The Chick and the Dead (Pepper Martin Mysteries, No. 2) [Mass Market Paperback]

Casey Daniels (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 27, 2007

Ever since the former rich girl-turned-Cleveland cemetery tour guide banged her head on a headstone, she sees dead people. Worse still, she hears them—and they won't shut up! Now it's Didi Bowman, a poodle-skirted relic from the Great Beyond, who's bending Pepper's ear, complaining that her famous author sister, Merilee, has done her wrong. Trouble is, if Pepper proves it, she'll break the hearts of millions of Merilee's fans. And if she doesn't, Didi's ghost may never go away.

Pepper needs peace and quiet (and rent money), so the cash-strapped ex-heiress agrees to take a job as Merilee's secretary and dig around the family tree. But when she unearths more than she bargained for—like an illegitimate daughter, a bunch of illicit love affairs, and a possible murder—suddenly a very poisoned pen is all set to write Pepper out of the story permanently.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In the second of her Pepper Martin murder mysteries-concerning an amateur sleuth who gets her cases from ghosts-Daniels crafts an underwhelming whodunit around the restless spirit of a failed novelist. Dead for half a century, Didi Bowman seeks out Pepper (who fell into the ability to see dead people in last year's Don of the Dead) to claim that Didi's sister, celebrated author Merilee Bowman, stole the manuscript for her famous, beloved Civil War novel from Didi. Now Merilee's returning to Cleveland for the re-release of the film version, and Didi wants the revenues (a veritable fortune) secured for her granddaughter. Soon Pepper's snooping around the Bowman family museum, fending off a slick detective's advances and getting herself into potentially deadly trouble. Daniels keeps things moving and amusing with her breezy chick-lit style and sharp dialogue, but serious mystery fans may be frustrated by the characters' carelessness-as when a detective wastes time flirting with Pepper rather than go after the man who just attacked her-and will probably solve the case long before Pepper does.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

“[F]abulous! One of the funniest books I’ve read this year. Or last year, come to think of it.” (MaryJanice Davidson, USA Today bestselling author , praise for DON OF THE DEAD )

“[A] charming, imaginative mystery that transcends the boundaries of time, death and predictability, peppered with some delightful romantic twists. (Linda O. Johnstone, author of NOTHING TO FEAR BUT FERRETS, praise for DON OF THE DEAD )

“The fast paced dialogue and plenty of twists keep the reader turning the pages…I can’t wait to read more!” (Shirley Damsgaard, author of WITCH WAY TO MURDER, praise for DON OF THE DEAD )

“Carrie of Sex in the City going Six Feet Under with The Sopranos. Hip, original, out-of-this world fun!” (Laura Bradley, author of SPRAYED STIFF, praise for DON OF THE DEAD )

“A smashing great read! Spice up your life with a Pepper Martin mystery!” (Kerrelyn Sparks, author of HOW TO MARRY A MILLIONAIRE VAMPIRE, praise for DON OF THE DEAD )

“A delightful read!” (Roberta Isleib, author of FAIRWAY TO HEAVEN, praise for DON OF THE DEAD )

“A fun, light read...” (Akron Beacon Journal )

“There’s not a ghost of a chance you’ll be able to put this book down. Write faster, Casey Daniels.” (Emilie Richards, USA Today bestselling author, praise for DON OF THE DEAD )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Avon; Reissue edition (February 27, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060821477
• ISBN-13: 978-0060821470
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #281,626 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Better than the first in the series..., July 23, 2007

By 

Deborah Wiley (Winter Haven, FL) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Chick and the Dead (Pepper Martin Mysteries, No. 2) (Mass Market Paperback)

Pepper Martin's life has definitely taken some unexpected twists. Her father's unexpected imprisonment and bankruptcy has turned her life of leisure into one spent as a tour guide at the Garden View Cemetery. Worse yet, she has started seeing ghosts! This time her ghostly visitor is Didi Bowman, sister of the bestselling author of So Far the Dawn. Or is she? Didi alleges that Merilee took credit for writing the manuscript that was actually Didi's. Pepper doesn't want to investigate, but money issues force her into it. Unfortunately, some secrets may be worth dying for....

THE CHICK AND THE DEAD is the sequel to DON OF THE DEAD and has a lot more depth to it than the first book. Pepper is still focused on the luxuries in life, but she seems to have more spunk than in the first novel. In DON OF THE DEAD, Pepper seemed to blunder her way into things but she is starting to think things through a bit better in THE CHICK AND THE DEAD. I enjoyed seeing the growth in her character and it made me much more appreciative of the storyline.

Casey Daniels does a good job at maintaining the quirkiness of a character talking to ghosts. Pepper isn't handed all of the answers by Didi and it is fun to see Pepper uncover the mystery. THE CHICK AND THE DEAD isn't a hardcore mystery but is a fun and lighthearted story. I had some concerns in the previous book about the men in Pepper's life, Quinn Harrison and Dan Callahan, but Casey Daniels seems to have some ongoing threads developing that are quite intriguing in THE CHICK AND THE DEAD.

THE CHICK AND THE DEAD is a solid sophomore effort for the series. Pepper Martin is turning into a very entertaining amateur sleuth. What a fun story!

COURTESY OF CK2S KWIPS AND KRITIQUES

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars An entertaining mystery series targeted at a younger generation, April 16, 2007

By 

K. Hinton "avid reader" (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Chick and the Dead (Pepper Martin Mysteries, No. 2) (Mass Market Paperback)

The second book in Casey Daniels' mystery series about former rich girl Pepper Martin picks up right where Don of the Dead, the first book in the series, left off. In the last book, Pepper took on a job as a tour guide in a Cleveland cemetery and--in one of the hazards of the job, hit her head on one of the headstones. When Pepper woke up, she discovered that she could see dead people, and one of them, a Mafia don named Gus Scarpetti, sought her help in solving his murder. In exchange for $9000, Pepper took on the role of amateur sleuth, but after nearly being killed vowed to get out of the crime solving business.

That was before famous author Merilee Bowman came into town and caused Pepper to be laid off from her job as a tour guide. Merilee, the author of the successful novel So Far the Dawn, brings paparazzi and press with her and the rash of publicity means that there's no need for tours of the cemetery. Dejected, Pepper has to find a new way to make money, since she's spent nearly all of the $9000 she made from solving her first case on new clothes and old debt. When Merilee's deceased sister, Didi, shows up and asks Pepper to help her prove that she is the true author of So Far the Dawn, Pepper is hesitant. At least, until she realizes she might get a small cut of the millions of dollars in royalties earned by the book if she helps prove that Didi is the real author.

The Pepper Martin series is a fun, entertaining mystery series aimed at the younger generation. It just goes to show that there is more to mystery than Agatha Christie and Sherlock Holmes. Pepper is a young, vivacious 20-something who is fun-to-read about and interesting to boot. The scrapes she gets caught in are increasingly hilarious and closer to chick lit than a stodgy old mystery. I didn't read the first book in the series, Don of the Dead, but I caught on fine when I started with this book. I'd recommend the Pepper Martin series to anyone in the mood for a light mystery series targeted at a younger generation that is just as much romantic comedy as it is super sleuth story.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great cozy series with a ghost, March 13, 2007

By 

Dawn Dowdle "Mystery Lovers Corner reviewer" (Lynchburg, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Chick and the Dead (Pepper Martin Mysteries, No. 2) (Mass Market Paperback)

Pepper Martin has just finished solving Gus' murder and is happy she won't be seeing ghosts any more, until Didi Bowman shows up who's been dead for fifty years. She claims she's the real author of the Civil War novel "So Far The Dawn" by Merilee Bowman, her sister. Merilee is coming to town for the opening of the new museum related to the book and Pepper's boss Ella at the cemetery turns out to be a huge fan of her book.

Pepper decides to look into Didi's claims, but is often unsure of whether she believes Didi. She ends up working for Merilee which is no picnic. When there's an attempt at Pepper's life, she decides there must be something to this and starts digging deeper. She knows this is probably putting her in more danger. Detective Quinn Harrison was watching her back, wasn't he? Could she figure out who the real author of the novel is without ending up in the cemetery permanently?

I love this fun cozy series. Pepper is such a great character. She's funny but definitely not stupid. There aren't many ghost mysteries I like, but I love this series. I like how Pepper often says things in public to a ghost and has to quick cover up the fact that she was talking to a ghost. I like the sexual tension between Pepper and Quinn. The mystique of Dan adds to the series as well.

I can't wait for the next one. I highly recommend this book and series.