Night of the Living Deed [Mass Market Paperback]

The most exciting stories in the world, are about spiritual encounters and aged houses with secrets for discovery. It isn't an author's responsibility for books to `be what we expected'. "Night Of The Living Deed" was not but reviews shouldn't be based on that. Here are my two cents on what it IS. :) I'm a 'save the best for last' person and since a full on ghost story has been hard to find since the 1990s, I savoured this modern 'Haunted Guesthouse' series by collecting it and holding it in queue.

It isn't spooky like I hoped. Perhaps gothic mysteries achieve it best. I didn't mind that Alison quickly saw and spoke with spectres but there was no intoxicating moment of wonder. The allure of a hidden artifact came late and I definitely didn't anticipate a protagonist full of jokes. But an inaugural novel is always about getting used to a new character. I have to say: the humour is unexpectedly hilarious and remarkably well executed. I was frequently winded by hearty giggling.

If not the mystical environment I wanted, realistic dialogue and jarring wit are complimented with exceptional writing. There are numerous side remarks but no literary fillers. Everything `Alison' does ties into multiple plots and they are very well devised. Not being a parent, I was unsure I'd invest in a Mom with a grade-schooler but quickly liked her and Melissa. Grandma grows interesting too and develops beyond a cliché parental figure that calls by phone. The proof of an excellent book is in the interest level of the pudding. You want everyone to succeed and you're absorbed enough in the storylines to follow along quickly. It is one hour after closing the final page and I'm already convinced I'm going to devour everything E.J Copperman releases.

All she wants is a fresh start for Melissa, her 9 year old daughter, and herself. What Alison Kerby gets is a house on the Jersey Shore that seems bent on destroying itself, or rather, the ghost of the previous owner and that of the PI that was supposed to be protecting her that are destroying the house. Now along with renovating her one hundred year old house, Alison also has the task of convincing the police to re-open their supposed "suicide" case.

Rest assured, this mystery has nothing to do with that current reality show that is set in the 'new Jersey Shore' on a boardwalk with a T-shirt shop. This story is set in the old area where longer term residents know everybody and their business and where the newspaper editor knows even more.

I would have read this book straight through with the exception that I couldn't keep my eyes open no longer. Fortunately my camper is so tiny that there is no space for ghosts who might have tried to keep me awake otherwise.

Seeing that this novel is intended to be the first in a series, it is appropriately filled with a varied assortment of characters. Along with Alison and her daughter, there is her best friend Jeannie and Jeannie's contractor husband Tony. Meet Kerin Murphy, that perfectly coiffed mother who's on top of everything as well as working full-time and president of the PTSO, Parent-Teacher-Student Organization, arg, I just want to muss her perfect hair. Police detective Anita McElone; I can't figure if she's one of the good guys. And finally there's Phyllis Coates, editor of the local newspaper, she knows everyones' business even before they do, I love this woman and see a big future for her in this series.

The story was spun out with such care and deception that I was thrown off the correct trails numerous times. I'm usually fairly good at figuring them out. I will be looking forward to Alison and Paul's (you have to read the book to meet him) next adventure.

A neat twist on the home renovation book series out there- what if the home you were fixing up was haunted? Likeable characters, not over the top silly. It was a great beach read!