I Am Dead

by Gareth Wiles

Being dead is the least of his worries when he finds himself prosecuted in an ethereal court on dubious charges - and the prosecutor is his brother, Stuart. When Peter is sent to the waiting room, he re-lives his final day on Earth. We see his ambiguous relationship with his mother, who he lived alone with, and his brother Stuart and his wife Diane, who bring news of pregnancy. Peter is devastated at the news and leaves the house - only to be killed instantly. In the courtroom Stuart and the Judge preside over Peter's fate. When his mother's love interest The Major testifies he reveals that Peter let a young woman, Lauren, die. Peter is sent back to die in her place and restore balance - but he saves both Lauren and himself, causing a devastating change of events... Gareth is inspired by author Joseph Conrad and his struggle between existential awareness and moral obligation, particularly in his novel The Secret Agent. He also takes inspiration from Franz Kafka and D.H. Lawrence. I Am Dead will appeal to that man who wonders what society really has to offer him, or that woman who fears what society has planned for her...

258 pages, Paperback

First published February 4, 2011

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 1 out of 5]

Being dead is the least of his worries when he finds himself prosecuted in an ethereal court on dubious charges - and the prosecutor is his brother, Stuart. When Peter is sent to the waiting room, he re-lives his final day on Earth. We see his ambiguous relationship with his mother, who he lived alone with, and his brother Stuart and his wife Diane, who bring news of pregnancy. Peter is devastated at the news and leaves the house - only to be killed instantly. In the courtroom Stuart and the Judge preside over Peter's fate. When his mother's love interest The Major testifies he reveals that Peter let a young woman, Lauren, die. Peter is sent back to die in her place and restore balance - but he saves both Lauren and himself, causing a devastating change of events...

This was absolutely dire ... turgid language and characters so unpleasantly wrapped up in themselves that I couldn't care about them. Glad to reach the end

[Emma Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Confused

[R.J. Southworth · Rating 1 out of 5]

Picked this book up at a Comic Con, but sadly didn't enjoy it. The story is totally chaotic and makes very little sense. The pacing goes back and forth, with potentially dramatic events going by in the space of a paragraph. None of the characters are likeable. The basic idea and the way some of the characters are used has potential, but it's just too all over the place.

[Christopher Hatch · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting book that is a surprisingly easy read and one that you will not be able to guess where it's going. In truth even now I've finished it I'm not sure where it was going, but getting there was quite a read.

[Shannon · Rating 1 out of 5]

Too confusing. No structure. The scene changed within paragraphs so you have no idea where the character is. The scenes are never really explained. Like you die and go to a court to say you should of died (but differently). Then the judge is all of a sudden the prime minister who gasses old people. I understand that changing the past can alter the future but I don't get why him going back and saving himself and her would be almost everyone he knows randomly drops down dead. Things just seem to happen because they can with no reasoning. Really not a fan. Maybe if someone saw something I didn't and explained it I may raise my rating to a two. :/ Such a shame he was a really nice guy when I met him at Comic Con a few years back.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this in a couple of days and couldn't put it down. The story begins and I really had no idea what was going on in the book until about half a way through. Once the lose ends came together and you finally begin to figure out the story then it becomes addictive to read. I love Peters character and I cannot wait to read more, onto the next!