Watch for the Dead

Relatively Dead #4

by Sheila Connolly

From New York Times bestselling author Sheila Connolly, Abby Kimball returns in a new mystery with her unusual ability to see the dead and even more secrets from the past. Looking to take a break from busy home renovations, Abby and boyfriend Ned Newhall jump at the chance to vacation on Cape Cod. Not only do they plan to get away from the dust and grime, but since Abby has no known ancestors in the area, the trip promises to be free of the unsettling ghostly appearances that have darkened her recent days. Dreams of a relaxing vacation are soon dashed, however, when a storm blows in and brings with it a scene from the past more disturbing than any Abby has ever experienced. The long-dead woman who appears to Abby is someone she’s met before, but this time her presence defies any explanation at all. Determined to unravel the mystery of the woman’s recurring appearances, Abby follows a trail of family history and upheaval that spans generations and may yield the biggest revelation of all, not just about Abby’s ancestors but about her living relatives as well. About the Sheila Connolly is an Anthony and Agatha Award–nominated author who writes four bestselling cozy mystery the Museum Mysteries, the Orchard Mysteries, the County Cork Mysteries, and the Relatively Dead Mysteries. In addition, she has published Once She Knew, a romantic suspense; Reunion with Death, a traditional mystery set in Tuscany; and a number of short stories. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband and three cats and travels to Ireland as often as possible.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Paranormal, Fiction, Audiobook, Urban Fantasy, Supernatural

174 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 7, 2015

About the author

Sheila Connolly taught art history, structured and marketed municipal bonds for major cities, worked as a staff member on two statewide political campaigns, and served as a fundraiser for several non-profit organizations. She also managed her own consulting company providing genealogical research services.

She was a member of Sisters in Crime-New England (president 2011), the national Sisters in Crime, and the fabulous on-line SinC chapter, the Guppies. She also belonged to Romance Writers of America and Mystery Writers of America.

Sheila was Regent of her local DAR chapter, and a member of the Society of Mayflower Descendants. She was also the grandchild of Irish immigrants. In addition to genealogy, Sheila loved restoring old houses, visiting cemeteries, and traveling.

Reviews

[Jeannie and Louis Rigod · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an updated review due to Kindle not processing my first one. I loved each and every volume (so far four) of this series. I feel it is some of Ms. Connolly's best work. Please if you enjoy reading historical fiction with mystery, genealogy and more, find this series.

[Anne Yentsch · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too many questions.

This was an aggravating book. The author's sense of direction re the amount of time taken to get from point a to point B is mired in fantasy. The heroine spends more time questioning what the dead might have done and what their motives might've been then she spends doing anything else. The author's background as a genealogist is evident, but the heroine's talent for finding details about families using the computer is miraculous. There is no real mystery in the book although there could've been. To be truthful, I might not have read this book if it hadn't taken place in my home town of West Falmouth. i'm not adverse to reading about ghosts and spirits and things that go whomp in the night, but when the benevolent dead appear on pictures taken with a digital camera, it's too much. Reality and the imaginary meet within this book but when they do so, the result is an unfortunate strain on the reader.

[Maura · Rating 2 out of 5]

I keep reading these to find out what will ultimately happen between Abby and Ned, both scientifically and romantically. But there are little things that annoy me - Abby always seems to be at a loss for how to entertain Ellie, yet Abby was once an elementary teacher - did she never do projects or crafts with her class? She taught kids about Ellie's age, so I'd expect her to know what kids that age might like to do. And along the same lines, how could she take Ellie out of town for several days and "forget to mention" that to Ellie's mother? Abby is smart and sensitive to people, so it's hard to believe she would keep making such mistakes over Ellie that keep upsetting Leslie; it seems too contrived. So I can't love Abby as the protagonist - I prefer Nell from the Museum Mystery series.

[Jen · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you are finding yourself in a second relationship with a man who makes a lot of money and you rely on him to support you, while he hints that you should dial back your obsession with your family tree and you insist that you like to work, you want to work but do absolutely nothing to find a job [with the exception of a few months in a job that paid to little it was essentially volunteer work and you couldn’t even manage to hold on to that] it would be helpful if your ancestors could point out that you are leeching off of your too nice boyfriend. As the series goes on, I get more and more sympathetic towards Brad.

[Hilary (A Wytch's Book Review) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Abby and Ned have the chance of a break away from work and house renovations as a friend of Ned's offers them his summer vacation house on Cape Cod.  They also end up taking Ellie as her father is rushed into hospital and also Abby's parents come for a couple of days! Whilst they are there they have a large storm and Abby and Ellie see the ghost of Abby's great-grandmother (oh and they also find a starving kitten which attaches itself to Ellie), Abby is determined to find out what happened to Olivia and why was she at a Summer home?

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I kept reading because I was on holiday & needed a book, but I find Abby's constant whining very irritating.

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again Abby Kimbal is seeing spirits/apparitions, this time in Cape Cod with Ellie in tow. Abby and Ned are helping out Leslie while her husband is in the hospital, so Ellie is staying with them. They jumped at the chance to stay in Ned's friend's home in Cape Cod for a little vacation. Ellie and Abby are "being tourists" but head home due to a storm heading their way. Once in the house, they begin to see a crying spirit and feel sadness in the house. This sets Abby off on a genealogical search to see who the spirit is, what happened to make them so sad and to investigate the area. With other guests and characters with varying levels of paranormal abilities, Abby takes us on a tour of the area and the history surrounding the house and her ancestors. Ned is not in this book as much as the others, but when he is present, his relationship with Abby is strong and developing, even though she often questions herself about the timing. Ellie is sweet, yet seems to be 10 going on 30 at some times, then a young girl at others. The relationship she and Abby share is interesting and I am looking forward to seeing where it will go in future books.

If you enjoy history and/or genealogy along with a mystery, then this series will entertain you very much. It is not a cozy mystery, but it is a cozy read. I have enjoyed this series for the history aspects.

[Sanderella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love love love this series!! I can't recommend this series enough!! 💜💜💜

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Watch for the Dead by Sheila Connolly is the fourth book in the Relatively Dead series. Abby Kimball wakes up to a call at 5:30 a.m. It is Leslie Walker asking if Abby and Ned Newhall (her boyfriend) will watch Ellie (Ned is Ellie’s biological father, but Ellie does not know) for a few days. Her husband, George is having a gall bladder attack and needs to go to the hospital for surgery (had similar attacks before and doctor warned them). They are happy to take care of Ellie especially when they get an opportunity to head to Cape Cod for a few days. When Ellie and Abby enter the house, they feel a presence in it. They discover that the spirit they are feeling (and see during a storm) is Olivia (she is crying during with rain falling around her). Olivia is Abby’s great, great grandmother. Abby wants to know why Olivia is so sad? So Abby starts researching into this branch of the family tree to get more information. Abby contacts her mother and father to invite them to Cape Cod. She is hoping her mother will remember something about Olivia. Abby, though, is in for an unexpected surprise. Read Watch for the Dead to see how Abby, Ned, and Ellie are faring with their gift and what they find out about Olivia.

Watch for the Dead really cannot be read as a stand-alone book (you can try, but you will be a little confused). It is extremely helpful to read the first three books in the series (to understand the characters and everything that is happening in the series). Watch for the Dead is an easy to read (nice flow) and quick read (I do not mean it is a short book). I finished Watch for the Dead in just a couple of hours. I am hoping there will be more growth with the characters (Ned, Abby, and Leslie) in the next book. They have not developed enough over the four novels. I am really tired of Ellie’s mother and her attitude. For the sake of her daughter, she needs to get with the program (Leslie has a bad attitude and she really does not treat Abby and Ned appropriately). I was glad to see more of Ellie in this book. She is so accepting of her gift and a smart young lady. Overall, Watch for the Dead is good book and I look forward to reading more books in the Relatively Dead series. I give Watch for the Dead 4 out of 5 stars (I liked it).

I received a complimentary copy of Watch for the Dead from NetGalley in exchange for an honest evaluation of the novel!

Check out my blog for additional details: http://bibliophileandavidreader.blogs...

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although this is the fourth entry in Sheila Connolly's Relatively Dead series, I had yet to read one. Since I had, however, read many of Ms. Connolly's books in other series, I was expecting another cozy mystery. The Relatively Dead Series features mysteries, but not murder mysteries. Instead expect a genealogy mystery! And, there is a paranormal element, due to the main characters having the ability to see their dead ancestors. How I would love to have that ability!
Abby Kimball and her boyfriend Ned Newhall are offered a lovely cottage on Cape Cod for a week, and end up taking Ellie, the daughter of friends. Abby, Ned and Ellie all have the gift of seeing their ancestors, but they don't expect any sightings during their vacation. They're surprised by the visitation of Olivia, Abby's great-great-grandmother, who is seen sitting on the cottage porch weeping. The mystery of why Olivia was so sad consumes Abby, and she needs to research everything she can find about why she was there and why she was crying. Amazing coincidences, perhaps arranged by the ancestors themselves, help Abby find the answers she seeks.
I am in love with this series and can't wait to go back and read them all. Not only am I a big fan of Sheila Connolly, but I love genealogy. Artful writing, fascinating plot, interesting characters and the lovely setting of eastern Massachusetts make WATCH FOR THE DEAD a great read.
I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Deb · Rating 2 out of 5]

I usually like this writer and so when I found a new series by her, I picked up this title. It seems to be several books into the series, but that is not the real problem. The premise, in a nutshell, is that the protagonist sees dead people. But the dead people she sees are all blood relatives, many of whom are far enough removed from her generation that she did not previously know of their existence. It seems the ability to see dead relatives has passed down through the genes of the Reed family. Okay; interesting premise. But this book goes nowhere, really. A few days on Cape Cod, a sighting of a crying woman on the deck of the rental house, a lot of internet research, a stray kitten and a poorly developed boyfriend are the disparate parts of this one. I did enjoy the New England setting and the descriptions of saltwater taffy and glass blowing. I finished it, because I kept expecting a surprise ending, or a heart wrenching discovery, but not so much. Perhaps the series entry on the Revolutionary War or the one about the Salem Witch trials was better?

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ancestors!

This is The fourth book in this series and the best one so far. Abby and Ned are now living together in Ned's Victorian house. Leslie has asked that they watch Ellie for a few days. Ned arranges for Abby and Ellie to spend a few day at Cape Cod. While the tail end of hurricane arrives on the coast. Abby and Ellie find a tiny kitten under the house. During the storm Abby, Ellie and the kitten see a woman sitting on the porch sobbing.An investigation into the background house informs Abby the woman was her great great grandmother. What secret will Abby find in her ancestors? How will affect Ellie and Ned? What happens to the kitten? This series should be read in order.

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

Abby, Ned and Ellie are able to see the dead. Unbeknownst to 8 year old Ellie, Ned is her biological father. Her mother, Leslie does not want her to know that her husband is not her father.
Leslie asks Ned and Abby to take care of Ellie for a few days.

They travel to Cape Cod for a little vacation.
The house they stay in brings a vision of a relative sitting on the porch crying. They also find a kitten that also sees the dead.

The story ends without explaining much of anything.

[a. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series started out with promise, however as the series goes on, it gets worse, not better. . it's just that it's not the type of writing I'm used to from Sheila Connolly. The dialogue is over used and tired. The young girl character is not a believable character.
It's not typical Sheila Connolly. Her other series are so good.

[Linden · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a mystery in the traditional sense, Abby Kimball sees dead people—but only her ancestors. I liked the paranormal aspect of the book; the only real mystery was why a young intelligent unemployed woman was living with a wealthy young man who did not seem to mind supporting her.

[Marti · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is a lot of seeing a long dead relative. By a lot of coincidence, the young girl who is visiting also sees the same dead person, as does the cat that shows up. I lived near Westfield, New Jersey, a location mentioned in the book, but I don't see dead ancestors on Cape Cod.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it, this is a great series.

[Mizloo · Rating 2 out of 5]

A very odd book, well-written, but imho pointless.

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story was the most romantic in the series but focused on the funniest details. So many references to research and reading but not unexpected, and the mystery was really great in this case.

They're still very new at this so dismissing his intuition is rather interesting, they're inclined to under react which is not uncommon in this genre, and I liked that the story went in a completely different direction than what I might have guessed. I don't like Leslie in particular but she really let their irresponsible shenanigans slide in this case. How they thought it was all good to take a casual road trip with a child without telling a parent for days is beyond my realm of understanding.That part was the most surprising.

The meteorological references were kinda unnecessary but I like how low key these stories are, cute. I liked the lady from the garage sale. She was the best character in the series tbh.

I liked the message in a bottle call back, now that was a weird book but very shocking in its time, and I wish there was more on that part. It felt very abruptly wrapped up, and there was less interaction with Livie than there could have been, I rather thought.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

While on a vacation in a borrowed house on Cape Code, Abby and her mother and Ellie 'see' a sad woman sitting on the porch looking out to sea. The woman is a relative Abby has seen before, but she has no explanation for why she is appearing in that house. Determine to find out why the woman is there and why she is so sad, Abby embarks on more research of her family history. This one is not as riveting as the first three, but is still a very enjoyable read. I like this series very much.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is non-stop non-action, and yet I enjoyed it enough to continue to the end. The main character is changing and maturing into a stronger person through getting to know the history of her family. The mystery in there books is finding out why happened to the ancestor that she sees for reasons that none of the characters understand. It’s not the most exciting series, but if you like genealogy and cozy mysteries, this could be for you.

[Ami · Rating 4 out of 5]

I rated this 3.5 stars. I am bugged with how dismissive of Ellie's mom's feelings they are. Yes, in the busyness of the moment you forgot to tell her you were going to go to Cape Cod with her daughter. She is allowed to be upset. It feels like there are lots of times her feelings are marginalized. I understand she can't understand what is going on with her daughter, but it is a lot to take in. Give her time.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dragged

This was a bit of a slog. Not as interesting as previous installments. The fretting that the main character did throughout the story was truly tiring. Not the best but if one has read the others in the series it is best to read this. There was one significant development in the family tree

[Silvia Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this one is my favorite of the series. I like the way the relationship with Abby and Elly is growing, and this book included Abby’s parents. Interesting concepts are revealed in this book too.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I keep reading this series because the concept is intriguing. But the heroine is so whiny, I can't stand her. The characters are so hesitant. Alot of rolling eyes as I read. But I'll keep on just to see where the concept is going!

[Karen Zalewski · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a fascinating concept. However a little too deep into genealogy for my taste.

[Terri Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this series, can't wait for the next one.

[Joyce Ziebell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still loving the historical and geneology ties to this mystery; even though it is strange the connections to places and houses that pop up in relation to Abby.

[Deborah Fazzino · Rating 4 out of 5]

the story and history continue

[Jessica]

how the sears ending is good but i would have like if abby and ned have a baby.