Most people don’t celebrate All Souls Day, but it is a holiday, and people should know about it. This is the last day of Hallows week, and Souls Day commemorates the faithful departed. Today we honor all the lives that have past, and celebrate those spirits going to a ‘better place’. So, enjoy the last day of Hallows week, and the ghosts that are now gone.
Have you ever felt like you didn’t belong because of a strange gift? Murray Keifer can talk to the spirits of the dead in the local cemetery in Charlie prices book, Dead Connection. He talks daily with his best friends, Dearly and Blessed, both ghosts, and doesn’t spend any time with other people. His mother is a mess, and his father isn’t mentioned, and he has no friends at school, which is the way her prefers it. He lives a strange life that gets interrupted very quickly when strange things start to happen.
The first character you should know besides Murray is Pearl Janochek. She is the daughter of a grave keeper that runs the cemetery Murray hangs out at. She is feisty and likes to get what she wants. When she and Murray have a standoff in the cemetery about why he is there, she vows that she will take him down. She nearly succeeds before he decides to tell her the truth, and they become friends. Deputy Gates is the other character that seems really important at first. He is a cop that had a rough time after his kid died, and is trying to get his life back on track by solving a local missing person’s case.
Vern Billup is just a rough, mean guy who seems to have anger management, and might have it in for Murray’s mother. Robert Barry Compton is a young ex-drug addict who just got out of a mental hospital. He seems to be really isolated and skittish around people, especially when he doesn’t take his meds. The spirit, Dearly, was killed in a car accident in 1969 by her drunk date. She is very funny and sarcastic. Blessed is an eleven year old who talks to Murray about everything, including Pearl.
The missing person afore mentioned is Nikki parker, a cheerleader at the local high school. She has been missing for quite some time, and Murray thinks it’s her when he hears a new voice in the cemetery. He wants to get to the bottom of it, and pearl is going to help him. Along with Deputy Gates, and some help from Robert, the story behind Nikki’s disappearance will hopefully come out.
This is a good book told from many different viewpoints that shift frequently. It has an interesting plot line, and great characters. The background information to the characters is very sad, and it’s funny how they interact with each other. The book has good reviews from authors such as Chris Crutcher, so any normal person would pick it up expecting similar writing. It really isn’t though, but it’s a unique style that I happen to like.
RED’S ALL STAR REVIEW: 2 ¾ out of 5. This wasn’t my favorite book ever, but it had an interesting story and a good end. All I have to say is poor Murray. . .
MASS APPEAL: Good for anyone. It’s pretty easy to read, and pretty short, so even people who struggle can read this.
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