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Hunter Gamble #1
Atticus for the Undead
Join the fight for zombie rights!Hunter Gamble is an idealistic young attorney in a very special area of the arcane defense. Funded by enigmatic billionaire Charles McClain and aided by shy-but-energetic research attorney Kirsten Harper, he's making the world a better place -- one vampire, zombie, or werewolf client at a time. After all, they deserve their day in court too, right?When a young zombie walks into Hunter's office accused of murder (by brain-eating), Hunter's idealism is tested as never before as he struggles to secure the man's freedom. To do so, he must square off against a savvy and ambitious district attorney, contend with a judge who is deeply biased against arcanes, and stand up to a human-supremacist group which will stop at nothing -- not even Hunter's own death -- to see his client convicted.
201 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 6, 2011
31 people are currently reading
255 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
May 19, 2012
Atticus for the Undead reminded me a lot of M. Night Shyamalan's Signs. No, I don't mean the dopier aspects of the movie. It's because this is a small, personal tale set amidst a much larger backdrop, most of which we're only given hints about.
Abramowitz's story takes place in a world where supernatural beings (known as arcanes) have become known to the world. However, rather than waging war against humanity, they're just trying to fit in...not entirely unlike the beings from Alien Nation or District 9. Unfortunately, also like the creatures from these works, the arcanes in Atticus for the Undead must contend with racism and being treated like second class citizens.
Who will help them? Why Hunter Gamble, that's who! Gamble, the main protagonist of the story, is an idealistic young lawyer who's fighting to do what's right despite the risks (both personal and professional) to him and those around him.
I am normally not a fan of legal dramas, either written or on TV; however, Abramowitz's story never gets bogged down in tedious details. There's enough there to give you the sense that he knows what he's talking about, without making it feel like you're reading a legal brief. It's combined with an interesting take on the various denizens of the supernatural world, of which a few bad seeds ruin it heavily for the rest.
There are a few downsides I need to point out. For starters, some of the dialogue doesn't feel natural (and no, I don't mean supernatural either). At times the flow of it feels a bit stilted. More problematic, it almost seems as if a chunk of story is missing in the middle. There's a romantic subplot that suddenly goes from A straight to Z with no feeling for how it got there. Because of this, when one character suddenly proclaims their love for another, it kind of ends up feeling creepy and desperate instead of romantic. Finally, there's the ending. I won't spoil it except to say that I thought it was a good ending. However, it also felt a bit too abrupt. I think it could have been fleshed out a bit more so as to leave a better impact.
That being said, I enjoyed Atticus for the Undead. It has made me rethink my normal distaste for legal entertainment. Should Law & Order ever introduce zombies, I might have to give a look. Atticus for the Undead is a fun peek into one of the many microcosms of life that might occur just on the fringes of an epic story.
Abramowitz's story takes place in a world where supernatural beings (known as arcanes) have become known to the world. However, rather than waging war against humanity, they're just trying to fit in...not entirely unlike the beings from Alien Nation or District 9. Unfortunately, also like the creatures from these works, the arcanes in Atticus for the Undead must contend with racism and being treated like second class citizens.
Who will help them? Why Hunter Gamble, that's who! Gamble, the main protagonist of the story, is an idealistic young lawyer who's fighting to do what's right despite the risks (both personal and professional) to him and those around him.
I am normally not a fan of legal dramas, either written or on TV; however, Abramowitz's story never gets bogged down in tedious details. There's enough there to give you the sense that he knows what he's talking about, without making it feel like you're reading a legal brief. It's combined with an interesting take on the various denizens of the supernatural world, of which a few bad seeds ruin it heavily for the rest.
There are a few downsides I need to point out. For starters, some of the dialogue doesn't feel natural (and no, I don't mean supernatural either). At times the flow of it feels a bit stilted. More problematic, it almost seems as if a chunk of story is missing in the middle. There's a romantic subplot that suddenly goes from A straight to Z with no feeling for how it got there. Because of this, when one character suddenly proclaims their love for another, it kind of ends up feeling creepy and desperate instead of romantic. Finally, there's the ending. I won't spoil it except to say that I thought it was a good ending. However, it also felt a bit too abrupt. I think it could have been fleshed out a bit more so as to leave a better impact.
That being said, I enjoyed Atticus for the Undead. It has made me rethink my normal distaste for legal entertainment. Should Law & Order ever introduce zombies, I might have to give a look. Atticus for the Undead is a fun peek into one of the many microcosms of life that might occur just on the fringes of an epic story.
March 28, 2012
Supernaturals (Arcanes) have ‘come out’ and the whole world is concerned. There has to be some control, but with an outdated legal system that doesn’t cover zombies and vampires, the politicians are under pressure to make changes. Sam Pollard, a zombie, has been arrested for murder, he seeks the help of the Hunter Gamble a lawyer who defends only Arcanes, but with emotions running high in both humans and Arcanes this is not a good time to be on trail especially as the prosecutor is running for office and will do anything to get votes.
So I will start with what I didn’t like, well I didn’t like the title, ‘Atticus for the undead’ it just didn’t do anything for me. I also wasn’t keen on the cover art, it didn’t scream ‘read me’. This was definitely a case of don’t judge a book by its cover! I read the kindle version and by page three, or there about I was grabbed, by the end of chapter 1 I didn’t want to put it down………this has happened before many times but more often than not stories seem to lose their edge in the last quarter. That did not happen here, if anything the pace and excitement picked up in the latter part of the book and I ‘could’ not put it down.
OMG, flipping ‘ek, wow!! I cant remember reading a book that had an ending that I DID NOT see coming, not even a little bit, no hints, no red herrings, absolutely nothing to suggest it would end like that!!! I think I’m in shock!!
This was an excellently written novel, I didn’t give a second thought to writing style, punctuation or grammar etc because it flowed so well I forgot I was reading. I was so engrossed in the book that I just didn’t think about anything except what was happening in the story. I connected with the characters and felt like I knew them, I felt their pain, their happiness, their humour and their frustration. I enjoyed the read from start to finish and am so glad I got the chance to review it.
Copy supplied for review. Thank you.
So I will start with what I didn’t like, well I didn’t like the title, ‘Atticus for the undead’ it just didn’t do anything for me. I also wasn’t keen on the cover art, it didn’t scream ‘read me’. This was definitely a case of don’t judge a book by its cover! I read the kindle version and by page three, or there about I was grabbed, by the end of chapter 1 I didn’t want to put it down………this has happened before many times but more often than not stories seem to lose their edge in the last quarter. That did not happen here, if anything the pace and excitement picked up in the latter part of the book and I ‘could’ not put it down.
OMG, flipping ‘ek, wow!! I cant remember reading a book that had an ending that I DID NOT see coming, not even a little bit, no hints, no red herrings, absolutely nothing to suggest it would end like that!!! I think I’m in shock!!
This was an excellently written novel, I didn’t give a second thought to writing style, punctuation or grammar etc because it flowed so well I forgot I was reading. I was so engrossed in the book that I just didn’t think about anything except what was happening in the story. I connected with the characters and felt like I knew them, I felt their pain, their happiness, their humour and their frustration. I enjoyed the read from start to finish and am so glad I got the chance to review it.
Copy supplied for review. Thank you.
February 17, 2012
Atticus for the Undead is the story of Hunter Gamble, an "arcane" defense attorney, and his associates. In their world, the Unveiling has revealed a culture of supernatural citizens — vampires, mages, werewolves, zombies — that coexists with "normal" society. Since the Unveiling, the arcanes (the preferred nomenclature) have faced hate crimes, bullying, segregation, and open persecution. McClain & Gamble is the only law firm in Austin that will defend arcane citizens in this new era. Courts and legislators are still unsure of how to handle the changing face of the world and how the law operates within it. The highly publicized trial of a zombie accused of succumbing to the Hunger murdering one of his friends forces us to ask the question: Can the law really operate equally for humans and arcanes?
Abramowitz's characters are tightly written individuals who interact with an easy, natural chemistry. I actually became very much attached to Hunter, his associate Kirsten, and their teenage, arcane assistant Sabrina. Even outside this core group, the characters were drawn with distinct identities and motivations. The dialogue is crisp and the story's pacing is comfortably quick.
As I read Atticus, I was reminded of other works that have appealed to me in the past, the most obvious being Harper Lee's classic To Kill a Mockingbird and Perry Mason. Perhaps less obvious are David Guterson's 1994 novel Snow Falling on Cedars and Joss Whedon's Buffy the Vampire Slayer spin-off series, Angel, which featured the evil, supernatural law firm Wolfram & Hart. Although was reminded of these other works of fiction, I never doubted for a moment that this was Abramowitz's story and his characters. He has created a unique world, and I would be eager to read more cases from the desk of Hunter Gamble.
Abramowitz's characters are tightly written individuals who interact with an easy, natural chemistry. I actually became very much attached to Hunter, his associate Kirsten, and their teenage, arcane assistant Sabrina. Even outside this core group, the characters were drawn with distinct identities and motivations. The dialogue is crisp and the story's pacing is comfortably quick.
As I read Atticus, I was reminded of other works that have appealed to me in the past, the most obvious being Harper Lee's classic To Kill a Mockingbird and Perry Mason. Perhaps less obvious are David Guterson's 1994 novel Snow Falling on Cedars and Joss Whedon's Buffy the Vampire Slayer spin-off series, Angel, which featured the evil, supernatural law firm Wolfram & Hart. Although was reminded of these other works of fiction, I never doubted for a moment that this was Abramowitz's story and his characters. He has created a unique world, and I would be eager to read more cases from the desk of Hunter Gamble.
February 14, 2012
I started this on a Sunday evening figuring I at least could get a taste of what it was about. Wondering if I was going to be mildly interested and have to force myself to read through it. (Yes I know that sounds awful but when it comes reading because you promise to read it almost is like reading for school. I can read The Decameron over and over again when I want to but make me read it in class? I struggle through each of the 100 day tales). But I had promised John so I clicked on the Kindle and settled down with my ice tea and began to read... and read.. and squeel and tell Geoff "OHHH this is awesome", and read and fall asleep reading only to wake up to finish reading! This book was SO much fun!
The review:
Atticus for the Undead is both a parody on the legal eagle hero of old, Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird and a statement on how the legal system has treated racism and treats the uprising of new minorities and developing racism. Except for our book the racism is against The Arcane races. The Arcane are straight out of the myths, the movies and the pages of books. Around 15 years ago "The Unveiling" happened and the vampires, witches and zombies came "out" and our protagonist Hunter has set out to defend them. I found the author's comedic take on what happens in today's court systems with some of the over the top and ridiculous accusations made due to hysteria brought about and still holding steady because of 9/11 was refreshing.
Like Atticus Finch, our protagonist Hunter Gamble leads the way in protecting the rights of the newly recognized races, The Arcane. Hunter takes on the legal struggle for the Arcane with that wonderful and passionate "brand new lawyer attitude". Breaking away from his father's old school law firm and striking out for the little man (or zombie in this case). Even with Hunter's self-righteousness a little unnerving at times, made the the tale and character even more believable for me.
Within the world Hunter lives thesupernatural the Arcane (it is considered a racial slur to call them supernaturals and Hunter continually reminds of this with inner and outer dialogue throughout the book) are persecuted and the struggle to set precident within the legal system is being fought locally; within the high schools (as one of his clients finds out), in the judicial system (as Sam the undead client finds out with a prejudiced but ethical judge) and all the way to the congressional level. Atticus for the Undead a is a reflection and statement of what many face today and not just a hell of a lot of fun to read.
I fell in love with the characters, they were well developed and rounded out. By the end of it I was frustrated and heartbroken and also left wanting more from Hunter and the world of the Arcanes. It just ENDED with a horrific shock, drizzling out weakly and is the reason behind my 4 out of 5 stars. The book was strong and kept you going from page to turned page RIGHT till it ended with this fizzle. It was sad, which is ok, but disappointingly sad. Though the addition of the brainstormed titles for the book was hilarious. It still left me wanting to read more about Hunter and his trials and tribulations with the Arcane. I will be buying the next one. John is a great new emerging Indie Author. Over all this story is, taking a original strike at a much played at plot.
I think my father is going to get a kick out of it and have made sure that when he turns on his Kindle tomorrow he finds a present from me! (Every lawyer knows how to laugh at themselves). I would reccomend this to anyone who enjoys paranormal crime, humor and parody, to those that like Law and Order marathons and that CSI humor.
The review:
Atticus for the Undead is both a parody on the legal eagle hero of old, Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird and a statement on how the legal system has treated racism and treats the uprising of new minorities and developing racism. Except for our book the racism is against The Arcane races. The Arcane are straight out of the myths, the movies and the pages of books. Around 15 years ago "The Unveiling" happened and the vampires, witches and zombies came "out" and our protagonist Hunter has set out to defend them. I found the author's comedic take on what happens in today's court systems with some of the over the top and ridiculous accusations made due to hysteria brought about and still holding steady because of 9/11 was refreshing.
Like Atticus Finch, our protagonist Hunter Gamble leads the way in protecting the rights of the newly recognized races, The Arcane. Hunter takes on the legal struggle for the Arcane with that wonderful and passionate "brand new lawyer attitude". Breaking away from his father's old school law firm and striking out for the little man (or zombie in this case). Even with Hunter's self-righteousness a little unnerving at times, made the the tale and character even more believable for me.
Within the world Hunter lives the
I fell in love with the characters, they were well developed and rounded out. By the end of it I was frustrated and heartbroken and also left wanting more from Hunter and the world of the Arcanes. It just ENDED with a horrific shock, drizzling out weakly and is the reason behind my 4 out of 5 stars. The book was strong and kept you going from page to turned page RIGHT till it ended with this fizzle. It was sad, which is ok, but disappointingly sad. Though the addition of the brainstormed titles for the book was hilarious. It still left me wanting to read more about Hunter and his trials and tribulations with the Arcane. I will be buying the next one. John is a great new emerging Indie Author. Over all this story is, taking a original strike at a much played at plot.
I think my father is going to get a kick out of it and have made sure that when he turns on his Kindle tomorrow he finds a present from me! (Every lawyer knows how to laugh at themselves). I would reccomend this to anyone who enjoys paranormal crime, humor and parody, to those that like Law and Order marathons and that CSI humor.
March 1, 2012
To see this review and more like it please check out my site www.ufreviews.com
This is one of those books that I get a request to read and review, and then get totally bummed out that I have to wait to read it until it comes up on my list for review. So I have basically been sitting on this book for months, seeing it on my kindle every time I go to read another book, and trying desperately to resist the urge to take a little sneak peak. There are a lot of things I like about this book, I like that it involves all types of paranormals, but at the same time, it focuses on zombies. I haven't read a lot of books having to do with zombies, I think this is my second one in total. But then it brings my favorite element, it's written about a lawyer who defends the "arcanes" (the political correct name in the book). I love the law, in fact I had such a love affair of the law that I starting teaching Supreme Court law to high school students.
Needless to say the book didn't disappoint. I am one of those people who wake up like 8 times a night, so while I started reading this book right before bed, I only got a couple of chapters in, next thing I knew I was waking up at 2am and reading a couple more before going back to sleep. I even got up early to finish reading the book, which if you knew me you would know that is a big accomplishment, I hate getting up early.
The writing is fantastic. It's funny because it doesn't seem like a book that would involve a lot of action like a lot of urban fantasy/paranormal do. There isn't some kind of major life or death battle, the main character Hunter didn't spend his time picking up a battle axe to fight for Arcane rights. But even though Hunters action has a lot to do with his actions as a lawyer it doesn't make the book any less fun to read. In fact the reason I say the writing is so good is because even without the "action" of most of the books in this genre have, this book is still a page turner.
You can't help but like Hunter. He is an everyday normal guy with the skills to help people who are being persecuted. He fights for civil rights, just on a paranormal level. He cares about his job and he cares about his clients. He is genuinely a good guy. Kristen is such a great character too. She is the research assistant for Hunter, and she is every bit the home body who thrives on research. She also harbors the cutest little crush on Hunter as well.
You meet other characters along the way, including Sabrina and Sam, both people who Hunter represented in cases brought against them. Although Sam is the case of the zombie eating the brains that the synopsis teases about. Those characters are equally as enjoyable to read.
Moreover I enjoyed the trial, there were surprises along the way, moments where you thought you knew how the case was going to turn out, and then moments when you had no idea. And then of course that brings me to the ending, which of course I want to talk about but can't because I don't want to give anything away. What I will say is that the ending is anything but what you would expect. And that if this book ends up having a sequel I would be very interested to see where it goes from here.
Overall, I am going to say this is a great book. I loved reading it. I could easily see how not just people who like all things paranormal could enjoy this book, but also how people who like reading book about crime/law would like it too. Or people who have an interest in civil rights, because you have to admit this is a whole new spin on civil rights. At any rate I recommend this book, and I think you should definitely go out and buy it.
This is one of those books that I get a request to read and review, and then get totally bummed out that I have to wait to read it until it comes up on my list for review. So I have basically been sitting on this book for months, seeing it on my kindle every time I go to read another book, and trying desperately to resist the urge to take a little sneak peak. There are a lot of things I like about this book, I like that it involves all types of paranormals, but at the same time, it focuses on zombies. I haven't read a lot of books having to do with zombies, I think this is my second one in total. But then it brings my favorite element, it's written about a lawyer who defends the "arcanes" (the political correct name in the book). I love the law, in fact I had such a love affair of the law that I starting teaching Supreme Court law to high school students.
Needless to say the book didn't disappoint. I am one of those people who wake up like 8 times a night, so while I started reading this book right before bed, I only got a couple of chapters in, next thing I knew I was waking up at 2am and reading a couple more before going back to sleep. I even got up early to finish reading the book, which if you knew me you would know that is a big accomplishment, I hate getting up early.
The writing is fantastic. It's funny because it doesn't seem like a book that would involve a lot of action like a lot of urban fantasy/paranormal do. There isn't some kind of major life or death battle, the main character Hunter didn't spend his time picking up a battle axe to fight for Arcane rights. But even though Hunters action has a lot to do with his actions as a lawyer it doesn't make the book any less fun to read. In fact the reason I say the writing is so good is because even without the "action" of most of the books in this genre have, this book is still a page turner.
You can't help but like Hunter. He is an everyday normal guy with the skills to help people who are being persecuted. He fights for civil rights, just on a paranormal level. He cares about his job and he cares about his clients. He is genuinely a good guy. Kristen is such a great character too. She is the research assistant for Hunter, and she is every bit the home body who thrives on research. She also harbors the cutest little crush on Hunter as well.
You meet other characters along the way, including Sabrina and Sam, both people who Hunter represented in cases brought against them. Although Sam is the case of the zombie eating the brains that the synopsis teases about. Those characters are equally as enjoyable to read.
Moreover I enjoyed the trial, there were surprises along the way, moments where you thought you knew how the case was going to turn out, and then moments when you had no idea. And then of course that brings me to the ending, which of course I want to talk about but can't because I don't want to give anything away. What I will say is that the ending is anything but what you would expect. And that if this book ends up having a sequel I would be very interested to see where it goes from here.
Overall, I am going to say this is a great book. I loved reading it. I could easily see how not just people who like all things paranormal could enjoy this book, but also how people who like reading book about crime/law would like it too. Or people who have an interest in civil rights, because you have to admit this is a whole new spin on civil rights. At any rate I recommend this book, and I think you should definitely go out and buy it.
February 29, 2012
I have to admit I was a little dubious when I received a tweet from someone asking me to review their book.
“Who is this person?’ I thought, having never even spoken to him before and at that point, was not even following him (in a twitter sense, not in a stalking sense).
But on checking out John Abramowitz’s bio, I quickly saw he was a writer like me and I thought “maybe I should give this some credence, after all, maybe one day I will also asking for reviews and needing people’s support in the same way?”
But I was still dubious none-the-less, and even more so when John sent me the book to read.
Oh dear. Legal Fiction Series? My heart dropped a little. I had already told John that I don’t have much spare time to read and review and already had concerns that I wouldn’t get round to completing the task this century, but to find out it was legal fiction? Now I was worried I wouldn’t want to complete the task this century.
But thankfully the word paranormal popped up so I rolled up my imaginary sleeves and bedded myself down with my Kindle and prepared myself to struggle my way through.
Now I wouldn’t like to say that I am usually happy when someone proves me wrong, but in this case, I can honestly say that I am!
The opening chapter is always a decider for me. If you can’t catch me during the first few pages, then you’re likely to find me wandering the abyss of boredom very quickly and that usually means your book will do nothing but languish in dust-covered Hell on my bookcase, or worse…be deleted from my Kindle, nevermore to grace its hallowed library.
John caught me from the opener:
Sam Pollard took no notice of the crumpled up newspaper report of his death even as he stepped on it.
One line, which might not captivate some but the paranormal writer in me sat up straight away and was thinking “Is he dead? Is he a ghost? How can he be walking around if he is supposed to be dead?”
Soon we find out that since The Unveiling, some years before, the world is a very different place to the one we knew. Zombies, vampires, mages and other arcanes live amongst humans but it’s a world filled with mistrust, prejudice and hate and Hunter Gamble, defence attorney for arcane rights, has his work cut out for him. Police with their hands-tied, politicians intent on inflaming people’s prejudices for their own cause and the brutish methods of the Salvation Alliance are all in a day’s work for Hunter, his assistant Kirsten and newly-turned-witch Sabrina (and yes she is a teenage witch).
They take on the cases no one else wants. They fight for those who can’t help being what they are. And soon they are thrust into the spotlight of a very high profile murder case involving zombie Sam Pollard.
I found the concept really interesting, captivating, fresh and the book was an easy, enjoyable, page-turner from start to finish. I was rooting for Hunter (and Sam) every step of the way as he battled petty power games, rage-filled prejudice and a world of frustration in his efforts to win a case that looks doomed from the start.
If you want to read a paranormal story that is refreshingly…well…..human…..then this could just be the one for you.
Four out of five, John…..and it would have gotten a five if it wasn’t for the fact I would have preferred a slightly different ending, but that’s the idealist in me.
Well done and thank you for letting me read Atticus For The Undead.
“Who is this person?’ I thought, having never even spoken to him before and at that point, was not even following him (in a twitter sense, not in a stalking sense).
But on checking out John Abramowitz’s bio, I quickly saw he was a writer like me and I thought “maybe I should give this some credence, after all, maybe one day I will also asking for reviews and needing people’s support in the same way?”
But I was still dubious none-the-less, and even more so when John sent me the book to read.
Oh dear. Legal Fiction Series? My heart dropped a little. I had already told John that I don’t have much spare time to read and review and already had concerns that I wouldn’t get round to completing the task this century, but to find out it was legal fiction? Now I was worried I wouldn’t want to complete the task this century.
But thankfully the word paranormal popped up so I rolled up my imaginary sleeves and bedded myself down with my Kindle and prepared myself to struggle my way through.
Now I wouldn’t like to say that I am usually happy when someone proves me wrong, but in this case, I can honestly say that I am!
The opening chapter is always a decider for me. If you can’t catch me during the first few pages, then you’re likely to find me wandering the abyss of boredom very quickly and that usually means your book will do nothing but languish in dust-covered Hell on my bookcase, or worse…be deleted from my Kindle, nevermore to grace its hallowed library.
John caught me from the opener:
Sam Pollard took no notice of the crumpled up newspaper report of his death even as he stepped on it.
One line, which might not captivate some but the paranormal writer in me sat up straight away and was thinking “Is he dead? Is he a ghost? How can he be walking around if he is supposed to be dead?”
Soon we find out that since The Unveiling, some years before, the world is a very different place to the one we knew. Zombies, vampires, mages and other arcanes live amongst humans but it’s a world filled with mistrust, prejudice and hate and Hunter Gamble, defence attorney for arcane rights, has his work cut out for him. Police with their hands-tied, politicians intent on inflaming people’s prejudices for their own cause and the brutish methods of the Salvation Alliance are all in a day’s work for Hunter, his assistant Kirsten and newly-turned-witch Sabrina (and yes she is a teenage witch).
They take on the cases no one else wants. They fight for those who can’t help being what they are. And soon they are thrust into the spotlight of a very high profile murder case involving zombie Sam Pollard.
I found the concept really interesting, captivating, fresh and the book was an easy, enjoyable, page-turner from start to finish. I was rooting for Hunter (and Sam) every step of the way as he battled petty power games, rage-filled prejudice and a world of frustration in his efforts to win a case that looks doomed from the start.
If you want to read a paranormal story that is refreshingly…well…..human…..then this could just be the one for you.
Four out of five, John…..and it would have gotten a five if it wasn’t for the fact I would have preferred a slightly different ending, but that’s the idealist in me.
Well done and thank you for letting me read Atticus For The Undead.
April 9, 2013
Book Info: Genre: Urban Fantasy/Horror/Legal Thriller
Reading Level: Adult
Recommended for: Fans of horror and legal fiction and urban fantasy
Trigger Warnings: violent death
My Thoughts: I've had this book for over a year. Recently I was approached by a friend who runs blog tours to ask if I'd consider reviewing the 2nd book in this series, Identity Theft from an ARC copy. Since I already had this and another book by this author, and they sounded like the sort of thing I'd enjoy, I agreed. So, here we go!
This book's ending is a total kick in the teeth and completely unexpected, but wow, what a great story! Hunter is a very interesting character, full of idealism and anger over what he perceives to be injustice. I saw a lot of parallels with any type of civil-rights action you might consider: racial relations, GLBTQ issues, what have you. The book makes no secret that these issues are being addressed via the idea that people are prejudiced against those they perceive as “abnormal”. It's a very typical human reaction: if someone is different, that makes people afraid, and what humans fear, they seek to destroy. Age-old idea. As such it is often very uncomfortable to read the book, and that is yet another reason I enjoyed it so much; I like a story that will make me question and think and consider. So, a high recommendation from me, whether you enjoy horror, urban fantasy, or legal thrillers, this combines the best of the lot. Check it out, and watch for my review of the upcoming book Identity Theft next.
Disclosure: I picked up this book a bit over a year ago when it was on the Amazon KDP program because it sounded like the kind of thing I'd enjoy. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis: The next chapter in the struggle for equal rights begins!
Hunter Gamble is an idealistic young attorney in a very special area of the practice: arcane defense. Funded by enigmatic billionaire Charles McClain and aided by shy-but-energetic research attorney Kirsten Harper, he's making the world a better place—one vampire, zombie, or werewolf client at a time. After all, they deserve their day in court too, right?
When a young zombie walks into Hunter's office accused of murder (by brain-eating), Hunter's idealism is tested as never before as he struggles to secure the man's freedom. To do so, he must square off against a savvy and ambitious district attorney, contend with a judge who is deeply biased against arcanes, and stand up to a human-supremacist group which will stop at nothing—not even Hunter's own death—to see his client convicted.
Reading Level: Adult
Recommended for: Fans of horror and legal fiction and urban fantasy
Trigger Warnings: violent death
My Thoughts: I've had this book for over a year. Recently I was approached by a friend who runs blog tours to ask if I'd consider reviewing the 2nd book in this series, Identity Theft from an ARC copy. Since I already had this and another book by this author, and they sounded like the sort of thing I'd enjoy, I agreed. So, here we go!
This book's ending is a total kick in the teeth and completely unexpected, but wow, what a great story! Hunter is a very interesting character, full of idealism and anger over what he perceives to be injustice. I saw a lot of parallels with any type of civil-rights action you might consider: racial relations, GLBTQ issues, what have you. The book makes no secret that these issues are being addressed via the idea that people are prejudiced against those they perceive as “abnormal”. It's a very typical human reaction: if someone is different, that makes people afraid, and what humans fear, they seek to destroy. Age-old idea. As such it is often very uncomfortable to read the book, and that is yet another reason I enjoyed it so much; I like a story that will make me question and think and consider. So, a high recommendation from me, whether you enjoy horror, urban fantasy, or legal thrillers, this combines the best of the lot. Check it out, and watch for my review of the upcoming book Identity Theft next.
Disclosure: I picked up this book a bit over a year ago when it was on the Amazon KDP program because it sounded like the kind of thing I'd enjoy. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis: The next chapter in the struggle for equal rights begins!
Hunter Gamble is an idealistic young attorney in a very special area of the practice: arcane defense. Funded by enigmatic billionaire Charles McClain and aided by shy-but-energetic research attorney Kirsten Harper, he's making the world a better place—one vampire, zombie, or werewolf client at a time. After all, they deserve their day in court too, right?
When a young zombie walks into Hunter's office accused of murder (by brain-eating), Hunter's idealism is tested as never before as he struggles to secure the man's freedom. To do so, he must square off against a savvy and ambitious district attorney, contend with a judge who is deeply biased against arcanes, and stand up to a human-supremacist group which will stop at nothing—not even Hunter's own death—to see his client convicted.
January 19, 2012
Atticus for the undead is a totally different book than I am used to reading, so I didn't really know what to expect out of it. I was intrigued because I wanted to see how the paranormal elements would blend with the law elements. The result was pretty cool! I thought it was really interesting to read about legal concepts and things that I'm learning in school, and it still has zombies and witches and other cool creatures. (I wouldn't dare call them supernaturals after reading the book) Sign me up please!
I thought Atticus for the Undead is a really cool concept. It's about a lawyer that represents vampires, zombies and witches to name a few. The characters were all well developed and likable. Hunter, the main character, is representing a Zombie and naturally most people are not comfortable with zombies walking around. So Hunter has his work cut out for him. It doesn't help that the charge was murder by brain-eating, I'm sure. I loved him! He was funny, and so relatable. That might have been what made the ending such a blow for me.
I breezed through this book really quickly. It just flies along, and it kept my interest for every page! I was so absorbed in the book that I didn't even realize the end was coming up. Then the ending exploded and I was shocked! It made me so sad- really sad! It was fitting for the book, but it just wasn't what I wanted to happen or what I was expecting at all. Even so, Atticus for the Undead is a really interesting, and funny read. I enjoyed it a lot.
Let me know what you think of it!
I thought Atticus for the Undead is a really cool concept. It's about a lawyer that represents vampires, zombies and witches to name a few. The characters were all well developed and likable. Hunter, the main character, is representing a Zombie and naturally most people are not comfortable with zombies walking around. So Hunter has his work cut out for him. It doesn't help that the charge was murder by brain-eating, I'm sure. I loved him! He was funny, and so relatable. That might have been what made the ending such a blow for me.
I breezed through this book really quickly. It just flies along, and it kept my interest for every page! I was so absorbed in the book that I didn't even realize the end was coming up. Then the ending exploded and I was shocked! It made me so sad- really sad! It was fitting for the book, but it just wasn't what I wanted to happen or what I was expecting at all. Even so, Atticus for the Undead is a really interesting, and funny read. I enjoyed it a lot.
Let me know what you think of it!
February 20, 2012
This novel grabbed me by the originality of its premise. There are now zombies living among us, they are the victims of discrimination and hate crimes, and there are lawyers who specialize in defending them when they happen to be accused of a crime. Wow! That's original.
Sam is accused of murder, and the zombie-specialist lawyer Hunter Gamble, together with his crack team including assistant Kirsten and assisstant-to-the-assistant Sabrina have to launch a Perry Mason-stayle courtroom defense. Or better yet, an Atticus Finch style defense, since To Kill a Mockingbird is Hunter's favorite book.
I like the homey atmosphere of Hunter's law office. Everybody's sort of got a crush on everybody else, but they're too shy to say it. Hunter's Dad is a famous lawyer of the more traditional variety. There's a lot of father-and-son stuff going on here, too.
I found myself wishing the dialogue were sharper. It's very neurotic and full of verbal tics, but too often fails to reveal what's really going on in the characters' heads. This leaves me wondering how they have really developed by the end of the book. The ending is jarring, not necessarily in a negative way, and certainly not in a predictable way, but also in a way that left me unsatisfied.
I know others have raved about Atticus for the Undead, and I am really glad I read it. The author has taken a hackneyed motif and made something totally unique which is meant to be part of a series. It will be very interesting to see where he takes us next!
Sam is accused of murder, and the zombie-specialist lawyer Hunter Gamble, together with his crack team including assistant Kirsten and assisstant-to-the-assistant Sabrina have to launch a Perry Mason-stayle courtroom defense. Or better yet, an Atticus Finch style defense, since To Kill a Mockingbird is Hunter's favorite book.
I like the homey atmosphere of Hunter's law office. Everybody's sort of got a crush on everybody else, but they're too shy to say it. Hunter's Dad is a famous lawyer of the more traditional variety. There's a lot of father-and-son stuff going on here, too.
I found myself wishing the dialogue were sharper. It's very neurotic and full of verbal tics, but too often fails to reveal what's really going on in the characters' heads. This leaves me wondering how they have really developed by the end of the book. The ending is jarring, not necessarily in a negative way, and certainly not in a predictable way, but also in a way that left me unsatisfied.
I know others have raved about Atticus for the Undead, and I am really glad I read it. The author has taken a hackneyed motif and made something totally unique which is meant to be part of a series. It will be very interesting to see where he takes us next!
March 15, 2012
This review originally appeared here at Easy Reading and Damn Hard Writing.
Hunter Gamble is not your typical attorney. He doesn’t wear a suit, cares more about the opinion of his research assistant than the opinion of his successful father, and specializes in a very obscure branch of law—arcane defense. His stance is a humanitarian one: why should we fail to provide adequate legal representation for folks like Sam Pollard?
There’s the small matter of Sam being a zombie, but Hunter’s pretty sure that he can work around that with the help of the previously aforementioned awesome assistant, Kirsten, and a teenage wannabe-actress/legal assistant who just so happens to also be a witch.
I enjoyed this book quite a bit despite the fact that the ending kind of jumped out at me. The Austin setting, the clever mixing of society after an influx of supernatural beings, and the law aspect were all right up my alley. However, I’m not really fond of surprises, and when I started this book, I was fairly sure it was not going to be a sad!book. It also seemed like it could have been set-up for a series, which seems pretty impossible right now.
Overall, this is a fairly solid offering—technically speaking, it seems like the editing/copyediting could have been better, but that’s more a nitpick than anything else—and if you’re fond of supernatural creatures, lawyers, or the realistic nothing-is-all-right ending, than this is the book for you.
Hunter Gamble is not your typical attorney. He doesn’t wear a suit, cares more about the opinion of his research assistant than the opinion of his successful father, and specializes in a very obscure branch of law—arcane defense. His stance is a humanitarian one: why should we fail to provide adequate legal representation for folks like Sam Pollard?
There’s the small matter of Sam being a zombie, but Hunter’s pretty sure that he can work around that with the help of the previously aforementioned awesome assistant, Kirsten, and a teenage wannabe-actress/legal assistant who just so happens to also be a witch.
I enjoyed this book quite a bit despite the fact that the ending kind of jumped out at me. The Austin setting, the clever mixing of society after an influx of supernatural beings, and the law aspect were all right up my alley. However, I’m not really fond of surprises, and when I started this book, I was fairly sure it was not going to be a sad!book. It also seemed like it could have been set-up for a series, which seems pretty impossible right now.
Overall, this is a fairly solid offering—technically speaking, it seems like the editing/copyediting could have been better, but that’s more a nitpick than anything else—and if you’re fond of supernatural creatures, lawyers, or the realistic nothing-is-all-right ending, than this is the book for you.
June 23, 2012
The beginning was kind of slow to get into to but by the time Sabrina (the unsuspecting witch) went through her "Change" and Sam (The good-hearted zombie)was arrested, the book really did hold my attention. I loved all the main characters and their relationships just worked well. The whole idea of "arcanes' rights" in society and prejudice against them was interesting. And I have to commend the author for that totally unexpected ending(s). I mean Sam and Kirsten are all ready to kiss and become a "normal" couple when BAM...everything goes to Hell. I kept waiting for the author's magic pen to swoop in and give everyone their happy ending and it just never happened. Which is just like real life folks...sometimes the innocent don't come out on top singing songs and wearing smiles. Sometimes innocent people die, sometimes innocent people are forced beyond their breaking point, and sometimes idealistic people give up their dreams because they become tainted. Even though I'm sad for all those characters, sometimes it's just refreshing to have a not so happy yet sadly realistic ending.
January 20, 2012
Atticus for the Undead is a story about the way our legal system and society treat minorities, using a fictional class of minorities (zombies, mages, vampires) to illustrate the author's point (see X-men). What is new about this story, and what makes it an engaging read, is Abramowitz's invention of a detailed legal world in which the story takes place. In the 10 years since arcanes were unveiled some new laws have been made and some precedents have been set by previous cases but many of the legal issues pertaining to arcanes are still in flux both in the courts and in the legislature. Abramowitz has created a richly detailed legal environment, and the story is at it's most interesting when describing this world.
On the other hand, I found the main character, Hunter Gamble, insufferably self righteous. The first part of the book seems to mirror his black and white moral vision for the world and feels a little preachy. However, I am glad I decided to keep reading because the ending is far more complex and engaging. I look forward to the sequel!
On the other hand, I found the main character, Hunter Gamble, insufferably self righteous. The first part of the book seems to mirror his black and white moral vision for the world and feels a little preachy. However, I am glad I decided to keep reading because the ending is far more complex and engaging. I look forward to the sequel!
July 16, 2012
An extremely good legal thriller...about "arcane" creatures and the discrimination they face! The legal points are solid and well-explained, the plot moves along swiftly and tightly, and the characters, while showing a little bit of trope-cipher syndrome, are still engaging. The prose can be a little awkward at times - there's a lot of people hugging and then "releasing" and other slightly stilted phrases - but for the most part, it's smooth and engaging, even when dealing with complex legal points and courtroom speeches.
Oh, and the ending will floor you. There are no punches pulled, and that's all that should be said about that, because it is ENTIRELY worth reading this novel just for the last few pages.
Oh, and the ending will floor you. There are no punches pulled, and that's all that should be said about that, because it is ENTIRELY worth reading this novel just for the last few pages.
February 24, 2013
It wasn't that this book was atrociously written. It just was rather boring and I felt it ended in a way that was unsatisfactory. Perhaps the author is planning to do a sequel? I really couldn't get very interested in the characters, although I did try and I did stick with it to the end.
September 25, 2019
A Story That Will Leave You In Awe!
I truthfully didn't expect to find this book as great as I did. It brought me back decades to a movie, "To Kill A Mockingbird", which as a child I found powerful and mind changing. So to do this story. Without giving much away, the storyline is like one you can pull out of a headline, just changing characters. Not only was I in awe reading this book, I was so mesmerized I couldn't put it down. The writing is really among the best, characters you can relate to, and an ending all too real. I truly hope every person who is thinking about reading this does so. You definitely will not be sorry, just enthusiastic about it as I am.
I truthfully didn't expect to find this book as great as I did. It brought me back decades to a movie, "To Kill A Mockingbird", which as a child I found powerful and mind changing. So to do this story. Without giving much away, the storyline is like one you can pull out of a headline, just changing characters. Not only was I in awe reading this book, I was so mesmerized I couldn't put it down. The writing is really among the best, characters you can relate to, and an ending all too real. I truly hope every person who is thinking about reading this does so. You definitely will not be sorry, just enthusiastic about it as I am.
April 29, 2021
Not your typical arcane story
I'm not really into zombie books. This one I liked. It didn't have the expected ending. I'll eventually purchase the next book in the series to see if it can surprise me too.
I'm not really into zombie books. This one I liked. It didn't have the expected ending. I'll eventually purchase the next book in the series to see if it can surprise me too.
August 3, 2023
Homage to kill a mockingbird.
A sort of homage or echo of the To kill a mockingbird. This urban fantasy deals with legal and political issues around the revelation that arcanes Exist. A little on the depressing side. Perhaps read to kill a mockingbird first?
A sort of homage or echo of the To kill a mockingbird. This urban fantasy deals with legal and political issues around the revelation that arcanes Exist. A little on the depressing side. Perhaps read to kill a mockingbird first?
April 8, 2013
To see my full review:
http://bookvacations.wordpress.com/20...
This was a very interesting novel idea that takes a hypothetical look at the justice system and what might happen should an unveiling ever take place (aka. the fabled zombies, werewolves, vampires, witches, and the like admit their existence and turn out to be more than a figment of our imaginations). In a world where the human is at the top of the world, Abramowitz brings forth our imagined adversaries and creates a world in which these Arcanes want to co-exist within the human spectrum. But, as is true every time humanity comes upon a group or race it’s never seen or dealt with before, bigotry and hate crimes abound.
Hunter Gamble has had enough. A lawyer for the Arcane defense, Hunter takes on the case of the “little people,” fighting back against injustice one witch, zombie, and vampire at a time. When the case of a lifetime falls into his lap, Hunter struggles to do all in his power to bring justice to a Zombie who, for all intensive purposes, doesn’t want to hurt anyone, let alone his best friend in the world, who’s brain he’s been accused of eating.
I really liked Hunter. He’s a bit strange, but he stands up for what he believes in, and I enjoyed getting to know him as a character. Of course, I hated the bigots he was up against, and it was very interesting to see how Abramowitz’s story unfolded through the justice process.
While I’d say the beginning was a little bit slow, once the accusation against Sam took hold, I found myself really getting into the trial, though I could have done without the rather lengthy background information Abramowitz uses to set up the story. In terms of the trial, I really liked the arguments presented by both defense and prosecutor, and Abramowitz did a great job fleshing out the case, especially with the arguments and red flags thrown around during the proceedings. I did a have a few questions, though, such as why Sam, the Zombie accused of murder, was allowed to wander around free during his trial, especially when the jury was out deliberating. That, along with the somewhat hurried ending had me scratching me head, made me take a step back from the awesomeness of the trial, but overall, it was a delightful, short read.
http://bookvacations.wordpress.com/20...
This was a very interesting novel idea that takes a hypothetical look at the justice system and what might happen should an unveiling ever take place (aka. the fabled zombies, werewolves, vampires, witches, and the like admit their existence and turn out to be more than a figment of our imaginations). In a world where the human is at the top of the world, Abramowitz brings forth our imagined adversaries and creates a world in which these Arcanes want to co-exist within the human spectrum. But, as is true every time humanity comes upon a group or race it’s never seen or dealt with before, bigotry and hate crimes abound.
Hunter Gamble has had enough. A lawyer for the Arcane defense, Hunter takes on the case of the “little people,” fighting back against injustice one witch, zombie, and vampire at a time. When the case of a lifetime falls into his lap, Hunter struggles to do all in his power to bring justice to a Zombie who, for all intensive purposes, doesn’t want to hurt anyone, let alone his best friend in the world, who’s brain he’s been accused of eating.
I really liked Hunter. He’s a bit strange, but he stands up for what he believes in, and I enjoyed getting to know him as a character. Of course, I hated the bigots he was up against, and it was very interesting to see how Abramowitz’s story unfolded through the justice process.
While I’d say the beginning was a little bit slow, once the accusation against Sam took hold, I found myself really getting into the trial, though I could have done without the rather lengthy background information Abramowitz uses to set up the story. In terms of the trial, I really liked the arguments presented by both defense and prosecutor, and Abramowitz did a great job fleshing out the case, especially with the arguments and red flags thrown around during the proceedings. I did a have a few questions, though, such as why Sam, the Zombie accused of murder, was allowed to wander around free during his trial, especially when the jury was out deliberating. That, along with the somewhat hurried ending had me scratching me head, made me take a step back from the awesomeness of the trial, but overall, it was a delightful, short read.
May 27, 2012
As I read books I am often already writing the reviews in my head. That was certainly the case here and most of what I had to say remains true. But it's never a good idea to judge a book before you've got to the end.
This book is an easy read and certainly a different angle on the popular Urban Fantasy sub-genre. The early chapters give us a setup that should remind people of many tv law shows. Which isn't a bad thing, because they're often popular for a reason.
Characters are quickly sketched in and it doesn't take long to get a rough idea about how this version of the US (Texas in particular) differs from our own.
There are times, however, when the author comes across as a little heavy handed. Telling us things that would have been better presented through the subtext. Just a little more polish would probably have moved this from 3 to 4 stars in my mind I think. Because I like the characters and I like the story.
Actually one of my favorite relationships is between the lawyer Hunter Gamble and his own lawyer father. It has a little more subtlety than the usual antagonism.
I would have liked the arcane elements to be addressed a little more rigorously though. Sabrina morphs from newbie witch to practically master sorceress in a matter of months. And what exactly are the mechanisms of zombie existence in this world?
The ending is something of a shock and it took me a while to process it. But in the end it makes sense and results in a stronger story and cleverly ties into the book title. Certainly it leaves all sorts of interesting angles for a sequel.
And I really hope that the author writes a sequel because there's a lot to like here. The _arcane rights_ makes a great lens to address civil rights without getting too preachy. there are a lot of questions about _The Unveiling_ and exactly what it means, not to mention some background plot points that remain unresolved.
While I do have some criticisms I would definitely buy a sequel.
This book is an easy read and certainly a different angle on the popular Urban Fantasy sub-genre. The early chapters give us a setup that should remind people of many tv law shows. Which isn't a bad thing, because they're often popular for a reason.
Characters are quickly sketched in and it doesn't take long to get a rough idea about how this version of the US (Texas in particular) differs from our own.
There are times, however, when the author comes across as a little heavy handed. Telling us things that would have been better presented through the subtext. Just a little more polish would probably have moved this from 3 to 4 stars in my mind I think. Because I like the characters and I like the story.
Actually one of my favorite relationships is between the lawyer Hunter Gamble and his own lawyer father. It has a little more subtlety than the usual antagonism.
I would have liked the arcane elements to be addressed a little more rigorously though. Sabrina morphs from newbie witch to practically master sorceress in a matter of months. And what exactly are the mechanisms of zombie existence in this world?
The ending is something of a shock and it took me a while to process it. But in the end it makes sense and results in a stronger story and cleverly ties into the book title. Certainly it leaves all sorts of interesting angles for a sequel.
And I really hope that the author writes a sequel because there's a lot to like here. The _arcane rights_ makes a great lens to address civil rights without getting too preachy. there are a lot of questions about _The Unveiling_ and exactly what it means, not to mention some background plot points that remain unresolved.
While I do have some criticisms I would definitely buy a sequel.
September 22, 2013
ZICHAO D'S REVIEW
4 STARS
In theory, Atticus for the Undead is an urban fantasy novel... but it's also a legal thriller, a civil rights parable and so many other things. The story follows Hunter Gamble, a lawyer in an alternate present in which "arcanes" (zombies, werewolves etc.) coexist - successfully and unsuccessfully - with humans.
On the surface, it's a fast-paced courtroom drama about a defence team doing its best to get a zombie acquitted for murder. Sam Pollard (the zombie in question) was heard arguing with his ex-girlfriend, who was found, sans-brains, shortly afterwards. Hunter Gamble agrees to take on his case, and finds himself up against far-right anti-undead vigilantes, a DA trying to get himself elected to congress, and a biased judge.
However, the story also has striking similarities with many Jim Crow era cases, with the undead serving as a metaphor for the victims of racial discrimination, and Texas serving as a metaphor for... well... Texas (some things never change).
Atticus for the Undead also has the biggest surprise twist in the end that I've read this year. I won't spoil it for you, but: wowsers, I did NOT see that coming. Right when you think you've got everything figured out, it all gets turned upside down... Serving, not incidentally, as an excellent cliff-hanger for the next book in the series (which I will definitely be reading).
If I have one small gripe, it's that I would have liked the book to be longer. It's a pretty short read (I got through it in an evening), and I would have loved more of the trial back-and-forth. It also has the occasional sappy moment, which may get a bit much if you're a repressed, British cynic like me, but on the whole I enjoyed it immensely. I'm downloading "Identity Theft" as I write this.
4 STARS
In theory, Atticus for the Undead is an urban fantasy novel... but it's also a legal thriller, a civil rights parable and so many other things. The story follows Hunter Gamble, a lawyer in an alternate present in which "arcanes" (zombies, werewolves etc.) coexist - successfully and unsuccessfully - with humans.
On the surface, it's a fast-paced courtroom drama about a defence team doing its best to get a zombie acquitted for murder. Sam Pollard (the zombie in question) was heard arguing with his ex-girlfriend, who was found, sans-brains, shortly afterwards. Hunter Gamble agrees to take on his case, and finds himself up against far-right anti-undead vigilantes, a DA trying to get himself elected to congress, and a biased judge.
However, the story also has striking similarities with many Jim Crow era cases, with the undead serving as a metaphor for the victims of racial discrimination, and Texas serving as a metaphor for... well... Texas (some things never change).
Atticus for the Undead also has the biggest surprise twist in the end that I've read this year. I won't spoil it for you, but: wowsers, I did NOT see that coming. Right when you think you've got everything figured out, it all gets turned upside down... Serving, not incidentally, as an excellent cliff-hanger for the next book in the series (which I will definitely be reading).
If I have one small gripe, it's that I would have liked the book to be longer. It's a pretty short read (I got through it in an evening), and I would have loved more of the trial back-and-forth. It also has the occasional sappy moment, which may get a bit much if you're a repressed, British cynic like me, but on the whole I enjoyed it immensely. I'm downloading "Identity Theft" as I write this.
February 2, 2013
I'll admit - I'm a sucker for a good paranormal novel....and for zombie novels. I don't remember when I bought this, but I happened to meet the author on Twitter and felt a little ashamed that I hadn't read the book yet. So, I hesitantly began the book - and was pleasantly surprised.
This was a fun read. The story is very character based - which is good for me. If I can't relate to the characters, I can't enjoy the book. That said, I didn't relate to the main character (Hunter) as much as I did some of the other characters - perhaps simply because I relate to female characters better than male.
I can see where some people might find pieces of the story slower than others, simply because of the focus on characters. I didn't find any pieces particularly slow, although I will say that the end was MUCH faster than the rest of the book. I was kept on the edge of my seat. I was nervous for the characters. I was relieved, nervous again, angry at the author, and then thrust into the ending.
I appreciated the clever puns, as well as the subtle (and the not so subtle) references to To Kill a Mockingbird.
The only issue I had with the book was the relationship between Hunter and his father. Some of the problems in their relationship seemed a bit much for an adult book (although it could be acceptable for a YA novel), although people are blind in relationships, so who knows....
All in all, an enjoyable read. I'd be curious to see the next book in the series.
This was a fun read. The story is very character based - which is good for me. If I can't relate to the characters, I can't enjoy the book. That said, I didn't relate to the main character (Hunter) as much as I did some of the other characters - perhaps simply because I relate to female characters better than male.
I can see where some people might find pieces of the story slower than others, simply because of the focus on characters. I didn't find any pieces particularly slow, although I will say that the end was MUCH faster than the rest of the book. I was kept on the edge of my seat. I was nervous for the characters. I was relieved, nervous again, angry at the author, and then thrust into the ending.
I appreciated the clever puns, as well as the subtle (and the not so subtle) references to To Kill a Mockingbird.
The only issue I had with the book was the relationship between Hunter and his father. Some of the problems in their relationship seemed a bit much for an adult book (although it could be acceptable for a YA novel), although people are blind in relationships, so who knows....
All in all, an enjoyable read. I'd be curious to see the next book in the series.
March 1, 2013
Don’t be thrown off by the word ‘legal’. Yes, it is a legal thriller, but no, it’s not hard to follow. The writer gives you all the information and more that you will need for following the book. And you really could easily push this into a few other categories. It’s full of humor, magic, and drama.
Atticus for the Dead starts off in the real world after, what is called, ‘the unveiling’ has happened and all manner of beings (vampires, zombies, and such) have stepped out into the light. Mankind is now at the point where they are in in conflict about political actions and rights towards the sudden appearance of the supernatural beings. Neighbors, family members, and friends can be one of them, one of the supernatural. Movements have started up, both against and for, supernatural beings. And when a supernatural (Arcane) is against the wall in matters of the legal kind, who will rise up to help?
And that’s where out man comes in! Hunter Gamble is just the man for the job! He’s a lawyer come to save the day and he’s bringing his A -game.
This book is a great balance of snappy dialogue mixed into a legal mesh of fun with great characters. I would have finished the book a lot faster if work hadn’t forced me away! Though I can see where some people would be put off by a book like this, I would say at least give the first three chapters a try. I give this book a four out of five.
By Brenda Franklin
Atticus for the Dead starts off in the real world after, what is called, ‘the unveiling’ has happened and all manner of beings (vampires, zombies, and such) have stepped out into the light. Mankind is now at the point where they are in in conflict about political actions and rights towards the sudden appearance of the supernatural beings. Neighbors, family members, and friends can be one of them, one of the supernatural. Movements have started up, both against and for, supernatural beings. And when a supernatural (Arcane) is against the wall in matters of the legal kind, who will rise up to help?
And that’s where out man comes in! Hunter Gamble is just the man for the job! He’s a lawyer come to save the day and he’s bringing his A -game.
This book is a great balance of snappy dialogue mixed into a legal mesh of fun with great characters. I would have finished the book a lot faster if work hadn’t forced me away! Though I can see where some people would be put off by a book like this, I would say at least give the first three chapters a try. I give this book a four out of five.
By Brenda Franklin
May 8, 2012
When I was asked to read and review this book, I honestly didn't know what to expect. What I got was a great read, clever writing, smart characterization, and a book that I will likely reread. From having a teenage witch named Sabrina and tweaking/twisting notions we have of supernatural creatures, there are actually things in this book that are relevant to the politically charged issues of the past and present.
I admit to being hesitant to reading the courtroom scenes, as even visually they can drag the pace down, but that wasn't a problem here.
There were a couple things, minor, really, that did detract from my enjoyment of the book. Another pass by the editor to catch punctuation and other small infractions would have been a fast way to give and make the book stand up straight to its own expectations. Also, there are a couple of things that are not explained (for example: why is it a bad experience for a zombie to be tranquilized via a tranquil gun? Or why is it some zombie victims die while others are Changed?)
Overall, it's a good, enjoyable read. It didn't seem to me to fit in the horror category with the exception of one scene, and it's a short scene; part of the reason it works as a horror scene is the changing of the pronouns. If you read the book, you'll likely know exactly what I'm talking about/referring to.
I admit to being hesitant to reading the courtroom scenes, as even visually they can drag the pace down, but that wasn't a problem here.
There were a couple things, minor, really, that did detract from my enjoyment of the book. Another pass by the editor to catch punctuation and other small infractions would have been a fast way to give and make the book stand up straight to its own expectations. Also, there are a couple of things that are not explained (for example: why is it a bad experience for a zombie to be tranquilized via a tranquil gun? Or why is it some zombie victims die while others are Changed?)
Overall, it's a good, enjoyable read. It didn't seem to me to fit in the horror category with the exception of one scene, and it's a short scene; part of the reason it works as a horror scene is the changing of the pronouns. If you read the book, you'll likely know exactly what I'm talking about/referring to.
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June 12, 2020Everybody needs somebody to stand up for them. Even Zombies! Hunter braves the disdain of his peers and the disapproval of his father in order to represent the right of the arcanes – zombies, vampires and werewolves – in a world that doesn’t believe they’re entitled to any. When Sam is accused of murdering a former female friend when in the grip if the Hunger, he calls on Hunter to defend him.
On its surface, Atticus for the Undead is a light-hearted and fun read, with a very unique approach to courtroom drama. If you want to delve a little deeper there are echoes of questions surrounding tolerance, acceptance, politics and the legal system in general. In short, this is as fluffy or as thought-provoking as you allow it to be.
The writing was largely strong, with just a couple of instances where I felt the dialogue was a little weak. However, the characters were portrayed brilliantly and I was able to build up a clear picture of them in my mind. The ending threw me. It wasn’t what I expected at all and was quite a twist. The jury is still out on whether I would have preferred a different outcome but the ending certainly didn’t detract from the book.
I don’t really read many books with zombies, werewolves and vampires in. If there were more like this, I’d be seriously tempted. Atticus for the Undead was a great read with a very unique concept.
On its surface, Atticus for the Undead is a light-hearted and fun read, with a very unique approach to courtroom drama. If you want to delve a little deeper there are echoes of questions surrounding tolerance, acceptance, politics and the legal system in general. In short, this is as fluffy or as thought-provoking as you allow it to be.
The writing was largely strong, with just a couple of instances where I felt the dialogue was a little weak. However, the characters were portrayed brilliantly and I was able to build up a clear picture of them in my mind. The ending threw me. It wasn’t what I expected at all and was quite a twist. The jury is still out on whether I would have preferred a different outcome but the ending certainly didn’t detract from the book.
I don’t really read many books with zombies, werewolves and vampires in. If there were more like this, I’d be seriously tempted. Atticus for the Undead was a great read with a very unique concept.
May 21, 2012
I normally don't read a lot of zombie stories, but on occasion I find that looks a little different from the rest so I'm willing to give it a whirl. This is one of those books.
Atticus for the Undead is actually a great book. I like that the author didn't write the plot of a B movie, which is usually what I think of when I hear the word "zombie." The story in present day, but what makes this book different is that in this world, zombies, vampires, and mages are "out" and a part of society. Though, not without persecution.
Atticus for the Undead is the story of Hunter, a lawyer for the "arcane" (ei,werewolves, zombies, vampires, etc) and his assistant Kirsten, and what happens when they become involved in cases regarding a witch (who didn't actually know she was a witch) and a zombie (who may or may not have eaten someone's brains). Don't want to give the story a way, so suffice it to say, you'll just have to read it yourself. Great book.
Atticus for the Undead is actually a great book. I like that the author didn't write the plot of a B movie, which is usually what I think of when I hear the word "zombie." The story in present day, but what makes this book different is that in this world, zombies, vampires, and mages are "out" and a part of society. Though, not without persecution.
Atticus for the Undead is the story of Hunter, a lawyer for the "arcane" (ei,werewolves, zombies, vampires, etc) and his assistant Kirsten, and what happens when they become involved in cases regarding a witch (who didn't actually know she was a witch) and a zombie (who may or may not have eaten someone's brains). Don't want to give the story a way, so suffice it to say, you'll just have to read it yourself. Great book.
November 12, 2012
As a reader I'm very choosy when it comes to "Fantasy" but this one caught my eye. It has a good story, and the characters, plot are okay...
Hunter an "Arcane" (Supernatural)defense lawyer who enjoyed reading the book titled "To Kill a Mockingbird" was trying to help the defenseless undead. Together with his secretary Kirsten Harper the legal pursuer of research whom the judged had remarked that the quality of Hunter's briefs and memos had increased exponentially since she was hired was definitely a huge help upon Hunter's many cases.
Mr. Weldon Gamble a nuisance of a father who wants to hire his son "Hunter" of his own law office wont give up until Hunter surrender with his nosy father.......a guilt for not getting along with his son was eating him ever since.......
Hunter an "Arcane" (Supernatural)defense lawyer who enjoyed reading the book titled "To Kill a Mockingbird" was trying to help the defenseless undead. Together with his secretary Kirsten Harper the legal pursuer of research whom the judged had remarked that the quality of Hunter's briefs and memos had increased exponentially since she was hired was definitely a huge help upon Hunter's many cases.
Mr. Weldon Gamble a nuisance of a father who wants to hire his son "Hunter" of his own law office wont give up until Hunter surrender with his nosy father.......a guilt for not getting along with his son was eating him ever since.......
November 16, 2013
I liked all aspects of this book: the paranormal aspect, the legal thriller aspect, and the thoughts of equal rights. The courtroom scenes in the book were great, exciting reading.
My only complaint is how lightly the author skimmed over the relationship between Hunter and Kirsten. It was too brief, and what should have been a bit more of an emotional conversation between the two was just missing. This is probably the "girl" in me; you know how we like to delve into feelings.
Finally, I am a fan of books (and movies for that matter) not ending with everything going perfectly, or with a tidy bow to wrap things up. Life is not like that. This is another reason I enjoyed the book.
Looking forward to reading the next in the series.
My only complaint is how lightly the author skimmed over the relationship between Hunter and Kirsten. It was too brief, and what should have been a bit more of an emotional conversation between the two was just missing. This is probably the "girl" in me; you know how we like to delve into feelings.
Finally, I am a fan of books (and movies for that matter) not ending with everything going perfectly, or with a tidy bow to wrap things up. Life is not like that. This is another reason I enjoyed the book.
Looking forward to reading the next in the series.
October 11, 2014
Twelve years after supernatural creatures like vampires, zombies, and werewolves came out of the closet, humans are still having trouble dealing with their supernatural neighbors. That’s where Hunter Gamble comes in. As the only attorney specializing in arcane defense in Austin, he has plenty of business, and plenty of trouble from anti-supernatural bigots. When a nice young zombie is accused of eating his ex-girlfriend’s brains, Gamble finds himself in the middle of a political firestorm. Nicely nuanced characters, and surprisingly original for a thinly-veiled homage to a comic book series which is itself a thinly-veiled allegory for homophobia.
January 1, 2014
Clever and funny, always a good combination in a book. If you thought you'd read all the twists and turns there could be on the undead, you'd be wrong. Without giving away the finer points of the plot, what happens when a lawyer decides to dedicate his practice to defending the arcane? Who do you go to if you're a Zombie accused of murder? Why, Hunter Gamble, of course! A fun, quick read that leaves you looking for the next book.. (quick spoiler.. halfway through the second one. I like it even better..)
May 12, 2012
This is absolutely not my preferred genre but I won a copy of the book and was really intrigued by the description. I am so glad I did because I really enjoyed the story!
Hunter Gamble is the main man, a lawyer working to protect the rights of arcanes after an Unveiling. This story involves zombies and witches but is brilliantly interwoven with reality - corruption in politics, family and working relationships - it was quite simply a page turner.
Buy it!
Hunter Gamble is the main man, a lawyer working to protect the rights of arcanes after an Unveiling. This story involves zombies and witches but is brilliantly interwoven with reality - corruption in politics, family and working relationships - it was quite simply a page turner.
Buy it!
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