Death Perception

by Lee Allen Howard

Nineteen-year-old Kennet Singleton lives with his invalid mother in a personal care facility, but he wants out. He operates the crematory at the local funeral home, where he discovers he can discern the cause of death of those he cremates—by toasting marshmallows over their ashes.

He thinks his ability is no big deal since his customers are already dead. But when his perception differs from what’s on the death certificate, he finds himself in the midst of murderers. To save the residents and avenge the dead, Kennet must bring the killers to justice.

Genres: Horror, Ebooks

310 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 4, 2013

About the author

Lee Allen Howard, MA, MFA, writes horror, LGBTQ horror, supernatural crime, dark mystery, and psychological thrillers.

His pubs include THE COVENANT SACRIFICE, DEATH PERCEPTION, THE SIXTH SEED, THE ADAMSON FAMILY, PERPETUAL NIGHTMARES, THE BEDWETTER, MAMA SAID, DESPERATE SPIRITS, NIGHT MONSTERS, and SEVERED RELATIONS.

Reviews

[Rainz ❤️rainnbooks❤️(on a break) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Look at the cover image on the book and tell me if you can begin reading without expecting horror, but Lee Allen Howard throws a perfect googly with his Death Perception. The story about a young man brought up in an unusual circumstance developing psychic powers is unexpectedly a bittersweet one.

Kennet Singleton goes about life trying to do the right thing without causing much fuss. His upbringing amongst the elderly care patients is itself an oddity and seeing him trying to navigate life after the death of his mother created an ache in the heart. His peculiarity doesn’t end there, to be working as an operator in the cemetery earns him the nickname Dr. Death but he has no problems with it as he believes that even the dead need to be cared for well but his habit of toasting marshmallows over their ashes, OH GOD, that had me queasy.

Lee Allen Howard’s Death Perception is all about perception, there are multiple plotlines, on one hand, there is Mr. Grinold, the funeral director focused on his business and his reputation which creates a horde of problems, on the other, there’s Ms. Costa the care homeowner whose sole intention is to earn enough to live independently without a man, for which she decides to take matters into her own two greedy hands, there is Alex, the helper in the care home who is growing drugs inside his house, then, of course, Kennet and his open and kind heart trying to see the good in all and the psychic visions that give him more truths than what he bargained for.

Despite what life dished out, everyone had a choice. You could choose to react poorly, or you could endeavor to rise above. Either way, you were responsible for your actions.

The murders, the suspense, the ghosts everything comes together in this excellent tale of greed and needs with well fleshed out characters. The author’s writing is so effortless that for a time one forgets the subject matter of death and cemetery. The story brims with underlying dark humor that provides a kind of quirky fun in a tale of murders and mayhem. This is my first book by the author and I find it admirable that he has mixed a number of genres to provide a very endearing story. The murders and horror and the crazy turn in the story apart, this is also a coming of age for Kennet who learns to accept the gift for what it is and vows to protect his loved ones.

Do not expect an action-packed chill down the spine horror, this novel is nothing like that, in fact, the straight narration leaves the reader with a twinge of sympathy for Kennet rather than any feeling of fear.

If you love books with horror and humor in equal measures, then Death perception is just the perfect book for you. Highly recommended!


Many thanks to BLACKTHORN BOOK TOURS and the author for a chance to read and review this book. All opinions are expressed voluntarily.

This review is published in my blog Rain'n'Books, ##Goodreads, ##Amazon India, ##Book Bub, ##Medium.com, ##Facebook, ##Twitter.

[Apoorva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Firstly, I want to acknowledge Blackthorn Book Tours for giving a copy of the book & taking me on as a member of this book's tour.

OMG! The cover is so hair raising; that in itself is sufficient to assist you to settle for a trip to the realm of perceptions, especially death perceptions! The hero, a young boy, a gifted psychic, needs the experience to interpret & appreciate his skills & use them for the people around him. The author's research & study across the subject of death, supernatural powers & cremation comes across very evidently.

The storyline is uncomplicated yet compelling. It has pragmatic conversational dialogues & a brilliant development on the survival tale of the lead. There are some impressive & adrenaline-pumping views while the hero strives for what's correct.

I would assuredly suggest this novel to all those who are into reading horror stories. This one's not gonna let you down!

[Tabitha Tomala · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is also featured on Behind the Pages: Death Perception

Thank you to Blackthorn Book Tours for providing me a copy for an honest review!


Kennet has a gift. He can discern how someone died by roasting marshmallows over their ashes. Considering he works for the local crematorium, he has the chance to use his abilities on the job. But he’s always seen his gift as nothing but a parlor trick. After all, when someone has already died does it even matter if he can discern their cause of death? Until his death perception starts to differ from the paperwork. And as the body count rises, he begins to think a killer is on the loose. As Kennet searches for the truth, he will uncover dark secrets and hidden agendas that may very well mean his own death.


Kennet is a character who is down on his luck but refuses to give up. He lives with his elderly mother in a care facility and knows he must strike out on his own, but feels stuck. He doesn’t make enough money to live on his own, yet at the same time, he wants to do better for himself. Haunted by an abusive past, he refuses to become his father. Kennet is constantly comparing himself to his father, and because of this pushes himself harder and harder each day to do better. Even when his temper gets the best of him, he refuses to strike out at those he loves. Lee Allen Howard succeeded in creating a wholesome character readers can’t help but become focused on. He chose to build Kennet up as a character and allowed his ability to accent Kennet’s personality instead of letting it dominate the storyline.


Death Perception is told from multiple points of view. As the story unfolds, readers are allowed to see the motivations behind the murders and how Kennet stumbles into them. Knowing what the antagonists have in store for the story and Kennet helps build up the tension in each moment. It also adds to the overall darker tone of the story and shows an uglier side to humanity. This story hits close to home because the circumstances surrounding the murder mystery feel like they could have occurred in the real world. It’s disturbing to realize people can sink so low, but at the same time, it makes the perfect murder mystery.


There are some religious undertones to Kennet’s abilities, but they never overshadow the main plot. And Lee Allen Howard has also worked in a coming of age story among the main murder mystery. While the various topics don’t seem like they would fit together, it just works. All the pieces line up to tell a slice of life story peppered with mystery and supernatural abilities. If you’re looking for a book to kick off the spooky season, but you don’t want to dive too deeply into horror, give Death Perception a try.

[Paul Preston · Rating 4 out of 5]

The dead are burning to talk and Kennet is there to listen, but do they want more from him then he dares to provide?
Nineteen years old and Kennet lives with his invalid mom at Costa’s Personal Care Home and has since his abusive father died. Struggling to make money, he has a job as a crematory operator at the local funeral home. The thing is, in this genre bending tale, Kennet has a special ability, he gets visions of how the people died. There is something for everyone in this slow burning, supernatural, coming-of-age, YA, thriller, fueled by greed and control.
Kennet is such a great kid, you really get to know and love him. He doesn’t always make the best decisions, but his heart is always in the right place. Unlike those around him.

[Bookaholic__Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Death perception is the second Lee Allen Howard book that I have read, and they couldn't be more different! Before I even begin to get started on my thoughts in regards to the book, I want to say a few things about Mr. Howard and his apparent writing style(s). Mr. Howard is a true master of his craft.He is able to embrace the genres of horror, supernatural, thriller, and crime and do each one its justice. If you are looking for an author who writes books that will make it impossible to rip your eyes from the pages (even when the Lord knows you really really want to ie 'The bedwetter' ) you really ought to give him a look!

I honestly did not know what to expect from Mr. Howard because after his last release, I didn't think anything could top it.This story, however, delivers so much in a short span of time. There were so many reasons why I loved this book. Although I won't confidently place it inside a specific genre, I found that it ticked off many boxes within some of my favorites. This story brings you an underdog protagonist, unredeemable 'villains', splashes of gore and horror, dark comedy, secrets, ghosts, and so much more. Somehow Mr.Howard meshes all these things together to form a slow burning but solid story.

I received an E-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you again, Blackthorn Book Tours for letting me take part in the blog tour.

[Goblin Reaper · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Singleton, you sure know how to bake ’em.”
•
Huge thanks to Black Thorn Books for sharing the ecopy of this book in return for an honest review!
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       When I was browsing through the Goodreads reviews of this book, a sentence from a fellow reader's review caught my eye—

"How do you review a book that is so catchy that your eyes stick to the paper and can't be freed?"

This is exactly how I felt when I sat down with a pen in hand and book open to review Death Perception. My thoughts were still swimming in the storyline, the ending and the gripping contents of the book; deep enough that I couldn't gather my thoughts to pen down even a single sentence. But now that I've entered the "reviewer mode", I'll just get started on talking (writing?) your ears off:-)

Nineteen-year-old Kennet Singleton lives with his invalid mother in a personal care facility. He works at the local funeral home as a cremator. However Kennet, with his dark past and turbulent present, has secrets— he has the power of discerning the cause of death by toasting marshmallows over their ashes (yep, marshmallows). It's all a weird hobby and a little fun time until his perception begins to differ from what's written on the death certificate… Kenneth must put his powers to use and bring the killer to light— before people start dropping like flies! 

           With jokes bordering on dark and a moral-Esque main character, the author portrays a unique plot line with brilliant writing.

As a regular reader and writer (an amateur one), what I've noticed is that authors, along with keeping the storyline and the characters alive, also have to make sure their writing (word orders, sentence formations, figures of speech and dialogues) is thriving too. I think Allen Howard manages this beautifully. His words have an intense feel to it and that made the story more effective in its context. However, I did think that when a character is toasting marshmallows, it becomes difficult to take him and what comes after a little more seriously. But by giving a powerful and mysterious rationale to a bonfire-side activity was very unique in its own way. 


I loved how the author portrayed the male mc. From being naive and too trusting to being a little more clever and cautious— his character arc was very well written. It was beautiful how Kennet did not once lose his hope and still looked towards the light at the end of the tunnel even after being through so much, especially considering his upbringing. 


“He once told Kennet that a professional always cleans up his own mess. On this point, he had to admit he was wrong.”


During the end of this chapter I had to take a moment or two to appreciate how ironic Grinold's fate was. He was the first one to succumb to his fears despite his previous attitude of "being raised right by a strong, powerful woman of a mother." I felt like it was a fitting ending for him. 
The remaining proprietors of crime traveled in the same boat but in different directions. It was like all loose ends of Kennet's little town were neatly cut off. I loved how everything fell into place.
Kennet's love for his mother, Nathan's cologne, adorable yet grumpy old people and Wilkes' eccentric nature truly made this book memorable for me. I won't be forgetting it anytime soon.


Trigger Warnings: Graphic Depictions of Violence, Recreational And Consensual Drug Use, Depictions of Domestic Violence. 
This story revolves around the sum and substance of death, I recommend caution to those who are sensitive to such content.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've always enjoyed a good underdog story and Lee Allen Howard delivers just that with Death Perception. Our protagonist, Kennet, has had a hard life so why shouldn't he enjoy some of the sweeter things? His boss may not like him roasting marshmallows on the job at the crematory but the dead don't seem to mind. In fact, Kennet isn't your average teen and that momentary pleasure brings him more than just a sugar rush. He soon finds he's able to make contact with the deceased, giving him knowledge no one else is aware of. Part ghost story and part murder mystery Howard's clean prose and spot-on timing make for a compelling read. The story is told with compassion for the less fortunate and insight into the way the world often torments the weak. But it also contains some truly laugh-out-loud scenes at the expense of the evil-doers and the ultimate triumph of the underdog. If you enjoy ghosts, revenge tales and mysteries this book is for you.

[Trent · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love everything I've read by Howard, and Death Perception is unquestionably my favorite. Kennet Singleton is a fascinating character with a very unique talent, a young kid with a rough past who simply can't seem to catch a break. Then his talent is contradicted, and the story, as well as Kennet, alters and spins into completely new territory.

One part drama, one part horror, one part mystery and one part coming of age, Death Perception simply rocks. Howard is--always is--so good with character, and the story is filled with unexpected twists and turns, both frightening and tender. I'd recommend anything by Lee Allen Howard, but as an author myself, Death Perception truly made me envious. He's someone to admire, and every book of his is worth reading. This one, above all, however, I can't recommend enough.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lee Allen Howard’s DEATH PERCEPTION is at time wacky and at times sweet. It follows the story of Kennet (someone left off the “h” in the hospital when he was born), a 19 year old working in a crematorium who enjoys toasting marshmallows. Over the ashes of the dead. Not only are they delicious, but he can see how the people died. At first Kennet thinks this is a kind of lame talent, but when his death perceptions don’t match with the cause of death, he realizes there’s something fishy going on. Howard gives Kennet a fun (for us, not so much for Kennet) cast of villains to vie against. He writes with a delightfully dark sense of humor which played nicely off the morbid subject matter, reminiscent of Jeff Strand’s work. DEATH PERCEPTION is a quick, fun read which made me really want to toast some marshmallows.

[Stephanie M. Wytovich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Howard's approach to dark fiction combines horror and humor in a way that is both terrifying and light. Death Perception was a fast-paced, entertaining read by an author who knows his way around nightmares and is no stranger to putting them on the page. This was a fascinating read with a plot unlike anything else that I've read, and I will never look at or eat another marshmallow the same way again. I hope to see more of Kennet Singleton's character in the future!

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

If someone left the last letter of my name off of my birth certificate, and no one bothered to notice, I would be called Jame. Not bad, I suppose, but I would be living a somewhat unfulfilled life. Our name is part of who we are, and how we are referred to is equally as important. It’s our identity and is unique to us. Kennet Singleton found himself in that situation from the moment he came into this world. His life from then on was anything but normal. His father was a man filled with anger and constantly lashed out at Kennet and his mother. His tragic end took so much out of the family that at the end of his mother’s life, he lived with her in a care home run Ms. (never Mrs) Flavia Costa. He struggles to make ends meet by working part-time at the local crematorium. His boss, Cecil Grinold, is an unsavoury type, cutting corners as he sees fit and has eyes on opening up more crematoriums in the future. He treats Kennet how most other adults treat him: with barely disguised contempt.

But Kennet has a gift, bestowed upon him my God and a now-deceased prophetess Sister Etta. In a tradition that can hardly be described as quirky, Kennet toasts marshmallows over the ashes and this action allows him to ascertain by some spiritual connection with the dead how his charges died. Author Lee Allen Howard has given his character a pretty unique power. It’s what Kennet does with this ability that powers this fast-moving and engaging novel, Death Perception.

When the novel begins, Kennet is informed by Ms. Costa that his mother has died. This hits the young man hard and while you would expect the adults in his life to support him in his grief, the opposite happens. Costa moves him from his room to a dank basment and basically tells him to look for somewhere else to live. His boss is unfeeling and instead adds to Kennet’s workload. When Grinhold catches his employee offguard toasting marshmallows, he fires him. However, Grinhold is living a double life and finds his reputation on the line when the woman he’s having an affair with, Delores, threatens to make their liaison public unless he pays her off. Meanwhile, residents in Ms. Costa’s care home are dying at an alarming rate. Kennet, by way of his power, and with the help of his friend Nate and romantic interest Christy, attempt to get to the bottom of both Grinhold’s and Ms. Costa’s subterfuge.

Lee Allan Howard mixes genres here quite well. It’s got all the prequisites of your typical coming-of-age story, with Kennet coming to terms with who he is and what he can do, using whatever resources at hand to do better for himself and his mother’s memory. His burgeoning romance with Christy is sweet without being sickly so. The mysteries Kennet investigates are two-fold: his power tells him that how some of the people he cremated died doesn’t match up with their death certificates. He is told by the spirits of these people to avenge them. Kennet needs to do what he’s being asked. Then there are the separate plots by Grinhold and Ms. Costa. What, if anythung, do they have to do with the dead people that ‘talk’ to Kennet? Then there is the horror behind everything that’s going on. The adults, the so-called responsible people, are committing heinous acts out of greed and and an overblown sense of self-importance. None of them come out well. The spirits will have their vengeance.

Death Perception rattles along at a decent pace and Lee Allen Howard peppers his narrative with engaging character work. I liked Kennet and wanted to see him survive and expose the fraudsters in his midst. I feel there could be more to come from this young man in future books. I would love to see him delve deeper into the origin of his gift and how he could use it for further good. What I would have enjoyed is more horror, though. For me, there wasn’t quite enough of it. I wanted the evildoers to suffer more, instead in one case taking the easy way out. Still, this is a small thing because the book is enjoyable and perfect for readers unsure of whether or not they would enjoy a book with horror elements. I will look out for more of this author’s work.

[lacy white · Rating 4 out of 5]

Find this review and others like it at https://aravenclawlibraryx.wordpress.com

tw: child abuse, spousal abuse, death, cheating, murder, suicide, drug use

I am surprised by how much I liked this book. The synopsis was interesting enough to catch my attention but I didn’t think I would really like this as much as I did. Vigilante justice can be hit or miss. Sometimes, you appreciate what the MC is doing and why they are doing it. But other times, it can be very hard to support what the MC is doing. Luckily, I supported what Kennet was doing. Not to mention, this was a horror book and I’m still a little iffy on the horror book genre. But if I keep reading books like this, I’m certain my mind will change.

Speaking of Kennet, I enjoyed his character immensely. He came from such a broken home but he still wanted to do good. He honestly reminded me of Harry Potter quite a bit. Both came from pretty abusive households but they still had goodness in their hearts and they both wanted to do what was right. That’s probably why I liked this book so much. Kennet was such a great MC. He was pretty close to a perfect MC, in my humble opinion.

I liked the different POVs we got as well. They were all connected to the story and it wasn’t confusing at all. Everything that happened made sense and was connected to Kennet’s story. I didn’t like the other characters just on principle but I enjoyed their short little POVs when they did happen.

Overall, I enjoyed this book so much. As I mentioned above, I read it in only a couple hours, something I haven’t done in quite a while. I was going into a bit of a slump but this book pulled me right out of it. I can’t wait to check out more works by this author; he is now an instant favorite.

[taketwolu]

19 year old Kennet works at a crematorium and lives in a senior care center with his sickly mother. With a greedy, selfish boss, and a pushy landlord (senior care center owner), Kennet is nothing but down on his luck and constantly pushed around. He soon discovers his ability to determine the cause of death of those he cremates as he roasts marshmallows over his ashes. Maybe this skill could be the key to turning things around for him?

I didn’t know what to expect from this book, but it was a pretty interesting read! Kennet is trying to do his best for him and his mother, but everytime he tries to stand up for himself or do some good, he’d just get kicked down again -- paired with the fact that he’s had a rough life, you’ll feel pretty sorry for this kid. Howard also does a great job at villianzing some of his other characters because they will make your blood boil!

Through multiple POVs, we gradually see the unravelling of something more twisted and sinister at hand. I’m a sucker for a good mystery so it was fun seeing how everyone’s story fit together. This is a bit of a darker read with some trigger warnings to be careful of, but seeing the underdog outcome for Kennet was very rewarding. I would’ve liked some more supernatural moments and horror, but overall, I still enjoyed it.

[Angel Hench · Rating 3 out of 5]

Death Perception is a supernatural mystery surrounding a young man who lives in the closet of a care home, where his mother lives, and works in the crematorium of the local funeral home. His name is Kennet - because someone forgot to add the "h" before filing his birth certificate - and so he's always felt unfinished. He's also found that he can sense the cause of death of anyone he cremates.

Kennet is content with his lot in life, until his mother dies. As he begins to take on responsibilities, Kennett finds out that he's surrounded by absolutely terrible people. Whether it's a natural progression or the product of all the stress of everyone dying around him, he finds that his psychic powers are growing stronger. Maybe he can finally get justice for the dead...

I didn't particularly connect with the teenage protagonist of the book and the villains were a little too...villainous. But this is billed as a horror/comedy so that's probably permissible. This still gets a strong 3+ stars for a good, solid, definitely-supernatural mystery.

Thanks to @blackthorntours for the opportunity to read this title.

[Tonja Drecker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like marshmallows roasted in crematoriums, this is a suspenseful-thrilling read with just the right amount of tension and humor to make it a sheer delight.

Kennet isn't like other teens. Not only does he lead difficult life, but he enjoys interning at the crematorium and, sometimes, even receives information from the dead in visions...which might actually be transporting him temporarily to a different realm. He isn't sure, but then, he doesn't have a whole lot of time to contemplate things as disaster strikes and even murder with possible villains follows right behind.

The first pages sit with a wonderful mix of under-dog, creepy places, death, and a twist of quirky fun. And that's a good start for the entire tale. The author masterfully weaves dark, harsh scenes with eyebrow raising humor to create let tension and suspense run high, while keeping it intriguing and just a bit fun. It fits the main character, Kennet, perfectly as he himself doesn't really fit into a single mold. The villains are just as unique and keep Kennet on his toes as he tries to deal with everything. It's definitely an enjoyable read, and I'm looking forward to reading more from this author in the future.

I received a complimentary copy and was surprised how every moment of this book plays out.

[Graham Sillars · Rating 5 out of 5]

Firstly I wish to thank the lovely folks at Black Thorn Tours for sending me an ebook copy of this book with a request for an open and honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this well written, engaging and intriguingly dark amalgamation of a ghost story and a murder mystery.

Nineteen year old Kennet (great name) works in a crematorium. He also has the ability to communicate with the dead in as much as he can see how they died while he nonchalantly toasts marshmallows over their smouldering ashes. He begins to see deaths that don’t seem to correctly align with the documented cause of death.

The novel is well written. Full of decent plot twists and well built characterisation. A brilliant story idea that is also brilliantly executed. This is a book I’d highly recommend.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Death Perception is so far my favorite of Lee Allen Howard books that I have read (not that they aren't all good but..) at about the 40-50% mark we see how Kennet's "gift" is going to come in to play. You see Kennet can tell how people are going to die (after death) with a somewhat creepy trait, he toasts marshmallows over their cremains and eats them. Odd for sure, but so is Kennet in his own way, although I suspect that is more from his family history than anything else. And while this is a slower paced books, its still an engaging fast read, if hat makes sense. We get a lot of Kennet's background and about is life in the earlier part of the book until he decides to use what he learned to try and find out what is going on and if his mother was a victim as well. Despite Kennet's oddity, you get to like him, he really is a good kid just trying to get by on the raw deal he was dealt in life. I thoroughly enjoy this book and thank Blackthorn Book Tours and Lee Allen Howard for the review copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.

[Jenny McClinton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a gifted copy of ‘Death Perception’ by Lee Allen Howard in return for my honest review, as part of the Book Tour with Blackthorn Book Tours. When I saw the description for the book, I decided I just had to read, as it was very different.

The book follows Kennet Singleton, who works as a cremator at Grinold’s Funeral Home. He lives with his invalid mum in Costa’s Personal Care Home.

Whilst working he discovers that when he toasts marshmallows over the ashes of the deceased, he learns how they died.

Kennet has always found his visions to be correct against the death certificate paperwork, but then he starts to find some that differ. Is there a killer around? And is there only one?

He must push through his traumatic childhood and life to work out who the killer/s are before any more murders occur.

You get to hear from a few characters point of view throughout the book, giving more insight to what is happening.

I really enjoyed reading this book, and although it seems like a dark subject, there are points in which there is humour, especially with the toasting marshmallows over ashes. It is something I never thought I would read about.

I felt emotionally drawn to Kennet as he works through his trauma, he is strong, and he realises this the more his character develops throughout the book.

I will be looking out for more by Lee Allen Howard, as I liked the style of writing and want to read more of his work.

Overall, a mysterious and emotional horror with a touch of dark humour.

[Nisar Masoom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Death Perception (2013) recounts the narrative of a youngster named Kennet Singleton with otherworldly powers who needs to track down his own specific manner in a universe of unfairness. He works at the crematory of nearby burial service home, and finds out that he can distinguish the reason for death of those he incinerates. What happens when the reason for death on paper doesn’t coordinate with what Kenneth really sees?

From the second I began going through this novel by our Lee Allen Howard, I was promptly charmed by the lead figure and his otherworldly experiences. Nowadays, you go hither and tither to track down an original story that you can’t put down, yet Death Perception accomplishes this with marvelous characters, incredible symbolism, and a tone that makes go all the way until the inevitable ending. Kennet is the sort of character that is affable and makes you need to see him flourish. I would totally prescribe this novel to anybody who fancies deeply written spine chillers.

The story is told according to various perspectives, has diverse subplots and intrigues blended in with clearly strict extraordinary marvels. I didn’t figure this book would have such a huge impact on when I read the blurb, so Lee’s story caught me a little off-guard, but that’s a good thing.

This was my first time reading Allen Howard’s work and you can color me impressed. It is an uncommon book, and incorporates such fine-tuned pacing I finished it in four hours, and didn’t even know so many minutes had passed. Even after all these years of reviewing literature, especially of the horror variety, I found no flaws in Death Perception, and I add it to the growing list of books that I’ve given a perfect so far this year.

Read this review on my website Lit Retreat: https://www.literaryretreat.com/death...

[Valena D'Angelis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Death Perception tells the story of a young man named Kennet with supernatural powers that has to find his own way in a world of foul play. He operates the crematory at the local funeral home, and discovers that he can identify the cause of death of those he cremates. What happens when the cause of death on paper doesn’t match what Kennet actually sees?

The story is told from multiple points of view, has different subplots and conspiracies mixed with obviously religious supernatural phenomena. I didn’t think this book would have a religious influence when I read the description, so it caught me a little by surprise.

Although a lot of events were happening, they were told in a very straightforward fashion. Even with the author’s artful description of places and people and talent with words, I sadly felt little to no suspense as I read the pages. I must say the idea was original and exciting, but the way of telling simply did not do it for me as much as I had hoped.

Personally, I also struggled with the main character. Until the end, there was no clear definition of his personality. He seemed like the conflict-dodging outsider type of guy in the beginning and ended up being a badass. His decisions throughout the story did not seem to stem from the same belief base. The storytelling was not sufficient to support the character development, neither by enough time passed nor by working through emotions. The main character had a lot of hard blows that did not lead to an emotional reaction. He just carried on, seemingly unaffected.

I give death perception a 3 out of 5 stars. It’s an interesting read for people who are interested in interpersonal conspiracy plots and religious phenomena but might lack suspense for thriller / murder mystery fans.

[Kameron · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars (review request submitted by the author for an honest critique)


The gift of knowing a cause of death without insider information would come in handy for specific jobs — coroner and law enforcement. However, it’s more of a parlor trick for non-detective related occupations—unless you work in a crematory and the dead seek your help for vengeance. Then, it’s absolutely a welcomed gift.

Kennet’s super power, gift, or whatever you want to call it, really came into play during the last 100 or so pages of the story. During this portion, things started to heat up. 😀

The dead wanted vengeance. Kennet wanted vengeance.

Spirits communicated with the living to carry out their plan, and not all the angry souls were rooting for the good guy (Kennet).

While the cover screams horror, in my opinion, I didn’t find Death Perception scary at all. I’m pretty sure I’d be singing a different turn if spirits wanted me dead and if one (or two or more) appeared before me.

Was Death Perception weird? YES.

Was it creepy? Yes!

Seriously, roasting marshmallows over ashes and then eating them is WEIRD and CREEPY!

I only wish we would’ve seen more interactions between the spirits and the living. I wanted more creepiness. More horror. More suspense.

I was pleased by the ending, though. If anyone deserved a HEA, it was Kennet.

(Find more reviews/ratings at www.superkambrook.com)

[M.L. Roos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lee Allen Howard is quickly becoming a huge favourite of mine. He crafts his characters so well and gives them depth, flaws and realism that you expect from a much more seasoned writer.
DEATH PERCEPTION is a well thought out story about Kennet, a troubled, yet gentle young man who lives in a nursing home with his elderly mother. He has a job in a crematorium working for a profit-driven, moral-less boss, but Kennet does his job with dignity, and provides a graceful ending for all the people he deals with, regardless of cost.
Then, people start dying in the home where Kennet lives....and the death certificate doesn't quite match up with what Kennet sees, as the cause of death. Kennet's gift is to see how people die, and therein lies the problem.
DEATH PERCEOTION is smart, funny, engaging, and endearing. A true work of art. I love this book and I hope there will be many more Kennet stories.

[Meg Mims · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read a few of Lee Allen Howard's other books, and I believe this is his best. They're all gritty, realistic and chilling -- not in a blood-and-guts way (although some details in Death Perception do spill out), but what I loved is Howard's more-than-heroic hero. Kennet Singleton has had a rough life, and things just get worse due to some creepy people in the town - his greedy funeral director boss, the cold-hearted owner of the home care place where Kennet's mother lives, and the half-stoned orderly who targets Kennet whenever possible. Howard does a masterful job peeling the layers in this deeply moving novel, revealing Kennet's unusual gift of perception, plus the evil surrounding him. I cheered for Kennet every step of the way. A great, satisfying read.

[Amanda Tanay · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the moment I started reading Death Perception I was immediately intrigued by the main character and his supernatural adventure. It is sometimes difficult to find a novel that you can't put down, but Death Perception achieves his with terrific characters, great imagery, and a tone that makes you want to keep going until the end. Kennet is the type of character that is likable and makes you want to see him thrive. I would absolutely recommend this novel to anyone interested in supernatural thrillers.

[Ron · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first novel I've read by Howard, but it won't be the last. As a fan of creepy fun and metaphysical possibilities, I applaud Death Perception as a stunner work of fiction. Kennet is a fully realized protagonist, who reminds me of Koontz's Odd Thomas and any number of Coen Brothers movie characters. I laughed, felt the suspense of the next unpredictable plot element, and I even squirmed a bit. There's truly something creepy and cool about a crematorium worker who roasts marshmallows. You'll have a lot of fun with this read.

[Carla Anderton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first exposure to Lee Allen Howard's work and I was definitely impressed. It is a rare book that has me so riveted I finish it in two sittings, but "Death Perception" dazzled me. This combination of pure, unadulterated horror, sprinkled with humor and heavy on human emotion was a delight to read from start to finish. The prose was tight and engaging, the descriptions appropriately vivid, and the characters were certainly memorable. I'll be reading more from this author in the near future.

[Rebeccah Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Death Perception has it all and more!

This is the second book I have read by Lee Allen Howard, the first being a brilliantly horrific horror novel full of everything there is to love about the stereotypical serial killer and more, so I was expecting the same from Death Perception. I mean, honestly, look at the cover! Paired with the title? It has horror written ALL OVER IT! With that said, Death Perception was absolutely NOT what I was expecting. Not even in the least.

Let’s begin with the synopsis.
“Nineteen-year-old Kennet Singleton lives with his invalid mother in a personal care facility, but he wants out. He operates the crematory at the local funeral home, where he discovers he can discern the cause of death of those he cremates-by toasting marshmallows over their ashes.”

So, obviously we follow Kennet Singleton (Kennet does seem like an odd name, but I promise eventually you will completely understand why his name is Kennet, I was pretty excited to find out myself, it was literally driving me crazy) who, at nineteen years old, lives with his mother in, basically a nursing home. After the death of his father, which once you read this, you’ll see is absolutely no great loss, his mother’s health begins to decline, so together they moved into this assisted living facility, and Kennet began working at the local funeral home as a creamer in order to save some money to eventually get a place of his own. Seriously, no nineteen year old should be living in a nursing home, that’s just not feasible.

Kennet has a pretty special gift though .Upon completion of his cremation task, just as the bodies complete their burning process, he whips out a skewer and a couple of marshmallows, roasts them to a crispy brown right over their ashes, and suddenly he can literally “see” exactly how they died. Pretty cool actually, but also disgustingly disturbing.


Now, as great as all of this is, odd happenings begin taking place around him. First of all, his mother dies. That was quite possibly one of the saddest points in the book. After this particular event, more and more of the current residents of the assisted living home begin dying as well. “Dropping like flies around here,” as Helen Streider had said (also quite tragic) Kennet isn’t as dense as they all think. While the owner of the assisted living home, Flavia, her henchman/orderly, Alex and the funeral home director Cecile Grinold are all in cahoots, Kennet himself is on his own mission to find out exactly what’s going on. Of course, Kennet is basically under orders from a few certain someone’s “AVENGE US!” to figure it all out.

This book is full of all sorts of intrigue, mystery, action, death, and even a few chance paranormal encounters. Death Perception has it all, and every last bit of it will keep you on the edge of your seat wondering what’s going to happen next is will Kennet be able to stop it all.

Without a doubt, I absolutely have to give Death Perception by Lee Allen Howard a solid FIVE STARS!

[Amisha Bahl Chawla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like Life, Death too surrounds us.
While it scares the heebie jeebies out of most of us, to those that work with the sick and dying it is normal and natural.

To nineteen-year-old Kennet Singleton, who works at a crematorium, it is so part of his life that he toasts marshmallows over their ashes.

Shiver. That’s not even the scariest or creepiest part yet. While eating those toasted, soft and squishy marshmallows, he sees visions, visions of the cause of that person’s death.

These are no mere psychic visions. These are transportation’s where Kennet feels the same symptoms the person dying felt. The same gasps and gulps for air as they fight to live.
If you think this is a horror story, think again.

Death Perception by Lee Allen Howard is a crime thriller with a supernatural twist that takes a good, hard look at how the sick and elderly are taken advantage off in our current healthcare system.

After a rough childhood undergoing mental and physical torture by his dad, Kennet now lives with his invalid mom at a health care facility. When he senses unnatural deaths; murders, happening around him Kennet decides to take some action. After all...
“What’s a gift ...unless it helps somebody else?”

Will Kennet get justice for the dead?
Or will he be condemned for his ‘gift’?

Death Perception takes murder mystery’s to another level. Witty and devious the book is choc-a block full of twists and turns at every step. Giving it a macabre sense of surrealism is the fact that the clues to solve the murders come from the dead, themselves.

Lee’s use of dark humour sets the book on fire. For a book that is all about death, it very strangely teaches us the value of living. To pause, smell the roses and to always help those around us.

A book that is grounded in reality and one that keeps giving us the message that...
“Nothing is impossible if you just have courage”

So glad I got this RC it was spooky and thrilling to read. Hope you liked my fair and honest review.
Happy Reading:)

[Amy Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very unique premise!

Death Perception by Lee Allen Howard is a very interesting story with a unique premise. I haven't read work from this author before, and I really enjoyed it. The characters were for the most part, dead, but yes, their death was a big part of the story. Kennet was an unforgettable character, and very, well I don't want to say insane, but his perception of death is very different from others. I do like how the story unwinds, and Kennet gets placed on a new path. This author brings the story to life. This author has a great imagination and I'm glad it's being shared with stories. The story brings in the believable, even if almost impossible. Death Perception is a definite recommendation by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews. I look forward to reading many more stories by this author.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the premise of this book, but I didn't fully like the execution. This book is told from multiple perspectives and I sometimes was confused by who was speaking. I also wish we, the audience, weren't let in on what was going on so early in the book. I wish we, the audience were kept in suspense longer. But, I think these are my own hang-ups. Overall, this mystery/thriller with a touch of the supernatural was a good read about the corruption and greed of people.