Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard

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.

Reviewed by ladygrey on

3 of 5 stars

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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.

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  • Started reading
  • 23 January, 2015: Finished reading
  • 23 January, 2015: Reviewed