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Death Dealers #1

Dead on Arrival

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Two bodies walk out of a morgue …

Harper Matthews is a Death Dealer. Not that she knows it. Her magic is dud; medicated out of her. At least she hopes so.

In her world, she’s a 25-year-old-girl whose life is already a mess. Between the boss, she can’t stand, the jerk she’s dating and the foul-mouthed slob who lives below her, she’s about ready to hide and never come out.

The thing is, she might just need to do that. When the body she is working on in the morgue gets up and walks out the door, Harper’s pretty sure she didn’t cause it,

Bounty hunter, Ethan Stone knows what Harper is, and he’s trying to help her. He has seen what is coming; who is looking for her. He knows, first-hand, what happens when a Magical denies what they are. If only she'd listen


If you like Jim Butcher, Shayne Silvers, Michael Anderle, Ilona Andrews, Patricia Briggs, K.F. Breene, or Faith Hunter, you'll love the Death Dealers series

294 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 26, 2020

101 people are currently reading
99 people want to read

About the author

Mason Sabre

64 books469 followers
My name is Mason Sabre. I have been writing since I was a small child and discovered I could have a million adventures at the stroke of my pencil (I wasn't allowed to use pen back then). I have written more stories than I could even publish, some of them I wouldn't ever put out, but I have had a blast writing them. I love writing, I love reading. I love to have a fictional adventure. When I am not doing that I am with my children or studying. I have a lifelong love of learning too.

I live in the North of England. It's a little chilly here and a little wet, but it is what I call home and where pretty much all of my stories are based.

Mason’s author page Amazon UK http://tinyurl.com/masonuk
Mason’s author page Amazon US http://tinyurl.com/masonus

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5 stars
77 (43%)
4 stars
43 (24%)
3 stars
44 (24%)
2 stars
11 (6%)
1 star
4 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
Profile Image for Rebecca  Nadine.
83 reviews1 follower
March 1, 2020
I'm not even sure where to begin with this review. Admittedly, I was hesitant to read Dead on Arrival. While I am a fan of Mason Sabre's work, I was hesitant to venture into this new series with him and Rachel Morton. I shouldn't have been. Dead on Arrival was everything I've come to expect from Sabre and more.

Harper's life seems to be tanking. She's broke, her boyfriend is MIA, she's being stalked by a bounty hunter, and worst of all the body she was just prepping for autopsy just got up and left. It seems things can't get much worse, but they're about to.

Despite her situation, Harper is a fun and charismatic character. Sabre and Morton collaborate brilliantly to give her depth, personality, and range--traits not always found in contemporary fiction. I was able to truly engage with Harper, often sympathizing with her. I love that she never seems to take herself too seriously and can often find amusement in her own situation. She's wonderful. The story keeps you guessing without leaving you adrift. Sabre and Morton guide you through each carefully crafted twist and turn, while not giving too much away. At the end, I wanted more. I still want more and can't wait for the next book.

If Dead on Arrival is any indication, The Death Dealer series revving up to be an awesome ride into the paranormal. Definitely a must read! Worth every one of the five stars.
Profile Image for Spinneretta.
2,850 reviews20 followers
April 8, 2020
Good.

As you start this book, you meet Harper, a rather neurotic mortuary assistant, with a cheating boyfriend, an excessively annoying neighbour, and a job she loves with a boss she hates. She’s afraid of her own magic, of the man who’s just trying the help her (Ethan Stone, bounty hunter), and of the detective who’s trying to investigate the bodies that suddenly remove themselves from the mortuary.
For the first part of the book, I was pretty convince that Harper was an annoying lost cause.
Then everything changes. Suddenly Harper doesn’t have much choice, she can’t keep running away from everything, and when everything goes so very wrong for her, she finds herself falling on her feet in the one place where she can actually get help.
This is an action packed Urban Fantasy, in a new universe of which we’ve only just begun to scratch the surface. The characters are interesting, but not shallow, and although everything is wrapped up by the end of the book (no real cliffhangers) you just know there is more to this story yet to come.
Well worth reading, particularly if you enjoy UF with flawed heroines.
Profile Image for Ria Alexander.
2,653 reviews51 followers
March 2, 2020
Mystery & Suspense ... Brilliant

DEAD ON ARRIVAL
... brilliance from the moment the first page is read. Full of mystery and suspense, twists and turns and an ending that will simply leave you gobsmacked, this book is a complete page turner, you won't want to stop reading. It is a parnormal story unlike any other. It is a wild ride that will have you "oohing and aahing" as each unexpected event unfolds.

Harper Matthews is different, she is starting to experience events that are honestly freaking her out. However, there is a reason for this ... one that she simply refuses to acknowledge ... she's a Death Dealer. With the help from a Bounty Hunter and a Detective who is a Shifter, Harper is about to find out secrets about herself that she never thought possible.

Mason Sabre and Rachel Morton have written a story that is unique, one that challenges its readers to really think about what is happening and why. Their writing styles are flawless, so smooth that the transitin from one writer to the other is completely undetectable. This is a well crafted story that will have the reader continually guessing what the outcome will be. Harper is an extraordinary character, one that I hope to see more of, along with Ethan and Logan.

After reading DEAD ON ARRIVAL and its prequel Dead On Time, I am sure that future books in the DEATH DEALERS Series are going to be just as exhilarating.

Definitely not one to be missed.

Read and Reviewed for Reading Is Our Satisfaction
Profile Image for Marsha.
3,053 reviews58 followers
March 25, 2021
(3.5 Stars)
It’s always difficult to write a review when there are so many things that you love about a read but there are also so many things that bug you. That is the case with “Dead on Arrival.”

First and foremost, 60-70% of this book was interns conversation inside the main character’s head and very little character to character dialogue. In all fairness about half of it was important to the overall storyline but much of it was painfully mundane. At times I was about to give up but the overall concept for this read was very creative.

On a positive note, when the storyline really started to move I couldn’t put the book down. The story is compelling and kept you wondering what was going to happen next. In addition, dare I mention there is one hell of a cliffhanger ending.

I won’t lie, about 80% into the read I decided to order the second installment. I just hope that the next book will correct some of the problems that I had with this read because I really want to live this series.
537 reviews4 followers
March 20, 2023
Book #: 25
Title: Dead on Arrival
Author: Mason Sabre, Rachel Morton
Series: Death Dealers #1
Format: 358 pages, Kindle Edition, goodread win
Pub Date: Published February 26, 2020
Started: 3/5/23 Ended:
Awards: none
Categories: goodreads win, First in a series, SF
Rating: *** three out of five

This book is the first of a series and it shows. It's nothing but world-building. Magic exists. Harper Matthews is a mortician. She prepares bodies for funeral services. Her aunt Victoria was committed to an asylum because magic drove her mad. Harper takes medication that her mom gives her to keep the magic away. It stops working. Harper is a 'death dealer' which sounds like she can kill people. Just the opposite, the corpse she was working on got up off the table. Ethan Stone is a bounty hunter. He's a 'shifter' which sounds like he's a shape shifter. Nope, he can shift between our plane of existence and the next life where dead people go. There's nearly no action until the final chapter. I'm not going to bother with the series.
Profile Image for Shawna.
154 reviews
November 11, 2020
Surprisingly good

What a neat and interesting book.

It was way more than I had expected or hoped for.

It has a little bit of everything when it comes to magical beings, but I will say that the majority of the book is the main character being in denial about her being one of those beings.

Normally I'd absolutely hate that, but I didn't feel like it was quite so insufferable in this book. It was done in a way that made more sense and took me along for the ride.

I'll also say there seemed to be some random details added in at times, but I actually appreciated them and they were interesting. Rather than just a long-winded detail that had no purpose, didn't interest me, and left me questioning why it existed.

A decent amount of grammatical errors.

Really though.. I picked this book up and while the whole thing was interesting, more near the end I had to finish it and know what was going to happen. At that point I couldn't put it down.
509 reviews
February 9, 2022
Harper is ridiculously, pathetically stupid and naive. The entire story was inner dialogue. You really don’t get a since of the story until about 85% in. I kept wanting to know what the book was about. All we’re privy to was Harper’s ridiculous life. I mean what she wore, smelled, stepped in, the ridiculous boyfriend who could not stand her. You name it. I kept thinking this can’t be the story. Must be more. Then almost at the end you get a since of it. Then, the end. Cliffhanger. I did like the surrounding characters. Lou, her best friend, Logan Hawkins and Ethan Stone. Strong characters that kept me in. If it was based on Harper alone, I would not try the next book in the series, but I really liked the surrounding characters, so I will read another. I will say it was well written, and I do like Sabre. Just too, too much dialogue and no real story until nearly the end.
Profile Image for Markus Matthews.
Author 21 books40 followers
March 15, 2022
Crossing the self-promo line…

First off, the story was decent but flawed. In the first 85% of the book, not much happens other than learning about Harper and her stubbornly denying her magic almost to the point of ridiculousness. The ending dramatically picked up the pace and the story finishes strong.

It didn’t help that I was ticked off before even starting the story. The book opens with a title page, copyright notice, and chapter listings which were all fine. The problem I had was the free book offer, followed by the join the fan club offer, then another free book offer, then another free book offer, and I lost track after that. I didn’t hit the first word of the story until the 3% mark on my Kindle. I was a page turn away from dumping this book on my DNF pile. If the author reads this, please put all the offers at the end of the book, thanks.
Profile Image for Yvette  Grimes.
247 reviews
February 27, 2020
FANTASTIC!!

I have to say that Mason Sabre and Rachel Morton are an amazing writing team! I literally was enthralled from the first chapter! There were twists, I never saw coming. Not to mention the end! OMG! Talk about a jaw dropping ending! Harper is not a character to me! She’s someone that I care what happens to her. I cheered for her and was mad on her behalf especially with Grady! Grr...let’s not mention him, it gets my blood boiling! Now Ethan and Logan! What can I say but I really love both of them and so will you all! I literally can’t stop fangirling! If you want to read a story that sweeps you away then this story is absolutely for you!!! I highly recommend it to everyone!
Profile Image for Linda.
962 reviews2 followers
February 28, 2020
❤️ I’M READY FOR MORE ❤️

I enjoyed getting to know Harper Matthews.. how she fought hard to hide who she truly is and along the way things begin to happen that she finally must come to terms of who she is.. A Death Dealer.. with Ethan, who is also a Death Dealer, by her side she begins to face her true self, her true calling if you will. Then add Detective Logan, a fierce protector, a shifter makes me wonder where their journey will lead them.. I thought this was a freaking fantastic story and I’m excited for more of this urban fantasy of Death Dealers. Two authors that came together to write a story.. they delivered not only a fantastic story but one that flowed seamlessly.. like magic.🤓
Profile Image for Kirsty Adams - Kindle Freak Book Blog.
918 reviews26 followers
March 1, 2020
Wow, fast paced and full of mystery; I loved every minute. Harper is a strong, likeable character with sass and humour. Danger is lurking all around her and despite mounting pressure cranking up and up as her eyes are opened to the threats, she is still in denial to what she really is. So many emotions were experienced throughout, with some moments that had me peering over my bed covers, adrenaline pumping, scared as to what was about to happen, but could I stop reading? Oh no, the bewitching flow of the words had me gripped and I couldn’t wait to turn the page to find out what happened next.

Ever had a feeling in your bones, when you think a book series is going to be epic? Well I’ve got that feeling and I’m eagerly await the next book.
Profile Image for Cathy Dionne.
109 reviews2 followers
March 3, 2020
I love this new series from Mason Sabre and Rachel Morton. These two authors writing styles compliment each other so well. These two authors give their characters such depth and balance, making them feel like long time friends. The reader becomes so immersed in their worlds it makes you feel as if you are right there in the thick of things with the characters. A faced paced read that has humor, mystery and a twist that at the end that had my jaw hanging. I am looking forward to reading more about these characters and seeing how their lives will continue to intertwine.

Profile Image for Stacey Donaldson.
12 reviews
March 4, 2020
Completely and utterly immersed!

From start to finish, I was invested in the characters as well as the smooth storyline. I soon realized I would have to go back and purchase Dead On Time to get the full story about Ethan and the subsequent demise of another character occasionally mentioned here, but it did not hamper my experience one bit. I don't get much time to read much of anything lately, but I certainly made time for this and it was well worth it. Looking forward to book 2. Great work, as always, Mason! BRAVO!!!
75 reviews1 follower
March 23, 2021
Slow start but oh so good!

I usually give a new series and new author a few chapters before I decide to finish. Some books just can't keep my attention. I read so much that I don't have time to read something unappealing. I almost put this book down but decided to keep going. I'm so glad I did. The story builds slowly and then all at once takes off. I'm getting the second book immediately and will probably finish that up in one sitting. The writing is just that good!
Profile Image for Stuart Macmartin.
715 reviews5 followers
July 10, 2021
3.5 stars. Much of this story is well told, with observations that reveal a lot by implication. Harper is likeable. The world is interesting. Most of the Britishisms I understood (one or two I had to look up). Marred by the cliche of ultra-hot shifter, and a payoff that was more setup for the series than resolution of this book (though it does do that). And by her constant denials even when surrounded by people who clearly know that part.
Profile Image for Christie.
14 reviews
September 21, 2020
My first Mason Sabre story...

I have been a fan of Mason's since I found him through another favorite author. This is my first Mason Sabre story and I am HOOKED. Great storyline and character development. A plot twist that I was NOT expecting. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go read the rest of this series. 😉
Profile Image for Mabel Mumbles.
278 reviews2 followers
February 29, 2020
Amazing, had me trying to guess where the story would go next, and each time was surprised. Loved it and can't wait to read more. Meeting more characters building the world of magics and creatures layer by layer with an explosive ending! Wow!
339 reviews
March 6, 2020
Great read

This is a must read. A story of a girl fighting being a magical. This story brings you on a journey of Harper seeing who she really is with some scary and spookiness. An intriguing story till the end.
Profile Image for Wendy.
318 reviews1 follower
April 2, 2020
Loving this series by Mason and Rachel, You would never know that it is two authors working together, it's seamless, Loving the characters, and the fringe characters as well especially Ethan's aunt Renea, can't wait for the next book, :)
Profile Image for Tina on the Hill.
25 reviews16 followers
August 4, 2020
This second book was very good. Character building and creating a firm foundation are points that encourage me to follow these individuals. I enjoyed the interactions and look forward to their next (mis)adventure.
Profile Image for Rowan Creech.
295 reviews2 followers
September 21, 2020
I loved the concept involved in this bok of a girl on her down and out getting connected with a man who can help gher achieve her full potential and her magic. It was a page turning story with wonderful characters and a great story line that makes you can't wait till the next installment.
Profile Image for fred jones.
1,781 reviews11 followers
February 10, 2022
A great story

I really liked this one. Great characters an engrossing and entertaining story. Lots of action and plenty of scares along the way. I will definitely be reading more in this series.
Profile Image for Sally Bishop.
131 reviews2 followers
March 7, 2020
WOW

Dead bodies? Yes. Gun fights, car chases, erotic sex? Absolutely none. Coincidences ? Absolutely. Weird paranormal stuff, magic? Yes! I hope there is another book coming.
Profile Image for Cheryl.
1 review
June 8, 2020
Super interesting paranormal story. Love the characters!
Profile Image for S.M. Dapelo.
Author 10 books22 followers
July 7, 2020
I really liked the concept of this book and am happily looking forward to the next installment, though I'm rooting for the bounty hunter and not the detective (but I do like him).
Profile Image for Crystal.
31 reviews
September 23, 2023
DNF. It's well written! But pretty dark & gritty, & too much swearing for me.
Profile Image for Sherri.
54 reviews5 followers
March 9, 2020
Love, love, loved this book. The characters are so well developed and the emotion in it makes you laugh, cry and be a little afraid. The story moves well, there is not a dull moment. It is so descriptive that you can visualize what is happening and makes you just as much a part of the story as the characters. I absolutely loved it!
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews

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