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Spectral Detective #0.5
Deathday
Prequel for the series that was originally titled "Ghosted".
Book is available from the author's website,
as well as in the collection "Uncanny Kingdom: An Eleven-Book Urban Fantasy Collection".
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...
When Jake Fletcher is murdered, he decides he isn’t going to take it lying down.
Jake had an okay life before he crossed the wrong person and got killed for it. Now he's stuck between this world and the next, trying to figure out who offed him so he can return the favour.
But just because Jake's a ghost, doesn’t mean he's free from danger. There are powers in this world that can kill even the dead...
Book is available from the author's website,
as well as in the collection "Uncanny Kingdom: An Eleven-Book Urban Fantasy Collection".
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...
When Jake Fletcher is murdered, he decides he isn’t going to take it lying down.
Jake had an okay life before he crossed the wrong person and got killed for it. Now he's stuck between this world and the next, trying to figure out who offed him so he can return the favour.
But just because Jake's a ghost, doesn’t mean he's free from danger. There are powers in this world that can kill even the dead...
71 pages, ebook
4 people are currently reading
80 people want to read
About the author
David Bussell
37 books180 followersDavid Bussell is a best-selling British author renowned for his contributions to the urban fantasy genre. He is the co-creator of the Uncanny Kingdom, a series that explores a secret Britain teeming with paranormal suspense stories. His notable works include the "Spectral Detective" series. David's writing prowess has been recognized with the P.G. Wodehouse New Comic Writer Award. Beyond his literary achievements, he is an avid fencer, a lover of synthwave music, and a committed comic book fan.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
March 11, 2017
This a great series starter! The style is witty and engaging - the main character's voice is clear and very appealing. The first few pages are a really intruiging hint to what's to come, and it did not disappoint. I enjoyed the plot - which I won't spoil - chuckled more than a few times, and can't wait to see where this series goes. Jake, you got me wanting more of your weird ex-exorcist life!
April 12, 2019
I really enjoyed this introduction to a new series that I will now start.
This book is really up my street as I enjoy paranormal book's with a twist and this book definitely had that.
The main character is well written and you definitely want to get to know him better, although you do get to know a lot about him in this book I'm sure there is more to him than that. There is also another character that I am hoping is the other book's as she is great and quirky.
Am looking forward to seeing what the series has in store.
I also liked the book cover 😍
This book is really up my street as I enjoy paranormal book's with a twist and this book definitely had that.
The main character is well written and you definitely want to get to know him better, although you do get to know a lot about him in this book I'm sure there is more to him than that. There is also another character that I am hoping is the other book's as she is great and quirky.
Am looking forward to seeing what the series has in store.
I also liked the book cover 😍
June 13, 2018
What a blast.
This was a great introduction to the Uncanny Kingdom and completely not what I expected.
Based around an exorcist with a healthy obsession with Iron Maiden and full of wisecracks, questionable morals and laughs aplenty, this is fun from start to finish.
If you like your supernatural with more than a bit of tongue in cheek, this fast paced who done it is for you.
I look forward to sampling more from this stable before starting in the main series!
This was a great introduction to the Uncanny Kingdom and completely not what I expected.
Based around an exorcist with a healthy obsession with Iron Maiden and full of wisecracks, questionable morals and laughs aplenty, this is fun from start to finish.
If you like your supernatural with more than a bit of tongue in cheek, this fast paced who done it is for you.
I look forward to sampling more from this stable before starting in the main series!
September 30, 2020
Awesome start to what looks like a fun mystery series. I'm in.
September 2, 2017
Jake Fletcher is having a bit of a trying time. His marriage is on the rocks and his wife Sarah can't stand him these days. He has a difficult relationship with his exorcism partner Damon who has very different ideas on how to do things. And to top it off, after his latest job, he is verbally attacked in the street by an angry woman and then someone pushes him under a train. Not a great day, all things considered. Now he has to work out who killed him and why.
I really enjoyed this short prequel as we really get to know the kind of guy Jake is and how his mind works. I liked the way it opened with his job which starts off looking like a birthday party but goes into something quite different. It was clever writing. There is enough action going on to keep you interested but it was Jake's internal monologue about what is happening that I very much enjoyed. I liked his attempts at investigating which don't go very well and he stumbles across the culprit by accident.
The book is funny in spite of the subject matter. Jake is guided off the platform after the murder and goes into a waiting room, not ready to believe that he is dead and being processed to move on. He notices several celebrities there who are most definitely dead including Lemmy from Motorhead, David Bowie, Alan Rickman and Andrew Sachs. I don't want to spoil the scene by telling you what happens but I just cracked up laughing at it! It was a lovely bit of nostalgia for much missed celebrities but in a slapstick humour moment that was just great.
I really enjoyed this prequel and I will certainly read on in the series when time allows. I look forward to seeing what Jake gets up to next.
I really enjoyed this short prequel as we really get to know the kind of guy Jake is and how his mind works. I liked the way it opened with his job which starts off looking like a birthday party but goes into something quite different. It was clever writing. There is enough action going on to keep you interested but it was Jake's internal monologue about what is happening that I very much enjoyed. I liked his attempts at investigating which don't go very well and he stumbles across the culprit by accident.
The book is funny in spite of the subject matter. Jake is guided off the platform after the murder and goes into a waiting room, not ready to believe that he is dead and being processed to move on. He notices several celebrities there who are most definitely dead including Lemmy from Motorhead, David Bowie, Alan Rickman and Andrew Sachs. I don't want to spoil the scene by telling you what happens but I just cracked up laughing at it! It was a lovely bit of nostalgia for much missed celebrities but in a slapstick humour moment that was just great.
I really enjoyed this prequel and I will certainly read on in the series when time allows. I look forward to seeing what Jake gets up to next.
March 31, 2018
Really enjoyed the book, devouring every page. Highly recommend
This is the prequel to the Ghosted series that lets you know how Jake Fletcher, ghost detective, came to meet his maker n he's determined to find out who it was that killed him!will Jake succeed in finding the murderer, the answer will shock you.
Thnx for giving me ARC, the whole series is a must read, might spook you so be prepared for the ride of your afterlife.
I certainly admire the way David writes, its just like one is reading as when the events are unravelling. Read the whole book from cover to cover in less than 2hrs as its such an easy, quick story n most def a page turner.
This is the prequel to the Ghosted series that lets you know how Jake Fletcher, ghost detective, came to meet his maker n he's determined to find out who it was that killed him!will Jake succeed in finding the murderer, the answer will shock you.
Thnx for giving me ARC, the whole series is a must read, might spook you so be prepared for the ride of your afterlife.
I certainly admire the way David writes, its just like one is reading as when the events are unravelling. Read the whole book from cover to cover in less than 2hrs as its such an easy, quick story n most def a page turner.
May 10, 2019
You can find this review and all of my others over at www.readbookrepeat.wordpress.com
Jake is having a bitch of a day and it's only going to get worse. After having to wear yesterdays clothing, seeing something he really shouldn't have at his employers office, and being accosted by a crazy lady in a red scarf, he figures that things can't get much worse, oh how wrong he is. He is pushed from the platform in front of an oncoming train, thankfully able to stay under the middle of the carriages, he is amazed that he's made it out in one piece...or did he? When he takes a strange elevator up to God knows where, he finds out that he didn't make it out in piece, and a later visit to the mortuary proves he made it out in four odd pieces. Jake is dead. Isn't that a joke? An exorcist becoming a spirit and hanging around on the Earthly realm instead of toodling off into the great beyond. Jake can't go yet though, he needs to find out who killed him and why, then maybe he'll think about resting...maybe.
I enjoyed this SO much more than I thought I would! This was such a fun, fast paced read, and the character of Jake was so well written. I absolutely LOVED the references to the metal scene in this book, being a fellow metalhead, I get excited about such things. For instance these quotes that make me giddy just thinking about them as well as the sass level of Jake, he was just so done...
"I don't put much stock in a higher power. Unless you count Iron Maiden, anyway. Those guys shred"
"And that meant...God damn it. I was dead wasn't I?"
"Their eyes were on Lemmy from Motorhead, who'd apparently been sitting in his chair since 2015 and had become quite upset about the wait. The moment he started brandishing an empty bottle of Jack Daniels at them, I decided that was my moment"
"I'm pretty sure I can confirm that the rebel rebel guy was in fact David Bowie"
"No Wayze, Swayze"
If those don't give you a peek into the writing style of Bussell in this story, then I don't know what will. I found his way of writing so free and fun, and it just had a certain flow to it that some others I've come across seem to lack.
The story itself was interesting and as said before, incredibly fast paced. The mystery behind who killed Jake kept me glued to the page and even though I had an inkling, still had the feel good buzz at the reveal. This sounds like it will be an incredibly interesting series, and I cannot WAIT to continue with it.
Jake is having a bitch of a day and it's only going to get worse. After having to wear yesterdays clothing, seeing something he really shouldn't have at his employers office, and being accosted by a crazy lady in a red scarf, he figures that things can't get much worse, oh how wrong he is. He is pushed from the platform in front of an oncoming train, thankfully able to stay under the middle of the carriages, he is amazed that he's made it out in one piece...or did he? When he takes a strange elevator up to God knows where, he finds out that he didn't make it out in piece, and a later visit to the mortuary proves he made it out in four odd pieces. Jake is dead. Isn't that a joke? An exorcist becoming a spirit and hanging around on the Earthly realm instead of toodling off into the great beyond. Jake can't go yet though, he needs to find out who killed him and why, then maybe he'll think about resting...maybe.
I enjoyed this SO much more than I thought I would! This was such a fun, fast paced read, and the character of Jake was so well written. I absolutely LOVED the references to the metal scene in this book, being a fellow metalhead, I get excited about such things. For instance these quotes that make me giddy just thinking about them as well as the sass level of Jake, he was just so done...
"I don't put much stock in a higher power. Unless you count Iron Maiden, anyway. Those guys shred"
"And that meant...God damn it. I was dead wasn't I?"
"Their eyes were on Lemmy from Motorhead, who'd apparently been sitting in his chair since 2015 and had become quite upset about the wait. The moment he started brandishing an empty bottle of Jack Daniels at them, I decided that was my moment"
"I'm pretty sure I can confirm that the rebel rebel guy was in fact David Bowie"
"No Wayze, Swayze"
If those don't give you a peek into the writing style of Bussell in this story, then I don't know what will. I found his way of writing so free and fun, and it just had a certain flow to it that some others I've come across seem to lack.
The story itself was interesting and as said before, incredibly fast paced. The mystery behind who killed Jake kept me glued to the page and even though I had an inkling, still had the feel good buzz at the reveal. This sounds like it will be an incredibly interesting series, and I cannot WAIT to continue with it.
December 30, 2019
If you've been looking for the next Harry Dresden, check out this series with Jake Fletcher. Deathday is the prequel to the Spectral Detective series, and is a fun introduction to Jake's story. It starts off with a bang - he's a magician working a children's birthday party... that goes right off the rails in an unexpected way and shows you how just how surprising and funny and clever this series is! Like most urban fantasy, we are shown the contemporary world (London, in this case) with the Uncanny (paranormal) world that exists right alongside the human one without humans ever really noticing. The thing that gets me is that this has the flavor of film noir as well. Our MC is smart-talking, a little jaded, and is determined to solve the mystery of his own death... and cheat his way out of the normal progression to the afterlife.
The writing is fast and funny, with dialogue full of one-liners, a cast of imaginative characters and a fully developed magical world, and plot twists and red herrings a plenty. Very fun romp - Though I admit I enjoyed the first book in the series even more!
The narrator, Mark Restuccia, did a great job with Jake's wry humor and pacing, though he struggled a bit more with some of the other characters' accents. He handles female characters well though, and he's enjoyable to listen to. The Audio quality is excellent as well.
Note: I got a copy of this audiobook from the author in exchange for an honest review.
The writing is fast and funny, with dialogue full of one-liners, a cast of imaginative characters and a fully developed magical world, and plot twists and red herrings a plenty. Very fun romp - Though I admit I enjoyed the first book in the series even more!
The narrator, Mark Restuccia, did a great job with Jake's wry humor and pacing, though he struggled a bit more with some of the other characters' accents. He handles female characters well though, and he's enjoyable to listen to. The Audio quality is excellent as well.
Note: I got a copy of this audiobook from the author in exchange for an honest review.
June 22, 2018
Deathday
Ghosts tell secrets…
This short story has ghostly shenanigans as Jake Fletcher, exorcist, turned armature detective, tries to solve a murder. The story is certainly light-hearted, and is sure to bring a smile to your face. This is not exactly cosy mystery, but something like that. Jake is perhaps a dubious, but likable fellow. The reader likes him because of his brash, non-conformist charm. For myself the killer remained a mystery to the end, but you might be a bit smarter than me. This story is really only the prequel to The Ghosted Series of novels, so, if you like this one, there is certainly lots more to come.
This was a nice quick read, with a happy ethos, so ideal if you want to be entertained with a bit of mystery. Five stars from me.
February 20, 2021
“Deathday” is a short prequel to the “Spectral Detective” series by David Bussell, that acts as an introduction to Jake Fletcher’s character.
Jake is having a very bad day, his marriage is strained, his partner and him don’t see eye to eye, his clothes were already wore yesterday, he walks into his boss office at the wrong time, gets attacked by a crazy red-scarf wearing woman in the middle of the street and then pushed into the rails in front of an oncoming train. And still…. it even gets worse, because dead he might be, be stuck in the in-between he is also, forced to find out more about himself and his own death, anyone would ever want to know.
This is an excellent prequel to an uncanny, dark, very dark, even more funny series, that weaves elements of urban fantasy, procedural, light horror, and dark humor to an interesting, twisted story, that captivates from the very first page.
Jake is having a very bad day, his marriage is strained, his partner and him don’t see eye to eye, his clothes were already wore yesterday, he walks into his boss office at the wrong time, gets attacked by a crazy red-scarf wearing woman in the middle of the street and then pushed into the rails in front of an oncoming train. And still…. it even gets worse, because dead he might be, be stuck in the in-between he is also, forced to find out more about himself and his own death, anyone would ever want to know.
This is an excellent prequel to an uncanny, dark, very dark, even more funny series, that weaves elements of urban fantasy, procedural, light horror, and dark humor to an interesting, twisted story, that captivates from the very first page.
May 6, 2017
This was a short story / prequel to Fresh Hell, and it was just as much fun. Jake Fletcher is an exorcist with a waning marriage and a grumpy coworker, and soon finds himself being pushed off a train. From there, his life, and death, is turned upside down and inside out. After being told that all those lost souls he’d been exorcising from haunted houses didn’t make it to the great beyond because he blasted them out of existence, Jake realizes he might not actually be allowed into Heaven, so he hightails it back to the real world. Except now he’s a ghost.
This is a great story, full of biting humor, a fledgling ghost learning about his new life as he goes, and along the way he works on solving his own murder. If you enjoy a good detective story with a side of the supernatural, you should read this book!
This is a great story, full of biting humor, a fledgling ghost learning about his new life as he goes, and along the way he works on solving his own murder. If you enjoy a good detective story with a side of the supernatural, you should read this book!
May 19, 2017
Fantastic book! Got this as a freebie ;) thank you!!
Very well written, excellent characters enjoyed the storyline and style! Hilarious funny but also can be gruesome, with great graphic descriptions to keep your mind up.
Well I really do feel sorry for Jack, not only does he has a pity life with his wife, sleeping lonely on a mattress away from his wife in a separated room. His life is really not easy, till the day he got pushed on the railway and everything changed from there on. A MUST read!!
The only thing is that it is very short, I had a look at the next one, but I found 2.99 for 120 pages a bit much. I don't have a problem to pay 3.99 or more for a book that has at least over 300 pages. Sorry! Maybe there is an offer someday to continue this series! But thanks David it was most enjoyable to read your book!!
Very well written, excellent characters enjoyed the storyline and style! Hilarious funny but also can be gruesome, with great graphic descriptions to keep your mind up.
Well I really do feel sorry for Jack, not only does he has a pity life with his wife, sleeping lonely on a mattress away from his wife in a separated room. His life is really not easy, till the day he got pushed on the railway and everything changed from there on. A MUST read!!
The only thing is that it is very short, I had a look at the next one, but I found 2.99 for 120 pages a bit much. I don't have a problem to pay 3.99 or more for a book that has at least over 300 pages. Sorry! Maybe there is an offer someday to continue this series! But thanks David it was most enjoyable to read your book!!
December 7, 2017
An excellent prequel that has me excited for this series!
With a little prequel short like this, it is only a taste of the series to come. It lets you either see what a series is like before you read it, or see a bit more of an origin to a series you already read. I was doing this before the series and really enjoyed it. The lead, Jake, has a great voice. Witty and irreverent, without being crass or offensive, he is engaging and amusing. There is some growth and change for him even within this little story. If this series aims to continue the way it has started, it is one I look forward to!
With a little prequel short like this, it is only a taste of the series to come. It lets you either see what a series is like before you read it, or see a bit more of an origin to a series you already read. I was doing this before the series and really enjoyed it. The lead, Jake, has a great voice. Witty and irreverent, without being crass or offensive, he is engaging and amusing. There is some growth and change for him even within this little story. If this series aims to continue the way it has started, it is one I look forward to!
August 25, 2019
Right from the beginning, Jake comes across as a lovable dufess. He has low self-confidence but loves his wife. His job, however, is definitely outside the norm. And apparently, he hasn't learned everything he needed to know before doing it. This is a great intro to the Spectral Detective series. If you've already read some of the series, this book will explain what led up to.... If you've not had a chance to start the series, reading this one will definitely leave you wanting more. There are some profanity and violence, but no explicit sex.
July 26, 2017
I got this book as a freebie, and I am so glad I did. It was a fun, short read. A good story to get people to read the series (which I will definitely be doing as soon as I get ahold of the books). I loved the main character, Jake Fletcher. Aside from his great taste in music,(Iron Maiden!!🤘🏻) he's got a major sarcastic streak that was so much fun to read. I enjoyed this book very much and can't wait to read the rest of this series!!
April 8, 2018
Jake had a gift, he was able to see ghosts. How he used his ability does cause one to wonder. As a result of his actions, Jake finds himself in a bit of quandary. What do you do with your life after you have died? And why are there large angry guards in the afterlife waiting room? Questions that I hope will be answered in the next book. Jake has a plan, and I cannot wait to see how it unfolds.
May 21, 2020
As an intro to the Spectral Detective series, this is a winner, I’m hooked! There’s a lot of clever humour, and a way of looking at things from a slightly ‘different’ perspective I really like. I’ve read the uncanny kingdom series, which are all excellent, and I can see how the spectral detective can fit into the genre. Taking the every day, and giving it a little twist that makes it something special, in the same way that Terry Pratchett did with his disc World Series.
November 25, 2022
This introduction to the Spectral Detective series is a good bit of fun. A metalhead exorcist, gangsters and ghosts all come together with a film noir feel. The author is a dab hand at leading the reader from making us curious, relaxing us and then confounds us. Our hero has a cheeky back and forth with the reader and he has you hooked. His way with description is beautifully done and is a pleasure to read.
I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
July 20, 2017
I got this book free as an ARC reader. This mini story was fantastic. The author went on an idea I have never thought of before. What happens when you are murdered ? Jake is an exorcist who gets rid of ghosts haunting places they aren't wanted. It was well written but uses "English" slang so has an attitude all to itself. Well worth the half hour, plus it takes to read.
July 9, 2018
This story is the prequel to set up the Spectral Detective Series. It features an acerbic, irreverent Hero/Narrator Jake on a quirky, life changing magical, mystical adventure. I found the read amusing and entertaining and was engaged enough to want to read the first book in the series. Rating: 4 Stars
Note: there are some colloquial terms that I had to look up in the dictionary.
Note: there are some colloquial terms that I had to look up in the dictionary.
March 17, 2019
The making of a spectral crime fighter.
An interesting take on the afterlife and the possibilities that death may offer. The author has penned a very intriguing theory of what could be the abilities of a dedicated paranormal entity. This prequel sets the stage for an interesting look at the afterlife and what this enterprising detective can make of it. I'm looking forward to the next episode.
An interesting take on the afterlife and the possibilities that death may offer. The author has penned a very intriguing theory of what could be the abilities of a dedicated paranormal entity. This prequel sets the stage for an interesting look at the afterlife and what this enterprising detective can make of it. I'm looking forward to the next episode.
July 3, 2020
This is a prequel to the Spectral Detective series and it’s a great start.
Jake Fletcher is an exorcist who thinks he’s laying spirits to rest but things are about to change for him. This character is witty and has a gruff charm, he’s a likeable rogue that’ll have you touting for him in no time.
An enjoyable introduction to how Jake’s afterlife career as a spectral detective begins.
Jake Fletcher is an exorcist who thinks he’s laying spirits to rest but things are about to change for him. This character is witty and has a gruff charm, he’s a likeable rogue that’ll have you touting for him in no time.
An enjoyable introduction to how Jake’s afterlife career as a spectral detective begins.
April 11, 2018
I received this as an ARC, my thanks to the author. Great book. Wickedly funny and extremely readable. Main character Jake, I found very engaging. I also read through the excerpts from other books and if these are a series, for me it would be a must have. More please
July 24, 2018
This is my honest and unbias opinion of the story. This is a wonderful series start, it has a wonderful story line and strong characters. I can not wait to read the next book in this series I loved reading this one.
September 1, 2018
This is an interesting story concerning the occult and the afterlife; Jake uses his abilities as an exorcist to send ghosts that haven't moved on, to the afterlife. Doing this job takes an intriguing journey as we read through the book. A good start to a series.
February 25, 2019
Jake is a exorcist. That’s what he does for a living. One day he’s told what he’s doing is actually killing the spirits forever. Like wipes them out of existence. Pretty soon after he’s killed! Now he has to figure out who did it.
May 17, 2017
I loved it! An interesting and exciting look at how it all started (and, well "ended") for Jake. Hilarious, original storytelling and just plain exciting.
August 11, 2017
I found this gem to be both sordid and hilarious at the same time. Since it is the first of the series, I will just say a murdered exorcist walks into a house...
August 28, 2017
This is a great lead-in to the Ghosted series! I like the character Jake and his snarky attitude. I definitely recommend this book and series!
January 4, 2018
I loved This book has great humor very funny I Highly recommend the author has a way of bringing out the characters making them seem so read you feel almost like your with them in the room
Shauna
Shauna
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews