The Twisted Dead

I received an ARC of this title from Netgally in exchange for an honest review.

This is my first Darcy Coates and I missed it was the third book in a series. Fortunately, the author did a great job imparting the needed information. I never felt there was a missing puzzle piece.

For those who've read the first 2 books – imagine that – Keira can see ghosts, but can't remember her past. She has a cat that seems to have more going on than meets the eye. She's a caretaker at a cemetery – Keira, not the cat. Although, I don't know. The cat is clearly up to something.

I wanted the book to be more what the synopsis set it up to be – an invitation to dinner by the town recluse, him begging our main character Keira for help, a dilapidated mansion. Ghosts. As that portion was unspooled I settled in for a great read. It was spooky, and filled with pathos, and I love an old mansion.

And it turned out to be a very small portion of the story.

Most of the book involved a road trip, a furthering of the greater central mystery of Keira's identity – she has amnesia – and the sinister people and/or organization that wants to find her. A portion of the story also concerned her friend. Mason, and a tragic incident in his past.

The events of the road trip are interesting and well-written. I enjoyed all of this, and really do want to know how the storyline continues going forward. Still, I can't lie and say I wasn't a bit disappointed that the thing that made me request an arc book-ended the story more than it was the story.  The events, however, did help Keira resolve that story as well. And there was a very horrifying scene at a cemetery other than, you know, the one Keira lives at.

The author is both funny and brings the pathos, and I'm into that. Maybe that's why I missed the story I thought I was getting as much as I did. She gave the man needing help, Dane Crispin, a truly horrifying and tragic predicament, and I kept imagining him waiting for help.

Keira spends most of the story with Mason and Zoe. Mason has dropped out of medical school, and in this installment we get his backstory. He's kind and a little unintentionally funny. I like him.

Zoe can be hysterically funny. Also really grating. The author definitely likes over-the-top characters. In the case of this emo kid, as much as I rolled my eyes at the cliches, it wasn't so bad. We spend a lot of time with Zoe though.

A lot of time with Zoe.

I thought we could maybe feed her to a shade – a malevolent spirit.

I laughed out loud on occasion. There's something about someone saying wildly inappropriate things in serious situations that can be funny. When I tell you that she never stopped, though. The soundtrack to the road trip was really bad music she wouldn't turn off, and yet she wasn't left at the side of the road.

“Zo?” Mason raised one of the books she'd passed to him. “This one's on werewolves.”“Yeah. I got a bit carried away. But, hey, ghosts are real. Which means, statistically. we have a really good chance of encountering a werewolf in our lifetime.”“That's very much not how statistics work.”“Agree to disagree.”

She also has a great riff about only one bed, and enemies to lovers. 

The funniest quote is “Crimson,” Keira said. “Uh, ka-kaw?” But you had to be there. 

As a minor aside, there's a plot point about wanting to burn white sage for protection. That's considered a closed practice from Indigenous cultures, one they were forbidden to practice. 

Anyhow, I enjoyed the story and think I'll continue on to see the payoff for the storylines that are being set up. I wish I could find more good ghost stories that are written as if that were good enough.  

In this instalment the tone gets significantly grittier, we still have the same cast of offbeat characters and action packed chapters but things are getting darker somehow.

What I loved:
There's a mini redemption arc in there, we love those. The “goth kid” is getting a little bit more of a chance to shine, we love that too. The conspiracy theorist get his moment of being sort of right, it has so happen sometimes and we can all enjoy some vicarious vindication. Plenty of bad ghosts getting their comeuppance, very satisfying.

What I didn't love:
It starts off strong and while this book is as non-stop as the first 2 instalments in the series if has more slow feeling moments, though I will admit it might have felt that way because I went through the entire series in less than 24 hours, yes I did not realize that this was the 3rd book in the series when I requested this ARC. I have no regrets and I would happily do it again.

Keira can see ghosts. She can help them cross over. Usually.
She has been invited to the Crispin Manor, home of the reclusive Dane Crispin. Even though he tried to kill her, she is curious to see what he wants.

Once again, I tried a book outside my comfort zone and again it wasn't for me. The writing was fine. I can see how it would appeal to people that like a contemporary setting. Unfortunately, I am not in that group.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for an e-arc.