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Knocking it out of the park on his first swing, Anton Strout's debut novel DEAD TO ME is the perfect blend of reality, fantasy, humor, horror, action, world building, and word play. Fortunately for the readers, it is also the beginning of a new series about New York's Department of Extraordinary Affairs. Simon Canderous had used his psychometric powers for petty theft until he answered a newspaper ad for a Scryer. ("Wanted for detail-oriented, interpersonal casework in a busy office environment. Some travel. Knowledge of Excel, Front Page, Clairaudience, Clairvoyance, PowerPoint, and Word a must.") Now he's a minor member of the DEA, dealing with ghosts, wiping out zombies, dodging vicious interoffice politics, and wading through piles of paperwork. One day work follows him home – or more accurately, to the office, where Simon is surprised to find out that the girl he's been eyeing is a ghost. She is equally surprised to find out that she's dead. Promising to find out what happened to her leads Simon and his mentor into a murky mix of secret societies, illicit drugs, theft, and soul-killers, starting out with plenty of action and gearing up from there. Secret society and good-vs-evil plots are a dime a dozen (I know, because there are a couple dozen in my review queue) so what makes DEAD TO ME stand out is the meticulous attention to details. Strout has put a lot of work into grafting his fantasy onto reality and it shows. He has also put a lot of thought into how the real world works. Simon isn't some psychic superhero, he's just a guy, and it shows in how he isn't in complete control of his powers. These have limitations and take a realistic physical toll. The people around him are equally human and flawed. (I have a great deal of sympathetic understanding for the temp who sold her soul for benefits.) Peppered in with the action are the little touches of humor make Strout's writing sparkle. The title "Inspectre General." The evil bookcase that can only be restrained by filling its shelves with crap books like self-published poetry. Simon's glum reminders to his mentor that they've cut half the training and replaced it with brochures like "Witty Banter To Ease Any Paranormal Situation." The bookstore "Tome Sweet Tome." DEAD TO ME is, in short, one of the best urban fantasies I have read in a long time. If you're a fan of Gaiman, Gilman, David, Whedon, or Huff, give Strout a try.
Reviewed by Linnea Dodson, May 2008
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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
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