Living with the Dead (Women of the Otherworld, Book 9) Summary and Reviews

Living with the Dead (Women of the Otherworld, Book 9)
by Kelley Armstrong

Living with the Dead (Women of the Otherworld, Book 9)
List Price: $22.00
Our Price: $13.12
You Save: $8.88 (40%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $6.99 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions


(Click here)

Book Summary Information

Author: Kelley Armstrong
Edition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2008-10-21
ISBN: 0553806645
Number of pages: 384
Publisher: Spectra

Book Reviews of Living with the Dead (Women of the Otherworld, Book 9)

Book Review: Good but not her best.
Summary: 4 Stars

I've been a fan of Kelley Armstrong's books for years but I'm sad to say that this book is not her best. It's a good book and I passed an enjoyable evening curled up on the sofa reading this but it doesn't come up to the extremely high standards which she has set in so many of her previous books.

In 'Living with the Dead' Hope Adams (and her boyfriend Karl Marsten) is in L.A. temporarily on assignment for work, but she also there to check up on her friend Robyn Peltier who's husband was killed a few months previously. When one of Robyn's clients is murdered and Robyn becomes the prime suspect after fleeing the scene of the murder, Hope and Karl try to clear her name. Also trying to find Robyn is homicide detective John Findlay (Finn) who happens to be a necromancer. Finn is being helped track Robyn down and solve the murder by the ghost of Robyn's dead husband Damon. (I love this idea - a necromancer solving crimes with the help of a ghost sidekick!)

Robyn, Finn and Damon are interesting characters and good additions to this series, but with so many other characters center stage you never get to know any of them very well. This leads on to my first problem with this book, which is the number of point of views that are used to tell the story (Hope, Robyn, Finn, Adele, Colm). I felt that this made the story a bit too disjointed hopping from one person to another every other chapter. In her earlier books the story is told far more from one or two characters perspectives and you get to know the characters in far more depth. I've not been able to warm to Hope as much as to previous characters and I think it's partially because of the constant switching perspectives that have been used in the books which feature her.

My other problem with this book is the villain of the piece, yes she comes across as ruthless and manipulative and generally nasty but not terribly scary all things considered, and not really big and bad enough to be the major villain in a supernatural story. Maybe this was a conscious decision - that because the main character Robyn is human the supernatural baddies actions have to be scaled down more appropriately to something potentially just an everyday human criminal.

Despite the faults i've mentioned this is a good book and if you're a fan of the series already like me then you will probably enjoy it too. If you haven't read anything by Kelley Armstrong before I'd recommend that you start with Bitten and work your way through the series.

Science Fiction & Fantasy Books

Book Subjects
Most talked about in Upcoming Urban Fantasy 2008 - Part II
Evil Ways ImageEvil Ways
by Justin Gustainis
Solaris; Published: 2009-01-05; Paperback; Book
New Tricks ImageNew Tricks
by John Levitt
Ace; Published: 2008-11-25; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.99
On the Prowl (Tales of an Urban Werewolf, Book 2) ImageOn the Prowl (Tales of an Urban Werewolf, Book 2)
by Karen Macinerney
Ballantine Books; Published: 2008-11-25; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.99
Better Off Undead ImageBetter Off Undead
DAW; Published: 2008-11-04; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.99
Magic to the Bone ImageMagic to the Bone
by Devon Monk
Roc; Published: 2008-11-04; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.99
Living with the Dead (Women of the Otherworld, Book 9) ImageLiving with the Dead (Women of the Otherworld, Book 9)
by Kelley Armstrong
Spectra; Published: 2008-10-21; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $14.96
Price in other shops: $22.00
Brimstone Kiss: Delilah Street, Paranormal Investigator ImageBrimstone Kiss: Delilah Street, Paranormal Investigator
by Carole Nelson Douglas
Juno Books; Published: 2008-10-29; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.99
Wolfsbane and Mistletoe ImageWolfsbane and Mistletoe
Ace Hardcover; Published: 2008-10-07; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $16.47
Price in other shops: $24.95
Midnight's Daughter (Dorina Basarab, Dhampir, Book 1) ImageMidnight's Daughter (Dorina Basarab, Dhampir, Book 1)
by Karen Chance
Onyx; Published: 2008-10-07; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.99
Similar books summaries and other product reviews
Hotter Than Hell ImageHotter Than Hell
Harper; Published: 2008-07-01; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.84
Price in other shops: $7.99
Bone Crossed (Mercy Thompson, Book 4) ImageBone Crossed (Mercy Thompson, Book 4)
by Patricia Briggs
Ace Hardcover; Published: 2009-02-03; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $16.47
Price in other shops: $24.95
From Dead to Worse (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 8) ImageFrom Dead to Worse (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 8)
by Charlaine Harris
Ace Hardcover; Published: 2008-05-06; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $13.58
Price in other shops: $24.95
White Witch, Black Curse (Rachel Morgan, Book 7) ImageWhite Witch, Black Curse (Rachel Morgan, Book 7)
by Kim Harrison
Eos; Published: 2009-03-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $16.47
Price in other shops: $24.95
Men of the Otherworld ImageMen of the Otherworld
by Kelley Armstrong
Spectra; Published: 2009-01-27; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $14.96
Price in other shops: $22.00
Blood Noir (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, Book 16) ImageBlood Noir (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, Book 16)
by Laurell K. Hamilton
Berkley Hardcover; Published: 2008-05-27; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $13.50
Price in other shops: $25.95
Cry Wolf (Alpha and Omega, Book 1) ImageCry Wolf (Alpha and Omega, Book 1)
by Patricia Briggs
Ace; Published: 2008-07-29; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.43
Price in other shops: $7.99
Swallowing Darkness (Meredith Gentry, Book 7) ImageSwallowing Darkness (Meredith Gentry, Book 7)
by Laurell K. Hamilton
Ballantine Books; Published: 2008-11-04; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $17.16
Price in other shops: $26.00
Personal Demon (Women of the Otherworld, Book 8) ImagePersonal Demon (Women of the Otherworld, Book 8)
by Kelley Armstrong
Spectra; Published: 2008-03-25; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $7.95
Price in other shops: $20.00
The Summoning (Darkest Powers, Book 1) ImageThe Summoning (Darkest Powers, Book 1)
by Kelley Armstrong
HarperCollins; Published: 2008-07-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $10.28
Price in other shops: $17.99