Death and Douglas

by J.W. Ocker

Douglas has grown up around the business of death. Generations of his family have run the Mortimer Family Funeral Home. The mortician and gravediggers are all his buddies. And the display room of caskets is an awesome place for hide and seek. It’s business as usual in Douglas’s small New England town. Until one day an incredibly out of the ordinary murder victim is brought to the funeral home. And more startling: others follow. On the cusp of Halloween, a serial killer has arrived. And unsatisfied with the small-town investigation, Douglas enlists his friends to help him solve the mystery. With sumptuous descriptions of a bucolic town and it’s quirky people, fascinating yet middle grade–appropriate insider information about the funeral process, and a crackling mystery with a heart-pounding conclusion―Death and Douglas has something for readers young and old.

Genres: Middle Grade, Mystery, Horror, Young Adult, Halloween, Fiction, Mystery Thriller

362 pages, Hardcover

First published September 26, 2017

Reviews

[Dev · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review

This was a fun book and I think it had a great message that it's okay for kids to be curious about death and that people should be more comfortable with death and normalize it because it's something that's going to happen to everyone. There were a lot of great parts with Douglas and his parents where they would talk about death and the murders that were happening and how Douglas was trying to deal with it and reconcile the kind of 'peaceful' death he's been used to up to this point with these violent deaths that are happening now. While the other part of the plot was a fun little murder mystery, I did feel like it was a bit lacking in depth and that the resolution was very abrupt and maybe a tad unbelievable at the end. But overall it was an enjoyable read and I think a kid would probably enjoy it a bit more than I did, since it is after all aimed at them.

[Kellee Moye · Rating 4 out of 5]

To be honest, I didn’t know what I was getting myself into when I started this book because it is way creepier than I thought it was going to be, but a serial killer on the loose in a town definitely will add that creep factor to any book.

Douglas is definitely well-rounded and mature when it comes to death, it has been around him his entire life, but all death he’s encountered has been natural or an accident until now. This is an interesting point of view for a character as I’ve never read a middle grade book with a character like Douglas. All of a sudden, a young boy who never feared death realizes that there is evil in some deaths and that scares him more than it may scare most because it is a new realization. This definitely adds to the suspense because Douglas is not only questioning everything around him but also on the look out for a serial killer, so all bumps in the night are a reason to jump.

I will also say that the conclusion was not what I saw coming!

Side note: Douglas and his friends did some DANGEROUS things, and I know that we have to suspend our belief when reading, but the whole time as an adult I wanted to yell at them for being so ridiculously careless in their safety by searching for a serial killer! Kids: Do not do that at home!

Full review with teaching tools: http://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=1...

[Dayle (the literary llama) · Rating 4 out of 5]

QUICK NOTES: I don’t tend to read a lot of Middle Grade books, there just aren’t that many that grab my attention long enough for me to read them. Although I’m always ecstatic to find new books to get for nieces, nephews, and friends to read, so I’m always on the lookout for new books to pass along. Something about DEATH AND DOUGLAS called for me to read it though, probably the macabre setting of the story, it spoke to the child within. And I’m so glad I did because I really liked it.

The book is everything that the synopsis promises; quirky characters, funeral home settings, murder and mystery, all swirling around a spooky town during Halloween. Douglas and his friends were so much fun to follow around and get into mischief with. Equal parts clue hunting and bad luck, with some action sequences thrown in for good measure. A very easy book for me to recommend to a multitude of ages! Ocker can definitely spin a good tale.

I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Lisa Pett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a pretty thoughtful book for a middle-grade murder mystery. But it works. Douglas Mortimer is a self-possessed ten year old with a lot of experience with death. At least death by natural causes. But when a murder victim, then another, then another, ends up in his family's funeral home business, the small, Northeastern town of Cowlmouth is thrown into fear and chaos.

With Halloween fast approaching and the local police unable to find the killer, it's up to Douglas and his friends to solve the crime before they end up as the next victim.

It has some exciting, frightening moments but is punctuated by good conversations about life and death between Douglas and his father.

The dialog is modern but not snappy and the ending is less satisfying than I would have liked but I overall enjoyed it and would recommend it for 4th through 8th graders who enjoy a good scary story.

[Hoover Public Library Kids and Teens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Douglas lives in a funeral home. Death is no big deal to him. Until a serial killer shows up in his town.

[Abigail F · Rating 3 out of 5]

The idea behind this book was excellent, but some of the execution could have been better (pun not intended). The plot follows Douglas Mortimer, the twelve-year-old son of funeral home owners, as he finds himself drawn into the mystery of a serial killer stalking his small town of Cowlmouth in New England. The heavy discussions around natural death vs. murder that this entails are excellently done, and I felt like these parts were where the book really shone. This whole idea is so unique to middle grade novels -- or any novel, really -- and I give major kudos to the author for tackling this subject in such a creative, interesting, atmospheric way. There were lots of nods to Ray Bradbury: at one point Douglas is reading Something Wicked This Way Comes, the descriptive prose at the Fall Carnival had some Halloweentree vibes, and a pumpkin in the town square is named Pipkin's Soul (a central character in Halloweentree), which -- along with the two gravedigger's who could have been straight out of Hamlet -- gave it great intertextual texture.

There were some problems, though: first, the kids seemed a lot younger than twelve and in seventh grade. I understand that middle grade books are usually written for kids slightly younger than the protagonist, so this target audience was probably 8-10, rather than 11-14, but still. Douglas' friend Lowell would only curse saying 'hockey sticks' (as in 'hell'), and, frankly, twelve-year-olds actually curse. The 'hockey sticks' invocation felt really unrealistic and juvenile; either leave it out altogether, use the real word (as 'hell' is a pretty light curse), or find a better alternative like 'holy mother' or something. Just not 'holy hockey sticks.'

The kids also call adults 'coffee-drinkers' which really struck me as Lemony Snicket-esque (very Carmelita Spats calling everyone 'cake sniffers'). It also felt unrealistic -- I started drinking coffee around age twelve, as did a lot of my friends. I got very into vanilla lattes when a coffee shop opened in our small town. It was the cool thing to do. Twelve-year-olds feel grown up; they want to believe they are grown up. They're just a year or so shy of high school, some are just out of elementary school and feeling very grown-up, a year from being that all important TEEN. They are entering the adult world, not constantly defining themselves against it.

The adults, too, treat the kids as very, very young. They act like twelve-year-olds have never heard of murder or serial killers before. True crime is everywhere now! Even in the late 1990s/early 2000s, I was reading books about Jack the Ripper in middle school. My friends and I went to see Tim Burton's Sleepy Hollow, full of blood and serial killing! It also felt very unrealistic that the police would be able to hide the fact that two people were murdered -- I could see not releasing some details about the crimes, but it's as if the town is shocked when the police say, "Okay, so, you know those two people who died? They were murdered." This is a small town! One of the bodies was apparently on top of the ice cream shop with an arm hanging over the edge so it would be found! It didn't quite add up.

There's also a plot point with some characters who call themselves 'Guardian Angels' who think that Douglas' living in the family funeral home is 'unwholesome' and they want him to have a psych evaluation. This, too, didn't quite add up. I think it was meant to set up a red herring for who may have been following Douglas, but seriously? The boy is almost a teenager, he's healthy, happy, and suddenly some weird do-gooder association decide (pre-murders) to tail this kid and tell his dad he's raising him wrong? And they think something's really wrong when (post-murders) he and his friends go to the library to read a book called The Serial Killer Grimpendium? That title is so middle grade, I can't imagine anyone thinking it's inappropriate for almost teenagers.

Additionally, besides Douglas, the other characters felt very two-dimensional. Lowell had a bit of character as Douglas' best friend, but Audrey seemed to come out of nowhere, as if the author were told he needed a girl character and that the Ron/Harry/Hermione dynamic was popular. Except, Audrey didn't really do much. And neither did Lowell. They called themselves The Ghastlies for a flimsy reason, and it never really went anywhere. Yes, there's a big chase scene at the end and Audrey cries 'It's a D, Douglas' which helps Douglas piece together part of the mystery but that felt very shoe-horned in as an attempt to have a big climactic moment.

I also felt like the minor characters had some good build-up that went nowhere -- Eddie, with his missing finger and implied drinking problem; the medical examiner, with his lemon candies and crises of faith; Mrs. Mortimer, suddenly ignoring her son but we never quite find out why. And the reveal of the killer, too, was anti-climactic. There was no real pay-off to any of it. And the ending scene with a party-funeral for the serial killer also weirded me out; is any death worth that kind of ostentatious celebration? That definitely left me with a bad taste in my mouth.

Overall, I think this book has some fantastic ideas behind it, and has a lot of spooky elements. The discussions around death and the funerary business really stood out as thoughtful, deep, and mature. The scary parts, too, could be very scary: at points, I felt a little creeped out -- as an adult! -- given all that is going on in the world recently. Still, I would have liked a more satisfying resolution and deeper characterization to make this book really stand out.

[Shellie Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a cute book. I loved the main character's best friend, Lowell. Definitely my favorite character. This story was fun and innocent with a subtext of a serious conversation about death and a child's perception of it. I enjoyed the message the book sent; that death is normal and that life isn't about how or when we die, but how we live. This book had suspense and mystery mixed with heartwarming comedy and dark humor.

[C.J. Milbrandt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Douglas Mortimer understands death better than most kids his age. And no wonder. He lives in a funeral home, right over the morgue, because his parents are the town's morticians. To Douglas, death is a natural part of life. But everything he's always believe is overturned when someone in town is murdered.

Spadefuls and cemeteries. Memorial services and coffin displays. Removals and autopsies. Best friends and the bereaved. Serial killers and suit coats. This is a murder mystery that gives readers a peek into the behind-the-scenes business surrounding death. I especially liked the scenes between Douglas and his father, who is bringing up his son to carry on the family business.

[Lizzy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really disappointing. For the Halloween king, the author doesn’t do a great job making a fresh, creative kid book. It uses references and tired cliches to get across a mood, instead of making Cowlmouth stand on its own, as a memorable place. The ending is stupid, the resolution quick and not satisfying, the middle drags, the friend characters are annoying and/or poorly developed, and the main character is just a vessel to shove the author’s thoughts on death into. Douglas doesn’t have much of a personality besides he’s the boy who grew up in the funeral home. Nothing about him is anything other than what you’d expect for that backstory under the assumption Ocker wants to show death awareness is good for kids.

Which it is, I think he has some good points and scenes explaining that, but many ham-fisted soapbox ones. He also just tries to shove in references and research in, which sometimes land, but often feel forced. Many of the death-involved characters are parodies - the two monster obsessed gravediggers, the multiple piercing morgue technician, the boy who only wears suits. I would like to see more “normal” people’s involvement with death, rather than serial killers and quirky people who fetishize it. I would love to have seen more about Douglas seeing more of the effects of death on people (something his dad brings up several times) and more of his dad (who had promise as a character), but it’s usually just a spooky set piece or background thing. Also those bratty kids running around the basement smearing their greasy fingers over the coffins and poking around the chemicals and bodies...ugh. I get that he’s trying to normalize death for kids, but a lot of the disrespect the kids show still makes it seem like they don’t understand it- and two of the kids even admit it.


It’s a corny book about kids playing detective and they don’t really solve anything...they just stumble upon the killer who happens to be targeting them and then are chased for a while. The ending glosses over the motivation of the serial killer and ends with a party. This book could’ve been something, just odd it’s aimed for 8-12 year olds. If it didn’t pander to the younger end of the audience, I think it could’ve really said something important. As it stands, it’s a silly Halloween book for kids with random attempts at insight that don’t end up mattering.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm rating this book as a 12-year-old me would. As an adult who is in the funeral business, I think this is great way to introduce young adults to what goes on in a funeral home. Sure, there are inconguities (and one instance in which the word "carcass" is used as synonymous with dead body), but by and large this story is a fair depiction of what it would be lile to grow up in a funeral home and be aware of death from such and early age. Aside from that, the story is also a great adventure mystery!

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been waiting to read this for a VERY long time and there's a COVID story behind the wait. I had it on ILL hold at my library when COVID struck. At that point, it was only a couple of years old. However, my library didn't own it and it was already (way back then) outside the date range for making a patron purchase request. Titles have to be less than a year old for my library to approve patron requests to purchase.

So I had to put in an inter-library loan request (ILL) for it, and with COVID restrictions, it was cancelled. Furthermore, that service was put on hold indefinitely at my library until just recently. About three months ago my library re-started placing ILL requests but didn't announce it was doing so. I found out entirely by happenstance. However, I was able to put in my (new) ILL request and it came pretty quickly.

Many thanks to the Okmulgee, Oklahoma library for fulfilling this reader's ILL request!

By this point, the book is kinda older, published in 2017, I think. But it's lauded as an example of a "kid MC in close proximity to dead bodies via a family mortuary" which I think, back then, was radically new. It's not now, and I'll do a list of other such similar setting books in BiblioCommons, but that's beside the point.

I loved this book!

Douglas thinks he's got death figured out. Seeing, touching, dealing with dead people and their grieving families is no big deal, not when you grow up in the family mortuary, Mortimer Family Funeral Home. He lives in the "house" above the coffin showroom and viewing parlor. Death seems to be natural, normal, the way of life… until it isn't.

A murder victim is brought in to be cleaned up and taken care of by his parents. For the first time, Douglas isn't allowed to view or handle the person and hears whispers of why from the gravediggers: there's an "M" carved into the victim's cheek. On his face!

Douglas' best friend, Lowell, a police officer's son, speculates the letter stands for "murder" or, ominously, "monster."

And suddenly death is anything but natural. Because the bodies keep coming, each with a letter carved in their cheeks.

A serial killer is striking in Douglas' town, Cowlmouth, and death is no longer normal in the cycle of life. It's an abrupt interruption. A foul ripping-of-the fabric-of-a-life-well-lived. It's nothing short of monstruous.

And as Douglas quickly discovers, the killer has no intentions of stopping.

I won't spoil how it ends, just know, this was a riveting read from cover to cover, if a bit grim, and I enjoyed every word of it!

Looking for more book suggestions for your 7th/8th grade classroom and students?

Visit my blog, The Fabric of Words, for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/

[Jaina Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review is also available on my blog, Read Till Dawn.

What a perfect book book this would have been to read right before Halloween! It's spooky and scary, with a serial killer on the loose and a main character who spends his life surrounded by death, but never so gruesome that it would be unpleasant to read.

It's perfect for middle school, really–though I liked it too, and I'm definitely not in that demographic anymore. I thought Ocker took a really interesting angle on spooky stories, telling a tale that was no less believable than an episode of NCIS or Monk or [insert your favorite crime show here]. Douglas is very comfortable with death, the sort of death that happens by accident or through aging. He knows and accepts that it is natural and inevitable, and he has a very intimate understanding of the process that occurs–from home removal to embalming to funeral ceremony to burial–because he has grown up as a part of the funeral business. When he discovers a serial killer is on the loose, though, it's fascinating not only to watch him and his friends do their best to solve the mystery but also to watch him grapple to equate his peaceful understanding of death with the horrible, unnatural, untimely death that occurs when there is a murder.

I think this is an important issue to think about, especially in a culture such as ours that is so inundated with books and movies and TV shows that revolve around solving murders. I love Agatha Christie's stories, for example, but none of her characters ever quite grapple with the horribleness of murder in quite the same way Douglas does. I think that's a big advantage of having a kid narrate, and I think it's also part of what makes the book both accessible for younger kids and also possibly a bit too much for them.

After all, dealing with the finality and purpose of death is pretty heady stuff for a kid's book. It manages to do a good job, I think, even without bringing in any sort of discussion of an afterlife. And the characters, both major and minor, are just so well-done that the entire book is a joy to read. It's also surprisingly hilarious for a book that literally has the word "Death" in its title.

Basically, if you want to read it, then do. I highly recommend it. But if you (or the kid you're thinking about) might not feel ready, then set it aside for now. Either way, think about saving it to read on some dark nights in October leading up to Halloween–that's definitely the best time of year for it!

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Mark Buxton · Rating 3 out of 5]

My name is Douglas, and I've lived with death all of my life; my parents own a funeral home. However, my thoughts about dying have drastically changed since the monster struck for the first time. The victims of the serial killer have had letters cut into their cheeks, apparently to show the days of the week they were killed. My best friend Lowell and I are determined to discover the identity of the Day Killer; kids are easily able to listen in on conversations and sneak around the town collecting clues. I didn't expect to become the target of the murderer. I haven't gotten a good look, but I know someone has been hiding in the shadows, waiting to get me. My dad says I know more about death than other kids, probably more than most adults. I hope Lowell and I can help the police catch the serial killer before I become his next victim.

I've got to admit that I thought a middle grade book with a focus on death and a graveyard had to be in the fantasy genre. Nope. As I've described above, the plot's all about the kids searching for the murderer stalking the town, and Douglas trying to understand this new type of death. He's grown up understanding that death is a natural part of life, but murder is unnatural. He also tries to understand how his family's business fits into death and grieving, and he wonders about his own feelings. Does he want to go into funeral services when he grows up? These questions seem to be the actual focus of the book, as there are some questions left unanswered. The killer's no longer a problem in the end, but the author chooses to not reveal much about his identity or past. The character had no identification on him, and no one knew for sure why he committed the crimes. Also, there were two women who expressed concern about Douglas's living situation; they felt it wasn't healthy for him to grow up around death every day. They hinted that they might contact children's services, but nothing ever came of it. Douglas and his dad seemed to come to the conclusion that Douglas was okay, but there wasn't any information that the women had accepted it. There was an indication on the book's cover that this it included humor, but I didn't find much of it.

[Zanereads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Douglas is 12 years old. His playground is a local cemetery and he lives above the Mortimer Funeral Home. Douglas comes from a long line of morticians and he's pretty sure he knows all there is to know about death, until murders start happening in his town. Douglas and his two best friends dub themselves the “Ghastlies” and take to patrolling the town. Between the three of them, they have a lot of inside information. Douglas lives in the funeral home, all the victims are coming right through his front door. Lowell, is the son of the Police Chief and listens in to confidential conversations and Audrey's dad is an EMT first responder so she gets the dirty details quick. It's there mission to figure out who the killer is and why he's doing what he's doing.

This book was just great from start to finish. It kept pulling me through from chapter to chapter and I had no idea what was happening until it happened. It kept me guessing. It kept throwing me off the track, and in the end, I was accidentally out smart by some middle schoolers, because they figured it out before I did.

Over all, I have no complaints. At all. I loved it all. Every character and every scene. I especially loved the spooky funeral home, cemetery thing it had going on, not to mention all of Douglas' weird quirks. On top of all of this, it still managed to get in some real talk about life and death. 5 Stars!

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ocker, J.W. Death and Douglas, 362 pages. Sky Pony Press, 2017. $17. Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: PG; Violence PG.

For twelve-year-old Douglas Mortimer, death has been a way of life. He practically sleeps with the dead since he lives in the Mortimer Family Funeral Home his parents run. Douglas has always thought that death was natural and normal. He knows how to deal with death. Until he doesn’t. Until the day when bodies start showing up with a letter carved in their cheeks. Suddenly Douglas has to face a different kind of death and he’s not sure he’s up to it. He and his friends decide to secretly investigate the murders, which starts out almost as a game, but gets progressively more frightening, especially to Douglas.

The writing style and New England town in the fall are reminiscent of Ray Bradbury’s Something Wicked This Way Comes. I loved the descriptive writing, though it may offer a mild challenge for elementary readers. The story is divided into days of the week, which makes it cool, especially with the plot arc. I thought the depiction of growing up and being surrounded by death was done in a sensitive manner and it is refreshing to have parents who are alive and intelligent in a young adult novel.

EL, MS - ADVISABLE. Michelle in the Middle
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2018...

[Britt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Douglas Mortimer is a 12 year old miniature funeral home director. He lives in a funeral home, wears suits, and hangs out in the local cemetery. He is good at dealing with all the death he is exposed to until a murderer comes to town. Death by murder is a bit different than the usual clientele his family serves and then the murderer comes after him! It’s up to Douglas, the police chief’s son, and the EMT’s daughter to combine forces to become a Scooby Doo gang and unmask the villain. What’s my take on all this? I loved it. Mind you, I really like this local New England author and have given his other books 5 star ratings too. This was the first book I bought in a long time )I prefer the library), but I had a feeling this might be put in my annual Halloween readings (along with the Halloween Tree which this has elements of). There were some things I would change like there is a big jump in time to Halloween night, there could have been more buildup of suspects, and the ending wasn’t ideal for me, but it will still give you all the Halloween feels with some great descriptors. Great book for kids and adult into these kinds of stories.

[Emilie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Death and Douglas is about a 12 year old boy named Douglas and his two friends, Audrey and Lowell, who after a serial killer starts murdering people in their small town, decide to investigate the murders. Douglas also happens to be the only child of the town's two morticians, giving him an interesting take on death.

I enjoyed this book. It was just the right amount of creepy, considering it is meant for kids, but it does definitely make you a little nervous. I liked the writing of this book. At times, Douglas did seem a bit older then twelve, but much of that can be attributed to his upbringing, so I didn't really mind it.

I also liked that these kids didn't find out who the murderer was by figuring out clues and solving anything. They were wrong the whole time about what the murderer wanted. They didn't know anything until the murderer came after them and they had to defend themselves. I likes not being able to solve this book's mystery, since there wasn't really a way to do that. Any one you would likely think of as the murderer is wrong and there was no real way to guess who it was.

[Alexandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Without giving anything away, I cannot recommend this book enough, especially for older kids. It is a great way to introduce them to the concept of death, and offers a gateway to show coping mechanisms for it. Death is inevitable and not always clean, simple, and pleasant, and this book does a great job of explaining that.

The main character, the titular Douglas, is a really fun character to follow. He’s just quirky enough that it’s not overbearing while still having a lot of charm to him. All the characters in the book are extremely fun, and the writing used is clever and intriguing. Ocker does a great job of building suspense and atmosphere, and has a really unique and charming tone in his narration. Plus, it’s a great option for those kids who lean a little more heavily to towards the macabre.

Did I read this book as a fully fledged adult? Yes. Was it a great read, regardless? Absolutely. This is something I could have used when I was younger, but I’m grateful that I got the chance to read it. I intend to buy some copies and leave them at little free libraries, just to make sure this gets more recognition.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been a big fan of Ocker through his blog and his travel books for years, so when I heard that he had written a middle-grade book involving serial killers, mortuaries, and corpse desecration, I was understandably...curious. This book definitely will not disappoint Ocker fans, with its exceedingly morbid subject matter and characteristically evocative descriptions of New England autumns, county fairs, and the like. As for whether the book is appropriate for its stated target audience of "8 to 13"...I don't know about 8, but I distinctly remember being absolutely obsessed with Stephen King by the time I was 12 (while other classmates were desperately sharing V.C. Andrews books under the table like so much pre-teen crack cocaine). This would be an ideal book for kids-of-a-certain-disposition. Everyone knows (or was?) a kid like that.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book reminds me of the saying, "It's all fun and games until someone gets hurt."

Douglas is used to death, he lives above his family's funeral home and spends time with the grave diggers at the cemetery. For him, death is just a part of life, that is until a serial killer shows up. Not only does Douglas have to struggle with the realization that sometimes death isn't natural, he, like everyone else in town is left wondering who the killer is and when they will kill again.

In a dark way, I enjoyed the details and the mystery of who the killer was. The reasoning behind the killings seemed plausible, and not something so fantastic that it would never happen in real life. I mean, the reason was totally creepy, but believable.

Author: J.W. Ocker
Publisher: Sky Pony Press
Publication Date: 2017

[Egbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally this book seemed to be set up as a murder mystery who-done-it following a young man chasing a serial killed threatening his hometown. I was curious about the interesting circumstances in which Douglas Mortimer grew up in. In the end though, I got much more than just a middle grade murder mystery. The discussion of death, both natural and unnatural was what took the cake for me. I loved how the story became one of a boy who has been around death his whole life learning in his own way why death is such an important part of life. It also has some really good humor between three best friends and a kick butt action centered ending. I will say the pacing at the beginning was slow so it took me a bit to enjoy the story. Still recommend for middle grade readers and those that like that range of reading.

[Sherrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thought for sure this would be a creepy 5 Star read filled with plenty of chills and thrills but this book was a big disappointment. The premise of a young boy whose been raised to become part of the family mortuary business and is quite comfortable with death until a serial killer shows up on the scene and starts causing unnatural deaths. I thought the mystery would be more intriguing but it was paper thin and the ending and motive for the murders made no sense. Although this book is geared towards middle grade kids I can’t see them enjoying this book because of the slow pacing.

[Dea Berlinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first time I saw it, I just couldn't resist the book cover. Jumping into the story, this book pretty much reminds me of The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaimann. The main character named Nobody Owens was 14 at that time while in this book, Douglas Mortimer was 12. These boys had grown up around cemetery environment even though they had different skill (Bod whats with ghosts or spirits' gift and Douglas with funeral requirements aptitude). But I think they both have the same curiosity, bravery, innocence, empathy, and strong will.

[Mercy Nurse · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this one because it sounded so interesting and there’s other books by this author I’m interested in reading, but the very beginning is the only enjoyable bit unfortunately. From there it drags into cliche after cliche until finally deciding on a rather random and disappointing ending. There was also a lot of vocabulary used that was way above middle grade level - not necessarily a complaint but something to note if you’re buying this for a younger audience, get ready to explain a lot of definitions and pronunciations. Well, at least the cover is nice.

[Angela Sandoval · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book wasn't exactly what I was expecting, but it was a really enjoyable light mystery, ending with some intense action adventure. I loved the way the author writes, some of the sentences were slightly Lemony Snicket-esque...delightfully humorous in the way he phrases things. Loved the creepy funeral home and cemetery setting, during the Halloween season, no less, and the quirky characters. A lot of the focus of this book was Douglas's contemplation of death but the discussion is done in a healthy way. I would most definitely recommend this one to our middle school students.

[Alice Kuhn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Douglas thinks that he understand death. After all his parents own and run a funeral home. That all changes when the funeral home receives its first murder victim. Douglas does not understand why one human would kill another human. Douglas along with his friends decide that they must help the police solve this crime. This book was well written but would not give it to sensitive children due to the nature of the story.

[lyonel Lamp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent Book!!

This book was so much fun! My Husband and I were reading it along with the passing days (except for the last chapter we had to finish it on Halloween), and oh my Stars it was so adorable, spooky and most of all SUPER Halloween-y!!!! Anyone a fan of the season will love this book.

[Jessica F · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just the right blend of mystery and spookiness in this thought-provoking middle grade adventure to find a murderer. The ending felt rushed and Douglas's reaction especially not consistent with the rest of the novel, though.

[Christian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent middle grade mystery. The subject matter was a bit more mature, about a kid who works in a funeral home and who helps solve a mystery about a serial killer. It’s a bit overwritten in places and thin on plot, but overall is clean and politics-free.

[Krista · Rating 5 out of 5]

A real page-turner worthy of becoming an annual Halloween read. Wonderfully written for the target age. I would love to see more adventures by The Ghastlies. Well done.