Something Strange and Deadly

Author: Susan Dennard
Goodreads Rating: 4.03
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pages: 400
Reviewed by: Nicole


It's been a little while since I've given a book 5 stars, but this book totally grabbed me. I joined the blog tour hosted by Shane at Itching for Books on a whim, and apparently whims work best for me because I loved this book. I loved everything about it. And you will too when you check it out.


Goodreads Synopses:


The year is 1876, and there’s something strange and deadly loose in Philadelphia…

Eleanor Fitt has a lot to worry about. Her brother has gone missing, her family has fallen on hard times, and her mother is determined to marry her off to any rich young man who walks by. But this is nothing compared to what she’s just read in the newspaper—

The Dead are rising in Philadelphia.

And then, in a frightening attack, a zombie delivers a letter to Eleanor…from her brother.

Whoever is controlling the Dead army has taken her brother as well. If Eleanor is going to find him, she’ll have to venture into the lab of the notorious Spirit-Hunters, who protect the city from supernatural forces. But as Eleanor spends more time with the Spirit-Hunters, including their maddeningly stubborn yet handsome inventor, Daniel, the situation becomes dire. And now, not only is her reputation on the line, but her very life may hang in the balance.
I for real need to take a chill pill before writing this review, but there is no way that I can because this book absolutely blew me away. Not that I was expecting it to be a tank of a book, because I wasn't, but because I didn't have any expectations going into reading this book. SS&D as it is affectionately abbreviate to, had me jumping out of my skin while I was reading it. Of course it was my bad judgement to read it in a strange house in rural PA while babysitting in the middle of the night, but still it was great that it was able to get under my skin.


Right from the start Eleanor grabbed me and pulled me into the story, so much so that I was actually able to ignore my sister's dogs while they barked. There was no waiting to get into the story, right off the bat you have mystery and intrigue that you don't want to put the book down. Luckily the book keeps up with the jump-out-of-your-skin action.


As much as I loved Eleanor, I disliked her mother who was almost comical the way that she tried to push Eleanor into a relationship and a marriage. I could see how she meant well, but it was through her mothers own faults that the family was in the financial ruin that they were. I admired that although her mother seemed to care more of marrying her off than she did of Eleanor, she still seemed to want to make her mother happy.


Lastly, I don't even know how to find words to talk about Daniel. I loved that as many times as he came to her rescue, she came to his as well. I thought it was interesting how their lives intersected and how Eleanor gave him the chance to explain his side. But I'm not telling you more because you have to find out for yourself.


I loved this book so much that I went out and bought the hardcover the day after it came out. When my mom asked me why I needed to buy the book when I had the ARC, I told her that I wanted to start supporting my favorite authors because the more books they sell, the more books we get.