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A Grim Days Mystery #1

Death Warmed Over

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DEATH TAKES A (WORKING) HOLIDAY!

Becca Cole is a big fish in a small pond. The former big-city homicide detective is now the Chief of Police in Summer Haven, a sleepy Florida beach town where nothing ever happens. But all that changes when she is summoned to the scene of a grisly murder. A naked young woman lies dead on the beach, a knife sticking out of her back, and the supposed killer stands over the body. It looks like an open-and-shut case, but not all is as it seems.

The victim, who was tangled up in Santeria and drug-trafficking, didn’t die from a stab wound. In fact, an autopsy can’t determine what killed her. The chief suspect turns out to be Silas Mot, an enigma in his own right. In fact, as Becca digs deeper into Silas’s identity, she discovers the startling truth. He’s the Grim Reaper. The personification of Death. The guy who decides who dies and when. It seems he’s in town in order to determine why unsanctioned deaths have been occurring in and around Summer Haven, and he can’t leave until he’s cracked the case.

Becca and Silas will have to team up to discover who killed the young woman if they are to put a stop to the unscheduled departures, but for Silas, confined to a body of flesh and blood for the first time in his existence, the distractions of the world of the living may be the Death of him!

299 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 10, 2018

45 people are currently reading
64 people want to read

About the author

Kent Holloway

38 books75 followers
International bestselling author Kent Holloway lives on death. Literally. With more than twenty-two years’ experience in forensic death investigations, he’s seen it all. Experienced the worst that life has to give and never let it dim his sense of wonder or humor. Now, he brings all this experience, along with a zeal for uncovering the folklore and superstitions of death, to the written page as author of mysteries, forensic crime fiction, and paranormal thrillers!

He is the author of six paranormal thrillers, including his highly acclaimed Ezekiel Crane series, as well as his forensic thriller, CLEAN EXIT. He’s also written his first installment of the Baron Tombstone adventures—a series that steps directly into the world of the dead—in the shared pirate world series, Tattered Sails.

Death investigations isn’t his only foray into the darker side of life. He's also an adjunct professor of criminal justice at St. Johns River State College in Florida. He’s worked as a private investigator and a newspaper reporter covering the crime beat in Florida. When he’s not writing, designing book covers, or investigating deaths, he spends much of his spare time researching folklore, as well as investigating ghosts and cryptids throughout northeast Florida.

Find Kent at his website: www.kenthollowayonline.com.

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5 stars
41 (47%)
4 stars
28 (32%)
3 stars
14 (16%)
2 stars
2 (2%)
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1 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
Profile Image for Jeff.
1,809 reviews167 followers
July 5, 2018
Death... Has A Problem. This is a type of tale that will feel familiar to fans of the TV show Lucifer, as it has the same Super-human cop pairing (and even the gender roles being the same), while striking its own tone and tale. And the ending... without going into spoiler territory, it blatantly sets up a sequel while also giving a bit of required reading to get ready for that sequel. (Another tale of Holloway's that it turns out this is in the universe of - but you'll have to read to find out which one.) If you like your books nice and tidy, well, Death's central problem is never fully resolved in this book, but the actual murder in question is. In other words, a solid series opener. I for one can't wait. :D
Profile Image for Julie Carter.
1,025 reviews13 followers
July 12, 2018
Death Warmed Over is a fun mystery with a great cast of characters, and I had a hard time putting it down. This is the first "whodunnit" by Kent Holloway and he hit it out of the park. Police Chief Becca Cole finds herself investigating a murder with some help from an unlikely source, the Grim Reaper, who has come to town to investigate some people who have died before their allotted time is up. The storyline is quite intriguing and I am already looking forward to the next book.
435 reviews6 followers
January 19, 2020
This book is awesome! The storyline is unique. I give it four stars, only because it is not a stand-alone tale.

This is not a rapidly read tale. You will want to know what happens to the characters. The plot is riveting with unusual situations and sidelines.

The grim reaper seeks help from the police to solve a homicide? The strong female lead character resonates with readers who love mysteries. Death will surprise you. You do not want to cross him! You will never view the grim reaper, or death, the same again.

This is my first book by this author. I am hooked on this series. You need to get this book and check the story out!
Profile Image for Donna.
1,626 reviews36 followers
January 26, 2020
This book had a unique story line that I liked. Death was an interesting character. Full of quirky fun. He was the most interesting character. The story itself didn't hold my interest as much despite the fact that Death had a starring role in it. It had some good moments but in between I had to push through. Overall, it was ok but Death was what held it together.
338 reviews4 followers
January 15, 2020
This is a new author for me -so glad I picked it up. I just love a good mystery! This is one of the best I've read in awhile. It blends fast paced logical plot points with a little humor, which I really enjoyed.
Profile Image for Dee Haddrill.
1,937 reviews31 followers
July 1, 2018
I have to tell you that I’ve read everything Kent Holloway has written and, without a doubt, this is the best so far! An intriguing mystery that will keep you guessing to the last chapter, Death Warmed Over features the ol’ Grim Reaper himself. When people start dying when it’s not their Time, he designs himself a body, calls himself Silas Mot, and helps the local police chief solve the mystery (whether she wants his help or not). Funny, well-researched and exciting, Death Warmed Over is a supernatural mystery that is not to be missed.
Profile Image for FictionFreak.
271 reviews7 followers
July 15, 2018
Different spin on a mystery

I don’t read mysteries much, but I enjoyed this one. It moves at a steady pace, making for a fun read with a hint of supernatural. I’ll be looking out for Grim Days book two. Check this fun book out!
67 reviews
January 16, 2020
Murder and magical mayhem.

What is harder investigating murder or meeting the grim reaper? The chief of police is about to find out. Fast paced and riveting.
32 reviews
February 23, 2019
Awesome

J Kent Holloway does it again! Loved it. Mix of genres that just plain works. More, more, more! Can’t wait to see what’s next. Underrated ( though not as much anymore-thankfully ) writer who captures the reader from the start and spins a great story. Glad I read it.
680 reviews16 followers
March 6, 2023
When Summer Haven police Chief, Becca Cole, arrives at the scene of a dead girl on the beach, she sees a man standing over the body of Andrea Alvarez with a knife in his hand. She suspects him of being the killer and figures she has an open-and-shut case. Unfortunately, first impressions are not always correct and the man says that he is the one who called the police. He also insists that the person should not be dead, as it was not her time. When questioned at the police station, he says his name is Silas Mot and he is also known as The Grim Reaper. Naturally, Chief Cole thinks he is crazy and it gets even more complicated when the Governor tells her to work with Silas on the case. When the Coroner says the knife didn't kill her, but he cannot determine the actual cause, it only adds to the confusion.

Who killed Andrea? Why was she killed? How was she killed? Can Silas Mot and Chief Cole unravel the mystery?

Kent Holloway has a wonderful mystery with this first book in the new series. The story has wonderful characters with plenty of twists and turns along with a dash of humor to keep the story light and entertaining! The murder is solved, but there is a background story that appears to continue into the next book!!
Profile Image for Randy Harmelink.
934 reviews258 followers
January 26, 2020
I enjoyed the first third of the book, where the premise is set up and the characters are introduced. But, after that, the solving of the mystery just got a bit tedious for me. And the big issue never gets resolved.

I have no interest in continuing the series.
876 reviews7 followers
November 13, 2020
I was pleasantly surprised at how very good this book was; definitely exceeded my expectations. The mystery was very well played-out, right down to the classic gathering of the suspects for the denouement. Poirot would be so proud.
251 reviews3 followers
September 18, 2019
Great book

I am a retired Police Officer and I enjoyed this book greatly. It was very interesting . A must read
1 review
August 31, 2020
Could Not Put Down!!!

This is not my typical genre but decided to give it a try. I'm so glad I did! I literally could not put the book down! Definitely recommend!
Profile Image for SylviaV.
703 reviews11 followers
January 24, 2020
Death Warmed Over (A Grim Days Mystery #1) by Kent Holloway.
Paranormal twist on crime/mystery story with likeable characters. Nice story telling. It kept my attention page after page. This is book 1 in the series and it was for me a promising start. Nice world building. I like this book. 3 and half stars.
Profile Image for Meg.
229 reviews1 follower
February 28, 2023
As the first book in a new series, Kent Holloway hit it out of the park! As an author dipping his toes into a new genre, cozy mysteries, he is definitely on the right path! Normally an author of forensic thrillers, based on his occupation as a forensic investigator, cozies were definitely different. The cozy boxes are checked; small town, no graphic violence (murder happened behind the scenes), no sex, and no cursing. That’s what makes it qualify as a cozy mystery.

Our protagonist is Becca Cole, the Chief of Police in the small town of Summer Haven, Florida. She has several skills based on her time as a homicide detective in a big city. Her sidekick, Death, or as most know him, the Grim Reaper, is there to figure out why specific deaths are happening that he didn’t sanction. These were deaths before their time, so he has taken on a human form to figure out who is interfering. Between the two of them, their investigations will take them into the dark recess of drugs, drug lords, the occult. Curses come into play with the belief by several suspects that they were the actual cause of death.

There are several suspects involved, and several red hearings placed throughout. There is not only murder to solve but a possible incident that will create a new mystery. Once I started this book, it was difficult to put down. Not my usual lighthearted cozy, but more of one with a cutting edge. I highly recommend this book and look forward to the next in the series.

I received this book as a gift, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Ryan Hoffman.
1,215 reviews2 followers
February 27, 2023
This is an interesting concept for a series, Straight out of some TV show. Death (aka the Grim reaper) working with the police chief in a small town in Florida. Becca Cole used to be a big city homicide detective now she's the police chief in Summer Haven, Florida. Except a lot of unexplained deaths are happening in the quiet tourist town, when she's called to a crime scene she finds a man standing over the body of a woman. This man is Silas Mott, AKA Death aka the Grim reaper. He convinces Becca that he's not her guy, but will help her find the murderer, if she can help him find figure out and explain death. It's actually an interesting premise. I like the characters and the idea
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews