Paperback, first, 392 pages
Published April 7th 2015 by Timberlane Press
"Kory M. Shrum's writing is smart, imaginative, and insanely addictive! You will NOT regret reading it!" -Darynda Jones, NY Times Bestselling Author of the Charley Davidson Series
Dead men tell no tales—except this one.
As he counts down the days until he dies, veteran detective James T. Brinkley struggles to keep his imminent death a secret from one of the only people who can save him – Jesse Sullivan, a replacement agent with the rare ability to die, then resurrect. But every replacement is dangerous, leaving Jesse more vulnerable each time. It’s his job to protect her and he will do whatever it takes to keep her safe.
They are outmatched by the sadist who hunts them and the detective must search his dark past for clues and a way to save their future. However, Brinkley has exhausted his options and buried his closest friends.
If he cannot be saved, his only wish is to prepare Jesse for the danger she must face without him.
The Jessie Sullivan series was a gem recommended to me by Kriss Morton. She knew this was my kind of read. I was blown away by the story and talent of Kory M. Shrum. The first two books are written in first person from the POV of Jessie, a death replacement worker. The story behind what Jessie is and the world Shrum has built is a great urban fantasy read.
Two close friends of Jessie were James Brinkley and Gloria Jackson. They play an important role in the events of books one and two but the readers don’t see a lot of them or what they are doing to help out. That is where Dying for Her comes in. This book is written in first person from the POV of Brinkley. But don’t think Dying for Her is just a rehashing of the events from Jessie’s POV. Brinkley’s story has events the reader isn’t privy to in Jessie’s books.
Shrum did an excellent job of writing a female POV with Jessie, and has again, blown me away with her male POV writing. It reads very different from the first two books. This is more of a hard-boiled detective story, while the other two are urban fantasy. There are two time lines running in the book. One in the present and one in flashbacks. And Shrum pulls it off beautifully. You should probably read the first two books before diving into this one so you can appreciate the storytelling.
This was such a clever way to deliver the whole story. Shrum is a talented writer and story teller and worth checking out.
Review: Dying for a Living
5 “dying” Sheep
Shrum did an excellent job of writing a female POV with Jessie, and has again, blown me away with her male POV writing. It reads very different from the first two books. This is more of a hard-boiled detective story, while the other two are urban fantasy. There are two time lines running in the book. One in the present and one in flashbacks. And Shrum pulls it off beautifully. You should probably read the first two books before diving into this one so you can appreciate the storytelling.
This was such a clever way to deliver the whole story. Shrum is a talented writer and story teller and worth checking out.
Review: Dying for a Living
5 “dying” Sheep
SharonS
Kory M. Shrum lives in Michigan with her partner and a ferocious guard pug. When not writing, she can be found teaching, traveling, and wearing a gi. Her poetry has appeared in North American Review, Bateau and elsewhere. Her first urban fantasy novel Dying for a Living will be available March 4, 2014.
I read the first book, Dying for a Living, and have the second one queued up. In a world saturated with the zombie craze, Shrum gives us a very different spin on it that makes it feel shiny and new. Plus, it's lots of mystery too. Looking forward to Book 3!
ReplyDeleteI agree. The third book is almost a new experience. You will learn the reasons for so many things in the first two books...
DeleteO dear, the z word has been used in the comments. I was intrigued by this review, but now? Not so sure anymore.
ReplyDeletethere are on zombies in this novel! There are people who when they die, come back and they can't die again. They can act as death replacements for someone who is going to die by taking their place. No zombie action. But because they die and come back some label them zombies, but they are still the same person...
DeleteNo zombies? Really truly? That changes it all :) Thanks Sharon.
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