Review: Picture the Dead by Adele Griffin and Lisa Brown
Your verdict:
/rating_on.png "1 Star")
/rating_off.png "4 Stars")
(6 votes, average: 3.17 out of 5)
Loading ...| Title: | Picture the Dead |
|---|---|
| Author: | Griffin, Adele, Brown, Lisa |
| Publisher: | Sourcebooks Fire |
| Pages: | 272 |
From GoodReads: Jennie’s connection with her twin brother, Toby, grew stronger after he died in 1864. Now Jennie must rely on her ability to communicate with the dead to find out what has happened to her beloved fiance, Will, while he was off at war. The army says he died honorably in battle. His brother confides that he became a violent criminal and died in a prison camp. Jennie begins to doubt that anyone is telling her the truth.
This intriguing combination of historical romance, paranormal thriller, and clever mystery is illustrated by bestselling artist Lisa Brown. The unique visuals originated from real Civil War daguerreotypes that were transformed into eerie mementos for Jennie’s scrapbook.
With the help of a spiritualist photographer, the spirit of her dead fiance, and the clues she discovers and keeps in her scrapbook, Jennie must put together the pieces of this mystery before she loses her home, her fortune, and possibly her life.
What a gem Sourcebooks Fire has in this book! Adele Griffin paints a thriller with words while Lisa Brown fills your head with lovely period costume adaptations. Jennie is a remarkable character and shares traits with some of the most formidable herione’s in literature. Orphaned and relying on creepy mean relatives for support. Penniless and degraded daily she has to seem to take it all in stride. Snubbed by her peers and when her fiance is killed in battle completely ignored by everyone and moved to an attic room. Jennie takes on the role of a spy.
As she moves through the book and finds out a little piece of the mystery at a time you must pace yourself to keep from flying through the pages. There are a lot of subtle nuances here you will miss if you speed read it. The ending is perfect although I didn’t imagine any of it. I missed a lot of clues I believe. I wouldn’t have survived spy school I dare say.
I think the ending will surprise you all I totally didn’t see it coming. If you enjoyed books like Hex Hall, A Graveyard Book, or A Certain Slant of Light you will enjoy Picture the Dead.
By: Cindy(Cindy's Love Of Books)
Pam, I am reading this book now and I agree with your review. I am pleasantly surpised at how much I am enjoying this. Great review.
By: Catherine
Picture The Dead sounds like a fantastic one (it was one of the two I’d gravitated to when I first saw the reveal of SourceBooks Fire) and I’m glad you liked it. You have similar tastes to me, so you’re pretty reliable in that regard. :)
By: Jess.
Sounds like a good read, however not something I would probably read. I’m glad you enjoyed it though.
By: Aarti
I really enjoyed this book, too! I don’t think i was very surprised at the end, but even so- that didn’t lessen my enjoyment at all!
By: Jenny
I want to read this! It sounds really strange and cool. :)
By: SuziQoregon
I’d already added this to my TBR list based on Aarti’s review, but now yours makes me want to read it even more. Unfortunately, none of my local libraries has it ordered yet. Might have to nudge a librarian or two.
By: heidenkind
A spiritualist photographer sounds like a great hook! I might have to give this book a try.
By: bermudaonion (Kathy)
You’ve got me curious about the surprise ending. Great review!
By: Picture the Dead, by Adele Griffin & Lisa Brown – Book Review | Linus's Blanket
[...] More Reviews At: Booklust – Bookalicio.us – Good Books and Good Wine – The Ninja [...]