Book Review: Don of the Dead

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Don of the Dead     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Casey Daniels
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Romance   Paranormal   Amateur Sleuth   Woman Main Character   Cozy
Series: Pepper Martin
Avon, Jun 2006, $6.99

Three decades ago in Cleveland someone killed crime kingpin Gus Scarpetti, but no one was ever caught. Thus the Scarpetti murder is a cold case that no one cares to revisit as the cops assume one wise guy murdered a not so wise guy.

Pepper Martin provides tours of local cemeteries; a position that she looks forward to leaving once she scores a job at a fashionable department store like Saks. When she trips while walking in a cemetery, she bangs her head against Gus's mausoleum. This leads to her ability to communicate with Gus; worse she can see his ghost. He provides an offer she cannot refuse as he demands she investigate his murder or he will haunt her forever; going so far as entering the women’s dressing room at Saks.

DON OF THE DEAD is an engaging paranormal romantic mystery that initially lacks pepper, but once the heroine bangs her head, the story line explodes into a terrific amateur sleuth whodunit. The beleaguered heroine and the likable ghostly Gus make a fine pairing though ironically she is the less substantive member of their team. In her debut Casey Daniels provides a strong mystery that fans of chick lit cozies from the grave will want to read.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner