Reviewer: Connie Payne
Title: Don of the Dead - 1st in the Pepper Martin Mystery series
Author: Casey Daniels
Publisher: Avon Books
ISBN: 0-06-082146-9
Release Date: May 2006
Genre/Sub-genre: Mystery (Chick Lit - Cozy)
Year/Setting: Present day - Cleveland, OH
Overall Rating: 5.0
Sexual Content rating: None (thoughts, wishing, innuendo)
Language (Profanity) Rating: Mild/Moderate
Violent Content Rating: Minimal/Moderate
Casey's Website:
www.caseydaniels.com
Pepper Martin has fallen on hard times. Well her family has, and by default she has, too. Her once successful father was a doctor who was recently convicted of Medicare fraud. No more country clubs, no more designer clothes, no more fiancé.
So, what’s a girl to do? You’ve got it. Become a tour guide at a cemetery. That in itself isn’t bad, but when you start seeing and hearing one of the "residents" after a nasty fall in the mausoleum, well then, that’s a ghost of a different color, isn’t it?
Only after a second visit to the ER and subsequent run in with geek-hunk Dr. Dan (potential love interest even if he’s only after her for her brain--or is he?), Pepper resigns herself to the fact that dead mob boss, Gus Scarpetti, is going to be her shadow. Until she finds out who killed him and why. Then maybe when he goes to his eternal rest, she’ll get some rest, too.
And so the adventure begins. With help (very little) from Gus, Pepper begins her sleuthing, and trouble follows. In the form of hottie Quinn Harrison, a cop (another potential love interest, but is he on her side?), Gus’ son, Rudy and his goons, and even the FBI. But she’s on to something. Getting closer to the truth. She has to be otherwise she wouldn’t be chased, attacked, and shot at, would she?
In between all that, she’s struggling to stay on top of things at the cemetery and working on, or trying to anyway, her love life. Though she can’t figure out which man she should focus on. Dan the brainiac or, Quinn, who she doesn’t know if she can completely trust.
Ms. Daniels’ characters are three-dimensional and very life-like. Including dead Gus (boy, I could practically hear him talk!). She writes a strong female protagonist. She's very much a 21st century woman, yet she has a great combination of empathy and sass. The men (the live ones) in Pepper’s life are polar opposites and play their parts well. And the bit players? Well, there are no bit players in this book; they’re all three-dimensional and integral to the story.
The only thing some readers on the conservative side may not take to would be Pepper’s casual attitude to profanity (and it’s used moderately) whether it’s being used in the company of women or not, or she's using it, or her casual thoughts to an affair. But these things are far overshadowed by the story and personalities of the characters.
Casey Daniels gives us a little of everything...mystery, action, humor, paranormal, and a little romance. This is one of those books that cross multiple genres and is an absolute winner.
Beware. This is one non-stop, thoroughly captivating, fun read. When you’re finished with Don of the Dead you’re going to want more.
Ms. Daniels? How fast can you write?
Connie
Question or comment regarding the review or the book? Click here and let Connie know.
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