Don of the Dead (Pepper Martin Mysteries, No. 1)

She sees dead people Beautiful, smart, and chic, Pepper Martin never had to work a day in her life -- until her surgeon daddy was convicted of fraud, her wealthy fiancee took a powder, and the family fortune ran bone dry. Suddenly desperate, the inexperienced ex-rich girl was forced to take the only job she could get: as a tour guide in a cemetery. But a grave situation took a turn for the worse when a head-on collision with a headstone left her with an unwanted ability to communicate with the disgruntled deceased . . . and now Pepper has a whacked Mafia don demanding that she hunt down his killers -- and threatening to haunt her until she does.

She sees dead people

Beautiful, smart, and chic, Pepper Martin never had to work a day in her life — until her surgeon daddy was convicted of fraud, her wealthy fiancé took a powder, and the family fortune ran bone dry.

Suddenly desperate, the inexperienced ex-rich girl was forced to take the only job she could get: as a tour guide in a cemetery. But a grave situation took a turn for the worse when a head-on collision with a headstone left her with an unwanted ability to communicate with the disgruntled deceased . . . and now Pepper has a whacked Mafia don demanding that she hunt down his killers — and threatening to haunt her until she does.

Publishers Weekly

Combining elements of a cozy mystery and a paranormal romance, this debut aims for fresh and sassy; while it delivers fare both conventional and canned, it's redeemed in the end. The book's big flaw is its unappealing protagonist, Pepper Martin, a cemetery tour guide in Cleveland who thinks her best asset is her big chest. She wields the power of the twins often while investigating the death of former mob boss Gus Scarpetti-at the behest of the wise guy himself. Ever since Pepper hit her head on Gus's mausoleum, she's been able to see and talk to his ghost. Pepper would rather nab a job in Saks's shoe department and a handsome man with deep pockets than turn amateur sleuth. But in the absence of Prince Charming, she settles for investigating Gus's 30-year-old murder and lusting after a gorgeous cop and an enigmatic brain doctor. Without an engaging voice, the first third of the book drags; when it heats up, though, the carefully woven mystery helps compensate for what Pepper lacks, as does the well-defined and likable Gus. Indeed, despite some plot holes and flimsy characterizations, Daniels pulls the mystery together in the end, showing promise for a better book two. (May 30) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

An amateur sleuth who can talk to the dead takes on a murdered gangster as a her first case in a “clever, intelligent and well written” mystery (Washington Times).She sees dead peopleBeautiful, smart, and chic, Pepper Martin never had to work a day in her life—until her surgeon daddy was convicted of fraud, her wealthy fiancé took a powder, and the family fortune ran bone dry.Suddenly desperate, the inexperienced ex-rich girl was forced to take the only job she could get: as a tour guide in a cemetery. But a grave situation took a turn for the worse when a head-on collision with a headstone left her with an unwanted ability to communicate with the disgruntled deceased... and now Pepper has a whacked Mafia don demanding that she hunt down his killers—and threatening to haunt her until she does.“Fresh and sassy.” —Publishers Weekly“A spooky mystery, a spunky heroine, and sparkling wit!” —Kerrelyn Sparks, USA Today–bestselling author of How to Marry a Millionaire Vampire“There's not a ghost of a chance you'll be able to put this book down.” —Emilie Richards, USA Today–bestselling author of Woman without a Name“Carrie of Sex in the City going Six Feet Under with The Sopranos. Hip, original, out-of-this world fun!” —Laura Bradley, author of Sprayed Stiff“Fabulous! One of the funniest books I've read this year. Or last year, come to think of it.” —Mary Janice Davidson, New York Times–bestselling author of Undead AF She sees dead peopleBeautiful, smart, and chic, Pepper Martin never had to work a day in her life -- until her surgeon daddy was convicted of fraud, her wealthy fiancé took a powder, and the family fortune ran bone dry.Suddenly desperate, the inexperienced ex-rich girl was forced to take the only job she could get: as a tour guide in a cemetery. But a grave situation took a turn for the worse when a head-on collision with a headstone left her with an unwanted ability to communicate with the disgruntled deceased . . . and now Pepper has a whacked Mafia don demanding that she hunt down his killers -- and threatening to haunt her until she does. A former rich girl whose life has fallen apart around her, Pepper Martin takes a job as a tour guide in a local cemetery, but a head-on collision with a gravestone has left her with the ability to communicate with the disgruntled deceased, including a nasty Mafia don who is threatening to haunt her forever unless she can track down his killers.