Customer Reviews

Unfallen Dead (Connor Grey, Book 3)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The first two Connor Grey novels were more like detective novels with a paranormal flair. This third volume is firmly in the paranormal, while still having an intricate mystery, giving readers a deep look at the world and characters Del Franco has imagined. It is easily the best of the series so far and makes me hungry for the next installment.

A lot of plot lines take route in Unfallen Dead, and readers finally get significant progress on Connor's disability, the political instability among the Fae and even Connor's relationship with Meryl. Yes! Connor is still struggling with the black mass in his mind which blocks his druid abilities, and working with Murdock on cases the Guild won't bother with. His latest case involves two humans murdered by a druidess that link back to an old case of Keeva's (so of course The Guild eventually gets invoved). And Meryl is involved up to her neck as well, in ways that will startle Connor and the reader. Keeva's got her own problems - on suspension for being manipulated against the Guild. Connor is stunned when his old Guild partner, Dylan, arrives to temporarily take over her position. Connor and Dylan have unresolved issues, naturally, but their camaraderie is just what I was missing in Connor's relationship with Murdock. To top it off, the Faerie royal court has taken an interest in Connor and Meryl because of the events at Forest Hill and the malignant essence, Taint (book 3). Queen Ceridwen has come to investigate, or place blame, depending on one's point of view. She carries a spear which seeks the truth. Only, it does more than seek truth and it likes Connor more than her. Samhain is approaching and the veil between worlds is thinning - finally allowing crossovers that have not happened since Convergence.

Chock full of action, intrigue and outright adventure, this novel has it all. I was engrossed from the first page to the last. Connor finally recognizes that the black mass in his head has not so coincidentally saved his life, and the world, more than once now. It figures directly into the plot here, and like the spear, is more than it seems. The arrival of Dylan brought welcome information about Connor's past and a new ally. Dylan doesn't dismiss Connor because of his lack of power, and even offers him a way back into the Guild if he wants. Connor's command of the spear will take him through the veil in a kick-butt ending that includes a confrontation with his arch enemy, revelations about Queen Maeve and her motives, and the dead crossing over into Boston from Tir Na Nog (the land of the dead). I especially liked that Connor didn't "accidentally" save the day this time despite his disability, he planned and executed it. This author has a gift for hooking a reader with an awesome ending. Consider me hooked - and bring on book 4.

Connor Grey is a druid, a member of the various fey/magical races, and formerly a powerful Guild (enforcers for the magical races) member until his abilities were destroyed in a duel with an elf terrorist. He's been consulting with the human police in Boston's fey-ghetto ever since. This time out there is magical trace-evidence at the murder-site of a homeless man and later at that of an elderly woman in her residence... How are the two connected? As usual, the Guild isn't interested in the death of a homeless man, but things begin to look like they involve much more, as usual. And Samhain is approaching--formerly a time when the portals to Faerie and other worlds were open in the past, but not since the Convergence of the lands over a century ago. However, it seems as if this year may be different...

Between interviewing folk and sleuthing, Grey finally gets a little farther with his love-life and more folk from his past appear. There is also more Guild politics and tension between the various fey factions, along with the threat of Grey's old nemesis, the terrorist he was fighting when he lost his powers. The mix of mystery, magic and suspense continues to be fun. I admit that I have a fondness for this series. It's interesting watching Grey trying to cope with his lack of abilities. And the mystery of his disability, and of the strange powers that he's sometimes capable of him, continues to deepen.

While not strictly necessary, it's probably best to start the series from the first book, UNSHAPELY THINGS.

Sadly, it seems as if Del Franco's next book will feature a new and different main character. I hope the Connor Grey series will continue, eventually, since it is one of my favorites.

The third in the Connor Grey series, Unfallen Dead was simply great! I really like Connor Grey's character and find that he makes a wonderful hero. Lots of new developement in this installment, which you'd have to read the first two to fully appreciate. I won't go into detail as I'm sure other great reviewers will do that. All I can say is that I strongly recommend not only this novel, but the whole series if you're looking for a good urban fantasy. I suspect there is going to be lots more of Connor Grey in the future and will eagerly look forward to them. If you like Rob Thurman, Jim Butcher and his Harry Dresden Files and Anton Strout and Simon R. Green, then pick up a Mark Del Franco book. He won't disappoint!

In this installment of the Connor Grey series, our hero is facing pressure from the Seelie Court who think he and Meryl have something to do with the Taint, his old NY partner has transferred to Boston's Guild & he's not sure if he's friend or foe, and on Samhain the veil b/w realms is supposed to open for the first time since Convergence & Bergen Vize is planning to use that to attack the Seelie Court.

While I really enjoy the series, I think this was the weakest book. The author introduces new characters when he hasn't really developed existing ones i.e. I'd really have liked to learn more about Murdock & what's going on with him, but instead the focus shifted to Connor's old partner Dylan. I understand his signficance to the story development, but felt it was overdone & didn't hold my interest the way the introduction of Cal did in the last book.

For every step Connor & Meryl take forward, there are two steps back. I like them as a couple, but their relationship is dragging and feels more like a high school crush than relationship b/w two 40+ adults.

The action in this book was very confusing - I've had trouble following it in the pervious books, but this time I was completely lost at times, especially during the climax.

I'd actually give this one 2 1/2 stars. That being said, the book is well paced, there's some more development with Connor and his brain mass (though we still don't know what it is), we finally meet Bergin Vize & he's quite surprising, Meryl got some more screen time which I enjoyed b/c I like her character, and though I'd have liked to have seen more of him, what we did see of Murdock was very entertaining.

Overall, I'd recommend this book if you enjoy the series.

Urban fantasy's full of kickin' heroines, but Connor Grey is completely different. Once a powerful Druid, he lost his abilities in an attack by a terrorist elf. He's estranged from the Guild where he once worked as an enforcer for the magical beings of this world and forced to work the Weird with Murdock, a human police officer.

In this third offering of the series, Connor's handling magical crimes the Guild's not interested in because they involve the loss of only a bum and an old woman. But, he and Murdock rightly sense that there is something much more going on.

This third offering's brought back an old love and introduced a new one, plus shown us some more backstory into Connor's attack and the terrorist elf, Vize. All of this with Samhain approaching and the possibility that the ways between the worlds of magic and human might just open again.

Mark Del Franco is a great voice in the fantasy genre. He adds some real political issues, mystery and a whole lot of heart into his characters. Both Connor and his human partner, Murdock, are complex characters who unfold a bit with each new tale. I hope to see many more stories in this setting to come!

Rebecca Kyle, August 2009

Well, this book was "recommended by Amazon" based upon my purchases of the Dresden Files and Simon Green's NightSide series. However, I have found that "urban fantasy" too often means poorly written "Vampire Romance"*. Not here.

Not that there's not a touch of romance here. Well done too.

But here we have the fey, the Sidthe, faeries, not vampires. And, it's a pretty darn good mystery too.

I like the characters and the setting. The second book is better than the first which is suprising in a series, and the thrid keeps up the quality.

* and hey, if you like that sort of thing, fine by me.

The Connor Grey books get better with each installment...I read #2 and #3 back to back and after I finished UNFALLEN DEAD, I was so sad that I couldn't rush straight into the next and the next and the next. The first book didn't have that addictive quality to me, but I could see all the building blocks of a truly great series, and, indeed, now I've been thoroughly sucked in.

A lot happens here, and plot is moved forward on every front. The tangled politics between the Teutonic and Celtic fae, Connor's peculiar romance with Meryl, and the strange black mass in Connor's brain. But while it's finally becoming clear that Connor is a force to be reckoned with despite, and at times because of, his handicap, we also get our first look at what Connor 1.0 was really like. His old friend and partner Dylan is in town, which leads to a flashback on one of Connor's most impressive escapades as a Guild bigwig. For me, that flashback was a poignant counterpart to the events unfolding in the book's present as I realized for the first time how much Connor really lost.

As usual in this series, for every problem Connor solves a host of new ones are created - as Connor wins back his place among the movers and shakers of the Fae world, he needs to decide where he wants to take his life, if he wants back into the Guild, and figure out what exactly the queen of the Celtic Fae, Queen Maeve, is up to. Coming up in the next volume, I hope, and I can't wait to read it.

Mr. Franco does it again. The Connor Grey character is most interesting, the dark brooding and damaged soul that he is. supporting characters are also very unique when put together in this mix.
the strange Fey world living side by side with the "real" world is a concept that makes these books enjoyable for me.
It is nice he is tying up some loose ends from the previous publication and also creating new ones.

"Oh man, if the 3rd could have been any better! Wow, this series gets better instead of getting old.
Connor is faced with voices and shadows he is seeing. To top that off a old associate of his shows up and reminds him of his not so honorable past.
Connor is faced with the deaths of several normal people by the hand of a druidess. Why are these people being killed and what are the rune marks on them?
Connor and Murdock get closer to the truth, more questions arise and it gets more confusing.
Once again a great installment in this series with Connor Grey and his flit friend Joe aka Stinkwort.

The third book in the series offers more insight into the world of Connor Grey and it is a fun ride. The characters are nicely written in the series in general and this book is no exception. We meet people from Connor's past that give us insight into who he was. There is a great mix of joy, pain, war, and deception that blends well. Events that took place in this book will be no doubt effect future books in the Connor Grey series. There was good character development with Meryl and Connor. This series is promising and so far none of the 3 books has disappointed. The book isn't terribly long but is filled with a good story that is sure to have you turning the page nonstop waiting to see what will happen next. Once you step into the world of Connor Grey it's hard to withdraw from.