novak, owner of Scene-2-Clean (a business that cleans up after violent or unattended deaths), has the ability to see ghosts. Usually, she's quite happy to help them "cross over" to the other side. But while dealing with a clean-up after a horrible murder-suicide, Sadie suddenly finds herself embroiled in a mystery.
Things quickly spiral out of control - she's accused of theft, the tires of her company van are slashed, she's even shot at - and Sadie realizes that she's going to have to work hard to clear her name, and the reputation of her business.
This is such a great read! I love cozy mysteries, and this one, with its added paranormal element, is just so good! I loved the supporting characters, especially Zack and Madame Maevra, and hope to see more of them in the next book, which I'm starting later today.
If you like a good mystery with a dab of the paranormal (there's even a twist at the end of the book that I didn't see coming!), then definitely invest in picking up a copy of THE REMAINS OF THE DEAD!
Helpful Score: 2
Sadie Novak has a unique occupation that might seem to be disgusting for most people but for her is a salvation to do something good for those left behind. She mops up the blood and guts after a crime scene has been cleared from police. But her job goes far beyond mopping since she developed the ability to see and talk to certain ghosts who died innocently.
Her new assignment brings her and employee Zack to the house of Trudy and Grant Toth - and most certainly she excepts a ghost to show up. It is her goal to help those souls to move on and no longer hang on their earthly life.
But Trudy, the victim, is different. Obviously she was killed by her husband who later killed himself but when the strange, mute ghost tries to communicate with Sadie all she understands is that Trudy believes it wasn't her husband who killed her.
With that being understood Trudy moves on and leaves Sadie with doubts in the watertight evidence the police gathered. Did Trudy try to tell her that Kent, Grants best friend, killed her ?
Sadie begins to investigate on her own with a disastrous outcome, endangering the life of others and her own.
-
The Remains Of The Dead is a very easy and cozy mystery that nonetheless is entertaining and suspenseful.
Sadie's blunt way of dealing with the ghost and telling them they have to understand that they are dead so that they can move on shows, that she accepts that she has a gift but clearly could life without it. She is good at heart, helping those that suffer through their grief by not making it more difficult as it is.
Her partner Zack fell a bit short. He's the ex-cop who keeps everything in perspective. He knows of Sadie's gift but doesn't want to have much to do with it in the beginning.
All in all I enjoyed reading this first installment of a paranormal mystery series and am eager to follow up with the second novel Devil May Ride. A third publication in this series is planned for end of 2009 with the title Dead And Kicking.
Her new assignment brings her and employee Zack to the house of Trudy and Grant Toth - and most certainly she excepts a ghost to show up. It is her goal to help those souls to move on and no longer hang on their earthly life.
But Trudy, the victim, is different. Obviously she was killed by her husband who later killed himself but when the strange, mute ghost tries to communicate with Sadie all she understands is that Trudy believes it wasn't her husband who killed her.
With that being understood Trudy moves on and leaves Sadie with doubts in the watertight evidence the police gathered. Did Trudy try to tell her that Kent, Grants best friend, killed her ?
Sadie begins to investigate on her own with a disastrous outcome, endangering the life of others and her own.
-
The Remains Of The Dead is a very easy and cozy mystery that nonetheless is entertaining and suspenseful.
Sadie's blunt way of dealing with the ghost and telling them they have to understand that they are dead so that they can move on shows, that she accepts that she has a gift but clearly could life without it. She is good at heart, helping those that suffer through their grief by not making it more difficult as it is.
Her partner Zack fell a bit short. He's the ex-cop who keeps everything in perspective. He knows of Sadie's gift but doesn't want to have much to do with it in the beginning.
All in all I enjoyed reading this first installment of a paranormal mystery series and am eager to follow up with the second novel Devil May Ride. A third publication in this series is planned for end of 2009 with the title Dead And Kicking.
Heather F. (AZmom875) -
Helpful Score: 1
This book can be pretty graphic about the aftermath of a shooting or suicide. It wasnt horrific, but more enlighting. I guess the killer and the clues right away, but the ending twist was so awesome, I started thumbing back through the book to read again some passages in light of my new found knowledge of one of the side characters. I really enjoyed our main character, and the developing friendship with another psychic. Her partner is magnetic and the police are not painted as bafoons, or rude uninterested Pigs. Her police contact is a real person, who doesnt insult or belittle our main character. This book has a real good mix of characters, plot, setting, and mystery.
Jen O. (HockeyGirl13) reviewed The Remains of the Dead (Ghost Dusters, Bk 1) on + 2 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This is the second book in the ghost dusters mystery series. This book was so good a read to me that I hate to part with the book but it's too good to keep to myself. Wendy Roberts has created characters that are believable and likeable while creating a story that keeps you wanting to read the book in one sitting. Zack and Sadie are terrific together and you know they are meant for each other. I can't stand the thought that I have to wait until December 2009 for the next installation.
Helpful Score: 1
This mystery started off VERY slowly; I was more than halfway done before I finally found myself engaged in the story. The author writes this as if it weren't the first in a series, which gives the feeling that the reader has missed something, perhaps a whole other book? The mystery part is a no brainer-I'm sure you will figure it out by the end of the third chapter. But the secondary characters are amusing. I'm looking forward to the second installment.
Jolene O. (esmestohelit) -
Helpful Score: 1
I really wanted to like this book, but just couldn't. I did finish it thinking that it would get better, but for me, it never did. I couldn't care for the characters no matter how hard I tried.
Found this to be silly--didn't like the main character, Sadie, her job is to clean crime scenes of the gore but she sees the ghosts before they 'pass over'--the other characters seemed to be lacking in realism and I just didn't think a 'cleaner' would get involved in solving murders, etc. Seems to be more on the level of the young adult instead of the mature adult.
Christine H. (solarawynn) reviewed The Remains of the Dead (Ghost Dusters, Bk 1) on + 724 more book reviews
Liked the characters and storyline. Read it in a few hours and Can't wait for the next book.
fun book- liked the characters. will definitely read the next in the series!
Really enjoyed this book. Lots of twists and turns, the ending totally surprised me which is not that easy to do. Definitely will read the next in series.
Sheila A. (mysterylady) -
Loved it!!! Excellent start in a new series!! Very hard to put down! I'm so glad I already had the 2nd one on my wish list and it's on the way to me now :)
Carol T. (cozycat93) reviewed The Remains of the Dead (Ghost Dusters, Bk 1) on + 21 more book reviews
I like light cozy mysteries and this was just a little to gruesome for me. I don't want the cause of death and the crime scene described in detail. The summary should have been a clue as to how well the author described these things but I missed the details. If you like to have the wounds and the crime scene described in detail, you may find this book more enjoyable than I.
I considered this book full of "fluff"; an interesting murder mystery, but full of stereotypes of seattle and some lame dialog. I did finish it though.
Sadie Novak's got the kind of job that kills cocktail chatter dead: she owns Scene-2-Clean a crime scene cleanup company. And if wiping up after murders weren't spooky enough, she can also see and talk to the ghosts of the victims... When grieving relatives hire Sadie and her employee, ex-cop Zack Bowman, to clean up after the murder-suicide of Trudy and Grant Toth, Sadie figures she's bound to meet at least one chatty ghost. But Kent, the man Sadie first encounters at the scene, is very much alive, so much so, that Sadie soon finds herself agreeing to a date with him. Then a real ghost shows up, the oddly silent spirit of Trudy, who seems determined to prove her husband's innocence, and inspires Sadie to track down the real killer. But as she scours the crime scene, Sadie quickly realizes she's in way over her head, that Kent has a strange connection to the dead couple, and that someone wants her to give up the ghost -- for good.
