Night of the Living Deed

By: E.J. Copperman

Narrated by: Amanda Ronconi

Length: 10 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's summary

Welcome to the first Haunted Guest House mystery - the getaway every reader can afford.

Newly divorced Alison Kerby wants a second chance for herself and her nine-year-old daughter. She's returned to her hometown on the Jersey Shore to transform a Victorian fixer-upper into a charming-and profitable guest house. One small problem: the house is haunted, and the two ghosts insist Alison must find out who killed them.

©2010 Jeffrey Cohen (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

So Enjoyable!

I am so enjoying the main character's dry sense of humor! Really looking forward to the rest of the series!
I haven't even finished 1st one but wanted to post a review!

Fantastic series!

This is the first book in a fantastic series. I really loved this story, characters, and narrator. Would definitely recommend to anyone who loves ghosts, mysterious, and something easy to listen to!

Fun Story

Very entertaining book. I enjoyed the characters and look forward to hear more of their stories in future books!

Series

I’m enjoying this entire series. It was worth it to me to pay for the last few after hearing so many for free. I will say I often solve the mystery myself before confirmation by the book. However, they do keep me entertained and wanting more. Each book can stand alone, so start the series without worry about the last few not being free.

I really enjoyed it!

I was in need of a light-hearted book, and this was perfect. It kept my attention; the main characters were likable; and it was engaging enough that I’ll continue on with the series. The narrator was perfect as the protagonist. Fun!

Main Character is so Annoying!

The main character is so annoying! She is not funny. She is constantly being overly stubborn and rude. This story could have been good if she wasn't so annoying. It was hard making myself listen to the end.

Irritating characters

It was difficult to finish with all of the inane character dialogue. The daughter was particularly irritating but her mom was a close second.

Fun but no cigar

The start of a new series with ghosts and killers and quirky characters, but it's still missing something. Night of the Living Deed, tells the story of Alison, a single mother who receives a whack on the head and now can see ghosts. And the first ones she meets ask her to solve their murders. All this while she's trying to open up a guest house on the Jersey Shore. Let's do this as a pro and con list.

Pro: the author really loves her characters and wants to explore them, the plot isn't predictable, the book delivers on its promise to be fun without being serious, it's a fast read, there are endless opportunities for stories in the future of the series, the narrator is just great.

Cons: there isn't a lot of plot and when it happens there will inevitably be a scene recapping everything so far, the jokes only work some of the time, the author isn't really exploring the idea of the main character seeing ghosts nearly as much as she could so it feels underwhelming, the mystery isn't a primary focus, there isn't very much suspense even as the narrator's life is threatened and in danger, there isn't much development, and there is very little interpersonal drama.

I might read more of the series, but it didn't grab my attention very well.

Great Diversion from Daily Life

If you could sum up Night of the Living Deed in three words, what would they be?

Good. Clean. Fun.

What three words best describe Amanda Ronconi’s voice?

Smirk, sarcastic... can't think of a third right now

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I did laugh out loud sometimes, which always makes my family wonder about my mental health since they don't listen to or enjoy audiobooks. But hey, as long as I'm in my happy place, they pretty much just let me be.

Any additional comments?

This is a nice light listen, although a little too formulaic for my liking. You know pretty early what's going to happen, and the author and reader both know that you know, so I guess that draws the reader in as though we're in cahoots with the whole thing, but willingly going along for the ride anyway. The story gives you enough insight into the characters that you will want to read more to find out what happens next. I love Amanda's voice, just perfect for the main character, although she lacks range for the other characters, especially children and men. But overall, well matched to the story line.

What I like best is that the author doesn't need to get too far into the grim /violent climax a lot of other mystery writers fall into, messing up a perfectly good story by thinking they need to go out with a big bang or shocking finale. I can't think of how many books I will replay only up until a certain point because I hate the gratuitous violence. Character and plot development doesn't really need that thrown in, just seems to be part of the formula for unimaginative writers these days.

I will buy other books in the series, unless they fall below 8 hours in length

Too many "Huh?" instances... (spoilers)

I can believe in the ghosts, no problem, but I had a hard time thinking this woman - Alison Kerby - has the brains of a gnat. She gets phone calls demanding a 'treasure' the caller believes is in Alison's old house and Alison runs around ringing her hands. "Oh my, oh my, what AM I going to do!". I like mysteries from hard edge Jeff Lindsay's Dexter to the cozy Hamish MacBeth stories so don't get me wrong. This story is too full of areas where you are pulled out of the story with a "Huh? nobody is that stupid". AND - although there is much said - repeatedly - about her poor financial condition and she is supporting a nine year old, she decides in the end to generously 'donate' said treasure (worth quite a lot of money!) so "that way I don’t have to worry about it" She has been throughout the story trying to get this "guesthouse" renovated and ready for paying guests and has constantly said how scared she is that she won't make it. So she gives away a fortune. What??

Plus everything gets very neatly tried up - suddenly - in the end, Very tidy. Very Lifetime for Women.

The ghosts are very nice.