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k2_hancock's review against another edition
3.0
I try to look at scenes in books and try cutting them out in my head, figuring out if the book would still make just as much sense without the scene. To me, that's what the whole ghost storyline was. You can cut it out and you would still have a good story.
Mike's story was very much enjoyable as he navigated through his kinda relationship with his kinda girlfriend, his job, and his own existential crisis. The ghost storyline felt like an afterthought, with little snippets of ghost sitings, and with the "climatic" battle between human and ghost gang being told through a police report that honestly felt more distracting than enhancing.
It was an alright read and I will admit I couldn't put it down. However I kept wondering "when is something going HAPPEN?". Skip it if you want a lot of cop vs ghost action.
Mike's story was very much enjoyable as he navigated through his kinda relationship with his kinda girlfriend, his job, and his own existential crisis. The ghost storyline felt like an afterthought, with little snippets of ghost sitings, and with the "climatic" battle between human and ghost gang being told through a police report that honestly felt more distracting than enhancing.
It was an alright read and I will admit I couldn't put it down. However I kept wondering "when is something going HAPPEN?". Skip it if you want a lot of cop vs ghost action.
magpiesnest's review against another edition
3.0
Vivid descriptions, interesting characters, wonky pacing, disappointing plot.
joelkarpowitz's review against another edition
2.0
Great concept that I felt like Dorst squandered. The "other worldly" portion wasn't fleshed out, and there was too much of Michael's annoying issues. Disappointing.
emjay24's review against another edition
1.0
whether it was the style of the writing or i dont know what, i couldnt get into this book. so dull. the cover art is great and it's set right outside of san francisco, but then after that it went downhill. couldn't finish it.
fxp's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed reading it. It's set around Colma and depicts the life of a cop with its personal struggles, and how the afterlife plays a role in it.
magnetgrrl's review against another edition
3.0
I'm pretty sure I *did* finish this, I just didn't like it and don't remember it well. I also thought I gave this book away but found it recently in the back of a closet. I think I read this when I was dating Jenn so like 2007? 2008?
marmoset737's review against another edition
The SF location and history was cool, but I could just tell this was going to be a "dude" book from the way the author kept expressing shock and horror at the fact that the main character was dating a woman ten years older than him.
kevinsmokler's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
blueskygreentreesyellowsun's review against another edition
5.0
Really really good. Every time I thought the plot was going to go one way it went somewhere different (well almost every time, I did predict a few turns), and the place where it went was very intense. Actually, "intense" is the single word that best fits this book. It's not scary or gruesome like many books that deal with the dead, but it will make your heart pound.
One tip for any potential readers: If you have fears of death, vivid and paralyzing fears, then it would be wise to read this book mostly during the daytime. Reading this book at night in the peacefulness of your apartment will possibly bring on crippling panic attacks. Still read it, it's a great book, but just do it on your train to work or at a buzzing coffeehouse or something.
One tip for any potential readers: If you have fears of death, vivid and paralyzing fears, then it would be wise to read this book mostly during the daytime. Reading this book at night in the peacefulness of your apartment will possibly bring on crippling panic attacks. Still read it, it's a great book, but just do it on your train to work or at a buzzing coffeehouse or something.
megmcardle's review against another edition
3.0
This was one of those books that pulled me in immediately, but failed to keep my love. The concept of a cop in the (very real) Colma, California - a city of cemetaries - who is pulled into the law enforcement woes of ghosts could have been great. Unfortunately, I thought he created a bunch of incredibly vivid characters but failed to have them doing anything particularly interesting. There was this young cop's real life, and then there is the life of the ghosts, and there really wasn't enough going on in either or enough interesting intersections between the two worlds to make it a 4 star book for me. If it is a first novel, it is an author I will definitely try again.