What do you think?
Rate this book
Dead Eye #1
Pennies for the Ferryman
My name is Mike Ross. I'm a Ferryman. I help people with ghost problems, or ghosts with people problems. Funny thing, no one ever helps me with my problems. Civil War ghosts bent on killing me, Skinwalkers who just want my body, and a vindictive spirit linked both to my bloodline and my destiny... It turns out the dead still hold a good deal of influence over the world, and they don't want to give it up. I'm in way over my head. Fortunately, I'm too stubborn to quit.
260 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2009
About the author
Jim Bernheimer
33 books441 followersJim lives in Chesapeake, Virginia with his wife Kim, and daughters Laura and Marissa. By day, he works as a Systems Administrator on a government contract and runs his own side Information Technology consulting firm, EJB Networking, which can be found at www.ejbnetworking.com
Blessed (or cursed depending on your point of view) with an overactive imagination, Jim has long been a fan of Science Fiction and Fantasy. Seeking to put that imagination to use, he has started to write his own orginal works in hopes of making his mark on the literary world.
Jim's literary influences include well known writers such as Robert Heinlein, Edgar Allen Poe, J.R.R Tolkien, and the not so well-known C.T. Westcott.
Blessed (or cursed depending on your point of view) with an overactive imagination, Jim has long been a fan of Science Fiction and Fantasy. Seeking to put that imagination to use, he has started to write his own orginal works in hopes of making his mark on the literary world.
Jim's literary influences include well known writers such as Robert Heinlein, Edgar Allen Poe, J.R.R Tolkien, and the not so well-known C.T. Westcott.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
February 14, 2015
I loved the premise: a twenty something vet back from Iraq gets an ability to see ghosts. That is followed by a lot of problems. I expected a great story, but the premise is the only great thing about it.
I don't remember the last time I've read a book with this many horrible female characters. It is beyond annoying. At first I thought it might be me, but after reading the whole story, I checked the reviews and it seems it isn't only in my head.
There are a couple of female characters in the book and they are all horrible.
Mike's mother is a cardboard character, but it's not a big deal since she doesn't have any great role in the story.
Then we have his nineteen-year-old college friend Jenny who reminded me why I am not eager to read YA. She is slut-shaming. She is petty, jealous and overall doesn't have a single redeeming quality that would explain why the protagonist would like her or put up with her at all. Oh, she is hot. Yes, I forgot about that. It seems to be enough. Jenny's role is to make our protagonist feel like crap and to reveal his ability to the world.
Next, there's officer Candy McKenna, Jenny's cousin. Jenny informs us (or Mike, to be precise) that she is a slut (whatever that means in her head). She is a southern girl and she simply has to talk like one. Lots of 'sugar this, sugar that' there. Candy doesn't have much of a role (or personality) either except as the protagonist's attempt to have a girlfriend. She is hot too. That is very important.
Then there are a couple of ghosts who help or try to hurt Mike. One is an abused mouse of a woman who turns into a shrew after Mike helps her dealing with her husband Charlie. Still, her being a not very likeable person after that doesn't make this right: 'Give her an inch and she’ll take you for everything you got! Makes me wonder if that Charlie guy wasn’t forced into it?' It being an abusive marriage. Poor man, she made him abuse her!
The other is called a witch by other ghosts. The third is someone who wants to hurt him for her benefit. It would be a spoiler to say what or who she is. They are all hot too.
I don't enjoy political views in my fantasy books. I wanted to read an urban fantasy with ghosts (example: 'Have I mentioned that I was broke again? Unlike the government, I couldn’t go to Congress, pass an emergency spending bill and raise the national debt to finance my war.').
Another unexplained and annoying thing was how some of the characters treat Mike Ross. The guy is really young, almost got killed in Iraq and yet there is a detective who hates him with a passion and calls him 'worthless piece of trailer trash'. Sorry, being Jenny's uncle and wanting what's best for her doesn't explain so much hatred. Whatever you might think of war, it shouldn't be right to treat your soldiers like that.
And the highlight of it all was 'I felt violated on a level that even a rape victim might have difficulty identifying with.' Whatever happens to Mike in this part of the story, there is absolutely no justification to write something like this.
Only because the premise is great I am not rating this lower.
I don't remember the last time I've read a book with this many horrible female characters. It is beyond annoying. At first I thought it might be me, but after reading the whole story, I checked the reviews and it seems it isn't only in my head.
There are a couple of female characters in the book and they are all horrible.
Mike's mother is a cardboard character, but it's not a big deal since she doesn't have any great role in the story.
Then we have his nineteen-year-old college friend Jenny who reminded me why I am not eager to read YA. She is slut-shaming. She is petty, jealous and overall doesn't have a single redeeming quality that would explain why the protagonist would like her or put up with her at all. Oh, she is hot. Yes, I forgot about that. It seems to be enough. Jenny's role is to make our protagonist feel like crap and to reveal his ability to the world.
Next, there's officer Candy McKenna, Jenny's cousin. Jenny informs us (or Mike, to be precise) that she is a slut (whatever that means in her head). She is a southern girl and she simply has to talk like one. Lots of 'sugar this, sugar that' there. Candy doesn't have much of a role (or personality) either except as the protagonist's attempt to have a girlfriend. She is hot too. That is very important.
Then there are a couple of ghosts who help or try to hurt Mike. One is an abused mouse of a woman who turns into a shrew after Mike helps her dealing with her husband Charlie. Still, her being a not very likeable person after that doesn't make this right: 'Give her an inch and she’ll take you for everything you got! Makes me wonder if that Charlie guy wasn’t forced into it?' It being an abusive marriage. Poor man, she made him abuse her!
The other is called a witch by other ghosts. The third is someone who wants to hurt him for her benefit. It would be a spoiler to say what or who she is. They are all hot too.
I don't enjoy political views in my fantasy books. I wanted to read an urban fantasy with ghosts (example: 'Have I mentioned that I was broke again? Unlike the government, I couldn’t go to Congress, pass an emergency spending bill and raise the national debt to finance my war.').
Another unexplained and annoying thing was how some of the characters treat Mike Ross. The guy is really young, almost got killed in Iraq and yet there is a detective who hates him with a passion and calls him 'worthless piece of trailer trash'. Sorry, being Jenny's uncle and wanting what's best for her doesn't explain so much hatred. Whatever you might think of war, it shouldn't be right to treat your soldiers like that.
And the highlight of it all was 'I felt violated on a level that even a rape victim might have difficulty identifying with.' Whatever happens to Mike in this part of the story, there is absolutely no justification to write something like this.
Only because the premise is great I am not rating this lower.
October 13, 2014
I put this on my horror shelf (among others) but it's just barely there. It is about ghosts, hauntings and so on...but not often in an actual "horror" way.
We have an opening here that uses a "vehicle" we've seen before. Our hero Mike Ross had a cornea transplant (after a head wound in the military). He gets partial disability and like many veterans goes back to school. However when the bandage comes off, he's seeing things no one else seems to...
It turns out...oh wait, that's a spoiler. Okay I'm not a tease so here, but don't read it unless you really want to read a spoiler.
The book reads as a series of vignettes or short stories. One builds on another till we reach the end of the book and set up the next volume.
Here you'll meet ghosts, skin walkers, their victims and relatives. There are hauntings and there are haunters there are "friendly" dead...and some very unfriendly dead.
It's a good book, surprisingly so. Pure brain candy and only for fun, if that's what your looking for I can recommend it. Enjoy.
We have an opening here that uses a "vehicle" we've seen before. Our hero Mike Ross had a cornea transplant (after a head wound in the military). He gets partial disability and like many veterans goes back to school. However when the bandage comes off, he's seeing things no one else seems to...
It turns out...oh wait, that's a spoiler. Okay I'm not a tease so here, but don't read it unless you really want to read a spoiler.
The book reads as a series of vignettes or short stories. One builds on another till we reach the end of the book and set up the next volume.
Here you'll meet ghosts, skin walkers, their victims and relatives. There are hauntings and there are haunters there are "friendly" dead...and some very unfriendly dead.
It's a good book, surprisingly so. Pure brain candy and only for fun, if that's what your looking for I can recommend it. Enjoy.
February 22, 2019
i bought this on sale and i'm glad i did. This story is very much a monster of the week at first. instead of chapter, they are called episodes. by the end of the book the episodes begin to tie together for a surprise i never saw coming. Jeffrey Kafer narrates it and he does a fine job. it's a good, entertaining listen. good enough to continue to book 2.
February 7, 2012
Full review originally at Fantasy Book Critic
ANALYSIS: The Dead Eye series is a urban fantasy series that had its first book released nearly three years and as usual with my past record of discovering books later than usual, I happened upon it last year when the sequel was released. For this review I’ll be jointly reviewing both the books as they run in continuation as the chapter numbering indicates. The blurb details pretty much cover of what the story is about in both cases. However I didn’t know what to expect exactly, of course I had an assumption about it and in a way it was wrong as assumptions usually go.
The first book begins in a laconic fashion with the narrator Mike Ross explaining how he life took its first turn for him after he joined the army and went to Iraq. Things however don’t work out for him abroad as he’s injured in an attack which leaves him visually handicapped and soon is sent back home wherein he receives a new transplant for his damaged right eye. He plans to begin college and so enrolls in a local college called Montgomery College. That is wherein he meets Jenny Goodman, a girl whose interests align a bit with his own, things however soon start taking a weird turn when Mike starts seeing ghosts with his new eye and then finds out his role-to-be as a Ferryman. Ghosts soon start popping up alarmingly around him and he gets embroiled in matters of a supernatural origin involving civil war era ghosts and the origin of Mike’s Ferryman Status.
The rest of the review can be read from the link above as I reviewed both books together & its hard to separate the points in the review about each book...
June 27, 2011
I bought this book because I can never resist a ghost story. Now, I wish that I had had more will power. This book was terrible. I couldn't even get half way through it. The writing was amateurish and stilted. It was full of typos and seemed like the editors went through and randomly removed key words and phrases. The plot sounded intriguing at first. A war vet recovering from severe wounds receives a cornea transplant and can suddenly see ghosts out of that eye and then devotes his life to helping people who are troubled by ghosts and vice versa. His first "client" is an African American woman who is crying at her fathers grave about losing their house while her father is trying to tell her where he has a large sum of money hidden in the attic. He agrees to tell her where the money is in exchange for a fee. The woman is so stereotypically ghetto that if I were African American, I would be insulted. She calls him a cracker. She takes him to her house which is, of course, in a terrible neighborhood, with gang members hanging out at the corner. Then her family kicks him out of the house without giving him a cent and threatens to beat him up if he doesn't leave. When I came to the part where he was able to find out the name of his donor because the man had, for some reason, signed a release a couple of days before his death, and he was able to do a google search and found out that the donor was a medium, I decided that enough was enough.
October 26, 2010
I just finished Dead Eye, and while I enjoyed the premise of the story, the novel fell short on a number of levels, most noticeably the shoddy editing. I won't bother detailing the plot summary which you can read in other reviews and that I actually enjoyed, which is why I was so frustrated with the poor editing.
I was amazed at the number of grammatical errors in this book! I'm not sure whether that's the fault of the author or the editor; however, the poor editing definitely impacted my enjoyment of the story. The typos were primarily visible in sentences containing too many/not enough words to make sense, and not simple misspellings. Sentences throughout the story read as if they were reworded at some point and relevant words were not removed in order for the sentence to make sense. For example: "I went to the her office." (This example is mine, not the author's, but you get the point.)
In addition--and this is not necessarily an editorial mistake--but the excessive use of "air quotes" around every pun or ironic observation Mike makes is also very distracting and become tedious quickly. There is also an abundance of exclamation points after sentences! I found this punctuation mark distracting when applied in excess to Mike's dramatic observations, which didn't really require the additional "shout" to make a point.
Aside from editing, there are some key issues that detracted from my overall enjoyment of the story. First is the lack of any likeable female characters. With the exception of Mike's mother, there are really only three supporting female characters: Jenny Goodman, Officer Candy McKenna, and Elsbeth the ghost. All of these women are written as vapid, petty, promiscuous, or outright bitchy. This may not matter to some readers, but I found myself unable to sympathize with any of these women, all of whom become dislikable and/or irritating shortly after their introduction. Jenny is the flirtatious college classmate of Mike's who sells his tale of being able to see ghosts after a corneal transplant operation to a tabloid, thus exposing him to all manner of kooks calling to ask for his help. Their relationship starts as potentially romantic when Mike banishes Jenny's malicious ghost until Jenny gives Mike the cold shoulder. Without going into too much detail, her immature and manipulative behavior are so irritating that I found myself questioning why--other than physical appeal--would Mike want anything to do with this girl? Mike's pseudo-girlfriend Candy (he calls her his girlfriend after one date) is also Jenny's cousin--a fact that initially causes friction when Jenny becomes jealous of Mike's attention when they aren't dating. Candy's "southern" accent is written into her dialogue i.e. "Ya gotta" which, coupled with her seductive banter (the only lines she has in the story) make Candy "read" as a promiscuous airhead. Elsbeth is a ghost who seeks Mike's help in stopping her husband from murdering her mother. She hangs around assisting Mike and fast becomes critical of his every move shortly thereafter. I could not understand why Mike tolerated her antics for as long as he did before finally confronting her about her attitude.
The pacing of the story is somewhat slow in the beginning as Mike discovers he can see ghosts, which leads into a series of unrelated, irrelevant episodes in which he assists people with ghost problems or ghosts with people problems. Only two of these incidents have a remote connection to the main plot that doesn't even occur until the second half of the story when Mike discovers the Gettysburg ghosts. As a result, I found myself putting the book down often and picking it back up again. The pacing definitely gets better toward the latter half of the story once Mike gains more ghost experience and learns that he is "the Ferryman."
On the plus side, the author has come up with a clever and interesting storyline for a series that, despite my frustration with the afore-mentioned problems, I was really into. I normally stop reading books that irritate me, but I stuck with this novel determined to finish. Some of the criticisms I had (such as "with" punctuation!) may simply be to the author's inexperience and will hopefully correct themselves in future novels. I really hope there is at least one likeable or strong female character introduced in the next novel. I would recommend this book to a friend with the warning to expect grammatical/structural errors. If you can get past those (as many seem to have done) then you may enjoy this story.
I was amazed at the number of grammatical errors in this book! I'm not sure whether that's the fault of the author or the editor; however, the poor editing definitely impacted my enjoyment of the story. The typos were primarily visible in sentences containing too many/not enough words to make sense, and not simple misspellings. Sentences throughout the story read as if they were reworded at some point and relevant words were not removed in order for the sentence to make sense. For example: "I went to the her office." (This example is mine, not the author's, but you get the point.)
In addition--and this is not necessarily an editorial mistake--but the excessive use of "air quotes" around every pun or ironic observation Mike makes is also very distracting and become tedious quickly. There is also an abundance of exclamation points after sentences! I found this punctuation mark distracting when applied in excess to Mike's dramatic observations, which didn't really require the additional "shout" to make a point.
Aside from editing, there are some key issues that detracted from my overall enjoyment of the story. First is the lack of any likeable female characters. With the exception of Mike's mother, there are really only three supporting female characters: Jenny Goodman, Officer Candy McKenna, and Elsbeth the ghost. All of these women are written as vapid, petty, promiscuous, or outright bitchy. This may not matter to some readers, but I found myself unable to sympathize with any of these women, all of whom become dislikable and/or irritating shortly after their introduction. Jenny is the flirtatious college classmate of Mike's who sells his tale of being able to see ghosts after a corneal transplant operation to a tabloid, thus exposing him to all manner of kooks calling to ask for his help. Their relationship starts as potentially romantic when Mike banishes Jenny's malicious ghost until Jenny gives Mike the cold shoulder. Without going into too much detail, her immature and manipulative behavior are so irritating that I found myself questioning why--other than physical appeal--would Mike want anything to do with this girl? Mike's pseudo-girlfriend Candy (he calls her his girlfriend after one date) is also Jenny's cousin--a fact that initially causes friction when Jenny becomes jealous of Mike's attention when they aren't dating. Candy's "southern" accent is written into her dialogue i.e. "Ya gotta" which, coupled with her seductive banter (the only lines she has in the story) make Candy "read" as a promiscuous airhead. Elsbeth is a ghost who seeks Mike's help in stopping her husband from murdering her mother. She hangs around assisting Mike and fast becomes critical of his every move shortly thereafter. I could not understand why Mike tolerated her antics for as long as he did before finally confronting her about her attitude.
The pacing of the story is somewhat slow in the beginning as Mike discovers he can see ghosts, which leads into a series of unrelated, irrelevant episodes in which he assists people with ghost problems or ghosts with people problems. Only two of these incidents have a remote connection to the main plot that doesn't even occur until the second half of the story when Mike discovers the Gettysburg ghosts. As a result, I found myself putting the book down often and picking it back up again. The pacing definitely gets better toward the latter half of the story once Mike gains more ghost experience and learns that he is "the Ferryman."
On the plus side, the author has come up with a clever and interesting storyline for a series that, despite my frustration with the afore-mentioned problems, I was really into. I normally stop reading books that irritate me, but I stuck with this novel determined to finish. Some of the criticisms I had (such as "with" punctuation!) may simply be to the author's inexperience and will hopefully correct themselves in future novels. I really hope there is at least one likeable or strong female character introduced in the next novel. I would recommend this book to a friend with the warning to expect grammatical/structural errors. If you can get past those (as many seem to have done) then you may enjoy this story.
September 22, 2015
I got this book after reading the author's Confessions of a D-List Supervillain. Completely different type of book, but still an excellent read. Mike Ross discovers he's a Ferryman, meaning he can see ghost and interact with them, and has some power over them. The ghosts have their own heirarchy, with territories set up by the most poperful ghost, who can actually possess people. Mike will have to deal with a graveyard full of Civil War ghosts, gangster ghosts from the 30's, as well as a truly evil, powerful ghost that has a connection to Mike's family. Can he survive and thrive with all the forces against him? WEll, read the book, you won't be disappointed. The characters are very well written, with a lot of humor and warmth in the protagonists, even though Mike is a little hapless at times. The villains, A jim Bernheimer specialty, are the kind you love to hate. The dialogue is great, very snappy, with lots of humor keeping things from getting too dark. The plot never seems to drag, keeping you wanting more, which is all you can ask of an author. The world is fully fleshed out, with the rules of the Ferryman being slowly spelled out as Mike discovers them, allowing us to see the real growth of the character. I would recommend this book for any fans of writers like Simon R. Green, Jim Butcher and M.R. Forbes.
December 31, 2012
A fun read, and better than I expected. Of course, I love ghost books, and this one had a different perspective. Who would have thought that a fleshy could beat up on a spirit with a pipe wrench?
Mike Ross, is a hard-luck Iraq-war veteran for whom everything always seems to go wrong. And upon finding that he has the troubling ability to see dead people from one eye--as well as the ability to interact with the dead in a very physical manner, live only gets worse.
Mike is a Rockford Files type of hero--one who with a wide selfish streak who isn't eager to put himself on the line for others unless there's a buck or two in it for him. He lies. He cheats. Yet, there is also a streak of nobility in his soul, and he can't stand bullies--living or dead.
Speaking of the dead, it seems they can be much like the living: needy, greedy, and at times dangerous. But there are also those who need help, those with honor, and those who can even be called friends.
Lots of action and tons of fun in this paranormal adventure. Author Jim Bernheimer has done a good job of creating an imaginative new world and navigating his characters and us through it.
Mike Ross, is a hard-luck Iraq-war veteran for whom everything always seems to go wrong. And upon finding that he has the troubling ability to see dead people from one eye--as well as the ability to interact with the dead in a very physical manner, live only gets worse.
Mike is a Rockford Files type of hero--one who with a wide selfish streak who isn't eager to put himself on the line for others unless there's a buck or two in it for him. He lies. He cheats. Yet, there is also a streak of nobility in his soul, and he can't stand bullies--living or dead.
Speaking of the dead, it seems they can be much like the living: needy, greedy, and at times dangerous. But there are also those who need help, those with honor, and those who can even be called friends.
Lots of action and tons of fun in this paranormal adventure. Author Jim Bernheimer has done a good job of creating an imaginative new world and navigating his characters and us through it.
June 30, 2012
A friend of mine recommended this as something light to read, and decided to lend it to me as a kindle book. Did you know you can borrow a kindle book from someone? That's cool! It worked too! The experience of reading a lent e-book almost makes up for how bad it was.
August 30, 2012
3.5
Fun, fast read that reminded my of Kevin Hearne's Iron Druid Chronicles. Pretty fast paced with an assortment of supporting characters, genuine amusement, quirky world-building, and surprises. I will definitely be reading the next one.
Fun, fast read that reminded my of Kevin Hearne's Iron Druid Chronicles. Pretty fast paced with an assortment of supporting characters, genuine amusement, quirky world-building, and surprises. I will definitely be reading the next one.
June 6, 2009
This is an awesome book, especially if you like urban fantasy with a dark twist and a touch of dark humor. Jim Butcher fans will definitely enjoy it.
May 13, 2015
Very good, but very noir. I had to wait for a sunny day to finish it!
July 17, 2012
Short and simple, I have yet to be disappointed by any book Jim has written.
September 25, 2019
Dead Eye: Pennies for the Ferryman by: Jim Bernheimer and narrated by Jeffrey Kafer is an entertaining paranormal listen. Definitely recommend, especially if you enjoy sarcastic humor with a little historical elements thrown into the mix.
What’s it about? Mike is able to see ghosts due to a transplant he received after being injured during war (turns out there’s more to it but due to spoilers leaving it this). Throughout the book he faces the challenges of his new gift, makes a couple ghost friends and non-ghost friends, finds a love interest or two, and discovers more about his family than he bargained for. There’s twists and turns, action, interesting minor characters (mobsters, civil war soldiers), betrayal, skinwalkers, and more. The main character is someone you can easily picture yourself being friends with. I liked the author gave Mike a sense of realness to him with emotions (it’s nothing you’re going to cry over) and he’s certainly not a perfect person (uses a ghost to help him pick the winning lotto tickets). The story is told as different episodes and progresses forward with time gaps, which made the story that much better in my opinion. The end is left open to move on to the next book.
Episode 1: Origins
Episode 2: Retreat from Gettysburg
Episode 3: Looking for Death in all the Wrong Places
Episode 4: Battling with Bitches
Episode 5: The Big Score
Episode 6: The Grinch who Stole Karla
Episode 7: Blood, Sweat, and Fear
Episode 8: No Reason To Panic
Episode 9: Location, Location, Location
Episode 10: Hitting the Fan
Episode 11: A Judicious Use of Force
Episode 12: The Battle of Baltimore
Episode 13: Rolling with the Change
“I never thought I’d be walking a blind preacher around my house and yard on a chilly November Saturday while he does a ‘proper’ blessing of the house, but I’ve learned to be flexible.”
“When it comes to the ‘milk of human kindness’, I must be lactose intolerant.”
“Actually, in my life the fecal matter usually bypassed the fan and went straight to my face- less splatter that way.”
“It’s like the Gospel. You can sit in church and listen. You can read the words from the books, but it won’t truly mean something unless you’re willing to believe it and do something about it.”
The narrator, Jeffrey Kafer, did a wonderful job. I had to double check it was Kafer as I’ve gotten use to a specific voice he uses with a couple other books I’ve recently listened to and this one threw me off (but it’s a good thing).
*Note one review states the chapters have a recap at the beginning of each- this is not true in the version I listened to.
Overall I recommend, it’s a nicely written and sure to keep you interested throughout.
Parental guidance/trigger warnings (small spoilers, kind of...): swearing, war talk (Iraq) and injuries from war, religious element (MC mom thinks he’s going crazy and asks him to meet with the pastor, who introduces him to another person with the “gift” and they go on several adventures together), drugging, death, husband abusive towards wife, Chandra Levy mention, dog fighting, and other stuff I’m no doubt forgetting (it’s easy to get engrossed in the book and forget about other obligations such as writing down spoilers).
“I was given this book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.”
What’s it about? Mike is able to see ghosts due to a transplant he received after being injured during war (turns out there’s more to it but due to spoilers leaving it this). Throughout the book he faces the challenges of his new gift, makes a couple ghost friends and non-ghost friends, finds a love interest or two, and discovers more about his family than he bargained for. There’s twists and turns, action, interesting minor characters (mobsters, civil war soldiers), betrayal, skinwalkers, and more. The main character is someone you can easily picture yourself being friends with. I liked the author gave Mike a sense of realness to him with emotions (it’s nothing you’re going to cry over) and he’s certainly not a perfect person (uses a ghost to help him pick the winning lotto tickets). The story is told as different episodes and progresses forward with time gaps, which made the story that much better in my opinion. The end is left open to move on to the next book.
Episode 1: Origins
Episode 2: Retreat from Gettysburg
Episode 3: Looking for Death in all the Wrong Places
Episode 4: Battling with Bitches
Episode 5: The Big Score
Episode 6: The Grinch who Stole Karla
Episode 7: Blood, Sweat, and Fear
Episode 8: No Reason To Panic
Episode 9: Location, Location, Location
Episode 10: Hitting the Fan
Episode 11: A Judicious Use of Force
Episode 12: The Battle of Baltimore
Episode 13: Rolling with the Change
“I never thought I’d be walking a blind preacher around my house and yard on a chilly November Saturday while he does a ‘proper’ blessing of the house, but I’ve learned to be flexible.”
“When it comes to the ‘milk of human kindness’, I must be lactose intolerant.”
“Actually, in my life the fecal matter usually bypassed the fan and went straight to my face- less splatter that way.”
“It’s like the Gospel. You can sit in church and listen. You can read the words from the books, but it won’t truly mean something unless you’re willing to believe it and do something about it.”
The narrator, Jeffrey Kafer, did a wonderful job. I had to double check it was Kafer as I’ve gotten use to a specific voice he uses with a couple other books I’ve recently listened to and this one threw me off (but it’s a good thing).
*Note one review states the chapters have a recap at the beginning of each- this is not true in the version I listened to.
Overall I recommend, it’s a nicely written and sure to keep you interested throughout.
Parental guidance/trigger warnings (small spoilers, kind of...): swearing, war talk (Iraq) and injuries from war, religious element (MC mom thinks he’s going crazy and asks him to meet with the pastor, who introduces him to another person with the “gift” and they go on several adventures together), drugging, death, husband abusive towards wife, Chandra Levy mention, dog fighting, and other stuff I’m no doubt forgetting (it’s easy to get engrossed in the book and forget about other obligations such as writing down spoilers).
“I was given this book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.”
September 29, 2019
( Format : Audiobook )
"OK, so he was a bit full of himself."
Mike Ross is a veteran of the Iraqi war, discharged after friends died and he, himself, was seriously wounded. An head injury required him to undergo a cornea transplant. Along with his regular restored sight, he also received the ability to see ghosts, and to interact with them. At first, this story told by Ross from his first person perspective, seems to be mini ghost adventure tales strung together within a larger life arc, but the whole starts to come together with increasing suspense and excitement about half way through as Ross's understanding increases and he begins to more fully embrace his role as ferryman. And, of course, confront his enemies.
Jeffrey Kafer narrates, slipping comfortably into the role of Ross - sarcastic and sardonic, with his own moral code and apparent easy come, easy go attitude. His reading is a pleasure to hear: well intoned and nicely pzced, clearly understanding the nuances of the text, and each protagonist is given a seperate, distinctive voice. A fine performance. The book itself is a noir urban fantasy of a kind which should delight Jim Butcher fans, with the returned and damaged soldier becoming increasingly central to the invisible world. Characterisation takes second place to action, although Mike Ross slowly emerges with a definite personality all his own.
My thanks to the rights holder of Dead Eye, who, at my request, freely gifted me with a complimentary copy, via Audiobook Boom. It was enjoyable, fun, sometimes amusing, worth persevering through the earlier parts to the fuller, more adventurous second half. Obviously, also, this is the start to a new series which, now that the scene has been set, might become a classic of it's type. Recommended to all who enjoy a little paranormal with their noir adventures.
"OK, so he was a bit full of himself."
Mike Ross is a veteran of the Iraqi war, discharged after friends died and he, himself, was seriously wounded. An head injury required him to undergo a cornea transplant. Along with his regular restored sight, he also received the ability to see ghosts, and to interact with them. At first, this story told by Ross from his first person perspective, seems to be mini ghost adventure tales strung together within a larger life arc, but the whole starts to come together with increasing suspense and excitement about half way through as Ross's understanding increases and he begins to more fully embrace his role as ferryman. And, of course, confront his enemies.
Jeffrey Kafer narrates, slipping comfortably into the role of Ross - sarcastic and sardonic, with his own moral code and apparent easy come, easy go attitude. His reading is a pleasure to hear: well intoned and nicely pzced, clearly understanding the nuances of the text, and each protagonist is given a seperate, distinctive voice. A fine performance. The book itself is a noir urban fantasy of a kind which should delight Jim Butcher fans, with the returned and damaged soldier becoming increasingly central to the invisible world. Characterisation takes second place to action, although Mike Ross slowly emerges with a definite personality all his own.
My thanks to the rights holder of Dead Eye, who, at my request, freely gifted me with a complimentary copy, via Audiobook Boom. It was enjoyable, fun, sometimes amusing, worth persevering through the earlier parts to the fuller, more adventurous second half. Obviously, also, this is the start to a new series which, now that the scene has been set, might become a classic of it's type. Recommended to all who enjoy a little paranormal with their noir adventures.
October 19, 2019
This is an enjoyable, humorous paranormal/urban fantasy that will definitely keep you entertained. Mike Ross is an Iraq War veteran who had to have a cornea transplant after been blown up by a roadside bomb. As his sight returns, his life is turned upside down again when he starts to see dead people with his newly acquired eye. From here on in the challenges start as ghosts begin to flood to Mike, wanting him to help solve their various problems or to do away with him. With ghostly mobsters, a vindictive mother, civil war soldiers, skin walkers and a host of others invading his life, he has to learn to use his newfound talents if he is to survive.
Mike is a great character, I loved his dry sarcastic humour, the way he handled the ups and downs of cases and the relationships he formed with both human and ghostly friends. The episodic way the story is told gives you a sense of the characters growth, as he learns to manage is new gift and deal with each odd ball situation. The narrator of the audiobook did an excellent job of giving the characters individual voices and he brought out the sarcastic humour well. He kept a good pace and was easy to listen to. I enjoyed the historical elements to the story and the cast of supporting characters, especially the blind piano playing preacher who can also “see” ghosts. This story has actions, twists, humour and is definitely enjoyable to listen to.
Mike is a great character, I loved his dry sarcastic humour, the way he handled the ups and downs of cases and the relationships he formed with both human and ghostly friends. The episodic way the story is told gives you a sense of the characters growth, as he learns to manage is new gift and deal with each odd ball situation. The narrator of the audiobook did an excellent job of giving the characters individual voices and he brought out the sarcastic humour well. He kept a good pace and was easy to listen to. I enjoyed the historical elements to the story and the cast of supporting characters, especially the blind piano playing preacher who can also “see” ghosts. This story has actions, twists, humour and is definitely enjoyable to listen to.
May 5, 2021
PENNIES FOR THE FERRYMAN BY JIM BERNHEIMER is the first in the Dead Eye series starring Mike Ross.
When the story opens is in Iraq when his vehicle runs over an IED. Mike has lost most of his hearing in one ear his leg is damaged and he now has a cornea donated by a dead psychic. Also, Mike now sees ghosts! The first ghost he sees is his dead grandfather and Mike thinks he's done gone crazy! As the story progresses,Mike learns that seeing ghosts and helping them "pass" is not as great as he thinks it is. His mom thinks he's gone mental, he cant keep a girlfriend and the ghosts are trying to kill him or worse take over his body!
I enjoyed the book , except the ending. To me it kinda fell flat at the end, maybe because of how it ended on a sad note. That being said, the rest of the story was really good. I listened to the audio version and the narrator Jeffrey Kafer did a great job on the narration. I cant wait to hear more in this series .
i recieved this audiobook free in exchange for an honest review.
When the story opens is in Iraq when his vehicle runs over an IED. Mike has lost most of his hearing in one ear his leg is damaged and he now has a cornea donated by a dead psychic. Also, Mike now sees ghosts! The first ghost he sees is his dead grandfather and Mike thinks he's done gone crazy! As the story progresses,Mike learns that seeing ghosts and helping them "pass" is not as great as he thinks it is. His mom thinks he's gone mental, he cant keep a girlfriend and the ghosts are trying to kill him or worse take over his body!
I enjoyed the book , except the ending. To me it kinda fell flat at the end, maybe because of how it ended on a sad note. That being said, the rest of the story was really good. I listened to the audio version and the narrator Jeffrey Kafer did a great job on the narration. I cant wait to hear more in this series .
i recieved this audiobook free in exchange for an honest review.
September 11, 2017
Audio book review. Narrator: Jeffrey Kafer.
I really enjoyed this book. I was looking for another fantasy/supernatural type of book after I finished Sufficiently Advanced Magic. I had the book loaded on my mp3 player so decided to give it a go. It takes place in 'our' world rather than an alternate type of universe, although some of the tech references are a bit outdated. Technology changes so fast, it's difficult for books to keep up.
I liked the way that the author explains how the main character, Mike Ross, gets his 'power'. I like the links to history, especially the Civil War.
The book is self contained but leaves an opening to a sequel, which fortunately I already have. Moving on to it next.
I really enjoyed this book. I was looking for another fantasy/supernatural type of book after I finished Sufficiently Advanced Magic. I had the book loaded on my mp3 player so decided to give it a go. It takes place in 'our' world rather than an alternate type of universe, although some of the tech references are a bit outdated. Technology changes so fast, it's difficult for books to keep up.
I liked the way that the author explains how the main character, Mike Ross, gets his 'power'. I like the links to history, especially the Civil War.
The book is self contained but leaves an opening to a sequel, which fortunately I already have. Moving on to it next.
July 28, 2024
I'm normally fairly generous with books but this wasn't very good. The main character's internal monologue gets old very fast and isn't particularly funny or clever.
None of the characters are very gripping as most are one dimensional and easily pigeon-holed. The premise is decent enough but I think the execution was less than ideal. I got a little bit lost with the who, what, wheres and I think a Pennyslvania native might enjoy this more.
The narrator is fine but nothing special. The plot is done in episodes and seems unusually discontinuous because of it.
I wouldn't recommend this to a new listener and if you have read other works by the author perhaps try some of his other books before this one.
None of the characters are very gripping as most are one dimensional and easily pigeon-holed. The premise is decent enough but I think the execution was less than ideal. I got a little bit lost with the who, what, wheres and I think a Pennyslvania native might enjoy this more.
The narrator is fine but nothing special. The plot is done in episodes and seems unusually discontinuous because of it.
I wouldn't recommend this to a new listener and if you have read other works by the author perhaps try some of his other books before this one.
July 31, 2019
This book was much better than I expected it to be. I wasn't sure how gruesome or silly it might be, but it reminded me of my much-liked Mediator series by Meg Cabot- hero/heroine can interact with ghosts and help them pass on, and much drama ensues. There are some obvious differences but they are both enjoyable stories. This particular series is set to have three books and only lacks the third; if the following books end up being as fun as this one, I'll be sad to see it end at three. The narrator, Jeffrey Kafer, would get a 90/100 from me; he did a great job but pretty consistently read with the intonation of a stereotypical movie trailer narrator, which was occasionally irritating.
April 18, 2018
When I started I was excited but then when I got to the part where the lead can see, hear and speak to ghost I was disappointed. I didn’t want to read a Ghost Whisperer book. When you find out that the lead can touch spirits the book becomes extremely interesting. A ghost whisperer that can physically fight spirits is a great concept.
The book is full of action and suspense. I wouldn’t mind reading the next book in the series.
The book is full of action and suspense. I wouldn’t mind reading the next book in the series.
November 13, 2017
3.5* When I chose this book, in part based on the cover, I was expecting a serious borderline horror story. What I got was completely different. It was sometimes silly and I almost dnf'ed, but once I put aside my initial expectations I was able to enjoy it and I might even read more from this author.
December 30, 2018
Good idea, horrible execution. Plot twists delivered will all the grace and style of a lorry reversing into a narrow alley; in case you did not get the analogy, this means “no style whatsoever”. There is no real character development, and overall it seems as a comic book padded up to fill space.
Shame really as it might have been such a good story!
Shame really as it might have been such a good story!
January 18, 2016
Ghosts are the red-headed stepchild of the monster world.
The problem with them is inherent: people want ghosts to exist. You can't say that about vampires, demons, or werewolves. Everyone, though, would like there to be proof positive of an afterlife. Also, ghost stories rarely have much of an impression. They're usually restricted to a singular haunted house or possessing people at their worst. This is far from the level of danger that a vampire represents to life and limb.
Jim Bernheimer's Dead Eye solve most of these problems.
He might not have written the ghostly version of The Dresden Files, mostly because Jim Butcher already did that with Ghost Story, but he's written something which is in the same ballpark. Dead Eye is a fun, witty, and engaging comedy-horror series. The first novel is a great start to what I hope is a longstanding series.
The premise is Mike Ross, Iraq War veteran, has lost his eye due to a roadside bomb. Getting an cornea transplant from a psychic, he discovers this awakens his own latent potential. Mike is soon deluged with requests for help from the local spirits ranging from helping them solve their own murders to protecting loved ones. Soon, Mike discovers the spirit world is full of the same sorts of predators the living world is, including a set of powerful warlords who have divided the United States between them.
Mike Ross is an excellent protagonist, possessing a dry understated sense of humor and a reluctant sense of humor. Mike is more interested in making money with his gift than being a monster hunter but he's not going to prey on people's grief either. While an army veteran, he's not a combat expert either. As such, Mike Ross is a perfectly "believable" hero overlooking his magical eye.
I also like Mike's supporting cast of living and dead assistants. I'm particularly fond of his potential love interests Jenny and Candy. Jenny is an enthusiastic young woman who loves the idea of involving herself in the supernatural world. Candy, by contrast, is a fun-loving police officer who helps Mike through his problems. Of the two, I much preferred Candy but it seems the author prefers Jenny.
The book functions as a series of events more than a single coherent narrative, putting Mike through a series of increasingly-oddball situations. We get to follow him as he slowly develops confidence in his abilities, figures out the origins of his powers, and copes with their effect on his mundane life. I especially liked how Mike deals with the fact his mother thinks he's either becoming a con man or gone insane.
I'm a big fan of the book's episodic storytelling as it manages to give us a sense of the character through multiple adventures rather than just one crazy day. Jim Bernheimer has an eye for detail as to how an ability like Mike's would slowly take over his life. We see the ups and downs through cases both big and small. I like, also, how some people are more skeptical than others while no one reacts in a way which would make me think this wasn't taking place in the quote-unquote real-world.
Despite this, the author lays the groundwork for a larger plot involving the Arlington National Cemetery Warlords and a being called the Beast. There's plenty of set-up for an entire series of books and I would find them very interesting to read. While ghosts are the only "monster" variety in the Dead Eye world, there are multiple types of ghosts with varying ranges of ability.
The fact some humans are vulnerable to possession and capable of being affected by ghosts gives spooks some bite. I also like how ghosts are no different from the people they are in life. Some are good, some are evil, and most fall somewhere in-between with their moralities tending to reflect the time which they died. There's quite a few humorous scenes influenced by the fact Mike is dealing with people who grew up in the 19th century.
The American Civil War plays a big role in the setting's history, providing several historical and pseudo-historical figures to series' mythology. An ongoing subplot is ghosts draining energy from their memorials in the living world. This helps with the realism of the book, showing a world where the living and the dead are still intertwined. It's imaginative world-building like that which makes the book a cut above typical examples of the genre.
The book has some flaws. For instance, I thought the author telegraphed too much that he didn't think Candy and Mike weren't right for each other, not allowing their relationship to progress believably. A series of unbelievable obstacles threw themselves in their way for seemingly no other reason than to prevent the two from getting together. Likewise, I felt the climatic confrontation between Mike and the Beast was unnecessary. The book had a perfectly sound climax with villain "Lord Justice." I believe the later third of the book should have been an entire volume in itself. I don't think the book is all that worse for either, though.
This is a great urban fantasy novel and I think fans of the genre would really love it. Its got great world-building, characterization, humor, and action. I recommend anyone who wants a quick enjoyable paranormal read to pick it up.
10/10
The problem with them is inherent: people want ghosts to exist. You can't say that about vampires, demons, or werewolves. Everyone, though, would like there to be proof positive of an afterlife. Also, ghost stories rarely have much of an impression. They're usually restricted to a singular haunted house or possessing people at their worst. This is far from the level of danger that a vampire represents to life and limb.
Jim Bernheimer's Dead Eye solve most of these problems.
He might not have written the ghostly version of The Dresden Files, mostly because Jim Butcher already did that with Ghost Story, but he's written something which is in the same ballpark. Dead Eye is a fun, witty, and engaging comedy-horror series. The first novel is a great start to what I hope is a longstanding series.
The premise is Mike Ross, Iraq War veteran, has lost his eye due to a roadside bomb. Getting an cornea transplant from a psychic, he discovers this awakens his own latent potential. Mike is soon deluged with requests for help from the local spirits ranging from helping them solve their own murders to protecting loved ones. Soon, Mike discovers the spirit world is full of the same sorts of predators the living world is, including a set of powerful warlords who have divided the United States between them.
Mike Ross is an excellent protagonist, possessing a dry understated sense of humor and a reluctant sense of humor. Mike is more interested in making money with his gift than being a monster hunter but he's not going to prey on people's grief either. While an army veteran, he's not a combat expert either. As such, Mike Ross is a perfectly "believable" hero overlooking his magical eye.
I also like Mike's supporting cast of living and dead assistants. I'm particularly fond of his potential love interests Jenny and Candy. Jenny is an enthusiastic young woman who loves the idea of involving herself in the supernatural world. Candy, by contrast, is a fun-loving police officer who helps Mike through his problems. Of the two, I much preferred Candy but it seems the author prefers Jenny.
The book functions as a series of events more than a single coherent narrative, putting Mike through a series of increasingly-oddball situations. We get to follow him as he slowly develops confidence in his abilities, figures out the origins of his powers, and copes with their effect on his mundane life. I especially liked how Mike deals with the fact his mother thinks he's either becoming a con man or gone insane.
I'm a big fan of the book's episodic storytelling as it manages to give us a sense of the character through multiple adventures rather than just one crazy day. Jim Bernheimer has an eye for detail as to how an ability like Mike's would slowly take over his life. We see the ups and downs through cases both big and small. I like, also, how some people are more skeptical than others while no one reacts in a way which would make me think this wasn't taking place in the quote-unquote real-world.
Despite this, the author lays the groundwork for a larger plot involving the Arlington National Cemetery Warlords and a being called the Beast. There's plenty of set-up for an entire series of books and I would find them very interesting to read. While ghosts are the only "monster" variety in the Dead Eye world, there are multiple types of ghosts with varying ranges of ability.
The fact some humans are vulnerable to possession and capable of being affected by ghosts gives spooks some bite. I also like how ghosts are no different from the people they are in life. Some are good, some are evil, and most fall somewhere in-between with their moralities tending to reflect the time which they died. There's quite a few humorous scenes influenced by the fact Mike is dealing with people who grew up in the 19th century.
The American Civil War plays a big role in the setting's history, providing several historical and pseudo-historical figures to series' mythology. An ongoing subplot is ghosts draining energy from their memorials in the living world. This helps with the realism of the book, showing a world where the living and the dead are still intertwined. It's imaginative world-building like that which makes the book a cut above typical examples of the genre.
The book has some flaws. For instance, I thought the author telegraphed too much that he didn't think Candy and Mike weren't right for each other, not allowing their relationship to progress believably. A series of unbelievable obstacles threw themselves in their way for seemingly no other reason than to prevent the two from getting together. Likewise, I felt the climatic confrontation between Mike and the Beast was unnecessary. The book had a perfectly sound climax with villain "Lord Justice." I believe the later third of the book should have been an entire volume in itself. I don't think the book is all that worse for either, though.
This is a great urban fantasy novel and I think fans of the genre would really love it. Its got great world-building, characterization, humor, and action. I recommend anyone who wants a quick enjoyable paranormal read to pick it up.
10/10
October 3, 2019
Audiobook review: Interesting and entertaining story with quick witt, snark, & ghosts!!! The characters are likable and believable. The narrator did a good job. I received a free copy of this audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
May 3, 2018
The book had some low points, but it was funny and entertaining during my read. So no complaints.
I'm not sure I want to read book two or not.
3.5/5 Stars
I'm not sure I want to read book two or not.
3.5/5 Stars
August 26, 2020
This book is a fun and interesting take on the ghost story genre. At times a bit choppy, at times you can tell the author is finding his footing, but that said, I would read the next in the series.
June 20, 2021
Dead Eye: Pennies for the Ferryman
I found this to be entertaining, with interesting characters and a good story.
I found this to be entertaining, with interesting characters and a good story.
January 18, 2025
DNF at 2%! Impressively bad. (Though I knew it was going to be DNF from literally the first paragraph lol, I gamely tried a little more)
January 22, 2020
I'm not even done with it and I ordered the second one. I'm trying really hard to not e-mail the author to see if there will be a third. It's fast paced and interesting.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews