Title: Devil May RideAuthor: Wendy Roberts
ISBN: 9780451225658/ Obsidian, 2008
Genre: Mystery, #2 in the Ghost Dusters series
Rating: B
First Line: When she walked in, Sadie expected the sickening stench of ammonia that proclaimed the outwardly tidy bungalow a clandestine meth lab.
Former teacher Sadie Novak has a new career: cleaning crime scenes. Not your normal occupation, but Sadie does it for a very personal reason: her brother committed suicide and wasn't found for several days. Sadie had to clean up afterward. As far as she's concerned, no family will ever have to do that while she's around. What she didn't realize when she started out in this business is that she can see-- and talk to--the dead. In many cases, she can help these spirits on to the next step in their journeys, but when she agrees to help out a fellow business person by cleaning an abandoned meth lab, she encounters a spirit that's tougher and meaner than any she's ever run across.
The ending of Roberts' first book in the series, The Remains of the Dead, was totally unexpected and knocked my socks off. Although I found this second book concerning meth labs, cult rituals and biker gangs a little less engaging, it's still a good, page-turning read-- mainly due to her strong cast of characters and the information Roberts imparts about cleaning crime scenes. As soon as I learn the title of the third book in this series, I'll be standing in line!
I've been meaning to buy The Remains of the Dead. I've put it back in my amazon basket :).
ReplyDeleteSadie sounds a bit neurotic to me, but interesting new career. :)
ReplyDeleteI haven't read this series yet. But I keep new ones on my radar.
ReplyDeleteI've tagged you for a photo meme, if you care to play.
Sounds like a series just for me. I like strong characters, bad and good.
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting set of skills -- crime cleaning and talking to the dead! Not your average book, I'd say!
ReplyDeleteI hope you enjoy the book, Karen!
ReplyDeleteDorte--you'd be a bit neurotic, too, if you had to find a way to talk with the dead and not have the living think you should be committed! ;-)
I'll have to check that photo meme out, Beth. Thanks!
I tend to like edgy, strong characters, too, Lilly.
No, it's not average, Jenners. If I remember correctly, the author has a pretty neat website as well.