Play Dead or How to Make a Zombie
Written: Aug 06 '07
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Storyline, characters, well described settings
Cons: Elise's daughter
The Bottom Line: Another Anne Frasier book to put on your reading list.
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| cmaw63's Full Review: Anne Frasier - Play Dead |
Anne Frasier captured my attention with her debut novel, Hush. She maintained my interest with other books she has written. Play Dead established her place on my top authors list. Rarely have I come across an author that can write several books, yet keep an element of difference and surprise between each one. Play Dead not only entertained me, it educated me. From the introduction of the main character, homicide detective Elise Sandburg, to the final page of this well written mystery book, I was eager to read more.
Elise has lived in Savannah, Georgia all of her life. Immediately after her birth she was placed in a cemetary to perish, only to be found and adopted by a loving family. Rumors swirling around her birth included her being the love child of a powerful root doctor. Dabbling in spells and potions as a teenager Elise eventually found her way to a "straight" life as a homicide detective.
Partnered with detective David Gould, who has real demons past and present of his own, Elise struggles to make them work as a team. When someone starts poisoning the people of Savannah, with a potion that appears to cause death, can she pull her partner out of his past long enough to solve the present case?
Elise finds unlikely help in Strata Luna. A mysterious, feared woman that holds more mysteries than she does answers. Is Strata Luna the one turning people into zombies to aid her in her illegal ventures or is she tangled in a mess that even her magic couldn't foresee?
Play Dead kept me involved and turning pages. The characters were given rich backgrounds that enhanced their present day lives in Savannah. Elise struggled to maintain a relationship with her teenage daughter, her partner, and herself. She learned more about herself and where she came from in a few days than she had known her 30+ years. David is lost in a fog of pain, remembering his young son that was killed. He realizes that his job as a detective is more important than he thought, only when it is too late to try to save it.
The history of Savannah and root (witch) doctors is carefully weaved into the story. I learned which root can be used to mimic death in a person, essentially creating a zombie when enough has worn off. The descriptions Anne Frasier uses in setting the tone of a place enabled me to see the story. Windows in the church were broken. The front door hung by a hinge. Sweet grass grew from the foundation, and live oaks, with their black curtains of moss, cast long shadows. A strong ocean wind blew without pause.
Play Dead is another hit for Anne Frasier. With the well placed plot twists, I was never quite sure who the villian was. It is a story that will keep you interested and teach you about root medicine. It even comes with "Elise's Follow-Me-Boy Mojo" spell if you care to give it a try.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
cmaw63
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 in Pets, Home and Garden, Books |
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Member: Julie
Location: Illinois, USA
Reviews written: 307
Trusted by: 71 members
About Me:
Looking forward to my first grandbaby. She's due November 24!
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