Hyacinth always assumed dying would simplify her life. But when her new boss, Archangel Michael, sends her on her first official mission—to retrieve a powerful rock from a collector in Germany—things go downhill fast. For one thing, the Dead keep popping up, expecting her to guide them to the Afterlife. For another, her part-demon nephew Geordi's powers are starting to leak out, at age seven. What if Michael finds out about him? Worse, what if Satan does?
Then there's her love life-after-death. Rooming with a dead French cop no one else can see is complicated enough. But when Jason, Geordi's lying Dioguardi Demon cousin, resurrects himself—so to speak—all Hell breaks loose. Literally. Can Hyacinth get Michael's rock back before Satan steals its powers and breaks free of his prison? Or will her single-minded pursuit put those she loves—and the rest of the world—in the path of Satan's fury?
Kerry Blaisdell is the bestselling and award-winning author of the acclaimed Dead Series, including DEBRIEFING THE DEAD and its sequels, which InD’tale Magazine recommends for “fans of shows like ‘Constantine’ or ‘Supernatural.’” She also writes award-winning Romantic Suspense (PUBLISH OR PERISH, a Publishers Weekly BookLife Prize Quarterfinalist) and Historical Mystery. She has a B.A. from U.C. Berkeley in Comparative Literature (French/Medieval English), and a Master’s in Teaching English and Advanced Mathematics from University of Portland. Kerry lives in the gorgeous Pacific Northwest with her family, assorted animals, and more hot pepper plants than anyone could reasonably consume. To connect with Kerry online, join her Facebook Reader Group (http://facebook.com/groups/kerryskin), or subscribe to her Very Occasional Mailing List (https://rebrand.ly/vomlgr) and get TWO free downloads!
Hyacinth Finch wants nothing more than to be left alone, especially when it comes to the Dead, but her boss, Archangel Michael, has other ideas. He needs her help to not only retrieve one of his rocks from a collector in Germany, but he tasks her to be an afterlife sorter. The only problem: Hyacinth has trouble telling who’s alive and who’s dead. Good thing she has her dead French cop friend/lover Eric to help her.
Things go from bad to mega bad when she, her nephew Geordi and Eric meet with the German collector and his overly friendly wife, Rachel. It’s a scene out of a Grimm fairy tale where nothing is as it appears. Strange occurrences take place and the more Hyacinth unravels, the deeper she risks the life of her nephew, Geordi, and even her own undead existence. On top of everything else, Jason, Geordi’s uncle, is back and so is the love triangle. Can Hyacinth get Michael’s rock back in time to avert an apocalypse the world has never seen? More importantly, can she figure out this crazy love triangle she finds herself in?
I’ve been waiting a year for this sequel to the RITA Finalist, Debriefing the Dead, and oh boy, it was worth it. From the first page, I was riveted to the story. Hyacinth gets to experience the darker part of being dead and working for Michael. There’s a definite darker feel to this book and I loved it. Mythology, demon worshipping, demon prejudice and romance all play a part in Waking the Dead. There’s a certain sub-plot that not only rang true historically but scared the crap out of me. I had to continue telling myself it was only a story, not real. Because if it was, damn, I’m heading for the hills.
The romantic elements were the classic trope of a love triangle but with a twist. One’s a demon and the other’s a ghost. While it helps the heroine is dead, I honestly don’t know which one I’m rooting for her to choose. Both have redeeming qualities and both tie Hyacinth to the present but which man is better for her will have to be up to the author, Kerry Blaisdell.
Note: there is a cliff-hanger but I get why the author had to do it. I told her to write faster. Lol!
An intensely dark paranormal romance/urban fantasy which I highly recommend!
Disclaimer: I received a copy from the publisher via Netgalley in the hopes I’d review it.
would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book
well this one is better than i thought it was going to be....
hyacinth works for micheal....she helps bring souls to him so that he can dispatch them either to heaven or hell...but there is an added complication...and thats where the fun begin.
this is a fun read and if you like reading about angels and demons and raising souls then this book may be for you....
I admire anyone who can write a good 2nd book of a trilogy. I believe it is most challenging one to write since the world has been created, yet the entire plot line cannot be wrapped up. But Kerry Blaisdell did a fantastic job. If you enjoyed Debriefing the Dead, I think you will enjoy Waking the Dead. It has the same great characters, including Hyacinch. The book is told in 1st person, and It's her great quirky voice that carries the book. The book is far from serious, but is such a fun, creative read, and made me laugh. It's helpful to have read book 1, but there are enough reminders in this book that if it's been awhile, or if you haven't read book 1, you'll be able to catch on quickly.
I didn't think anything could be better than Debriefing the Dead, but Ms. Blaisdell has upped the game with Waking the Dead. The storytelling is unique and original, sometimes sad, sometimes funny, but always full of love and family. Can't wait for the next book!!
Hyacinth just wants to protect her nephew Geordie from the demons and from her dead sister’s ex-husband’s demon-linked family. She will go to the ends of the earth to keep him safe… and she may have to do just that. When Archangel Michael tasks Hyacinth with finding and retrieving “his” rocks in addition to assisting souls on their way to the afterlife, the last thing Hyacinth needed was more pressure. Still trying to find a way to stay on earth to raise and protect Geordie, Hyacinth finds herself in even deeper trouble than before. What was supposed to be a routine retrieval of one of Michael’s “rocks” from an amateur rock hound, turns out to be anything but. Oh, what a ride! Absolutely devoured this book! Fast paced, zigging and zagging, twisting and turning, all the while pulling Hyacinth between two “men”; one a ghost, the other demon blooded: both insanely sexy and making Hyacinth question her emotions at every turn. The startling ending left me going “HUH???!! WHAT????”. Cannot WAIT to see what’s in store for Hyacinth!
I want to state at the beginning that I am friends with the author. We went to high school together! That being said, I love these books. They are fast paced and funny, with a great main character. The supporting characters are great, too, and I hope to learn more about them as the series progresses.
I really love this series but apparently Kerry Blame fell hasn't finished the third book...Argh!! I hope I don't have to wait much longer as, of course, she left off at a really important part!! Hyacinth is involved in a bizarre plot to raise dead Nazis. So Jason has returned and Eric is still with her and her nephew. The Archangel Michael keeps popping in and out but giving little help! Again the book is well written and really entertaining pulling you through to the end. A must read!
Debriefing the Dead and its sequel Waking the Dead are excellent books. The main characters are engaging and the stories are suspenseful. The plot twists and turns will keep you reading late into the night. I couldn’t put either book down, a rarity for me. I highly recommend both books and look forward to the next in the series.
She thought dying would make her life simpler but no she has a much more complicated life. She is sent on a mission to find a rock before Satan can get it. She gain a cop only she can see. She also has to protect her half demon nephew. How did her death become so complicated? Can she get the rock before satan? Follow her adventures
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Waking the Dead, book 2 in the Dead Series, is a continuation of Debriefing the Dead, and picks up a few months later. Hyacinth Finch has continued on her quest for Archangel Michael’s rocks, so there is a new paranormal mystery and new bad guys, but the same ongoing love triangle.
The paranormal story has the pacing and feel of a cozy mystery, but one with aspects that reminded me of the first Indiana Jones movie.
The love triangle is interesting, as Hyacinth must sort out her feelings for the two men--one is a ghost and the other, a part-demon--while being chaperoned by her young nephew, Geordi. But because it is a triangle, I found myself not connecting with either man. I have a sense the author may favor one over the other, but not enough that I was willing to take the risk of becoming emotionally invested, so I always felt distant from the love scenes. That may just be me.
The story is well written and kept me reading to the end, but it finished abruptly, and leaves Hyacinth’s predicament unresolved. While Debriefing the Dead wrapped up so that Hyacinth was out of harms way by the end of the story, I can’t say the same for Waking the Dead, and while not a cliffhanger, she has not reached a resolution of the current predicament, either.
But I am looking forward to the next book in the series to see how the last-minute revelation turns out.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Waking the Dead by Kerry Blaisdell is the second book in The Dead Series. This book continues where book one left off but a stand alone novel. This book is full of interesting characters who include a dead aunt Hyacinth with a demon nephew Geordi, her demon ex-boy friend Jason, a ghost Eric, and angel Michael. The main character Hyacinth is trying to do the job she agreed to do which is to find and collect special shards of rock for Michael before hells denizens can collect these same shards. The only problem is that Michael gave her a side job to do and that “job” keeps interfering with her ability to do anything except look just slightly crazy to the normal living people around her. This book is seriously like a fun house full of adventures, you never know what might happen when you read the next page. I loved the way this book never followed a discernable pattern. Random strange things kept happening to the characters which made me laugh and kept me hooked reading until the very last page. This book is the perfect book for anyone who enjoys a good mystery with paranormal characters and a little romance on the side. Waking the Dead is a non-stop paranormal adventure.
I am not sure how this author is not more popular. Her writing and stories easily rank right up there with New York Times Bestselling authors I read. Confounding. If y'all aren't reading this series, you are missing out! This is one of those books that I couldn't wait to read and was put out whenever Adulting made me put it down. My ONLY complaint is now I have to wait for Book 3 to continue the story, and I don't know how long that wait might be.
**for the record, I was given an early copy of this book for reviewing purposes. But my review is 100% my own. Additionally, I am neither friend nor family of the author.
I am really impressed with this author and their way of weaving words, mythologies, religion, and the dichotomy of death and life in a way that is believable. The first book in this series hooked me, and now this one has me fully invested in this idea of being both dead and alive, and all the complexities that involve being human combined with the aforementioned idea. Now I’m inspired to read more about ancient history and religions. Kudos to the author.
I received an ARC via Booksprout from the publisher. The opinions are my own.
This is book 2 in the Dead series by Kerry Blaisdell and picks up where book 1, Debriefing the Dead, ended. Hyacinth is still working for Michael in sorting dead souls and finding the missing shards of Michael's staff. There is a diverse group of characters assisting Hyacinth on these missions. But as she zeroes in on one of the shards, Hyacinth ends up in a heap of trouble. With a lot of ingenuity and luck, this book reaches a stunning conclusion.
A big thank you to NetGalley and Wild Rose Press for the ARC. I am voluntarily reviewing this book. I believe this is book 2 in A series and I did not read the first. So I had mixed feelings about this book. I really wanted to like Hyacinth! I found the whole thing with Angel Michael to be just odd it seemed strange to me! there is a love triangle a cliffhanger so hence my mixed feelings. I was a bit confused as well so maybe they need to be read in order. I rate this a 3.
This story has the ‘wow’ factor – Wickedly entertaining, Outstanding scenes, and Well-rounded characters. Without much time passing after the first book Hyacinth is thrown into a new adventure to find another piece of the archangel’s rock. This plotline dives deeper into the world of the dead. Souls are looking for direction while others are uprooted from their graves to wreak havoc. So many scenes are captivating with Michael’s appearance in different attire, historical add-ins of Nazis soldiers, adoration of control, and visual action. But it’s the cast that makes this book come alive within the pages. A round of applause is needed for Jason’s return, which once again puts Hyacinth in a web between Eric and Jason. Her nephew, Geordi, is superb. He rose into a star in this book. The scene with him smashing rocks was outstanding. And the ending…a ‘didn’t see that coming’ tremendous cliffhanger! This book is a stand-alone in the Dead Series, but I highly recommend starting with the first book to follow the continued storyline. Waking The Dead – a paranormal suspense - is a must read. Reviewed for Still Moments Magazine.
Oh wow! What has Hyacinth got herself into this time? Or maybe it’s what has Michael got her into? I have to say that I love this series. It is so well written and the story is good! I envy Hyacinth to a degree. She’s got two hunky guys in love/lust/something with her. Most women are lucky to get one. Unfortunately for her it’s not that easy to decide, even if she should. Little Geordie is a great character and a typical seven year old. The quotations used at the beginning of each chapter are so interesting that I find myself working out the ages of the person at death and looking up the more obscure people. Caligula’s quote was the funniest though. Unfortunately, I found the book to go too quickly and now I have to get on to the latest. It’s not often that we are lucky to have a, not only new storyteller appear but a brilliant one too.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
So, this is the 2nd part of Author Kerry Blaisdell's The Dead series is needs to be read in order as it continues on. This time around we see Hyacinth's existence take on more responsibilities not just to her nephew but Michael, the Angel of Death as well. Her relationships with both Jason and Eric develop further and they truly become quite a team. They are all such great characters and the story contains an interesting mix of mystery, romance, paranormal romance might be better description and an interesting component of religious Heaven verses Hell issues. All set within the confines of historic locations. Love how there are so many unknown little bits of storyline that are left to keep you wondering about, which also makes you simply not wanting to put it down. Bring on the next instalment!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Don’t judge a book by its cover. This was a fabulous read! Mon ange! I had to read that last part three times to understand what it meant. Now the wait for part three… sigh!
What did I like? Fabulous cast of characters! Hyacinth is doing her best to even out the situation in this one. Taking care of Geordi and making her priorities straight until Archangel Michael shows up to demand she start working. I loved the partial French throughout the book and the history lesson given while looking for the shards. This has been an interesting yet fun read. Five stars!
Would I recommend or buy? I’d seriously buy. These are really great. I’d recommend to fantasy lovers! The last part in book two is a major cliffhanger! I can’t wait for part three!
I received a complimentary copy to read and voluntarily left a review!
I'm so behind on my reviews . I have all kinds of excuses but none have to do with the book. This book is about life and death good and evil and the struggle to do what is right.
Hyacinth has died but waking up and seeing the Archangel Michael gave her more than she expected. Making deals to be able to figure out what to do with her nephew Geordi since both his parents are dead and he's from a gangster family.
Her first job is to retrieve a rock from a collector in Germany sounds easy huh. Well she also gets interrupted by the dead having to decide where they should spend eternity.
Satan is also in search of the rock since it's power will help him escape his prison.
Crazy so far well there's more but you'll have to get a copy for yourself. You won't be disappointed.
I received an advance review copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.
This is a great book. What a bunch of crazy twists and turns. There's a lot of action and mystery. Psycho bad guys and nifty strange history bits. (I was looking up places and translating languages.) It was fun. There's a little more ghostly romance in book two . Hyacinth is torn between Eric and Jason. But Jason's gone and Eric has something up his sleeve. Archangel Michael tells Hyacinth to head to Germany to get his next rock from a nice regular rock collector. Boy, does she have a surprise coming. Not only from her nephew, who's a whole story on his own but the way things blow up in Germany are spectacular. Fantastic supernatural mystery/ urban Fantasy. Onto book 3.... I received this ARC from Booksirens all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Waking the Dead is Book 2 in The Dead Series by Kerry Blaisdell. It picks right up where the 1st book in the series left off, but since it had been a while since I read the 1st book, I can say that Ms. Blaisdell starts the book off very well. You can jump right into the plot not having read the 1st book and not be lost, her writing is that cohesive from book to book.
For this new book in the series Hyacinth's duties have expanded with Archangel Michael, her nephew's powers are growing every day and they're on adventure to find another one of Michael's shards. There's so much adventure, humor, twists and turns, revelations and so much more that I read it straight through.
Book 2 of "The Dead Series" lives up to the very high standard of Book 1: we have a scrappy heroine (who's not exactly alive) doing her best to function as an Archangel's PA while balancing a dead boyfriend, a demonic boyfriend, and a delightful nephew who's definitely not Sesame Street material. And if that's not enough, she's chasing after deadly shards of screaming stones too? Loved this ARC and looking forward to Book 3.
Another fantastic read, kept you in suspense a lot of the time waiting to read what happens next and what an ending, need next book now. I enjoyed the second book in this series. Great characters. Strong female main who is also funny.
I love reading these kind of books always have. They are exciting and sometimes I feel like I'm living them when I'm reading them so I keep reading till I can't no more lol. I definitely recommend it and will more than likely be buying it to add to my books shelf once built.