What do you think?
Rate this book
The Ashdale Reaper Series #1
Deadly Awakening
No one ever said surviving life would be easy.
Ben Reed is not who everyone thinks, and worse, he can’t remember anything.
Overcome with curiosity, he has taken over the body of a distraught soul. After this, there’s no way back…at least for one of them. And with breaking the laws of nature by being decidedly not dead after washing up on a riverbank, he must face the relentless suspicions of Detective Olivia Jones.
Olivia has had enough excitement in life before taking her new job, and having one of two dead bodies wake up at her crime scene is not appreciated. Resourceful and determined, she must find out what really happened the night Ben ended up in the murky and cold Ashdale River.
Meanwhile, Ben’s inherited companions must deal with the fact that their childhood friend has changed in strange ways. All Ben knows is that he isn’t human and that he doesn’t want to be one. He only wants to leave, but soon finds himself trapped in his newly acquired vessel. Life doesn’t get any easier when the only person who can help is terrified of him.
While forced to face the needs of his new friends, Ben struggles to find the truth that could free him from this fragile existence. But when a shocking danger emerges, he must work together with his enemy to fight the deadly threat.
Can Ben survive life?
Deadly Awakening is the first novel in the Ashdale Reaper Series, a tale of loyalty and friendships, memories, and dead bodies refusing to stay that way.
Ben Reed is not who everyone thinks, and worse, he can’t remember anything.
Overcome with curiosity, he has taken over the body of a distraught soul. After this, there’s no way back…at least for one of them. And with breaking the laws of nature by being decidedly not dead after washing up on a riverbank, he must face the relentless suspicions of Detective Olivia Jones.
Olivia has had enough excitement in life before taking her new job, and having one of two dead bodies wake up at her crime scene is not appreciated. Resourceful and determined, she must find out what really happened the night Ben ended up in the murky and cold Ashdale River.
Meanwhile, Ben’s inherited companions must deal with the fact that their childhood friend has changed in strange ways. All Ben knows is that he isn’t human and that he doesn’t want to be one. He only wants to leave, but soon finds himself trapped in his newly acquired vessel. Life doesn’t get any easier when the only person who can help is terrified of him.
While forced to face the needs of his new friends, Ben struggles to find the truth that could free him from this fragile existence. But when a shocking danger emerges, he must work together with his enemy to fight the deadly threat.
Can Ben survive life?
Deadly Awakening is the first novel in the Ashdale Reaper Series, a tale of loyalty and friendships, memories, and dead bodies refusing to stay that way.
294 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 17, 2018
265 people are currently reading
425 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
July 24, 2018
A man falls from a bridge into the river below, his body washes up broken and battered alongside another... But he's not dead. The original owner of the body, a Ben Reed, has indeed departed but someone or something has taken his place and is finding it all very confusing. He's never had a body before, although what he was before having this body is a bit of a mystery to him. Then there's the cop Olivia who found this apparently dead man and saw him come back to life. She's more concerned that the second man washed up appears to have been murdered and her gut instinct tells her that Ben, the conveniently not-dead sudden amnesiac, has something to do with it. There's something odd going on Ashdale alright...
I found this book a bit odd in itself. There are two narratives: Ben (or rather, not-Ben ) who gives a first person account of his newfound corporeal-ness, and Olivia who embodies the feisty cop who won't give up trope. Maybe it's just me, but hopping between first and third person perspectives felt a bit jarring. I do love not-Ben's precise choice of language, referring to himself by parts ("the hand" or "the eyes") as he comes to terms with physical reality. It gives him a very detached voice, lacking in emotion. This could be alienating in a protagonist, but his scholarly curiosity and dissection of human behaviour makes for amusing reading. I didn't find Olivia the easiest character to like or be interested in, but she's a good example of the stubborn cop trope done realistically rather than overblown. Peter, Rose and Walter didn't get much airtime to develop beyond their introductions.
What keeps you reading is the mystery. Not-Ben's identity is tied up with Olivia's murdered murderer case, that much is obvious, but how? It's a very slow to unfold plot, which could drag a little at times as not-Ben mused about coffee and bodily functions, but being part of a bigger supernatural mystery it will take time to get going. The action later on in the book could feel a little rushed just because of how slowly the book had started. I wasn't so keen on how some of the revelations were dealt with. Ashdale must be really weird for people to just accept things without much in the way of denial/dismissal, and I wasn't always sure about some of the explanations given.
I guess this book felt like a big setup for a series rather than something really engaging of it's own - the HFN ending didn't really feel satisfying to me.
I'd guess by GoodReads standards it's a 2.5 star - something about it just didn't quite gel for me. There are certainly aspects that are interesting about it, not least the unusual take on urban fantasy "magic" and restless souls. If you're looking for a slow-burn urban fantasy mystery with a very unusual protagonist then this may well be more your cup of tea.
I found this book a bit odd in itself. There are two narratives: Ben (or rather, not-Ben ) who gives a first person account of his newfound corporeal-ness, and Olivia who embodies the feisty cop who won't give up trope. Maybe it's just me, but hopping between first and third person perspectives felt a bit jarring. I do love not-Ben's precise choice of language, referring to himself by parts ("the hand" or "the eyes") as he comes to terms with physical reality. It gives him a very detached voice, lacking in emotion. This could be alienating in a protagonist, but his scholarly curiosity and dissection of human behaviour makes for amusing reading. I didn't find Olivia the easiest character to like or be interested in, but she's a good example of the stubborn cop trope done realistically rather than overblown. Peter, Rose and Walter didn't get much airtime to develop beyond their introductions.
What keeps you reading is the mystery. Not-Ben's identity is tied up with Olivia's murdered murderer case, that much is obvious, but how? It's a very slow to unfold plot, which could drag a little at times as not-Ben mused about coffee and bodily functions, but being part of a bigger supernatural mystery it will take time to get going. The action later on in the book could feel a little rushed just because of how slowly the book had started. I wasn't so keen on how some of the revelations were dealt with. Ashdale must be really weird for people to just accept things without much in the way of denial/dismissal, and I wasn't always sure about some of the explanations given.
I guess this book felt like a big setup for a series rather than something really engaging of it's own - the HFN ending didn't really feel satisfying to me.
I'd guess by GoodReads standards it's a 2.5 star - something about it just didn't quite gel for me. There are certainly aspects that are interesting about it, not least the unusual take on urban fantasy "magic" and restless souls. If you're looking for a slow-burn urban fantasy mystery with a very unusual protagonist then this may well be more your cup of tea.
April 11, 2020
Odd story about the Grim Reaper taking on the body of a dead man!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 30, 2018
I thought that this was a pretty interesting book. The book starts out with a reaper that decides to jump into the body of a guy throwing himself off of a bridge. He later, wakes up in the body of Ben, but the problem is, he doesn't remember who he is. So now you have just the shell of Ben, because he is long gone, and a reaper with no memories, because throwing himself into this body apparently messed his stuff up pretty good. Through the book he is trying to find someone who can help him remember who he really is while trying to make Ben's friends believe he is still Ben, just with amnesia. He starts having visions of things and he begins to realize that he must be some kind of monster or something, but he is not human. Add to the mix, the detective who thinks he murdered another man, and also some people that show signs of weird powers. One thing is certain, Mr. Winter definitely knows more than he is telling. The end of the book leaves you with many unanswered questions which will hopefully be addressed in the second book of the series.
April 19, 2019
Deadly Awakening is Book 1 in The Ashdale Reaper series. This storyline is unique in that a spirit (presumably a reaper) enters the body of a man (Ben) who commits suicide by jumping off a bridge. When the spirit in Ben's body wakes (a great surprise to the police) he does not know why he linked with Ben's body or even how to be human as he does not have access to Ben's memories. It is hilarious. The story is unique and very well written with well-developed characters. It is going to be very interesting to see where G.K. Lund takes us on what appears will be a the roller coaster ride. I highly recommend this book. Received an ARC from Hidden Gems and this is my voluntary and honest review.
March 1, 2024
I'm a little on the fence about this book.
The chapters are short, making it a quick read; however, it also feels a little jumpy. There are some things I felt weren't very well explained, especially when it came to what the MC remembered and what 'the body' remembered. It's obvious that some things were chosen to advance conversation but some of the things were strange.
The first 20 chapters are pretty boring but the story picks up in the second half of the book. The plot is interesting enough but I don't think I'll read the rest of the series unless it's available at my local library. I'm not hooked enough to go out of my way to pay for the books in order to find out what happens.
The chapters are short, making it a quick read; however, it also feels a little jumpy. There are some things I felt weren't very well explained, especially when it came to what the MC remembered and what 'the body' remembered. It's obvious that some things were chosen to advance conversation but some of the things were strange.
The first 20 chapters are pretty boring but the story picks up in the second half of the book. The plot is interesting enough but I don't think I'll read the rest of the series unless it's available at my local library. I'm not hooked enough to go out of my way to pay for the books in order to find out what happens.
May 24, 2021
I usually don´t read paranormal/fantasy books but I decided to give it a try and how positively surprised I was! Although this is a story about reincarnation and metaphysical powers it is told in a light and very good humored way and I really enjoyed it. I became a fan and will be looking forward to reading the other books in the series. For those who are wondering about the book I can say that it has no horror, bloody stuff in it, but a lot of questioning regarding our way of life, values and so on. Very entertaining!
I downloaded a free copy of this book and this is my honest review.
I downloaded a free copy of this book and this is my honest review.
December 14, 2023
Good story with a bit of supernatural and superpower thrown in. I'm still not sure what Ben is now and why he killed himself and his amnesia seems very selective but it has to be to make the story work. He has a good set of friends helping him find himself and his detective antagonist is there for him at the end.
June 14, 2020
LOVE IT 😍
The book is interesting and the chapters are small and very easy to read. I love the reaper and how his struggles with the every day live of the normal human it's hilarious 😄. Olivia is very good detective, I like her, it we'll be good to see them work together again. 😶
The book is interesting and the chapters are small and very easy to read. I love the reaper and how his struggles with the every day live of the normal human it's hilarious 😄. Olivia is very good detective, I like her, it we'll be good to see them work together again. 😶
May 7, 2021
Excellent paranormal nível
The slant of this novel was intriguing and new in a world of recycled plots. I enjoyed accompanying Death on his first human journey. His humanization process showed that humans do need friends and physical contact. Excellent!
The slant of this novel was intriguing and new in a world of recycled plots. I enjoyed accompanying Death on his first human journey. His humanization process showed that humans do need friends and physical contact. Excellent!
December 28, 2023
The Reaper is present to capture the soul of suicide Ben. Something goes wrong and the essence of the Reaper enters Ben's body. The Reaper knows little about Ben's life but has to convince other people that he really is Ben.
Unusual reaper story
Unusual reaper story
January 3, 2024
What an interesting book
This book left me wanting more.
Such an interesting premise and insight into Ben, who's no longer Ben. I felt a little removed from the other characters as I followed Ben's character just like he did and I couldn't wait to find out more. Will read more!
This book left me wanting more.
Such an interesting premise and insight into Ben, who's no longer Ben. I felt a little removed from the other characters as I followed Ben's character just like he did and I couldn't wait to find out more. Will read more!
January 17, 2024
Suspenful
This was a different type of read, not quite urban fantasy, not quite paranormal suspense either. It is well written and it kept me interested the whole way through. Interesting characters but I wanted more back story. Recommended.
This was a different type of read, not quite urban fantasy, not quite paranormal suspense either. It is well written and it kept me interested the whole way through. Interesting characters but I wanted more back story. Recommended.
May 24, 2021
Fun uniquely drafted characters. Thoroughly enjoyed this tale!
October 8, 2022
A few good action moments but the plot and MC motivations are totally unfathomable, while I do not fear the reaper I can not identify with him... Obtained from Amazon for free, May 23, 2021.
December 3, 2023
Interesting storyline
I enjoyed the interesting storyline. The character Ben, is also intriguing in his search for his memory. I can't wait to read more!
I enjoyed the interesting storyline. The character Ben, is also intriguing in his search for his memory. I can't wait to read more!
December 9, 2023
A very imaginative and well written novel
June 22, 2024
Only so so.
Strange. Obviously a set up for a series. Came together more at the end but I probably won't bother getting the next book
Strange. Obviously a set up for a series. Came together more at the end but I probably won't bother getting the next book
June 30, 2024
Love this story so far. Lots of unanswered questions, but I didn't want to put it down and can't wait to start the next.
February 6, 2026
I loved the premise of the book. I took off one star because it was hard to follow in a couple of places.
April 17, 2022
Unique premise of a grim reaper having agency in the real world. Oddly addictive series, so quickly bought and read the rest of the series after this book :)
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews