The only thing Hyacinth wants is her life back. Literally. She and her sister were murdered by Demons, leaving her young nephew, Geordi, to his father’s family in the brutal Sicilian Mob. Then Archangel Michael offers her a deal: recapture a powerful rock the Demons stole, and she can live long enough to find Geordi a safe home. Refuse, and she’ll continue up (or down) to the Afterlife. So, …
So, slightly more alive than dead, she heads for Turkey and the Demons, taking Geordi, her mysterious neighbor Jason, and a sexy dead guy only she can see with her. But the hardest part won’t be battling Demons, meeting Satan, or dodging Middle Eastern customs—it will be later, when Geordi is settled, and Michael rips her away again. How can she abandon her nephew? Or can she outwit the Angel of Death himself, and stay with Geordi forever?
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Great book–original plot and clever dialogue. Loved it.
An original imaginative plot with great characters. Light on the romance with tender moments and a few hot kisses. Definitely want to read more about Hyacinth.
First of all, for a debut author, this is about as good as it gets. Well written, original and well edited, I only found a couple little snafus which were easy to disregard. This is marketed as a Paranormal Ghost Romance, and it’s not really that…at least not yet. Sure, there are a couple of candidates, but nothing really concrete at this point.
A very original tale, after Hyacinth and her sister are murdered, Hyacinth is sent back by Archangel Michael to retrieve the rock she gave to the goons. She gets help from her friend and neighbor Jason, but she really doesn’t know him that well, and why does he want to help her so badly? A lot of the questions that you will have right off the bat are settled within the back part of the book. When Hyacinth is sent back by Michael, she can now sense and talk to the dead – whether or not that’s because she’s not really alive herself – she doesn’t know, but it’s helpful when she befriends the dead guy, Eric.
This book has some great action, nice humor and a nice original storyline – and for a debut novel, that’s pretty sweet.
Do you like paranormal mysteries with a romantic love triangle? Then you’ll enjoy Debriefing the Dead.
The heroine has a quirky style, a dedication to family, and two men to choose from—well, actually, a man and a ghost—as she tries to escape the mobsters who are after her while fulfilling her mission to stop two demons from giving Satan what he covets.
There is sexual tension, but no explicit sex.
I recommend you pick it up today, as the next book in the series, Waking the Dead, comes out on May 27!
This was such a good read. It was exciting and thrilling, and I hate that it ended. I want more. And frankly, I would have liked it to have ended in a way that left me feeling less disappointed: but that’s life in general sometimes. Worth the time and energy to read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Debriefing the Dead is a first-person narrative adventure full of unexpected turns. Reading it felt like going on a rollercoaster ride through a pitch black tunnel… never knowing where it might go next. Reminiscent of a Dan Brown archeological mystery, yet with a paranormal otherworldly twist that forces you to suspend disbelief in order to follow along on the adventure.
This story takes “angels” and “demons” to a different level.
Our narrator is sort of an anti-hero, self aware enough to know she’s a criminal, but with a good heart and good intentions towards those she cares about. She deals in antiquities, and when some extra shady characters come into her shop, she’s torn but ultimately agrees because she needs the money to help protect her sister and nephew.
The author paints a beautiful canvas with her words, and has a unique and interesting storyline running throughout. If you like mystery/adventure tales and can appreciate a new take on a paranormal demons vs. heaven with a side of grim reaper and ghost whisperer, give this book a shot. 4.5 stars for a unique tale that keeps the pages turning.
I received an ARC of this novel via Booksprout in exchange for my honest review. Find my full review on my blog at Read, Write, Repeat.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Hyacinth is an art and antiquities dealer whose merchandise has dubious provenance. When her partner dies and leaves her a truckload of art, she examines the haul to see what is marketable–and a a rock sings to her. The rock, indistinguishable from any rock-garden variety rock, is such a siren she cannot resist touching it. And it knocks her off her feet and into a series of extraordinary events.
Add a sister who was literally married to the mob, a hot handsome neighbor, an equally hot and handsome dead guy, Archangel Michael in battle gear, and a nephew who needs to be rescued from the clutches of demonic beings and you have a cast of characters ready to go into action.
This debut novel is well-researched, well-written, and a fast-paced page turner. Hint: Keep your eye on that rock . I give this book 5 Angelic Stars and highly recommend this supernatural story.
Hyacinth Finch is having a tough day. She’s found a mysterious rock that has mystic powers. She had no idea that demons, and also the brutal Sicilian Mob, are in deadly pursuit to steal it from her. After the bad guys murder Hyacinth and her sister, they carry away the rock in triumph and with horrific intentions. Now dead Hyacinth starts intense negotiations with Archangel Michael, who is Debriefing The Dead. She wants to get her life back, in order to protect her innocent 7-year-old nephew from a life growing up in the Mob. But in order to agree, Michael wants an ominous task completed in return.
After, Hyacinth is reunited with her nephew Geordi. She’s determined to keep him safe, and at the same time she has to begin a dangerous search ordered by Michael. She must recapture the rock by a meaningful and unmovable deadline, or risk dire consequences for failure. Demons and the Mob have hidden it, are guarding it, and are on to her. She has to keep her mission secret from everyone. She gets some surprising help. Her gratitude is tempered by her uncertainty about what honestly motivates the aid from her mysterious neighbor Jason, and Eric — a dead man who is stuck wandering the world, unable to find his way to the after life.
Yes, dead people populate the world. No, you can’t see them, but other dead people can see them and talk with them. Now that she’s formerly dead, Hyacinth enlists Eric’s help. It does make things complicated with Jason and Geordi, who think she may be turning crazy, talking to no one they can see. They travel to Turkey and begin a stealthy search to rescue a specific, powerful rock despite powerful demons, the Mob, the mystery of where the rock is hidden and what it will do. Still, there is some time for the very human celebration of life, humor, adventure, family, and even romantic attraction.
Award-winning author Kerry Blaisdell has written a powerful urban fantasy. Debriefing The Dead is the first of her series. The story is full of action, yet the author finds time to create fascinating and colorful characters without slowing down the page turning pace. The descriptions are so visual and exciting. Find out more about the author at her website kerryblaisdell.com and tune into YouTube’s A Novel Talk with Kerry Blaisdell to hear directly from the author.
Debriefing The Dead is Delightful!
If you’re looking for a supernatural thriller with a breezy style and an exciting plot, look no further! Kerry Blaisdell has woven together many disparate threads to create this novel: action galore, a supernatural love triangle, great Mediterranean settings, a dash of history, and a flippant modern heroine. The resulting literary fabric is tailored by her exceptional skills as a writer. Try this on for size! You won’t be disappointed. She may be the modern heir to Daphne Du Maurier!!
I loved the French sprinkled into the dialogue. Loved the characters and pretty much everything!
Very unusual and interesting book! Wonderful complex characters and story. Hyacinth must protect her nephew Geordi after he sister’s death and goes on a perilous journey to recapture a powerful rock that Archangel Michael has enlisted her to do while she is limbo between life and death. I cannot wait to read the second book in this series! A must read!
She is worried about her nephew but she is now dead and all she wants to do is save him. She is given a chance but only if she gets something from the demons. She does it but it is not going to be as easy as she thinks. Can she outwit them all and stay with her nephew? See if she can
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is the only book I have read by this author but found it hugely entertaining. Hyacinth is in the business of procuring antiquities, not always legal and often just steps ahead of law enforcement. When her business partner dies, she becomes owner of all the business assets. Hyacinth is approached by 2 men searching for a specific shipment belonging to her old partner and she sets up a meeting to exchange the articles for cash. What she doesn’t expect are the events she unwittingly unleashes.
This book has demons, the walking dead and arch angels. This is make believe at its best!
From the first chapter, Debriefing the Dead captured my interest. A fence in often stolen antiquities, the heroine, Hyacinth, gets pulled into a series of life and death situations, forcing her to make a bargain to protect her nephew, Geordie. What unfolds is a plot that is unexpected and fresh, told in a charming voice. Although not your typical romance, there was plenty of love and attraction, adventure, intrigue, and conflict between good and evil to keep me reading late into the night.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
What a ride! This author shows real depth in her knowledge of archeology, religious lore, and history. Think a sexy female Indiana Jones who’s racing a ticking clock to save her beloved nephew before she gets sent back to the afterlife. No spoiler there—our heroine is murdered early in the story, along with her sister, leaving her nephew at the mercy of his Sicilian Mob relatives. Hyacinth, our heroine, was a not-so-scrupulous antiquities dealer who dabbled in theft. Her deceased partner’s questionable dealings left her with a lump of rock that a band of demons are killing to get their hands on. Off she goes to Turkey, accompanied by her dreamy neighbor and a sexy ghost guy only she can see. An ancient necropolis will be the battleground. Can she save her little nephew? Can she stick around with one, or both, of her heroic helpers?
Blaisdell wraps up this episode with a very satisfying bang, but leaves several plot threads to fuel the next episode, Waking the Dead, which I look forward to reading.
An original. A page turner.
This was such a fun read. Within pages Hyancinth’s quirky, witty voice pulled me in and made me laugh. Hyancinth was not your typical protagonist. She lived a bit of a shady life as an antique dealer, working with even shadier characters, selling stolen items and sometimes robbing ancient graves herself. However, deep down she was a good person at heart and would do anything to protect her seven-year-old nephew from his mafia family. When she found herself dead, she worked out a deal with archangel St. Michael to return to Earth to steal some powerful rock before their new owners could give it to Satan. If she was successful, she would be allowed to remain undead on Earth as long as it took to find a good home for her newly orphaned nephew. It’s a crazy plot with a crazy cast, but Kerry Blaisdell makes it work. Loved the southern France and Turkey setting too. Looking forward to the next book of the series.