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Dead Vessel

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What are you supposed to do when the spirit of someone alive suddenly appears? Having died in the line of duty, Detective Cadence Riley has been recruited to help police haunted locations so that the spirits don't give too much away to the living. She and her partner have also helped protect the living from non-human evil spirits. All is going according to procedure until someone alive appears before her. Cadence has been reunited with her brother--who died ten years before when the majority of coeds in his dorm were slaughtered. Restoration of the old Victorian style dorm has begun as the college is intent on opening the building up once more. The construction does more than disturb the spirits of the dead, however. The spirit of an old classmate, one not killed in the massacre, appears out of the blue. As Cadence and Snow begin to put the pieces of the puzzle regarding his sudden appearance in place, it becomes clear that more is at stake. This case, for both the living and the dead, is as dangerous as a raging fire. Someone is bound to get burned.

290 pages, Paperback

Published April 30, 2023

1 person is currently reading
5 people want to read

About the author

Amanda Fasciano

6 books14 followers
A Paranormal Urban Fantasy author, Amanda Fasciano has had a lifelong love for everything related to the paranormal and horror. Local to Southwest Florida, she can often be found at local conventions or spending time with her family and friends.

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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
Profile Image for J.B. Richards.
Author 6 books146 followers
January 22, 2020
Overview: An afterlife detective and her seasoned partner get much more than they bargained for in this occult horror novel exploring the world of ghosts, ghost hunters, and psychic mediums.

Author Amanda Fasciano continues to present her creative and mind-blowing vision of an afterlife ghost squad determined to keep the veil between the living and the dead intact. In “Dead Vessel”, the second chapter of her Life After Series, things are going well for ghostly partners Cadence and Snow, until Cadence learns of a plan to re-open the site of a mass killing—The very same location where her brother was murdered.

Author Fasciano elicits deep emotions in her readers as she presents some heart-wrenching scenes in “Dead Vessel”. As the author guides readers through the scene of a horrific mass murder. It is the author’s sensitivity toward her victims, their families, and their friends that lies at the forefront of her detectives’ sweeping investigation rather than the gruesome manner of the victims’ deaths. Her characters’ emotions, especially that of Cadence, are quite explicit and palpable, giving the reader a greater sense of compassion and connection to the victims in this story, rather than sensationalizing the killer and the manner chosen to cause these deaths.

Although Fasciano tempers “Dead Vessel” with background humor and chumminess between her detectives and their team, the overall feeling of this chapter in the Life After Series is quite morbid—But, that is just as it should be. This is not some fanciful excursion into a ghost hunt that turns up a serial killer—It is a sensitive and realistic view of the consequences meted out on the victims and survivors of a supernatural mass murderer.

In “Dead Vessel”, readers get a real feeling for what it must be like to be dead oneself and having to come to terms with one’s actions in life before moving forward to the afterlife. The author provides a brilliant and startling contrast utilizing characters whose jobs are to guide the deceased to the afterlife, even though these ghosts haven’t fully come to terms with their own deaths and past actions.

This tale is an enlightening and exciting read, particularly for ghost hunters and paranormal fans. “Dead Vessel” could work as a standalone read, however, for your best enjoyment of this unique afterlife experience, I strongly recommend this chapter be read in its proper sequence within the Life After Series.

I must issue a warning that “Dead Vessel” does contain graphic violence in the form of a mass murder scene, and could therefore act as a trigger for survivors of traumatic mass violence situations. This novel should be read only by ages 17 and up.
Profile Image for Michelle.
1,417 reviews12 followers
April 8, 2023
Cadence and Snow are back in action. This time a case which involves the dorm where her brother and a few other college students were victims of a massacre. One day out of the blue a former roommate the one who called in the cops at the time shows up and can’t recall anything after one day prior to the incident. No one’s quite sure what to make of it. As this is the latest in a string of unusual cases the pair have been involved in their boss Croft has created a task force type team for them. If you read book 1 and you really really should you’ll remember Bethany, Whitfield and of course our friendly neighborhood ghost hunters although as the latter are alive their not technically members. As they investigate Cade’s human partner also becomes involved. What they discover is old, intricate and very very sinister. It’s going to take all hands on deck for the team to stop this madness from becoming reality!
This series has quickly become a must read for me. It’s clever, original, well thought out and so much fun! You might think ghost cops meh, but you’d be so completely wrong! Cadence and Snow are an amazing pair. Her more instinct base approach and his by the book one balance each other perfectly. There are some heart wrenching moments when the team has to confront painful parts of their pasts or deaths but it’s balanced well with wit, spookiness and flat out clever fun! In fact I can boil everything down to just two words: more please!!!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Emily Pennington.
20.4k reviews354 followers
April 10, 2023
Dead Vessel 2 . . .

Interesting story line with ghosts involved. The characters are entertaining. Having died in the line of duty, Detective Cadence Riley has been recruited to help police in her unique way. She wakes up in the afterlife and goes on with her usual business! Her partner is Osmund Snow. They promised Aiden, the team tech guy, that when they (ghosts) were around, they would let him know. So Aiden had begun keeping two felt pieces by him when he was working. He had a white felt snowflake marked “Snow” for Officer Snow to knock off the table and a green felt clover marked “Riley” for Cadence to knock off. When Aiden set up his garage as his “central command”, he kept the felt pieces there so he would always know when they were around.

Sometimes it takes convincing the ghosts that they truly are ghosts now. And other times Cadence gets right into the detective work of solving crimes. The idea of a ghost detective is very clever and imaginative, especially because this one stands out for how different it is from other ghostly tales. Grab your copy and meet the characters. You will find out how justice is served in the beyond!
697 reviews2 followers
September 15, 2024
Book 2 of the Life after series has Cadence and Snow back again policing the afterlife. This story kept me hooked to see what would happen with enough suspense and danger that I was not sure how the story would end until the last couple of chapters. Cadence's brother was killed in his dorm when a knife wielding psycho went on a rampage. Now the team must figure out why this dorm is reopening before anymore murders take place.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Louise.
1,460 reviews19 followers
July 9, 2023
Book 2, it might help to read the first book to know the characters' backstories but the story works as a standalone. Killed in the line of duty, Cadence is a ghost and continues to help her partner, Snow, in dangerous situations. In this instance, a woman refuses to believe she's died and Cadence and Snow need to protect the living. The story features paranormal investigations and poltergeist activity.


I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
817 reviews4 followers
August 9, 2023
Thoroughly enjoyed reading this engaging, entertaining and unputdownable story! The story follows the unlife of Cade and Snow as they attempt to help others and solve a mystery or two. Well written fast paced with lots of angst, friendship mystery, frienemies, psychic, and ghostly shanigans kept me up at night reading! Told from dual POV reveals intimately their thoughts feelings and emotions as they explore their roles in a new plane of existence.
4,193 reviews19 followers
August 23, 2023
This is an entertaining and engaging PNR mystery with action, adventure, compromises, a psychic medium, detectives, ghosts, and ghost hunters. The MCs are intelligent, decisive, problem solvers who are defined, and likable. I enjoyed this read, I voluntarily read an ARC and this is my honest review.
681 reviews14 followers
April 16, 2024
I am so glad to have found this series and to have the second book be just as amazing as the first one. I totally enjoy the characters in this book and when I say characters, I mean "characters" Wow, the author has one amazing mind. Can't wait to get to number three so I'm outta here! Fantastic Book.
251 reviews5 followers
February 22, 2025
I'm loving the Life After series so far. The characters are great, both new and returning. The world building continues to be engrossing, and the mystery is intriguing. I highly recommend Dead Vessel, and the whole series- just be sure to start with the first book in the series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Amy Niehaus.
2 reviews
August 2, 2018
You won't want to put down!

Terrific read! Well thought out writing with enjoyable mystical elements as well. Characters and plot are even better than the first book in series, many elements that you can't wait to find out but won't leave you hanging. Perfect!
Profile Image for Kat M.
4,746 reviews18 followers
April 11, 2023
This was a great sequel in the Life After series. I was invested in what was going on and enjoyed this continuation. The characters felt like the same characters and they were written well.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
346 reviews5 followers
June 5, 2023
This is a really good book this is book 2 I really enjoyed reading this book very good story enjoyed the storyline very good book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
851 reviews5 followers
July 26, 2023
Wow. This second book is spectacular. Cadence and Snow bouncing off each other snd workung so well together. And thst ending. Such a fabulous read!.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Rani.
250 reviews
December 27, 2023
I liked this as much as the first book. Catching up with Cadence and Snow and all the ghosts and action kept me turning the pages.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
290 reviews4 followers
Read
April 10, 2024
This is such a wonderful series! The characters, the story lines, the mysteries! I can't wait to read the next book in the series!!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for AMBER CLARK.
961 reviews23 followers
October 3, 2024
Things are going well for ghostly partners Cadence and Snow. That is until Cadence learns of a plan to re-open the site of a mass killing. The site where her brother was murdered. Told with dual POVs, it's a rollercoaster ride of emotion. I am totally invested cand excited for Book 3.

Profile Image for Serpina.
80 reviews
March 26, 2023
4.5 Stars

The book starts roughly six months after the last one had finished. Cade gets comfortable in her job and learns more tricks when her brother calls and tells them that the college wants to reopen the old dorm rooms, where he was killed 10 years ago and currently spends his time as a monitor for several of the other killed students, who don't know that they are dead.
Additionally, a new ghost appears, who seems to be from the same period, but wasn't killed back then. When Cade and Snow find out, that the person is still very much alive, a new case starts and it's even more dangerous than the last one.
We meet most of the old characters again. Ramon, the Orderly in the asylum, who frequently has to patch Cade together and has a crush on her, Andy, her old partner, the human ghost hunters, and Croft, who left me very suspicious in book one but became more positive in this one.

Cade and the relationships with all of the characters develop nicely and she realizes that she has very good friends and actually a more fulfilled and happy "life" now, than she had when she was alive.

Again, the book wraps up nicely and doesn't leave you hanging, which I always appreciate in series. No cliffhanger, but enough hints and loose threads, to eagerly await the next book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Andra Shaw.
1,267 reviews11 followers
March 23, 2023
Dead Vessel is the second book in the After Life Series. It has it all, and this book surpassed the first one in entertainment value, and I loved the first book! The storyline is entertaining, engaging, and compelling. The characters are fun and believable, and they all grow on you. The right screenwriter could turn this series into a heck of a television series.

Dead vessel is an awesome read with drama, a budding romance, paranormal-supernatural action, suspense, and more. I am looking forward to book three, Dead Show.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Nancy (The Avid Reader).
2,963 reviews128 followers
March 11, 2023
Dead Vessel is the second book in The Life After Series by Amanda Fasciano. Dead Vessel is about ghosts and solving crimes in the afterlife. I love these new twists on detective stories and ghost stories.

Dead Vessel is about Detective Cadence Riley who wakes up in the afterlife. Cadence is still doing the same things she did when she was alive. In the afterlife, she is helping ghosts to figure out that they are ghosts and tries to help them move on to a better life in the afterlife.

This time around while I was reading Dead Vessel it kept reminding me of the TV shows Ghost Hunters and The Haunted Hathaways in some ways. Dead Vessel remained me of Ghost Hunters because it has a reality show feel to it. It reminded me of The Haunted Hathaways because they talk to ghosts. Yeah, I know they are ghosts themselves but anyways that is the why of it.

I love, love, love the idea of ghost detectives. I love the afterlife, life so to speak. I love the world that was created for The Life After Series. In my opinion, it is one of the most brilliant ideas ever. I could read a story from The Life After Series all day long.

Once I get my hands on one of these little gems I can’t wait to turn to that first page to start a new adventure with Cadence while she does some ghost sleuthing. I cannot wait for the next book in The Life After Series to make its appearance.

I highly recommend Dead Vessel to all fans of ghost hunters, the paranormal, and detective stories! Grab your copy of Dead Vessel today!
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews

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