Something Strange and Deadly (Something Strange and Deadly Trilogy, #1)

by Susan Dennard

There's something strange and deadly loose in Philadelphia. . . .

Eleanor Fitt has a lot to worry about.

Her brother has gone missing, her family has fallen on hard times, and her mother is determined to marry her off to any rich young man who walks by. But this is nothing compared to what she's just read in the newspaper:

The Dead are rising in Philadelphia.

And then, in a frightening attack, a zombie delivers a letter to Eleanor . . . from her brother.

Whoever is controlling the Dead army has taken her brother as well. If Eleanor is going to find him, she'll have to venture into the lab of the notorious Spirit-Hunters, who protect the city from supernatural forces. But as Eleanor spends more time with the Spirit-Hunters, including the maddeningly stubborn yet handsome Daniel, the situation becomes dire. And now, not only is her reputation on the line, but her very life may hang in the balance.

• ISBN10: 0062083260
• ISBN13: 9780062083265
• Publish Date: 24 July 2012
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 25 July 2023
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Imprint: Collins
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 400
• Language: English

Reviews

[Amber (The Literary Phoenix)]

I like Truthwitch well enough, but I don't think Something Strange and Deadly is the most impressive of Susan Dennard's work. This one over-promised on zombies, and over-delivered on blushing and "social decorum be damned!". Miss Fitt, our protagonist, was far and away the least interesting character in the book and I think if this story had been told by any other character, we could have had a jolly good time. Unfortunately, we had Eleanor, who couldn't focus on the issue at hand and had to keep reminding herself to go off and worry about her missing brother.

With that said, this is certainly the right book for the right person. I'm so salty when it comes to romance, and I was here for necromancy and zombies and grimoires. Of *course* I was disappointed when I got an emotionally devoid love triangle. But for those who enjoy paranormal romance and want to see more of it in YA, you're going to like this book. It's just not up my alley.

[nitzan_schwarz]

I can definitely see where all the love for this series comes from - a very well balanced story with good, rounded characters, a plot that is engaging but is not always action none stop, and just a hint of shipping to keep us satisfied. The only downside is that it's very predictable, and I had hoped it would prove me wrong.

[Vicki]

3.5 stars

[ladygrey]

I resisted reading this book for quite a while because, well...zombies. But I had enough friends read it and love it and I started following [a:Susan Dennard|4499623|Susan Dennard|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1394447133p2/4499623.jpg]'s blog and really like her so I decided I needed to give it a chance. It was alright.

It was very realistic, in that she properly complained about corsets and blisters and being short of breath - the sort of authentic physical limitations and realities one rarely encounters in novels. But I was never really drawn into this story. The plot moves along at a nice pace and there's plenty of action and dialog. But there isn't a lot of emotion. I found it difficult to connect to what the characters were feeling or anyone's motivation other than Eleanor's. I didn't even understand hers when she started liking the guy because there was nothing leading up to it that said I'm attracted to him or wow he's cute or sweet or jumped in front of a zombie for me. They're kind of there and kind of friends but not really and then... well, I guess he was appropriately jealous of the other guy so there was that.

But, overall, it's an action heavy - emotion light book. Not bad. Not my favorite style. But an interesting world with some fun steam punk elements. And a decent enough story that I want to read the next book. Especially since I waited long enough that the whole series is available so I can read one after the other.

[Kim Deister]

Steampunk and zombies! This may sound like an odd combination, but it is one that works! Petticoats and parasols mixed with steam-powered machines and pulse bombs that kill zombies? Yes, please!

The story is set in the midst of Philadelphia's high society in 1876, the time of chaperoned dates, petticoats, bustles, séances, and burgeoning technology. The Dead have risen, their numbers seemingly increasing every day. The city has hired a group of veritable misfits, The Spirit Hunters, to hunt them down and protect the city. But instead of supporting them, it seems as if they have been brought in mostly for show.

Eleanor and her mother live on the edge of high society, having fallen from favor since her father's business went south and his subsequent death. They are barely hanging on and her eldest brother has seemingly disappeared when they need him most. After receiving a letter from him, delivered by one of the Dead, Eleanor seeks out the Hunters in her desperation to find out what happened to her brother. Her choice changes her life and draws her into a mystery that she never imagined, full of intrigue, surprises, and so many twists and turns.

I loved Eleanor as a main character. In many ways, she reminded me of Arabella Holmes in Boneseeker by Brynn Chapman, which I reviewed here. Both of these characters are very different from most of the women/girls of their time, bucking social norms with their ideas and behavior. I love that rebellious quality in a female protagonist! She is loyal to her family, even to her overbearing and rather icy mother, and she has an extremely strong sense of right and wrong and she refuses to compromise herself. She hated the social classes that dictated so much of her life and yearned for the freedom to live her life how she chose.

The Spirit Hunters truly were a band of misfits in that time. They got no respect from the city leaders, whose city they were trying to save. But this never deterred them from their mission. Joseph was the leader, a black man in a less than tolerant time. Daniel was a convict with a mushy heart of gold. And then there was Jie. There is so much to say about Jie, but it is best left to be discovered!

Things to love...

--The ending. Not exactly a cliffhanger, and not exactly a HEA, it leaves it open nicely for the rest of the series!
--The characters. I loved the different kinds of characters and all of their quirkiness.

My Recommendation: The story is fast-paced and fun, full of unexpected twists and turns. The premise is unlike anything I have read before and I loved that! Steampunk and zombies! I gave it 4.6 mugs!

[Chelsea]

This book was not what I was expecting. I was expecting a zombie book set in a steampunk setting. Sounds pretty cool right? Nope, because that’s not at all what this was. It was an urban fantasy with a little romance,some zombies and a small dash of mystery. Now, the title is something STRANGE and DEADLY but there wasn’t enough strange or deadly in this book. It wasn’t a bad book, I know I’m being a little harsh, but it just wasn’t up to my standards of a zombie book. Last time I checked zombies were scary and the zombies in this book weren’t scary enough.

I did really like the characters however. Eleanor was a great heroine, very smart and easy to like. The others were a little mysterious at the start which made it interesting. I’d recommend this book to anyone who doesn’t like anything too scary. This was more of a cutsy zombie book without going over the top.

[Kelsenator]

Originally posted on my blog Kelsey's Cluttered Bookshelf

Fearing for her brother’s life when he doesn’t come home and leaves her note as if he’s in danger, Eleanor searches out the help of the Spirit-Hunters to help her. With the dead rising and the people fearing the worst, they had recently moved to the city to try and help. During a seance by her mother, an evil spirit is also let loose, and torments her when it gets the chance. When the necromancer controlling the dead starts to act, they all band together to try and stop it. Even Eleanor fights, even when she finds out why it’s happening and who’s behind it.

This book was so good, as soon as you start reading it tosses you right into some zombie action! All the shuffling and falling apart zombie goodness that I’ve gotten to like in books is in this one, but not only that. There’s more supernatural elements, like spirits and necromancers and dark magic which I wasn’t expecting but was just so well put together and I loved every second. There’s even a whole big plot going on behind the scenes with a group called the Gas Ring, and of course dirty politics. And of course there’s lots of explosions!

Eleanor was such a strong lead in this, always trying to find clues and get to the bottom of things when it concerned finding her brother. Including doing things most ladies of that time wouldn’t (carriage stalking for instance). It was so nice to read through her eyes, and all the cool dresses and the way the people acted back then with class and such was a great addition to this. There’s even cross dressing! I always find it amusing when girls from that era try on pants.

Another thing I must comment on was the typesetting, whoever did it gets props from me! One thing we always have to do with certain book/manual jobs at work, is make sure the beginning of a chapter falls on the right side of the book. This book is the first in a long time that actually does this, and not only that but the font that starts the first line of the chapter was so elegant and perfect for the story. Loved this! (I work in the printing industry by the way).

A great book that I highly recommend for fans of Zombies and other supernatural fun!

[littleread1]

Zombies don't bother me. Rotting corpses, vivid descriptions of how to take them out (go for the knees!) , and the smell has never been something that upset my sensibilities. They have also never excited me like other paranormal baddies. They have just never interested me. Don't get me wrong, I know as much about them as the next girl; enough to be ready for the impending zombie apocalypse. But if there were a fight over two books and one had zombies and the other had ghosts/vampires/werewolves/fae/insert other paranormal creature here, I would almost always chose the other book. But I won this one through an ARC Tour on H. D. Dodson's blog, so I thought I would give it a shot.

And I am glad I did. First off, and I don't usually mention it because more often than not I read ebooks, but the cover is great! It is simple, but something about it mesmerizes me. A girl in a beautiful black gown, staring straight at you, which is creepy. Standing in front of an apparently dead tree. Erie and wonderful.

And the story, while mostly predictable, was still quite a bit of fun to follow. I was constantly frustrated for Eleanor, with all the limitations her mother and society placed on her. SO GLAD I didn't live back then. Even without the Dead. I would have been miserable. Though I would probably have been a servant, so I wouldn't have to worry as much about my reputation.

Eleanor was a bit dense sometimes, but it fit with the way her character was raised, so while she frustrated me, it was understandable. I still wanted to smack her a time or two. And for some reason everyone feels they can tell her everything. This girl is so full of secrets I am afraid she might burst. Clarence, the wealthy bachelor, pretends to woo her to get her to keep her mouth shut. He has secret dealings that she catches glimpses of, so he is basically bribing her to keep her mouth shut. Jie tells her part of Joseph's history, even though it doesn't really affect anything. Then later when it comes up, he doesn't question how Eleanor knows.

The Spirit-Hunters are an odd bunch. Joseph, their leader, is Creole, and a Negro to boot. Which makes life for him very difficulty. And I am not sure if I missed it, but the fact that he was colored was not mentioned until late in the book. It would have made things make so much more sense, with all the trouble the city was giving him, had it been mentioned early on. Eleanor never seemed to notice. Despite all the roadblocks he encounters, he has such a good heart. He is always trying to save the people who are making his life and job more difficult. I love him. Jie, whose description made her seem younger than Eleanor, turned out to actually be her age, or a little older. I had a hard time seeing her as any older than 12. She is probably my favorite character in this book. She is awesome. And she can do anything. She is way to smart for her own good. And Daniel ...

Daniel gets his own paragraph. I could tell from their first meeting where he was incredibly rude, that he would be a love interest. That is typical in a YA. He of course has a horrific past that he tries to keep hidden, but does eventually come out. There are things Eleanor learns that she has to come to terms with. She finds it in her heart to forgive him, actually, she never hates him, and waits until she hears his side of the story to come to her own conclusion. She does not instantly love him. I love that he calls her Princess, then Empress. It made me grin.

Now I feel like I have been rambling, so I will wrap it up. I liked the story, the characters, and the fact that while there wasn't a cliffhanger per se, but things were not wrapped up in a pretty little bow. It was predictable, and followed what seems to be the typical YA template. I do plan on reading a sequel, if there is one. I hope there is one. This is a story I would like to see continued. Great debut novel Ms. Dennard. And thanks to Holly for hosting this tour, and I am glad I was able to participate!

[kimbacaffeinate]

Something Strange and Deadly is the first novel in Susan Dennard’s Something Strange and Deadly series. The tale takes place in Philadelphia, PA in the year 1876. I loved this steampunk zombie novel, featuring the feisty, sleuth protagonist Eleanor Fitt. I easily finished this novel in two evenings and look forward to reading more.

We are immediately immersed in the tale as Eleanor waits at the train station for her beloved brother, Elijah to arrive. When he doesn't arrive she heads to the telegram counter for news. The dead alarms begin to ring. This signals that zombies are in the station. Chaos breaks loose as people scramble to escape. Eleanor dives into the telegram booth and hides. When the window shatters and a zombie appears she just about faints. Instead of attacking her, it drops a telegram on her lap. Too frightened to read it she rushes home. Here she reads the message and discovers he won’t be returning. Eleanor begins to believe that the zombies have him. When she sees an article about Spirit Hunters, she sets off to get answers and hopefully some help. The tale that unfolds has moments of suspense, mystery, humor and a smidgeon of romance. The dead are rising from Laurel Hill Cemetery and a necromancer is controlling them. I became completely immersed in the tale as Eleanor tries to stop the dead and save her brother.

Eleanor Fitt is sixteen and lives with her overbearing mother and maid. Her brother Elijah has been away for over two years. The families finances are crumbling and her mother is constantly spending money trying to impress others. I liked Eleanor; she is witty, inquisitive and brave. Her need for answers causes her to be reckless and her free spirit creates tension with her mother. Daniel is an inventor and member of the Spirit Hunters. He is cute, stubborn and quick to temper. He is also protective when it comes to Eleanor. I enjoyed their witty banter and Eleanor’s attraction to him caused me to giggle. While there is a tiny bit of romance, their story is just beginning. Other characters added suspense and mystery.

The world-building while at times predictable kept me entertained. Dennard beautifully captures the era and some of its ridiculous society rules. She does this without overwhelming the reader in details and instead focuses on the characters and plot. The flow of this novel was wonderful. I would have liked more gadgetry but enjoyed the tools the Spirit Hunters used. The characters themselves and mystery kept me turning the pages. Discovering the necromancer and searching for clues was entertaining. The zombies are in the background of this tale, but when they do make appearances the scenes are delightful. While the tale felt complete, Dennard’s ending has hinted at what is to come. While I easily pieced together the clues regarding the necromancer it was fun to discover the reasons.

I recommend Something Strange and Deadly to fans of steampunk, zombies and character driven tales. I loved the mystery and suspense of this novel and the sweet budding romance. I look forward to A Darkness Strange and Lovely the second novel in this series due to publish in 2013.

I want to thank Harper Teen and Edelweiss for providing this ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.

[Suz @ Bookish Revelations]

Something Strange and Deadly is a beautifully written gothic paranormal romance, with subtle hints of sweet romance set in a stunningly visual steampunk atmosphere brimming with zombies. It's powerfully mysterious, suspenseful, and full of amazing colorful characters. It's the Victorian age meets zombies, with gorgeous imagery and original creativity brought to life. It's a novel that speaks for itself, in many ways. The world building is fabulously amazing, the dress attire perfectly executed, and the attention to detail is superb.

Susan Dennard pens a wonderful plot full of mystery and intrigue, with many little twists and turns, that will keep readers on their toes. The zombies represented within these pages, aren't your stereotypical flesh eating diseased variety. Instead, they are the ones being roused from their own grave dwellings and controlled by a sinister necromancer who readers will soon learn, has his own agenda. The mysteries involved and explored are riveting, engaging, and possess their own original flare. The characters add their own amazing qualities to the story being told, as well.

Eleanor is such a fantastic character. She's incredibly feisty and crazy stubborn, as far in terms of dealing with the spirit-hunters. It's nice to see a female heroine not only a little vulnerable and full of innocence and slight naivety, but one who is also brave, extremely independent, and not afraid to take risks especially during the Victorian era. Eleanor was such a delightful character to get to know, one that's written in such a way that she's likable and readers can easily connect with her. It was definitely interesting to see her interactions with the spirit-hunter's as she worked with them to find her brother and to banish the evil spirit that had sought her out and attached itself to her somehow.

Daniel is incredibly handsome and swoon worthy, in such an unpredictable way. A dashing inventor, he's written as the perfect anti-hero in this story. At times, he can be crabby and of course, unpredictable. Despite his few flaws, he's a wonderfully written realistic and honest character that readers will definitely enjoy getting to know. He has his own charm appeal that suits him quite well. Where Daniel is unpredictable in some ways, Clarence is a mystery of his own making. He's a well-to-do powerfully rich gentleman, who comes across as well put together, but there seems to be an air of regret that haunts him in some ways. As interesting as I found him to be, I personally, wanted to know more about him than the story allowed.

The sweet subtle romance addressed between Eleanor and Daniel was dealt with very nicely. It was enjoyable, watching their connection grow slowly over time, before it became deeper and gave readers a few unexpected moments between the two. The fact that it didn't overshadow the story being told was refreshing. It was nice to see it not rushed at all. It was just enough to keep readers craving for more.

While the book was well written and the story wonderfully developed with intriguing plot twists and engaging characters, there were a few minor drawbacks. It seemed like it took a little while to sink into the story and moved a little slower than I usually prefer, but then it soon picked up as the mysteries began to untangle themselves with secrets and lies looming in the shadows. Some of the things that happened towards the end might have been slightly predictable on the surface, but most of the story was highly compelling and full of amazing intrigue. There's a great deal of action, but the novel isn't overpowered by it at all. Many of the mysteries are inter-woven together in such an intricate way that makes the story Susan Dennard is telling even more enjoyable.

I would definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys steampunk or historical novels with a slight paranormal twist to them. For those who enjoy the writing styles of Lena Renee Hieber, Kady Cross, or Scott Westerfeld, they will definitely enjoy Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard.