Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Near Death

Rate this book
NEAR DEATH introduces parapsychologist Dr. Jennifer Daye and police detective Nate Raney in a ghostly mystery.When Nate is shot during a high-stakes robbery, he awakens from the ordeal during which he was clinically dead with the information he needs to track down the men who shot him. However, he remains skeptical that there is anything paranormal about the revelations.Jennifer believes otherwise and tries to convince Nate to share the story of his near-death experience. Nate is reluctant, but she does convince him to team up with her for the investigation of an uninvited ghost in a woman’s apartment.NEAR DEATH brings this investigative odd couple together in a fast-paced story that takes you on an exciting journey through the paranormal that draws Jennifer and Nate into a decades-old cold case.

314 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 1, 2020

17 people are currently reading
2080 people want to read

About the author

Rich Hosek

21 books54 followers
Rich has written for numerous television series with his writing partner Arnold Rudnick including, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Star Trek: Voyager, and The New Addams Family for which they won a Leo Award for Best Writing for Comedy or Variety. More recently he has been focusing his efforts on novels and short stories. He is a fan of Legos and Doctor Who now that there is a Doctor Who Lego set, his life is complete. Be sure to check out his other novels, short stories and non-fiction at RichHosek.com, and follow on Twitter @RichHosek and on Facebook @Written by Rich Hosek.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
29 (64%)
4 stars
10 (22%)
3 stars
5 (11%)
2 stars
0 (0%)
1 star
1 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
6,225 reviews80 followers
June 25, 2022
I won this book in a goodreads drawing.

Paranormal romance/thriller. When a straitlaced cop is shot during a robbery, he trades one gonzo, anything goes partner for another, when he meets cute with a parapsychologist in the hospital after a near death experience.

They wind up investigating charlatans, a haunting, an old serial killer, and the robbery, while falling, if not in love, then at least in deep like. This is the first novel, after all.

Entertaining, but maybe not as many hi-jinks as one might expect.
Profile Image for Beth.
928 reviews70 followers
April 2, 2022
A Goody!

I thought this was well written and had a nice flow to it. It drew me in well enough that I didn't want to stop reading! A good bedtime read!
Profile Image for JD Mier.
6 reviews1 follower
October 1, 2020
Great Read, 5 Stars!

A thrilling story with fun dialogue! It had all of the workings of a full and enjoyable story; great detail, fun characters, and a plot that will have you guessing until the end.

I received a free copy of this book with no obligation to post a review and recommend it to anyone who enjoys a great mystery and a bit of laughter!
1 review
October 19, 2020
Near Death is an engaging story from the first page .... an exciting adventure into the paranormal world. I loved the way the story unfolded and the great character development. This is a real page turner while involving the reader in the “who done it” story of Raney and Daye’s investigation... a book not to be missed!

Sally
555 reviews8 followers
December 6, 2020
I really liked this story! It was not silly like a lot of paranormal books! Great dialog, great characters and can't wait for the next one!
Profile Image for Gwen Clayton.
Author 3 books10 followers
November 2, 2020
Required reading

'Near Death' should be required reading for every author who writes paranormal fiction. It perfectly points out the differences between the psi realm and the mundane world. I don't normally read every book in a series, but I'm looking forward to subsequent Raney Daye books.
13 reviews1 follower
October 30, 2020
Great down-to-earth paranormal mystery

Interesting characters with depth. Exciting plot. A few fun nods to previous books, movies and TV shows. Can't wait for their next adventure!
Profile Image for Amy.
33 reviews4 followers
October 21, 2020
Enjoyed this book! Cannot wait for the next one!

This book kept me entertained. I finished it in 2 days. I love paranormal stories and mysteries. Having both elements in one story was great.
Profile Image for Trudy.
100 reviews4 followers
October 17, 2020
I really did enjoy this book, but...

Unfortunately, the proofreader relied too heavily on spellchecker, resulting in an uncomfortable number of misspelled common words. Poor spelling results in confusion for the reader and interrupts the flow of a story, especially when the mistake results in a meaning the authors did not intend.
Profile Image for Dave.
484 reviews
February 20, 2022
Thank you to authors Rich Hosek, Arnold Rudnick, and Loyd Auerbach for this FREE Kindle copy of Near Death. Also, thanks to Goodreads for hosting the opportunity.

Very well done. Writing, editing, characters, pace, humor. Just a nice package and highly recommended! A good read.
Profile Image for Ashley.
Author 10 books5 followers
January 13, 2022
This is an introduction book for a series that has yet to have any other books and it reads perfectly like one.

It sets up the paranormal story, along with the main characters of the books to come and their personalities. So, the first chapter is the paranormal investigation setup. Then is giving the paranormal expert her turn to show off her quirky personality but also show that while she believes in ghosts, she will also help debunk ones that can be explained normally. Then we have the skeptic cop that will be their PI in and resident skeptic getting shot and having his own beliefs put to the test with a near death experience.

The book is very well structured, and it’s very clear in it’s goals as it sets up the overall mysteries. The ending is a little abrupt. Which is a little funny because at points I thought it was dragging its feet at points. At times the book would get into details that seemed a little pointless. Like what was on a $20 hotdog or little annoyances as to why the main character was taking stars off his Uber.
It does have points where it almost grinds to a halt to have the characters argue about the paranormal, but that is part of the charm of the book, and most of it was sort of the beginning of two people just starting a job together.

Profile Image for Amys Bookshelf Reviews.
876 reviews69 followers
June 9, 2023
This will make you a believer!

The team of Rich Hosek, Arnold Rudnick, Loyd Auerbach writes a dramatic paranormal, don't go into the light, tale with Near Death. I haven't read anything by these authors before, but I sure will read more of their work. This book is part of the Raney/Daye Investigation series, and this is volume one. The reader is introduced to Dr. Jennifer Daye and Detective Nate Raney. Jennifer is a parapsychologist, and believes in things that one can't always see, and that there is something beyond death. On the other hand, Detective Raney, is pragmatic, even after he is shot and clinically dead. This is a magnificent story that takes the reader on a ghost hunt, and the search for answers. Raney experienced something, when he died, but even he isn't sure of what it is. It's an intriguing paranormal story, that you just don't want to put down. The characters are so real, it's like being with them within the story. The author's technique of raw, magnetic characters and great plotlines is a gift. It's a great story to follow and try to figure out what will happen next. Some of the pages, you end up reading slower than others, so not to miss anything. I can't wait to read the next book in the series, After Life. Near Death is a definite recommendation by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews. I read this book to give my unbiased and honest review. Amy's Bookshelf Reviews recommends that anyone who reads this book, to also write a review.
416 reviews7 followers
May 3, 2022
Jennifer Daye is a tenured university professor teaching parapsychology, which includes paranormal and psychic activity. Nate is a policeman who was shot during a high-stakes store robbery. After the robbery he was rushed to the hospital where he had to be brought back to life during emergency surgery. During the time he was technically not alive, he had visions of what happened to the perpetrators of the robbery - seeing the home they went to afterward and other details about them.

While he was in the hospital recovering, Jennifer visited him trying to get info as to what he may have experienced before he was brought back to life. Although he saw a lot, Nate was not willing to share it with anyone, let alone a parapsychologist, and rebuffed him. But Jennifer was persistent and requested he accompany her to the apartment of a lady (Diane) who resided in a very old apartment complex, known to have ghost-like apparitions frequently appear. Nate tended to dismiss it all as attempts by Diane's former boyfriend to gain entrance and frighten her.

Nate helped Jennifer set up hidden cameras in Diane's apartment in an attempt to see what was actually going on there. What they found and experienced is something neither of them expected to see.
29 reviews
September 24, 2024
The prologue of this story was fascinating and ensnared me right away, but then I spent the rest of the book trying to find a connection with the events portrayed there or a speck of the same sense of intrigue and suspense.

A point of interest is the advisory of an actual paranormal investigator, but despite the evident preparation, the prose throughout the book feels clunky and could use some work, particularly articulating the descriptions.

I general terms, this story could probably work very well as a script, but as a novel it's hardly satisfying.
Profile Image for Sharon.
860 reviews15 followers
March 21, 2022
Well written, fun, enjoyable story with a nice mix of personalities among the characters. Never a dull moment.
5 star recommended book.

My thanks to Goodreads and the book’s giveaway sponsors for the opportunity to obtain and read a copy of this book.
Profile Image for Ryosuke.
19 reviews
March 25, 2022
Great book! There were a few parts that were boring and were beginning to make me lose interest, but I'm glad I pushed through because MAN was it great! I'm definitely gonna keep tabs and read the next book.
Profile Image for Theresa Materazzi.
246 reviews6 followers
April 3, 2022
so much fun!

I love the interaction between the two main characters! I look forward to reading the next novel!
Paranormal and “normal” investigations crossing over each other makes for great story telling!
231 reviews
April 17, 2022
Intriguing read! Did not want to put it down! A great Goodreads win for me!
Profile Image for Rebecca.
91 reviews
April 23, 2022
Great ghost story

I won this book through Goodreads giveaways. I really liked the story and would like to read more in the series.
Profile Image for Marea Whitley.
Author 9 books1 follower
January 2, 2023
A series of grisly murders ends with the death of the suspect in the building of the last victim. Decades later, when the suspect’s ghost appears in the victim’s apartment, parapsychologist Dr. Jennifer Daye is hired to explain the phenomenon. Jennifer and her team accept the challenge, and Jennifer convinces her latest ‘study’, the reluctant sceptic, Detective Nate Raney, to join the investigation. Nate is a hero, shot during a robbery, who refuses to accept the vivid dreams he experienced while clinically dead are anything more than hallucinations. Jennifer is determined to convince him otherwise and the unlikely couple are drawn together in a series of rapid and unworldly events that lead to surprise revelations and dangerous confrontations. ‘Near Death’ is the first in the Raney/Daye Investigation series and it’s an all-round winner. The storyline flows effortlessly: the plot teases us with possibilities but keeps its secrets until the dramatic end: and the characters are big, amusing, witty and vulnerable. Near Death makes everyone happy — believers and sceptics alike.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Jody Sperling.
Author 10 books37 followers
April 23, 2023
There are few books that so exceptionally combine humor, sincerity, and intrigue so well. Character driven paranormal suspense at its best. For fans of X-Files this book is a revelation.
1,974 reviews74 followers
April 8, 2021
First I have to say that I can't say I buy into the parapsychology premise. It's intriguing but ... I'm still a skeptic. However, I did like this book and found it a fun read. Loved the characters ... all of them including Nate, Jennifer, Dave, Emily, Bits, Max and even the dog. There are two crime stories here (one in the far past and one current) and both held my interest. And I will be looking for the next book in this series.
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway for this honest review.
Profile Image for Arnold Rudnick.
Author 4 books19 followers
Read
September 14, 2020
Near Death will be released on October 1st, 2020. You can order trade paperback copies begining October 1st, or preorder the e-book now at https://amzn.to/2FuDbDg.

Hope you will read, enjoy and review!
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.