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Dead Things (Eric Carter #1)

by Stephen Blackmoore (Goodreads Author)

3.72 of 5 stars 3.72 · rating details · 132 ratings · 37 reviews

Necromancer is such an ugly word, but it's a title Eric Carter is stuck with.

He sees ghosts, talks to the dead. He’s turned it into a lucrative career putting troublesome spirits to rest, sometimes taking on even more dangerous things. For a fee, of course.

When he left L.A. fifteen years ago he thought he’d never go back. Too many bad memories. Too many people trying to ki...more

Mass Market Paperback, 295 pages

Published February 5th 2013 by Daw

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2013 Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy (January - June)

145th out of 215 books — 858 voters

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Apr 18, 2013 Experiment BL626 rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal, recently-reviewed, reviewed

What luck! Dead Things was pretty much everything I could ever want in an Urban Fantasy. The hero kicked ass, the pacing was fast, and the story was devoid of cliches (the ones that annoy me anyway).

+ the hero

Eric Carter was my ideal Urban Fantasy hero. He embraced his power, and even better, he didn't hesitate killing bad guys with it. With great power comes great responsibility to kick ass and make them stay down — permanently.

I loved how he owned up to his bad decisions and personality flaws....more

5 likes · like · see review

Mar 16, 2013 Elspeth rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013, kindle, own, urban-fantasy

Disclaimer: In reading this book I recommend lots of salty, buttery, popcorn, you are going to need it.
I loved this book for all its faults, I am not sure if it was what the author was going for, but for me it was a cheesy horror flick. The main character is that heroine you love to hate, the one who you scream at to not go down that dark alley, the basement are you crazy, and you stupid bitch why are you leaving the group to go it alone.
Eric Carter has been running from his past for fifteen yea...more

13 likes · like · see review

Apr 20, 2013 Ami rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Ami by: Experiment BL626

Shelves: urban-fantasy-with-male-protagonist

3.75 stars rounded up

For the first story in a series, I mostly loved it. But I did have niggles.

Okay, the good part first:
Just like my friend, Expy, I loved how Eric embraced his dark power. I was refreshing to see the hero who didn't hesitate to kill the bad guys (like what he did with the cab driver) and didn't went back and forth on questioning the 'morality' of it. Those people (dead or alive) that he killed was the bad guys and Eric got the job done. Period.

The villains were vicious and i...more

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Apr 06, 2013 M. K. Theodoratus rated it 5 of 5 stars

Stephen Blackmoore uses some different preternaturals in his new book Dead Things, a stand alone novel that adds the supernatural to a down to earth mystery with lots of suspects heating up the action.

Eric Carter, a necromancer who can talk to the dead, is on the run from his past. When he learns his sister is murdered, he returns home to Los Angeles to solve the crime. Blackmoore gives the reader a lovely ride with a twisting mystery with lots of well-drawn, lively characters as his enemies an...more

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Mar 03, 2013 Joshua Palmatier rated it 3 of 5 stars

This is Stephen Blackmoore's second novel and it's unrelated to his first, City of the Lost, at least in terms of sequels or series. There are a few tenuous connections--such as the mysterious bar with multiple hard-to-find entrances, etc--but it's really a stand-alone novel. So if you've never read Stephen Blackmoore, feel free to pick this one up and start here.

The basic premise is that Eric Carter is a necromancer, someone who can see, talk to, and manipulate the dead. It's a power he was bor...more This is Stephen Blackmoore's second novel and it's unrelated to his first, City of the Lost, at least in terms of sequels or series. There are a few tenuous connections--such as the mysterious bar with multiple hard-to-find entrances, etc--but it's really a stand-alone novel. So if you've never read Stephen Blackmoore, feel free to pick this one up and start here.

The basic premise is that Eric Carter is a necromancer, someone who can see, talk to, and manipulate the dead. It's a power he was born with and after a sorcerer killed his parents, he fled Los Angeles and used his powers to make a living . . . so to speak . . . abandoning his sister in the process. Now, fifteen years later, he learns that someone has brutally murdered his sister, so he returns to L.A. to find her killer . . . and perhaps to take responsibility for the numerous mistakes he's made in his life, including running away in the first place. But of course, he stumbles into something much larger than his sister's death, and he may just be forced to deal with the responsibility of his own powers in the process.

I thought this was a good book. I'll repeat that I'm not a huge fan of urban fantasy, so take that into account with this review. Stephen Blackmoore does some really cool stuff in this book. His idea of what necromancy is, and the ways in which his character uses those powers, has been taken to a whole new level here. It's dark and gritty and definitely not nice, which is the way necromancy should be. But his main characters--while rough and tough and deadly--also has a "good" side. You can see his humanity and you can see his struggle dealing with his own power. He's been traumatized and burned by his power often, but he's still fighting to remain "normal" in some sense. So the world set-up and the characters in the book are great.

However, I thought the plotline wasn't as strong as it needed to be. It didn't quite hang together as strongly as it could have and there were a few "loose ends" that I didn't quite believe. In essence, Eric Carter came across as smarter than he behaved at certain points. I thought some of the clues about what was really going on were rather obvious and Eric should have picked up on them much, much earlier. If he had, it would have forced the plotline to become more complicated (unless the book was going to end rather abruptly and be a novella instead). And that's what was missing. The "complications" in the plot felt a little forced, brought on by the inability of the main character to see what was happening, and this made the plot feel weak and loose to me. If more time had been spent on the plot, if it had been developed more, the book would have been much, much stronger. The world and characters could certainly have supported it.

So, a good book, but not as strong as Stephen's first book. Certainly entertaining, but I thought it could have supported a much stronger, more complicated plot.(less)

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Feb 20, 2013 Daniel Swensen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: horror, weird

I'll admit, when I read Stephen Blackmoore's first book, CITY OF THE LOST, I was entertained but not blown away. I liked the hard-boiled feel of the prose, the cynical and tough-talking character, and the fun paranormal twists on what was basically a pulp noir tale. But it felt like Blackmoore was yet to really hit his stride.

Well, I just read DEAD THINGS, and I'm here to tell you, he hit it.

DEAD THINGS is a two-fisted paranormal noir that starts swinging from the first pages and never really l...more

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Apr 24, 2013 Elondel rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: own

I’m writing this review shortly after reading a blogpost about how the line between Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance is blurring more and more. I had to agree with said poster when she stated that it’s not for the good of the series – but it might be when it comes to the sales aspect – when the main focus of Urban Fantasy, being a tight plot filled with action and the supernatural, is being replaced by flimsy romance and way less plot than the amount of pages seems to suggest. If there are o...more I’m writing this review shortly after reading a blogpost about how the line between Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance is blurring more and more. I had to agree with said poster when she stated that it’s not for the good of the series – but it might be when it comes to the sales aspect – when the main focus of Urban Fantasy, being a tight plot filled with action and the supernatural, is being replaced by flimsy romance and way less plot than the amount of pages seems to suggest. If there are others out there who feel the same and are looking for a book that puts the Urban back in Urban Fantasy: meet Stephen Blackmoore and Eric Carter.

Eric Carter is a necromancer on the run. Running from trouble, running from his past. But when his sister is brutally murdered, his past is closing in on him and he has to turn around and face his demons.
To be honest, the plot is quite simple, but it’s tight and effective in its simplicity. There are not many different plotlines that can get you side-tracked and everything happens at a very high pace, so the book definitely keeps you engaged for the whole ride. This story is the perfect example how an Urban Fantasy/Fantasy Crime novel should be like. It does keep you guessing in between the numerous confrontations between the good, the bad and the ugly, and when you thought you got it figured out, the tables are turning. The whole wrapping up of things might not be as mindblowing as it could have been, but the ‘final battle’ does deliver big time. So it has quite a good main mystery and on the side there is some sweet little magic taking place. I thought Eric Carter was a very nice take on the necromancer aspect of things as a whole. The idea of Eric being able to cross over to the shadowside, along with the whole range of ghosts depending on how the person died brought something new and fresh to the table. It doesn’t always have to be about rotting zombie when it comes to necromancy, right? But this is not all when it comes to the hocus-pocus; in fact, his little bag of tricks was the cherry on top. Especially the stickers he used to bespell things were genius and hilariously clever at the same time. The idea is just so simple that I’m quite baffled that I didn’t come across things like this in other novels, but Stephen Blackmoore and Eric Carter made the stickers really their own. Also, the tattoos. I won’t say any more about this, but just: the tattoos.
Eric Carter himself is quite the enjoyable main protagonist as well. He’s troubled, that’s for sure, but it gives him a certain je ne sais quoi that makes him likeable as a character, even though he’s not the most pleasant person to be around. Even more so, despite him being troubled and all, he doesn’t constantly remind us of it nor does he turn into a whining child. In that aspect, I found him to be more likeable than Harry Dresden whom I also like, but tends to stress his chivalrous qualities a little too often. The other characters do a good job of supporting him, but it’s Eric that’s shining bright.
The writing is how it should be is this genre. Tight, fast paced and a little rough around the edges. The pace is kept high by the usage of short sentences which are more a kind of spoken language rather than written language. Normally things like this would bother me a bit, but here it suited the pacing and feel of the book very well. Stephen Blackmoore isn’t afraid to make some tough decisions and is able to refrain from adding to much saccharine frosting – in fact he used bare to none – for which he earns a kudos.

To put it simply, I would love to read another Eric Carter novel, especially after the ending of Dead Things, which made me feel uncomfortable, and that’s a good thing. Even though it’s a little rough around the edges and fairly straight on, I really enjoyed reading it and I think Dead Things showcases the potential of Mr. Blackmoore as a strong voice in the Urban Fantasy genre.(less)

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May 09, 2013 Kevin Hearne rated it 5 of 5 stars

When someone says "necromancer" to me I tend to think of Dark Lords in Dark Citadels with minions and shriveled plant life and, for some reason, large black beetles. The necromancer in DEAD THINGS was refreshing because he brought none of that tired stuff to the table, and to hell with large black beetles anyway.

This necromancer, Eric Carter, isn't trying to rule the world; he's just trying to get by in it and avenge the death of his sister. He's a messed-up dude and I would never want to meet h...more

25 likes · like · see review

May 09, 2013 Jennifer rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, tbr-challenge, urban-fantasy

I think one of my Goodreads friends gave this a good review. I pulled it off the shelf at the bookstore and gave the first couple chapters a whirl, and I just had to keep coming back to it. Which is a good sign, given how crowded my To-Read shelf is. The protagonist, Eric, has a lot of baggage, some weird necromantic powers, and a wry and profane sense of humor. This book isn't for the faint of heart or weak of stomach--I'd say it borders on horror rather than urban fantasy. And it's got a kille...more

3 likes · like · see review

Apr 09, 2013 Mardel rated it 5 of 5 stars

I picked up this book solely on the title. So simple, so direct, so stark. Then I read the blurb, and thought I might enjoy it. I didn't expect to enjoy it as much as I did though.

Between the dialogue, the plot, the narration and the fight scenes, this book was a page turner. I was engrossed from the moment I opened the book.

This necromancer, Eric Carter, has been traveling around fighting bad supernaturals, taking jobs etc. Then he finds out there's been a death in the family (didn't have much...more

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Mar 07, 2013 Andi rated it 3 of 5 stars

Dead Things was one of those books where I really wanted to like it just never quite got there… until the end. Which I thought was upsetting. The real reason I finished the book was to give a review.

Honestly, you will like the character – he has his flaws. Which is a nice thing to see, since I hate the characters who are perfect in everything (and never mess things up, never seem do anything wrong in the course of action). I just felt that the supporting characters weren’t that memorable. Well,...more

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Feb 22, 2013 Jason Rust rated it 3 of 5 stars

A very solid followup to Blackmoore's debut, City of the Lost. I will admit I found Dead Things' protag, Eric Carter, not quite as likeable as Lost's Joe Sunday. But that's probably because Sunday was kind of jerk who didn't know what he'd accidentally gotten himself into where Carter is a jerk who knows a thing or two about the magic he possesses.

That said, Dead Things is a pressure-filled, high-intensity race through some truly screwed-up situations, brought to life with Blackmoore's unique n...more

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Feb 21, 2013 David Traver Adolphus rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: dark-fantasy

Comparisons to a Jim Butcher novel are inevitable and I think fair. It’s not derivative or anything, but trying to write a wizard- (or necromancer) for-hire novel today without acknowledging Harry Dresden is like trying to write about elves and dwarves without acknowledging Tolkien. Nothing in the world of Dead Things—including the title—would be out of place in the Dresden world. There’s nothing wrong with that, it’s just a big shadow and as one person said, you wouldn’t be surprised if the tal...more

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Apr 06, 2013 Nancy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads, paranormal, urban-fantasy

I was fortunate enough to win this book on Goodreads First Reads giveaways.

Eric Carter is on a mission to find who brutally murdered his sister. Fortunate for him, he is a necromancer and has plenty of tools or souls available to help him in his quest.

Stephen Blackmoore's book Dead Things is an extremely fast paced, urban fantasy thriller with no shortage of blood and gore.

The main character is a strong albeit torn individual. Living a life where you constantly see dead people can really mess w...more

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Apr 26, 2013 Todd Morr rated it 4 of 5 stars

What the perpetually disappointing Dresden Files should be, Gritty supernatural noir that never 'cheats' I'm looking forward to more Eric Carter, maybe even a prequel, as given the large back story I figured I was reading at least the second book in the series instead of the first. Which is really my only complaint, the back story seemed a novel in itself, one I'd like to read, but does not exist.

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May 15, 2013 Andi Newton rated it 5 of 5 stars

An incredibly well written book with great pacing, a tightly woven plot, and well-developed characters, Dead Things kept me turning pages to see what would happen next. Lots of twists and turns, but Blackmoore leaves nothing unresolved. I usually have things in a story figured out long before they happen, but I did not see the ending coming on this one. Can't wait for the next book!

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Apr 06, 2013 Nikki rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: a-dark-read, own-it-pb-or-hc, ghouls-orcs-dark-elves-dwarves, urban-fantasy, witches-warlocks-wicca-magic, just-an-alright-okay-read

2.25 Star
Reading a book by a new author is always an uphill battle. You're ready to nitpick the hell out of it and find all the flaws. The flaw with this read is the magic. Magic should have limitations with the user. People, I use that word loosely, were using magic for financial gain, drug addiction, to possess bodies, and other things. The only sacrifice made was by the main character, Eric, who has to bleed for the dead. More than half the book was just OKAY, and the ending picked up a littl...more

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Mar 03, 2013 Robot rated it 1 of 5 stars

Blech, its all over the place.

The story is a mess and things happen that should have happened over the course of a few books. Characters are muddled and contrived. The magic is just there - no restraints or rules. And the ending, that just... it was stupid.

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May 13, 2013 Max rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Urban fantasy, when done well, is excellent. However, it's hard as hell to find that mythic beast that is well done urban fantasy. The genre is dominated by weird cross pollinations of Harlequin Romance novels and Penthouse Forum letters - done with vampires.

Even if this weren't the case, I think Stephen Blackmoore's DEATH THINGS would stand out. This is an example of that rare thing, the fantastic Urban Fantasy. It's sharp, clever, tough and unrelentingly noir. It wears its influences proudly...more

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Mar 05, 2013 Gaja rated it 4 of 5 stars

My first thought on reading the first chapter of this book was 'this feels familiar'. Not in a bad way, but in that way where you've read something similar before, and this new thing pings in on it. Something in the character's voice or the way things are paced. It took me the better part of four chapters to finally hit on what it was that this reminded me of (Charlie Huston, for anyone wondering), and I have to say that I was pleased with the comparison, even if in my own head. I liked those bo...more

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Mar 17, 2013 Maryellen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: highly-recommend, kindle-read

The first in a new urban fantasy series - I really enjoyed the take on necromancy, from the early 'flavor' episode, through the actual mystery/action. Hoping there are many more to come.

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Apr 27, 2013 Kathy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Necromancer and mage Eric Carter fled L.A 15 years ago after he killed the man who murdered his parents and he's finally coming back after he finds out his only sister has also been murdered and he's about to find all the things he fled from are about to come home to roost in the nastiest possible way.

Eric is not a nice person, but nevertheless I did enjoy this novel. Its a quick read and is obviously a set up as a first book in a series. The book is not a romance, nor is it really an action th...more

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Feb 19, 2013 Kenneth Sr. rated it 5 of 5 stars

Good Book...pretty straight forward action, main character was likable and the book moved along at a really good pace.

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May 14, 2013 Tiuri Elvander rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

Felix Castor meets Harry Dresden in Eric Carter. An excellent read and I hope there will be many more Eric Carter books.

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Feb 23, 2013 Trent rated it 5 of 5 stars

Full review here...

http://pulp300.wordpress.com/2013/02/...

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Apr 09, 2013 Laurel rated it 3 of 5 stars

Mostly entertaining urban fantasy. Became a bit predictable.

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Mar 02, 2013 Nickell rated it 1 of 5 stars

Depressing... Just Depressing...

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May 02, 2013 J.B. Sanders rated it 4 of 5 stars

Solid, blood-soaked supernatural noir.

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Mar 06, 2013 Bart rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013-read, own-collection

7 out of 10

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Apr 28, 2013 Pam rated it 1 of 5 stars

I'm a big fan of the urban fantasy genre but I just couldn't get into this one even though I gave it a good try--I mean at least 75 pages. I almost put it down in the first few but then it caught my interest when Eric had painful personal news (no....I'm not giving away the spoiler). My problem is the story seems to be all over the place and wasn't able to focus--at least for me. So, even though I wanted to like both Eric and what was going on in his strange life, I just didn't.

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About Stephen Blackmoore

Stephen Blackmoore is a pulp writer of little to no renown who once thought lighting things on fire was one of the best things a kid could do with his time. Until he discovered that eyebrows don't grow back very quickly.

His first novel, a dark urban fantasy titled CITY OF THE LOST is out through DAW Books and is available at all the fashionable bookstores. Hopefully some of the seedier ones, too....more

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Dead Things (Eric Carter #1)

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