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Deadish #3
DEAD [as a doorpost]
John's dead and in Heaven, listening to harps that don't quite sound as he expected. He's pretty happy about the whole thing, actually. His wife Melissa is ecstatic. Linda, though, suspects foul play - and she's not going to rest until she finds out what happened.
This is a very short book - novelette length - about 9000 words or 36 (print) pages.
The DEAD(ish) series may be read sequentially, beginning with DEAD(ish), or as standalone stories.
Warning: Contains frequent foul language, adult themes and weird Aussie-isms. Not suitable for children.
This is a very short book - novelette length - about 9000 words or 36 (print) pages.
The DEAD(ish) series may be read sequentially, beginning with DEAD(ish), or as standalone stories.
Warning: Contains frequent foul language, adult themes and weird Aussie-isms. Not suitable for children.
50 pages, ebook
First published May 9, 2011
6 people are currently reading
212 people want to read
About the author
Naomi Kramer
32 books92 followersI grew up in a little country town called Walla Walla. A tiny place - about 600 people and a Lutheran church that, ironically, could seat all of them. Walla Walla had one big thing going for it - a lack of FUN trouble to get into. So when I was a kid, I spent most of my leisure time reading. And writing. And imagining weird stuff. I come by that talent naturally, you know - my mother has a nutty imagination and a nuttier sense of humour.
I grew up, moved to the Big Smoke, made a few dumb mistakes, grew up some more, and eventually realised that I'd always wanted to be a writer. So I started writing again. I wrote, and wrote, and eventually DEAD(ish) turned up in my head, almost fully-fledged, and I decided that Linda, Mike and Trent might just make me famous. *snicker*
I live in Brisbane, Queensland. I spend my days freelancing, writing books, and reading other people's books.
I'm a sucker for Katharine Kerr's Deverry series, Anne McCaffrey's Pern books, and Mercedes Lackey's everything. Less book-related - I'm a vegetarian, fierce feminist, and liberal christian. I wear my hair kd-lang-short, but usually brightly coloured.
I grew up, moved to the Big Smoke, made a few dumb mistakes, grew up some more, and eventually realised that I'd always wanted to be a writer. So I started writing again. I wrote, and wrote, and eventually DEAD(ish) turned up in my head, almost fully-fledged, and I decided that Linda, Mike and Trent might just make me famous. *snicker*
I live in Brisbane, Queensland. I spend my days freelancing, writing books, and reading other people's books.
I'm a sucker for Katharine Kerr's Deverry series, Anne McCaffrey's Pern books, and Mercedes Lackey's everything. Less book-related - I'm a vegetarian, fierce feminist, and liberal christian. I wear my hair kd-lang-short, but usually brightly coloured.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
March 2, 2013
John wakes up dead and has no idea how that happened. Linda, our favorite heavenly mentor, is assigned to help him adjust to his new existence. The only problem is John's wife, Melissa, has been pining away for John since she died and just wants to go back to the married life they once lived and doesn't much care for Linda's interference. Linda pulls out all the stops and helps John figure out how he died, in her usual, no-holds-barred, often intrusive, manner.
Another fun short. To the point, sassy, with familiar characters revisited. I enjoy this writing style for short stories because the reader jumps right in to each character. It keeps the story moving rapidly and allows for more intimate, first hand knowledge of multiple characters.
As much as I've really enjoyed this series, I think this entry pushes the limit of how many first person perspectives a story can coherently handle. As more characters get added to each story and the characters and relationships evolve the harder it will be to maintain.
I look forward to reading more from this author.
Another fun short. To the point, sassy, with familiar characters revisited. I enjoy this writing style for short stories because the reader jumps right in to each character. It keeps the story moving rapidly and allows for more intimate, first hand knowledge of multiple characters.
As much as I've really enjoyed this series, I think this entry pushes the limit of how many first person perspectives a story can coherently handle. As more characters get added to each story and the characters and relationships evolve the harder it will be to maintain.
I look forward to reading more from this author.
December 16, 2018
Whoever thought you could be lonely in heaven? Some may even take drastic measures to correct this error.
January 30, 2022
This series is still a nice quick break between the longer books that I read, though this one wasn't as funny as the first book. It was, however, better than the second one.
October 29, 2012
I thought this one was as funny as the first! Which I'm glad of since I didn't really care for the 2nd one. I love that in this one you get to see Kramer's version of heaven, which sounds awesome! It is literally about having a good time. You've done your time and now you get to relax and party! Hot tubs, harps that sound like electric guitars, and surfing are only a few of the heavenly attractions.
So you would think that with all that awesomeness going on that dead wife Melissa could learn to enjoy herself and let her still alive husband John live out the rest of his days in peace. But no, she wants heaven to be just like Earth was (poor gal). Melissa can't handle the idea that her earthly views of sex, monogamy, and nudity aren't upheld in heaven so she decides that she will only be happy if she can be with John again and basically relive their boring earthly existence for the rest of eternity.
John, however, is actually kind of glad that Melissa is gone so he can have some freedom. As much as he loved her he needed to be able to be his own person and move on but that thought didn't last long as he ends up dead and in heaven with Linda as his guide and can't remember an iota about his death. Along with such a eccentric character like Linda he now has to deal with be married all over again, even though heaven does not go by the same guidelines as earth. John wants to experience and enjoy heaven the way it is meant to be but Melissa will not let go of her earthly ties.
Come to find out there is quite the twist on John's death. I kind of thought that was where the story was going to go but I can't say that I knew that's what was going to happen exactly. But I wasn't really that surprised by the turn of events. I guess what it comes down to is if you're crazy in life, you're crazy in death.
Other likes:
*All the different POVs
*Overall character development for Linda, Trent, and Krystal
*Work is meant to be fun!
All in all this was a great conclusion to the series. I thought it was absolutely hilarious and I loved how it challenged peoples' normal preconceptions of what heaven would be like. I really hope when I die that I go to Kramer's idea of heaven :)
Lots of crude and strong language along with some somewhat disturbing subject matters. Not recommended if you get easily offended.
So you would think that with all that awesomeness going on that dead wife Melissa could learn to enjoy herself and let her still alive husband John live out the rest of his days in peace. But no, she wants heaven to be just like Earth was (poor gal). Melissa can't handle the idea that her earthly views of sex, monogamy, and nudity aren't upheld in heaven so she decides that she will only be happy if she can be with John again and basically relive their boring earthly existence for the rest of eternity.
John, however, is actually kind of glad that Melissa is gone so he can have some freedom. As much as he loved her he needed to be able to be his own person and move on but that thought didn't last long as he ends up dead and in heaven with Linda as his guide and can't remember an iota about his death. Along with such a eccentric character like Linda he now has to deal with be married all over again, even though heaven does not go by the same guidelines as earth. John wants to experience and enjoy heaven the way it is meant to be but Melissa will not let go of her earthly ties.
Come to find out there is quite the twist on John's death. I kind of thought that was where the story was going to go but I can't say that I knew that's what was going to happen exactly. But I wasn't really that surprised by the turn of events. I guess what it comes down to is if you're crazy in life, you're crazy in death.
Other likes:
*All the different POVs
*Overall character development for Linda, Trent, and Krystal
*Work is meant to be fun!
All in all this was a great conclusion to the series. I thought it was absolutely hilarious and I loved how it challenged peoples' normal preconceptions of what heaven would be like. I really hope when I die that I go to Kramer's idea of heaven :)
Lots of crude and strong language along with some somewhat disturbing subject matters. Not recommended if you get easily offended.
May 20, 2011
Most books that depict heaven paint a picture of a place that’s nice, where everyone is amenable and gets along. Booorrrringgg. I could deal with that, I guess. The angels playing harp music all day would put me to sleep though. If you really only have two choices then sure, boring is better than that eternal damnation thing.
I much prefer Kramer’s heavenly ideal. The harps sound like electric guitars, that is when that is what the angels want. You work because it is fun and your choice. I’m not even going to discuss how sex is different from in that other boring version of heaven.
Linda’s character has evolved during the series. In "DEAD (ish)," she was evil. I’ll concede it was a playful kind of evil. Still evil. In "(technically) DEAD," she was finding her way, adapting to how things work in heaven.
In "DEAD (as a door post)," for the first time I didn’t see Linda as evil and actually liked her character without reservation. Her wicked and irreverent sense of humor push all the right buttons for me. Linda has grown as a person, if you can do that after you’re dead. She tries to be nice to others, until they give her reason not to be. It looks like her “work” in heaven is going to be helping others whose affairs need straightening out before they can completely move on from their earthly lives. It gives her a chance to snoop, cajole, and get pushy with people who are covering up. This suits Linda’s personality perfectly.
If you’d like a glimpse of a better heaven and a chance to watch Linda in action as she clears up one more mystery to help someone’s smooth transition to the afterlife, "DEAD (as a doorpost) is the book for you."
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog.**
I much prefer Kramer’s heavenly ideal. The harps sound like electric guitars, that is when that is what the angels want. You work because it is fun and your choice. I’m not even going to discuss how sex is different from in that other boring version of heaven.
Linda’s character has evolved during the series. In "DEAD (ish)," she was evil. I’ll concede it was a playful kind of evil. Still evil. In "(technically) DEAD," she was finding her way, adapting to how things work in heaven.
In "DEAD (as a door post)," for the first time I didn’t see Linda as evil and actually liked her character without reservation. Her wicked and irreverent sense of humor push all the right buttons for me. Linda has grown as a person, if you can do that after you’re dead. She tries to be nice to others, until they give her reason not to be. It looks like her “work” in heaven is going to be helping others whose affairs need straightening out before they can completely move on from their earthly lives. It gives her a chance to snoop, cajole, and get pushy with people who are covering up. This suits Linda’s personality perfectly.
If you’d like a glimpse of a better heaven and a chance to watch Linda in action as she clears up one more mystery to help someone’s smooth transition to the afterlife, "DEAD (as a doorpost) is the book for you."
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog.**
March 12, 2013
This just has to be read, in order, with the other two books in the series. They aren't really separate books, more like different chapters in a single story. Even combined they constitute a novella, not a novel, and there could be more material. This was a clever way to get a short story out there, looking like a book. That said, I found the story engaging, the characters well-drawn, and the story entertaining. Not great art, but a good quick read.
April 24, 2012
Wow, a super quick read. Quite funny though.
March 23, 2012
Very cute and fun.
March 22, 2012
Another fun mystery. I like that each section is from the pov of a different character.
July 19, 2012
Weird but ok. Glad to be done with this series, didn't care much for it after the first book.
November 3, 2012
Hilarious!!!
November 27, 2012
A quick, hilarious read. I enjoy Naomi Kramer's stories so much. Keep 'em coming!
February 3, 2013
And enjoyable quick read and hope that Naomi Kramer continues to come out with books for this series. Linda is a stitch to follow along with.
April 6, 2015
Super fast read. Grammar and flow much improved. Recommended if interested in a quick and easy read that has a little mystery and some supernatural elements.
October 27, 2013
Despite the sketchy formatting, this Aussie supernatural murder mystery enjoys a healthy dose of humor in the mix. I've been wanting to finish up the series-so-far for a while now, and finally have.
November 25, 2015
My Rating System:
* couldn't finish, ** wouldn't recommend, *** would recommend, **** would read again, ***** have read again.
* couldn't finish, ** wouldn't recommend, *** would recommend, **** would read again, ***** have read again.
June 19, 2012
Not as funny as the others but still I enjoyed it.
September 30, 2012
All the "Dead" books are worth checking out for those with a twisted-sense-of-humor.
March 19, 2018
I tried. I cant. The writing is getting better but I hate all of these characters. DNF 50%
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews