Stay Dead

Elise Sandburg #2

by Anne Frasier

New York Times bestselling author Anne Frasier takes readers back to her dark, enchanting Savannah—a place as terrifying as it is mesmerizing.

Homicide detective Elise Sandburg is traumatized after her run-in with a madman the press has dubbed “The Organ Thief." As Elise takes refuge in her deceased aunt Anastasia’s abandoned plantation to investigate and recover from her ordeal, she begins to question everything—from her dangerous line of work to her complex relationship with her handsome, tortured partner, David Gould. But with a madman on the loose, and her mother’s claims to still hear from aunt Anastasia, she may have more immediate problems on her hands. In Elise’s world, where cold hard crime mixes with the local Gullah culture, nothing is ever what it seems, and no one is above suspicion—not even the dead.

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Audiobook, Crime, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Suspense

Audio CD

First published April 22, 2014

About the author

Anne Frasier is the New York Times, #1 Amazon Charts, and USA Today bestselling author of the Detective Jude Fontaine Mysteries, the Elise Sandburg series, and the Inland Empire novels. With more than a million copies sold, her award-winning books span the genres of suspense, mystery, thriller, romantic suspense, paranormal, and memoir. The Body Reader received the 2017 Thriller Award for Best Original Paperback Novel from International Thriller Writers. Other honors include a RITA for Romantic Suspense and a Daphne du Maurier Award for Paranormal Romantic Mystery/Suspense. Her thrillers have hit the USA Today bestseller list and have been featured in Mystery Guild, the Literary Guild, and Book of the Month. Her memoir, The Orchard, was an O, The Oprah Magazine Fall Pick; a One Book, One Community read; and one of the Librarians’ Best Books of 2011. Visit her website at www.annefrasier.com.

Reviews

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly, this book would have been a five star read if I hadn't spent the first six chapters repeatedly checking goodreads and Amazon, sure I'd missed a book somewhere. The way this opens in the aftermath of a major event, with NO details, almost as though the reader should already know what happened, was a fail for me. The rest of the book made up for it, but it took me a long time to get into the story after the aggravation of the beginning.

[Myra · Rating 3 out of 5]

This came as quite a let-down from Play Dead. Much has happened to Elise since we last saw her, and we spend the first half of this book basically in her head as she deals with the mystery event as well as with her questions about her relationship with her partner, David. This event is so much of a mystery that I (and apparently a large number of other people) thought that we had missed a whole book in the series. But a quick check of the author's website shares this message prominently on the front page: "Some people have worried that they've missed a book in the Elise Sandburg series because the second book, Stay Dead, begins after a traumatic event in Elise's life. Maybe I'm getting soft, but the Tremain incident felt too horrible to put on the page as it unfolded, but I'll most likely revisit the event once Elise is finally able to face the atrocities that took place.

You haven't missed anything. There is no book between Play Dead and Stay Dead. Thanks for the emails, thanks for looking for that mysterious book that hasn't been written, and thanks for reading! "

Sadly, this made what could have been another great read a real beast to get through. Luckily, the second half really picks up and you figure out enough of what happened to start to enjoy it. However, the ending couldn't make up for the start. Also missing somewhat compared to the first book is the history and culture of Savannah. It's there, but not as strongly. Here's hoping the next book in the series goes back to the quality of the first one.

[Montzalee Wittmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stay Dead
(Elise Sandburg #2)
by Anne Frasier, Natalie Ross
This is pretty good...but our gal sure gets best up a lot! Lol!
Great characters, plot, and suspense. Unique story line and mystery.
The narrator is excellent!

[Erth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a great, easy and creative series. i was hooked after the first page.

The characters were easy to fall in love with and follow, along with the story. the author made the mental visions so easy and vivid of the surroundings and the characters actions felt so real.

i would highly recommend this author and this series.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn't enjoy this one as much as the first, felt a bit disjointed, almost like I had missed a book in the series. It kind of came together at the end but not enough really. Kept me interested all the way through and I do like the authors style of writing.

[Anirudh Kukreja · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this book faster than a tub of ice cream on a cheat day.
The book starts off a bit confusing: there are emotional references to a harrowing event that our amazing Elise suffers. Eventually the book picks up pace and the story streamlines a bit.
Much like the first part, the book can be slightly... hypothetical, to the extent of almost supernatural but you have to go with the flow.
Amazing story, thrilling climax and the characters keep getting better. We literally have Sandburg's very own Avengers/Justice League at this point.

PS. This book should come with a trigger warning for assault and graphic descriptions for the same. Frasier, why you gotta be so mean to my girl, Elise?

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

WONDERFUL! If I didn't already live in Savannah, I would want to! :) Anne is an AMAZING story teller and GETs Savannah in all of its quirks and glory.

Stay Dead is a page turner. Anne’s amazing storytelling is so beautiful it’s as if you’re reading a melodic love song where one note (page) flows flawlessly to the next.

The twists and turns in Stay Dead are....WOW! Elise's struggles and triumphs throughout take her (and YOU) from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows and EVERYTHING in between and you’re right there with her.

Can't WAIT for Book #3!

[Heather Dearly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stay Dead delves deeper into the complicated lives of Elise Sandburg and David Gould from Play Dead, the first novel of this unique series by Anne Frasier. I was welcomed back to Savannah and the "strange as normal" flavor of local events with ease and enjoyed dipping my toes back into dark water with Elise. Intricately crafted twists and character development made for a captivating read. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for a third book in this series.

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will admit that like,all good readers, I too, checked to see if I had missed a book, or novella, between the last book, and this one. That being said, the rest of the book made perfect sense in a thriller. The Organ Thief, was so mixed in the history of Elise' s life, that she did not even know about, or fully comprehend. Bodies being found, with organs,missing, and a threat against Elise , after her harrowing escape, and severe injuries. Now it all begins again, and David and her team, are right beside her. Her teenage daughter , is overseas, which is a blessing, considering , so many things are happening around her. Meaning to rest, she goes to the,plantation of her aunt Anesthesia, who has been reported dead. Melinda , a cousin,welcomes her, but soon, Elise realizes all is not right, at the plantation. There was a part of the book that went into detail about the plantation, her aunt, and her childhood, but they were all relevant to the,story. The last. half of the book seemed to fly, but I won't spoil it for you. I did like the ending. It was a,very good murder mystery. There is no actual sexual conduct, just thoughts, and suggestions. There is a part of the book that deals in spells, and magic, and what it means to be the daughter, of a root doctor. Savannah has lots of secrets, and dark mystery, and dark magic, that is still ,in the thread it weaves today. These images, feelings ,beliefs, or non beliefs , are talked about in the book. The serial murderer is fascinated to the point of obsession, about this belief system. This is why I listed it both gothic, and paranormal. The storms, the heavy moss, an old plantation, and sounds in the night , adds to its creepy appeal. The voodoo, and chants, and mojo bags, are not something I believe in, but it made the murderer, all that more dangerous, and the detectives life, more interesting.

[Evan Harte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although this is the 2nd Elise Sandburg book, it feels like the 3rd. This is because the book takes place after events that surpass after the events of book one.

But don't be fooled! You are meant to be confused; the pieces of the mystery puzzle reveal themselves to you as the story progresses.

I thought this book was well done, despite my initial confusion. Detective Elise Sandburg and her partner, David, become more and more intriguing as their relationship progresses. You also learn a lot more about Elise's history, which happens to contribute to the plot.

I wanted a bit more out of the ending, though it was not a disappointment. I would give Stay Dead 4.5/5 if it were an option. 4/5 on goodreads makes it look worse than it actually is.

The overall atmosphere created by Anne Frasier in these novels is awesome. Savannah, Georgia is described as a dark and twisted town in the southern United States that has an equally dark and twisted history. The local Gullah culture makes for an intriguing read with locals being obsessed with rituals, spells, mojo's, and other occult-like stuff, something which Elise finds herself caught up in.

If you loved creepy mysteries like MJ Arlidge's DI Helen Grace thrillers or Lars Kepler's Joona Linna thrillers, then you should definitely check out this series!

[Anne Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book but not as good as the first " Play Dead". And for those of you going insane wondering where the book in between was, THERE ISNT ONE. agh! All the stuff about Atticus Tremaine was never in a second book and we missed it. Find the author's page on Audible and read what she says about that. I was ticked . This one dragged a bit and by the time the ending scene of happiness at Thanksgiving came, I didn't even care. Why in the heck was there no development of the relationship between David and Elise?

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two-haiku review:

She escaped kidnap
Left kidnapper in coma
But was he really?

Kind of rough at start
Then turned into great action
Like these characters

Yes, this is book 2. No you didn't miss one, even tho it feels like it.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

My biggest issue here, is that we don't get a recap of the first book and it left me confused for QUITE a while. I'll try to not wait 6 months til I read the next one.

[CD {Boulder Blvd} · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointed with this one...

Although I liked the first book and was looking forward to this one, I was disappointed. There is a gap in Elise's story that makes you feel like you missed a book. And although the gap is slowly filled in, it seems disjointed. And the current plot is dependent on Elise and David being TSTL which really reduced my enjoyment and increased my frustration. There were some interesting elements providing more back story on Elise but not enough to save this one.

How does someone who repeatedly did TSTL moves and was still dealing with emotional issues get the promotion?

[sslyb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like the first book in this series, I started out not liking it. By the time I’d finished, I was glad I read it.

[Terri Moore · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the first book in this series. It's rare that I don't finish a book, and while I did finish this one, boy was it a struggle. The smart and well developed characters were gone, replaced by ones that made decisions even rookie cops wouldn't. Elise and her daughter... Ugh. Elise has been seriously harmed, physically and emotionally, but she chooses to "recover" alone in a run down rotting mansion in the middle of nowhere with no cell service. Her 15 year old daughter manages to fly across the world alone to return to an extremely dangerous situation because she's "stubborn". An ex FBI profiler being fooled by a psychopaths mothers lie so unrealistic even my boring engineer's brain could see right through. I could go on and on with the ridiculousness. Unfortunately this book ruined the series for me and I won't be reading the third.

[Priscilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second book in the Elise Sandberg series by Anne Frasier is as wickedly delicious as the first book 'Play Dead'.

Set in Savannah GA - a city full of humid mystery, beauty, and magic - Elise Sandberg, police detective, is recovering from life threatening injuries when her mother calls to ask if Elise has raised her sister (Elise's aunt) from the dead! Elise's mother, a very conservative and sane person, is convinced that her dead sister telephoned her to tell her that she was okay.

Is someone pretending to be Elise's aunt or has she come back from the dead to haunt the living? Can the dead never 'Stay Dead' in Elise's world?

[Bobbi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would have rated the book three stars IF I hadn't spent so much time wondering if I had missed a book in the series. I checked the internet twice, finally finding that other readers had experienced the same thing. As others have noted, the book keeps referencing a horrible ordeal that Elise had been through with a man who had abducted her, and it's presented in such a way that the reader thinks he/she has missed something. For me, if the tale of this abduction was so consequential, maybe this book should have fully addressed it as a present event and then moved on to the aftermath, either in this book or in a sequel.

[♥ Ashleigh ♥ Contrary to popular belief I'm not actually mad! · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are starting this book let's address the big WTF we are all asking ourselves, how did we miss a book?!?! Sadly you didn't miss anything, it appears Anne decided to tell the story of the Organ Thief through a recapture in this book. Seems really confusing at the start but eventually makes sense as you continue reading.

Okay now that's done and dusted, why did I give this book 3 stars? Mostly because it's painfully unrealistic (as least I hope so cause if there's cops like this I am truly concerned). Along with the missing story, the characters have undergone developmental and relationship changes without us getting to watch, so it's really jarring going from book 1, where the MC isn't to fond of her partner to this book where they are the best of best buds. Other than that it was really entertaining. Better than the first book. Loving the lore that's intertwined with the police work, and I'm enjoying the characters more and more. Though I did have a moment when I was like 'Avery, who on earth is Avery'. He's Starsky or Hutch just in case you are wondering the same. Speaking of they're also no longer the worst people ever to exist, but no pleasurable reason or explanation is provided. We're just informed that now they're cool and we no longer hate them. 🤷‍♀️

Spoilers ahead:
Side note - police should not be running around plotting murders, they shouldn't be clearly psychologically damaged and physically incapable of doing their jobs due to injuries and be put back on active duty. 🙅‍♀️🤦‍♀️ I get that everyone wants the MC to be the special snow flake ❄ and be the most amazing person at her job, but realistically her job would continue to be done without her (excluding budget cuts). She is not 'be all end all'. Actually there's a lot of holes like that in this book. But if you're willing to ignore those, a fun read.

Apologies for the rant, this book causes that kind of passion in me. 😂🙈

[Rhonda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Anne does it again!. She writes a great first book but the next book in the series bombs.

I spent the first 6 chapters trying to figure out why this book, the beginning, does not follow the ending of book 1. In fact, this book reads as if there was a book before it.

I finally got on good reads and saw it was a major writers flaw, there is no book before it.

There is a LOT of pre-romance in this book at times the romance was stronger than the murder mystery.

1/3 of the way through I gave up. Too much to read, too little time, to read bad books.

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

With the gullah culture, root work, conjuring, spells, black Tupelo, people reappearing after death and Savannah myths, you might expect something completely different in this story. Yet, the story was really about police detectives and all that was just background. Anne Frasier weaves a psychological tale, getting onto the minds of detectives as they get into the minds of murders. The characters are wonderfully real, even their names - Jackson Sweet, Strata Luna and others. Fascinating and a challenge to attempt figuring out the ending.

[Literati Literature Lovers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not confusing time jump.

4.5 Stars Yes, there is a time jump and the negative reviews about it, made me hold off continuing the series. DON'T let the time jump hold you back! Stellar book as Frasier does reveal all. Also FYI these are NOT paranormal, these are police procedural books. So if you loved the Body Reader by Frasier; then pick up this series.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though the beginning was confusing (you're plopped right in the middle of a huge plot), I loved this second installment. Elise was frustrating at times, but I can't get enough of this world. I wasn't much of a David fan in book 1, but I have quickly changed my mind. I've already started book 3 as this series is addicting.

[Kristina · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars because, Yes- this actually IS the 2nd in the series, and No- you haven't missed one in between.
And for the mindlessness of the first half where the reader is narrated to as Elise recounted the past month's horrors she experienced.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went into this book knowing that I'd be thrown off for a few chapters. It was almost like a puzzle, all the pieces eventually fit together. I love how Elise and David interact, they're perfect partners. I cannot wait to see what's in store for the next book!

[Elise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun series. Not only do I scare the name, I grew up near many of the areas where this takes place. Will likely continue.

[Dawn McGill Dalrymple · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great one I so want Elise and David to get together on to book 3 I go...

[Alexandra Nitu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Better than the 1st

Surprisingly that 2nd book of the serais is more engaging and thrilling than the first. Characters better contoured, more twisted plot and great atmosphere.

[Dione Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stalked

This was a different type of stalking story..the Killer saved Elise to stalk her to try to steal the Mantle..? Wowwwww..love this.. Jackson Sweet? I am intrigued..

[LeAnn · Rating 3 out of 5]

What???

This book starts out in a weird place. Like other reviewers I kept looking for the missing book. Instead it is just a big fail by the author to create who knows what. Once the reader understands the past actions constantly alluded to will eventually be explained the story is great. But that beginning is frustrating and I almost gave up. Don't. It's worth hanging in. But the beginning drops it to only 3 stars.