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Reapers #1
The Deadliners
An alternate cover edition exists here.
You don’t stop living when you die.
Have you ever wondered what happens when you die?
They're called Deadliners, they're spirits and they play fate with human lives. These 'deadline assignments' have karma which must be cleared by the time they die. What the deadliners don't know is that by helping others they are also clearing karma of their own.
They're a strong family unit who would do anything for one another - until one of them has to take Danny's wife over to the other side. Will they be able to go through with it? The group finds themselves in unfamiliar territory as each one of them faces their toughest lesson since they've died: letting go.
Danny loses control as his friends start doing what they want instead of their jobs. What was making them forget their training? Is there something darker going on? Never before had a deadliner group been so torn apart by the challenges that each one had to face.
You don’t stop living when you die.
Have you ever wondered what happens when you die?
They're called Deadliners, they're spirits and they play fate with human lives. These 'deadline assignments' have karma which must be cleared by the time they die. What the deadliners don't know is that by helping others they are also clearing karma of their own.
They're a strong family unit who would do anything for one another - until one of them has to take Danny's wife over to the other side. Will they be able to go through with it? The group finds themselves in unfamiliar territory as each one of them faces their toughest lesson since they've died: letting go.
Danny loses control as his friends start doing what they want instead of their jobs. What was making them forget their training? Is there something darker going on? Never before had a deadliner group been so torn apart by the challenges that each one had to face.
280 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 5, 2014
104 people are currently reading
1056 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Medhurst
112 books481 followersRachel Medhurst grew up in a small village in Surrey, England. She writes to inspire and heal. She lives in the British countryside with her dog. If she’s not writing, she can be found walking in nature and reading. For more information about current projects, including her short story dystopian series, Avoidables, please check out her website.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
March 28, 2019
This is a 3.5 star read.
Hmmmm ..... I'm not a 100% sure how I feel about this novel. I love the premise of Reapers, (Deadliners in this case) and I was glued, drinking in the author's detail for the first third of the book. The last third was an intriguing, anxiety filled romp to the finishing line. Where it lost me was the middle bit - it just didn't have the pull that the rest of the book had and it felt like the story was "treading water" a bit. Still, an entertaining fantasy read with grit, sorrow and the mystery of life.
Hmmmm ..... I'm not a 100% sure how I feel about this novel. I love the premise of Reapers, (Deadliners in this case) and I was glued, drinking in the author's detail for the first third of the book. The last third was an intriguing, anxiety filled romp to the finishing line. Where it lost me was the middle bit - it just didn't have the pull that the rest of the book had and it felt like the story was "treading water" a bit. Still, an entertaining fantasy read with grit, sorrow and the mystery of life.
July 6, 2019
Directamente no me gusto. No es el tipo de libro que me gusta leer. No quiero seguir con algo que no es de mi gusto.
August 24, 2017
I won this book from Goodreads.
I have to say that I really enjoyed this book. I believe that before we inhabit a body on earth our souls decide what they want to experience while in the body. What tragedies, successes and how they want to die. That is the way it happens in this book. They also decide if they want to be deadliners or not. Deadliners are the souls who help other souls move on to the other side to the correct location. They also bargain for more time for the soul they are assigned to and they are with the person for their last few days, weeks, months or years to help them clear their karma before they go onto the other side. The people usually don't know they are there but a handful can hear, see or hear & see them.
A few of the deadliners get out of control and can't let go of their family, trying to bargain for more time for their loved ones to stay on earth just a little while longer. I found this a very interesting concept. This was well written, it pulled me into the story, and I appreciated the chapters titled with the name of which deadliner that was being featured. I did want one more chapter but I kind of figured out what happened, it was implied. If you want something different, something that will make you question what really happens when you die and be entertained, then pick up this book. It is barely over 200 pages so it will be a fast read.
I have to say that I really enjoyed this book. I believe that before we inhabit a body on earth our souls decide what they want to experience while in the body. What tragedies, successes and how they want to die. That is the way it happens in this book. They also decide if they want to be deadliners or not. Deadliners are the souls who help other souls move on to the other side to the correct location. They also bargain for more time for the soul they are assigned to and they are with the person for their last few days, weeks, months or years to help them clear their karma before they go onto the other side. The people usually don't know they are there but a handful can hear, see or hear & see them.
A few of the deadliners get out of control and can't let go of their family, trying to bargain for more time for their loved ones to stay on earth just a little while longer. I found this a very interesting concept. This was well written, it pulled me into the story, and I appreciated the chapters titled with the name of which deadliner that was being featured. I did want one more chapter but I kind of figured out what happened, it was implied. If you want something different, something that will make you question what really happens when you die and be entertained, then pick up this book. It is barely over 200 pages so it will be a fast read.
February 19, 2015
You can read this review and more on my blog:
I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
This was my first time reading a book like Deadliners. I have seen a few movies, and I used to watch a show called Dead Like Me that had a similar premise, but I have never read a book about a fictional afterlife and Grim Reaper like characters.
When someone dies, they become what is called a "Deadliner", and deadliners are responsible for helping other spirits transition from life on Earth to the afterlife. They live a life very similar to human beings, and they also have some minor supernatural abilities, but for the most part, the only difference between a deadliner and a human is the fact that deadliners are--well--dead.
At the start of this story we are introduced to five deadliners who are all members of the same team, Charlie, Anna, Reece, Milly, and Danny.
Charlie is funny, sweet, a bit of a man slut, and head over heals in like with Anna. Anna, is also very sweet, intelligent, sensible, and not sure how she feels about Charlie. Reece is the newest member of the team, and he's a little shy and sulky at the beginning of the book, but his character develops a lot by the end of the story. Milly is the "mom" of the group. And last but not least, we have Danny, the leader of our little deadliner family.
One thing that stood out the most to me about this story was the authors willingness to let her characters be unlikable at times. It is easy to create a villain or two, but I respect it when the hero is also a jerk. Danny ran through the gambit when it came to his behavior. He was loyal and unreliable, kind and cruel, smart and stupid, but most of all he was conflicted. He had an intense desire to be with his wife again, and he was willing to do whatever it took to make that happen. He crossed several lines and broke just about every rule there was, but for some reason I still sympathized with and liked him. Maybe it was because he was so flawed or maybe it was in spite of his flaws, but I enjoyed his character the most.
The relationship between Anna and Charlie was cute. He does a little chasing and she appreciates his determination. It was strange to experience two souls fall in love under their circumstances, but they shared so many adorable moments that I forgot to question it after a while. Actually the relationships between all of the deadliners were enjoyable. Once the story gets started they all sort of go off on their own personal journeys, but when they do come together, the chemistry between the five of them was really great to read. Each of them has to deal with some extremely difficult things because being a deadliner is just as hard as it sounds. It's not easy to constantly be surrounded with death and have to bargain for people's right to continue living. It is also hard for them to be so close to those they love and not be able to take an active part in their lives. It is a constant battle for them to do their jobs and do them well, so that they will be able to pass to the other side and find peace.
There were some aspect of the story that jumped around and I did feel like certain things were abandoned because it made it easier for the story to progress. The deadliner's ability to bargain for the lives of certain humans and earn them more time was a little bit too convenient at times and the rules surrounding when they could do this were not very clear to me. I was also baffled by the way certain members of this deadliner team were allowed to run amok and do pretty much whatever they wanted without any ramifications for their actions. Their job was a very serious one, they literally controlled life and death so I wanted the rules they had to follow to be better defined, and I definitely wanted there to be some sort of consequences when they disregarded the few rules they did have. The deadliners certainly suffered and there is an explanation for why the characters behave in such an erratic manner, but the absence of any real structured superpower who was ultimately in control was missed by me. I know that this is pure fiction so I neither expected nor wanted there to be elements of religion in this book, but these people needed a boss who wasn't ruled by "human" emotions, kept close tabs on them, and had the ability to rein them in when they got out of control.
If anything, deadliners are allowed to be more human than actual living human beings. They can experience all of the same things as the living, but they don't have to deal with sickness and the threat of death. This leads to them being able to fall in love, fight, mourn, and for lack of a better word, "live" unlike any living being would ever be able to. I still wanted more structure throughout the story, but the overall idea is rather genius when you think about it.
I would not classify this as a depressing or feel good read. There were moments when the sadness and despair of the deadliners, their families, and the people whose lives were coming to and end was hard to read; but there were also times when the sweetness and love that everyone experienced brought a smile to my face. The author took some ambitious chances, and sometimes it paid off or me and other times I was left feeling puzzled, but I was never bored. I went into the book expecting fantasy and fun, and while I got what I expected, I also experienced some sad, and suspenseful moments that surprised me. This was an interesting and emotional take on the idea of Grimm Reapers, and I would absolutely recommend it for fans of those types of stories.
Because of language, sexual references, and violence, I would recommend this book for ages 16 and up. There were no sexually explicit scenes.
I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
This was my first time reading a book like Deadliners. I have seen a few movies, and I used to watch a show called Dead Like Me that had a similar premise, but I have never read a book about a fictional afterlife and Grim Reaper like characters.
When someone dies, they become what is called a "Deadliner", and deadliners are responsible for helping other spirits transition from life on Earth to the afterlife. They live a life very similar to human beings, and they also have some minor supernatural abilities, but for the most part, the only difference between a deadliner and a human is the fact that deadliners are--well--dead.
At the start of this story we are introduced to five deadliners who are all members of the same team, Charlie, Anna, Reece, Milly, and Danny.
Charlie is funny, sweet, a bit of a man slut, and head over heals in like with Anna. Anna, is also very sweet, intelligent, sensible, and not sure how she feels about Charlie. Reece is the newest member of the team, and he's a little shy and sulky at the beginning of the book, but his character develops a lot by the end of the story. Milly is the "mom" of the group. And last but not least, we have Danny, the leader of our little deadliner family.
One thing that stood out the most to me about this story was the authors willingness to let her characters be unlikable at times. It is easy to create a villain or two, but I respect it when the hero is also a jerk. Danny ran through the gambit when it came to his behavior. He was loyal and unreliable, kind and cruel, smart and stupid, but most of all he was conflicted. He had an intense desire to be with his wife again, and he was willing to do whatever it took to make that happen. He crossed several lines and broke just about every rule there was, but for some reason I still sympathized with and liked him. Maybe it was because he was so flawed or maybe it was in spite of his flaws, but I enjoyed his character the most.
The relationship between Anna and Charlie was cute. He does a little chasing and she appreciates his determination. It was strange to experience two souls fall in love under their circumstances, but they shared so many adorable moments that I forgot to question it after a while. Actually the relationships between all of the deadliners were enjoyable. Once the story gets started they all sort of go off on their own personal journeys, but when they do come together, the chemistry between the five of them was really great to read. Each of them has to deal with some extremely difficult things because being a deadliner is just as hard as it sounds. It's not easy to constantly be surrounded with death and have to bargain for people's right to continue living. It is also hard for them to be so close to those they love and not be able to take an active part in their lives. It is a constant battle for them to do their jobs and do them well, so that they will be able to pass to the other side and find peace.
There were some aspect of the story that jumped around and I did feel like certain things were abandoned because it made it easier for the story to progress. The deadliner's ability to bargain for the lives of certain humans and earn them more time was a little bit too convenient at times and the rules surrounding when they could do this were not very clear to me. I was also baffled by the way certain members of this deadliner team were allowed to run amok and do pretty much whatever they wanted without any ramifications for their actions. Their job was a very serious one, they literally controlled life and death so I wanted the rules they had to follow to be better defined, and I definitely wanted there to be some sort of consequences when they disregarded the few rules they did have. The deadliners certainly suffered and there is an explanation for why the characters behave in such an erratic manner, but the absence of any real structured superpower who was ultimately in control was missed by me. I know that this is pure fiction so I neither expected nor wanted there to be elements of religion in this book, but these people needed a boss who wasn't ruled by "human" emotions, kept close tabs on them, and had the ability to rein them in when they got out of control.
If anything, deadliners are allowed to be more human than actual living human beings. They can experience all of the same things as the living, but they don't have to deal with sickness and the threat of death. This leads to them being able to fall in love, fight, mourn, and for lack of a better word, "live" unlike any living being would ever be able to. I still wanted more structure throughout the story, but the overall idea is rather genius when you think about it.
I would not classify this as a depressing or feel good read. There were moments when the sadness and despair of the deadliners, their families, and the people whose lives were coming to and end was hard to read; but there were also times when the sweetness and love that everyone experienced brought a smile to my face. The author took some ambitious chances, and sometimes it paid off or me and other times I was left feeling puzzled, but I was never bored. I went into the book expecting fantasy and fun, and while I got what I expected, I also experienced some sad, and suspenseful moments that surprised me. This was an interesting and emotional take on the idea of Grimm Reapers, and I would absolutely recommend it for fans of those types of stories.
Because of language, sexual references, and violence, I would recommend this book for ages 16 and up. There were no sexually explicit scenes.
May 8, 2014
A well written book, offering an alternative to what happens when you die.
"Deadliners" are basically spirits that take you to "the other side", or introduce you to the life as a deadliner. But you don't stay a Deadliner indefinitely. There is a lesson that you must learn to pass over to the other side - but its individual and no one knows what that lesson is. They also have the capability to "bargain" to give their assigned person an additional length of time on Earth to live.
We follow Danny and his group - Anna, Charlie, Milly and Reece.
Danny is the leader, having been there the longest. Reece is the newer of the group.
There are some majorly difficult tasks that these guys are given. Anna needs to take her mother over - and Danny's wife. Milly - as soon as she discovered her daughter was on the list to pass over - seemed to forget any assignment.
Charlie is overseeing a girl who has run away from the circus, but Reese is overseeing the Circus Owner who is NOT a nice man.
Anna is summoned from the Higher Beings, to be told she has fulfilled her Deadliners lesson as is to pass over.
Happy, but worried, she goes over to the other side, leaving the little group alone.
It happens slowly, but you see that each member of the group is struggling to manage.....some sort of negativity has surrounded them all, and they don't know how.
Anna is called back to try and help.
Danny feels he is owed to go to the other side, and is desperate to get there and feels that the only way to get there is to send more spirits to the other side.
Milly is constantly at her daughters side and neglecting her assignment.
Charlie is missing Anna, but is obsessed with his current assignment.
Reece seems to be going off the rails.....his assignment hears him, and Reece seems to want to take advantage of it...
Anna is gobsmacked at what her group is now. Long gone is the support, the fun, the general feeling of a family unit. In its replacement is angry spirits, fractured family unit, no support, and extremely stressed Deadliners.
Can Anna find the reason?
Can someone help her to the right answer?
Will the group believe her?
And more importantly, will it help change the ways they've slipped into?
A great book to read.
Yes, its an alternative view on what happens when we die, but it is no way religious and very easy to read.
The characters and the way they develop has been written brilliantly, and the storyline flows along.
I believe this is the first book of Ms Medhurst. If this is anything to go by - it won't be her last.
Read on behalf of the author for an honest review
"Deadliners" are basically spirits that take you to "the other side", or introduce you to the life as a deadliner. But you don't stay a Deadliner indefinitely. There is a lesson that you must learn to pass over to the other side - but its individual and no one knows what that lesson is. They also have the capability to "bargain" to give their assigned person an additional length of time on Earth to live.
We follow Danny and his group - Anna, Charlie, Milly and Reece.
Danny is the leader, having been there the longest. Reece is the newer of the group.
There are some majorly difficult tasks that these guys are given. Anna needs to take her mother over - and Danny's wife. Milly - as soon as she discovered her daughter was on the list to pass over - seemed to forget any assignment.
Charlie is overseeing a girl who has run away from the circus, but Reese is overseeing the Circus Owner who is NOT a nice man.
Anna is summoned from the Higher Beings, to be told she has fulfilled her Deadliners lesson as is to pass over.
Happy, but worried, she goes over to the other side, leaving the little group alone.
It happens slowly, but you see that each member of the group is struggling to manage.....some sort of negativity has surrounded them all, and they don't know how.
Anna is called back to try and help.
Danny feels he is owed to go to the other side, and is desperate to get there and feels that the only way to get there is to send more spirits to the other side.
Milly is constantly at her daughters side and neglecting her assignment.
Charlie is missing Anna, but is obsessed with his current assignment.
Reece seems to be going off the rails.....his assignment hears him, and Reece seems to want to take advantage of it...
Anna is gobsmacked at what her group is now. Long gone is the support, the fun, the general feeling of a family unit. In its replacement is angry spirits, fractured family unit, no support, and extremely stressed Deadliners.
Can Anna find the reason?
Can someone help her to the right answer?
Will the group believe her?
And more importantly, will it help change the ways they've slipped into?
A great book to read.
Yes, its an alternative view on what happens when we die, but it is no way religious and very easy to read.
The characters and the way they develop has been written brilliantly, and the storyline flows along.
I believe this is the first book of Ms Medhurst. If this is anything to go by - it won't be her last.
Read on behalf of the author for an honest review
May 8, 2014
Okay, so I'll give this book 4.5 stars. Why? Because this book was great, it perfectly used elements from everyday life and used them in the book to give it that fantastic realistic feeling despite its supernatural self. However I took off .5 because I was left wanting more, specifically towards the end. I always felt like I knew what the characters were doing- going on assignment or eating at the canteen- further giving me that realistic feel. Which is why after everything that happened I wanted to know just a bit more about what happened to everyone that I couldn't guess myself. How long more would Danny and Charlie be a Deadliner? What's on the other side? Like I said, Rachel Medhurst sets up the characters great so I can guess pretty well about what might have happened but it would've been nice to know, if not just to satisfy my lack of imagination.
The characters were great, very well written. They center around Milly, Danny, Anna, Charlie, and Reese. The hardship Milly went through tugged at my heart strings. Danny has my respect. Anna was my favorite character. Charlie was a little irritating at times, but he wasn't dull. And Reese was most convincing. This being a book about spirits taking over people can be slightly depressing at times when they did so, therefore whenever it's not needed I get a little frustrated. It was this that made me dislike Danny as the story progressed. He was growing on me in the beginning, frustrated me to hell in the middle, but redeemed himself in the end.
Overall this book had twists that I didn't see coming, characters that you can't help but sympathize with, and was certainly a new breath from your typical novels. Definitely a two thumbs up kind of book. :D
ARC kindly provided by Rachel Medhurst in exchange for an honest review.
The characters were great, very well written. They center around Milly, Danny, Anna, Charlie, and Reese. The hardship Milly went through tugged at my heart strings. Danny has my respect. Anna was my favorite character. Charlie was a little irritating at times, but he wasn't dull. And Reese was most convincing. This being a book about spirits taking over people can be slightly depressing at times when they did so, therefore whenever it's not needed I get a little frustrated. It was this that made me dislike Danny as the story progressed. He was growing on me in the beginning, frustrated me to hell in the middle, but redeemed himself in the end.
Overall this book had twists that I didn't see coming, characters that you can't help but sympathize with, and was certainly a new breath from your typical novels. Definitely a two thumbs up kind of book. :D
ARC kindly provided by Rachel Medhurst in exchange for an honest review.
August 5, 2014
The story line of the Deadliners is completely different than anything I have read before. That's a good thing. There are spirits that guide people through the last stages of life. Unbeknownst to the dying person, the spirits help them with any unfinished (karma) business before they die. Not all of the spirits are good, however. If someone was a really awful person before the die, they might become a bad spirit. I'm not going to go into more depth because I don't want to give anything away.
The characters in this story, live as a family unit but as I was reading, I felt that it was less and less like a family. I loved the character of Danny. He was tough and vulnerable all at the same time. He had a bit of darkness in him.
As most books have, there was a love story in this one too but it left me wanting more. I felt that the relationship was rushed and this is the main reason I gave the book four stars instead of five. It may just have been because I didn't like the character Charlie and wanted better for Anna. In most of the serious scenes, Charlie would try to lighten the mood by making comments that I felt were inappropriate for what was going on. You could almost say that he impeded the drama of the story.
I hope there's a sequel to this book because I'd like to know more about good vs. evil spirits. The ending didn't satisfy me but I'm not sure it was supposed to. It wasn't a cliff hanger but there wasn't enough explanation for a lot of things that happened. As a stand alone, this book is OK, but in a series it could be really good.
The characters in this story, live as a family unit but as I was reading, I felt that it was less and less like a family. I loved the character of Danny. He was tough and vulnerable all at the same time. He had a bit of darkness in him.
As most books have, there was a love story in this one too but it left me wanting more. I felt that the relationship was rushed and this is the main reason I gave the book four stars instead of five. It may just have been because I didn't like the character Charlie and wanted better for Anna. In most of the serious scenes, Charlie would try to lighten the mood by making comments that I felt were inappropriate for what was going on. You could almost say that he impeded the drama of the story.
I hope there's a sequel to this book because I'd like to know more about good vs. evil spirits. The ending didn't satisfy me but I'm not sure it was supposed to. It wasn't a cliff hanger but there wasn't enough explanation for a lot of things that happened. As a stand alone, this book is OK, but in a series it could be really good.
September 2, 2016
The Deadliners by Rachel Medhurst is an interesting twist on a Wraith story. The Deadliners are the guides for recently dead souls to get them to the other side. This group of five Deadliners are about to face a confrontation like none they have ever experienced, and it comes to them in the form of their own desires.
This book is very well written and really lets you into the head of the characters. You can feel the history between Anna and Danny, feel the love between Anna and Charlie, get a sense of Milly's complete goodness, and follow a crazy Reese.
I loved the twist on the idea of a wraith guiding souls to the other side. I liked how the ending wasn't at all how I thought it would turn out, and how the characters really had to come together to win the day. This is a redemption story, and one of true friendship.
This book is very well written and really lets you into the head of the characters. You can feel the history between Anna and Danny, feel the love between Anna and Charlie, get a sense of Milly's complete goodness, and follow a crazy Reese.
I loved the twist on the idea of a wraith guiding souls to the other side. I liked how the ending wasn't at all how I thought it would turn out, and how the characters really had to come together to win the day. This is a redemption story, and one of true friendship.
April 20, 2014
I was lucky enough to receive a copy of this book from the author herself. Rachel's debut novel takes us into the world of the deadliners, spirits who help guide humans to clear their karma before they die. The story follows one particular group of deadliners : danny, anna, milly, reese and charlie, a close knit group, like family, that is until one of them has to take danny's wife over to the other side. Emotions run high, friendships are tested, even more so when it turns out that there is an evil spirit among them. I really enjoyed this book, a unique concept that was translated onto paper brilliantly. The story flowed well, plenty of twists and turns that keep you on your toes, so good that I was able to read it all in one night, I really hope we see more of the deadliners.
April 27, 2014
Overall: 4.8 rating.
I received The Deadliners from Rachel Medhurst for an honest review.
I absolutely loved The Deadliners. The pace was fast, I got into the story early on and seriously couldn't put it down. I laughed, I cried, and maybe did a little dance at the end. Deadliners remind me of reapers mixed with guardian angels, they can take you to the other side, or they can bargain a little more time for you to fix what you need to fix before you move on. I definitely recommend The Deadliners to those that love the paranormal/supernatural genre.
Thank You Rachel for the opportunity to read your book, I can't wait to read more from you in the future, I'd really like to read more about the Deadliners world.
I received The Deadliners from Rachel Medhurst for an honest review.
I absolutely loved The Deadliners. The pace was fast, I got into the story early on and seriously couldn't put it down. I laughed, I cried, and maybe did a little dance at the end. Deadliners remind me of reapers mixed with guardian angels, they can take you to the other side, or they can bargain a little more time for you to fix what you need to fix before you move on. I definitely recommend The Deadliners to those that love the paranormal/supernatural genre.
Thank You Rachel for the opportunity to read your book, I can't wait to read more from you in the future, I'd really like to read more about the Deadliners world.
August 23, 2014
This is a great ‘alternative world’ story where it explores life after death in the most imaginative way. I think it’s clever that spirits are presented as “real” people having the same human emotions, but are consciously in a different dimension.
The characters are a mixed bag, a good mix, I must say. The deadliners have their cross to bear and they struggle to come to terms with what was brought upon them. Anna and Danny stand out because of how conflicted they are. It’s quite an emotional journey for these deadliners where they learn about love, friendship, and letting go.
The book is well-written with unique story and intriguing characters.
The characters are a mixed bag, a good mix, I must say. The deadliners have their cross to bear and they struggle to come to terms with what was brought upon them. Anna and Danny stand out because of how conflicted they are. It’s quite an emotional journey for these deadliners where they learn about love, friendship, and letting go.
The book is well-written with unique story and intriguing characters.
May 12, 2014
As soon as I read the blurb I was hooked. A new take on what happens when you die, and the people (or spirits) that help escort you to your new life.
The characters are well drawn and the Deadliners make you care about the already deceased as they must make the difficult choices to help loved ones cross over. As you might imagine there's alot of internal conflict.
If you enjoyed Grim Reaper fiction like the show Dead Like Me, you would enjoy this book! Its filled with real emotion and drama. A real keeper of a book.
The characters are well drawn and the Deadliners make you care about the already deceased as they must make the difficult choices to help loved ones cross over. As you might imagine there's alot of internal conflict.
If you enjoyed Grim Reaper fiction like the show Dead Like Me, you would enjoy this book! Its filled with real emotion and drama. A real keeper of a book.
May 17, 2014
Week, wow what a great story. Anna was adorable and I just loved Charlie. This is a book where it keeps you guessing. Every deadlines had a story that flowed with each other and I thoroughly enjoyed this.
April 28, 2024
This was a new author for me and as I was intrigued by the title and the blurb, I wanted to give it a go.
I wasn't entirely sure the Danny backstory fitted, or it needed more information to it other than a "test" for Anna.
Danny had been gone for 30 years. Why did they wait so long to look for a key? Who did it in the end?
It started a good story but didn't finish it. I did like how he tried to get back to his wife.
The other characters were interesting and had their own dilemmas. Charlie was my favourite.
The villain was great especially as you see them change.
I thought the concept was unique and enjoyable.
Overall, I would read more from this author.
I wasn't entirely sure the Danny backstory fitted, or it needed more information to it other than a "test" for Anna.
Danny had been gone for 30 years. Why did they wait so long to look for a key? Who did it in the end?
It started a good story but didn't finish it. I did like how he tried to get back to his wife.
The other characters were interesting and had their own dilemmas. Charlie was my favourite.
The villain was great especially as you see them change.
I thought the concept was unique and enjoyable.
Overall, I would read more from this author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 17, 2020
Spiritual without being religious
For a book about departed spirits they somehow manage to avoid any particular religious discussions.
A bit slow moving for me, a couple surprisingly gruesome scenes but over all an OK story with only a couple of little spelling/grammar errors.
For a book about departed spirits they somehow manage to avoid any particular religious discussions.
A bit slow moving for me, a couple surprisingly gruesome scenes but over all an OK story with only a couple of little spelling/grammar errors.
December 30, 2018
I started this hoping for something deeper, more philosophical, however I was disappointed.
Read
June 30, 2019DNF not something that grabbed my attention
June 4, 2014
I adored the concept of this novel, the way it was written and the characters created. The idea of guides to the afterlife is not an uncommon theme. Medhurst sets the theme apart by creating a detailed “Deadline” world. Her spirits are still very much in touch with their earthly emotions and bound to their earthly loved ones. They’ve no control over the assignments they receive so when word comes down that Danny’s wife has reached her deadline, his friends know it will be a very difficult transition.
Medhurst seems to use the scenes to show the humanity of the characters. We learn as much about Charlie in the scene in which he's watching a woman bathe and then witnesses and altercation as we do most characters in the space of a novel.
When the bad guy writes in a notebook the method of Mia’s passing, that might be a little much. By that point in the novel I simply didn’t care. I was so focused on following these characters and finding out what happened next that if the bad guy had rented a billboard and posted the way in which he was supposed to kill Mia I would have said, “Yeah, that sounds right.”
The ending is brilliantly handled and the novel is engaging throughout. Every in the line of business conversation was worth reading and I did not notice any errors in pacing or of a technical nature that hindered the enjoyment of the work. I would love to read more of this world and these compelling characters though I do not know if Medhurst has planned subsequent works.
Medhurst seems to use the scenes to show the humanity of the characters. We learn as much about Charlie in the scene in which he's watching a woman bathe and then witnesses and altercation as we do most characters in the space of a novel.
When the bad guy writes in a notebook the method of Mia’s passing, that might be a little much. By that point in the novel I simply didn’t care. I was so focused on following these characters and finding out what happened next that if the bad guy had rented a billboard and posted the way in which he was supposed to kill Mia I would have said, “Yeah, that sounds right.”
The ending is brilliantly handled and the novel is engaging throughout. Every in the line of business conversation was worth reading and I did not notice any errors in pacing or of a technical nature that hindered the enjoyment of the work. I would love to read more of this world and these compelling characters though I do not know if Medhurst has planned subsequent works.
June 24, 2014
3.5 stars.
The Deadliners was sent to me by the author for review.
I dove right into the book, incredibly interested in the idea. Deadliners are essentially spirits, in a transition between living and the everafter/heaven/the Source. They signed up before being born into their lives on earth, to serve as guides for those crossing from life to death.
The book covers a specific group of Deadliners - Anna, Danny, Milly, Reese, and Charlie - and those they've been assigned to help cross over. However, the dynamic in the group gets steadily worse over the course of the book, to everyone's dismay. The pieces all start falling into place in the third act, and the book ends in a tense crescendo testing everyone's beliefs of what being a Deadliner is all about.
The first and third acts of this book are incredibly strong, and kept me interested and turning pages. I felt emotionally attached to a number of characters. I love how the chapters are broken up to show POV, and I think the author did an amazing job, keeping all of the intertwining storylines in tact.
I felt there were a few character inconsistencies through the middle of the book, and I found some simple grammatical and spelling errors throughout, which explains the 3.5 rating. Otherwise, the story is strong, and the author has a great capacity for painting a picture in the reader's mind. I think this story would make a terrific screenplay.
All in all, I enjoyed the book, and am excited to see what comes next from Ms. Medhurst.
The Deadliners was sent to me by the author for review.
I dove right into the book, incredibly interested in the idea. Deadliners are essentially spirits, in a transition between living and the everafter/heaven/the Source. They signed up before being born into their lives on earth, to serve as guides for those crossing from life to death.
The book covers a specific group of Deadliners - Anna, Danny, Milly, Reese, and Charlie - and those they've been assigned to help cross over. However, the dynamic in the group gets steadily worse over the course of the book, to everyone's dismay. The pieces all start falling into place in the third act, and the book ends in a tense crescendo testing everyone's beliefs of what being a Deadliner is all about.
The first and third acts of this book are incredibly strong, and kept me interested and turning pages. I felt emotionally attached to a number of characters. I love how the chapters are broken up to show POV, and I think the author did an amazing job, keeping all of the intertwining storylines in tact.
I felt there were a few character inconsistencies through the middle of the book, and I found some simple grammatical and spelling errors throughout, which explains the 3.5 rating. Otherwise, the story is strong, and the author has a great capacity for painting a picture in the reader's mind. I think this story would make a terrific screenplay.
All in all, I enjoyed the book, and am excited to see what comes next from Ms. Medhurst.
March 9, 2015
It was great. Good characters, moved along at a fast pace and kept me reading. I had a hard time putting it down more than once. She does a great job of hiding the protagonist, so good in fact that you don't believe their is one. I truly enjoyed reading this book and have just started book 2 so I should be all set for book 3. :)
The book starts when Anna becomes a deadliner and then pretty much skips the next 20 years. I would have liked to know a little bit more about that time with her team. When it picks up in 20 years you see relationships that are solid and have been tested over time but I think a glimpse back now and than would have been fabulous. She ends up having a love story that I feel like I missed out on the origins of. I honestly don't know if I NEEDED to know but I wanted to know more, it was a beautiful story and as with most beautiful story lines you are often left wanting just a little bit more.
The only thing I would add is that I think the prologue of book 2 should have been the epilogue of book 1 just for the sake of closure. But, as you can tell that's not a lot wrong and it was a compelling story with great characters dealing with tough issues and finding the power of forgiveness, letting friends help and letting go.
I would definitively recommend this book.
The book starts when Anna becomes a deadliner and then pretty much skips the next 20 years. I would have liked to know a little bit more about that time with her team. When it picks up in 20 years you see relationships that are solid and have been tested over time but I think a glimpse back now and than would have been fabulous. She ends up having a love story that I feel like I missed out on the origins of. I honestly don't know if I NEEDED to know but I wanted to know more, it was a beautiful story and as with most beautiful story lines you are often left wanting just a little bit more.
The only thing I would add is that I think the prologue of book 2 should have been the epilogue of book 1 just for the sake of closure. But, as you can tell that's not a lot wrong and it was a compelling story with great characters dealing with tough issues and finding the power of forgiveness, letting friends help and letting go.
I would definitively recommend this book.
May 27, 2014
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The Deadliners is a paranormal fantasy and although I usually love this genre, it was hard for me to comprehend the concept of this book. I couldn't identify the protagonist or antagonist until I was relatively far into the book when I realized that the entire group of deadliners were the protagonist. The antagonist is revealed in the last chapter or so.
I enjoyed the character of Anna, she portrays goodness and has a clear understanding of her job description... Deadliners are souls that guide humans to the other side or bargain with the elders for extension of their lives.
She is retired from her duty as a deadliner and allowed to enter the afterlife / heaven, after she makes a heartbreaking decision to guide a colleague's wife through death to her ultimate destination even though she knows that it will hurt him.
He turns rogue after the passing of his wife and takes any and all souls over without a thought to the consequences of his actions. Unprepared souls thus enter the afterlife. Chaos erupts among the deadliners. The group spirals out of control and Anna is brought back to help them face the evil amongst them.
3-Bombs
Reviewed by Soreta
The Deadliners is a paranormal fantasy and although I usually love this genre, it was hard for me to comprehend the concept of this book. I couldn't identify the protagonist or antagonist until I was relatively far into the book when I realized that the entire group of deadliners were the protagonist. The antagonist is revealed in the last chapter or so.
I enjoyed the character of Anna, she portrays goodness and has a clear understanding of her job description... Deadliners are souls that guide humans to the other side or bargain with the elders for extension of their lives.
She is retired from her duty as a deadliner and allowed to enter the afterlife / heaven, after she makes a heartbreaking decision to guide a colleague's wife through death to her ultimate destination even though she knows that it will hurt him.
He turns rogue after the passing of his wife and takes any and all souls over without a thought to the consequences of his actions. Unprepared souls thus enter the afterlife. Chaos erupts among the deadliners. The group spirals out of control and Anna is brought back to help them face the evil amongst them.
3-Bombs
Reviewed by Soreta
June 8, 2014
free book for honest review. juliesbookreview.blogspot.com
You don’t stop living when you die.
Have you ever wondered what happens when you die?
They're called Deadliners, they're spirits and they play fate with human lives. These 'deadline assignments' have karma which must be cleared by the time they die. What the deadliners don't know is that by helping others they are also clearing karma of their own.
They're a strong family unit who would do anything for one another - until one of them has to take Danny's wife over to the other side. Will they be able to go through with it? The group finds themselves in unfamiliar territory as each one of them faces their toughest lesson since they've died: letting go.
Danny loses control as his friends start doing what they want, instead of their jobs. What was making them forget their training? Was there something darker going on? Never before had a deadliner group been so torn apart by the challenges that each one had to face.
I love this book!!!! make you think what the after life would me like when you pass away.. This book was very emotional, friendship tested but stayed strong to very end , love and tons twist & turns ... I really hope we see more of the deadliners soon.. This book must have!!!
Olivia R.
You don’t stop living when you die.
Have you ever wondered what happens when you die?
They're called Deadliners, they're spirits and they play fate with human lives. These 'deadline assignments' have karma which must be cleared by the time they die. What the deadliners don't know is that by helping others they are also clearing karma of their own.
They're a strong family unit who would do anything for one another - until one of them has to take Danny's wife over to the other side. Will they be able to go through with it? The group finds themselves in unfamiliar territory as each one of them faces their toughest lesson since they've died: letting go.
Danny loses control as his friends start doing what they want, instead of their jobs. What was making them forget their training? Was there something darker going on? Never before had a deadliner group been so torn apart by the challenges that each one had to face.
I love this book!!!! make you think what the after life would me like when you pass away.. This book was very emotional, friendship tested but stayed strong to very end , love and tons twist & turns ... I really hope we see more of the deadliners soon.. This book must have!!!
Olivia R.
September 23, 2014
This book was okay, not something that grabbed my attention form the beginning and had me wanting to sit down and finish it one sitting. I did enjoy reading it, although I felt like the story dragged in a few places like in the beginning and some spots in the middle.
I really liked Charlie, he was defiantly my favorite character out of the entire book and the only one I really liked. I liked seeing him as the sort of comic relief of the story, but still having the brain and common sense of when it was time to be serious.
I knew there was something with Reese from the beginning, never could quite put my singer on what it was until the 'negative spirits' was mentioned. I liked who once we were given the suggestion that there was an evil spirit (even though they hadn't been named yet) you could see how this negativity was beginning to take an effect on the entire group, as well as the massive it took on Danny and how you watched him change from the level-headed leader at the beginning to a complete self-obsessed deadliner that could only thing about taking as many spirits over to be reunited with his wife.
I really liked Charlie, he was defiantly my favorite character out of the entire book and the only one I really liked. I liked seeing him as the sort of comic relief of the story, but still having the brain and common sense of when it was time to be serious.
I knew there was something with Reese from the beginning, never could quite put my singer on what it was until the 'negative spirits' was mentioned. I liked who once we were given the suggestion that there was an evil spirit (even though they hadn't been named yet) you could see how this negativity was beginning to take an effect on the entire group, as well as the massive it took on Danny and how you watched him change from the level-headed leader at the beginning to a complete self-obsessed deadliner that could only thing about taking as many spirits over to be reunited with his wife.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 29, 2014
I received this book for an honest review. I am a reviewer @ The Paranormal bookshelf
Category: paranormal
Spoilers: no
1st book in the series
I really enjoyed this book! The author Rachel Medhurst's book Deadliners quickly dives into the world where you had people known as Deadliners who would take you to the other side. I found this book as somewhat of a new read because the job of Deadliners is quite similar to that of the reapers but the name Deadliners is way more appropriate and cooler. This story involves Danny and his group each who have their own voice and perspective in the book. I loved Charlie <3 I don't know why! I just did! Each of their stories were unique and eventhough they were charged with herding the souls to the other side they could change the times they would take certain souls. The ending kind of disappointed me it didn't leave me craving for more eventhough I felt it had so much potential to be a sequel. The characters were nothing like a close knit family they really felt distant and faraway at times but that kind of added to the charm of the book and drama of the story! Go ahead and read this because it will blow you away!!
Category: paranormal
Spoilers: no
1st book in the series
I really enjoyed this book! The author Rachel Medhurst's book Deadliners quickly dives into the world where you had people known as Deadliners who would take you to the other side. I found this book as somewhat of a new read because the job of Deadliners is quite similar to that of the reapers but the name Deadliners is way more appropriate and cooler. This story involves Danny and his group each who have their own voice and perspective in the book. I loved Charlie <3 I don't know why! I just did! Each of their stories were unique and eventhough they were charged with herding the souls to the other side they could change the times they would take certain souls. The ending kind of disappointed me it didn't leave me craving for more eventhough I felt it had so much potential to be a sequel. The characters were nothing like a close knit family they really felt distant and faraway at times but that kind of added to the charm of the book and drama of the story! Go ahead and read this because it will blow you away!!
July 27, 2014
A very big question we all ask is what happens when you die?
This book takes a new and wonderful spin on this. You may become a Deadliners if that is the path you have chosen before being born into this world.
Deadliners have to follow their assignments and they may bargain for more time for that person. Karma plays a huge part in this book the Deadliners and the dying persons. Bad spirits go to a different place. But But what happens if 1 gets in their mist without anyone knowing. It all starts out innocent enough wiht one Dealiner having to help another Deadliners wife cross. Than all hell breaks loose.
The Characters are very well written, you really want things to work out for all the characters.
I didn't want the book to end. This was such a very different take on the afterlife, I could see this happening. The Storyline was so well written The Author could and does make you believe in this type of world. What a Great book
I highly Recommend
5 Stars
Patches
This book takes a new and wonderful spin on this. You may become a Deadliners if that is the path you have chosen before being born into this world.
Deadliners have to follow their assignments and they may bargain for more time for that person. Karma plays a huge part in this book the Deadliners and the dying persons. Bad spirits go to a different place. But But what happens if 1 gets in their mist without anyone knowing. It all starts out innocent enough wiht one Dealiner having to help another Deadliners wife cross. Than all hell breaks loose.
The Characters are very well written, you really want things to work out for all the characters.
I didn't want the book to end. This was such a very different take on the afterlife, I could see this happening. The Storyline was so well written The Author could and does make you believe in this type of world. What a Great book
I highly Recommend
5 Stars
Patches
May 19, 2014
I received this book from the author for an honest review. The Deadliners is about a group of spirits that are charged with the task of shepherding the souls of the dead to the other side. However things start to go wrong and the group of deadliners start to act unlike themselves. I really enjoyed the authors take on the afterlife. Her characters were well developed, and the story was well paced. It was a light read and very enjoyable and the author used multiple POV's like she had been writing them all her life.
At the end I only had one question that I felt was unanswered, but that will be covered in a second book that I am looking forward to read in the future. Even though it is a part of a series it was a stand alone and did not have a cliff hanger.
At the end I only had one question that I felt was unanswered, but that will be covered in a second book that I am looking forward to read in the future. Even though it is a part of a series it was a stand alone and did not have a cliff hanger.
July 4, 2016
Deadliners are dead folks whose job is to help those about to die tie up loose ends, adjust their karma, go into the next life feeling better about themselves. The deadliners are given assignments (people who are going to die). Sometimes deadliner research shows that those folks need more time so they will bargain with other deadliners to give the person more time on Earth to do what needs done. Our story follows one team of deadliners and how they interact with each other and their assignments. Anna is supposed to help her own mother cross over. Danny's wife becomes Anna's next assignment and Danny can't face that. Everything is interconnected. Fascinating ideas about reincarnation. I enjoyed reading this book and will check out book 2 soon.
August 4, 2014
A question many of us ask at some point during our lives; what happens when you die? It actually followed some of my own views about afterlife - you may become a Deadliner if that is the path you have chosen before being born into this world. The characters are very well written and you start to feel what wonderful people they were. Deadliners have assignments and they have to get other Deadliners to bargain for more time for that person. Bad spirits go to a different place. Highly recommended and can’t wait for the next book, it has a great feel good factor and I found it hard to put the book down.
July 12, 2017
Such a beautiful, moving story, and well-written to boot. Having lost many family members myself to illness and violence, and wanting to feel their presence when they were gone, I was touched by this story. It brought me to tears with the struggles those who have already passed on have in letting their family pass into the light. SPOILER: At first I couldn't understand why a main character was written out of the story halfway through, but the author resolved the matter.
You're not only in for tears, but laughter as you watch the Deadlines interact with each other. I highly recommend this story.
You're not only in for tears, but laughter as you watch the Deadlines interact with each other. I highly recommend this story.
January 22, 2015
This book had a very unique perspective on life after death, which I greatly enjoyed. I loved the idea that those who have passed on can somehow still influence the lives of the living, and bargain for more time for those they feel still need time to improve their karma before crossing over. All in all, I found this book to be a great read, and I hope to read more books with these characters in the future.
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