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snoakes7001's review
5.0
Dead is Better is a thriller with a difference. Charlie comes to in a place of nothingness with bullet holes in his gut and a dog by his side. He can't remember what happened, but the one thing he does know is that he is dead. Starting with his funeral, Charlie and Rose (as he names the dog) float about into the world of the living and soon start to uncover the mystery of how they died.
Charlie is a great character - charmingly self-deprecating, he feels he didn't achieve much while he was alive and now he's screwing up being dead too. The plot is cleverly constructed with a satisfying conclusion, and the whole thing has a noir-ish vibe without becoming too bleak.
Every chapter is preceded by a quote about death from a wide variety of sources from J D Salinger to Monty Python via The Venerable Bede which add beautifully to the atmosphere.
A great start to a promising series.
Charlie is a great character - charmingly self-deprecating, he feels he didn't achieve much while he was alive and now he's screwing up being dead too. The plot is cleverly constructed with a satisfying conclusion, and the whole thing has a noir-ish vibe without becoming too bleak.
Every chapter is preceded by a quote about death from a wide variety of sources from J D Salinger to Monty Python via The Venerable Bede which add beautifully to the atmosphere.
A great start to a promising series.
sethlynch's review
5.0
This is a fab book, I really enjoyed it.
This book comes in very short chapters, bite-sized episodes, which compelled me to push on with just one more. However, the story itself is compelling. Like all good mysteries, we are drip fed small amounts of information which come together to resolve the case. I’ve read hundreds of crime novels and written a few plus I’ve watched countless crime films and dramas and most times I know who did it and why very early on. I stopped watching the T.V. series Midsomer Murders as I could work out who did it before the opening credits (they kept to a pretty fixed formula). So for most mysteries it isn’t the mystery as such which holds me but how good the writing is and how the author is going to achieve the reveal – so long as it’s not a perfectly sane person secretly being completely insane then I’m usually satisfied. With this book virtually nothing I predicted happened, which made for a pleasant change. The writing was good and the characters intriguing.
This book comes in very short chapters, bite-sized episodes, which compelled me to push on with just one more. However, the story itself is compelling. Like all good mysteries, we are drip fed small amounts of information which come together to resolve the case. I’ve read hundreds of crime novels and written a few plus I’ve watched countless crime films and dramas and most times I know who did it and why very early on. I stopped watching the T.V. series Midsomer Murders as I could work out who did it before the opening credits (they kept to a pretty fixed formula). So for most mysteries it isn’t the mystery as such which holds me but how good the writing is and how the author is going to achieve the reveal – so long as it’s not a perfectly sane person secretly being completely insane then I’m usually satisfied. With this book virtually nothing I predicted happened, which made for a pleasant change. The writing was good and the characters intriguing.
sarahs_bookish_life's review
5.0
I have to say I am quite speechless after reading this novel. I honestly don't know what I was expecting before reading the book but whatever I was expecting, this story went above and beyond.
To wake up to find out your dead must be a massive shock but having to deal with it all on your own, well I would find it more than daunting. The only other being that seems to be in the same position as Charles is a dog.
Don't get me wrong, I think any company would be more than welcome but Charles has so many unanswered questions that I think at first he finds it more than frustrating. He ends up feeling quite lost and the roles are reversed and it is as if he is on a lead instead of the dog, who he names Rose, as he ends up following the dog around.
Dead Is Better is such a gentle story that takes us on a journey unlike any that I certainly have ever been on. We follow Charles and Rose as Charles tries to come to terms with his new way of life as well as trying to find out who killed him.
The star of the story without a doubt has to be Rose. As a dog lover, she had me won over as soon as we meet her. The companionship between Charles and Rose at times has to be one of the most endearing and emotional that I have ever read in an actual novel. Some parts (which there isn't many) to do with the mistreating of animals, I did find quite upsetting but obviously plays a big part to how Rose ends up where she is.
Dead Is Better reminds me very much of programmes like X Factor where a contestant comes on and you dismiss them before they even begin but once started and the further they go on they just totally blow you away.
Absolutely loved it and what's even better is that this is just the first book in the Charlie & Rose Investigate series.
To wake up to find out your dead must be a massive shock but having to deal with it all on your own, well I would find it more than daunting. The only other being that seems to be in the same position as Charles is a dog.
Don't get me wrong, I think any company would be more than welcome but Charles has so many unanswered questions that I think at first he finds it more than frustrating. He ends up feeling quite lost and the roles are reversed and it is as if he is on a lead instead of the dog, who he names Rose, as he ends up following the dog around.
Dead Is Better is such a gentle story that takes us on a journey unlike any that I certainly have ever been on. We follow Charles and Rose as Charles tries to come to terms with his new way of life as well as trying to find out who killed him.
The star of the story without a doubt has to be Rose. As a dog lover, she had me won over as soon as we meet her. The companionship between Charles and Rose at times has to be one of the most endearing and emotional that I have ever read in an actual novel. Some parts (which there isn't many) to do with the mistreating of animals, I did find quite upsetting but obviously plays a big part to how Rose ends up where she is.
Dead Is Better reminds me very much of programmes like X Factor where a contestant comes on and you dismiss them before they even begin but once started and the further they go on they just totally blow you away.
Absolutely loved it and what's even better is that this is just the first book in the Charlie & Rose Investigate series.
verityw's review
4.0
Charles is dead and he's stuck in some kind of limbo with only a dead dog for company. Why is he there? What does the dog want him to find out? And how will he tell anyone when he works it all out? This is another quirky murder mystery from the people at Fahrenheit Press. I didn't love this the way I have loved some of the others, but it's still a lot of fun.
ianayris's review
5.0
Charlie, Charlie’s dead. He’s sort of floating, looking down at himself from the ceiling at his body laying there on the operating table, his chest ripped up with bullet holes. Yep. Charlie is definitely dead. And he’s not happy about it. And then there’s this dog. Sitting there. Watching.
Charlie has a lot of questions, and no answers. How do you get about in this place? Can you make things move? How do you communicate? Who killed him, and why? And what the hell has this dog got to do with anything?
Dead is Better is a book like no other I have ever read. The reader does not turn the page, the reader floats above the page, looking down on the action just as Charlie does. How Perry achieves this effect, I have no idea. The prose is delightfully simple. The chapters are short, cut with a surgeon’s precision. The voice of Charlie is clear but always distant, the reader feels his feelings, but as though through a glass dome. The effect is remarkable - the utter lack of pretentiousness, the absence of any sort of self-absorption on the part of the writer. It is a book completely lacking in ego, almost as if the book has not been written at all, but simply is.
To call this book a murder mystery is to miss the point entirely. This book speaks of friendship and of truth, of loss, of meaning.
And it is beautiful.
Charlie has a lot of questions, and no answers. How do you get about in this place? Can you make things move? How do you communicate? Who killed him, and why? And what the hell has this dog got to do with anything?
Dead is Better is a book like no other I have ever read. The reader does not turn the page, the reader floats above the page, looking down on the action just as Charlie does. How Perry achieves this effect, I have no idea. The prose is delightfully simple. The chapters are short, cut with a surgeon’s precision. The voice of Charlie is clear but always distant, the reader feels his feelings, but as though through a glass dome. The effect is remarkable - the utter lack of pretentiousness, the absence of any sort of self-absorption on the part of the writer. It is a book completely lacking in ego, almost as if the book has not been written at all, but simply is.
To call this book a murder mystery is to miss the point entirely. This book speaks of friendship and of truth, of loss, of meaning.
And it is beautiful.
karlou's review
4.0
When somebody unexpectedly wakes up dead, it's understandable that they will want to know how they died. Charles - Charlie - Stone was murdered and his post-death appearance is a constant reminder of that fact,
'Bullet holes still interrupt my flesh. My sternum is cracked, my chest bruised black and purple from their efforts.
One thing about this place - it's come as you were.'
He has to adjust to his death but also wants to find out who killed him and why. Fortunately, he has gained a companion in the afterlife, an emaciated dog he names Rose. If the circumstances of Charlie's murder are a mystery, the cause of Rose's death is much more upsetting and despite this being a humorous book, there is real anger here at the cruel neglect of animals who do nothing wrong except trust worthless humans.
Charlie lived a privileged lifestyle although he was obviously the less-favoured second son and a result has a jaded, cynical perspective on proceedings. He comes across as a bit of a misandrist but as the novel progresses, I couldn't help but warm to him, particularly when there are clear signs that despite his cantankerous manner, he actually has a more generous, compassionate side to him too.
This sharply witty and clever book has an intriguing plot which despite the many laughs, never shies away from exposing the shocking, darker side of life and the way in which the most vulnerable in society are exploited by those with power.
I loved Rose, of course, despite her horrendous life, she is wise and trusting and thanks to Charlie, regains her doggy sense of humour. I liked Charlie too and Jo Perry's insightful, empathetic writing ensured there were times when I really felt for him, especially when he discovers the truth about his death. Dead is Better is an excellent start to this series and did what all first books should do - left me wanting more!
'Bullet holes still interrupt my flesh. My sternum is cracked, my chest bruised black and purple from their efforts.
One thing about this place - it's come as you were.'
He has to adjust to his death but also wants to find out who killed him and why. Fortunately, he has gained a companion in the afterlife, an emaciated dog he names Rose. If the circumstances of Charlie's murder are a mystery, the cause of Rose's death is much more upsetting and despite this being a humorous book, there is real anger here at the cruel neglect of animals who do nothing wrong except trust worthless humans.
Charlie lived a privileged lifestyle although he was obviously the less-favoured second son and a result has a jaded, cynical perspective on proceedings. He comes across as a bit of a misandrist but as the novel progresses, I couldn't help but warm to him, particularly when there are clear signs that despite his cantankerous manner, he actually has a more generous, compassionate side to him too.
This sharply witty and clever book has an intriguing plot which despite the many laughs, never shies away from exposing the shocking, darker side of life and the way in which the most vulnerable in society are exploited by those with power.
I loved Rose, of course, despite her horrendous life, she is wise and trusting and thanks to Charlie, regains her doggy sense of humour. I liked Charlie too and Jo Perry's insightful, empathetic writing ensured there were times when I really felt for him, especially when he discovers the truth about his death. Dead is Better is an excellent start to this series and did what all first books should do - left me wanting more!
sethdmichaels's review
2.0
A modestly clever mystery novel, the gimmick of which is that it's narrated by a ghost who's accompanied by a ghost dog. It should have just leaned into how slight it is, and been more fun, rather than having aspirations of depth. It's weirdly structured, too, and sort of fell off at the end, in ways that make it obvious that it's setting up to be a series, which I'm not inclined to pursue further.
bibliophilebookclub's review
5.0
I really enjoyed Dead Is Better. It is yet another unique choice from Fahrenheit Press! I read this book in one sitting, it was that engaging for me.
Short chapters make it super easy to read, and there is a quote about death at the beginning of each one which, personally, I thought was a great addition to the book!
Full review on www.bibliophilebookclub.com
Short chapters make it super easy to read, and there is a quote about death at the beginning of each one which, personally, I thought was a great addition to the book!
Full review on www.bibliophilebookclub.com
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