Genre: Paranormal, Romance
LGBTQ+ Category: MM Gay
Reviewer: Maryann
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About The Book
Nord wakes up to find himself sort of dead. Well, that is to say, he’s dead, alright — murdered, in fact — but not in heaven, at least not yet. In this limbo-like state, he meets Max and learns that everyone there is waiting for the final poof, hopefully to a better place. Only, with unfinished business back in the real world, like bringing his murderer to justice, Nord’s poof is nowhere in sight. So he and Max set out to find the killer and make things right again. Of course, that’s easier said than done when you’re nothing more than a couple of randy spirits.
With the help of Voltan, a diminutive mystic with a predilection for turbans, and Clark, a nerdy computer geek eager to shed his loner past, plus a ghost accountant Bruce, Bruce’s drag queen brother Eve O’Destruction, and Nord’s kick-ass mom, the newly enamored pair set out to hunt for the murderer, and are quick to discover how much they’d taken for granted when they were alive.
In this hysterically funny and often poignant mystery about fate and love and family, it ultimately takes dying for our heroes to have the times of their lives.
The Review
When I first started reading this story, I thought it was a little silly and was just going to be a fun read, but I was very surprised where Rob Rosen took this story, filled with many questions for Nord and Max!
Nord is “sort of dead”, as is Max who finds him. They and many others seem to be in a state of waiting, because it’s not heaven, hell, purgatory, or limbo. No St. Peter and no pearly gates or walking into the light. Both Nord and Max have an idea about getting to that final “poof” destination by finding some type of closure.
Everyone waiting to go “poof” has different reasons for why they ended up in the “sort of” state. But Nord’s is very different and he may not be able to find closure since he was murdered and the guilty party or parties have not been found.
In their exploration of their strange predicament, Nord and Max return to the “world of the living” and find Clark living in Max’s apartment. After they work together to get Clark’s undivided attention, they get him to call in a medium.
The cape and turban wearing Voltan shows up. With the help of Clark and Voltan, Max and Nord find out there are many things they can accomplish by working together.
The storyline wraps around a very famous movie from 1990, and several celebrities are mentioned at random.
Along this fun, humorous and dangerous adventure, Nord has made many friends, living and “sort of dead”. It has Nord looking back on his “alive” life and how he would have liked to be friends with those he meets.
He and Max gradually become more than friends and the . But the question remains – if Nord’s murderer is caught and he finds closure to go “poof”, what will happen to Max?
Rosen comes up with some interesting conclusions that all connect to closure for his characters.
There’s sadness and some emotional moments for Nord and his mother Sylvia, too. Sylvia was a wonderful addition to this novel. Besides the interesting characters of Clark and Voltan there are Bruce and Eve O’Destruction – both are surprising.
Arby’s also plays a very big part in the way of a recharging station, providing rest and comfort to many of the “sort of dead”. There’ also the suspicious characters on the alive side: Chaz, Glenn, Didi and Paula.
This is a first time read for me from Rob Rosen. “Sort of Dead” is excellently done, with creative world building, characters on the paranormal side and a twisted mystery to be solved.
Rob Rosen made “Sort of Dead” a page-turner for me and I can say I was not disappointed at this fascinating look into the paranormal, and what may be the afterlife for Nord and Max.
The Reviewer
Hi, I’m Maryann, I started life in New York, moved to New Hampshire and in 1965 uprooted again to Sacramento, California. Once I retired I moved to West Palm Beach, Florida in 2011 and just moved back to Sacramento in March of 2018. My son, his wife and step-daughter flew out to Florida and we road tripped back so they got to see sights they have never seen. New Orleans and the Grand Canyon were the highlights. Now I am back on the west coast again to stay! From a young age Ialways liked to read.
I remember going to the library and reading the “Doctor Dolittle” books by Hugh Lofting. Much later on became a big fan of the classics, Edgar Alan Poe, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker and as time went by Agatha Christie, Ray Bradbury and Stephen Kingand many other authors.
My first M/M shifter book I read was written by Jan Irving the “Uncommon Cowboys” series from 2012. She was the first author I ever contacted and sent an email to letting her know how much I liked this series. Sometime along the way I read “Zero to the Bone”by Jane Seville, I think just about everyone has read this book!
As it stands right now I’m really into mysteries, grit, gore and “triggers” don’t bother me. But if a blurb piques my interest I will read the book.
My kindle collection eclectic and over three thousand books and my Audible collection is slowly growing. I have both the kindle and audible apps on my ipod, ipads, and MAC. So there is never an excuse not to be listening or reading.
I joined Goodreads around 2012 and started posting reviews. One day a wonderful lady, Lisa Horan of The Novel Approach, sent me an email to see if I wanted to join her review group. Joining her site was such an eye opener. I got introduce to so many new authors that write for the LGBTQ genre. Needless to say, it was heart breaking when it ended.
But I found a really great site, QRI and it’s right here in Sacramento. Last year at QSAC I actually got to meet Scott Coatsworth, Amy Lane and Jeff Adams.