What do you think?
Rate this book
Elise Sandburg #1
Play Dead
WATCH YOUR BACK, ELISE.
No one understands the dark side of Savannah better than homicide detective Elise Sandburg. As an infant, she was thought to be the daughter of a famous root doctor--and was abandoned in an ancient Low Country cemetery. Growing up, she was haunted by her possible connection to the local Gullah culture--with its spells and voodoo. Now, however, there's a twisted killer on the loose, and the city is gripped by terror. Someone is using a substance that leaves its victims in a state that mimics death. As their bodies slip into an irreversible paralysis, their minds remain fully, shockingly awake.
BEFORE YOU WAKE UP DEAD
Step by step, Elise's relentless chase for the killer draws her straight back into the world she most fears. And now, to stop a murderer, she must confront the truth about her own past in ways she never could have imagined...
No one understands the dark side of Savannah better than homicide detective Elise Sandburg. As an infant, she was thought to be the daughter of a famous root doctor--and was abandoned in an ancient Low Country cemetery. Growing up, she was haunted by her possible connection to the local Gullah culture--with its spells and voodoo. Now, however, there's a twisted killer on the loose, and the city is gripped by terror. Someone is using a substance that leaves its victims in a state that mimics death. As their bodies slip into an irreversible paralysis, their minds remain fully, shockingly awake.
BEFORE YOU WAKE UP DEAD
Step by step, Elise's relentless chase for the killer draws her straight back into the world she most fears. And now, to stop a murderer, she must confront the truth about her own past in ways she never could have imagined...
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
5002 people are currently reading
5909 people want to read
About the author
Anne Frasier
37 books2,273 followersAnne Frasier is the New York Times, #1 Amazon Charts, and USA Today bestselling author of the Detective Jude Fontaine Mysteries, the Elise Sandburg series, and the Inland Empire novels. With more than a million copies sold, her award-winning books span the genres of suspense, mystery, thriller, romantic suspense, paranormal, and memoir. The Body Reader received the 2017 Thriller Award for Best Original Paperback Novel from International Thriller Writers. Other honors include a RITA for Romantic Suspense and a Daphne du Maurier Award for Paranormal Romantic Mystery/Suspense. Her thrillers have hit the USA Today bestseller list and have been featured in Mystery Guild, the Literary Guild, and Book of the Month. Her memoir, The Orchard, was an O, The Oprah Magazine Fall Pick; a One Book, One Community read; and one of the Librarians’ Best Books of 2011. Visit her website at www.annefrasier.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 844 reviews
December 26, 2018
Play Dead by Anne Frasier and narrated by Natalie Rios is an audible book that kept me at the edge of my seat. Lots of suspense, a strange way of people dying, and lots of twists. Enjoyed the characters, each with unique flawed lives. Very interesting listen!
People that were pronounced dead were waking up! No, not zombies! Drugged with a chemical from the puffer fish.
Narration was wonderful!
People that were pronounced dead were waking up! No, not zombies! Drugged with a chemical from the puffer fish.
Narration was wonderful!
August 6, 2019
Looking for the perfect book for Halloween? Look no further!
Creepy enough to give you the shivers? ✔ Raise the tiny hairs on the back of your neck? ✔ Make your flesh crawl? ✔
Cause you to jump at the slightest noise? ✔ Give you the heebie-jeebies? ✔ Make you turn on all the lights in the house? ✔ Scare you out of your wits? ✔
Outside, the storm was raging, but the autopsy suite within the heart of the morgue was silent. John had almost forgotten about the weather when the unmistakable sound of a lightning strike penetrated the thick walls, rattling glass containers in nearby cupboards. The room was plunged into darkness. Seconds later, the emergency generators kicked in and the lights flickered on.
Everything under control.
John continued with the autopsy. He placed a rubber block under the cadaver’s neck, then positioned the scalpel for the Y incision, beginning at the right shoulder, below the collarbone. One inch into the cut, the dead body let out a long sigh.
The scalpel slipped from John’s fingers, clattering to the stainless steel exam table. He stared at the dead man’s face, searching for signs of life.
A decaying body rapidly formed gas, and it wasn’t unusual for a dead person to appear to exhale. Some bodies even moved as the gas shifted around looking for an escape route.
“Son of a bitch.” John let out a nervous laugh.
He retrieved the scalpel and poised his hand to continue with the incision. He was shaking. “Shit. What a baby. Calm down. It was just a little gas, that’s all.”
Too late, he remembered the Dictaphone. With his slipper-covered foot, he shut it off with the remote switch, then stood there, breathing hard. The down-draft fan was humming.
He tossed the scalpel on the instrument tray, then picked up the dead man’s wrist and felt for a pulse.
Nothing.
He felt the carotid artery in the neck.
Nothing.
He pulled out a miniature flashlight and checked the pupils. No reaction. No reflex. No eye movement.
He turned the head from side to side.
“Some skin discoloration.” Due to lack of circulation—a fairly significant sign of death. Lips were purple. Fingers and nails, purple.
He rolled the body from one side to the other, checking the back and buttocks. “No lividity.”
He let the body drop to the previous position.
In the adjoining scrub room, he rummaged through the cabinets until he found a stethoscope.
Back in the autopsy suite, feeling foolish and glad nobody else was around, he turned off the downdraft fan and placed the stethoscope against the dead man’s chest.
Was that something? A faint sound? A gentle lub… lub. Or was it his own heart beating?
He pulled the stethoscope from his ears, then began another search, finally finding what he was looking for. A mirror. Round, eight inches in diameter. With a paper towel he rubbed it clean, making sure there were no smudges or fingerprints on the glass. Then he held it to the dead man’s mouth and nose.
Primitive but effective.
Keeping an eye on the clock, he waited a full minute before lifting it away.
On the surface of the mirror was a small cloud of condensation—a cloud that gradually vanished as John stared at it in horror and disbelief.
This couldn’t be happening.
Not again.
********
First, let me just say that when I started this audiobook and discovered that it's heavy on zombies and voodoo, I did an internal grown, thinking I wouldn't make it through the fifth chapter, despite the terrifying beginning. Never one to be too quick in deciding whether to put it as a 'not for me' and return it to my shelves, I always to give the book a fair chance. I'm very happy to say that this audiobook quickly became one that I made excuses to return to every chance I got! This is not your usual, run of the mill zombie, voodo, folklore vs fact story! The characters are complex and interesting and I enjoyed learning more more about them as the story unfolds.
Play Dead by Anne Frasier, narrated by Natalie Ross delivers a whopping dose of the heeby jeebies right into your lap! And this isn't just a creepy, made up zombie story, either! What horrified me and made it truly terrifying is that the events in this book are absolutely plausible! Here's why.
As I'm a nut for anything relating to the creatures throughout the wild kingdom, so I put together a few factual tidbits relating tetrodotoxin or TTX. Found in the Puffer Fish, the Blue-Ringed Octopus, and the Cane Toad is one of nature's strangest molecules and is one of the deadliest poisons on earth. After the Box Jellyfish, Puffer Fish are considered the second most poisonous vertebrates in the world. Gram for gram tetradotoxin is 1,200 more deadly than cyanide. A single puffer fish can kill thirty adult people.
A few short minutes after exposure, it paralyzes its victims but doesn't cross the blood brain barrier, leaving the victim fully aware of what is happening. That is until the fatal paralyzing toxin reaches your lungs and heart.
But here's the catch!
The toxin is short acting, usually lasting around two to six hours depending upon how much toxin the person receives. If you're unfortunate enough to get a potentially fatal dose of poison, as long as someone breathes for you until you can get to a hospital and placed on a ventilator, the effects of the paralysis will wear off allowing you to breathe and move on your own again.
Seriously? What could be more terrifying than being killed by tetrodotoxin?
Receiving a dose that leaves you still alive!
To answer the next obvious question:
Is listening to the audiobook better than reading the book?
Absolutely!
Natalie Ross earns the full 5★'s for her narrative performance.
She deftly navigates listeners through the story captivating her audience so that you don't want to stop listening, even without using tetradotoxin on her audience!
It's easy to decipher who is speaking, male, female, different characters, etc. and what is happening in the story, leaving nothing to the imagination which, I don't mind admitting, is rather unfortunate at times, in a good way!
Play Dead is a combination of brilliant writing and an experienced, flawless narration, becoming a twisted and horrifying story full of zombified, barely breathing victims who are a heartbeat away from death!
Creepy enough to give you the shivers? ✔ Raise the tiny hairs on the back of your neck? ✔ Make your flesh crawl? ✔
Cause you to jump at the slightest noise? ✔ Give you the heebie-jeebies? ✔ Make you turn on all the lights in the house? ✔ Scare you out of your wits? ✔
Outside, the storm was raging, but the autopsy suite within the heart of the morgue was silent. John had almost forgotten about the weather when the unmistakable sound of a lightning strike penetrated the thick walls, rattling glass containers in nearby cupboards. The room was plunged into darkness. Seconds later, the emergency generators kicked in and the lights flickered on.
Everything under control.
John continued with the autopsy. He placed a rubber block under the cadaver’s neck, then positioned the scalpel for the Y incision, beginning at the right shoulder, below the collarbone. One inch into the cut, the dead body let out a long sigh.
The scalpel slipped from John’s fingers, clattering to the stainless steel exam table. He stared at the dead man’s face, searching for signs of life.
A decaying body rapidly formed gas, and it wasn’t unusual for a dead person to appear to exhale. Some bodies even moved as the gas shifted around looking for an escape route.
“Son of a bitch.” John let out a nervous laugh.
He retrieved the scalpel and poised his hand to continue with the incision. He was shaking. “Shit. What a baby. Calm down. It was just a little gas, that’s all.”
Too late, he remembered the Dictaphone. With his slipper-covered foot, he shut it off with the remote switch, then stood there, breathing hard. The down-draft fan was humming.
He tossed the scalpel on the instrument tray, then picked up the dead man’s wrist and felt for a pulse.
Nothing.
He felt the carotid artery in the neck.
Nothing.
He pulled out a miniature flashlight and checked the pupils. No reaction. No reflex. No eye movement.
He turned the head from side to side.
“Some skin discoloration.” Due to lack of circulation—a fairly significant sign of death. Lips were purple. Fingers and nails, purple.
He rolled the body from one side to the other, checking the back and buttocks. “No lividity.”
He let the body drop to the previous position.
In the adjoining scrub room, he rummaged through the cabinets until he found a stethoscope.
Back in the autopsy suite, feeling foolish and glad nobody else was around, he turned off the downdraft fan and placed the stethoscope against the dead man’s chest.
Was that something? A faint sound? A gentle lub… lub. Or was it his own heart beating?
He pulled the stethoscope from his ears, then began another search, finally finding what he was looking for. A mirror. Round, eight inches in diameter. With a paper towel he rubbed it clean, making sure there were no smudges or fingerprints on the glass. Then he held it to the dead man’s mouth and nose.
Primitive but effective.
Keeping an eye on the clock, he waited a full minute before lifting it away.
On the surface of the mirror was a small cloud of condensation—a cloud that gradually vanished as John stared at it in horror and disbelief.
This couldn’t be happening.
Not again.
********
First, let me just say that when I started this audiobook and discovered that it's heavy on zombies and voodoo, I did an internal grown, thinking I wouldn't make it through the fifth chapter, despite the terrifying beginning. Never one to be too quick in deciding whether to put it as a 'not for me' and return it to my shelves, I always to give the book a fair chance. I'm very happy to say that this audiobook quickly became one that I made excuses to return to every chance I got! This is not your usual, run of the mill zombie, voodo, folklore vs fact story! The characters are complex and interesting and I enjoyed learning more more about them as the story unfolds.
Play Dead by Anne Frasier, narrated by Natalie Ross delivers a whopping dose of the heeby jeebies right into your lap! And this isn't just a creepy, made up zombie story, either! What horrified me and made it truly terrifying is that the events in this book are absolutely plausible! Here's why.
As I'm a nut for anything relating to the creatures throughout the wild kingdom, so I put together a few factual tidbits relating tetrodotoxin or TTX. Found in the Puffer Fish, the Blue-Ringed Octopus, and the Cane Toad is one of nature's strangest molecules and is one of the deadliest poisons on earth. After the Box Jellyfish, Puffer Fish are considered the second most poisonous vertebrates in the world. Gram for gram tetradotoxin is 1,200 more deadly than cyanide. A single puffer fish can kill thirty adult people.
A few short minutes after exposure, it paralyzes its victims but doesn't cross the blood brain barrier, leaving the victim fully aware of what is happening. That is until the fatal paralyzing toxin reaches your lungs and heart.
But here's the catch!
The toxin is short acting, usually lasting around two to six hours depending upon how much toxin the person receives. If you're unfortunate enough to get a potentially fatal dose of poison, as long as someone breathes for you until you can get to a hospital and placed on a ventilator, the effects of the paralysis will wear off allowing you to breathe and move on your own again.
Seriously? What could be more terrifying than being killed by tetrodotoxin?
Receiving a dose that leaves you still alive!
To answer the next obvious question:
Is listening to the audiobook better than reading the book?
Absolutely!
Natalie Ross earns the full 5★'s for her narrative performance.
She deftly navigates listeners through the story captivating her audience so that you don't want to stop listening, even without using tetradotoxin on her audience!
It's easy to decipher who is speaking, male, female, different characters, etc. and what is happening in the story, leaving nothing to the imagination which, I don't mind admitting, is rather unfortunate at times, in a good way!
Play Dead is a combination of brilliant writing and an experienced, flawless narration, becoming a twisted and horrifying story full of zombified, barely breathing victims who are a heartbeat away from death!
January 25, 2015
Really enjoyed this story, bit creepy and loved the flawed David. This is my second by this author and I am liking her writing, very easy to read. I didn't want to put this one down. Looking forward to the sequel.
May 21, 2014
Didnt think I would like this book so much.....voodoo, witchcraft, darkness, night, weird things happening.....but it grabbed me and didnt let go. Great story, with happy, sad and a few surprises...what you thought you knew...well, that changed in the end. Takes place in Savannah Georgia.....with Det Elise Sandburg investigating a mysterious homicide....she herself has mystery surrounding her - being left in a cemetery as an infant -
Things get hot by mid book...alot of murders happening, until Elise gets to the point of almost losing her life.....thats all I am saying, must read book - very enjoyable.
Things get hot by mid book...alot of murders happening, until Elise gets to the point of almost losing her life.....thats all I am saying, must read book - very enjoyable.
November 14, 2015
Love the Savannah, GA setting and the chemistry between detectives Elise and David. The whole zombie science was interesting and the who done it wasn't obvious. Definitely a series to follow.
October 10, 2020
Promising start to a series, set in Savannah, that walks the line between police procedural and supernatural thriller.
'Play Dead' is the start of a series of books about Elise Sandburg, a homicide detective with the Savannah Police Department. In this first book, Elise is investigating instances of apparently people waking up on the coroner's slab and dying shortly afterwards. Elise gets the woo woo work because legend has it that she is the daughter of a famous root doctor and that she was found abandoned in an ancient Low Country cemetery.
I found it refreshing that, from the start, nobody thought these were really zombies. Which is not to say that a root doctor may not have been involved but if they are, they'll be found by detective work, not magic.
Elise Sandberg knows about root spell the way a lapsed Catholic knows about transubstantiation: she can describe the ceremonies and the intent, knows that it has power for others, doesn't buy-in to herself but accepts its presence as part of her identity.
For me, much of the appeal of the book was that it was filled with credible characters with real lives, albeit exotic ones. Elise is a mother as well as a detective and her relationships with her teenage daughter, and with her ex-husband and his new wife are well-drawn. Her new partner, an ex-FBI agent and a Northerner, has a traumatic past, a bleak present and may not have much of a future. The victims and bad guys, who are sometimes the same people, are complicated and human.
The plot had enough puzzle in it to make things interesting without putting the characters in the shade and Savannah provides a unique setting that feels authentic.
'Play Dead' was an entertaining read that made me want to read more in the series.
January 16, 2018
I'm in love with this narrator's voice. I'll get the rest of the series for that alone.
Just so happens the mystery and story were very engaging as well.
Just so happens the mystery and story were very engaging as well.
June 27, 2016
~2.5 stars~
The element of suspense was well executed in this read. I was glad it was offered as a kindleunlimited as well. the plot was fast paced as well. what really kept me from liking this book we're the main characters. The heroine seemed generic for me. The hero was disgusting and simply repulsive. He was basically a binge drinker that called an escort service. He even had sex numerous times with one of the prostitutes. That ruined his character for me. I doubt I'll continue this series.
The element of suspense was well executed in this read. I was glad it was offered as a kindleunlimited as well. the plot was fast paced as well. what really kept me from liking this book we're the main characters. The heroine seemed generic for me. The hero was disgusting and simply repulsive. He was basically a binge drinker that called an escort service. He even had sex numerous times with one of the prostitutes. That ruined his character for me. I doubt I'll continue this series.
August 15, 2021
Just finished reading Play Dead.
It didn't have the same gripping hold on me Frasier's other series had but enjoyable none the less.
I took a little while to get into this, but eventually I really enjoyed the culture. A mix of lore and voodoo. (Hopefully I don't have that completely wrong).
The characters were enjoyable enough.
Happy to keep reading the next book to see how the story unfolds.
It didn't have the same gripping hold on me Frasier's other series had but enjoyable none the less.
I took a little while to get into this, but eventually I really enjoyed the culture. A mix of lore and voodoo. (Hopefully I don't have that completely wrong).
The characters were enjoyable enough.
Happy to keep reading the next book to see how the story unfolds.
November 30, 2018
First time reader of this author and now i am hooked. This was such a great, easy and creative series. i was hooked after the first page.
The characters were easy to fall in love with and follow, along with the story. the author made the mental visions so easy and vivid of the surroundings and the characters actions felt so real.
i would highly recommend this author and this series.
The characters were easy to fall in love with and follow, along with the story. the author made the mental visions so easy and vivid of the surroundings and the characters actions felt so real.
i would highly recommend this author and this series.
November 2, 2017
I know you guys are probably pretty tired of hearing me sing the praises of Goodreads Deals, or just mentioning them in every. single. post. But some of us are on a budget, so I appreciate the fact that Goodreads is appealing to my thriftiness. Anyway, this book came up in an e-mail from Goodreads because it was on sale and I immediately latched on to it because I remembered how much I loved The Body Reader by Anne Frasier, and I wanted to see if maybe it was just Anne Frasier's writing that I loved, or if it was the plot of The Body Reader that really drew me in. I discovered that it was in fact, the plot...
And so, I gave this one only....
two small stars.
My main take away from this book was just that there was a whole lot going on. Elise is a detective with the Savannah police department. She also has a teenaged daughter named Audrey who kind of hates her and lives with her father and his new wife. Elise has also wrestled with the concept that she is the daughter of Jackson Sweet, a famous voodoo guy who died a while ago in the Savannah area. Her partner is David Gould who is chocked full of his own issues . Elise and David are relatively new to their partnership and David gets made fun of by the Department because he's a "yankee." There is also the city's resident voodoo priestess Strata Luna who has a tone of rumors around her. Many think she killed her own daughters and she's running a prostitution ring. And then there's the crazy doctor who takes tetrodotoxin (TTD) just to get a wicked high. TTD is the poison in puffer fish that is highly dangerous and someone in the community is using it to "bring people back to life."
While I get that mysteries and thrillers tend to do a lot of information dumping to try to keep you guessing as to 'whodunit,' this story just felt like there were too many cross-stories and events happening. But not much of it was centered on the main mystery. The book never really got there.
And so while I am totally in to the whole voodoo thing and local legends thing and you know, dead bodies that aren't really dead....but are they...? thing, there was too much going on in this book for it to really capture my attention. I found myself struggling to remember all of the details about all of the side characters, with none of it meshing into a cohesive story.
So of course I was like, how could this be when I loved The Body Reader so much? Turns out this was Frasier's third book published and it was published over 13 years ago. The Body Reader was way more recent with a publication year of 2016. So maybe it's a case of me just not enjoying the early works of an author? Or maybe Frasier has gotten better over time? Apparently this is the first book of a series and she just released the 4th book in this series, this year. But while I didn't like this one all that much, I don't think I'm ready to just leave Frasier in the lurch. I'll definitely keep my eye out for her name in the Goodreads Deals e-mails, and maybe I'll have better luck with the next one?
And so, I gave this one only....
two small stars.
My main take away from this book was just that there was a whole lot going on. Elise is a detective with the Savannah police department. She also has a teenaged daughter named Audrey who kind of hates her and lives with her father and his new wife. Elise has also wrestled with the concept that she is the daughter of Jackson Sweet, a famous voodoo guy who died a while ago in the Savannah area. Her partner is David Gould who is chocked full of his own issues . Elise and David are relatively new to their partnership and David gets made fun of by the Department because he's a "yankee." There is also the city's resident voodoo priestess Strata Luna who has a tone of rumors around her. Many think she killed her own daughters and she's running a prostitution ring. And then there's the crazy doctor who takes tetrodotoxin (TTD) just to get a wicked high. TTD is the poison in puffer fish that is highly dangerous and someone in the community is using it to "bring people back to life."
While I get that mysteries and thrillers tend to do a lot of information dumping to try to keep you guessing as to 'whodunit,' this story just felt like there were too many cross-stories and events happening. But not much of it was centered on the main mystery. The book never really got there.
And so while I am totally in to the whole voodoo thing and local legends thing and you know, dead bodies that aren't really dead....but are they...? thing, there was too much going on in this book for it to really capture my attention. I found myself struggling to remember all of the details about all of the side characters, with none of it meshing into a cohesive story.
So of course I was like, how could this be when I loved The Body Reader so much? Turns out this was Frasier's third book published and it was published over 13 years ago. The Body Reader was way more recent with a publication year of 2016. So maybe it's a case of me just not enjoying the early works of an author? Or maybe Frasier has gotten better over time? Apparently this is the first book of a series and she just released the 4th book in this series, this year. But while I didn't like this one all that much, I don't think I'm ready to just leave Frasier in the lurch. I'll definitely keep my eye out for her name in the Goodreads Deals e-mails, and maybe I'll have better luck with the next one?
February 26, 2018
Love this series. Such amazing characters.
August 2, 2020
Perfect mystery
I'm slowly making my way thru Anne Frasier's books! They are all such great mysteries. I particularly liked this one since it was set in Savannah and I travelled there in January before the pandemic.
I'm slowly making my way thru Anne Frasier's books! They are all such great mysteries. I particularly liked this one since it was set in Savannah and I travelled there in January before the pandemic.
November 5, 2017
I picked up the audible version of this book and listened to it while working out. I found the plot engaging and the narration was good. Note: I listened to this at 1.5x speed. I'm not sure this is something that I could read with my eyes but it was a good listen.
I will listen to the second book in the series.
I will listen to the second book in the series.
July 7, 2021
Dead bodies are not staying dead in Savannah and Elise Sandburg, the detective who is also an illegitimate daughter of Savannah's more infamous conjurer, has been tasked with finding out why.
I absolutely love good southern noir and Anne Frasier has captured the dark underbelly of the deep south beautifully. From the ancient practices of the Gullah tribes to the white and black magic of the conjurers who hide under the low hanging moss of the live oak trees, Frasier has atmosphere and suspense in buckets, or gurneys might be more appropriate.
The characters are perfectly drawn, wonderfully flawed with demons so dark and deep it is amazing these people get out of bed in the morning, but they do and they are able to solve the mysteries of this creepy, southern city. Well, maybe not all of the mysteries. There are far too many of those.
I highly recommend Play Dead, the series, as well as Anne Frasier's other works. She's a damn good author!
I absolutely love good southern noir and Anne Frasier has captured the dark underbelly of the deep south beautifully. From the ancient practices of the Gullah tribes to the white and black magic of the conjurers who hide under the low hanging moss of the live oak trees, Frasier has atmosphere and suspense in buckets, or gurneys might be more appropriate.
The characters are perfectly drawn, wonderfully flawed with demons so dark and deep it is amazing these people get out of bed in the morning, but they do and they are able to solve the mysteries of this creepy, southern city. Well, maybe not all of the mysteries. There are far too many of those.
I highly recommend Play Dead, the series, as well as Anne Frasier's other works. She's a damn good author!
May 28, 2017
Half baked
This book is like a lump of high quality clay shaped by a kindergartener. The material for something good is all there, but it would require a writer with more skill to turn it into something of merit. Early on in the book I found myself checking to see how much was left, by the end I was just skimming the pages, seeing nothing that hasn't been done a million times before. For a well written Savannah ghost story "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" still tops the list.
This book is like a lump of high quality clay shaped by a kindergartener. The material for something good is all there, but it would require a writer with more skill to turn it into something of merit. Early on in the book I found myself checking to see how much was left, by the end I was just skimming the pages, seeing nothing that hasn't been done a million times before. For a well written Savannah ghost story "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" still tops the list.
June 5, 2021
PLAY DEAD [2014] (Elise Sandburg Book 1) By Anne Frasier
My Review 3.75 Stars****
I just finished reading the debut novel of Frasier’s book series featuring her new lead character Homicide Detective Elise Sandburg. All four installments of the series were purchased a good while ago after I became an instant fan of Anne Frasier with THE BODY READER.
The setting for her books following the exploits of Detective Elise Sandburg is the atmospheric streets of Savannah, Georgia. The underlying Gothic ambience of the haunting surroundings of the Old South envelops the story line like a colorful yet chilling cocoon. Savannah’s dark heritage and its pervasive local Gullah culture of voodoo and magic is as much a character in the plot as are the Homicide Detectives and the colorful yet dark and scary human characters who populate the novel.
The main character of Elise Sandberg is skillfully molded by the author into an intriguing figure who is immediately mysterious and yet working quietly within Savannah’s police department as a dedicated Homicide Detective. Rumors swirl about the fact that she was abandoned as an infant in a cemetery, perhaps even deposited atop a tombstone. Elise’s eyes are unique and arresting in that they contain an array of splinters and stars reflecting all colors. It would not escape the imagination of any native of the streets of Savannah to realize the sum of all colors results in pitch black. This characteristic is consistent with the rumors that Elise was the illegitimate daughter of an infamous Savannah root doctor (conjurer, witch doctor) named Jackson Sweet.
The author does a splendid job with character development in this novel with her main characters. I liked the main protagonist of Elise and her evolving back story as the reader moves through the pages of the story line. The reader can understand why an orphaned child with such a strong rumored link to the local culture of voodoo and magic would gravitate toward her purported heritage. This would be especially true for a teenager growing up in a foster home with parents who accepted her only because of a sense of duty or philanthropy. Elise’s current life as a divorced mother with a teenager who understandably prefers the comfort, perks, and stability of a home with dad and step-mom only tend to humanize Sandberg to an even greater extent. I liked her, and she emerged as a strong, competent, intuitive, yet imminently sensitive hero.
The co-main character of Elise’s newly assigned partner from FBI’s Cleveland, Ohio Office (David Gould) is also deftly crafted into a believable and vulnerable character by the talented author. Sandberg initially mistakes his emotional detachment for a lazy and undesirable partner to carry his part of the burden of her assigned homicide cases in the department. Rather quickly the reader finds that his backstory is so dreadful that it rivals a good man and father’s worst nightmare. I was briefly reminded of Ann Rule’s SMALL SACRIFICES. David gradually emerges as a sensitive, caring, and perhaps even over protective side kick.
There is a gritty realism to the rivalry between Northerner (“Yankee”) David Gould inserting himself into the world of the superstitious Southern homicide cops. It ultimately shapes up to reflect that he and Sandberg are both “outsiders” but for different reasons. They make a terrific team and the scenes and dialogue between them are outstanding.
This review hasn’t touched upon the main plot, and that is because it was “the weakest link” in my opinion. The gist is that a killer is preying on male prostitutes, and sheerly by accident the authorities discover that an active serial killer has been in their midst for well over a year. That may not sound all that thrilling in and of itself, but the investigation assumes a terrifying and superstitious aura all its own when the forensic team determine that the murderer is poisoning the victims with the lethal toxin tetrodotoxin. The local Gullah culture of voodoo and magic serves up the mythical figure of Strata Luna, a purported black voodoo priestess, as a person of interest. She is the madam of a house of prostitution Black Tupelo and the male victims were branded by a distinctive ostensibly protective mojo which identified them as employees of Luna’s stable of young hookers. It becomes apparent that a madman is loose in the city and is chemically lobotomizing young men in their prime creating a conscious paralysis that mirrors death. The terrifying concept of being autopsied on a cold slab in the morgue when you are fully aware of the experience has been explored in (I think it was the Outer Limits). In this novel, however, the fate of our doomed escorts is getting buried alive or worse as Sandberg and Gould try to divine the answers in this truly horrible and chilling state of affairs in the streets of Savannah’s dark side.
The narrative is mildly confusing when the author frequently switches narrators early in the book. This ceases to be an issue when the reader “meets” the characters and learns more about their respective roles in the homicide investigation. More interesting for me than the search for the serial killer was Elise’s own experiences with the compelling character of the powerful and feared Strata Luna, specifically the revelations about her own heritage which is validated to be laced with voodoo, magical spells and curses.
A killer who is obsessed with death and whose motivation remains uncertain even as profilers work their own special kind of magic suffered from a lack of momentum for me. Perhaps it is because I enjoyed the main characters so much that the murder mystery was less interesting to me. I wasn’t surprised by the plot twist at all, and the topic of tetrodotoxin, fascination with the dead, and necrophilia are all plot lines I’ve experience before albeit with different story lines and authors. Perhaps my inclination to read the darkest psychological thrillers out there render me more difficult to impress. That said, it doesn’t dull my admiration for the remarkable writing talent of Anne Frazier. I am excited about Sandberg and Gould and their next adventure in the spooky South.
My Review 3.75 Stars****
I just finished reading the debut novel of Frasier’s book series featuring her new lead character Homicide Detective Elise Sandburg. All four installments of the series were purchased a good while ago after I became an instant fan of Anne Frasier with THE BODY READER.
The setting for her books following the exploits of Detective Elise Sandburg is the atmospheric streets of Savannah, Georgia. The underlying Gothic ambience of the haunting surroundings of the Old South envelops the story line like a colorful yet chilling cocoon. Savannah’s dark heritage and its pervasive local Gullah culture of voodoo and magic is as much a character in the plot as are the Homicide Detectives and the colorful yet dark and scary human characters who populate the novel.
The main character of Elise Sandberg is skillfully molded by the author into an intriguing figure who is immediately mysterious and yet working quietly within Savannah’s police department as a dedicated Homicide Detective. Rumors swirl about the fact that she was abandoned as an infant in a cemetery, perhaps even deposited atop a tombstone. Elise’s eyes are unique and arresting in that they contain an array of splinters and stars reflecting all colors. It would not escape the imagination of any native of the streets of Savannah to realize the sum of all colors results in pitch black. This characteristic is consistent with the rumors that Elise was the illegitimate daughter of an infamous Savannah root doctor (conjurer, witch doctor) named Jackson Sweet.
The author does a splendid job with character development in this novel with her main characters. I liked the main protagonist of Elise and her evolving back story as the reader moves through the pages of the story line. The reader can understand why an orphaned child with such a strong rumored link to the local culture of voodoo and magic would gravitate toward her purported heritage. This would be especially true for a teenager growing up in a foster home with parents who accepted her only because of a sense of duty or philanthropy. Elise’s current life as a divorced mother with a teenager who understandably prefers the comfort, perks, and stability of a home with dad and step-mom only tend to humanize Sandberg to an even greater extent. I liked her, and she emerged as a strong, competent, intuitive, yet imminently sensitive hero.
The co-main character of Elise’s newly assigned partner from FBI’s Cleveland, Ohio Office (David Gould) is also deftly crafted into a believable and vulnerable character by the talented author. Sandberg initially mistakes his emotional detachment for a lazy and undesirable partner to carry his part of the burden of her assigned homicide cases in the department. Rather quickly the reader finds that his backstory is so dreadful that it rivals a good man and father’s worst nightmare. I was briefly reminded of Ann Rule’s SMALL SACRIFICES. David gradually emerges as a sensitive, caring, and perhaps even over protective side kick.
There is a gritty realism to the rivalry between Northerner (“Yankee”) David Gould inserting himself into the world of the superstitious Southern homicide cops. It ultimately shapes up to reflect that he and Sandberg are both “outsiders” but for different reasons. They make a terrific team and the scenes and dialogue between them are outstanding.
This review hasn’t touched upon the main plot, and that is because it was “the weakest link” in my opinion. The gist is that a killer is preying on male prostitutes, and sheerly by accident the authorities discover that an active serial killer has been in their midst for well over a year. That may not sound all that thrilling in and of itself, but the investigation assumes a terrifying and superstitious aura all its own when the forensic team determine that the murderer is poisoning the victims with the lethal toxin tetrodotoxin. The local Gullah culture of voodoo and magic serves up the mythical figure of Strata Luna, a purported black voodoo priestess, as a person of interest. She is the madam of a house of prostitution Black Tupelo and the male victims were branded by a distinctive ostensibly protective mojo which identified them as employees of Luna’s stable of young hookers. It becomes apparent that a madman is loose in the city and is chemically lobotomizing young men in their prime creating a conscious paralysis that mirrors death. The terrifying concept of being autopsied on a cold slab in the morgue when you are fully aware of the experience has been explored in (I think it was the Outer Limits). In this novel, however, the fate of our doomed escorts is getting buried alive or worse as Sandberg and Gould try to divine the answers in this truly horrible and chilling state of affairs in the streets of Savannah’s dark side.
The narrative is mildly confusing when the author frequently switches narrators early in the book. This ceases to be an issue when the reader “meets” the characters and learns more about their respective roles in the homicide investigation. More interesting for me than the search for the serial killer was Elise’s own experiences with the compelling character of the powerful and feared Strata Luna, specifically the revelations about her own heritage which is validated to be laced with voodoo, magical spells and curses.
A killer who is obsessed with death and whose motivation remains uncertain even as profilers work their own special kind of magic suffered from a lack of momentum for me. Perhaps it is because I enjoyed the main characters so much that the murder mystery was less interesting to me. I wasn’t surprised by the plot twist at all, and the topic of tetrodotoxin, fascination with the dead, and necrophilia are all plot lines I’ve experience before albeit with different story lines and authors. Perhaps my inclination to read the darkest psychological thrillers out there render me more difficult to impress. That said, it doesn’t dull my admiration for the remarkable writing talent of Anne Frazier. I am excited about Sandberg and Gould and their next adventure in the spooky South.
June 23, 2025
This was interesting. Southern Savannah setting with a touch of voodoo / hoodoo and Gullah sea island history. I would love verification on Elise’s race. I think she’s a Black woman which would be amazing because why the fuck not. The racial ambiguity is odd and annoys me. I’m not sure why the author is intentionally not saying that Elise is Black. Especially since the theme and cultural overtones are not just southern but blatantly Black. Savannah hoodoo and voodoo practices originated from enslaved Africans so Elise being a white woman doesn’t add up. Root magic is from West Africa. Elise’s dad was a root doctor. This is DISTINCTLY BLACK and not to acknowledge that with this character, again doesn’t add up.
The author had no problem letting readers know Flora was Black. This character was also a sex worker but she was a referred to as a prostitute. This author is not even from the south much less Savannah. If it weren’t for the blatant whitewashing, this could be a pretty good story.
The author had no problem letting readers know Flora was Black. This character was also a sex worker but she was a referred to as a prostitute. This author is not even from the south much less Savannah. If it weren’t for the blatant whitewashing, this could be a pretty good story.
August 3, 2018
4.5 I really enjoyed this book, it was different than "typical" murder mysteries in that an element of the story was about southern Gullah hoodoo witchery, embraced by the protagonist. Having visited historic Savannah for a week two months ago, I was very familiar with some of the setting, including the extraordinary Bonaventure Cemetery and even my favorite restaurant whilst there, Gryphon. There are three major storylines twisting and turning together in this book - the murders they were investigating (involving deaths that used a toxic found in puffer fish which renders its victims unable to more of feel, but able to hear and think), Elise's background and ancestry, and the mysteries surrounding Elise's new partner, ex-FBI agent David Gould. It was a fascinating story with a vibrant setting. I wish I had read this book before I went to Savannah because I would have checked out a few more of the places described in the book. Next time....
February 13, 2021
Having fallen in love with the author's other series (Detective Jude Fontaine) I was really excited to start this series.... I was a little bit confused listening to it (maybe due to the narrator being new to my ears) but as the story moved on, I was being pulled into it and was looking forward to finding out more of Elise's background and history plus all the Root magic aspect intrigued me very much.
The flow and pace were good and easy on the ears and there wasn't any information dump which is something I dislike in mystery novels.
All in all, am looking forward to continuing with this series.
The flow and pace were good and easy on the ears and there wasn't any information dump which is something I dislike in mystery novels.
All in all, am looking forward to continuing with this series.
February 18, 2018
I loved this quick read. It was filled with a lot of suspense and a different kind of murder to be sure.
*******SPOILER******
The strange goings on in Savannah is the back drop for this mystery and perhaps a little voodoo. For the life of me I cannot understand why anyone would want to have sex with the dead though. They have to be really sick. This was definitely a sicko mystery with a very strange way of murdering people.
I really enjoyed this one and even thought the spell at the back of the books was very interesting. I am giving this 5 out of 5 and will look for the 2nd in the series to rea.
*******SPOILER******
The strange goings on in Savannah is the back drop for this mystery and perhaps a little voodoo. For the life of me I cannot understand why anyone would want to have sex with the dead though. They have to be really sick. This was definitely a sicko mystery with a very strange way of murdering people.
I really enjoyed this one and even thought the spell at the back of the books was very interesting. I am giving this 5 out of 5 and will look for the 2nd in the series to rea.
June 9, 2021
Fantastic. Ready for next book.
May 12, 2022
My review is gone. OMG! And it was scathingly brilliant.
Liked the book alot.
zombies...
Liked the book alot.
zombies...
June 19, 2012
‘Play Dead’ is a fun take on the somewhat overdone zombie genre. Frasier gets back to the zombie roots, ignoring the scientific, weaponized creation of zombies and looking at the voodoo/hoodoo roots of zombie creation. Now, don’t let that fool you, this is not a “horror” novel. While I initially got the book because it was listed as a voodoo-horror-novel, it’s actually a mystery-crime story, and the “zombies” aren’t really supernatural creatures at all. In fact, zombies are really just a side note in the story, and the plot really revolves around the use of the drug TTX (from the puffer fish) which in folklore could be used to create zombie slaves. The plot is fast paced for the most part and the mystery intriguing. Frasier does an excellent job describing Southern (and voodoo) culture as well as creating a mystery that makes the book hard to put down. You will want to know what happens next. That being said, Frasier changes character perspectives throughout the book, and these get very confusing. The transitions are choppy, and while they are separated by a space or chapter break I found myself having to reread pages just so I could figure out what character these thoughts were supposed to be coming from. Which made reading a little frustrating. This gets increasingly confusing towards the end of the book. While I understand Frasier is trying to build to the killer reveal (which is a fantastic twist) while putting the killer in the book without giving anything away (the first person narratives), the strategy just doesn’t work as well as it could of and instead of leaving me intrigued I was just confused.
The three characters the story revolves around are Elise, David Gould, and Strata Luna. These three characters are done excellently, Frasier gives us enough backstory to make us feel for them, and they each have a unique personality that adds to the story. Elise is the Southerner with a bizarre history, as well as the lead cop on the murder investigation the plot revolves around. David is Elise’s partner, and from up North (a point which he is reminded of constantly by everyone throughout the story) but has a heartbreaking past of his own. Strata Luna is the obligatory “witch” character, who practices spells, makes mojos, and just seems a little strange. She also has a history which is brought up throughout the book, and her personality gives this book the color that makes it such a fun read. The minor characters, however, all seem a little flat, they serve their purpose but, with the exception of one or two, don’t bring much to the story.
Frasier has a talent for bringing Southern culture alive in her writing, and she sets up a very gothic setting for her book. Children chant rhymes while jump roping which give you some foreshadowing about what will happen later in the book (or to mislead you). The buildings are described in detail, and everything just seems a little creepy. It’s the perfect setting for this kind of murder mystery. Description is obviously Frasier’s strong point, as the dialogue falls flat in some places, but that can be easily overlooked by the fast paced story going on around it. The narrative makes this book an easy read, and the plot just pulls you along as it unfolds. As I mentioned before, the point of view changes do make things a little confusing and can bring the flow of the plot to a halt while you try and sort out who’s who again, but for the most part the book really does flow.
Frasier has done an excellent job with ‘Play Dead’. I enjoyed the folklore of zombie history sprinkled throughout the plot and the mystery is cleverly done. It’s an enjoyable crime read with an element of the supernatural twisted in. I’d advise you to read it at night with the lights off if you want a good scare
The three characters the story revolves around are Elise, David Gould, and Strata Luna. These three characters are done excellently, Frasier gives us enough backstory to make us feel for them, and they each have a unique personality that adds to the story. Elise is the Southerner with a bizarre history, as well as the lead cop on the murder investigation the plot revolves around. David is Elise’s partner, and from up North (a point which he is reminded of constantly by everyone throughout the story) but has a heartbreaking past of his own. Strata Luna is the obligatory “witch” character, who practices spells, makes mojos, and just seems a little strange. She also has a history which is brought up throughout the book, and her personality gives this book the color that makes it such a fun read. The minor characters, however, all seem a little flat, they serve their purpose but, with the exception of one or two, don’t bring much to the story.
Frasier has a talent for bringing Southern culture alive in her writing, and she sets up a very gothic setting for her book. Children chant rhymes while jump roping which give you some foreshadowing about what will happen later in the book (or to mislead you). The buildings are described in detail, and everything just seems a little creepy. It’s the perfect setting for this kind of murder mystery. Description is obviously Frasier’s strong point, as the dialogue falls flat in some places, but that can be easily overlooked by the fast paced story going on around it. The narrative makes this book an easy read, and the plot just pulls you along as it unfolds. As I mentioned before, the point of view changes do make things a little confusing and can bring the flow of the plot to a halt while you try and sort out who’s who again, but for the most part the book really does flow.
Frasier has done an excellent job with ‘Play Dead’. I enjoyed the folklore of zombie history sprinkled throughout the plot and the mystery is cleverly done. It’s an enjoyable crime read with an element of the supernatural twisted in. I’d advise you to read it at night with the lights off if you want a good scare
May 12, 2014
This was a really interesting book. I put this book in the fiction sub-category of southern gothic - it is a suspense/murder mystery, but the sort of legends within the story and elements of voodoo, conjuring, and root work add something extra for me.
Elise is a detective, and also a struggling single mom. She has ultimately sacrificed her relationship with her daughter to her job, preferring to think of her daughter as having a more whole and normal life living with her Dad and step-mom. David is Elise's new partner, a transfer from another department, complete with a shady history no one particularly knows the real truth about. Without spoiling anything, he is also dealing with divorce, and not too far into the book visits his wife in prison to sign the papers…
A large portion of the story focuses on the two (to borrow from another reviewer who hit the nail on the head…) "suitably flawed" detectives working on opening up to each other, to begin to trust and each to become the partner they need to be to the other. BUT… as they are working through these issues, they are tracking down a killer. Someone is picking off Savannah's prostitutes, killing in a most torturous manner using TTX - a poison derived from puffer fish that leaves the victim paralyzed but completely conscious and aware. Bodies in Savannah are "coming back to life"… Elise and David are faced with multiple victims who were pronounced dead, only to be discovered to still be alive, but beyond saving. The poison is so deadly it keeps the victim conscious even as their bodily systems are shutting down.
Aside from her present struggles, Elise also has a checkered past. It has long been rumored that she is the daughter of a notorious white root doctor, the now-deceased Jackson Sweet, and was abandoned at birth in a local cemetery. Elise grew up in an adoptive home, never knowing her mother's name, and having nothing more to go on than the rumor of her paternity. Clues about Elise's past begin to come to light as infamous Savannah Madam and voodoo queen Strata Luna is drawn into the investigation. The stories surrounding Strata Luna are even more harrowing.
The sense of place and time are excellent, and I think that Frasier absolutely did her research as far as the voodoo and root work. The book was well-paced for the most part, and information about the killer was sufficiently drawn out over the course of the book. My one and only issue with the book was that I felt like the ending got a little rushed, and the final ID of the killer didn't flow from the clues drawn out over the story. The revelation of the killer was really abrupt. I felt like I would have liked a little more story to lead me up to it. Also, Elise's relationship with her daughter took a sudden turn that didn't seem to have enough of a foundation or build-up to be entirely realistic. Those things aside though, this was still an enjoyable read. There is a sequel, and I would definitely check it out for a fun read.
Elise is a detective, and also a struggling single mom. She has ultimately sacrificed her relationship with her daughter to her job, preferring to think of her daughter as having a more whole and normal life living with her Dad and step-mom. David is Elise's new partner, a transfer from another department, complete with a shady history no one particularly knows the real truth about. Without spoiling anything, he is also dealing with divorce, and not too far into the book visits his wife in prison to sign the papers…
A large portion of the story focuses on the two (to borrow from another reviewer who hit the nail on the head…) "suitably flawed" detectives working on opening up to each other, to begin to trust and each to become the partner they need to be to the other. BUT… as they are working through these issues, they are tracking down a killer. Someone is picking off Savannah's prostitutes, killing in a most torturous manner using TTX - a poison derived from puffer fish that leaves the victim paralyzed but completely conscious and aware. Bodies in Savannah are "coming back to life"… Elise and David are faced with multiple victims who were pronounced dead, only to be discovered to still be alive, but beyond saving. The poison is so deadly it keeps the victim conscious even as their bodily systems are shutting down.
Aside from her present struggles, Elise also has a checkered past. It has long been rumored that she is the daughter of a notorious white root doctor, the now-deceased Jackson Sweet, and was abandoned at birth in a local cemetery. Elise grew up in an adoptive home, never knowing her mother's name, and having nothing more to go on than the rumor of her paternity. Clues about Elise's past begin to come to light as infamous Savannah Madam and voodoo queen Strata Luna is drawn into the investigation. The stories surrounding Strata Luna are even more harrowing.
The sense of place and time are excellent, and I think that Frasier absolutely did her research as far as the voodoo and root work. The book was well-paced for the most part, and information about the killer was sufficiently drawn out over the course of the book. My one and only issue with the book was that I felt like the ending got a little rushed, and the final ID of the killer didn't flow from the clues drawn out over the story. The revelation of the killer was really abrupt. I felt like I would have liked a little more story to lead me up to it. Also, Elise's relationship with her daughter took a sudden turn that didn't seem to have enough of a foundation or build-up to be entirely realistic. Those things aside though, this was still an enjoyable read. There is a sequel, and I would definitely check it out for a fun read.
August 7, 2021
Listened to on Audible. The narration at first takes a little getting used to. I was very close to dropping this book at first but when I sat through more of this and got used to her I absolutely grew to love her voice acting skills. I think there's just something about her voice that isn't like other narrators but it blends into the background after a while.
This book overall has a lot of highs and lows for me. I really didn't like some of the pacing and found the vast majority of it boring and only bits here and there kept me interested.
I thought this was going to be paranormal, but once it's revealed whats going on and you understand some of the world building I was a bit disappointed. Everything about the non-paranormal trying to give the illusion of paranormal story just took a lot of suspension of disbelief to get into the plot for. Also even when the investigators figure out what's going on it gets even more lame knowing not even they are getting spooked anymore.
After you realize this book isn't a paranormal novel and more of a police procedural and about drugs, meh, it gets a whole lot less spooky. I was curious enough still though to keep going as I liked the characters and the easy to understand plot.
The character interactions and the mystery that you're already invested in keeps you going on. I think by the time the paranormal part of this book went out the window though I could have easily DNF'd this book then and been just as satisfied. The ending was fun but just not nearly as cool enough or handled well enough to have been made this worth it.
The 'twist' ending barely felt like a twist. It felt sorta plugged in at the last moment for shock value. Legit within the last 30 minutes of this book you get a recap, new info and a conclusion then the book ends. I absolutely hate when a book plugs something in like that at the end to shock you. When you're nearly done with the book, how am I as a reader supposed to be attached at all to something that gets revealed like with barely 10 minutes of screen time? That's not a shock value, that's just lazy and feels like it was done to try and do a 'so you thought this was happening this whole time, well guess what, you're wrong because here's this new thing we are going to throw in at the last moment'. It's not clever, it doesn't change anything either, it legit could have not been plugged in like that and the book would not have suffered any, in fact it probably would have made this better.
Overall, this was just too average and easy once you get the solution behind the dead rising so early on in the book. I think it would have been much better if they dragged that a little longer out so we could at least think something paranormal was going on for a bit longer.
This book overall has a lot of highs and lows for me. I really didn't like some of the pacing and found the vast majority of it boring and only bits here and there kept me interested.
I thought this was going to be paranormal, but once it's revealed whats going on and you understand some of the world building I was a bit disappointed. Everything about the non-paranormal trying to give the illusion of paranormal story just took a lot of suspension of disbelief to get into the plot for. Also even when the investigators figure out what's going on it gets even more lame knowing not even they are getting spooked anymore.
After you realize this book isn't a paranormal novel and more of a police procedural and about drugs, meh, it gets a whole lot less spooky. I was curious enough still though to keep going as I liked the characters and the easy to understand plot.
The character interactions and the mystery that you're already invested in keeps you going on. I think by the time the paranormal part of this book went out the window though I could have easily DNF'd this book then and been just as satisfied. The ending was fun but just not nearly as cool enough or handled well enough to have been made this worth it.
The 'twist' ending barely felt like a twist. It felt sorta plugged in at the last moment for shock value. Legit within the last 30 minutes of this book you get a recap, new info and a conclusion then the book ends. I absolutely hate when a book plugs something in like that at the end to shock you. When you're nearly done with the book, how am I as a reader supposed to be attached at all to something that gets revealed like with barely 10 minutes of screen time? That's not a shock value, that's just lazy and feels like it was done to try and do a 'so you thought this was happening this whole time, well guess what, you're wrong because here's this new thing we are going to throw in at the last moment'. It's not clever, it doesn't change anything either, it legit could have not been plugged in like that and the book would not have suffered any, in fact it probably would have made this better.
Overall, this was just too average and easy once you get the solution behind the dead rising so early on in the book. I think it would have been much better if they dragged that a little longer out so we could at least think something paranormal was going on for a bit longer.
April 13, 2012
Despite the fact that I have numerous other books in my to-be-read pile I couldn't help moving Play Dead to the front based on the cover alone. It's fantastically creepy and morose. Which I was apparently in the mood for when I started reading this earlier today.
Ironically, after I finished the book I realized that I've recently read another book by Frasier (HUSH) and while I enjoyed that one, I adored this novel.
Set in the sweltering south amid voodoo lore and "root doctoring" (a phrase I hadn't heard in a while) the main character Elise is divorced,a detective, living in a perpetually partially renovated house and has a daughter who'd rather be anywhere else. And then there is the detached partner who's keeping secrets to preserve his own sanity. When bodies start coming to life after being declared dead, Elise and her partner are swept into a dark world of spells, secrets and betrayals.
I found this novel an excellent read. With it's evocative setting, woven in folklore and complex character issues, I couldn't get it read fast enough. At the end (well done, by the way) I found myself hoping that there is at least a sequel planned, if not a whole series.
Play Dead is a quirky, fast-paced mystery with undercurrents of family drama and southern lore. I've become an Anne Frasier fan with this one for sure!
Ironically, after I finished the book I realized that I've recently read another book by Frasier (HUSH) and while I enjoyed that one, I adored this novel.
Set in the sweltering south amid voodoo lore and "root doctoring" (a phrase I hadn't heard in a while) the main character Elise is divorced,a detective, living in a perpetually partially renovated house and has a daughter who'd rather be anywhere else. And then there is the detached partner who's keeping secrets to preserve his own sanity. When bodies start coming to life after being declared dead, Elise and her partner are swept into a dark world of spells, secrets and betrayals.
I found this novel an excellent read. With it's evocative setting, woven in folklore and complex character issues, I couldn't get it read fast enough. At the end (well done, by the way) I found myself hoping that there is at least a sequel planned, if not a whole series.
Play Dead is a quirky, fast-paced mystery with undercurrents of family drama and southern lore. I've become an Anne Frasier fan with this one for sure!
January 7, 2016
#
CompNtBk
Borrowed off Amazon Prime.
FS: "Savannah medical examiner John Casper believed in what some scientists termed the cluster effect."
LS: "Only then would he get out of her brain."
Pretty good...I enjoyed the narrator a lot. She is a woman of many voices and it made me able to get into the book. I loved the witchcraft and voodoo. The old city feeling you got mixed with a crime and police work. All in all a good book. Looking forward to the second!
CompNtBk
Borrowed off Amazon Prime.
FS: "Savannah medical examiner John Casper believed in what some scientists termed the cluster effect."
LS: "Only then would he get out of her brain."
Pretty good...I enjoyed the narrator a lot. She is a woman of many voices and it made me able to get into the book. I loved the witchcraft and voodoo. The old city feeling you got mixed with a crime and police work. All in all a good book. Looking forward to the second!
April 2, 2025
I am a fan of Anne Frasier's books. This was an excellent spooky October read. Set in Savannah, Georgia (I love a southern mystery). Colorful characters, creepy settings, old superstitions, black magic, and even the walking dead. I loved this book and I can't wait to read more of these characters!
ETA: Reread to refresh in my mind as I now am on a mission to complete the series. Still such a spooky fun book!
ETA: Reread to refresh in my mind as I now am on a mission to complete the series. Still such a spooky fun book!
August 19, 2015
I didn't think I would like this as much as I did.
I mean the relationship between the two characters was a given.
Almost predictable in my book. But it was a quick read, so I might read the rest in this series.
I mean the relationship between the two characters was a given.
Almost predictable in my book. But it was a quick read, so I might read the rest in this series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 844 reviews