fishwitch's review against another edition
4.0
Great first book! Can't wait to read more of the series.
crysdale's review against another edition
5.0
I figured out the killer early enough, and the ending was STILL a surprise!
m_is_for_awesome's review against another edition
2.0
Good cottage reading- the technical details about the profession were a real highlight.
appalonia's review against another edition
4.0
I'm a sucker for stories with ghosts, and this one was pretty good. I liked that the main character is a crime scene cleaner, which made for some interesting if gross reading. I will definitely read more of this series.
parttimebloggerbookgeek's review against another edition
3.0
I put this book about 2.5 stars,
The book is well written, fast paced, and for the most part enjoyed.
I liked most of the characters, I even liked the different crime clean up side stories, my issue with the book is Sadie Novak herself.
Our main heroine is for the most unlikeable, rude, and there's a few pages where is falls into the classic 'to stupid to live,' column.
I'm on the fence about continuing the series, but haven't ruled it out completely, over all I'd say it's a C+ or a B-
The book is well written, fast paced, and for the most part enjoyed.
I liked most of the characters, I even liked the different crime clean up side stories, my issue with the book is Sadie Novak herself.
Our main heroine is for the most unlikeable, rude, and there's a few pages where is falls into the classic 'to stupid to live,' column.
I'm on the fence about continuing the series, but haven't ruled it out completely, over all I'd say it's a C+ or a B-
gems_31's review against another edition
4.0
This book has been sitting on my To read pile for nearly a year and I wish I had read it sooner. I really enjoyned this book very much and can't wait to read the next
The easiest way to describe it is if the movie "Sunshine Cleaning" and the "Ghost Whisperer" had a baby.
The author manages to keep the book face paced and through a very clever trick manages to keep a red herring going through most of the book.
The main characters are very complex and the dynmics between them are brilliant.
I don't want to spoil it but I highly recommend these books, especially if you are like me and dissapointed with the way the Grave series by Charlaine Harris went. This blows it out of the water!!!!
The easiest way to describe it is if the movie "Sunshine Cleaning" and the "Ghost Whisperer" had a baby.
The author manages to keep the book face paced and through a very clever trick manages to keep a red herring going through most of the book.
The main characters are very complex and the dynmics between them are brilliant.
I don't want to spoil it but I highly recommend these books, especially if you are like me and dissapointed with the way the Grave series by Charlaine Harris went. This blows it out of the water!!!!
cosmic's review against another edition
4.0
I love cozy mysteries with a side of supernatural so this seemed like a perfect read for me. I really enjoyed it. I personally don't know if I would call it 'cozy' as it can get pretty detailed and grisly when describing the crime scenes and it was more heavy on the supernatural than the mystery, but what was there, was done well. I love her partner, ex-cop Zack and can't wait to see more of him in future books. I guessed the who-dun-it about halfway through the book but that didn't stop me from enjoying it.
3.5/5
Spoiler
I did not see the twist with Pam coming at the end and couldn't believe she was actually dead. Poor Sadie, she's lost so much.3.5/5
innae's review against another edition
4.0
This is an entertaining look at Crime Scene cleaning and seeing ghosts. I loved our main character, Sadie, as well as her cohort Zack. Just entertaining from beginning to end, and I have added the rest of the series to my "want to read" list.
laurenjodi's review against another edition
4.0
The Remains of the Dead
3.5 Stars
In addition to her unusual occupation (crime scene cleanup), Sadie Novak has the added “gift” of being able to speak to the ghosts of the victims. When Sadie and her partner, former police officer Zach Bowman, are hired to clean up the scene of a murder/suicide, she is shocked to encounter not only a silent ghost with an urgent need to communicate, but a handsome man who is very much alive and has a troubling connection to the case. As Sadie begins to uncover the secrets of the Toth family, she becomes the target of a desperate killed intent on getting away with murder.
While this is a cozy paranormal mystery, it does contain vivid and sometimes gruesome descriptions of decomposing corpses and blood spattered crime scenes. As such, it is not recommended for readers with weaker stomachs.
Not only is Sadie a rather prickly and oft times brusque heroine, but she also has one or two annoyingly TSTL moments.
The story is well-paced and the writing flows although the author does have a tendency to mix up character names, which can get confusing at times. The mystery is interesting despite the obvious culprit, and the climax and resolution are exciting and satisfying. Moreover, the hints at a romance between Sadie and Zach have definite potential, and as a romance fan this is sufficient for me to continue with the series.
3.5 Stars
In addition to her unusual occupation (crime scene cleanup), Sadie Novak has the added “gift” of being able to speak to the ghosts of the victims. When Sadie and her partner, former police officer Zach Bowman, are hired to clean up the scene of a murder/suicide, she is shocked to encounter not only a silent ghost with an urgent need to communicate, but a handsome man who is very much alive and has a troubling connection to the case. As Sadie begins to uncover the secrets of the Toth family, she becomes the target of a desperate killed intent on getting away with murder.
While this is a cozy paranormal mystery, it does contain vivid and sometimes gruesome descriptions of decomposing corpses and blood spattered crime scenes. As such, it is not recommended for readers with weaker stomachs.
Not only is Sadie a rather prickly and oft times brusque heroine, but she also has one or two annoyingly TSTL moments.
The story is well-paced and the writing flows although the author does have a tendency to mix up character names, which can get confusing at times. The mystery is interesting despite the obvious culprit, and the climax and resolution are exciting and satisfying. Moreover, the hints at a romance between Sadie and Zach have definite potential, and as a romance fan this is sufficient for me to continue with the series.