Release-Day Review: The Dead Seekers by Barb & J.C. Hendee (Dead Seekers #1)

The Dead Seekers (Dead Seekers #1)
Barb & J.C. Hendee
Published: Jan. 3, 2017 (Ace)
Purchase: Book Depository or Amazon
Review source: copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review

Reviewed by: Amy

Rating (out of 5): 3.5 stars

After witnessing the death of her entire family at the age of ten, Mari has spent more than half her life hunting the entity/person responsible. Her search as led her to the doorstep of a man known as the Dead’s Man.

When Mari finally meets up with the Dead’s Man she must be sure it is him who is responsible for the death of her family, so she hitches herself to his side while he performs his latest duty. The more time she spends with him the more she starts to understand the depth of his involvement with the dead, and begins to see that, like herself, there’s more to his story than meets the eye.

Tris was born under the cowl of death and from a young age he’s been able to see those who have passed. Typically, he finds those that he can see are the spirits who need to be vanquished and he now makes his living traveling from village to village doing such work. He not quite sure what to make of the woman who has decided to aid him on this hunt, but her mysteries make it hard for him to send her away. This time out, the shadows of his ability are not far behind and it’s only a matter of time before Tris’ work takes its final toll.

Having never read any book by the Hendees before, I was happy with the fact that I found the story very easy to follow along and understand, especially given that this is apparently a spin-off from one of their long running series. I didn’t really know what to expect, but I liked the ghost-hunter storyline.

The way that Mari and Tris come together was a bit too haphazard for my tastes. It just kind of happens and then we’re supposed to go along with the idea of these two strangers traveling together. Okay, I’ll go along. I did like the way that both Tris and Mari’s pasts have shaped/influenced their actions in the present.

On that note, besides the fact that I really just wanted Mari and Tris to have a conversation about Mari’s suspicions where Tris is concerned, I liked what it says about her character that she didn’t just immediately act upon her vengeance. It would have been so easy to just kill Tris and move on. Even though it would have ended years of her torment, she waits and tries to fully understand who Tris is, which is not an easy task.

Tris’ ability has made him somewhat of an outcast in society. Even those who come to him for help either secretly or outright fear him. But when he meets Mari he recognizes someone who has similarly been considered an outcast, and because of this he begins to open up, even minutely. I really wanted a bit more out of the obvious connection between Mari and Tris, but I guess I’ll have to settle for something that comes along slowly. Without that instant hit of chemistry, however, the story just didn’t hook me in as much as I would have liked.

Overall, I think The Dead Seekers is a promising start to a new series. I would definitely pick up the next book to see where things lead Mari and Tris.

Sexual content: none