The Undertaker

Aug 09, 2011 L.E.Olteano rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: blog-review, reviewed, received-for-review

You know what’s the worst thing that could happen to someone that is sort of susceptible to conspiracy theories? Reading a well written novel that makes them go “A-HA!! I KNEW it!!!”. This is one of those novels.
One of the end results of reading it is I got freaked out by how possible it felt this could be a real story. You ever have that feeling, after reading a thriller/suspense?

Anyways, the novel kicks off very strong, with what I think is one of the most memorable scenes (for me). I stayed c...more You know what’s the worst thing that could happen to someone that is sort of susceptible to conspiracy theories? Reading a well written novel that makes them go “A-HA!! I KNEW it!!!”. This is one of those novels.
One of the end results of reading it is I got freaked out by how possible it felt this could be a real story. You ever have that feeling, after reading a thriller/suspense?

Anyways, the novel kicks off very strong, with what I think is one of the most memorable scenes (for me). I stayed clear of knives at home the day I read that lovely bit, that’s how richly done it is. And then it got even better, multiple obituaries, mobsters, crazy Marines…the works. It was one exciting ride, that’s for sure!

William F. Brown‘s style is great, that traditionally beautiful sort of writing, with a clear and strong voice.
The plot is really smart, and really smartly put together. It has just the right tempo to keep me on the edge of my seat, but at the same time it’s fun, and somehow light-hearted while thrilling too. A strange but memorable mix of emotions came up as I read.

Pete is that sort of guy that you’ll want to marry and have kids with; if he were a real guy, of course. But he’s a character, so second best option is to be sure a worthy woman gets to marry him and have his kids. I was very touched by Pete’s feelings about losing his wife, Terri. I just went all “Awwww!!” in my head, I couldn’t help it. I was very glad when he met Sandy, because by that time I was already planning to introduce him to single gals myself if he wasn’t going to find someone :D That’s how into the story I got.

The characters are really solid, lovable and fun, and some of them are detestable, sneaky, conniving little maniacs that you’ll feel like strangling. But in the mids of all the tension, you’ll find yourself chuckling.
My favorite was obviously Pete, but Sandy came in close as second.
The two characters have an awesome chemistry, and Sandy makes the entire ride a lot of fun. She’s that free spirited sort of woman that just makes it all exciting, the good and the bad. Pete needed that, I think; it took a strong, loyal, wisea$$ woman to shock him back into the real world.

I wasn’t sure how it would all end, and I kept thinking the worst might happen. When the ending came, I was happy. I won’t give any spoilers, but for me, it was a beautiful and touching ending. The last scene was just beautiful.

And, yes, as you well know by now, there’s going to be some cover talk. I can’t help myself! The cover is really strong, I think. It gives you just the right vibe for the read, and it does the novel justice. That is a great pick for a cover.

I do strongly recommend this to everyone that likes good old mystery, spiced with mobsters, hitmen, conspiracy, fast paced chases and awesome characters.(less)

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Oct 21, 2011 Shelleyrae at Book'd Out rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: blog-reviews

William F Brown gets the combination of fast paced action, danger, humour and romance just right in The Undertaker. Peter Talbott finds himself embroiled in a murderous conspiracy when he investigates a suspicious obituary that names he and his late wife as the unfortunate deceased buried in Ohio. What begins as a personal crusade to protect his wife's name spirals into a cat and mouse chase across the country when Peter discovers the shady links between a lawyer, town Sheriff, funeral home and...more William F Brown gets the combination of fast paced action, danger, humour and romance just right in The Undertaker. Peter Talbott finds himself embroiled in a murderous conspiracy when he investigates a suspicious obituary that names he and his late wife as the unfortunate deceased buried in Ohio. What begins as a personal crusade to protect his wife's name spirals into a cat and mouse chase across the country when Peter discovers the shady links between a lawyer, town Sheriff, funeral home and medical clinic. The only way to save his own life is to prove that Tinkerton and his associates, which include the mob, have been murdering and burying citizens under fake names in Columbus. On the run, the way he inadvertently involves Sandy, a victims ex wife, in his escapade and receives a surprising assistance from a gold chain wearing mob assassin. With no real idea whom they can trust, Peter and Sandy can only hope that someone can help before they end up in lonely graves under a strangers tombstone.
The Undertaker is a well plotted thriller that involves political intrigue, organised crime and multiple murders. Almost from the beginning the story races ahead at break neck speed as the protagonists are chased across America by some very determined villains. I really enjoyed the action but what made this so readable for me was the author's sense of humour that he infuses his characters with.
Peter Talbott isn't a traditional action hero - he is a computer geek who has spent the better part of the three years since his wife's death from cancer, empty and alone. His bitterness leads him to take chances when most people would simply cut and run. Despite the physical nature of the novel, it's Peter's smarts more than his brawn that propels him out of the situations he finds himself in. He is a cavalier rather than brave but also quick thinking and resourceful.
Sandy is similar which is why the two make a good pair. Their banter is fun and the chemistry between the two a nice touch. I especially enjoyed that of the leads, Sandy, with a black belt in karate, is the one who was the more physically capable of the two.
The villains are suitably sociopathic - power hungry, corrupt officials and mobsters. The author successfully creates believable motivations and understandable pathos. Brown keeps the tension high by ensuring his characters are never sure who is one what side. I really enjoyed Gino who is both villain and friend.
I only had two minor complaints about the story. The first is the Prologue where the tenses aren't quite right, confusing me momentarily. The second involves Peter's search at the library where a computer whiz doesn't once use a computer for information on what he is looking for. Neither issues were enough to quash my enjoyment of the novel but they stood out to me.
This book is another example of independently published writing that deserves an audience. The Undertaker is an entertaining and exciting action thriller that I really enjoyed. (less)

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Jan 16, 2012 Wendy Hines rated it 5 of 5 stars

Peter Talbot is a geek who is just going through the motions of life and has been for the past year since his wife Terri died from cancer. So he is stunned when one evening leaving for work, a large man slides into the passenger side of his vehicle and shows Peter two obituaries from the paper, his and his wife's.

The obituary states they were killed in a car accident in Ohio and the funeral is the next day. The man in the passenger seat, Gino Parino, urges Peter to forget about his visit, it is...more Peter Talbot is a geek who is just going through the motions of life and has been for the past year since his wife Terri died from cancer. So he is stunned when one evening leaving for work, a large man slides into the passenger side of his vehicle and shows Peter two obituaries from the paper, his and his wife's.

The obituary states they were killed in a car accident in Ohio and the funeral is the next day. The man in the passenger seat, Gino Parino, urges Peter to forget about his visit, it is a misunderstanding. But Peter can't tolerate the idea of someone beseeching Terri's memory, so he calls into work and drives to Ohio.

No one attends the funeral, except Gino, who urges Peter to go back home and forget about it. He doesn't want Peter to get involved or to get hurt. But Peter can't leave it alone and begins to question the proprietor of Greene Funeral Home, who tells Peter that people have other people's names all the time and it is purely coincidence. Peter knows better, the details in the obit were his and Terri's lives and he knows they aren't in the cheap pine boxes sitting in the chapel.

Peter begins to feel alive again - anger and wanting to get to the bottom of the situation. He begins to investigate - his search leads him to obituaries similar to his and Terri's - nine in the past year. All of them involve the Varner Clinic, Greene Funeral Home, Oak Hill Cemetery and the honorable Ralph Tinkerton, esquire as executor.

He questions them, as well as the local sheriff. They all tell him a different story and the only words that seem to get a rise out of all of them is "Jimmy 'the Stump' Santorini, a mafia boss of eastern New Jersey. Peter is determined to put a stop to the scam or whatever it is that is happening. His investigation takes him to several states and to a woman named Sandy. But can he solve the case before he ends up dead for real this time?

The Undertaker is a thoroughly executed thriller that quickly captured my attention. Author Bill Brown's writing reminded me much of one of my favorite suspense writers, Brian Freeman. The characters are realistic set against a modern day world with believable situations. Quick-paced and solid, I would recommend The Undertaker to any suspense fan! I can't wait to read more from this very talented author!!
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Aug 01, 2012 Simone rated it 3 of 5 stars

Review: The Undertaker by William F. Brown
The Undertaker by William F. Brown
ASIN:B004NIFSVG
Published: January 2011
3.5 stars

If a large man with a gun asked you to explain your obituary, I am sure you would comply.. When you realize, your deceased wife is dragged in to the mess, you might decide to investigate the matter. Peter Talbott has no idea for the dangerous journey ahead of him in his quest to clear his wife's name. A couple days of poking his nose into the matter ends with Peter on the...more

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May 29, 2012 Al rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindle, read-2012

It isn’t often I’ll give a four star review to a book with this many copyediting misses. If your internal editor is relentless and unforgiving, you’ll spot a problem every few pages. The errors, although covering the full gambit of homonym errors, typos, and misspellings, are mostly not those, but minor issues. Things like missing little words that many people will blow past without noticing (although I did wonder what was going on when I read about “homeless guys laying a bench”) or an occasion...more

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Mar 18, 2012 Sandra Lopez rated it 2 of 5 stars

My thoughts: It all began with a naked, fat man being tortured. The writer really tries to paint this scene for you as if you were watching some Mission Impossible movie. I found a few typos here and there before I ever got to the first chapter, which were a little distracting but not enough to completely deviate from the scene.

I liked the way chapter one began with the main character, Peter Talbott, reading his obituary in the newspaper—a real attention-grabber, if you ask me. At this point, I’...more My thoughts: It all began with a naked, fat man being tortured. The writer really tries to paint this scene for you as if you were watching some Mission Impossible movie. I found a few typos here and there before I ever got to the first chapter, which were a little distracting but not enough to completely deviate from the scene.

I liked the way chapter one began with the main character, Peter Talbott, reading his obituary in the newspaper—a real attention-grabber, if you ask me. At this point, I’m wondering how a man could be reading his own death announcement. Was it a conspiracy? Does he have a twin? What? Then Peter begins to tell his life story, which consisted of where he graduated and where he worked—all details that were a little mundane but were quickly revived by the author’s “cynical, black humor.” (pg. 16) Then it turns out that Peter has had quite a few death announcements. Confused, he embarks on a journey to find some answers, starting with attending his funeral scheduled the next morning.

Suddenly, this mistaken death becomes an obsession for Peter, and an investigation takes place. It was clear that Peter was no detective and had absolutely no idea what he was doing, which made for some pretty tedious reading; but his tentative efforts somehow drives you keep going. I thought it was endearing how a man could still be faithful to his wife even in death. Peter could not allow his wife’s name to be dragged through the mud. His philosophy was: “I don’t care what they say about me, just leave her out of it.” Very chivalrous. He was kind of like a middle-aged knight at the defense of his great lady’s honor.

This is a story of one man’s mission to seek the truth about a mystery death and clear his and his wife’s name. And, since it was written in first person perspective, we know all his thoughts, questions, theories, and epiphanies—basically, his amateur approach to this case. It’s no Sherlock Holmes, but it definitely makes you curious. I may not look at another obituary the same again.
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Feb 25, 2012 Donna Brown rated it 4 of 5 stars

There is a fine line between something being so farfetched it is simply ludicrous and something being so farfetched that it’s utterly compelling in a ‘But what if that really were to happen?!’ way. When you have a story that begins with a – noticeably living! – man reading his own obituary, it could go either way. Peter Talbott is aware of the obituary – there’s a reason he was presumed dead and buried. What he doesn’t expect is to be presented with an obituary for his wife, detailing her death...more There is a fine line between something being so farfetched it is simply ludicrous and something being so farfetched that it’s utterly compelling in a ‘But what if that really were to happen?!’ way. When you have a story that begins with a – noticeably living! – man reading his own obituary, it could go either way. Peter Talbott is aware of the obituary – there’s a reason he was presumed dead and buried. What he doesn’t expect is to be presented with an obituary for his wife, detailing her death in a car accident when he knows that she died from something completely different. When a little research uncovers several similar obituaries all linked by the same funeral parlour/director, Peter Talbott just can’t let it go, even though the consequences could change – or end – his life.

As with many masters of the thriller genre, Brown (no relation!) has taken an unusual and far-reaching premise and twisted it into an adept thriller. Yes, there are elements ranging from the sublime to the ridiculous but instead of being dragged under by these elements, The Undertaker seems to use them to simply propel the story further.

The true mastery of The Undertaker lies in the two central characters, Pete and Sandy. A grieving computer programmer and his quirky sort-of-but not-quite girlfriend may not seem like the most obvious heroes. Indeed Brown writes them up as ordinary characters, thrown into an extraordinary world and yet still managing to remain ordinary and, at times, almost comically banal. They gripe and bicker one minute, yet get caught up in the tension of sexual chemistry the next. It should make you wring your hands and say ‘For goodness sake – your lives are at risk’. Instead, these characters feel very real, very human and are very very fun. This is a thriller – it shouldn’t be full of smiles and quirks – but it is and it works.

If you’re a fan of thrillers, it’s definitely worth giving this one a try. The unexpected smiles and twists of humour are an added – and welcome – bonus.

Originally published on Book Bags and Cat Naps. I received a copy in exchange for my fair and honest review. I did not receive any additional compensation. All views are my own.(less)

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Dec 28, 2011 Martha Cheves rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Undertaker – Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat and Think With Your Taste Buds Dessert

TALBOTT, PETER EMERSON, AGE 33, OF Columbus, died Sunday at Varner Clinic following a tragic automobile accident. President and founder of Center Financial Advisors of Columbus. Formerly of Los Angeles, a 1999 graduate of UCLA and a lieutenant, US Army Transportation Corps. By authority of Ralph Tinkerton, Executor (See also TALBOTT, THERESA JUNE, wife, accompanying). Funeral services...more The Undertaker – Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat and Think With Your Taste Buds Dessert

TALBOTT, PETER EMERSON, AGE 33, OF Columbus, died Sunday at Varner Clinic following a tragic automobile accident. President and founder of Center Financial Advisors of Columbus. Formerly of Los Angeles, a 1999 graduate of UCLA and a lieutenant, US Army Transportation Corps. By authority of Ralph Tinkerton, Executor (See also TALBOTT, THERESA JUNE, wife, accompanying). Funeral services for both at 2:00 PM tomorrow, Greene Funeral Home, 255 E. Larkin, Peterborough, Ohio. Internment, Oak Hill Cemetery, following.

‘That was me. I was Talbott, Peterson Emerson, 33 years old, and formerly from Los Angeles. I had graduated from UCLA and I had been a lieutenant in the Army. Coincidence? I didn’t think so. There was only one of me and I didn’t die in the Varner Clinic or anywhere else last Sunday. I was an aeronautical software engineer and I had never been to Columbus or heard of Center Financial Advisors much less been its President. Still, when you’re looking into a set of hard, dark eyes and a .45 automatic, it’s hard to argue the fine points.’

According to the papers, Pete Talbott was dead. He and his wife had both died in a car accident. But…Pete was very much alive and living in Boston. His death wouldn’t have bothered him that much if whoever was responsible for this notice hadn’t brought his wife Terri into the picture. Terri had died of cancer and this funeral notice was nothing but a lack of respect to her making him determined to get to the bottom of both notices. He would also have never learned of his own death had it not been for the big, burly man named Gino sitting next to him with a gun pointed at his head. He would also have never met Sandy whose husband had died a year before but apparently had just died again. Confusing? Imagine what they felt as they uncovered several deaths that had taken place at least twice.

Racing around the states, being chased by the very people who are supposed to protect them, Pete and Sandy find themselves being blamed for not only murders of innocent people but also those committed by the mob. As the puzzle starts to become clear, Pete and Sandy begin to understand why people are ‘dying’ twice. They also begin to understand who is behind this and why as they discover how high up the ladder the arm of ‘un’justice really reaches.

Have you ever read a book that keeps going and going and you see yourself running out of pages with no possibility of a ‘happy ever after’ ending? That is what I was facing with The Undertaker. As the pages ran out I could see no possible way for Pete and Sandy to escape cliff-hanger after cliffhanger. Could this be one of those books that simply don’t end with a smile. You'll have to read The Undertaker and find out for yourself. I truly enjoyed sitting on the edge of my seat waiting for the ending.

Review Stir, Laugh, Repeat at Amazon.com Stir, Laugh, Repeat (less)

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Aug 08, 2011 Emily rated it 5 of 5 stars

This story was delicious. Snarky and wired, cynical and funny, it was everything a good mob thriller should be and more. For me as a reader, a thriller needs to be able to make me forget that the violence is actually violence and that crappy people are just that and make me want to see how all the elements come together; The Undertaker certainly delivered on that promise.

Pete Talbott has the unfortunate problem of people never seeming to grasp that he's not dead. He was falsely reported as dead...more This story was delicious. Snarky and wired, cynical and funny, it was everything a good mob thriller should be and more. For me as a reader, a thriller needs to be able to make me forget that the violence is actually violence and that crappy people are just that and make me want to see how all the elements come together; The Undertaker certainly delivered on that promise.

Pete Talbott has the unfortunate problem of people never seeming to grasp that he's not dead. He was falsely reported as dead in a car crash in Mexico, and just when that was sorted out, he was reported as dead again, this time in a hospital in Ohio. Still reeling a year after his wife truly did die of cancer and with nothing else really keeping him going, he travels from Boston (where he now works) to Ohio to figure out what is going on and why this problem keeps popping up.

In terms of immediate well-being, it would have been much better for Peter to just go home and eat a coffee cake and take a nap. If he hadn't started down that road and started asking questions that made a lot of very powerful people very uncomfortable and sort of itchy, he never would have had about a million problems. He also never would have met Sandy; some might argue that the coffee cake was still a better option, and then Sandy would kick them.

Turns out there's something seriously rotten in the state of Ohio, as Peter Talbott is not the first person to die there under the circumstances set out in his (second, and also incorrect) obituary. Peter can't let sleeping dogs lie and goes to the library to do some research, and from asking the right questions he's able to piece together a rough sketch of the situation fairly quickly.

This quickly gets him into trouble with people who'd rather their extracurricular activities remain under the radar and sends him on the lam (I always wanted to write that!) and leads him to Chicago, where he hopes to gather more evidence to prove exactly what he thinks is going on.

That's where Sandy enters the picture. Sandy is one of my favorite characters in the story. She's funny, loyal, a total smartass, and not afraid to alternately take care of people or kick their teeth in, depending on what the situation requires. Sandy brings an emotional depth and hint of romance to a story that would have been adventurous but a whole lot of running around otherwise. Depth is good! Seeing these two hurting people overcome adversity (both internal and external) and figure out what they really wanted out of life was excellent. The ending was better than I could have hoped for, too. Just saying.

There is plenty of adventure to be had as we we careen towards the ending of this story; the author is firmly in command of the direction of the and nothing is left to chance. Every detail is important, and I caught myself doing the reader fist pump when I correctly figured out how a piece of the story fit into the bigger picture. I was sucked in as a reader and wasn't released until the story was over.(less)

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Aug 03, 2011 Nancy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Peter Talbott buried his wife in LA following her death from cancer; he assumed that was it for married life and Terri, whom he loved more than anything. Imagine his surprise when he is handed his OWN obituary, along with that of his wife in Columbus, OH many months after the real event. Coincidence? Probably not.
Peter doesn’t mind so much being “dead” but by putting his wife’s name in the paper as well sets him off. Working for your brother-in-law has perks – like taking time off to drive from...more

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Jul 26, 2011 Leslie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: action, adventure, book-reviews, fiction, humor, mystery, romance, suspense

Article first published as Book Review: The Undertaker by William F. Brown on Blogcritics.

Using the names of others long dead to hide insidious crimes seems like an odd way to do business. The obituary Peter Talbot sees of his own and his wife’s death in a Columbus Ohio newspaper is unbelievable. Not only is he not dead, but his loving wife actually did precede him in death, not in an auto accident as listed, but of cancer. Much of the information was correct but neither he nor his wife had eve...more

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Nov 06, 2011 Debra Martin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Peter Talbott is a systems engineer living in Boston. He is still grieving over his wife, Terri, who died a year ago of cancer. When a hit man surprises him in his car and shows him an obituary for both he and Terri, his anger spins out of control. How dare anyone disrespect the memory of his wife, never mind the fact, that he isn’t dead. He goes to Columbus, Ohio to attend the bogus funeral and finds himself in the middle of a sinister plot involving an undertaker, the local sheriff and a high-...more

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Jul 08, 2011 Kathy Martin rated it 5 of 5 stars

This was a taut, action-packed thriller that grabbed me from the first page and didn't let me go until the Epilogue. This is the story of an ordinary man who is dragged into a situation that he doesn't understand and who outsmarts the variety of villains.

Pete Talbott is just drifting through life after a series of personal blows. He loses his beloved wife after a long fight with cancer and then he loses his job due to downsizing and outsourcing. He moves from California to Boston to work with hi...more

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Mar 11, 2013 Mike rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was an entertaining read. It had all the necessary elements of solid escapism: mafia hitmen, bent politicos, flash drive MacGuffin, a romantic element, action, murder and mayhem. I would have given it the full five stars for sheer readability except for a few chapters in the middle which were a little too much. This section, mainly car pursuit, reminded me of the car chase in 'Bullitt' which was amazing in 1968 but I have to say seems a little tedious looking back down 45 years. The Lincoln...more

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Sep 18, 2011 Yvonne rated it 5 of 5 stars

Computer programmer, Peter Talbott, is still grieving after the death of his beloved wife, Terri. Lonely, he buries himself in his work until one day he finds himself held at gunpoint by Gino Parini. Parini not only shoves a gun in his face, but he also shoves an obituary in his face. The problem? The obituary is Pete’s, but how could that be when he is very much alive? Then, Parini shows him Terri’s obituary, except this is not her original one. Of course Pete is confused. The obituaries featur...more Computer programmer, Peter Talbott, is still grieving after the death of his beloved wife, Terri. Lonely, he buries himself in his work until one day he finds himself held at gunpoint by Gino Parini. Parini not only shoves a gun in his face, but he also shoves an obituary in his face. The problem? The obituary is Pete’s, but how could that be when he is very much alive? Then, Parini shows him Terri’s obituary, except this is not her original one. Of course Pete is confused. The obituaries feature their exact details, so it’s not as if it was someone else with the same name. The only difference is Pete isn’t dead and Terri didn’t die in an accident as the obit claims.

Pete is desperate to find out what is happening and why they are using his late wife this way. He begins an investigation which leads him across the globe from California to Ohio to Chicago to New York to Boston. He stumbles upon a plot so devious, he can’t even believe it’s real. He doesn’t know who to trust but someone is killing people and burying them under other people’s names. Pete can’t figure out why someone would do something so horrifying.

Talbott comes face to face with some of the most evil villains – corrupt sheriffs, sneaky politicians, nefarious lawyers and deadly mobsters. As he tries to discover who else has been wronged in this way, he meets up with Sandy. Her former husband was a victim as well, but now Sandy’s life is in danger, too. Can Pete save her? Can he save himself?

This book never rests and it never lets the reader rest. It’s a constant struggle to stop the bad guys from killing them or hurting anyone else. Talk about a heart-racing book, this one is it! It’s the type of book you just can’t put down, you want to keep going until the very end. The characters are crafted perfectly and the storyline keeps flowing from page to page. Fast-paced doesn’t even begin to describe it. Great drama, great adventure, great characters, and a great plot, what more do you need?

FTC Disclosure: The author provided me with a copy of this book to review. This did not influence my thoughts and opinions in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.(less)

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Mar 07, 2011 The Sunday Book Review rated it 4 of 5 stars

If you like suspense, action and are into conspiracy theories, I recommend this book.

The story line was the first thing to grab me. Here is a man who lost his wife and everything he stood for and now someone is not only using his name but his dead wife’s name to bury mysterious people. Not once, but several times! Having nothing else to lose, Pete travels around trying to find out not only who is doing this but why, while trying to get killed for nosing around.

The main character here, Pete, is l...more

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Jun 20, 2011 Sandra rated it 3 of 5 stars

You can find my full review of this book, plus a guest post by the author, on my blog pandareads.com

Peter Talbot is still reeling from his wife's untimely passing when he discovers someone reused his wife's obituary to cover up the death of someone else. When he discovers several deceased couples' obituaries have been abused in the same way, he cannot let it rest and sets out to find out what's going on and set it right.

When the author contacted me to review his most recent novel, he told me to...more

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Sep 21, 2011 Beth rated it 3 of 5 stars

I was asked by the author William F. Brown to give his book The Undertaker a read and on reading his synopsis I thought why not! I quickly received a copy to my Kindle and got going with it! Despite not being the usual sort of thing I would read, I have to say it was better than I expected!

It felt like it was written for film as the action was constant, the pace was extremely fast and well, there are guns aplenty. I’m not a huge fan of this kind of thing, every now and again I’ll watch an “actio...more

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Sep 11, 2011 Idris rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book tells us the story of Pete Talbott, a man who after the death of his wife, takes refuge in his job. Perhaps his life would have continued like that, so monotonous, boring, and without any emotion, if he had not read his own obituary. The paper says clearly that he, Pete Talbott died in a car accident with his wife, Terry. And that is not true, he is alive. Now he wants to discover who is behind all those lies, and Pete will find himself immersed in extreme situations he never thought h...more

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May 21, 2011 Elizabeth of Silver's Reviews rated it 5 of 5 stars

Mr. Brown's book is an e-pub on Kindle, Sony, Nook, IBook, and all the others.

Two obituaries, two funerals....one stating he died in Mexico the other stating he and his wife died in Columbus, Ohio....but how could that be....Peter Emerson Talbot was alive and reading the obituary, and he had attended the funeral in Ohio. Attending this funeral sure ended up with a lot of trouble for Peter and also a lot of information that could put a number of folks behind bars. Something was pretty fishy about...more

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Aug 10, 2011 Stormi (Lightning Book Promotions) rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Undertaker was a surprising good action thriller that has you curious from the very beginning.

This is my first book by the author William F. Brown and so I wasn't real sure about how I would like the book. Peter's wife died of Cancer a year ago so when he is confronted by Gino, a hitman, and shown two obituraries one of himself and the other his wife, it really makes him mad. First off, he isn't dead, and secondly he doesn't like the fact that someone is using his wifes name like that. He se...more The Undertaker was a surprising good action thriller that has you curious from the very beginning.

This is my first book by the author William F. Brown and so I wasn't real sure about how I would like the book. Peter's wife died of Cancer a year ago so when he is confronted by Gino, a hitman, and shown two obituraries one of himself and the other his wife, it really makes him mad. First off, he isn't dead, and secondly he doesn't like the fact that someone is using his wifes name like that. He sets out to try and see why a couple in Ohio are buried under his name and he gets more than he bargained for.

He ends up in the middle of a huge conspiracy and now this man Ralph Tinkerton,aka the undertaker will not give up till he is dead. During all of these he meets Sandy who was the ex-wife of one of the other obituriry names and she ends up going along for the ride, well that and the fact that Tinkerton would kill her too.

At first I really wouldn't think of Peter as the action type, he is a computer geek. When pushed because of the fact he doesn't like his wifes name being used the way it was is a huge driving point in why he keeps going. When he finally messes with the wrong man, Tinkerton, he is no longer just doing it because of Terry. It is because now he is running for his life, to clear his name in a string of murders. At first I really wasn't even sure if I like Peter all that well, but he sort of grows on you.

Sandy on the other hand, I just didn't really like her. I think she pushed Peter to much, in the way of a relationship. She kept flirting and throwing herself at him even when she knew he just wasn't ready because of Terry. It made me mad a few times, so when they do hook up I just wasn't feeling it.

Ralph Tinkerton is the main bad guy in this story and he is creepy! This guy as some major issues going on, and is totally insane. Out of everyone I think I liked him best, he was the ultimate bad guy and you really loved to hate him. He felt no remorse for killing innocent people who he called 'loose ends', even when they had no clue what was going on.

The part I really wasn't that impressed with was the train track with the gang. I know he was using some sort of gang talk but most of the time I was like what on earth are they talking about. I will admit I skimmed over most of that part as it just didn't flow to me.

Over all, I really enjoyed The Undertaker and I would recommend it to any one who loves action thriller books.
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Feb 06, 2013 Dixie Goode rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book was sufficiently fast paced and believable enough to keep me involved and creepy enough to make my spine crawl and my overactive imagination telling me, this is probably really true. I had no idea what to expect from this author but I was in the mood for a change of pace and from the fantasy and young adult books I read and write, this was certainly a change of pace. Lots of anti-government paranoia aided by the details to convince you that absolute power does corrupt absolutely. Witho...more

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Feb 20, 2012 Star (The Bibliophilic Book Blog) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed

What happens when you read your own obituary, along with your previously deceased wife's, in this morning’s local newspaper? Do you leave everything alone or dig up the truth - no matter the cost? Pete Talbott's got his work cut out for him to figure out the truth. Now he’s on the run as he tries to stay steps ahead of the villains. He feels he can trust no one but Sandy, the ex-wife of one of the other victims. Fast paced and action-packed, The Undertaker will keep you glued to your seat. The p...more

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Sep 06, 2011 Peggy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, ebook

'I knew I was in trouble when Gino Parini shoved that .45 automatic in my face and made me read my own obituary.'

Those are the first words in chapter 1 of 'The Undertaker' a fast paced roller coaster ride of a story. I don't usually pick this genre to read but this story got me right from the start and was really hard to lay down. If you like Lee Child's Jack Reacher novels you will love this one. You have FBI, Justice dept., ex-military, the mob, an evil mortician, a Dr. of questionable experim...more

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Oct 06, 2011 Tracey rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Undertaker by William F. Brown was a fast-paced and thrilling read. I was hooked from the very beginning, when Peter Talbott, a software engineer living in Boston, still grieving from the loss of his wife, is questioned by Gino Parini about an obituary featuring his and his wife's names in an Indiana newspaper.

Pete believes it to be a bizarre misunderstanding but he's angry that his wife's name is mentioned so he decides to ignore advice from Gino Parini to ignore it. What does he do next? H...more

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Sep 11, 2012 Albert rated it 5 of 5 stars

Overall Feedback: This is one action packed, ride by the seat of your pants read and you will never want to put it down. The author does well to spin a story that both intrigues the mind and stokes the conspiracist in us all.

Point of View: You are Paul and you are in for the ride of you life...literally.

Voice: William moves you right along with his wit and writing style (voice).

Character Development: You will relate to the characters before you even realize it and I think Brown planned it that w...more

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Mar 03, 2012 Ceinwenn rated it 5 of 5 stars

As I said to Mr. Brown when I recently emailed him to let him know how much I was enjoying The Undertaker – this book is bloody brilliant!!

The Undertaker introduces us to Peter Emmerson Talbott, a recently widowed, self professed computer geek, who has the misfortune of finding out that he is dead – or at least that someone has pronounced him dead! Peter sees his obituary (and that of his already dead & buried wife) in a Columbus, Ohio newspaper & goes there to investigate. While attendi...more As I said to Mr. Brown when I recently emailed him to let him know how much I was enjoying The Undertaker – this book is bloody brilliant!!

The Undertaker introduces us to Peter Emmerson Talbott, a recently widowed, self professed computer geek, who has the misfortune of finding out that he is dead – or at least that someone has pronounced him dead! Peter sees his obituary (and that of his already dead & buried wife) in a Columbus, Ohio newspaper & goes there to investigate. While attending his own memorial service Peter realises that there is more to this than what seems to be on the surface (even more than a man being buried under his borrowed name & identity) & makes the mistake of deciding to investigate further, almost losing his life in the process.

I throughly enjoyed The Undertaker – it kept me glued to the edge of my proverbial seat from the first chapter onward. Brown has a style of writing which makes the book flow, dragging you into the story. His characters were likeable & easy to relate to – even if you personally had nothing in common with them – & you find yourself rooting for them to succeed at all cost. The character of Peter Talbott was very well written & Talbott came across as a funny, sarcastic, pain in the ass kind of guy that we have all had as a friend at one time or another, which is perhaps why you can’t wait for him to show up these people & make them pay for what they have done to him & to the memory of his departed wife, Terri.

My only argument with the book (and it is a minor disagreement) is that there are a couple of places where Talbott cracks jokes that I just didn’t get & that really bugged me. The first time is when he checks into a Motel 6 & tells the Front Desk agent that “…Dave sent me & asked if they really left the light on…” It’s obviously a reference to an advert(?) for Motel 6, but never having seen the ad, I found it annoying & frustrating, instead of funny – because I didn’t get the joke & it made me feel thick! The second one was also an American reference, only a lot more obscure. Talbott has just picked up a Cleveland newspaper & inside on page 4 is a story about him, featuring the photo from his California driver’s licence next to the story. Talbott “…made a mental note to cross Arnold Schwarzennegger off my Christmas card list.” Huh? I don’t get it….I suppose it’s something to do with Arnie’s being the governor of California, but I don’t really understand the reference & it bugged me because I was reading it at a time when I didn’t have access to the internet to google for an answer. I know that they are small things & probably the average American would get them & would think Brown very witty for including these references, but I don’t think non-americans are going to get the jokes. I’m Canadian & I didn’t!

Don’t misunderstand me, though. These 2 examples were minor distractions & certainly didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment of The Undertaker. I think that Brown is a very talented author, I loved The Undertaker & I can’t wait to read something else by Mr. William F. Brown! I would highly encourage you to go to Amazon & buy this book for your kindle if mystery novels are your thing – you will thank me! And, if you would like more information about Mr. Brown & his other books, go here.(less)

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Sep 16, 2011 Samantha Leighanne rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-reads, reviewed-books, books-i-own, review-requests

**I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.**

Imagine having someone holding a gun in your face and reading your own obituary. That's exactly where Peter Talbott found himself at the beginning of this book and it sends him on a crazy ride to several east coast cities, all while trying to keep himself from getting killed.

Pete's a computer nerd who works in Boston. His wife passed away a year ago from cancer so since then he's just been living a quiet life in Boston, wo...more

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Oct 13, 2011 Monica rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: suspense, fiction, mystery, romance

I want to thank Mr. William Brown for giving me the opportunity to read his newest suspense novel The Undertaker. I will be looking at more works written by William Brown.

The Undertaker is a suspenseful on the edge of your seat novel. I found myself reading whenever I had a free moment. When I was at a red light I had my phone out and was reading The Undertaker while I waited for the green light. I think you can say I was hooked from the beginning.

Peter Talbott is a man who was married to Terri....more

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Jul 17, 2011 Vivian rated it 3 of 5 stars

THE UNDERTAKER by William F. Brown has been classified as a "fast-paced thriller" and as a "cliffhanger." Yes, these descriptions are accurate but they don't paint the entire picture. THE UNDERTAKER is a cliffhanger and a fast-paced thriller that incorporates self-deprecating and irreverent humor for a laugh-out loud enjoyable read.

Peter Talbott was erroneously classified as dead a few years ago when his car was stolen and he was being "held" in a Mexican jail. At the time Pete was in mourning f...more

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