What do you think?
Rate this book
The Dramatic Dead
The heart of the city is being gutted by a ritualistic serial killer and the police have hit a wall. Dirk, a private detective, is thrust into the maniac’s world by a mother’s desperate plea. A tragic mistake leads the killer toward his next victim: a girl with ties to the investigation. Now Dirk and his quirky team of problem solvers must race against the clock to find the killer before the next victim is claimed.
A private investigator, his friend, a cop, and a specter named Victor are all that stand in the way of a madman and his next victim.
A private investigator, his friend, a cop, and a specter named Victor are all that stand in the way of a madman and his next victim.
291 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 6, 2016
18 people want to read
About the author
Bryan Nowak
5 books26 followersThank you for taking an interest in me. By now, you know that I’m Bryan Nowak, and the author of the books No Name, The Dramatic Dead, Riapoke, and Crimson Tassels. I grew up in Steger, Illinois, a South Suburb of Chicago. When I was a child, we spent lots of summers in Indiana. So much so, that I consider myself to be part Hoosier. Many of my relatives still live in Indiana and it’s a frequent destination for summer vacations.
I was born in the summer of 1973. I had the good fortune of attending Eastview Elementary School. There I learned the value of a good library through our Librarian, and one of my neighbors, Mrs. Lavelle. I exhausted the library of ghost stories, and tales of monsters. One in particular I remember was the tale of the restless spirits of dead pirates. It was supposedly a true story. Years later, after the advent of the internet, I would find out that the story was well known, and the location of the story is presently a bed and breakfast in South Carolina. Reading those stories are what gave me a firm foundation of suspense and the paranormal.
Eighth grade was a pivotal year for me. This was the year I left Central Junior High School, and Northern Illinois, forever. I moved to the little lake-shore town of Excelsior, Minnesota. Till this day it still stands out in my mind as an idyllic place to live. I continue to compare every other city to its quaint grandeur.
In Minnesota I joined the US Army Reserves and the National Guard. I am a proud veteran. I went to college in Minnesota and met my wife there. Our first son was born in Minnesota. It is safe to say that I will always have a soft spot in my life for the state that I once called home.
It was during my time in the U.S. Army that I was sent to the state of Virginia. I was filling in with an active duty unit who needed some extra help. I repeated this process over and over for the next three summers. It was during these active duty tours that I learned to really love the state of Virginia and vowed it would be my home if I was unable to live in the state of Minnesota. Many years later, my wife and I moved our family to Virginia. We have been residents of Virginia ever since, with our three children.
I generally prefer horror to other genera, but I am not necessarily a purist. I like a good solid mystery to go along with it to keep you turning the pages or flicking the screen of your e-reader. I prefer a story line that doesn’t ooze blood, but I want it saturated in tension and dread. I’m a firm believer that if I can entertain you while scaring you a little, I have done my job.
I sincerely hope you enjoy reading my books. If you are reading this, then you are already paying me the highest compliment you can pay any writer. Sincerely, and from the bottom of my heart, I want to say thank you.
-Bryan Nowak, Author
I was born in the summer of 1973. I had the good fortune of attending Eastview Elementary School. There I learned the value of a good library through our Librarian, and one of my neighbors, Mrs. Lavelle. I exhausted the library of ghost stories, and tales of monsters. One in particular I remember was the tale of the restless spirits of dead pirates. It was supposedly a true story. Years later, after the advent of the internet, I would find out that the story was well known, and the location of the story is presently a bed and breakfast in South Carolina. Reading those stories are what gave me a firm foundation of suspense and the paranormal.
Eighth grade was a pivotal year for me. This was the year I left Central Junior High School, and Northern Illinois, forever. I moved to the little lake-shore town of Excelsior, Minnesota. Till this day it still stands out in my mind as an idyllic place to live. I continue to compare every other city to its quaint grandeur.
In Minnesota I joined the US Army Reserves and the National Guard. I am a proud veteran. I went to college in Minnesota and met my wife there. Our first son was born in Minnesota. It is safe to say that I will always have a soft spot in my life for the state that I once called home.
It was during my time in the U.S. Army that I was sent to the state of Virginia. I was filling in with an active duty unit who needed some extra help. I repeated this process over and over for the next three summers. It was during these active duty tours that I learned to really love the state of Virginia and vowed it would be my home if I was unable to live in the state of Minnesota. Many years later, my wife and I moved our family to Virginia. We have been residents of Virginia ever since, with our three children.
I generally prefer horror to other genera, but I am not necessarily a purist. I like a good solid mystery to go along with it to keep you turning the pages or flicking the screen of your e-reader. I prefer a story line that doesn’t ooze blood, but I want it saturated in tension and dread. I’m a firm believer that if I can entertain you while scaring you a little, I have done my job.
I sincerely hope you enjoy reading my books. If you are reading this, then you are already paying me the highest compliment you can pay any writer. Sincerely, and from the bottom of my heart, I want to say thank you.
-Bryan Nowak, Author
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
December 21, 2017
I received a copy of this novel for free from the author via Instafreebie. I have voluntarily chosen to review the book, and the gifting in no way determines my review/rating, which reflects my honest opinion.
This a 4.5 star read.
Wow! ...... This was such an exciting fun read .... and quirky! I luurrv quirky. Another new author for me and I'm so hoping this book is going to be the start of a fantastic new series.
The unusual start to the story had me hanging on every word and when the penny finally dropped it was like a huge GOTCHA! from the author. Whilst the idea of a paranormal detective is not new, the way it's presented by the author is entirely fresh.
Superbly written and paced it hosts a wonderful range of eclectic characters. There's Dirk Bentley, our protagonist, who runs his own motorcycle repair shop as well as being a P.I. who solves cases the cops find hard to close, and his own little posse of helpers.There's his best friend Keith who works as a cycle mechanic with Dirk, as well as being one of the local pastors and helping Dirk investigate cases when needed. There's Dirk's niece Claire who works part time at the repair shop and is the apple of his eye and Dirk's girlfriend, a local police officer and his "in" on cases that may need his special brand of paranormal investigation. Where's the paranormal side of the investigation you ask? Well that would be one hilarious, snarky ghost called Victor, who not only "haunts" the motorcycle repair shop but also acts as their guide and information gatherer from the "other side of the veil".
It really is a fun premise and the book has a little bit of everything in it. There's disappearing school girl's, a serial killer, a little bit of romance and a look at heaven from the viewpoint of Victor. I don't rehash synopses in my reviews, all the information is included in the blurb for you, but I will say it takes a special kind of story to spark my attention and hold me riveted at the end of a year, especially when I'm up around the 300 book mark. Highly recommended for fans of murder mysteries who like theirs served with a dose of fun, light paranormal and a good dose of the giggles.
This a 4.5 star read.
Wow! ...... This was such an exciting fun read .... and quirky! I luurrv quirky. Another new author for me and I'm so hoping this book is going to be the start of a fantastic new series.
The unusual start to the story had me hanging on every word and when the penny finally dropped it was like a huge GOTCHA! from the author. Whilst the idea of a paranormal detective is not new, the way it's presented by the author is entirely fresh.
Superbly written and paced it hosts a wonderful range of eclectic characters. There's Dirk Bentley, our protagonist, who runs his own motorcycle repair shop as well as being a P.I. who solves cases the cops find hard to close, and his own little posse of helpers.There's his best friend Keith who works as a cycle mechanic with Dirk, as well as being one of the local pastors and helping Dirk investigate cases when needed. There's Dirk's niece Claire who works part time at the repair shop and is the apple of his eye and Dirk's girlfriend, a local police officer and his "in" on cases that may need his special brand of paranormal investigation. Where's the paranormal side of the investigation you ask? Well that would be one hilarious, snarky ghost called Victor, who not only "haunts" the motorcycle repair shop but also acts as their guide and information gatherer from the "other side of the veil".
It really is a fun premise and the book has a little bit of everything in it. There's disappearing school girl's, a serial killer, a little bit of romance and a look at heaven from the viewpoint of Victor. I don't rehash synopses in my reviews, all the information is included in the blurb for you, but I will say it takes a special kind of story to spark my attention and hold me riveted at the end of a year, especially when I'm up around the 300 book mark. Highly recommended for fans of murder mysteries who like theirs served with a dose of fun, light paranormal and a good dose of the giggles.
June 2, 2016
There is nothing I like better than to sit down to a good read and enjoy a story that grabs me from the start. I found this in The Dramatic Dead.
Remember the TV series Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased)? This story is along the same lines only in as much there is a ghostly presence who helps the PI - apart from this similarity I can honestly say the story is original, interesting and humour plays a part.
The story has been planned out in an orderly fashion and moves forward at a pace that is at times steady but quickens when the action scenes happen. Character development, especially with the main character Dirk and his 'partner' Victor is good, they both have flaws, both are interesting and they are likeable. This plot-driven tale is suspenseful and twists will keep you guessing. That's when you get the 'Ah, I thought so!' or 'Really? I thought it was the other one!'
I liked the ghostly character of Victor and through him Bryan Nowak gives the reader a plausible and descriptive view of 'the other side.' Very enjoyable and clever
The story is a full and flowing one which I found amazing as there are very few secondary characters. These characters are well drawn and are crucial to the story. Nowak gives you the necessary well placed narrative for any reader to enjoy. Even after the serial killer is identified the author takes us on a 'howtocatchem' storyline.
All in all a great read.
August 31, 2016
The Dramatic Dead is as entertaining as author Bryan Nowak's debut novel (No Name) however I was initially disappointed that the book wasn't as scary as I hoped. At least, this was my initial view as I read the early chapters. The character of Victor and how he is drawn was the most controversial aspect for me. I wasn't sure I liked the take on it, but like most things you have to read the whole story in order to place the individual elements in an appropriate and fair context. If I didn't do that, I would not be being fair as a reviewer, and it is reviews that people will be reading, so I have to respect that.
The whole private investigator trope isn't new of course, but the author writes central character Dirk with a swagger and verve that keeps you reading. Indeed, from the male perspective I understood his feelings for a certain character (I won't include her name because of spoilers) but guys, we have all done this...practised saying 'I love you....' and find it easy to say when she wasn't there, but we'd freeze when she was! as the author quotes "She's the most spectacular creature on the planet, and I'd die for her."
Yes we would. We know we would.
Another thing is that the humour of the story shouldn't really work, but it does. Lines such as 'the living are so annoying!' Well who can argue with that?
Overall The Dramatic Dead works on a number of levels - as a thriller, as a detective piece, a horror comedy fused with occasional dark horror that somehow, through the quality of the writing, manages to work. Another element takes us on the road to the afterlife. Now because we know practically nothing about that, we have to take the author's position on it. This is just his view, however, and again, it works because the story is so well constructed. It's a long read, but it never really feels like that. Bryan Nowak is a new author and one that I believe will make his mark very quickly. Snap both books up now!
The whole private investigator trope isn't new of course, but the author writes central character Dirk with a swagger and verve that keeps you reading. Indeed, from the male perspective I understood his feelings for a certain character (I won't include her name because of spoilers) but guys, we have all done this...practised saying 'I love you....' and find it easy to say when she wasn't there, but we'd freeze when she was! as the author quotes "She's the most spectacular creature on the planet, and I'd die for her."
Yes we would. We know we would.
Another thing is that the humour of the story shouldn't really work, but it does. Lines such as 'the living are so annoying!' Well who can argue with that?
Overall The Dramatic Dead works on a number of levels - as a thriller, as a detective piece, a horror comedy fused with occasional dark horror that somehow, through the quality of the writing, manages to work. Another element takes us on the road to the afterlife. Now because we know practically nothing about that, we have to take the author's position on it. This is just his view, however, and again, it works because the story is so well constructed. It's a long read, but it never really feels like that. Bryan Nowak is a new author and one that I believe will make his mark very quickly. Snap both books up now!
August 14, 2022
Excellent read, first in series. The characters are interesting and fairly fleshed out. The psychopathology is interesting and plausible. And there is a helpful ghost who can access the other side to get information from victims. I’m looking forward to future iBooks in this series.
April 10, 2016
Just like in his first book, No Name, The Dramatic Dead is a perfect admixture of Bryan Nowak's snarky sense of humor and twisted psyche (yes, that's a compliment).
The main character is Dirk Bentley, a private detective who takes cases that stymie the police, and usually successfully. Why? What's the ace up his sleeve? Well, that would be Victor, a ghost who died rather ignominiously during the Civil War. Victor is Dirk's liaison to the dead who have recently pass over.
A vicious serial killer is targeting theater students, and with another girl missing, Dirk and his friends (really, all they're missing is a talking Great Dane and a blue van) must spring into action to find the killer before another dead girl turns up.
Full of drama, suspense and humor, The Dramatic Dead will have you guessing until the final chapter. I look forward to more from this new author!
The main character is Dirk Bentley, a private detective who takes cases that stymie the police, and usually successfully. Why? What's the ace up his sleeve? Well, that would be Victor, a ghost who died rather ignominiously during the Civil War. Victor is Dirk's liaison to the dead who have recently pass over.
A vicious serial killer is targeting theater students, and with another girl missing, Dirk and his friends (really, all they're missing is a talking Great Dane and a blue van) must spring into action to find the killer before another dead girl turns up.
Full of drama, suspense and humor, The Dramatic Dead will have you guessing until the final chapter. I look forward to more from this new author!
May 5, 2016
Dirk is a private eye who makes a living running a motorcycle repair shop but whose speciality is taking on cases that have completely stumped the cops. How does he dig up clues and facts even the best cops have missed? Dirk has a secret weapon - the ghost of a not always nice, many times sarcastic, also funny man, who died during the Civil War. I enjoy mysteries that do not fit in a mold and come from the outer reaches of one's imigination. THE DRAMATIC DEAD is original, humorous, great ghost dialog, overflowing with tons of intrigue trying to catch a very smart and treacherous serial killer with an end even I, a mystery writer, could not figure out until then last page. If you are interested in a mystery with a different flair, need a few grins with your blood and gore and the good vs. bad side of life give this book a try.
October 7, 2016
When it comes to quirky I'm not always a fan. Some writers try too hard to be clever in devising ways to be original but Brian Nowak seems to have hit the nail on the head with a new twist on a sometimes over worked genre. The Dramatic dead is clever well written and entertaining so it pushed all my right buttons. From a very personal perspective I would suggest that on occasion, less is more and I could have done with cutting back on some of the smaller descriptive detail. For me books are more radio than television and I like to picture the detail in my head, more than have it spelled out for me. That being said there is a lot to enjoy here. Few writers have the skill to develop a story with originality like this and I commend the imagination behind this story. Start to finish a quick read largely because I was engaged throughout. Pick this one up.
May 13, 2016
An Enjoyable Read
Dirk and his friends are trying to find a vicious killer before another victim turns up. While Dirk pays the bills by running a motorcycle repair shop he happens to have an uncanny ability to solve cases that have stumped the cops. How? He is in contact with a ghost.
I thought the book might have benefited with a bit less of the afterlife stuff thrown in, but that’s just me. Others might wish there was more of it.
All in all, this was a very enjoyable read, suspenseful at times and entertaining at others.
Dirk and his friends are trying to find a vicious killer before another victim turns up. While Dirk pays the bills by running a motorcycle repair shop he happens to have an uncanny ability to solve cases that have stumped the cops. How? He is in contact with a ghost.
I thought the book might have benefited with a bit less of the afterlife stuff thrown in, but that’s just me. Others might wish there was more of it.
All in all, this was a very enjoyable read, suspenseful at times and entertaining at others.
June 5, 2018
**3.5 STARS**
On a whim, I requested a copy of this book from Instafreebie. I was looking for something "different." Different from my norm, at least. I'd felt drawn to a mystery of sorts, and the blurb intrigued me. I'm glad I took a chance on this freebie because, while there were some minor issues that did affect my rating of the book (Sorry, I can be a picky reader, especially when it come to editing. Don't hate me.), I found myself sucked into the story. So much so that I pushed the time limits on an ARC I'd signed up to review because I didn't want to walk away from the story, which I knew would be necessary to meet my deadline. What was supposed to be a time-filler had surprisingly become my main read. Though I did, in fact, take the detour and read a great book, I came straight back to this book, finishing them both in the same day. The story was good enough to lead to a day binge reading I haven't had in a long time.
Though there seemed to be a significant amount of side characters that I could see confusing some readers, I think they each added enough to the story that their presence was warranted. Carrie, Claire, Keith, and even Victor served their roles and the story well. Even Heather, Tenebris, Rigby, and Melissa were essential roles that made the story develop into what it needed to be. While I can see having that many characters (and points of view, which I'll mention later) might seem excessive to other readers, I found they worked well with the story and was glad they were there. I also liked how the "good guys and ghosts" gave a reprieve of lightness to what is actually a very dark and creepy story. The group didn't make it feel as menacing and disturbing as it actually was. Until you read the epilogue. #creepychills
There were some issues, however. One was the editing mistakes with grammar and punctuation. I'm a grammar nazi, and can't help but point those issues out. Though it wasn't horrendous, it would have made my reading a little more enjoyable if it'd had stronger editing.
Another issue was the length. Though I was enjoying the story, it seemed too drug-out by the end. I think some of the resolution could have been wrapped up with less POV changes and a faster pace throughout the investigation.
While I tend to very much enjoy changes in POV, some of them were so brief, they really weren't needed. Also, the lack of much to indicate a POV switch in many cases is kind of a peeve of mine. I don't want to be confused by whose POV I'm reading.
Additionally, I'd much rather not have the detective of a mystery put their pieces together way after me.
Finally, there were a few lose ends that were never tied up, such as the prostitute who overdosed on cocaine given to her by her preacher. I'd thought this might be significant later, but it never was.
Despite these minor things, I thought this was a good book, and I enjoyed reading it.
On a whim, I requested a copy of this book from Instafreebie. I was looking for something "different." Different from my norm, at least. I'd felt drawn to a mystery of sorts, and the blurb intrigued me. I'm glad I took a chance on this freebie because, while there were some minor issues that did affect my rating of the book (Sorry, I can be a picky reader, especially when it come to editing. Don't hate me.), I found myself sucked into the story. So much so that I pushed the time limits on an ARC I'd signed up to review because I didn't want to walk away from the story, which I knew would be necessary to meet my deadline. What was supposed to be a time-filler had surprisingly become my main read. Though I did, in fact, take the detour and read a great book, I came straight back to this book, finishing them both in the same day. The story was good enough to lead to a day binge reading I haven't had in a long time.
Though there seemed to be a significant amount of side characters that I could see confusing some readers, I think they each added enough to the story that their presence was warranted. Carrie, Claire, Keith, and even Victor served their roles and the story well. Even Heather, Tenebris, Rigby, and Melissa were essential roles that made the story develop into what it needed to be. While I can see having that many characters (and points of view, which I'll mention later) might seem excessive to other readers, I found they worked well with the story and was glad they were there. I also liked how the "good guys and ghosts" gave a reprieve of lightness to what is actually a very dark and creepy story. The group didn't make it feel as menacing and disturbing as it actually was. Until you read the epilogue. #creepychills
There were some issues, however. One was the editing mistakes with grammar and punctuation. I'm a grammar nazi, and can't help but point those issues out. Though it wasn't horrendous, it would have made my reading a little more enjoyable if it'd had stronger editing.
Another issue was the length. Though I was enjoying the story, it seemed too drug-out by the end. I think some of the resolution could have been wrapped up with less POV changes and a faster pace throughout the investigation.
While I tend to very much enjoy changes in POV, some of them were so brief, they really weren't needed. Also, the lack of much to indicate a POV switch in many cases is kind of a peeve of mine. I don't want to be confused by whose POV I'm reading.
Additionally, I'd much rather not have the detective of a mystery put their pieces together way after me.
Finally, there were a few lose ends that were never tied up, such as the prostitute who overdosed on cocaine given to her by her preacher. I'd thought this might be significant later, but it never was.
Despite these minor things, I thought this was a good book, and I enjoyed reading it.
August 21, 2023
This is a different kind of detective story. Dirk has a motorcycle repair shop by also moonlights as a detective. He takes on the unsolved and unusual cases.
He has, shall we say, assistance from an unusual personage. His ace in the whole is a civil war ghost named Victor. Victor actually ends up being my favorite character. He's an unpleasant and sarcastic chap with a sense of humor. But he also helps and has compassion -- as much as a ghost perhaps can have.
The book presents a mystery that is atypical as Dirk seeks to solve a case(s) of murder related to a serial killer and stop him before he can kill again.
He has, shall we say, assistance from an unusual personage. His ace in the whole is a civil war ghost named Victor. Victor actually ends up being my favorite character. He's an unpleasant and sarcastic chap with a sense of humor. But he also helps and has compassion -- as much as a ghost perhaps can have.
The book presents a mystery that is atypical as Dirk seeks to solve a case(s) of murder related to a serial killer and stop him before he can kill again.
November 23, 2018
Loved the shout out to Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency! An horrific crime spree with just enough levity to not dwell on the crimes. The end reminded me of a Beethoven symphony ending, but it could not have been shortened. I enjoyed the story.
March 27, 2018
I love this & I can't wait for more.
I will be also leaving a review on Goodreads @ Amazon.
And letting everyone know about it.
So i gave it a 5 Stars.
I will be also leaving a review on Goodreads @ Amazon.
And letting everyone know about it.
So i gave it a 5 Stars.
October 16, 2016
This was an unusual detective story with a mix of the supernatural.
I found it quite entertaining.
With the help of a ghost and a dead girl, a serial killer is tracked down by the private eye who had a reputation for solving crimes that the police failed to solve.
The book was well-written.
The author's description of the afterlife was not a problem for me as the book was pure fiction.
Author Bryan Nowak has produced an entertaining and suspenseful story.
I found it quite entertaining.
With the help of a ghost and a dead girl, a serial killer is tracked down by the private eye who had a reputation for solving crimes that the police failed to solve.
The book was well-written.
The author's description of the afterlife was not a problem for me as the book was pure fiction.
Author Bryan Nowak has produced an entertaining and suspenseful story.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews