What do you think?
Rate this book
Crawshanks Guide to the Recently Departed #5
Dead Serious Case #5 Madame Vivienne
For one brief shining moment, the utter insanity that is Tristan Everett’s world makes sense.
He’s marrying the man he loves, has a dead drag queen for a bestie and is surrounded by an amazing found family. Okay, so his life isn’t exactly what you’d call normal. By day, he’s a quiet, mild-mannered forensic pathologist, but the rest of the time, he guides lost souls into the light. He’s also averted an apocalypse, stopped Chaos from coming through a magic door, and drunk tequila with Death.
It’s all a bit bonkers, but it’s his life… and he loves it.
He’s flying high but, like Icarus, it’s only a matter of time before he’s brought crashing down to earth with singed wings. The strange reality of his life intrudes once again when his friend, Madame Vivienne, is murdered, and it’s clear from the beginning that this is no ordinary killing.
Someone is using dark magic.
Viv’s soul has been bound, leaving her trapped and unable to communicate. Tristan, Danny, and their friends must uncover the truth and find the killer. But the deeper they delve into the old bookshop in Whitechapel, which has been in the Crawshanks family for generations, the darker and the more dangerous the secrets that begin to unravel.
And what they discover may just change their lives forever…
He’s marrying the man he loves, has a dead drag queen for a bestie and is surrounded by an amazing found family. Okay, so his life isn’t exactly what you’d call normal. By day, he’s a quiet, mild-mannered forensic pathologist, but the rest of the time, he guides lost souls into the light. He’s also averted an apocalypse, stopped Chaos from coming through a magic door, and drunk tequila with Death.
It’s all a bit bonkers, but it’s his life… and he loves it.
He’s flying high but, like Icarus, it’s only a matter of time before he’s brought crashing down to earth with singed wings. The strange reality of his life intrudes once again when his friend, Madame Vivienne, is murdered, and it’s clear from the beginning that this is no ordinary killing.
Someone is using dark magic.
Viv’s soul has been bound, leaving her trapped and unable to communicate. Tristan, Danny, and their friends must uncover the truth and find the killer. But the deeper they delve into the old bookshop in Whitechapel, which has been in the Crawshanks family for generations, the darker and the more dangerous the secrets that begin to unravel.
And what they discover may just change their lives forever…
ebook
First published April 3, 2024
180 people are currently reading
203 people want to read
About the author
Vawn Cassidy
27 books458 followersVawn Cassidy is the MM pen name of British author Wendy Saunders.
She writes supernatural & contemporary fantasy as Wendy Saunders. She also writes romantic suspense.
She writes supernatural & contemporary fantasy as Wendy Saunders. She also writes romantic suspense.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 146 reviews
July 8, 2024
This had everything but the kitchen sink and I absolutely loved it!
I bawled my eyes out at Tristan's grief, it felt very similar to my own experience so I could really empathise. If you can write about the soul crushing type of grief and really make me feel it then that's an automatic five stars from me - it's probably no surprise that my favourite book, Head Above Water by CE Ricci, is also about this type of grief. It's a much more relatable emotion to me than love!
The found family in this series just gets better with every book and I cannot wait for all of the spin-offs. I'm dying for Sam and Harrison's story! I'm hoping there's more to come for Nick and Aidan too.
Also loved the mentions of Hades and Dionysus - I'm a huge Greek mythology fan and Dionysus is in my top five Ancient Greeks.
Still weirdly into Death too 😂 I need to read the adventures of Death and Chan soon!
I bawled my eyes out at Tristan's grief, it felt very similar to my own experience so I could really empathise. If you can write about the soul crushing type of grief and really make me feel it then that's an automatic five stars from me - it's probably no surprise that my favourite book, Head Above Water by CE Ricci, is also about this type of grief. It's a much more relatable emotion to me than love!
The found family in this series just gets better with every book and I cannot wait for all of the spin-offs. I'm dying for Sam and Harrison's story! I'm hoping there's more to come for Nick and Aidan too.
Also loved the mentions of Hades and Dionysus - I'm a huge Greek mythology fan and Dionysus is in my top five Ancient Greeks.
Still weirdly into Death too 😂 I need to read the adventures of Death and Chan soon!
August 24, 2024
OMG, what can I say about this last book that closes off the narrative arc in what's been an absolutely cracking good series?
How about something like this?
Vawn Cassidy may have shut one door on her brilliant paranormal/urban fantasy mystery series with a skilful hand that not only touches the heart, but also leaves the reader with a sense of satisfaction.
At the same time, she also opens up a wider expanded universe that's going to continue to bring superb storytelling and let fans of Tristan, Danny, Dusty, Chan and the rest of the gang get their fix, while introducing new avenues of adventure.
In Madame Vivienne, we finally get the epic reveal of just what's gone on in the story of the Crawshank family and the bookshop down an alley in a forgotten corner of London.
As Danny's not able to officially investigate, the detective brought in to help Maddie blows everyone's backs up with his dismissive attitude.
Of course, as has been the case with every murder investigation in this series, there's much more than meets the eye.
No spoilers here, but we're taken on a disturbing journey that tests the resolve of all involved and sees more than one member of the gang in peril.
I loved everything about this story. It was a read in one go for me, I couldn’t put it down because I was so absorbed in the tale being told, the perfect mix of humour, sharp shocks, action and adventure, and the wonderful love that binds all these disparate hearts together.
The ending didn't feel rushed, although I did have a moment where I wondered if I'd missed something, only to realise this series links into one written by Vawn under a different pen name.
It didn't stop me from understanding what was going on, so that was good, and it gave a bigger dimension to the epic showdown.
Also, do pay heed to the warning note from the author. Readers of the series know what's been going on with Tristan's dad, the natural progression of time comes to its inevitable conclusion.
It will touch even the hardest of hearts, but don't despair, I think all who've loved the relationship between them will feel a sense of rightness by the end of the book.
I've loved every one of the stories told in this series, and the relationship between Tristan and Danny is one of my favourites in any genre.
I'm eagerly awaiting the next chapter in this universe, and I'll let you all discover where it's going next!
#ARC kindly received from the author, I am voluntarily leaving a review.
How about something like this?
Vawn Cassidy may have shut one door on her brilliant paranormal/urban fantasy mystery series with a skilful hand that not only touches the heart, but also leaves the reader with a sense of satisfaction.
At the same time, she also opens up a wider expanded universe that's going to continue to bring superb storytelling and let fans of Tristan, Danny, Dusty, Chan and the rest of the gang get their fix, while introducing new avenues of adventure.
In Madame Vivienne, we finally get the epic reveal of just what's gone on in the story of the Crawshank family and the bookshop down an alley in a forgotten corner of London.
As Danny's not able to officially investigate, the detective brought in to help Maddie blows everyone's backs up with his dismissive attitude.
Of course, as has been the case with every murder investigation in this series, there's much more than meets the eye.
No spoilers here, but we're taken on a disturbing journey that tests the resolve of all involved and sees more than one member of the gang in peril.
I loved everything about this story. It was a read in one go for me, I couldn’t put it down because I was so absorbed in the tale being told, the perfect mix of humour, sharp shocks, action and adventure, and the wonderful love that binds all these disparate hearts together.
The ending didn't feel rushed, although I did have a moment where I wondered if I'd missed something, only to realise this series links into one written by Vawn under a different pen name.
It didn't stop me from understanding what was going on, so that was good, and it gave a bigger dimension to the epic showdown.
Also, do pay heed to the warning note from the author. Readers of the series know what's been going on with Tristan's dad, the natural progression of time comes to its inevitable conclusion.
It will touch even the hardest of hearts, but don't despair, I think all who've loved the relationship between them will feel a sense of rightness by the end of the book.
I've loved every one of the stories told in this series, and the relationship between Tristan and Danny is one of my favourites in any genre.
I'm eagerly awaiting the next chapter in this universe, and I'll let you all discover where it's going next!
#ARC kindly received from the author, I am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 13, 2024
Awesome!
This is a series that just keeps getting better and better with each book! I’m so happy and excited that TWO spinoffs have been announced! I can’t wait! Five stars all the way!
This is a series that just keeps getting better and better with each book! I’m so happy and excited that TWO spinoffs have been announced! I can’t wait! Five stars all the way!
June 13, 2024
It’s rare that I find a series where every book is as good (or better) than the first. I can only hope that the author continues with these characters. There is so much left to explore. I’d even take a spin-off. 😏
October 21, 2025
The grand finale to a series you definitely need to binge.
The previous book ends with Madame Vivienne getting murdered, and everything pointing to someone who used black magic. And that’s where this book starts: her death, and the investigation around it (an investigation Danny can’t be a part in because of his private ties to Madame Viv).
On top of that, a mysterious law firm approaches Tristan and Danny, putting Tristan in charge of the shop Madame Viv owned, at least until the rightful heir is found.
Tbh, the heir part was pretty obvious to me 🤷♀️ and the baddie part, too, that’s not the reason I’ll rate this book with 5 stars. What I absolutely LOVED was the sad part that happens towards the middle, and I don’t consider it to be a spoiler to say that it’s the part where Tristan’s father dies (after all, he’s been in a care home for the previous books, suffering from severe dementia, and Tristan was aware that each of his visits could be his last).
The way Tristan’s grief was portrayed, being in his head when he went through all the stages - I cried with him, and with Danny, because ofc it all had an impact on their relationship, too. And you know by now that when a book packs such an emotional punch, I tend to overlook the parts that made it less than perfect.
I laughed a lot, too, and thought that the ending was cleverly done (a few characters from a different series this author wrote under a different name show up and save the day). I contemplated briefly reading that series, too, but it’s MF and is located in Massachusetts, so I’d probably miss the very British humour I so loved here.
I watch as his eyes trail down to Bruce’s tiny shorts and those tree-trunk thighs before turning back to Harrison. He leans in and sniffs loudly.
“A witch.”
His voice is deep, like seriously deep, almost a growl. Then his dark gaze lands on me.
“And what are you?”
“A Sagittarius,” I squeak.
Also: I’d miss the gorgeousness that is Dusty, who stole the show whenever she made an entrance:
“What are you wearing?”
I squint at Dusty in the darkness.
“And why do you look like Catwoman?” “What? It’s my stealth mode outfit.”
She looks down at the skintight black latex catsuit and the matching utility belt settled on her hips. She’s wearing thigh-high patent stiletto boots and her signature huge blonde Dolly wig, but what really sets it all off is the black mask covering her eyes and highlighting her glossy blood-red lips.
“I couldn’t fit the balaclava over my wig,” she adds, wrinkling her nose, “and it would have smudged my makeup anyway.”
Also, shoutout to Joel Leslie, who put his heart and soul into narrating this series. I’m not always his biggest fan, but I doubt they could have picked a better match.
Again, was it perfect? No, we had a few loose ends that - in retrospect - didn’t make any sense. Still, I loved it enough to round my 4.5 stars up.
The previous book ends with Madame Vivienne getting murdered, and everything pointing to someone who used black magic. And that’s where this book starts: her death, and the investigation around it (an investigation Danny can’t be a part in because of his private ties to Madame Viv).
On top of that, a mysterious law firm approaches Tristan and Danny, putting Tristan in charge of the shop Madame Viv owned, at least until the rightful heir is found.
Tbh, the heir part was pretty obvious to me 🤷♀️ and the baddie part, too, that’s not the reason I’ll rate this book with 5 stars. What I absolutely LOVED was the sad part that happens towards the middle, and I don’t consider it to be a spoiler to say that it’s the part where Tristan’s father dies (after all, he’s been in a care home for the previous books, suffering from severe dementia, and Tristan was aware that each of his visits could be his last).
The way Tristan’s grief was portrayed, being in his head when he went through all the stages - I cried with him, and with Danny, because ofc it all had an impact on their relationship, too. And you know by now that when a book packs such an emotional punch, I tend to overlook the parts that made it less than perfect.
I laughed a lot, too, and thought that the ending was cleverly done (a few characters from a different series this author wrote under a different name show up and save the day). I contemplated briefly reading that series, too, but it’s MF and is located in Massachusetts, so I’d probably miss the very British humour I so loved here.
I watch as his eyes trail down to Bruce’s tiny shorts and those tree-trunk thighs before turning back to Harrison. He leans in and sniffs loudly.
“A witch.”
His voice is deep, like seriously deep, almost a growl. Then his dark gaze lands on me.
“And what are you?”
“A Sagittarius,” I squeak.
Also: I’d miss the gorgeousness that is Dusty, who stole the show whenever she made an entrance:
“What are you wearing?”
I squint at Dusty in the darkness.
“And why do you look like Catwoman?” “What? It’s my stealth mode outfit.”
She looks down at the skintight black latex catsuit and the matching utility belt settled on her hips. She’s wearing thigh-high patent stiletto boots and her signature huge blonde Dolly wig, but what really sets it all off is the black mask covering her eyes and highlighting her glossy blood-red lips.
“I couldn’t fit the balaclava over my wig,” she adds, wrinkling her nose, “and it would have smudged my makeup anyway.”
Also, shoutout to Joel Leslie, who put his heart and soul into narrating this series. I’m not always his biggest fan, but I doubt they could have picked a better match.
Again, was it perfect? No, we had a few loose ends that - in retrospect - didn’t make any sense. Still, I loved it enough to round my 4.5 stars up.
June 28, 2025
3.5/5
March 25, 2024
I am extremely dehydrated.
“Which is why I was a drag queen instead of a nurse. Some of us are born with a soft nature and empathy, and some of us are born with an infinite level of sarcasm and too much fucking fabulousness for one gender.”
I really thought I was ready, but *sUrPRiSe*! I was absolutely in no way ready for the weird way grief pops back up and decides you should feel it to your atoms. I cried for hours, and I’m still not totally finished.
**Make no mistake, it’s one hundred percent heart-wrenching, but the reason I’m such a mess is because it hit too close to home for comfort, so a lot of the dramatic waterworks are my bad. Don’t be afraid to shed some tears! My personal experiences made my emotions go the extra mile.**
This series has been a ride. The characters are perfection, each book has a fantastic story, the romance has been god tier, and I’m always desperate for the next installment because I am deeply invested and entrenched.
And this book was no different. It’s my favourite in the series thus far, even with the ~emotional damage~. I’m so attached to this world and this (fictional) group. I definitely need more friends or hobbies or something, but this is what I’m working with.
I don’t want to add spoilers so my review is sparse on detail, but I do want to say that if you’re as invested as I am, make sure you’re okay before you start reading. The feels are going to hit, and they’re going to hit VERY hard. I always say to be kind to yourself when reading, and I mean that wholeheartedly. It’s so worth the hurt, but make sure you have space for it, alright? I promise the author didn’t lie and they did take care of us. The hurt will heal beautifully and lead to (yes, even more) happy tears.
5/5. I love this book and I love this series and I love you in general.♥️ Enjoy, bbs!
[**I received an ARC from the author. All ratings, reviews, and opinions are my own.**]
“Which is why I was a drag queen instead of a nurse. Some of us are born with a soft nature and empathy, and some of us are born with an infinite level of sarcasm and too much fucking fabulousness for one gender.”
I really thought I was ready, but *sUrPRiSe*! I was absolutely in no way ready for the weird way grief pops back up and decides you should feel it to your atoms. I cried for hours, and I’m still not totally finished.
**Make no mistake, it’s one hundred percent heart-wrenching, but the reason I’m such a mess is because it hit too close to home for comfort, so a lot of the dramatic waterworks are my bad. Don’t be afraid to shed some tears! My personal experiences made my emotions go the extra mile.**
This series has been a ride. The characters are perfection, each book has a fantastic story, the romance has been god tier, and I’m always desperate for the next installment because I am deeply invested and entrenched.
And this book was no different. It’s my favourite in the series thus far, even with the ~emotional damage~. I’m so attached to this world and this (fictional) group. I definitely need more friends or hobbies or something, but this is what I’m working with.
I don’t want to add spoilers so my review is sparse on detail, but I do want to say that if you’re as invested as I am, make sure you’re okay before you start reading. The feels are going to hit, and they’re going to hit VERY hard. I always say to be kind to yourself when reading, and I mean that wholeheartedly. It’s so worth the hurt, but make sure you have space for it, alright? I promise the author didn’t lie and they did take care of us. The hurt will heal beautifully and lead to (yes, even more) happy tears.
5/5. I love this book and I love this series and I love you in general.♥️ Enjoy, bbs!
[**I received an ARC from the author. All ratings, reviews, and opinions are my own.**]
January 19, 2025
4.5 stars. Lovely, light whodunit series with a mystery in each book that resolves as well as a bigger plot going through the multi-book series, medium drama, mild angst. Delightful cast of characters, friends and drag queens with a paranormal element that’s entertaining and heartwarming. Lots of feels as we follow this couple through a couple years of courtship and relationship.
Book one is a wonderful start and it’s clear that we’re at the beginning of a series. We meet the main characters, setting up the paranormal element while weaving a nicely paced murder mystery into a budding romance. The bedroom scene in book one is epically entertaining as Tristan’s penchant for chaos rises to an all-time high. Very cute couple, extremely likable.
I ADORE that we leave book one with a handful of huge secrets yet to be revealed and I have an immense desire to keep reading to see how everything unfolds. Series must be read in order, none of the books would stand alone very well and each book ends with something new happening as a way to introduce the next book, a bit cliffy.
A fair portion of the books are dedicated to the plot and mystery, with the romantic page count significant but secondary. The romance ranges from funny chaotic moments, sexy full bedroom scenes, playful lusty fade to black and delightful moments of connection and adoration. Full scope of feels and very satisfying writing and story development. Tristan’s adoration of Danny and his internal dialogue when he appreciates him and their life are so lovely to read.
As a testament to this series’ charm, I read all 5 books back to back, which is rare for me as I usually get bored after book 2/3. They are binge-reading certified, congruency is perfect and there is very little recapping. There are quite a few characters by the end, so it is advisable to read the installments close together so you don’t forget who is who for the final mystery.
BOOK 5/6: new characters pop onto the scene in the last main book and appear again in the Halloween novella. They are from another series, THE GUARDIAN SERIES by pseudonym WENDY SAUNDERS. You don’t really need to know these god/goddesses/guardians/protectors to enjoy the Dead Serious/Crawshanks series, just FYI since GR does not reference the books from Wendy Saunders as being connected to the books from Vaughn Cassidy.
Murder mystery, detective, forensic pathologist, ghost, paranormal, drag artists, contemporary, UK/British, HEA, series, m/m, t/b roles.
Book one is a wonderful start and it’s clear that we’re at the beginning of a series. We meet the main characters, setting up the paranormal element while weaving a nicely paced murder mystery into a budding romance. The bedroom scene in book one is epically entertaining as Tristan’s penchant for chaos rises to an all-time high. Very cute couple, extremely likable.
I ADORE that we leave book one with a handful of huge secrets yet to be revealed and I have an immense desire to keep reading to see how everything unfolds. Series must be read in order, none of the books would stand alone very well and each book ends with something new happening as a way to introduce the next book, a bit cliffy.
A fair portion of the books are dedicated to the plot and mystery, with the romantic page count significant but secondary. The romance ranges from funny chaotic moments, sexy full bedroom scenes, playful lusty fade to black and delightful moments of connection and adoration. Full scope of feels and very satisfying writing and story development. Tristan’s adoration of Danny and his internal dialogue when he appreciates him and their life are so lovely to read.
As a testament to this series’ charm, I read all 5 books back to back, which is rare for me as I usually get bored after book 2/3. They are binge-reading certified, congruency is perfect and there is very little recapping. There are quite a few characters by the end, so it is advisable to read the installments close together so you don’t forget who is who for the final mystery.
BOOK 5/6: new characters pop onto the scene in the last main book and appear again in the Halloween novella. They are from another series, THE GUARDIAN SERIES by pseudonym WENDY SAUNDERS. You don’t really need to know these god/goddesses/guardians/protectors to enjoy the Dead Serious/Crawshanks series, just FYI since GR does not reference the books from Wendy Saunders as being connected to the books from Vaughn Cassidy.
Murder mystery, detective, forensic pathologist, ghost, paranormal, drag artists, contemporary, UK/British, HEA, series, m/m, t/b roles.
March 30, 2024
Well this addition to the Dead Serious series was certainly full of interesting secrets. And that's the thing about secrets isn't it? They always tend to come to light eventually. Though it would have been nice if some of those secrets came out a little sooner. It could have helped our crazy crew prepare a bit more for what was coming their way.
Cassidy does warn us that this book is going to pack an emotional punch and I have to agree with them. As a reader we knew this part of the storyline was coming, but I still wasn't fully prepared for it. I never thought this laughter inducing series could rend me into tears but here we are. I will say that Cassidy does help to heal our hearts by the end, so take that as a comfort before diving in.
Even though the main story arc of this series is over, I'm super excited to say we are not done with this universe. There are more than one couple that could be seen in the future, though one of those couples definitely has a good amount of growing up age wise to do first. It's absolutely obvious in this book that our resident PI Sam has a major thing for his prickly witch Harrison and I cannot wait for their book coming in 2025.
Cassidy does warn us that this book is going to pack an emotional punch and I have to agree with them. As a reader we knew this part of the storyline was coming, but I still wasn't fully prepared for it. I never thought this laughter inducing series could rend me into tears but here we are. I will say that Cassidy does help to heal our hearts by the end, so take that as a comfort before diving in.
Even though the main story arc of this series is over, I'm super excited to say we are not done with this universe. There are more than one couple that could be seen in the future, though one of those couples definitely has a good amount of growing up age wise to do first. It's absolutely obvious in this book that our resident PI Sam has a major thing for his prickly witch Harrison and I cannot wait for their book coming in 2025.
March 29, 2024
I just finished reading Vawn Cassidy's "Dead Serious Case#5: Madame Vivienne." And, yeah. I'm still attempting to absorb it all. I have to start off with saying how this was an amazing finale to what has been an amazing series. A lot of things throughout the series are brought full circle, and the author does warn that there are some hard things to read and other reviews mention crying. So be prepared if you are a fan and plan to read this book. This is not a stand-alone. There are a lot of things that are ongoing from previous books and they are needed for a better understanding of current events.
I don't want to give any spoilers but fans of the series can probably guess at the "big sad" that happens in this book so should be prepared. but other things happen that are also a bit sad, like learning more about "Viv," and her family legacy, and other little hints about the histories of other characters. Outside of the sad parts, there were still plenty of laughs (some also causing tears) and the characters were up to their typical shenanigans. It all culminated in a very fitting ending that opened doors for future book spin-offs set in this ever expanding paranormal world. I know there are quite a few characters and possible relationships I would love to see more of.
The ending also has a bit of a cross-over with another series written by the author under a different Pen Name and that series is another I will 100% have to read.
I was given an a copy of this book and this is my unbiased opinion.
I don't want to give any spoilers but fans of the series can probably guess at the "big sad" that happens in this book so should be prepared. but other things happen that are also a bit sad, like learning more about "Viv," and her family legacy, and other little hints about the histories of other characters. Outside of the sad parts, there were still plenty of laughs (some also causing tears) and the characters were up to their typical shenanigans. It all culminated in a very fitting ending that opened doors for future book spin-offs set in this ever expanding paranormal world. I know there are quite a few characters and possible relationships I would love to see more of.
The ending also has a bit of a cross-over with another series written by the author under a different Pen Name and that series is another I will 100% have to read.
I was given an a copy of this book and this is my unbiased opinion.
March 24, 2024
Tristan, Danny, Dusty and the rest of the gang are back to solve another interesting and intriguing case once again associated with the Crawshank family bookshop in Whitechapel and what a case it is! There’s plenty of drama and action with some danger and dastardly villains doing dastardly deeds until they get their comeuppance in an awesome final battle. Throw in the odd twist in the tale and it was a one sitting read for me that grabbed my attention and wouldn’t let me stop until the very last page.
There’s plenty of opportunities for laughter along the way and I adored the numerous outfits that Dusty wears during the crisis. I also cried, sobbed and cried some more as Tristan and Danny faced the inevitability of Martin’s diagnosis. The author gives fair warning and she kept her promise of being able to put my shattered heart back together. Please be aware if this is a trigger.
I have adored this series and here’s why - a found family of wonderful characters who wholeheartedly love each other, masterful world building, epic storyline’s that gripped me and wouldn’t let me go and a series conclusion that was extremely gratifying and made my heart happy.
Although this is the end of the series overall story arc it’s not the last we will see of these wonderful characters as their universe expands with more action to follow and I cannot wait.
There’s plenty of opportunities for laughter along the way and I adored the numerous outfits that Dusty wears during the crisis. I also cried, sobbed and cried some more as Tristan and Danny faced the inevitability of Martin’s diagnosis. The author gives fair warning and she kept her promise of being able to put my shattered heart back together. Please be aware if this is a trigger.
I have adored this series and here’s why - a found family of wonderful characters who wholeheartedly love each other, masterful world building, epic storyline’s that gripped me and wouldn’t let me go and a series conclusion that was extremely gratifying and made my heart happy.
Although this is the end of the series overall story arc it’s not the last we will see of these wonderful characters as their universe expands with more action to follow and I cannot wait.
March 27, 2024
One of my favourite series ❤️ another fabulous addition.
April 6, 2024
Like wow. Not gonna lie, this might be the best read of the year and it's only April.
When I requested this arc, I knew I really wanted to read it, but at the same time knowing what was going to happen made me not want to read it.
The miracle that I was hoping for relating to his Dad did not happen. It's not really a spoiler, Tristan's dad has been ill since book one.
I mean I was crying reading that part. Like really crying, snot and all. That section broke me.
This part though, broke my heart.
There is also a demon that someone evil is trying to revive, more family to be adopted into this bunch, Sam and Harrison make some progress (I am assuming that is because of the spin off series), some steamy scenes, and a horrible detective, but lets be honest.
Tristan's dad was the star of this one.
When I requested this arc, I knew I really wanted to read it, but at the same time knowing what was going to happen made me not want to read it.
The miracle that I was hoping for relating to his Dad did not happen. It's not really a spoiler, Tristan's dad has been ill since book one.
I mean I was crying reading that part. Like really crying, snot and all. That section broke me.
This part though, broke my heart.
“Danny,” I whisper, my voice hoarse from screaming.
“Yes, love.” I feel him stroke my hair and press a kiss to my temple.
“I broke the little heart you bought me.”
“It doesn’t matter,” he says soothingly.
“I broke everything.”
“It’s just stuff,” he murmurs. “It doesn’t matter.”
“I’m sorry,” I whisper, and the tears come again. He turns me in his arms and I press my hot face to his bare chest and cry softly as he strokes my back.
There is also a demon that someone evil is trying to revive, more family to be adopted into this bunch, Sam and Harrison make some progress (I am assuming that is because of the spin off series), some steamy scenes, and a horrible detective, but lets be honest.
Tristan's dad was the star of this one.
March 30, 2024
Dead Serious case 5 is the new book in this serie, Tristan, Danny, Dusty and the rest of their family are back, this time they have to solve the murder of a friend, Madame Vivianne. This case brings Tristan back to the bookstore and once again associated with the Crawshank family. This was very entertaining book, of course our characters are against an unknown enemy. They have to do a lot of research to understand what’s happening and why they left black magic in the ghost of Madame Viviannne.
Of course this book have a lot of hilarious moments and the ugly crying is also here to, Vawn makes this part a with so much emotion and I’m not going to lie I cried so much for Tristan and Dany, but at the end she was able to mend our Hearts.
I loved the found family Tristan was able to make, all the characters are a important part in this story, Tristan and Dany love was as always so sweet and the mystery of the case was so good, they whole book was amazing!!! Of course we get a little glimpse of the story of these two characters that we so want to see together, I’m so looking forward for that book!!!
Of course this book have a lot of hilarious moments and the ugly crying is also here to, Vawn makes this part a with so much emotion and I’m not going to lie I cried so much for Tristan and Dany, but at the end she was able to mend our Hearts.
I loved the found family Tristan was able to make, all the characters are a important part in this story, Tristan and Dany love was as always so sweet and the mystery of the case was so good, they whole book was amazing!!! Of course we get a little glimpse of the story of these two characters that we so want to see together, I’m so looking forward for that book!!!
April 8, 2024
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.5 stars
This is the fifth book in Vawn Cassidy’s Crawshank’s Guide to the Dearly Departed series. It picks up in the aftermath of the previous book where Tristan and Danny learn that Vivienne has been murdered. Where that story took the men out of London and away from their group of friends and family for much of the book, this one brings the whole gang back together to solve the latest set of crises. One of the things I love about this series is the extended group of side characters and how Tristan and Danny have built this wonderful family. So it was a lot of fun to see them all working together on this case, each bringing different skills to the problem.
Cassidy notes at the beginning of the book that this book was the end of the originally planned story arc, though now things have been expanded. There appears to be more to come for this series, as well as for spin-offs set in this world.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
4.5 stars
This is the fifth book in Vawn Cassidy’s Crawshank’s Guide to the Dearly Departed series. It picks up in the aftermath of the previous book where Tristan and Danny learn that Vivienne has been murdered. Where that story took the men out of London and away from their group of friends and family for much of the book, this one brings the whole gang back together to solve the latest set of crises. One of the things I love about this series is the extended group of side characters and how Tristan and Danny have built this wonderful family. So it was a lot of fun to see them all working together on this case, each bringing different skills to the problem.
Cassidy notes at the beginning of the book that this book was the end of the originally planned story arc, though now things have been expanded. There appears to be more to come for this series, as well as for spin-offs set in this world.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
June 18, 2024
Przyjemna lektura, chociaż wyjątkowo mało humoru jak na tę serię.
August 1, 2025
What an emotional rollercoaster! I was so wrapped up in Tristian’s grief, I was sobbing my heart out. Any author who can pull out the tears deserves accolades for such writing. So much is happening with this book, but we finally get the most awesome happy ending…after they save the world again. This series has to be read in order, and every book is worth it. Again, Dusty Le Frey, Tristian’s drag queen guardian spirit, is a show stealer. Love her! And I really do hope there is a spin off series with Harrison and Sam. The chemistry between those two is waiting to explode.
September 25, 2025
4.5 Stars
I have thoroughly enjoyed this series! I think things wrapped up rather well and I cried and cheered. I'm glad I gave this series a try. Well worth the binge.
I have thoroughly enjoyed this series! I think things wrapped up rather well and I cried and cheered. I'm glad I gave this series a try. Well worth the binge.
June 6, 2024
First of all, before I say anything else, I have to address the death we knew was coming and yet still had a hard time accepting. Those few chapters tore me apart and made me a sobbing mess, and the ensuing pain and anger that poor Tristan felt, I felt it along with him. It was utterly devastating to have to see a character I've grown to love having to grow through that, and credit has to be given where credit is due, to the author for making us fall in love with not only the MCs, but also the side characters and family members.
Ok, glad to have gotten that off the chest. On to my review.
I will say this, many a plot points were highly predictable, like , but I still highly enjoyed it Achieving a delicate balance between tension, angst and humour is a highly difficult task, but the author has done it with aplomb. It was such a delight to have the wonderfully funny moments cutting through the tension, yet managing to bring focus back in next to nothing.
The writing was absolutely delicious, witty and full of heart, and gorgeously descriptive and lyrical at times that even with the many outside distractions plaguing me during the past few weeks and tearing my attention away from trying to finish the read, I still want to come back and I still know exactly where I am in the story. I have grown to love our merry band of weirdos and care for them all, and Danny, Tristan and Dusty has carved a place in my heart, and the rest of them is slowly making their way there.
This universe is expanding and I am delighted to definitely be revisiting it time and again, especially with the exciting Ashton-Drake manor being spun off, and Sam and Harrison having their own story as well, but I hope and pray that this is not the end of Danny and Tristan's story, and that we will definitely have more of their stories to come, as they are most definitely the anchors of this shared expanding universe.
Overall, I absolutely loved this entry in the series, and it feels like a punctuation point before the next paragraph or chapter, so I am expecting more and more to come.
Ok, glad to have gotten that off the chest. On to my review.
I will say this, many a plot points were highly predictable, like , but I still highly enjoyed it Achieving a delicate balance between tension, angst and humour is a highly difficult task, but the author has done it with aplomb. It was such a delight to have the wonderfully funny moments cutting through the tension, yet managing to bring focus back in next to nothing.
The writing was absolutely delicious, witty and full of heart, and gorgeously descriptive and lyrical at times that even with the many outside distractions plaguing me during the past few weeks and tearing my attention away from trying to finish the read, I still want to come back and I still know exactly where I am in the story. I have grown to love our merry band of weirdos and care for them all, and Danny, Tristan and Dusty has carved a place in my heart, and the rest of them is slowly making their way there.
This universe is expanding and I am delighted to definitely be revisiting it time and again, especially with the exciting Ashton-Drake manor being spun off, and Sam and Harrison having their own story as well, but I hope and pray that this is not the end of Danny and Tristan's story, and that we will definitely have more of their stories to come, as they are most definitely the anchors of this shared expanding universe.
Overall, I absolutely loved this entry in the series, and it feels like a punctuation point before the next paragraph or chapter, so I am expecting more and more to come.
March 29, 2024
This is the 5th book and the conclusion of the story arc in this series. Previous books must be read to get a full understanding, appreciation, and love of the characters. Don't worry though cause every book in this series is simply phenomenal. Now to try to do this review without spoilers.
Danny and Tristan have gone through so much since they met, feeling every emotion possible... happiness, joy, tenderness, love, triumph, fear, vulnerability, heart ache, and sorrow. But nothing has been like the pain and heartbreak in this book. It made me ugly cry, my heart shattered. We were warned to be prepared but I was still not ready!! This moment was written so beautifully that you deeply felt the characters' anguish and despair. "Every heart can mend, but truth takes time..."😭 . Also, Vivienne's story did not help ease the heartache (but was so intriguing, especially her ancestors).
But luckily there was also humor and sweet tender moments to alleviate some of the heartache. Tristan and Dusty with their sarcastic snarky comments always have me cracking up. The twists and turns and suspense had me sitting on the edge of my seat, unable to put the book down. Never a dull moment with this group. Cause with this group you know things will get chaotic and weird, and thank you Tristan for the Everett Scale 😂.
It was a very satisfying conclusion to this exceptional series. However it is only the ending of this story arc. We will be getting more stories based in this world (author's note) which has me jumping for joy. One of them being Sam and Harrison's story ...woohoo!! And hopefully much more of this loveable group of quirky characters.
Danny and Tristan have gone through so much since they met, feeling every emotion possible... happiness, joy, tenderness, love, triumph, fear, vulnerability, heart ache, and sorrow. But nothing has been like the pain and heartbreak in this book. It made me ugly cry, my heart shattered. We were warned to be prepared but I was still not ready!! This moment was written so beautifully that you deeply felt the characters' anguish and despair. "Every heart can mend, but truth takes time..."😭 . Also, Vivienne's story did not help ease the heartache (but was so intriguing, especially her ancestors).
But luckily there was also humor and sweet tender moments to alleviate some of the heartache. Tristan and Dusty with their sarcastic snarky comments always have me cracking up. The twists and turns and suspense had me sitting on the edge of my seat, unable to put the book down. Never a dull moment with this group. Cause with this group you know things will get chaotic and weird, and thank you Tristan for the Everett Scale 😂.
It was a very satisfying conclusion to this exceptional series. However it is only the ending of this story arc. We will be getting more stories based in this world (author's note) which has me jumping for joy. One of them being Sam and Harrison's story ...woohoo!! And hopefully much more of this loveable group of quirky characters.
June 21, 2024
Series: Crawshanks Guide to the Recently Departed #5
Rating: 5 stars - I loved it!
TW: on page death of a parent with dementia; grief; homomisic family and coworkers;
After the reveal of Vivienne’s murder at the end of the previous book I couldn’t wait to read this book to find out what happened. This book had a lot of intense emotions and big revelations that kept me hooked the whole time.
The mystery of Vivienne’s murder was interesting and revealed new paranormals in this world. Vivienne has been a character that I have wanted to know more about since she showed up and while we don’t get a ton about her past, we do learn just enough I think. The Crawshank family continues to be a fascinating one that I hope we continue to learn more about.
Outside of the murder mystery, this book was a very emotional one because Tristan’s father does pass away. While there is a lot of grief and loss in this book, there are also some uplifting and happy times. More Crawshank’s family is found, new paranormals are discovered, and we finally see Tristan and Danny get married. I think Vawn did a great job at balancing the grief and loss with the mystery.
Overall, this was another great addition for this series. I can’t wait to see what will happen next for this couple and this world.
Rating: 5 stars - I loved it!
TW: on page death of a parent with dementia; grief; homomisic family and coworkers;
After the reveal of Vivienne’s murder at the end of the previous book I couldn’t wait to read this book to find out what happened. This book had a lot of intense emotions and big revelations that kept me hooked the whole time.
The mystery of Vivienne’s murder was interesting and revealed new paranormals in this world. Vivienne has been a character that I have wanted to know more about since she showed up and while we don’t get a ton about her past, we do learn just enough I think. The Crawshank family continues to be a fascinating one that I hope we continue to learn more about.
Outside of the murder mystery, this book was a very emotional one because Tristan’s father does pass away. While there is a lot of grief and loss in this book, there are also some uplifting and happy times. More Crawshank’s family is found, new paranormals are discovered, and we finally see Tristan and Danny get married. I think Vawn did a great job at balancing the grief and loss with the mystery.
Overall, this was another great addition for this series. I can’t wait to see what will happen next for this couple and this world.
March 26, 2024
This is the 5th in the Dead Serious series, it's not a standalone as there is an ongoing thread in the series that's tied up here. This is paranormal, ghosts, established couple, found family, loss, and grief.
It's no secret that I love this series, it's made me laugh and cry, sometimes in the same sentence. While Danny and Tristan are the main couple and their relationship progression has been a joy to witness, it's also about found family and the friendship between Dusty and Tristan, and Chan too. This entire cast of characters is actually wonderful and only gets better with each addition. Harrison and Sam are great additions to this Dead Serious world, and I can't wait for their story. This book feels a lot like closure to me, tying up a lot of the loose threads and stories from the previous books and closing that chapter of Danny, Tristan and Dusty's story. I'm hoping there are a lot more stories to tell though, and I am HERE for those.
This book made me feel everything, I did cry, I laughed, I celebrated with these guys and once again felt privileged to be in their world and read their story. Loved this, and just want more of these guys, please.
I received an ARC and this is my honest review.
It's no secret that I love this series, it's made me laugh and cry, sometimes in the same sentence. While Danny and Tristan are the main couple and their relationship progression has been a joy to witness, it's also about found family and the friendship between Dusty and Tristan, and Chan too. This entire cast of characters is actually wonderful and only gets better with each addition. Harrison and Sam are great additions to this Dead Serious world, and I can't wait for their story. This book feels a lot like closure to me, tying up a lot of the loose threads and stories from the previous books and closing that chapter of Danny, Tristan and Dusty's story. I'm hoping there are a lot more stories to tell though, and I am HERE for those.
This book made me feel everything, I did cry, I laughed, I celebrated with these guys and once again felt privileged to be in their world and read their story. Loved this, and just want more of these guys, please.
I received an ARC and this is my honest review.
March 28, 2024
I love Danny, Tristan and their group of friends so much so it was great to dive into another adventure with them and after the ending of book 4 I was certainly hooked into the storyline! There were so many emotional moments in the story; I felt all the highs and all the lows. I had a lot of empathy for what Tristan went through but was also 100% behind Danny and his determination for them to stick together as a team through it all. There were some plot twists I didn't see coming and even those that I did work out were still fantastic to read. I love Chan the more I read of him and it's safe to say that Sam and Prickles, aka Harrison, stole the show for me - I can't wait for their story!! I need their spin off and I need more of Chan and Death's adventures too ASAP please! Overall, this is a great read with a whole bunch of fantastic characters. If you've read the rest of the series then you certainly don't want to miss this one. The only reason that I haven't gone 5 stars is that book 4 is still my absolute favourite so I've ranked them accordingly.
I received an ARC and this is my honest review.
I received an ARC and this is my honest review.
April 2, 2024
“Tumbling onto the bed in a mess of entangled limbs, hungry lips, and grasping hands, we strip away our clothes and toss them carelessly over the side of the mattress until we’re both naked in the darkness of the room. I could lean over and switch on the light, but I don’t. As much as I love watching Danny make love to me, there’s something to be said for the darkness. It heightens every touch and sensation.”
This was so good and officially my favourite which is saying a lot because I thought nothing would top book 3. True to the authors word I legit ugly cried over a few chapters in this book. I could literally feel Tristans pain and grief, and the sheer injustice of it all.
This had everything; cameos from all our favourite characters, hurt comfort, action, humour and oh so many tears. I could read about Tristan and Danny’s adventures forever!! Although I do hope the next book is Harrison and Sam, we all need the HEA and everything that comes before that!!
This was so good and officially my favourite which is saying a lot because I thought nothing would top book 3. True to the authors word I legit ugly cried over a few chapters in this book. I could literally feel Tristans pain and grief, and the sheer injustice of it all.
This had everything; cameos from all our favourite characters, hurt comfort, action, humour and oh so many tears. I could read about Tristan and Danny’s adventures forever!! Although I do hope the next book is Harrison and Sam, we all need the HEA and everything that comes before that!!
March 30, 2024
Wow, what to say. I loved it so hard. I love these characters and cannot wait to see what happens to them next.
I haven’t cried so much at a fictional character since Marley died in the movie. Chapters 15/16 you will need tissues and some downtime after.
There were a couple of niggles where there were non important loose ends that weren’t tied up as I would have liked them, but that’s a me thing. I like things to be spelt out to me!
I had to go back and read the last couple of chapters again as I sped read them so much I did get a little confused, but again that’s a me thing as I was desperate to know how it ended.
This is a series that I will go back and read through from start to finish and I am looking forward to seeing what happens next with the new series.
Thank you Vawn ❤️
I haven’t cried so much at a fictional character since Marley died in the movie. Chapters 15/16 you will need tissues and some downtime after.
There were a couple of niggles where there were non important loose ends that weren’t tied up as I would have liked them, but that’s a me thing. I like things to be spelt out to me!
I had to go back and read the last couple of chapters again as I sped read them so much I did get a little confused, but again that’s a me thing as I was desperate to know how it ended.
This is a series that I will go back and read through from start to finish and I am looking forward to seeing what happens next with the new series.
Thank you Vawn ❤️
April 2, 2024
When Vivienne was murdered, she left the book shop with the portal to Tristan but in reality, there is a legal heir. Tristan and Danny with Dustin get involved with the search. They must combat forces human, professionally and supernaturally. There is a death of a beloved character that will force copious tears from you as Vawn forewarns. Vawn treats a known happening as gently as possible but it's still is heartrending. Life and their love will go on, forged stronger by grief and loss and Tristan and Danny's pain is palpable. All friends will circle around them and reinforce their love and caring. There is a happy ending though the series will continue in another grouping. This turned out to be my favorite of the much loved Serious Cases and I will reread them all.
April 6, 2024
I read the trigger warnings and I decided to give it a go, anyways... and then I spent forever bawling my eyes out. Tissues, I needed so many tissues. Sadly, last October we lost my dad to pretty much the same situation that Tristian lost his. The only difference was my dad went from home... to hospital, to hospice, and three days later he was gone. Just like Martin, my dad had many years of making people smile and feel loved!
As for the story, there were twists... there were turns... and there were subtle clues, with a few red herrings thrown in, just to make things more interesting!
It looks like Sam and Harrison are getting their own spin-off series... but, we have to wait until sometime in 2025 to get it... 😭😭😭
As for the story, there were twists... there were turns... and there were subtle clues, with a few red herrings thrown in, just to make things more interesting!
It looks like Sam and Harrison are getting their own spin-off series... but, we have to wait until sometime in 2025 to get it... 😭😭😭
May 14, 2024
This book really took me on an emotional, action-packed rollercoaster ride! I just love the adventures Danny and Tristan get into, and they find themselves in one hell of a situation. I always knew the bookshop had secrets, but holy hell, it was full of them! I figured a few things out pretty quickly, but there were still so many surprises in store, and a few moments I feared the worst.
There was so much sadness in this one when the inevitable happened. It broke my heart, but I'm just glad that Tristan has such amazing people around him. It really affected me and brought up a lot of emotions, so prepare the tissues for this bit.
The ending made me so happy and brought a smile to my face. It was such a bright spot within the darkness. I also can’t wait for the new series!
There was so much sadness in this one when the inevitable happened. It broke my heart, but I'm just glad that Tristan has such amazing people around him. It really affected me and brought up a lot of emotions, so prepare the tissues for this bit.
The ending made me so happy and brought a smile to my face. It was such a bright spot within the darkness. I also can’t wait for the new series!
March 27, 2024
This was a fabulous addition to a wonderful series and I’d give it more stars if I could. How terrific it is to be back for another episode in the weird lives of Tristan, Danny and all their friends. It takes all of them to solve Madam Vivienne’s murder, and as usual, there is suspense, fun banter, many outfit changes by Dusty, more of Sam and Harrison’s prickly interactions and even an appearance or two by Death; in short there is more of everything I love about this series. This book had me laughing, holding my breath, and at one point brought tears to my eyes, and I can’t recommend it highly enough.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
March 31, 2024
Ok even though I was warned by the forward, I cried like a baby at parts of this. Please make sure you have read the prior books before you read this one. They are all worth reading and this one is the icing on the cake. I loved this for many reasons. The main one though is the found family that Tristan and Danny have built around themselves. I love all of these characters and am very invested in them now. I hope we get more glimpses of my favorite coroner and detective in the future.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 146 reviews