Deader Still

by Anton Strout

Book Overview

It's hard to defeat evil on a budget. Just ask Simon Canderous. FROM THE AUTHOR OF DEAD TO ME. It's been 737 days since the Department of Extraordinary Affairs' last vampire incursion, but that streak... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0073N5LL0
• ISBN13: 9780441016914
• Release Date: February 2009
• Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 4.2" x 7.4"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

4.5 stars

Deader Still picks up just a few months after the end of Dead To Me and we find Simon still with the Department of Extraordinary Affairs but also a new member of the Fraternal Order of Goodness. The F.O.G. is a kind of good guys super club, they have been around far longer than the government paranormal agencies and allow Simon to play a little fast and loose with the rules. We also find Simon a relationship with Jane, the "agent of Darkness" from book 1 as she attempts to find her place on the side of good. And here comes my embarrassing confession..... I don't like Jane. I really don't like her. Maybe I am just jealous because I totally want a Simon to call my own, but I just can not seem to get over my dislike of her. I don't know what it is about her character but I am hoping Anton Strout has some evil plan in mind for her in the future. Unlike Jane, the character of Connor continues to intrigue me. I really do like him almost as much as Simon, especially because he is always there for Simon. I really enjoyed the tension between Simon and Connor as Simon finds himself in the awkward position of being in charge because of his position with the F.O.G.. Deader Still gives me that little bit of depth I was looking for in Dead to Me and I found myself completely absorbed in the story. The mystery is better and the writing is tighter. Deader Still takes the Simon Canderous series up a notch, delivering on the promise that I saw in Dead to Me. The tiny cliffhanger of hope at the end of this one has me anxiously awaiting book 3, Dead Matter.

No sophmore slump at the Department

Anton Strout's second Simon Canderous novel returns us to Strout's paranormal NYC, where various things are going bump in the night. The second novel is a great adventure, following up on the characters from the first with added depth and color. I'd highly recommend this novel.

Deader Still is unique from a lot of the urban fantasy genre.

Simon Canderous returns in Deader Still, the sequel to Dead to Me. Who would have thought that working for the Department of Extraordinary Affairs involved so much red tape. Simon is lucky he is still able to use his psychometry after he gets done with the paperwork involved with closing a case. When Simon and Connor are called to investigate a boat cruise in the harbor, Simon will get a chance to make himself shine. He will be able to use his brand-spanking-new abilities from the F.O.Ggies when he discovers what may be vampires in New York City. However, will he be able to give orders to his mentor, Connor? I give Deader Still 5 tombstones. I love this series! It has a little bit of everything for the paranormal junkie. Simon is impulsive and reckless, and I am almost always amazed that he gets out of scrapes without being seriously maimed and injured. Anton Strout does a fantastic job of further developing his characters in book two. Jane, the ex-cultist, is developed further in this book since she is Simon's girlfriend. It is intriguing to watch her as she struggles with the "darker" side of herself. However, it does seem to come in handy when Jane has to do some dirty fighting. We do not get to see much of Simon's partner, Connor, in this book, but it allows for further development of other characters that were briefly introduced previously. Deader Still is unique from a lot of the urban fantasy genre. It pokes fun at the bureaucratic red tape of the government; for example, how many forms Simon has to fill out from Supply and how long will it take to get the item once it has been requested. Since book two ends in a sort of cliff hanger, I look forward to the third book and seriously hope that the publishing company changes its mind and readers do not have to wait another year before it comes out. But then again, good things come to those who wait. This is a fantastic series, and I think it has a lot of promise. Just be sure that if you are going to read this book, that you have read Dead to Me first. I highly recommend that you go and get both books! Reviewed at Bitten by Books Paranormal Fiction Review Site by Virginia

Simon Sez

Simon is the kind of guy I love to hang out with. A geeky but cute paranormal investigator with more heart than sense and a little insecure. I can't help but forgive his head strong quirks, questionable choices and jealousy. After all he has to deal with unreliable paranormal powers, zombies, vampires, gypsies, ex girlfriends, a new girlfriend, a suspicious partner and all on a budget, in the middle of the city and with no real plan. Quite the ride!