Could "Something Strange and Deadly" Be The Read For You?

Title:  Something Strange and Deadly
(Something Strange and Deadly #1)
Author:  Susan Dennard
Format:  Kindle
Length:  388 pages
Publisher:  Harper Teen


The year is 1876, and 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 their maddeningly stubborn yet handsome inventor, Daniel, the situation becomes dire. And now, not only is her reputation on the line, but her very life may hang in the balance.
-Goodreads

Eleanor Fitt is typical of the heroine on finds in stories that take place in and around the 1800's.
She is: too loud, too intelligent, too smart, and too curious.
Now that we have that out of the way, here is the real meat of the story.

This is not a story about zombies in as much as it is a story of manipulation, greed, and a thirst for power at any cost; that just so happens to involve zombies. 
Having said that, as one gets deeper into this story, there comes a realization that the meat of the story lies in the how and why of the circumstances that lead up to Eleanor, Elijah, Daniel, and Joseph being in their respective situations.
Seeing as the pieces don't start to lock in place until about 40% of the book is spent in a good natured game of cat and mouse between Eleanor and Daniel and Joseph a.k.a. The Spirit Hunters and a rather pesky reporter by the name of Nicholas Peger.
All in all this was a pretty good read, but if you are expecting an all out zombie feeding frenzy, don't  don't look here.  This is more of a necromancer read.
This is a very good first book and there are a lot of twists and turns in the plot that make up for the social formality that takes up a great deal of the read.
Nothing about this story is what it seems to be at first glance and taking a closer look can be well worth it.
 My Rating:

3 comments:

  1. Thanks for the review! I am always trying to find books outside of the genres I usually read. This seems to fit the bill. I will have to give it a try.
    Mel

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  2. I feel the same way, I think this was mos advertised as steampunk so the wrong expectations was set hence the lukewarm reviews. I like the story but again it wasn't why I was hoping for like I wanted gadgts and spectacular world building ... which I didn't get.

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