Customer Reviews

The Chick and the Dead (Pepper Martin Mysteries, No. 2)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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

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.

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.

When I finished the first book of the Pepper Martin series, I didn't entirely know if I'd like the next one or not. It's not that I didn't enjoy it, but it just sort of toed the line for me. It was intriguing enough that I picked up the next book, which I'd heard was better than the first one. It was.

The second book in the series finds Pepper facing a different sort of ghost- the ghost of a young woman named Didi. Didi wants Pepper to prove that she wrote a book. Not just any book, however- THE book. The book that had spawned not only a famous movie but also legions upon legions of obsessed fans. She wants Pepper to prove that she wrote 'So Far the Dawn' (think 'Gone With the Wind'). Unfortunately for Pepper, that's easier said than done, especially since there's evidence that Didi may not be telling the truth about everything she claims.

I have to admit, I enjoyed this book more than I did the first one. There wasn't nearly as much "oh, my figure" & "he's so hot" in this book as there was in the previous one. There was a bit of lusting about in this book, but it was set aside to the background so the story could focus a bit more on the actual mystery.

The only thing I'm a bit worried about is that there are certain parts to the book that just don't match up with the book's tone. I can't go into it without going too much into spoilers, but there's talk about Pepper's talents landing her into more trouble than just getting an annoying spook or two. The series is predominantly lighthearted in tone, so for it to hint at getting darker just doesn't really mesh with what we are getting so far. Then again, if done correctly it may not be so bad.

Overall, this is another great beach book. I may not be burning down the aisle to buy all of the Pepper Martin books as soon as they come out, but I'll definitely keep my eye out for them. This series manages to be entertaining without being insulting to young women. (So many other series focus solely on who the main character is sleeping with & how she looks, ect.)

Pepper Martin thought her life had settled down once she solved the case of the murdered Mafia Don. ("Don of the Dead") Unfortunately, Gus has been recommending Pepper's detective services to his friends among the dead.

Pepper discovers Didi Bowman's grave when she's tracing the lineage of authoress Merille Bowman, who is returning to Cleveland for the anniversary of her blockbuster Civil War novel. Everyone's hoping Merilee will write a sequel, but none has been forthcoming.

Pepper quickly finds out why when Didi Bowman advises her that she actually wrote the book her sister is taking credit for. Didi wants justice and she wants Pepper to secure the royalties for this book for her granddaughter.

The problem is--Pepper and Merilee Bowman got off to a very bad start and matters just keep getting worse. But, Did's not going to leave Pepper alone til she solves the case...

"Chick" is an improvement over the first book in this series, but just barely so. Pepper needs to develop a bit more as a character and Ms. Daniels also needs to treat the policework in the book a bit more professionally. "Chick" is a fast and mostly fun read though. I'll be continuing with the series hoping it improves.

Twenty-five-year-old Pepper Martin has had it up to her neck with the dead. After the pampered princess lost her fortune when her father went to jail for medical fraud, she took a position as a tour guide at Ohio's very own Garden View Cemetery. It's bad enough that she has to give tours in her polka dotted Cheap & Chic heels, but when she hits her head on a headstone, and earns the Gift of speaking with the dead, she realizes that things can only go down from here. This so-called Gift is nothing more than a curse, and after putting her life on the line to solve the murder of Mob boss, Gus Scarpetti, all she wants is for her life to go back to normal. Sadly, when you're the recipient of such an important Gift, things never seem to work out that way. And just as Pepper begins to adjusting to life without Gus criticizing her every move, she realizes that there's a new ghost in town who needs her help, and refuses to stop bugging her until she agrees to be at her beck and call. Deborah "Didi" Bowman, is a hot-to-trot twenty-something from the fifties, complete with saddle shoes, bobby socks, a poodle skirt, and an inability to cross over to the Great Beyond until her unfinished business is...finished. Pepper tries to ignore the hipster chick, but when she hears her story, even Pepper feels that it's her responsibility to do something to help the little lost ghost with a penchant for lying. Didi claims that her older sister, and uber-author, Merilee Bowman, has done her wrong, and stolen the manuscript that she spent years poring over. "So Far the Dawn" was Didi's pride and joy until the day she died, yet Merilee, a homely librarian, reaped the benefits, and cashed in on the book - becoming a millionaire with movie deals and a museum containing relics and memorabilia from the smash hit, as well as a fan club with millions of members. Now, as the movie is set to re-release in Cleveland, Didi has come out of nowhere demanding that Pepper dig into the mystery to discover the truth, and reveal to the world that Merilee is nothing but a fraud, and that Didi is the rightful author of the blockbuster. Pepper is skeptical. However, it is only when she takes a summer job as Merilee's secretary that she begins to wonder if Didi isn't telling the truth. When she begins to dig around the family tree, she learns a few very peculiar things of her own, like the illegitimate daughter that Didi gave birth to shortly before her death, the possibility that Didi was murdered, rather than a victim of her own depression; and a handful of illicit affairs that would make any self-respecting girl blush crimson. Now, armed with a struggling news photographer, and the inability to resist the truth, Pepper has dove headfirst into the world of historical fiction, and is slowly realizing that it's more murderous than she ever expected.

Since reading Casey Daniels' DON OF THE DEAD, I have been eagerly awaiting its sequel, and I can't explain how overjoyed I was that it embraced a character from the 1950's - as I have recently become extremely interested in that particular era. As with the first installment in the Pepper Martin series, Pepper presents herself as a larger than life character. Her imposing looks, flaming red hair, and penchant for cursing like a sailor are character traits - as well as flaws - that make her lovable from page one. Her shopaholic tendencies, and ability to get into trouble no matter where she turns only make her even more appealing. Didi, on the other hand, is an adorable addition to the story. Her peachy keen attitude, and smiling face make her a cheerful character, even in the face of such sad allegations; while the somberness that shrouds her at times really adds a heart-wrenching dimension to the tale that makes Didi seem even more real to readers. While it is odd to see Didi sort of disappear from the story at the beginning, and not make another appearance until the book is halfway complete; and the lack of development in Merilee's character is semi-strange, Daniels' finds the power to wind it all together nicely, and present THE CHICK AND THE DEAD in an alluring packaging that will surely win fans. Pepper adds flavor to the spirit world.

Erika Sorocco
Freelance Reviewer

Pepper Martin thought her newly acquired ability to see ghosts was a one-shot deal. That once Gus Scarpetti moved on to the great hereafter, she could go back to her normal life where only the living talked to her. She was wrong. It seems Gus has been talking her up in the afterlife, and sends Didi Bowman her way.

Didi died in the 1950s and was the sister of Merilee Bowman, Cleveland native and bestselling author of the Civil War novel So Far the Dawn. Didi claims she, not Merilee, actually wrote the book, and wants Pepper to prove it so that Didi's disadvantaged teenage granddaughter can collect the royalties. After some hesitation, Pepper agrees. She soon learns that Didi may have been the victim of murder as well as plagiarism. Did Merilee do it, or was Didi's married lover a little too eager to cover up their affair, or is Didi lying about everything? And can Pepper figure it all out before she's as dead as Didi?

Trouble is, there's very little *mystery* in this mystery. It's too easy to armchair-solve. Pepper valiantly chases down several red herrings, but they're never quite convincing to the reader. Other quibbles: the ages of characters don't always make sense -- if someone is born in 1956 and becomes "a mother too young," her child is not going to be a high schooler in 2004 -- and I found myself wondering whether you can really die of suffocation by too-tight corset. (Internal damage if you wear one for years, sure, but...)

The Chick and the Dead is at its best when poking gentle fun at obsessive book fandom. Casey Daniels is specifically referring to Gone with the Wind fans, but her descriptions fit other groups of fans who idolize their favorite authors, collect tons of book and movie memorabilia, etc. I also enjoyed the plotline involving the mysterious Dan Callahan, whose brief appearances in this book raise more questions than they answer. I look forward to seeing what happens with him.

The Chick and the Dead is a funny, quick read that can be enjoyable if you read it with accurate expectations. Think of it as chick lit with a paranormal twist, and don't expect too much from the mystery plotting.

I can't say enough fabulous things about this series. Here, Pepper Martin, finds herself speaking with a ghost from the fifties who wrote a novel that became a mega sucess only to have her sister credited for being the 'talented' author. The ghost needs to be proven the author in order to provide financial resources from her orphaned grandaughter, who is in foster care. Pepper Martin, is a quirky, fun character, who wants to be shallow a little, but is sensitive, compassionate, determined, funny, and smart. This is a character whose smarts are often an afterthought. She definitely is led by her heart. The first two stories literally flew by as the stories never had a boring part, and scenes with the ghosts are aplenty. The rapport between Pepper and her deceased clients is the shining star of success in the series. Its hard to resist the charm of Pepper trying her best to resist the ghosts. Again, the softer side of Pepper is her downfall. To complete the rounding out of a five star review is the fact that the mystery is good enough to not be completely figured out before its reveal, AND even more so the fact that this is the second volume and has remained true to its pilot, plot, and narrative. This is at least as good as the first story and the only thing missing was the Don himself. How have these books been so overlooked? Amazing, I can't sing its praises enough.

The Pepper Martin series provides an unusual twist in the mystery genere - her clients are ghosts who can't "RIP" until she figures out why they died. Simple, no-brainers these books are perfect for the beach, waiting in the car-pool line or reading just before falling asleep. Oh, you will have to think about "who dunnit" but they are different, funny and not scary at all.

This book took me a while to get into. Pepper's inner dialogue was distracting for me at first. It reads like Pepper's having a conversation with one of her girlfriends...which is both appealing and irrating. To tell the truth I couldn't decide if I liked the book or not at first, but decided to keep on reading.

I gave this book four stars for the slow start, but overall a good book. The mystery was good and I found myself really pulling for Pepper to solve the case by the end of the book.

I will probably purchase the other books in this series.