Scan barcode
kathydavie's review against another edition
3.0
Second in the Revivalist urban fantasy series about an ex-soldier who dies and takes over running a funeral home outside San Diego.
My Take
Well, it's better than Working Stiff at least in that Bryn is not behaving as stupidly and out of character---yes, I expect a soldier to have a few certain characteristics. This time, Bryn is actually listening to Patrick and willing to be careful. She doesn't even get angry that Joe and Patrick were thinking ahead about Annalise. What does surprise me is her anger about Jane. That I don't understand at all.
There is quite a bit of action in this one, resolving some issues and creating even more horrendous new ones. Yet there is still something lacking from this. A warmth that would really pull me into the story. And I do want to be pulled in---just don't make me touch Riley or Bryn at the end!!
I can't believe that Bryn and Patrick haven't done the nasty yet! She's simply living in his house because it's the safest place for her and anyone around her. I did enjoy Patrick's romantic assessment and decision. Just the opposite of what one would expect from a man.
It's a little bit funeral home---it's certainly interesting seeing it from the administrative side with all the concerns they have to consider from the noisy mistress to how to cope with sudden losses---and it's a lot bit secret agent with a great deal of rescuing going on in this one. Not all of them successful. New enemies, new allies. All unexpected.
Ya know, I couldn't imagine Caine managing to top the ick factor she presented in Working Stiff. After reading this, I realize I just don't have an imagination.
At last! We finally see Bryn acting like the soldier she was when she senses an ambush. And it just gets worse. Too bad Riley was so very FBI.
The Story
Yup, it's Davis Funeral Home now. Formerly known as Fairview. With her former boss dead and the FBI arranging for her to take the funeral home over, it only made sense to change the name.
Unfortunately, it's about the only thing that does make sense. Bryn has formed a self-help group for Returné victims and the group suffers its ups and downs as people show or stay away. She's forced to take on a job for the FBI and it seems even they can't trust each other. Mom is wondering why Annalie never calls.
Then the FBI wants Bryn to check out Graydon Industrial Waste Services for anomalies. What she finds is a lot more than a simple irregularity. It's enough to blow up Bryn's world. It could be the end of Jeff's world too when he's kidnapped by a sadist.
The Characters
Bryn Davis is a 26-year-old woman who has inherited a business and moved house. Yup, she and Mr. French, her very protective pet bulldog, are living at Patrick's these days. Annalie is her flaky sister who has been kidnapped by Mercer and Revived.
Patrick McCallister quit Pharmadene just before it all went down and he's trying to protect Bryn with whom he's in love He's got one helluva past. Liam is his butler, er, I mean, his trust administrator. It does lead to some fun, snarky comments.
Joe Fideli is a mercenary who worked for Patrick; now he's undercover as a bodyguard for Bryn at the Davis Funeral Home and functioning as Bryn's second-in-command. He's happily married to Kylie and they have three kids: Jeff, Harry, and baby Juliet. And, yeah, Kylie knows all about his type of security. Lucy is the very knowledgeable receptionist. Gertie Kleiman is the newest hire (and a right bitch) and William Nguyen is their latest embalmer.
Manny Glickman is a brilliant and excessively paranoid scientist who is something of a sociopath. He does, however, have a couple of saving graces, one of which is Pansy Taylor who loves him right back and panders to his paranoia. Manny keeps experimenting with Returné, trying to find a way to get around the Protocols included with the drug and make it easier for Bryn to take.
Seems Riley Block isn't the embalmer we thought she was. Now she's the FBI agent handling Bryn. Well, that's if Bryn wants to continue life as she knows it. That's the deal with the FBI. They'll supply her with the drug if she does the occasional odd job for them.
Raymond Zaragosa is the FBI agent, an accountant, in charge of this government takeover of Pharmadene, the pharmaceutical company which discovered Returné, a drug that brings people back from the dead. They're dismantling the company, shutting it down. It's just that the Revived person needs to keep taking the drug. Every single day. It used to be Pharamdene kept tabs on every aspect of every employee's life right up to and beyond death. Now, it's the government. Jeremy is Zaragosa's assistant.
The other Revived include:
Lynnette Refner, Carl, Jason Drake, and Chandra Patel. Each has a different experience with their new unlife.
Jonathan Mercer is one of the drug's creators and Mercer is on the run with Fast Freddy Watson, the creepy restoration man who is also Revived. Jane Franklin is a sadistic psychopath with some horrible secrets.
The Cover
The cover is early dawn at a cemetery with Bryn looking quite cocky in her three-quarter profile pose as she stands before the cemetery's wrought iron fence. She's wearing a short, tight black skirt (oh, yeah, that oughta be easy to run in) and a burgundy leather jacket, her long blonde hair caught in the breeze as she holds a gun pointed toward the sky.
The title is actually rather funny in this gruesome, little story as it plays off the whole "you're fired" routine. In many ways, that's exactly what's happened in this installment, only they haven't actually been given Two Weeks' Notice.
My Take
Well, it's better than Working Stiff at least in that Bryn is not behaving as stupidly and out of character---yes, I expect a soldier to have a few certain characteristics. This time, Bryn is actually listening to Patrick and willing to be careful. She doesn't even get angry that Joe and Patrick were thinking ahead about Annalise. What does surprise me is her anger about Jane. That I don't understand at all.
There is quite a bit of action in this one, resolving some issues and creating even more horrendous new ones. Yet there is still something lacking from this. A warmth that would really pull me into the story. And I do want to be pulled in---just don't make me touch Riley or Bryn at the end!!
I can't believe that Bryn and Patrick haven't done the nasty yet! She's simply living in his house because it's the safest place for her and anyone around her. I did enjoy Patrick's romantic assessment and decision. Just the opposite of what one would expect from a man.
It's a little bit funeral home---it's certainly interesting seeing it from the administrative side with all the concerns they have to consider from the noisy mistress to how to cope with sudden losses---and it's a lot bit secret agent with a great deal of rescuing going on in this one. Not all of them successful. New enemies, new allies. All unexpected.
Ya know, I couldn't imagine Caine managing to top the ick factor she presented in Working Stiff. After reading this, I realize I just don't have an imagination.
At last! We finally see Bryn acting like the soldier she was when she senses an ambush. And it just gets worse. Too bad Riley was so very FBI.
The Story
Yup, it's Davis Funeral Home now. Formerly known as Fairview. With her former boss dead and the FBI arranging for her to take the funeral home over, it only made sense to change the name.
Unfortunately, it's about the only thing that does make sense. Bryn has formed a self-help group for Returné victims and the group suffers its ups and downs as people show or stay away. She's forced to take on a job for the FBI and it seems even they can't trust each other. Mom is wondering why Annalie never calls.
Then the FBI wants Bryn to check out Graydon Industrial Waste Services for anomalies. What she finds is a lot more than a simple irregularity. It's enough to blow up Bryn's world. It could be the end of Jeff's world too when he's kidnapped by a sadist.
The Characters
Bryn Davis is a 26-year-old woman who has inherited a business and moved house. Yup, she and Mr. French, her very protective pet bulldog, are living at Patrick's these days. Annalie is her flaky sister who has been kidnapped by Mercer and Revived.
Patrick McCallister quit Pharmadene just before it all went down and he's trying to protect Bryn with whom he's in love He's got one helluva past. Liam is his butler, er, I mean, his trust administrator. It does lead to some fun, snarky comments.
Joe Fideli is a mercenary who worked for Patrick; now he's undercover as a bodyguard for Bryn at the Davis Funeral Home and functioning as Bryn's second-in-command. He's happily married to Kylie and they have three kids: Jeff, Harry, and baby Juliet. And, yeah, Kylie knows all about his type of security. Lucy is the very knowledgeable receptionist. Gertie Kleiman is the newest hire (and a right bitch) and William Nguyen is their latest embalmer.
Manny Glickman is a brilliant and excessively paranoid scientist who is something of a sociopath. He does, however, have a couple of saving graces, one of which is Pansy Taylor who loves him right back and panders to his paranoia. Manny keeps experimenting with Returné, trying to find a way to get around the Protocols included with the drug and make it easier for Bryn to take.
Seems Riley Block isn't the embalmer we thought she was. Now she's the FBI agent handling Bryn. Well, that's if Bryn wants to continue life as she knows it. That's the deal with the FBI. They'll supply her with the drug if she does the occasional odd job for them.
Raymond Zaragosa is the FBI agent, an accountant, in charge of this government takeover of Pharmadene, the pharmaceutical company which discovered Returné, a drug that brings people back from the dead. They're dismantling the company, shutting it down. It's just that the Revived person needs to keep taking the drug. Every single day. It used to be Pharamdene kept tabs on every aspect of every employee's life right up to and beyond death. Now, it's the government. Jeremy is Zaragosa's assistant.
The other Revived include:
Lynnette Refner, Carl, Jason Drake, and Chandra Patel. Each has a different experience with their new unlife.
Jonathan Mercer is one of the drug's creators and Mercer is on the run with Fast Freddy Watson, the creepy restoration man who is also Revived. Jane Franklin is a sadistic psychopath with some horrible secrets.
The Cover
The cover is early dawn at a cemetery with Bryn looking quite cocky in her three-quarter profile pose as she stands before the cemetery's wrought iron fence. She's wearing a short, tight black skirt (oh, yeah, that oughta be easy to run in) and a burgundy leather jacket, her long blonde hair caught in the breeze as she holds a gun pointed toward the sky.
The title is actually rather funny in this gruesome, little story as it plays off the whole "you're fired" routine. In many ways, that's exactly what's happened in this installment, only they haven't actually been given Two Weeks' Notice.
kat7890erina's review against another edition
4.0
The plot sure picked up nicely in this one! Working Stiff was a light and easy read, but Two Weeks' Notice brought the action and the heat. Bring on the finale!
bookjunkie57's review against another edition
4.0
Two Weeks Notice
Revivalist, Book 3
I Picked Up This Book Because: Continue the series.
Media Type: Audiobook
Source: Hoopla via HC Public Library
Dates Read: 4/4/24 - 4/5/24
Stars: 4 Stars
Narrator(s): Julia Whelan
The Characters:
Brynn:
Patrick “Pat”:
Joe,
The Story:
I love that I was able to pick right back up with this story even though I read the first book almost ten years ago. This is a complicated plot with many layers. Some of the details reminded me of an episode of the TV show Leverage.
Revivalist, Book 3
I Picked Up This Book Because: Continue the series.
Media Type: Audiobook
Source: Hoopla via HC Public Library
Dates Read: 4/4/24 - 4/5/24
Stars: 4 Stars
Narrator(s): Julia Whelan
The Characters:
Brynn:
Patrick “Pat”:
Joe,
The Story:
I love that I was able to pick right back up with this story even though I read the first book almost ten years ago. This is a complicated plot with many layers. Some of the details reminded me of an episode of the TV show Leverage.
whatsmacksaid's review against another edition
DNF on page 47 due to boredom and a general irritation/sadness that what is essentially a medical condition is billed as an addiction. That, and the main character responds poorly to a domestic abuse/murder-suicide event--Bryn acts as a therapist when she clearly doesn't have the training or temperament for it, and becomes angry with a woman whose husband killed her, their children, and then himself because she... I'm not even sure. Because she didn't tell her husband that she was technically dead in a manner that would keep him from reacting badly to the news? That's some serious victim blaming, and was presented with no self-reflection on Bryn's part (e.g. maybe she should have listened to the woman's concerns before insisting she tell her husband she's dead!).
laurenjodi's review against another edition
4.0
Two Weeks' Notice
4 Stars
It’s business as usual for Bryn Davis at the funeral home until the FBI pull her in with a “request”, and she finds herself immeshed in a new conspiracy fighting against a lethal foe with ties that are a little too close to home.
A good continuation to the series but fair warning The Revivalists is not for the faint of heart or the weak of stomach. The tone is dark and gritty, and the descriptions are quite gory and gruesome, particularly toward the end.
The plot starts out a little slow as Bryn copes with the aftermath of events from Working Stiff but the action heats up quickly and Bryn is soon dodging bullets, surviving explosions and escaping deranged interrogators at government facilities. There are also developments in her personal life as she and Patrick grow closer both emotionally and physically.
The secondary characters are engaging, especially Patrick’s right hand, Joe Fidelli, and his left, the Alfred-like Liam. The villain is seriously disturbed, which says a lot since the sickos from book #1 were bad enough, and there is a wicked little twist associated with the character as well.
The third and final book is already out and it will be interesting to see how Bryn handles the changes wrought in this installment.
4 Stars
It’s business as usual for Bryn Davis at the funeral home until the FBI pull her in with a “request”, and she finds herself immeshed in a new conspiracy fighting against a lethal foe with ties that are a little too close to home.
A good continuation to the series but fair warning The Revivalists is not for the faint of heart or the weak of stomach. The tone is dark and gritty, and the descriptions are quite gory and gruesome, particularly toward the end.
The plot starts out a little slow as Bryn copes with the aftermath of events from Working Stiff but the action heats up quickly and Bryn is soon dodging bullets, surviving explosions and escaping deranged interrogators at government facilities. There are also developments in her personal life as she and Patrick grow closer both emotionally and physically.
The secondary characters are engaging, especially Patrick’s right hand, Joe Fidelli, and his left, the Alfred-like Liam. The villain is seriously disturbed, which says a lot since the sickos from book #1 were bad enough, and there is a wicked little twist associated with the character as well.
The third and final book is already out and it will be interesting to see how Bryn handles the changes wrought in this installment.
val_booksandtea's review
4.0
The plot thickens, Bryn's sister is now involved with the Returne drug, she has complicated feelings for her investigation partner, and the lies and deceit run deep in everyone around her. There are clearly very evil things going on. but can she survive long enough to unmask those involved, when they are the ones who are also keeping her alive? Power moves and political plays are at large, and everyone with money wants to be involved. Who's really in control, and are their motives pure? Only Bryn can find out. And the more she knows, the greater she is at risk.
thegeekyblogger's review against another edition
4.0
Listened/Read for Fun (Audible/Paperback)
Tracking Books Read Review (Short)
Overall Rating: 4.25
Story Rating: 4.00
Character Rating: 4.50
Audio Rating: 4.00 (not part of the overall rating)
First Thought when Finished: OH MY Two Week's Notice was such a good listen! I am so glad I had Terminated ready to go when I finished.
Overall Thoughts: I have pretty much devoured this series back to back. Two Weeks Notice did exactly what the middle book in a trilogy should do: advance the story. We got more action, romance, back story, and emotion. Middle books should always be the "meat" of the trilogy and this one delivered. Bryn (the leading lady) is probably one of my favorite characters in Urban Fantasy. She is kick ass but mostly she is just dealing with the hand that she has been dealt. I tend to admire the leading ladies that are "human" about their circumstances. The rest of the cast of characters are great too. My favorite thing about Rachel Caine is she writes characters that I care about and want to root for! The Revivalist series though is probably my favorite!
Audio Thoughts:
Julia does a fantastic job with Bryn and the rest of the characters in this series. Her pacing and rhythm are very well done. She also has one of those voices that you can listen to on higher speeds and it doesn't distort at all. Overall very well done.
Final Thoughts: I love this series!
Tracking Books Read Review (Short)
Overall Rating: 4.25
Story Rating: 4.00
Character Rating: 4.50
Audio Rating: 4.00 (not part of the overall rating)
First Thought when Finished: OH MY Two Week's Notice was such a good listen! I am so glad I had Terminated ready to go when I finished.
Overall Thoughts: I have pretty much devoured this series back to back. Two Weeks Notice did exactly what the middle book in a trilogy should do: advance the story. We got more action, romance, back story, and emotion. Middle books should always be the "meat" of the trilogy and this one delivered. Bryn (the leading lady) is probably one of my favorite characters in Urban Fantasy. She is kick ass but mostly she is just dealing with the hand that she has been dealt. I tend to admire the leading ladies that are "human" about their circumstances. The rest of the cast of characters are great too. My favorite thing about Rachel Caine is she writes characters that I care about and want to root for! The Revivalist series though is probably my favorite!
Audio Thoughts:
Narrated By Julia Whelan /Length: 9 hrs and 52 mins
Julia does a fantastic job with Bryn and the rest of the characters in this series. Her pacing and rhythm are very well done. She also has one of those voices that you can listen to on higher speeds and it doesn't distort at all. Overall very well done.
Final Thoughts: I love this series!
lizzy_22's review against another edition
4.0
Two Weeks' Notice was an excellent follow up to the first novel in Caine's Revivalist series which introduced us to our ex-military heroine Bryn and her battle to live her 'life' after being murdered and revived with an experimental reanimation drug. Rachel Caine does no wrong here as we see Bryn plunged into another shadowy conspiracy that threatens to end her existence and the other unfortunate employees of the now defunct Pharmadene.
This was an exciting and at times gruesome ride and I love that Bryn is not the type of girl to allow herself to go down without a fight or sink into self pity and despair! What I thought would be a one note premise has definitely gone in a very interesting direction at the end of this installment and what happens next as Bryn struggles to figure out the new paradigm of her existence will prove to be a very exciting read!!
This was an exciting and at times gruesome ride and I love that Bryn is not the type of girl to allow herself to go down without a fight or sink into self pity and despair! What I thought would be a one note premise has definitely gone in a very interesting direction at the end of this installment and what happens next as Bryn struggles to figure out the new paradigm of her existence will prove to be a very exciting read!!
andimontgomery's review against another edition
4.0
This was much better than the first - I literally couldn't put it down through the last third! Bryn is more likable, capable, admirable in this one. She's a badass zombie who can and will do anything to protect others. This is a clever series, and I can't wait to read the conclusion!
sammymus's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5