Death Speaks

by Tamara Rose Blodgett

[Angie]

I loved the first book in the series, but this sequel is even better! The author has certainly raised the stakes for Caleb and his friends in Death Speaks. Picking up right before Caleb enters Kent Paranormal High School, Death Speaks brings back old rivals who have it out for Caleb and his group of friends and the police officially hire Caleb and Tiff to help them solve the murders of several children. Both of these situations put Caleb in a heap of danger, so there’s no shortage of excitement or action. But I wouldn’t expect anything less!

Caleb actually gets to put his Affinity for the Dead (AFTD) abilities to use in Death Speaks. He’s not exactly impressed by his AFTD class, especially since it’s clear that his abilities go far beyond what the teacher can teach him. However, helping the police gives Caleb a sense of purpose and he can see his ability as being useful rather than dangerous (and epically awesome!). The murder mystery plot does give a darker tone to this installment, but I quite enjoyed it. I liked seeing all of the pieces come together and observe how Caleb was developing and honing in his ability. There are quite a few surprises along the way, too.

However, much of the focus was on Caleb and his friends. They’re growing up, but they’re just as close as ever. They’ve even adopted a new guy named Alex who is also a paranormal. I really enjoyed seeing Caleb’s relationship with Jade grow. It’s pretty uncomplicated, but it was funny to see him stress over what to get her for her birthday. He even has some alpha male moments when a rival is hitting on Jade, which of course end badly, as he’s a 14 year old boy who can raise the dead.

My favorite part was, of course, the zombies! Particularly Clyde and Onyx. I adored getting more bits from Onyx’s doggy brain. He is so smart and loyal, and was a fun form of foreshadowing. Heavy foreshadowing normally gets on my nerves, but using Onyx’s POV was interesting and clever, since dogs often notice things that their owners do not. Clyde pops up a few times throughout, and he’s changed quite a bit since Death Whispers. I don’t want to give anything away, but his bond with Caleb is certainly something special and I can’t wait until it’s explored more.

Basically, Death Speaks is great! The pacing is spot on, and the world continues to expand. It’s funny, action packed, and fully engaging. While the ending wasn’t a cliffhanger at all, it still has this sense of uncertainly when it comes to Caleb and his future involvement with the government. I’m also dying to know more about Jeffery Parker!

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.