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Dying for a Living #1
Dying for a Living
And you thought dying once would be hard...
On the morning before her 67th death, it is business as usual for agent Jesse Sullivan: meet with the mortician, counsel soon-to-be-dead clients, and have coffee while reading the latest regeneration theory. Jesse dies for a living, literally. Because of a neurological disorder, she is one of the population's rare 2% who can serve as a death surrogate, dying so others don't have to.
Although each death replacement is different, the result is the same: a life is saved, and Jesse resurrects days later with sore muscles, new scars, and another hole in her memory. But when Jesse is murdered and becomes the sole suspect in a federal investigation, more than her freedom and sanity are at stake. She must catch the killer herself--or die trying.
Dying for a Living is the first book in Kory M. Shrum's gripping urban fantasy series.
alternate cover edition exists here
On the morning before her 67th death, it is business as usual for agent Jesse Sullivan: meet with the mortician, counsel soon-to-be-dead clients, and have coffee while reading the latest regeneration theory. Jesse dies for a living, literally. Because of a neurological disorder, she is one of the population's rare 2% who can serve as a death surrogate, dying so others don't have to.
Although each death replacement is different, the result is the same: a life is saved, and Jesse resurrects days later with sore muscles, new scars, and another hole in her memory. But when Jesse is murdered and becomes the sole suspect in a federal investigation, more than her freedom and sanity are at stake. She must catch the killer herself--or die trying.
Dying for a Living is the first book in Kory M. Shrum's gripping urban fantasy series.
alternate cover edition exists here
400 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2014
1501 people are currently reading
5007 people want to read
About the author
Kory M. Shrum
53 books646 followersKory M. Shrum has published over thirty books including the bestselling Shadows in the Water and Dying for a Living series.
She also hosts two podcasts: “Who Killed My Mother?” the true story of her mother’s tragic death. And A Well Cared For Human - a mental health and self-care podcast.
You can listen to these shows for free on YouTube or your favorite podcast app. She also publishes poetry under the name K.B. Marie.
When not writing, eating, reading, podcasting, or indulging in her true calling as a stay-at-home dog mom, she can usually be found under thick blankets with snacks. The kettle is almost always on.
She lives in Michigan with her equally bookish wife, Kim, and their rescue dog, Max.
She also hosts two podcasts: “Who Killed My Mother?” the true story of her mother’s tragic death. And A Well Cared For Human - a mental health and self-care podcast.
You can listen to these shows for free on YouTube or your favorite podcast app. She also publishes poetry under the name K.B. Marie.
When not writing, eating, reading, podcasting, or indulging in her true calling as a stay-at-home dog mom, she can usually be found under thick blankets with snacks. The kettle is almost always on.
She lives in Michigan with her equally bookish wife, Kim, and their rescue dog, Max.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 674 reviews
September 12, 2016
3.75 Necronite Stars
This was an unexpected surprise. I almost never get freebees from Amazon because…well I’m snobby and my reading time I usually spend with books I know I’ll probably like and I’ve been burned by doing that before. But I had a free spot to fill with a buddy read and so I picked it up.
The good thing was I REALLY LIKED IT. I read quite a bit of fantasy. It is my go to and so I also read a lot of Urban Fantasy. What I enjoyed about this is that it is different. SO DIFFERENT from everything else in UF I’m reading.
Jesse is a Zombie…wait don’t tune out yet. She isn’t your everyday I want to eat brains kind of zombie, which she doesn’t like to be called by the way, the correct term is Necronite. Her job essentially is to die for you. So the gist is something akin to a psychic tells you your death is going to happen on this day. You pay some $$$ and Jesse shows up to follow you around the entire day so that when your death happens she can take your place. Then later she wakes up and you are still alive so YAY.
Well at least that is how it is supposed to go until at one the scenes someone tries to make sure that she will never come back from the other side. Add to that she is starting to glitch out most of the electronics around her and might be hallucinating and you have all sorts of fun starting to happen.
This was a solid fist book. There is some set up for the bigger picture, plenty of bad guys to pick from and mystery that seems like it will be interesting over a few books and possibly a bisexual love triangle.
I liked being introduced to Jesse. She is a bit of a mess but as things come out about her past it is clear why that is so. The love interest section of this was there but in the background for the most of the time. I like both Lane and Ally but I’m not super attached to either as a love interest at the moment maybe that will change. I think that perhaps more people haven’t tried this because it is shelved in the LBGTQ section. If two girls kissing is going to bug you then this might not be for you. But I’m fine with it and while I’m pulling a little for Lane (the dude is so smitten) I could really see it swinging either direction.
My only words of caution besides the girl kissing is that this is the first book of an indy author. That means that the second half really could have done with some editing. At times it was a little choppy and could take you out of the story. But I was having so much fun with Jesse and the story that I was able to let that go.
I will definitely be continuing on with the series because there is a mystery afoot and I’m hooked and have to know all the answers. I also want to know more about this world. Like what happens when you replace someone’s death and fight your way back? Does it undo a natural balance and that is why weird things are starting to happen to Jesse? Who is Gabriel and what are his goals? I mean he looks like an angel but that doesn’t necessarily mean that he is one. Etc etc.
But it is free on amazon so if you are looking for something different maybe give it a try.
This was an unexpected surprise. I almost never get freebees from Amazon because…well I’m snobby and my reading time I usually spend with books I know I’ll probably like and I’ve been burned by doing that before. But I had a free spot to fill with a buddy read and so I picked it up.
The good thing was I REALLY LIKED IT. I read quite a bit of fantasy. It is my go to and so I also read a lot of Urban Fantasy. What I enjoyed about this is that it is different. SO DIFFERENT from everything else in UF I’m reading.
Jesse is a Zombie…wait don’t tune out yet. She isn’t your everyday I want to eat brains kind of zombie, which she doesn’t like to be called by the way, the correct term is Necronite. Her job essentially is to die for you. So the gist is something akin to a psychic tells you your death is going to happen on this day. You pay some $$$ and Jesse shows up to follow you around the entire day so that when your death happens she can take your place. Then later she wakes up and you are still alive so YAY.
Well at least that is how it is supposed to go until at one the scenes someone tries to make sure that she will never come back from the other side. Add to that she is starting to glitch out most of the electronics around her and might be hallucinating and you have all sorts of fun starting to happen.
“My name is Gabriel,” he said, as if reading my thoughts.
“No,” I said. “No, no, no.”
“You don’t look so bad, honest,” Ally said, misunderstanding my panic. No names, I thought. No names. After all, if hallucinations were anything like puppies, naming them meant trouble. A name meant it would stick around.
This was a solid fist book. There is some set up for the bigger picture, plenty of bad guys to pick from and mystery that seems like it will be interesting over a few books and possibly a bisexual love triangle.
I liked being introduced to Jesse. She is a bit of a mess but as things come out about her past it is clear why that is so. The love interest section of this was there but in the background for the most of the time. I like both Lane and Ally but I’m not super attached to either as a love interest at the moment maybe that will change. I think that perhaps more people haven’t tried this because it is shelved in the LBGTQ section. If two girls kissing is going to bug you then this might not be for you. But I’m fine with it and while I’m pulling a little for Lane (the dude is so smitten) I could really see it swinging either direction.
My only words of caution besides the girl kissing is that this is the first book of an indy author. That means that the second half really could have done with some editing. At times it was a little choppy and could take you out of the story. But I was having so much fun with Jesse and the story that I was able to let that go.
I will definitely be continuing on with the series because there is a mystery afoot and I’m hooked and have to know all the answers. I also want to know more about this world. Like what happens when you replace someone’s death and fight your way back? Does it undo a natural balance and that is why weird things are starting to happen to Jesse? Who is Gabriel and what are his goals? I mean he looks like an angel but that doesn’t necessarily mean that he is one. Etc etc.
But it is free on amazon so if you are looking for something different maybe give it a try.
February 28, 2017
Should we laugh? Should we cry? We ARE talking about a story of death, over and over and over for one necronite who dies so others may live when their time is up. Yep, there’s a new paranormal being in town and they are “dying” to be read about! Kory M. Shrum’s DYING FOR A LIVING is about humans born with a special gift, the ability to rise from the dead, kind of like zombies, but with all of their parts intact and no human body parts on the menu. But wait, there’s more, they make a living dying, a good living, unless someone is out to stop them, once and for all.
Meet Jesse, who has died over and over for others. She is a snark and attitude lover’s dream come true, unless her lack of filters gets her foot shoved deeply into her mouth. Then there is the question, is Jesse a hero or an anti-hero? Why is she under investigation by the FBI for murder? Why are police lugging her around like a sack of potatoes? And who is the guy who is molting feathers all over the place? Why can’t anyone see him but Jesse? Jesse is dying to find the answers to keep herself alive long enough to die again.
Kory M. Shrum has created a kaleidoscope of characters, twists and leaves her readers absorbed in the huge world building she has done. Definitely on the quirky side, a light read with unique ideas! Give it a try!
My Rating: 3.5 Stars
Series: Jesse Sullivan - Book 1
Publisher: Timberlane Press (March 2, 2014)
Publication Date: March 2, 2014
Genre: Paranormal Fantasy
Print Length: 392 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Meet Jesse, who has died over and over for others. She is a snark and attitude lover’s dream come true, unless her lack of filters gets her foot shoved deeply into her mouth. Then there is the question, is Jesse a hero or an anti-hero? Why is she under investigation by the FBI for murder? Why are police lugging her around like a sack of potatoes? And who is the guy who is molting feathers all over the place? Why can’t anyone see him but Jesse? Jesse is dying to find the answers to keep herself alive long enough to die again.
Kory M. Shrum has created a kaleidoscope of characters, twists and leaves her readers absorbed in the huge world building she has done. Definitely on the quirky side, a light read with unique ideas! Give it a try!
My Rating: 3.5 Stars
Series: Jesse Sullivan - Book 1
Publisher: Timberlane Press (March 2, 2014)
Publication Date: March 2, 2014
Genre: Paranormal Fantasy
Print Length: 392 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
August 3, 2016
Somehow this lovely book fell from library heaven into my lap. I cannot even remember how, but I believe it was the author looking for people who read her genre. Suffice it to say I lost my mind into the happy zone of awesomeness which is the book.
I love Urban Fantasy reads and like other people have said the one thing which has happened, just like with zombie reads (yes this is an important thing to mention in conjunction with this book), the fact is the genre has reached the “been there done that.. oh no you didn’t use that cliché again” stage. Sure a lot of times this is fine and dandy. Well unless you name your leading man Zed and you’re a elf/gnome/brownie hybrid who has gone into the detective business for yourself, then you will get more eye rolls and expletives as I read it till the cat runs for cover and my husband has to remove it from my hand asking me to take a break. (Kidding.. sort of, the cat usually just stairs at me and my husband tells me there are no more good books written anymore so he does not count). At any rate, they always fall somewhere in there.
Let’s face it folks, fantasy has done it to us over and over. One of the reasons we love it. Faraway lands, elven princes and brownie housekeepers for your wee cabin in the woods where the hero grew up and dragons either fighting with or against you. It is all OK. Urban Fantasy takes us to a slightly narrower window where it is very difficult to find new things. The way to top an Urban Fantasy is to either a) make it original in the story telling ie: a lovable character, an incredibly awesome, enticing well written story etc.. and it means even if it is the same old conventions it still is a great read.
That leaves b) an original plot, a character cast whose interaction and personalities balance out to not fit the normal conventions and… the best thing?? Original fantasy creatures which fit into the urban world with the ease and distinction like they have been part of fairytales since Hans put pen to paper. You’re asking yourself how could this even happen, can’t add more to them, they are classics and you can throw a leather jacket on a troll but you cannot create a new class of creatures or fae, right? WRONG.
Ms. Shrum did it. Not only is there a new creature, with a politically correct name, but it is not a race or a creature it is just a gal who happens to have the genetic markings and “powers” of a hybrid human called a Necronite, or for you rude people, she is a zombie. But don’t say that because Jesse (our protagonist) will be extremely unhappy. And she’s pretty much a badass.
I love Urban Fantasy and I have read so much that I have come to expect thinking, "Yeah, seen this before, but I love it so that's okay." Most of the time it IS okay. There are enough differences from one book to the next to make it okay, but I can honestly say in this book I did not find myself doing this ONCE.
What makes her special in this book is her Ncronite status means she can die for you. Yep, she can die for you if the conditions of your death qualify you and you have at least $50,000 (or around there or more) She suffers the complete death, including Rigor Mortis etc..
Enter in the conflict, not everyone likes the idea of Necronites, you see the church does exist in this alternative reality too and the world will always have someone to complain about someone.
The story had a bit of world building and a slower pace at the beginning, but I found it worked on purpose. It was not to slow it was just like living in a day of Jesse’s life. Until the “conflict” and their player’s steps in and then life and the story picks up speed and does not stop.
The protagonist, Jesse, is pretty unique. Sure there are other characters who are snarky, but the way Ms. Shum was able to communicate the idea of “otherness” in the form of a girl who died for you a living for people was really great. I got her, got how different she was and how as special as she was supposed to be to everyone around her, she just found it… wait.. I just heard her sigh and mutter something about getting over my analytical self! *grin* She trusted very few people and those she did, she still never let all the way in.
Everything affects how a person grows up and deals with situations. Her first death to the last death. She is dealing with it with the tools she has collected in her emotional toolbox. I love how she is not perfect, how even the love scene was stilted and reflecting she was not OK in her own body. She made decisions that made me want to yell at her and tell her not to do it, but at the same time I love that about her more than wanting to her to do the right thing, because it wouldn't be the right thing for her. /
Can you tell I became highly emotional and involved with the Jesse and the whole book? I cannot wait for book two because this book was so focused on Jesse. I fell in love with her best friend, I liked how all of them messed with each other and were all so believable.
So jump onto the Urban Fantasy which I truly believe will become the next BITTEN on TV in the future and be a series and an author whom we have special dedicated shelves too.
I said it on other social media and I will say it again here:
I take my urban fantasy very seriously, almost as seriously as zombies.. WAIT, did I say ZOMBIES? HAH! YES ZOMBIES but not the kind you are thinking of because zombies is JUST not politically correct! .. RUN I TELL YOU. RUN and trip your friends up to get your copy today!!!!!
I love Urban Fantasy reads and like other people have said the one thing which has happened, just like with zombie reads (yes this is an important thing to mention in conjunction with this book), the fact is the genre has reached the “been there done that.. oh no you didn’t use that cliché again” stage. Sure a lot of times this is fine and dandy. Well unless you name your leading man Zed and you’re a elf/gnome/brownie hybrid who has gone into the detective business for yourself, then you will get more eye rolls and expletives as I read it till the cat runs for cover and my husband has to remove it from my hand asking me to take a break. (Kidding.. sort of, the cat usually just stairs at me and my husband tells me there are no more good books written anymore so he does not count). At any rate, they always fall somewhere in there.
Let’s face it folks, fantasy has done it to us over and over. One of the reasons we love it. Faraway lands, elven princes and brownie housekeepers for your wee cabin in the woods where the hero grew up and dragons either fighting with or against you. It is all OK. Urban Fantasy takes us to a slightly narrower window where it is very difficult to find new things. The way to top an Urban Fantasy is to either a) make it original in the story telling ie: a lovable character, an incredibly awesome, enticing well written story etc.. and it means even if it is the same old conventions it still is a great read.
That leaves b) an original plot, a character cast whose interaction and personalities balance out to not fit the normal conventions and… the best thing?? Original fantasy creatures which fit into the urban world with the ease and distinction like they have been part of fairytales since Hans put pen to paper. You’re asking yourself how could this even happen, can’t add more to them, they are classics and you can throw a leather jacket on a troll but you cannot create a new class of creatures or fae, right? WRONG.
Ms. Shrum did it. Not only is there a new creature, with a politically correct name, but it is not a race or a creature it is just a gal who happens to have the genetic markings and “powers” of a hybrid human called a Necronite, or for you rude people, she is a zombie. But don’t say that because Jesse (our protagonist) will be extremely unhappy. And she’s pretty much a badass.
I love Urban Fantasy and I have read so much that I have come to expect thinking, "Yeah, seen this before, but I love it so that's okay." Most of the time it IS okay. There are enough differences from one book to the next to make it okay, but I can honestly say in this book I did not find myself doing this ONCE.
What makes her special in this book is her Ncronite status means she can die for you. Yep, she can die for you if the conditions of your death qualify you and you have at least $50,000 (or around there or more) She suffers the complete death, including Rigor Mortis etc..
Enter in the conflict, not everyone likes the idea of Necronites, you see the church does exist in this alternative reality too and the world will always have someone to complain about someone.
The story had a bit of world building and a slower pace at the beginning, but I found it worked on purpose. It was not to slow it was just like living in a day of Jesse’s life. Until the “conflict” and their player’s steps in and then life and the story picks up speed and does not stop.
The protagonist, Jesse, is pretty unique. Sure there are other characters who are snarky, but the way Ms. Shum was able to communicate the idea of “otherness” in the form of a girl who died for you a living for people was really great. I got her, got how different she was and how as special as she was supposed to be to everyone around her, she just found it… wait.. I just heard her sigh and mutter something about getting over my analytical self! *grin* She trusted very few people and those she did, she still never let all the way in.
Everything affects how a person grows up and deals with situations. Her first death to the last death. She is dealing with it with the tools she has collected in her emotional toolbox. I love how she is not perfect, how even the love scene was stilted and reflecting she was not OK in her own body. She made decisions that made me want to yell at her and tell her not to do it, but at the same time I love that about her more than wanting to her to do the right thing, because it wouldn't be the right thing for her. /
Can you tell I became highly emotional and involved with the Jesse and the whole book? I cannot wait for book two because this book was so focused on Jesse. I fell in love with her best friend, I liked how all of them messed with each other and were all so believable.
So jump onto the Urban Fantasy which I truly believe will become the next BITTEN on TV in the future and be a series and an author whom we have special dedicated shelves too.
I said it on other social media and I will say it again here:
I take my urban fantasy very seriously, almost as seriously as zombies.. WAIT, did I say ZOMBIES? HAH! YES ZOMBIES but not the kind you are thinking of because zombies is JUST not politically correct! .. RUN I TELL YOU. RUN and trip your friends up to get your copy today!!!!!
January 31, 2014
Dear Random Person Casually Perusing Reviews To Determine What To Read Next:
Don't skip this book. Seriously. I'd say you'd regret it, except the tragedy is you'd never know how much there is to regret in not reading this. It's a delight, a lark, a profundity, a mystery, a muse. You've never read a story like this, but when you finish you'll wonder why you didn't ALWAYS know this story was out there to be told. From pacing to voice to plot, Shrum *gets* story.
Trust me. Read it.
Don't skip this book. Seriously. I'd say you'd regret it, except the tragedy is you'd never know how much there is to regret in not reading this. It's a delight, a lark, a profundity, a mystery, a muse. You've never read a story like this, but when you finish you'll wonder why you didn't ALWAYS know this story was out there to be told. From pacing to voice to plot, Shrum *gets* story.
Trust me. Read it.
October 7, 2015
Yes Yoda time:
What a fresh take on the zombie experience. These zombies don't crave brains they take your death, for a price.
So there you are at you favorite psychic and she tells yo that you are going to die on blah blah day. What is a living breathing person to do ? Call for a zombie replacement to take your death, (DUH) pain and all while you walk away a little broke but warm and alive.
It's so easy, except it's not.There are church groups that believe this is against god. Radicals who really are the scuzzy lowballers most of the worst, that do their worst in the name of god. Yes, true evil.
When a certain sexually confused zombie goes in for one of her jobs she gets a show and a lot more. Somebody is out to kill her, but why is it the church ? crazy clients ? Some nutball off the street ? No it's much worse, the person behind her threats is__________. Read the book, come on you don't want to miss the fun.
Oh there is a cliffhanger ending. :D
I really liked the creativity developed here. I have not read a book like this before and did to have any idea what was coming. I have high hopes for this author. I plan on continuing with this series and her future works.
Negative Nancy time:
This appears to be a first book by this author, and has a few rough patches. There were some over detailed useless bits, a sexual confusion which just didn't fit in at the time it was brought up, it was brought up a lot, and not enough of a pudgy Pug. Small significant issues but not damaging to the story.
What a fresh take on the zombie experience. These zombies don't crave brains they take your death, for a price.
So there you are at you favorite psychic and she tells yo that you are going to die on blah blah day. What is a living breathing person to do ? Call for a zombie replacement to take your death, (DUH) pain and all while you walk away a little broke but warm and alive.
It's so easy, except it's not.There are church groups that believe this is against god. Radicals who really are the scuzzy lowballers most of the worst, that do their worst in the name of god. Yes, true evil.
When a certain sexually confused zombie goes in for one of her jobs she gets a show and a lot more. Somebody is out to kill her, but why is it the church ? crazy clients ? Some nutball off the street ? No it's much worse, the person behind her threats is__________. Read the book, come on you don't want to miss the fun.
Oh there is a cliffhanger ending. :D
I really liked the creativity developed here. I have not read a book like this before and did to have any idea what was coming. I have high hopes for this author. I plan on continuing with this series and her future works.
Negative Nancy time:
This appears to be a first book by this author, and has a few rough patches. There were some over detailed useless bits, a sexual confusion which just didn't fit in at the time it was brought up, it was brought up a lot, and not enough of a pudgy Pug. Small significant issues but not damaging to the story.
September 1, 2016
Zombie... nope, sorry, Necronite!, 'replacing' dying people, saving their lives. Unusual premise. New ideas are rare in UF, so this was welcome, despite being a Kindle freebie. I haven't had a lot of luck with those and therefore had low expectations.
It wasn't spectacular writing, but pretty entertaining. Different from my usual fare. Surprisingly serious tone at times, although it started off pretty snarky. It took some unexpected turns as well.
A few well done info dumps. The science was a bit wonky. And I wasn't quite sure why Jesse was considered a suspect. The bad cop was little more than a caricature. The mystery plot was not very convincing or I simply didn't get it.
Some nice, light humour. The various charactes were sufficiently fleshed out. The world building was a little thin. Unusual romance angle. Love triangle light, without much drama.
The book could benefit from a good editor. In the second half I noticed some repetitions, the odd tense here or there and some strange sentence structures.
Bottom line, a light read that flowed well. The writing was so-so. Extra points for fresh ideas. I might be tempted to pick up the next book in the series.
*~*~*~*~*
For free on Amazon, 30th of July 2016.
Buddy read with Robin and Buddies Books and Baubles.
It wasn't spectacular writing, but pretty entertaining. Different from my usual fare. Surprisingly serious tone at times, although it started off pretty snarky. It took some unexpected turns as well.
A few well done info dumps. The science was a bit wonky. And I wasn't quite sure why Jesse was considered a suspect. The bad cop was little more than a caricature. The mystery plot was not very convincing or I simply didn't get it.
Some nice, light humour. The various charactes were sufficiently fleshed out. The world building was a little thin. Unusual romance angle. Love triangle light, without much drama.
The book could benefit from a good editor. In the second half I noticed some repetitions, the odd tense here or there and some strange sentence structures.
Bottom line, a light read that flowed well. The writing was so-so. Extra points for fresh ideas. I might be tempted to pick up the next book in the series.
*~*~*~*~*
For free on Amazon, 30th of July 2016.
Buddy read with Robin and Buddies Books and Baubles.
July 9, 2015
Without all the bi sexual relationship crap this book would have been so much better. Their screwed up love triangle was just frustrating and made me not like this story as much.
I think what pissed me off most about their love triangle was that it didn't even add to the story at all. This book would have been much better off without that crap. Why couldn't Ally just be her childhood friend and Lane be her friend as well? Or just make Lane the love interest. The whole childhood friends but now we are going to have sex, and then have a tense love triangle was just disturbing to be honest.
The love triangle just ruined a book that could have been awesome. I really want to read the next book to find out about all the lose ends in this book, but at the same time I don't want the damn bisexual love triangle bullshit.
I think what pissed me off most about their love triangle was that it didn't even add to the story at all. This book would have been much better off without that crap. Why couldn't Ally just be her childhood friend and Lane be her friend as well? Or just make Lane the love interest. The whole childhood friends but now we are going to have sex, and then have a tense love triangle was just disturbing to be honest.
The love triangle just ruined a book that could have been awesome. I really want to read the next book to find out about all the lose ends in this book, but at the same time I don't want the damn bisexual love triangle bullshit.
February 7, 2017
I had never heard of this book or author until the crazy Cabin Goddess Kriss Morton came banging on my Facebook wall about an urban fantasy I had to read. Based on the cover I probably wouldn’t have given it much thought, but Kriss was so insistent and the blurb sounded interesting enough I thought why not?! Talk about a gem in the rough! The rough is the cover and the inside is pure magic. I devoured this story.
When reading a first person it's the voice of the character that has to grab you and Jesse did right from the beginning. I loved her hard and crunchy outside and her soft and chewy inside. Take a great character, create a unique world and a story line that has me guessing the whole time and you have a winner. Most stories have a hook in the first page that makes you want to know more. This one had multiple hooks popping up throughout.
Jesse is a death replacement agent. In her world 2% of the population are Necronites (and don’t call them zombies because that is rude). You don’t know if you are a Necronite until you die and find yourself waking up at the morgue. These people can act as death replacements for those who have enough money, but not everyone is happy with this. The church thinks Necronites are abominations, the government wants to experiment on them and rigor mortis is a bitch, but a warm bath can ease the transition.
Jesse has a past she is running from, a boyfriend she can’t commit too, a handler who has had it up to “here!” with her and a best friend (ex-lover) she is trying to keep from hurting again. People are killing death replacement agents (kill, killing them) and Jesse plans on finding out who after a botched attempt on her life. There are many twists and turns to the story but I don’t want to ruin them.
This is a well written urban fantasy with a murder mystery, dark humor and a pug named Winston.
Quote-tasti-cal:
All our eyes went to Brinkley’s crotch and the dark stain about four inches below his gun.
I arched an eyebrow. “I could say—“
Brinkley stopped me, ears bright red. “That—“
He refused to look at his crotch, which resulted in his pointing at it. “—is your fault.”
“I’d remember making you piss blood.”
His tone turned dangerously even. “When we picked you up from the hospital, they missed a piece of glass. When I pulled it out, you squirted on me,” he said, jaw still tight. “It would seem even your corpse is a sarcastic little shit.”
5 “Death Replacement” sheep
http://www.ismellsheep.com/2014/03/bo...
When reading a first person it's the voice of the character that has to grab you and Jesse did right from the beginning. I loved her hard and crunchy outside and her soft and chewy inside. Take a great character, create a unique world and a story line that has me guessing the whole time and you have a winner. Most stories have a hook in the first page that makes you want to know more. This one had multiple hooks popping up throughout.
Jesse is a death replacement agent. In her world 2% of the population are Necronites (and don’t call them zombies because that is rude). You don’t know if you are a Necronite until you die and find yourself waking up at the morgue. These people can act as death replacements for those who have enough money, but not everyone is happy with this. The church thinks Necronites are abominations, the government wants to experiment on them and rigor mortis is a bitch, but a warm bath can ease the transition.
Jesse has a past she is running from, a boyfriend she can’t commit too, a handler who has had it up to “here!” with her and a best friend (ex-lover) she is trying to keep from hurting again. People are killing death replacement agents (kill, killing them) and Jesse plans on finding out who after a botched attempt on her life. There are many twists and turns to the story but I don’t want to ruin them.
This is a well written urban fantasy with a murder mystery, dark humor and a pug named Winston.
Quote-tasti-cal:
All our eyes went to Brinkley’s crotch and the dark stain about four inches below his gun.
I arched an eyebrow. “I could say—“
Brinkley stopped me, ears bright red. “That—“
He refused to look at his crotch, which resulted in his pointing at it. “—is your fault.”
“I’d remember making you piss blood.”
His tone turned dangerously even. “When we picked you up from the hospital, they missed a piece of glass. When I pulled it out, you squirted on me,” he said, jaw still tight. “It would seem even your corpse is a sarcastic little shit.”
5 “Death Replacement” sheep
http://www.ismellsheep.com/2014/03/bo...
September 29, 2015
Very imaginative and fun plot. I love paranormal plots and smart ass main characters. Smart writing , intriguing story that i want to read more of... But the direction this went with lane and ally really pissed me off. It seemed clear who she loved and who she should pick... but she's supposedly scared of relationships. well that excuse didn't last. So is the mc scared to have a relationship with a woman, or is the author scared to write it. It would have been better without any romance at all. I'm not sure i can continue with this series after where she took that. And her membership card should be revoked.
November 23, 2020
Rep: bi mc, lesbian side character
CWs: gore, violence, past child sexual abuse and child abuse
CWs: gore, violence, past child sexual abuse and child abuse
February 21, 2014
Haven't been this excited about a new author since Cherie Priest.
Instantly loved the writing style. I think what I liked most about it is how authentic she writes. So many times I thought, that's the type phrase I've heard people say in that situation before. Or I have said.
Look forward to listening to Kory tell me more stories.
The characters make you care about them. Interesting worldview and storyline.
EDIT:
Wanted to add, what's so exciting for me about finding a new author like Kory or Cherie is that their writing style is so enjoyable to read, it is like hanging out with a friend and their characters so well written that they are like friends you hang out with also. So when you see a new book come out by them you get excited thinking "Oh boy, we get to hang out again. It's always a good time."
Instantly loved the writing style. I think what I liked most about it is how authentic she writes. So many times I thought, that's the type phrase I've heard people say in that situation before. Or I have said.
Look forward to listening to Kory tell me more stories.
The characters make you care about them. Interesting worldview and storyline.
EDIT:
Wanted to add, what's so exciting for me about finding a new author like Kory or Cherie is that their writing style is so enjoyable to read, it is like hanging out with a friend and their characters so well written that they are like friends you hang out with also. So when you see a new book come out by them you get excited thinking "Oh boy, we get to hang out again. It's always a good time."
July 19, 2017
The first of a whole seres of books starring necronite Jesse Sullivan. Book Club buddy D. and I enjoyed the first installment. We get to know Jesse, the unusual work that she does and the people close to her. The mystery was interesting although we both found the story a bit slow at times. I hope that it will pick up the pace in the next book.
dnf
August 9, 2016***DNF at 46%***
Liked the first 20% then I started to lose interest so I'm moving on.
Liked the first 20% then I started to lose interest so I'm moving on.
January 28, 2016
A very interesting and thoughtful story by Kory M. Shrum. Enjoyed every moment of reading it.
May 6, 2015
I liked the concept, but would have liked a bit more background on the Necronite phenomenon. Of course the pov character, Jesse, isn't exactly the type to have that knowledge at her fingertips, either. I'd also have liked more background on the Church - personally I only have a basic understanding of the history of the various (major) christian schisms, but I honestly can't conceive of this reunion of sects ever happening - the zombies were more realistic. And what about the other major faiths of the world? I would have loved to have seen more of this, instead of the one dimensional view of a united church of intolerant religious fanatics.... the worldbuilding could have been so fantastic, but instead it just felt surface-thin and hollow.
The rest of the book didn't live up to the premise, quite. I'd have liked the character to grow a bit more during the course of the book, but I guess it's too useful from a plot pov having a clueless hothead who never learns from her mistakes...
There were also a lot of issues with the text that a copy editor could have fixed - mixed tenses, missing words, extra words where a sentence had been rewritten but pieces of the old one left in... This is easy stuff to fix, people: please do it! It may sound minor but it jars readers out of a story every time a word is out of place, wrong, or missing altogether.
The rest of the book didn't live up to the premise, quite. I'd have liked the character to grow a bit more during the course of the book, but I guess it's too useful from a plot pov having a clueless hothead who never learns from her mistakes...
There were also a lot of issues with the text that a copy editor could have fixed - mixed tenses, missing words, extra words where a sentence had been rewritten but pieces of the old one left in... This is easy stuff to fix, people: please do it! It may sound minor but it jars readers out of a story every time a word is out of place, wrong, or missing altogether.
October 8, 2017
Abandoned -DNF - 55%
There were some good parts, but the book is too long and a lot of the scenes felt unnecessary.
The "love triangle" was annoying. The Main Characters reluctance to be in any type of relationship was constantly brought up and it was constantly mentioned that she was only in it "for the sex" anyways. Why the 2 love interests would stay and let themselves be constantly hurt is mind-boggling.
I like the concept of the book, but I felt it was poorly handled. You barely experience the world of "dying and coming back to life" before the Main Character is swept away from her "job" as a Death Replacement Agent. I wish the experience was more detailed and explored.
There were some good parts, but the book is too long and a lot of the scenes felt unnecessary.
The "love triangle" was annoying. The Main Characters reluctance to be in any type of relationship was constantly brought up and it was constantly mentioned that she was only in it "for the sex" anyways. Why the 2 love interests would stay and let themselves be constantly hurt is mind-boggling.
I like the concept of the book, but I felt it was poorly handled. You barely experience the world of "dying and coming back to life" before the Main Character is swept away from her "job" as a Death Replacement Agent. I wish the experience was more detailed and explored.
January 29, 2014
I didn't read the back of this book so I had no idea what I was getting myself into when Kory sent it to me, but right after a couple of pages I was hooked.
A zombie, excuse me, necronite, as the main character? How unique!
And our protagonist Jessi, is altogether likeable. Her two love interests, although forming the proverbial love triangle which I often shy away from, were also likeable and interesting in their own ways. And they both mattered to the movement of the plot.
Mystery, sex, murder, political intrigue and toying with madness. What more could you want?
A zombie, excuse me, necronite, as the main character? How unique!
And our protagonist Jessi, is altogether likeable. Her two love interests, although forming the proverbial love triangle which I often shy away from, were also likeable and interesting in their own ways. And they both mattered to the movement of the plot.
Mystery, sex, murder, political intrigue and toying with madness. What more could you want?
May 16, 2023
Pretty all right for a first in the series
Solid characters overall and an intriguing plot with its own unique setup. Clearly not a zombie story, but I got a kick out of the multiple references to the concept. The whole volume was decently paced but had some slow moments that were stretching juuuuuust a little too much. Also got annoyed at a couple of points in the plot where there clearly was some dissonance with what the characters say. Typical example is the main character noticing a shady dude in the cemetery with a shovel, only to somehow forget about said dude not long after while in a hyper focused situation only to be knocked out by said dude with the shovel... Really?? That was a dumb plot element #shrug
Solid characters overall and an intriguing plot with its own unique setup. Clearly not a zombie story, but I got a kick out of the multiple references to the concept. The whole volume was decently paced but had some slow moments that were stretching juuuuuust a little too much. Also got annoyed at a couple of points in the plot where there clearly was some dissonance with what the characters say. Typical example is the main character noticing a shady dude in the cemetery with a shovel, only to somehow forget about said dude not long after while in a hyper focused situation only to be knocked out by said dude with the shovel... Really?? That was a dumb plot element #shrug
February 17, 2020
So, that happened.
It happens surprisingly often that I am unsure if a book was actually good or if I just flew through it because of life, but it's not often I'm as unsure about this as with this book!
While the general idea of this world is interesting, and it is played out in a good way, there were so many little problems! Or maybe not even little. I honestly don't know.
There was the writing. It wasn't bad, but it was very choppy, and the author wasn't good at specifying who said what, or even who did what! At one point, she said that a character's lips started a car. This was a thing that annoyed me, and I found myself cringing at some of the choppyness.
The characters were mosly ok, but there were A LOT OF THEM! And almost all of them were women, which I don't mind, but they were introduced all around each other, and with the specification-issues I mentioned above, it was really hard to remember who was who or even what.
Then there was the general story.
If you've read the blurb, you can agree it sounds interesting, right? Unfortunatly for me, I felt everything was too thin. I didn't find any logical reason for any of the stuff that happened, to happen! Ok, sure, the instigating events made sense, but everything after that? It was just a lot of floundring around and people accusing each other without any proof of anything at all.
I kept waiting for that one thing that would make the accusations come together, but that never came.
And lastly was the romance. I really liked that the MC was bi, and I loved the fact that she was in a kind of drama with both a man and a woman. Not just ''I'm bi but with a guy, so yay for being diverse'' as I see them doing in a lot of TV-shows these days. I can only hope it ends up as a poly relationship!
So, for a change, I actually liked the romance!
Probably because it was already established.
So, you see my confusion? There were some really good elements to this book, and it had a kind of humor that I can enjoy, but there was also a lot of things that weren't that good. And because of them, I am honestly considering not listening on with the series. I don't feel like I'll lose any sleep on not knowing what happens next.
It happens surprisingly often that I am unsure if a book was actually good or if I just flew through it because of life, but it's not often I'm as unsure about this as with this book!
While the general idea of this world is interesting, and it is played out in a good way, there were so many little problems! Or maybe not even little. I honestly don't know.
There was the writing. It wasn't bad, but it was very choppy, and the author wasn't good at specifying who said what, or even who did what! At one point, she said that a character's lips started a car. This was a thing that annoyed me, and I found myself cringing at some of the choppyness.
The characters were mosly ok, but there were A LOT OF THEM! And almost all of them were women, which I don't mind, but they were introduced all around each other, and with the specification-issues I mentioned above, it was really hard to remember who was who or even what.
Then there was the general story.
If you've read the blurb, you can agree it sounds interesting, right? Unfortunatly for me, I felt everything was too thin. I didn't find any logical reason for any of the stuff that happened, to happen! Ok, sure, the instigating events made sense, but everything after that? It was just a lot of floundring around and people accusing each other without any proof of anything at all.
I kept waiting for that one thing that would make the accusations come together, but that never came.
And lastly was the romance. I really liked that the MC was bi, and I loved the fact that she was in a kind of drama with both a man and a woman. Not just ''I'm bi but with a guy, so yay for being diverse'' as I see them doing in a lot of TV-shows these days. I can only hope it ends up as a poly relationship!
So, for a change, I actually liked the romance!
Probably because it was already established.
So, you see my confusion? There were some really good elements to this book, and it had a kind of humor that I can enjoy, but there was also a lot of things that weren't that good. And because of them, I am honestly considering not listening on with the series. I don't feel like I'll lose any sleep on not knowing what happens next.
November 13, 2015
My impression is that this book is a work in progress. It's an interesting premise, definitely a creative concept. It was well-paced in the first few chapters, offering an interesting, suspenseful mystery that I was expecting to be pulled into but then it just fell apart. New characters were introduced only to disappear for chapters at a time, and each chapter seemed to introduce a new plot or worse, offered details that were not even relevant to the plot (only further details about the world). I stopped at 40% completion because I forgot why I was reading it in the first place (Is it to find out who tried murdered her? Is it to find out who Gabriel is? Is it about her feelings for Lane? Or for Alley?? Or wait, what about her brother and mother that were just introduced?), I didn't get a chance to care about the majority of characters I was introduced to, and there were little inconsistencies that became distracting (Lane says he's coming right over and then we don't see him for about a day and a half? What?).
However, knowing that it's one of the first published works from the author and that it's possibly self-published (I'm still quite new to this side of the book market), I would say that a lot of the qualms I had with the book could be addressed with the help of an editor who could clean up the writing and point out these little issues with the flow of the story and character development to help the author come closer to her vision for the story. In other words, it's pretty obvious that this is an inexperienced writer's work but everyone's got to start somewhere. That being said, it's really not comparable to other suspense/mystery novels I've read (I'm thinking Nesbo and even Larsson, who I'm not a huge fan of but he kept me entertained right till the end of some 400+ pages, if I remember correctly), if that's what you're looking for.
However, knowing that it's one of the first published works from the author and that it's possibly self-published (I'm still quite new to this side of the book market), I would say that a lot of the qualms I had with the book could be addressed with the help of an editor who could clean up the writing and point out these little issues with the flow of the story and character development to help the author come closer to her vision for the story. In other words, it's pretty obvious that this is an inexperienced writer's work but everyone's got to start somewhere. That being said, it's really not comparable to other suspense/mystery novels I've read (I'm thinking Nesbo and even Larsson, who I'm not a huge fan of but he kept me entertained right till the end of some 400+ pages, if I remember correctly), if that's what you're looking for.
March 6, 2019
I loved the idea in this bookand I loved the protagonist. I am not as sure about the weird love triangle going on in there. I think all th echaracters need to sit down and have a good talk between each other and resolve this situation. It creates way too much needless drama in the book.
August 30, 2019
So, Dying for a Living. The basic idea - people who can return from the grave acting as substitute corpses to help the living avoid death - is a pretty neat hook, and it's impressive that the book manages to pull off some dramatic stakes despite the fact that the heroine is nigh-unkillable. There's a complex plot afoot involving a conspiracy that reaches some high places, there's relationship drama, there's some snarky dialogue, there are people in peril, there are mysterious visits from what might be angels or might be hallucinations...definitely some interesting stuff.
However.
I found I struggled to stay engaged for long stretches of this book. It feels like it takes too long to really get going, and when it does the pacing is still uneven. The worst part is that it kicks into high gear...and then the book ends with a LOT of unanswered questions. Yeah, you've gotta save stuff for the sequel, I can appreciate that, but it makes this book feel somewhat anticlimactic.
A separate issue, and this might not bother some people, is that it could've used another pass across the editor's desk. There's not much in the way of spelling errors, but there are more than a few grammatical mistakes (a LOT of misplaced commas and some mixed tenses were the standouts for me).
It isn't a bad book. I've certainly read much worse. And I'm interested enough in the big conspiracy that I'll probably read more in this series. At the same time, it's not as good as it could have been, or as good as I wanted it to be. Most likely worth checking out, but don't be too surprised if you struggle to finish it or are left mildly disappointed by the ending.
However.
I found I struggled to stay engaged for long stretches of this book. It feels like it takes too long to really get going, and when it does the pacing is still uneven. The worst part is that it kicks into high gear...and then the book ends with a LOT of unanswered questions. Yeah, you've gotta save stuff for the sequel, I can appreciate that, but it makes this book feel somewhat anticlimactic.
A separate issue, and this might not bother some people, is that it could've used another pass across the editor's desk. There's not much in the way of spelling errors, but there are more than a few grammatical mistakes (a LOT of misplaced commas and some mixed tenses were the standouts for me).
It isn't a bad book. I've certainly read much worse. And I'm interested enough in the big conspiracy that I'll probably read more in this series. At the same time, it's not as good as it could have been, or as good as I wanted it to be. Most likely worth checking out, but don't be too surprised if you struggle to finish it or are left mildly disappointed by the ending.
April 6, 2019
This was OK. That’s the best I can say for it. It wasn’t bad, but nothing in it lit me up either. It's an interesting world Shrum created and I appreciated the bi-sexual lead, but I also found Jesse's constant sarcasm annoying and I often found her responses to things stupid. Here’s an example, someone is trying to kill you, you know this. They’ve almost succeeded once already, in fact. A friend calls and frantically tells you that people are coming for you and you have to get out of the house fast. Do you drop everything and run or do you whine about how you just made a sandwich and could leaving wait? Hmmmm, this is apparently a hard decision because Jesse did the latter. There were several similar instances. There were also a couple ‘well, isn’t that convenient’ moments. The final one with Lane, especially. So, while the book is competently written, it wasn’t a winner for me.
Now, a word of the narration by Hollie Jackson. She did a fine job in the narrative parts of the story and I thought she did a fine job with Jesse and the male characters, as well. However, each and every other female in the book is voiced with such saccharine, borderline teasing tones that I wanted to slap them all. None felt natural. Never have I met a woman who actually speaks like all of these women do.
Now, a word of the narration by Hollie Jackson. She did a fine job in the narrative parts of the story and I thought she did a fine job with Jesse and the male characters, as well. However, each and every other female in the book is voiced with such saccharine, borderline teasing tones that I wanted to slap them all. None felt natural. Never have I met a woman who actually speaks like all of these women do.
March 29, 2023
Hmm, I don't know what to think about this one. The concept behind it is absolutely brilliant but sadly underutilized. I also am sceptical about the various types of weirdness that we have here (death replacement, different "talents" and... well... angels), especially as two out three of those not only receive no explanation but to be honest could as well not appear in the book and not much would change. Part of it surely comes from the fact that this is the first volume of the series - which is also painfully evident in how rushed and unsatisfaying the ending is - but surely it could have been handled better.
Despite all these, the book is saved by its cast of characters - interesting, engaging, relatable. Thanks to them I had fun reading this book, the ending left me wanting to read more.
Despite all these, the book is saved by its cast of characters - interesting, engaging, relatable. Thanks to them I had fun reading this book, the ending left me wanting to read more.
Read
September 22, 2020I enjoyed this one. It had an interesting premise I'd never heard of in a book before: a person who dies so others don't have to. I found that pretty neat. The main character had a snarky personality, which I appreciate. There's a bit of a love triangle, and I'm curious where that's heading. No major surprises in the end, but lots of questions dangle over readers' heads for future books in the series. If you like urban fantasy that goes slightly off the beaten trek, you might enjoy DYING FOR A LIVING.
December 3, 2018
3,5/5
April 1, 2021
What a truly unique premise. Kudos to the author for such a creative concept.
I can’t say the MC was one I liked or disliked. There were times it felt like the story flowed and other times it was hard work to get through scenes. It isn’t a given that you will always like the characters in a story nor that you will always like the MC, so I don’t have a real issue with that aspect. It was more the flow of the story.
I’ll also say that this probably isn’t the kind of story that I could read in one sitting. I needed some time to absorb things or try to shake things off. So, it’s not the kind of story that I could read often, but the whole concept is fascinating! Paranormal fans will be 'dying' to read it, I’m sure. Ah, couldn't help myself there; yeah, sorry, not sorry.
I can’t say the MC was one I liked or disliked. There were times it felt like the story flowed and other times it was hard work to get through scenes. It isn’t a given that you will always like the characters in a story nor that you will always like the MC, so I don’t have a real issue with that aspect. It was more the flow of the story.
I’ll also say that this probably isn’t the kind of story that I could read in one sitting. I needed some time to absorb things or try to shake things off. So, it’s not the kind of story that I could read often, but the whole concept is fascinating! Paranormal fans will be 'dying' to read it, I’m sure. Ah, couldn't help myself there; yeah, sorry, not sorry.
July 29, 2022
First in the Jesse Sullivan/Dying for a Living paranormal fantasy series set in Nashville and revolving around a burgeoning new field, death-replacement.
My Take
This is definitely a weird concept, and as much as I dislike Jesse, she is perfect in her character.
I started off loving Jesse for all her snark, but other aspects of her personality ticked me off as we got to learn more about her fears. She's irresponsible — she's worried about unemployment in a year or two, but isn't doing anything to prepare for it. She's employed by the agency as part of a deal to keep her out of jail, and she is as uncooperative as she can get with no concept of controlling her mouth.
Shrum uses first person protagonist point-of-view from Jesse's perspective, so we learn first hand what an idiot she can be even though I get the impression she must be an intelligent woman, but none of her actions bear this out. Especially that confession she makes in her kitchen, knowing that her place has been bugged. WTF?? She's leaving the hospital and answering reporters' questions despite Ally's pinches?
Then Jesse gets a call to get out of the house, that "company" is coming. Her response? I wanna finish my sandwich.
Yeah, so, then there's the sensitivity seminar. FBRD actually expected Jesse to be a poster child here??
So, death-replacement. Shrum made good use of that seminar to insert the history about death-replacement. A psychic determines the day you'll die, and if you want to put it off, you buy a death-replacement session. Someone like Jesse shows up on your "designated" day, shadows you until death starts to take you over. She jerks the death energy to herself and dies for you. Jesse provides a more visceral explanation about that sudden jerk of your body when you're asleep, and it actually makes sense.
Naturally, there is a lot of controversy over these "zombies"! And the paperwork! Oy! Before-death surveys, after-death surveys, blood typing, and so much more.
Count on the government, lol, they love the Death-Management Industry and each step can be taxed! The Church isn't keen on it, though.
It does take a bit to finally get into the plot, and it does make sense. The military doesn't like to lose out on a potential weapon. The Church wants to be the only one in the resurrection business. But there is so much else that is not making sense.
All the secrets people are keeping! I can understand why some are kept, but not all of them. It only hampers people and prevents their being able to protect themselves! Special agents are threatening Jesse up one side and down the other, and I don't really understand why. This is NOT a supportive government agency.
What's with the medical personnel? The police? They don't think it's normal that Jesse would want to know how her friends are? The investigation that FBRD launched had me confused. Shouldn't they be supportive of their NRDs and their concerns? Nobody tells Jesse anything. Well, okay, based on past experience on her reactions and her mouth, I can understand that, but still. That Garrison is certainly shooting off at all angles. I'd be confused myself with his actions.
Jesse's relationship with Land is all about the sex, only he wants more. Nor is he happy about Ally sleeping in Jesse's bed although they're not having sex. As for Jesse's relationship with her mother, wow, is that twisted! Her mother essentially tells her she doesn't exist to her, and then Jesse learns something completely different from her little brother. As for Jesse's father . . .
The day Jesse spends with Eve on her death day was, um, informative, lol.
Shrum drove me nuts with all the secrets! She also, lol, explained all those stories about vampires and Christian resurrection. As for those angels. Hmmm. They definitely have personalities, and Shrum has me wondering about them. I wanna know if they're real or hallucinations and what their agenda is. I need more, so as soon as I finish off this review, I'm starting Dying by the Hour , 2.
What's with all this "Jesse is different" talk? I know Shrum means it as a tease, but it's annoying.
I do like how Shrum describes Gloria's ability. Yeah, it is slow, but it's effective.
I gotta confess, those sensitivity seminars Jesse goes to are a crack-up. Why the agency insists she do them, I do not know.
There is a good bit of back history that keeps popping up. At least it's not info dumping. Some of it makes sense, aaand some of it does not. And at last, at last, at last, Jesse figures out why she's so detached. It's a truth that hurts Lane.
I love the idea of The Amalgamation! We should do it for real!!
Ah, man. The idea of the government or the Church taking people into their idea of protective custody, really s*t*r*a*i*n*s my belief in Christians. As for how the military dealt with their "failures" . . . ah, geez. Then again, it's no different from how they treat soldiers in real life.
The Story
Jesse hates her job but hates the idea of jail even more. So she'll do this, grudgingly, dragging her heels. Then the secrets, the forgeries, the set-ups . . . the betrayals begin.
On the morning before her 67th death, it is business as usual for Jesse Sullivan: meet with the mortician, counsel soon-to-be-dead clients, and have coffee while reading the latest regeneration theory. Jesse dies for a living, literally. As a Necronite, she is one of the population’s rare 2% who can serve as a death replacement agent, dying so others don’t have to. Although each death is different, the result is the same: a life is saved, and Jesse resurrects days later with sore muscles, new scars, and another hole in her memory.
But when Jesse is murdered and becomes the sole suspect in a federal investigation, more than her freedom and sanity are at stake. She must catch the killer herself — or die trying.
The Characters
Jesse Sullivan has NRD, Necronitic Regenerative Disorder, and lives in a house in Greenbrook. Winston is her wheezy pug.
Alice "Ally" Gallagher, a lesbian, is Jesse's personal assistant, making sure she gets Jesse to the hospital. Lane Handel wants to be Jesse's boyfriend and owns a building that also houses his comic bookstore. Gabriel is an invisible angel. Umbri, a DJ, and Kyra Fenton, a trust fund baby, are friends of Ally's.
Jesse's father, Eric Sullivan, had died when she was eight. Her mother, Danica, remarried Eddie Phelps, a child molester. Danny Phelps is Jesse's younger half-brother. Mr Reeves claims to have known Jesse's parents. Uncle Paul and Aunt Jody will take Daniel in.
Federal Bureau of Regenerative Deaths (FBRD)
Special Agent James Brinkley is Jesse's government-assigned handler. Boston and Swede are his allies. Rachel Wright, now an ex-agent in the St Louis Psychiatric Rehabilitation Center, had been Jesse's mentor in St Louis. Special Agent Garrison investigates the charges against pretty much everyone. Special Agent Martin.
Cindy, a personal consultant like Jesse, and Cooper, a military consultant, are the other NRDs in Nashville. Raphael is Cindy's negative invisible angel. Frank is Cindy's handler. An A.M.P. is an Analyst of necro-Magnetic Phenomenon, the psychic, and they were created (by the army). Captain Gloria Jackson, an A.M.P., draws her visions, step-by-step.
Kirk is the mortician who stitches Jesse back up. Dr Stanley York does her check-ups. Herwin is the psychologist. Trevor is Herwin's son. Stacy is a nurse with a policeman for a husband.
Nashville PD
Officers Jeffers and Gaul are assigned to protect Jesse. Yep, they can't be bothered to tell Jesse anything. Detective Bobkins is dying to arrest Jesse.
Mr Reynolds works in advertising. Judy Ludlow is another potential. Eve Hildebrand is a hooker with a daughter, Nessa. Jacob Willis, a certified psychic, is Eve's cousin. Charlie and Brad Cestrum are some of Eve's clients.
The Unified Church
Caldwell is one of four leaders of the Church.
Necronite is the perferred term instead of zombie. The Amalgamation ended all religious warring. Jade Palace is a tiny Chinese restaurant. Andrew is one of the volunteers who visits Rachel. Felicia has a thing for toothbrushing her toes. Ms Beverly is an elementary school teacher. Chelsea Whitehead had been a fellow student.
The Cover and Title
The cover is a contrast between dark and light. Black is on the outermost edges gradating to a paler gray at the tunnel's mouth, which is a promising mix of pastel blues and pink, a crow pecking near the entrance. It's a silhouette of a tilting Jesse in a long top and pants, her left hand guiding her along the tunnel's wall. At the top is the author's name in a thin white. The title is a'slant in a two-color gradation of white to royal blue and white to green above Jesse's head. Below Jesse is one-half of the series information in white. For some reason, the series has two titles, and Dying for a Living uses Jesse Sullivan.
The title is literal, as Jess keeps Dying for a Living.
My Take
This is definitely a weird concept, and as much as I dislike Jesse, she is perfect in her character.
I started off loving Jesse for all her snark, but other aspects of her personality ticked me off as we got to learn more about her fears. She's irresponsible — she's worried about unemployment in a year or two, but isn't doing anything to prepare for it. She's employed by the agency as part of a deal to keep her out of jail, and she is as uncooperative as she can get with no concept of controlling her mouth.
Shrum uses first person protagonist point-of-view from Jesse's perspective, so we learn first hand what an idiot she can be even though I get the impression she must be an intelligent woman, but none of her actions bear this out. Especially that confession she makes in her kitchen, knowing that her place has been bugged. WTF?? She's leaving the hospital and answering reporters' questions despite Ally's pinches?
Then Jesse gets a call to get out of the house, that "company" is coming. Her response? I wanna finish my sandwich.
Yeah, so, then there's the sensitivity seminar. FBRD actually expected Jesse to be a poster child here??
So, death-replacement. Shrum made good use of that seminar to insert the history about death-replacement. A psychic determines the day you'll die, and if you want to put it off, you buy a death-replacement session. Someone like Jesse shows up on your "designated" day, shadows you until death starts to take you over. She jerks the death energy to herself and dies for you. Jesse provides a more visceral explanation about that sudden jerk of your body when you're asleep, and it actually makes sense.
Naturally, there is a lot of controversy over these "zombies"! And the paperwork! Oy! Before-death surveys, after-death surveys, blood typing, and so much more.
Count on the government, lol, they love the Death-Management Industry and each step can be taxed! The Church isn't keen on it, though.
Jesse reckons the Church hates them because "Jesus isn't the only one coming back from the dead these days".There is so much contradiction going on here: the angels, the FBRD, Brinkley . . . it's a complex combination of characters and action.
It does take a bit to finally get into the plot, and it does make sense. The military doesn't like to lose out on a potential weapon. The Church wants to be the only one in the resurrection business. But there is so much else that is not making sense.
All the secrets people are keeping! I can understand why some are kept, but not all of them. It only hampers people and prevents their being able to protect themselves! Special agents are threatening Jesse up one side and down the other, and I don't really understand why. This is NOT a supportive government agency.
What's with the medical personnel? The police? They don't think it's normal that Jesse would want to know how her friends are? The investigation that FBRD launched had me confused. Shouldn't they be supportive of their NRDs and their concerns? Nobody tells Jesse anything. Well, okay, based on past experience on her reactions and her mouth, I can understand that, but still. That Garrison is certainly shooting off at all angles. I'd be confused myself with his actions.
Jesse's relationship with Land is all about the sex, only he wants more. Nor is he happy about Ally sleeping in Jesse's bed although they're not having sex. As for Jesse's relationship with her mother, wow, is that twisted! Her mother essentially tells her she doesn't exist to her, and then Jesse learns something completely different from her little brother. As for Jesse's father . . .
The day Jesse spends with Eve on her death day was, um, informative, lol.
Shrum drove me nuts with all the secrets! She also, lol, explained all those stories about vampires and Christian resurrection. As for those angels. Hmmm. They definitely have personalities, and Shrum has me wondering about them. I wanna know if they're real or hallucinations and what their agenda is. I need more, so as soon as I finish off this review, I'm starting Dying by the Hour , 2.
What's with all this "Jesse is different" talk? I know Shrum means it as a tease, but it's annoying.
I do like how Shrum describes Gloria's ability. Yeah, it is slow, but it's effective.
I gotta confess, those sensitivity seminars Jesse goes to are a crack-up. Why the agency insists she do them, I do not know.
There is a good bit of back history that keeps popping up. At least it's not info dumping. Some of it makes sense, aaand some of it does not. And at last, at last, at last, Jesse figures out why she's so detached. It's a truth that hurts Lane.
I love the idea of The Amalgamation! We should do it for real!!
Ah, man. The idea of the government or the Church taking people into their idea of protective custody, really s*t*r*a*i*n*s my belief in Christians. As for how the military dealt with their "failures" . . . ah, geez. Then again, it's no different from how they treat soldiers in real life.
The Story
Jesse hates her job but hates the idea of jail even more. So she'll do this, grudgingly, dragging her heels. Then the secrets, the forgeries, the set-ups . . . the betrayals begin.
On the morning before her 67th death, it is business as usual for Jesse Sullivan: meet with the mortician, counsel soon-to-be-dead clients, and have coffee while reading the latest regeneration theory. Jesse dies for a living, literally. As a Necronite, she is one of the population’s rare 2% who can serve as a death replacement agent, dying so others don’t have to. Although each death is different, the result is the same: a life is saved, and Jesse resurrects days later with sore muscles, new scars, and another hole in her memory.
But when Jesse is murdered and becomes the sole suspect in a federal investigation, more than her freedom and sanity are at stake. She must catch the killer herself — or die trying.
The Characters
Jesse Sullivan has NRD, Necronitic Regenerative Disorder, and lives in a house in Greenbrook. Winston is her wheezy pug.
Alice "Ally" Gallagher, a lesbian, is Jesse's personal assistant, making sure she gets Jesse to the hospital. Lane Handel wants to be Jesse's boyfriend and owns a building that also houses his comic bookstore. Gabriel is an invisible angel. Umbri, a DJ, and Kyra Fenton, a trust fund baby, are friends of Ally's.
Jesse's father, Eric Sullivan, had died when she was eight. Her mother, Danica, remarried Eddie Phelps, a child molester. Danny Phelps is Jesse's younger half-brother. Mr Reeves claims to have known Jesse's parents. Uncle Paul and Aunt Jody will take Daniel in.
Federal Bureau of Regenerative Deaths (FBRD)
Special Agent James Brinkley is Jesse's government-assigned handler. Boston and Swede are his allies. Rachel Wright, now an ex-agent in the St Louis Psychiatric Rehabilitation Center, had been Jesse's mentor in St Louis. Special Agent Garrison investigates the charges against pretty much everyone. Special Agent Martin.
Cindy, a personal consultant like Jesse, and Cooper, a military consultant, are the other NRDs in Nashville. Raphael is Cindy's negative invisible angel. Frank is Cindy's handler. An A.M.P. is an Analyst of necro-Magnetic Phenomenon, the psychic, and they were created (by the army). Captain Gloria Jackson, an A.M.P., draws her visions, step-by-step.
Kirk is the mortician who stitches Jesse back up. Dr Stanley York does her check-ups. Herwin is the psychologist. Trevor is Herwin's son. Stacy is a nurse with a policeman for a husband.
Nashville PD
Officers Jeffers and Gaul are assigned to protect Jesse. Yep, they can't be bothered to tell Jesse anything. Detective Bobkins is dying to arrest Jesse.
Mr Reynolds works in advertising. Judy Ludlow is another potential. Eve Hildebrand is a hooker with a daughter, Nessa. Jacob Willis, a certified psychic, is Eve's cousin. Charlie and Brad Cestrum are some of Eve's clients.
The Unified Church
Caldwell is one of four leaders of the Church.
Necronite is the perferred term instead of zombie. The Amalgamation ended all religious warring. Jade Palace is a tiny Chinese restaurant. Andrew is one of the volunteers who visits Rachel. Felicia has a thing for toothbrushing her toes. Ms Beverly is an elementary school teacher. Chelsea Whitehead had been a fellow student.
The Cover and Title
The cover is a contrast between dark and light. Black is on the outermost edges gradating to a paler gray at the tunnel's mouth, which is a promising mix of pastel blues and pink, a crow pecking near the entrance. It's a silhouette of a tilting Jesse in a long top and pants, her left hand guiding her along the tunnel's wall. At the top is the author's name in a thin white. The title is a'slant in a two-color gradation of white to royal blue and white to green above Jesse's head. Below Jesse is one-half of the series information in white. For some reason, the series has two titles, and Dying for a Living uses Jesse Sullivan.
The title is literal, as Jess keeps Dying for a Living.
March 19, 2014
I found this book a couple of days ago and it was so different and readable that I could not put the book down. When the premise of a book causes me to ignore my huge “to be read” pile, you have to know I loved it.
Jesse Sullivan is a rarity in this world that the author has created. She is what is known as a Necronite, or as some people call her-Zombie(just don’t let her hear you call her that!). Jesse works for an agency that does death replacement. In other words, she takes the place of the person that is going to meet with a bad end and when she wakes up a couple of days later, she is regenerated. There are also people with the job of “seeing” when a person will die, within a 24 hour window. For a price, people can hire Jesse’s services. It was intriguing to me how the death replacement takes place, the rejuvenation, the seeing person’s job, and the role the agency plays in this.
There’s also discrimination by the general public against Jesse that could really apply to other aspects of society.
I absolutely adored the character of Jesse; anyone that can be as snarky as she is, while doing a pretty morbid job, fascinated me. I mean, she wakes up to a mortician trying to make her look alive and it’s just a normal day in her life! Needless to say, she is friends with the mortician, because it happens all the time. The story is told from her prospective and for me, it really worked. There were several moments that I laughed right out loud-always a good thing while reading. Other characters that were important are, Ally and Lane. Ally is her assistant, her best friend and her previous, sometime lover. Lane is her hunky booty call, but he is also wanting to be much more. Made for a pretty interesting love triangle of a different sort. Rounding out the main characters is her mentor/manager, Brinkley. While not lovable, he was an interesting character as well, with a pretty big part to play in the story.
So, we have a very well written book, with engaging characters, an interesting premise, a love triangle, and on top of that, there’s mystery, some violence and suspense. Murders, attempted murders, and kidnapping also play out in this story. Sexual situations are implied but not really shown. If you love a good, really different, paranormal story, you need to read this book. There’s not really a cliffhanger, but I still can’t wait for the next one in this series.(RabidReads.ca)
Jesse Sullivan is a rarity in this world that the author has created. She is what is known as a Necronite, or as some people call her-Zombie(just don’t let her hear you call her that!). Jesse works for an agency that does death replacement. In other words, she takes the place of the person that is going to meet with a bad end and when she wakes up a couple of days later, she is regenerated. There are also people with the job of “seeing” when a person will die, within a 24 hour window. For a price, people can hire Jesse’s services. It was intriguing to me how the death replacement takes place, the rejuvenation, the seeing person’s job, and the role the agency plays in this.
There’s also discrimination by the general public against Jesse that could really apply to other aspects of society.
I absolutely adored the character of Jesse; anyone that can be as snarky as she is, while doing a pretty morbid job, fascinated me. I mean, she wakes up to a mortician trying to make her look alive and it’s just a normal day in her life! Needless to say, she is friends with the mortician, because it happens all the time. The story is told from her prospective and for me, it really worked. There were several moments that I laughed right out loud-always a good thing while reading. Other characters that were important are, Ally and Lane. Ally is her assistant, her best friend and her previous, sometime lover. Lane is her hunky booty call, but he is also wanting to be much more. Made for a pretty interesting love triangle of a different sort. Rounding out the main characters is her mentor/manager, Brinkley. While not lovable, he was an interesting character as well, with a pretty big part to play in the story.
So, we have a very well written book, with engaging characters, an interesting premise, a love triangle, and on top of that, there’s mystery, some violence and suspense. Murders, attempted murders, and kidnapping also play out in this story. Sexual situations are implied but not really shown. If you love a good, really different, paranormal story, you need to read this book. There’s not really a cliffhanger, but I still can’t wait for the next one in this series.(RabidReads.ca)
February 11, 2014
Full review to come soon, but KINDLE.BRUISER. Loved this! So unique!
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This book doesn't even come out until March! I've been frustrated with amazon for no reason because I wanted to gift a copy to a friend of mine! Hahaha, I feel like a fool. I had requested a copy from the author for a Read & Review and I loved it! Obviously, right, since I was trying to find a copy for my friend whose birthday is today.
While this does have "Zombies" in it, don't you dare use that term. It's rude! It's like calling someone by a racial epithet that is just not done in polite society! Jesse is a Necronite, a very rare human who can intervene in the case of someone else's death and die for them...and then she resurrects and comes back to life. Full life, with blood, heart pumping, everything! She'll have a few scars and some blank spots in her memory, but this is what she does. And she works as a government agent and is contracted to do it. As you can imagine...it isn't cheap.
But then...we have someone who is killing all the Necronites! From town to town, they are being murdered and it seems like it is someone close to Jesse. Dun dun duuuuuuuuun.
The pacing of this novel is fabulous; I stabbed the hell out of my kindle with my finger, hence kindle-bruiser. It was such a refreshing read with a new idea and, while we don't have necronites now, I could TOTALLY see this happening! Every interaction between the characters seemed so real and believable. Jesse is snarky without being obnoxious and genuinely likable. She makes you feel, especially as she discovers things about her past and looks at one of her current friends with a whole new light. I couldn't decide which love interest I liked more for Jesse, her boss was fantastic, and I think I may have given my own little fistpump and squeal of "YES!" at the end there. >.> I won't say more than that.
I enjoyed this one so much, it's an instant favorite of 2014 and it's not even out yet. Want. More. Now!!!!
**************************
This book doesn't even come out until March! I've been frustrated with amazon for no reason because I wanted to gift a copy to a friend of mine! Hahaha, I feel like a fool. I had requested a copy from the author for a Read & Review and I loved it! Obviously, right, since I was trying to find a copy for my friend whose birthday is today.
While this does have "Zombies" in it, don't you dare use that term. It's rude! It's like calling someone by a racial epithet that is just not done in polite society! Jesse is a Necronite, a very rare human who can intervene in the case of someone else's death and die for them...and then she resurrects and comes back to life. Full life, with blood, heart pumping, everything! She'll have a few scars and some blank spots in her memory, but this is what she does. And she works as a government agent and is contracted to do it. As you can imagine...it isn't cheap.
But then...we have someone who is killing all the Necronites! From town to town, they are being murdered and it seems like it is someone close to Jesse. Dun dun duuuuuuuuun.
The pacing of this novel is fabulous; I stabbed the hell out of my kindle with my finger, hence kindle-bruiser. It was such a refreshing read with a new idea and, while we don't have necronites now, I could TOTALLY see this happening! Every interaction between the characters seemed so real and believable. Jesse is snarky without being obnoxious and genuinely likable. She makes you feel, especially as she discovers things about her past and looks at one of her current friends with a whole new light. I couldn't decide which love interest I liked more for Jesse, her boss was fantastic, and I think I may have given my own little fistpump and squeal of "YES!" at the end there. >.> I won't say more than that.
I enjoyed this one so much, it's an instant favorite of 2014 and it's not even out yet. Want. More. Now!!!!
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