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Matt Richter #2
Dead Streets
The return of Matt Richter. Private Eye. Zombie.
MATT RICHTER'S GOING TO PIECES - LITERALLY.
You've got to keep your head to survive in the teeming undead city known as Nekropolis. It's a pity crazed genius Victor Baron couldn't manage that. Now everyone wants a piece of him.
Zombie detective Matt Richter and his glamorous she-vampire companion Devona are back on the case, with another wild and wonderful investigation.
MATT RICHTER'S GOING TO PIECES - LITERALLY.
You've got to keep your head to survive in the teeming undead city known as Nekropolis. It's a pity crazed genius Victor Baron couldn't manage that. Now everyone wants a piece of him.
Zombie detective Matt Richter and his glamorous she-vampire companion Devona are back on the case, with another wild and wonderful investigation.
394 pages, Paperback
First published August 31, 2010
14 people are currently reading
465 people want to read
About the author
Tim Waggoner
282 books756 followersTim Waggoner's first novel came out in 2001, and since then, he's published over sixty novels and eight collections of short stories. He writes original dark fantasy and horror, as well as media tie-ins. He's written tie-in fiction based on Supernatural, The X-Files, Alien, Doctor Who, Conan the Barbarian, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Grimm, and Transformers, among others, and he's written novelizations for films such as Ti West’s X-Trilogy, Halloween Kills, Terrifier 2 and 3, and Resident Evil: The Final Chapter. He’s also the author of the award-winning guide to horror Writing in the Dark. He’s a four-time winner of the Bram Stoker Award, a one-time winner of the Scribe Award, and he’s been a two-time finalist for the Shirley Jackson Award and a one-time finalist for the Splatterpunk Award. He’s also a full-time tenured professor who teaches creative writing and composition at Sinclair College in Dayton, Ohio.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
September 13, 2016
3.5 Stars
Dead Streets (Matt Richter #2) by Tim Waggoner is the sequel to Nekropolis and the continuation of a cool series. What could be better than a mystery series led by a detective named Matt Ritcher? How about a story that also includes pretty much every urban fantasy supernatural creature imagined? Hey, why not have the protagonist be an undead...zombie? Make it all fit together by taking place in a world adjacent to our own... This is the making of fun stuff.
This really is a dream series for urban fantasy lovers that enjoy a bit more satire and current culture references in their books. Matt is a private investigator who happens to be undead, and who also happens to be the only self aware zombie ever known, and also is an excellent cop, and finally is a man with a hot half vampire girlfriend who isn't afraid to be a monster.
Dead Streets is a good book and it works as a sequel, but it is a lesser story to that of book one. It is still a page turner that I found to be a great deal of fun. I really enjoy the writing style of Waggoner and the characters that lead the way. The combination of action along with the humor makes the series fun, and that is probably what is most important. I could read these books all of the time.
"Others were downright bizarre, even for Nekropolis, such as the fly headed man garbed in a stained lab coat who carried a tiny human headed fly perched on his shoulder. The tiny creature kept saying, "Help meeeee!" in a plaintive, high-pitched voice. Henry told us to ignore him."
""Considering that I'm a zombie having my head put back onto my body by the Frankenstein Monster, I'd say that was an understatement." Baron chuckled. "Besides that, I mean. Tonight someone attacked you, cut off your head, stole your body, and later dumped it rather unceremoniously in the Sprawl. This puts you in a unique situation in that, since the beheading didn't kill you, you are in a sense able to investigate your own murder. How many private detectives can say the same?""
This is an easy read that I enjoyed a great deal.
Dead Streets (Matt Richter #2) by Tim Waggoner is the sequel to Nekropolis and the continuation of a cool series. What could be better than a mystery series led by a detective named Matt Ritcher? How about a story that also includes pretty much every urban fantasy supernatural creature imagined? Hey, why not have the protagonist be an undead...zombie? Make it all fit together by taking place in a world adjacent to our own... This is the making of fun stuff.
This really is a dream series for urban fantasy lovers that enjoy a bit more satire and current culture references in their books. Matt is a private investigator who happens to be undead, and who also happens to be the only self aware zombie ever known, and also is an excellent cop, and finally is a man with a hot half vampire girlfriend who isn't afraid to be a monster.
Dead Streets is a good book and it works as a sequel, but it is a lesser story to that of book one. It is still a page turner that I found to be a great deal of fun. I really enjoy the writing style of Waggoner and the characters that lead the way. The combination of action along with the humor makes the series fun, and that is probably what is most important. I could read these books all of the time.
"Others were downright bizarre, even for Nekropolis, such as the fly headed man garbed in a stained lab coat who carried a tiny human headed fly perched on his shoulder. The tiny creature kept saying, "Help meeeee!" in a plaintive, high-pitched voice. Henry told us to ignore him."
""Considering that I'm a zombie having my head put back onto my body by the Frankenstein Monster, I'd say that was an understatement." Baron chuckled. "Besides that, I mean. Tonight someone attacked you, cut off your head, stole your body, and later dumped it rather unceremoniously in the Sprawl. This puts you in a unique situation in that, since the beheading didn't kill you, you are in a sense able to investigate your own murder. How many private detectives can say the same?""
This is an easy read that I enjoyed a great deal.
December 4, 2025
Dead Streets is the second of three very enjoyable novels that blend horror and humor with urban fantasy and private-eye tropes. The first one was originally published in trade format by Five Star as Necropolis in 2004, and a few years later Angry Robot re-released it as Nekropolis in a mass market pocket edition, as well as the other two. I was at first little lost by some of the changes (how long did it take to replace all of those c's with k's?) but found my way fairly swiftly. (I've still never read the expanded Angry Robot edition of the first book, just the original. Not to be confused with novels by Maureen McHugh or Dan Abnett.) The series stars Matt Richter, a wise-cracking zombie detective in a world of the supernatural, a little edgier and darker than Green's Nightside or Resnick's Mallory stories. This one was quite a bit longer than the first edition of the first book, with a little gorier content, or so it seemed to me. It started a little slowly but picked up the pace pretty well and didn't suffer too much from the dreaded middle-book syndrome. You'll be humming "There's a light..." from the Rocky Horror Picture Show by the mid-way point. Lots of fun! And a bonus Matt-Devona romantic short story, too.
April 18, 2014
4 Stars
Two great things happen in this installment.
First, it doesn't fall victim to the sequel effect, that horrible filler novel that is just there to help juxtapose the beginning and end volumes of a trilogy.
Second, it expands upon outstanding world building and great characterization that was introduced in the first novel.
This book shows an awesome world that has a different take on the various aspects always thrown around in fantasy novels. From vampires, to lycanthropes, technology and magic, it has it all. And its mashed together in such a delightful way.
There are a lot of twist and turns taking place in the plot on this one. On the top we have a cool mystery and watch Matt as he’s taken through the ringer. But there is also a great story about a zombie trying to be in love, or even better a man being in a relationship with a woman way out of his perceivable league and trying to deal with the jealousy and suspicion most men seem to have when they finally fall in love.
It is great to see the character development of Devona in this one, she is trying to become more independent and deal with her new life caused by the after effects of the last novel. In addition to this for the reader she is becoming a more interesting and flushed out character. And plus we have minions (not the little yellow ones in suspenders)! These are Devona’s workers in her knew security firm, and they are all interesting characters that give more insight into the rest of Necropolis.
Matt loses his head, is accused of stealing from one of the Lords of Necropolis, thrown in prison, and has to deal with possibly losing his girl to another man who can satisfy her in ways he can’t ( if you know what I mean. Wink, wink). You have to remember being a zombie isn't all shuffles and dead nerves, there’s also that erectile dysfunction from lack of blood flow.
I love the introduction of new characters, new villains, and the expansion of the world. We learn more about the zones or areas in Necropolis that we missed in the last book, as well as more about the Lords that were absent as well. Waggoner makes even the most minor of character seem super bad ass awesome, like Lord Etrigu’s coachman, the human bounty hunter, or the “big bad” in this one. All are awesome in their own right.
The only qualm for me might have been the initial start. The first novel started in medias res, while this one gives some background, which is to be expected in a second volume really. At least it doesn't overly go into flashbacks or long drawn out explanations to the last novel. There are moments of action, but the start is a slower pace than the last book and takes a little longer to sink it’s claws into you. But still a gripping story to me.
The story had layers upon layers, and there were numerous facets and conflicts for the hero to overcome. This entry in the series could be a standalone story. If you want different well written Urban Fantasy, and not the usual vampire or fey smut being peddled as Urban Fantasy, check out this series.
Two great things happen in this installment.
First, it doesn't fall victim to the sequel effect, that horrible filler novel that is just there to help juxtapose the beginning and end volumes of a trilogy.
Second, it expands upon outstanding world building and great characterization that was introduced in the first novel.
This book shows an awesome world that has a different take on the various aspects always thrown around in fantasy novels. From vampires, to lycanthropes, technology and magic, it has it all. And its mashed together in such a delightful way.
There are a lot of twist and turns taking place in the plot on this one. On the top we have a cool mystery and watch Matt as he’s taken through the ringer. But there is also a great story about a zombie trying to be in love, or even better a man being in a relationship with a woman way out of his perceivable league and trying to deal with the jealousy and suspicion most men seem to have when they finally fall in love.
It is great to see the character development of Devona in this one, she is trying to become more independent and deal with her new life caused by the after effects of the last novel. In addition to this for the reader she is becoming a more interesting and flushed out character. And plus we have minions (not the little yellow ones in suspenders)! These are Devona’s workers in her knew security firm, and they are all interesting characters that give more insight into the rest of Necropolis.
Matt loses his head, is accused of stealing from one of the Lords of Necropolis, thrown in prison, and has to deal with possibly losing his girl to another man who can satisfy her in ways he can’t ( if you know what I mean. Wink, wink). You have to remember being a zombie isn't all shuffles and dead nerves, there’s also that erectile dysfunction from lack of blood flow.
I love the introduction of new characters, new villains, and the expansion of the world. We learn more about the zones or areas in Necropolis that we missed in the last book, as well as more about the Lords that were absent as well. Waggoner makes even the most minor of character seem super bad ass awesome, like Lord Etrigu’s coachman, the human bounty hunter, or the “big bad” in this one. All are awesome in their own right.
The only qualm for me might have been the initial start. The first novel started in medias res, while this one gives some background, which is to be expected in a second volume really. At least it doesn't overly go into flashbacks or long drawn out explanations to the last novel. There are moments of action, but the start is a slower pace than the last book and takes a little longer to sink it’s claws into you. But still a gripping story to me.
The story had layers upon layers, and there were numerous facets and conflicts for the hero to overcome. This entry in the series could be a standalone story. If you want different well written Urban Fantasy, and not the usual vampire or fey smut being peddled as Urban Fantasy, check out this series.
October 25, 2012
This book didn't start out so well, what with the repetition of descriptions almost verbatim from the first book and the short stories, but it's still pretty more-ish, like the first book. I read reviews of this when I was part-way through, for some reason, and had to laugh when someone said they wished Devona wasn't a character so it could get back to being a book like the rest of the "dick genre". Pretty apt way to put it, considering most private detectives have and are dicks, and even the ones I love can be very misogynistic. It's great that Matt has a girlfriend, and respects her, and works alongside her, and that they work through their issues.
The plot itself got spoiled for me (by that same bad habit of mine of reading reviews looking for spoilers), so it wasn't surprising, but I thought it was reasonably well done -- building on things mentioned before in the first book and the short stories, and carrying a narrative forward. Bonus points because Devona is not a side-plot or side-character, she's centre-stage and involved in almost all the action.
While I think Waggoner's writing can be pretty lazy, I'm sure I'm going to go on and read Dark War. It's a lot of fun.
The plot itself got spoiled for me (by that same bad habit of mine of reading reviews looking for spoilers), so it wasn't surprising, but I thought it was reasonably well done -- building on things mentioned before in the first book and the short stories, and carrying a narrative forward. Bonus points because Devona is not a side-plot or side-character, she's centre-stage and involved in almost all the action.
While I think Waggoner's writing can be pretty lazy, I'm sure I'm going to go on and read Dark War. It's a lot of fun.
March 19, 2011
This is the second book in Tim Waggoner’s Nekropolis series. The story’s protagonist is Matt Richter, a private investigator living in the dark city of Nekropolis, a netherworldly metropolis that the majority of the world’s supernatural denizens immigrated to once it became clear that Humanity was overpowering them by sheer numbers. Richter would probably have a hard time fitting in, living day to day and keeping gainful employment if he wasn’t a zombie. You love detective stories? You love zombies? Christmas came early.
Dead Streets brings back many of the characters from the first book plus introduces many a new one. Waggoner’s use of Frankenstein’s monster and the many pop culture references associated with them are incredibly well done and worth the admission price for the chuckles. On top of that Waggoner fleshes out life (for lack of a better term) in Nekropolis, a mashup of New York City, Burton’s town of Halloween, London dipped in Hammer films three or four times and Lovecraft on a bender, something that fans of Simon R. Green’s Nightside series will definitely appreciate.
Waggoner uses the opportunity to flesh out (Get it? “Zombie”,”flesh out”? See what I did there? Ok, tough room….) the characters he created in Nekropolis. Richter is not the “gaaah….braaaains…” variety of zombie, he is self-willed so while he does have the disadvantage of constantly having to keep up with a lot of body maintenance, he is able to keep a good grip on the higher brain functions. Unfortunately his condition, or maybe just his perception of his condition, presents certain challenges in the relationship department. Not even bringing the sexual aspect into play, which for obvious reasons you can almost completely forget about
(Notice I say “almost”. That part is really interesting.), Richter’s emotional baggage serves to create some interesting friction with his half human, half vampire lurve interest Devona. Having to deal with being a living man in a dead body gives a lot to work with depth-wise and Waggoner takes full advantage of this.
I enjoyed the mystery plot of Dead Streets more than I did with Nekropolis. While the mystery aspect of Nekropolis was entertaining and drove the story at a good pace, it’s reason and resolution came practically out of nowhere which was a bit of a letdown. The mystery in Dead Streets has you wondering until the very end and wraps itself up in an unexpected way that makes perfect sense once,and only once, it’s staring you in the face. The book ends with an amazing implication and definitely left me looking toward to the next one.
Dead Streets brings back many of the characters from the first book plus introduces many a new one. Waggoner’s use of Frankenstein’s monster and the many pop culture references associated with them are incredibly well done and worth the admission price for the chuckles. On top of that Waggoner fleshes out life (for lack of a better term) in Nekropolis, a mashup of New York City, Burton’s town of Halloween, London dipped in Hammer films three or four times and Lovecraft on a bender, something that fans of Simon R. Green’s Nightside series will definitely appreciate.
Waggoner uses the opportunity to flesh out (Get it? “Zombie”,”flesh out”? See what I did there? Ok, tough room….) the characters he created in Nekropolis. Richter is not the “gaaah….braaaains…” variety of zombie, he is self-willed so while he does have the disadvantage of constantly having to keep up with a lot of body maintenance, he is able to keep a good grip on the higher brain functions. Unfortunately his condition, or maybe just his perception of his condition, presents certain challenges in the relationship department. Not even bringing the sexual aspect into play, which for obvious reasons you can almost completely forget about
(Notice I say “almost”. That part is really interesting.), Richter’s emotional baggage serves to create some interesting friction with his half human, half vampire lurve interest Devona. Having to deal with being a living man in a dead body gives a lot to work with depth-wise and Waggoner takes full advantage of this.
I enjoyed the mystery plot of Dead Streets more than I did with Nekropolis. While the mystery aspect of Nekropolis was entertaining and drove the story at a good pace, it’s reason and resolution came practically out of nowhere which was a bit of a letdown. The mystery in Dead Streets has you wondering until the very end and wraps itself up in an unexpected way that makes perfect sense once,and only once, it’s staring you in the face. The book ends with an amazing implication and definitely left me looking toward to the next one.
August 20, 2011
I love this series (though I prefer the spelling Necropolis that the original novella used). The stories are entertaining and the world is very unique and interesting. The easter eggs were a pleasant surprise. I'm not often a fan of books that repeat basic information given about the characters in previous books so frequently, but I tend to look the other way for this series because I enjoy it so much. It's something fairly unique in a world saturated with vampires, werewolves, zombies, and other creatures that go bump in the night.
My only real problem with this book was the poor editing. It's riddled with typos, especially the extra little case in the back of the book.
Even the bit on the back of the cover is wrong. Mild spoiler.
My only real problem with this book was the poor editing. It's riddled with typos, especially the extra little case in the back of the book.
Even the bit on the back of the cover is wrong. Mild spoiler.
September 21, 2025
I'm sticking with 3 stars. It's been nearly a decade since I last read this (so long ago I thought it was a recent addition to my shelf...).
It's decent enough, and certainly with a good bones foundation of setting, characters and potential interconnected plot lines. I stumbled into book 2 first, so perhaps lacking a book 1 foundation I've missed a little context, but still entertaining enough.
The writing is solid; character and plot development is decent, and frankly I'm most interested in the story development potential about the Midnight Watch and its building.
SO - I'd never pay cover price for it, as I see this as a "once & done" read, but it's a series I'd definitely keep an eye out for in my used book store.
It's decent enough, and certainly with a good bones foundation of setting, characters and potential interconnected plot lines. I stumbled into book 2 first, so perhaps lacking a book 1 foundation I've missed a little context, but still entertaining enough.
The writing is solid; character and plot development is decent, and frankly I'm most interested in the story development potential about the Midnight Watch and its building.
SO - I'd never pay cover price for it, as I see this as a "once & done" read, but it's a series I'd definitely keep an eye out for in my used book store.
January 27, 2012
While I normally am quite picky about my reading, Tim Waggoner has spread a series here that rivals the Dresden Files for my love. Matthew is a complex character, dead or alive, and one that I have grown very fond of in a very short time. His observations are, while not always correct, helpful in figuring it out yourself, and while there are always twists and turns, the book was thoroughly enjoyable, and immense fun. His character makes him realistic, and his past make him three-dimensional.
I plan on reading the entire series, and give this book and most likely it's siblings a five-star review and my deepest love.
I plan on reading the entire series, and give this book and most likely it's siblings a five-star review and my deepest love.
November 21, 2012
This is a second book in a series about a zombie detective living in a fair facsimile of Halloweentown. The horror, while horrific in places, is too everyday to haunt your dreams. The noir mystery is mysterious, and its resolution is logical. Matt Richter snarks and deadpans both through the danger to his life (undeath?) and his relationship with his half-vampire girlfriend. The other denizens of Nekropolis are as weird and wonderful as ever.
In short, if you like your mysteries zany and tongue-in-cheek, this book's for you.
In short, if you like your mysteries zany and tongue-in-cheek, this book's for you.
July 12, 2012
I liked this one more than I liked the first book in this series. There were some parts that kind of lagged and made the story drag on but those parts quickly resolved and the story picked up. I especially like the end, where it seems that our zombie detective begins to understand his place in Lord Edrigu's kingdom. I can't wait to read the third installment of this story.
February 5, 2016
Solid sequel to the original, and the heaps of pop-culture references are very entertaining. I never would've expected to see shoutouts to H.P. Lovecraft, Young Frankenstein, Rocky Horror, and Dr. Goldfoot (!) in the same book, let alone on the same page...
February 28, 2012
Dead Streets is a fantastic read! Rodent Cosa Nostra, flesh tech, reassembled cadavers running amok and a prison break all rolled into one fast paced, kick ass book! Oh, and there's even romance of the dead kind. I'll pick up the third in the series next!
May 12, 2015
Once again, my dumb ass stayed up way too late just to finish a book, so I'll write my fangirly review later. Promise. And trust me, with a book (and a series) this good, it shall be all kinds of fangirly.
January 20, 2016
I was entertained the second Matt Richter book in the series, Dead Streets. While I still compare it to the Nightside, it has a few more pop culture references and recognizable characters. Looking forward to reading Dark War.
May 17, 2016
This series is over the top and highly entertaining. It's filled with crazy characters and unbelievable happenings. It's a great easy and fun read.
May 29, 2013
I enjoyed the story but the book could benefit from better editing. How does a floating skull suddenly have a back for someone to jump on?
March 29, 2011
Second in the serues about a zombie PI Nd his half- vampire Girlfriend.
November 6, 2011
Just as wonderful as the first one! Tim Waggoner is FANTASTIC!!!
September 18, 2019
Once again detective Matthew Richter finds himself to be in quite a lot of trouble. After finishing up a rather strange case of attempted voice snatching, he’s busy shambling his way home when his head gets cut clean off. Yep, that’s right, some assailant decapitates him and makes away with his body. Considering the attacker put a bag over his head, Matt has no idea what’s going on or who did the deed.
Thanks to his lovely girlfriend Devona, Matt’s noggin gets saved from becoming carrion imp chow. And thank goodness for that because what a nasty way to go! Uncertain about what to do next, the duo head to Papa Chatha, the voodoo practitioner, to see what he has to say about all this, and if he may have any idea on how to find Matt’s stolen body.
Specializing in all the woo woo magic stuff, Papa Chatha is able to enchant a compass that will lead them to Matt's body. Hoping and praying that it’s still in one piece, they set off on an adventure in search of his corpse. As per usual, crazy cabbie Lazlo appears out of nowhere and drives the two around until they find his lost form.
And amazingly they do find it all in one piece, tossed in a garbage bin behind an old busted up restaurant. How bizarre! This whole scenario is just so odd! What in the heck was someone doing with Matt’s body? Whatever could they want it for?
Since Papa Chatha doesn’t have the proper juju to make Matt whole again because he’s a special free willed zombie and not the usual brain eating sort, Matt and Devona decide their best bet for his reattachment surgery is at the Foundry, which is Victor Baron’s headquarters. Seeing as how Baron is a genius and Dr. Frankenstein's monster, he may have an inkling on how to make our beloved PI whole again.
And because of his amazing expertise, the Adonis like Doctor is able to reattach Matt’s head. Hooray! All this seems well and good now that he’s back to normal, but the happy feeling doesn’t last too long for creepy Silent Jack comes a callin’. Shortly after leaving the operation table, Matt is arrested and taken to the underground prison called Tenebrous.
According to the bigwig Adjudicator Quillion, Matt was seen sneaking into Darklord Edrigu’s bedchambers to steal a mysterious object from around the slumbering Lord of the Dead's neck. But that can’t be! Matt would never do such a thing! At least, his head wouldn’t . . .
Looks like whoever stole Matt’s body did so for a completely different reason other than just to get rid of a sometimes pesky PI. Poor Matt has been framed for a very serious crime! And now he’s stuck in a rather nasty prison with criminals he helped incarcerate. Yikes! Matt doesn’t have long until those he arrested are alerted of his presence. So time is of the essence for Matt to find a way to escape, or else he’s toast!
Of course the task of obtaining freedom isn’t easy, but Matt does surprisingly find help inside the prison from a very unlikely source. Eventually escaping by the skin of his teeth, thanks to the Dominari, aka the Mafia, Mr. Richter makes a jailbreak!
Now the only thing left to do is solve the mystery of who stole his body and what the object is for, because If someone went to all the trouble of taking his body so they can steal an object from a Darklord, then it must be an artifact of immense power! This can’t be good. Regrouping with his sweetheart, Matt and Devona disguise themselves and strike out on a high stakes game, and end up getting into far more trouble than they bargained for.
Oh this book was so entertaining! It’s full of adventure, excitement, mystery, horror elements, and little splashes of romance here and there. I had fun reading this because of all the diverse elements to it. There’s not a boring moment between the pages! This novel is full of fresh and unique ideas that make it just a joy to read.
And the ending was amusing! I had an inkling the villain wouldn’t be so obvious, I just didn’t expect who it turned out to be. To make it better, even Matt says “I can truthfully say we didn’t see it coming.” Usually I dislike the breaking of the fourth wall, but that was just funny.
Anyways, Matt and Devona save the day and along the way learn a lot more about themselves and the place they call home. Nekropolis is a harsh environment full of corruption and danger, which means the two of them will never be bored or without work. And with what Lord Edrigu did for them, their future is definitely going to get more complex and interesting.
All in all, this series is great and just keeps getting better and better! Sure it has some cheese here and there, but it’s such good cheese! Everything melds together to make a fantastic story, and I can’t wait to see what other troubles our dear PI gets into. It’s going to be dangerously fun!
Thanks to his lovely girlfriend Devona, Matt’s noggin gets saved from becoming carrion imp chow. And thank goodness for that because what a nasty way to go! Uncertain about what to do next, the duo head to Papa Chatha, the voodoo practitioner, to see what he has to say about all this, and if he may have any idea on how to find Matt’s stolen body.
Specializing in all the woo woo magic stuff, Papa Chatha is able to enchant a compass that will lead them to Matt's body. Hoping and praying that it’s still in one piece, they set off on an adventure in search of his corpse. As per usual, crazy cabbie Lazlo appears out of nowhere and drives the two around until they find his lost form.
And amazingly they do find it all in one piece, tossed in a garbage bin behind an old busted up restaurant. How bizarre! This whole scenario is just so odd! What in the heck was someone doing with Matt’s body? Whatever could they want it for?
Since Papa Chatha doesn’t have the proper juju to make Matt whole again because he’s a special free willed zombie and not the usual brain eating sort, Matt and Devona decide their best bet for his reattachment surgery is at the Foundry, which is Victor Baron’s headquarters. Seeing as how Baron is a genius and Dr. Frankenstein's monster, he may have an inkling on how to make our beloved PI whole again.
And because of his amazing expertise, the Adonis like Doctor is able to reattach Matt’s head. Hooray! All this seems well and good now that he’s back to normal, but the happy feeling doesn’t last too long for creepy Silent Jack comes a callin’. Shortly after leaving the operation table, Matt is arrested and taken to the underground prison called Tenebrous.
According to the bigwig Adjudicator Quillion, Matt was seen sneaking into Darklord Edrigu’s bedchambers to steal a mysterious object from around the slumbering Lord of the Dead's neck. But that can’t be! Matt would never do such a thing! At least, his head wouldn’t . . .
Looks like whoever stole Matt’s body did so for a completely different reason other than just to get rid of a sometimes pesky PI. Poor Matt has been framed for a very serious crime! And now he’s stuck in a rather nasty prison with criminals he helped incarcerate. Yikes! Matt doesn’t have long until those he arrested are alerted of his presence. So time is of the essence for Matt to find a way to escape, or else he’s toast!
Of course the task of obtaining freedom isn’t easy, but Matt does surprisingly find help inside the prison from a very unlikely source. Eventually escaping by the skin of his teeth, thanks to the Dominari, aka the Mafia, Mr. Richter makes a jailbreak!
Now the only thing left to do is solve the mystery of who stole his body and what the object is for, because If someone went to all the trouble of taking his body so they can steal an object from a Darklord, then it must be an artifact of immense power! This can’t be good. Regrouping with his sweetheart, Matt and Devona disguise themselves and strike out on a high stakes game, and end up getting into far more trouble than they bargained for.
Oh this book was so entertaining! It’s full of adventure, excitement, mystery, horror elements, and little splashes of romance here and there. I had fun reading this because of all the diverse elements to it. There’s not a boring moment between the pages! This novel is full of fresh and unique ideas that make it just a joy to read.
And the ending was amusing! I had an inkling the villain wouldn’t be so obvious, I just didn’t expect who it turned out to be. To make it better, even Matt says “I can truthfully say we didn’t see it coming.” Usually I dislike the breaking of the fourth wall, but that was just funny.
Anyways, Matt and Devona save the day and along the way learn a lot more about themselves and the place they call home. Nekropolis is a harsh environment full of corruption and danger, which means the two of them will never be bored or without work. And with what Lord Edrigu did for them, their future is definitely going to get more complex and interesting.
All in all, this series is great and just keeps getting better and better! Sure it has some cheese here and there, but it’s such good cheese! Everything melds together to make a fantastic story, and I can’t wait to see what other troubles our dear PI gets into. It’s going to be dangerously fun!
August 31, 2017
This was the second book in the Matt Richter series and was a good continuation of that series. I didn't like this book quite as much as the first one but it was still entertaining.
The main story involves Matt losing his head (literally) and then being framed for a crime his body commits. Yes, it's a storyline that could only happen to a zombie. There are many twists and turns to the story as Matt desperately tries to get things put together (his body and head) and figure out who is framing him.
The story seemed a bit lengthy for what happens and the way the story unfolds was kind of predictable. That being said I continue to enjoy all the quirky characters and the craziness that is the Nekropolis.
Overall I enjoyed this and would recommend to urban fantasy fans that like the bizarre and quirky with a dash of horror. I plan on reading the third (and final) book in the series, “Dark War”.
The main story involves Matt losing his head (literally) and then being framed for a crime his body commits. Yes, it's a storyline that could only happen to a zombie. There are many twists and turns to the story as Matt desperately tries to get things put together (his body and head) and figure out who is framing him.
The story seemed a bit lengthy for what happens and the way the story unfolds was kind of predictable. That being said I continue to enjoy all the quirky characters and the craziness that is the Nekropolis.
Overall I enjoyed this and would recommend to urban fantasy fans that like the bizarre and quirky with a dash of horror. I plan on reading the third (and final) book in the series, “Dark War”.
December 12, 2017
This second book in the series is even better than the first, which is a little unusual. The characters are more developed, they interact well, the twists and turns are quite unexpected (most of them) and it culminates in a fun story that I will likely revisit again. This was a fun read and I really enjoyed it.
June 10, 2018
You can pretty much work out who the Big Bad is in Dead Streets right away (the "twist" near the end was not particularly twisty) but I still enjoyed Dead Streets. It started off a little slowly but built up a surprisingly nice head of steam near the end. Of course the subtle (and not so subtle) cultural references were amusing, especially the multiple affectionate digs at Stephen King. Onward!
June 7, 2018
It's not great literature, not likely to find itself on the GCSE syllabus anytime soon. But I love it. The sprawling mess of Nekropolus, its many varied inhabitants and its resident zombie detective have me hooked and I thoroughly enjoy immersing myself in it.
July 9, 2018
An automatic 4 stars for that Maximum Overdrive reference. That alone makes it worth the read!
March 26, 2017
A little darker than the first one, but still funny as hell...
March 20, 2012
3.5 stars
Matthew Richter - zombie detective at Necropolis -- was not having a good night. He was attacked, his head was cut off from his body. After he was able to reattach his head, Matt found out that someone used his body to steal an artifact (Osseal -- a bone flute that enabled the owner to command the dead) from Lord of the Dead, Edrigu. Framed, Matt was found guilty and sent to Tenebrus (the jail of Necropolis). Luckily, Matt's girlfriend, half-Bloodborn Devona Kanti and her security team members, The Midnight Watch, were able to break Matt free. Now, Matt must tried to find out who had stolen his body and to clear his name ...
The second adventure of Matthew Richter starts a bit slow for me. Plus, I'm annoyed of Matt being whiny about Devona's new business and how he is jealous towards one of Devona's team member. Until Matt finds himself being garrotted, and then being framed, and sent to Tenebrus. Now THAT is fun!!
The description of Tenebrus, which is quite similar to Earth's version of prison makes it enjoyable to read. Not to mention when Matt must defends himself against the criminals he helped put away over the years. AND THE PRISON BREAK!! That is awesome! It's great to learn more about the class system of Necropolis, including who the Dominaris are (the mafia version of Necropolis). It's an interesting knowledge :).
Personally, The investigation about who is behind the crime leads to one sad scene () ... and it adds nuance to this urban fantasy; a more humane approach, so to speak.
It's great to see previous secondary characters come back to help Matt: Lazlo and Shrike ... in addition to some new ones (the members of Midnight Watch - Tavi, Scorch, and Bogdan - Gnasher, Dominari Secundar who is also a liason to Tenebrus, and David Zelasco who runs House of Mysterious Secrets) and Overkill, a female human assassin. All these characters come to live; as vivid and interesting (sometimes even more!!) as Matt himself.
Oh, and it's nice to know that Edrigu, Lord of the Dead, is not portrayed as one bastard of a character -- which is refreshing (usually, when it comes to Lord of the Dead, they're usually cunning, right?).
So despite the slow start, the pace picks up very quick, and I am in a great ride till the end. My only reason for not giving this 4-stars, though (which is my 'standard' for great book) is because I find Matt to be slightly unlikeable several times (I think he's being a bit ungrateful and too 'arrogant', especially when it comes to receiving help from others). However, I will certainly in for the next ride.
Matthew Richter - zombie detective at Necropolis -- was not having a good night. He was attacked, his head was cut off from his body. After he was able to reattach his head, Matt found out that someone used his body to steal an artifact (Osseal -- a bone flute that enabled the owner to command the dead) from Lord of the Dead, Edrigu. Framed, Matt was found guilty and sent to Tenebrus (the jail of Necropolis). Luckily, Matt's girlfriend, half-Bloodborn Devona Kanti and her security team members, The Midnight Watch, were able to break Matt free. Now, Matt must tried to find out who had stolen his body and to clear his name ...
The second adventure of Matthew Richter starts a bit slow for me. Plus, I'm annoyed of Matt being whiny about Devona's new business and how he is jealous towards one of Devona's team member. Until Matt finds himself being garrotted, and then being framed, and sent to Tenebrus. Now THAT is fun!!
The description of Tenebrus, which is quite similar to Earth's version of prison makes it enjoyable to read. Not to mention when Matt must defends himself against the criminals he helped put away over the years. AND THE PRISON BREAK!! That is awesome! It's great to learn more about the class system of Necropolis, including who the Dominaris are (the mafia version of Necropolis). It's an interesting knowledge :).
Personally, The investigation about who is behind the crime leads to one sad scene () ... and it adds nuance to this urban fantasy; a more humane approach, so to speak.
It's great to see previous secondary characters come back to help Matt: Lazlo and Shrike ... in addition to some new ones (the members of Midnight Watch - Tavi, Scorch, and Bogdan - Gnasher, Dominari Secundar who is also a liason to Tenebrus, and David Zelasco who runs House of Mysterious Secrets) and Overkill, a female human assassin. All these characters come to live; as vivid and interesting (sometimes even more!!) as Matt himself.
Oh, and it's nice to know that Edrigu, Lord of the Dead, is not portrayed as one bastard of a character -- which is refreshing (usually, when it comes to Lord of the Dead, they're usually cunning, right?).
So despite the slow start, the pace picks up very quick, and I am in a great ride till the end. My only reason for not giving this 4-stars, though (which is my 'standard' for great book) is because I find Matt to be slightly unlikeable several times (I think he's being a bit ungrateful and too 'arrogant', especially when it comes to receiving help from others). However, I will certainly in for the next ride.
October 31, 2012
Do you find any of the following scary?
1. Vampires
2. Werewolves
3. Ghosts
4. Zombies
5. Monsters
6. Demons
If the answer to any of the above is yes, then wait till you get a load of the mean streets of Nekroplis. If you are planning on spending your halloween there then make sure you pack a 9mm with silver bullets dipped in holy water and a pocket full of magical charms; because this city break is going to be unlike any you've experienced before.
Dead Street's is Tim Waggoner's sequel to Nekroplis, based in the underworld of the same name, established by Lord Dis and with each of its five areas ruled by one of the five Dark Lords. Matt Richter returns as the zombie detective, near fresh from his last preservation spell and famous for having saved the underworld from destruction, but he is struggling to come to terms with being in a steady relationship with his half-vampire girlfriend, Devona Kanti, especially when professional and personal lines become blurred. Whilst helping out Devona on a security gig, Richter manages to fall foul of a number of people, including a gorgon gossip queen and Nekroplis' most feared bounty hunter. Soon after, Richter loses his head, or rather his body, and finds himself implicated (at least part of him) in the theft of a powerful artifact belonging to one of the Dark Lords. Richter, reunited with his body, finds himself the subject of Nekroplis' largest ever man(zombie)-hunt, with everyone and their undead mummy gunning for him, whilst he tries to uncover who killed him for the second time and who is the actual thief behind the stolen artifact.
The world-building is as rich as it was in the first novel, allowing Waggoner to take us deeper into Nekroplis (literally) and meet some of the astonishing and frightful characters that roam the streets and the city's version of prison/hell. There are a few familiar returning characters, but for most part we are treated to a whole new cast, as well as a new bunch of relational dynamics that not only fleshes out the world (excuse the unintentional puns) but adds to its mythos. The plot is just as gripping as the original, the dark humour is fresh, with the pacing equal to any thriller currently in the bestseller charts. One thing that Waggoner does exceptional well is foreshadowing, with enough clues injected throughout the book to ensure that the reader never feels cheated by the reveal. Budding writers should take note of Dead Streets to learn how well it works when done right.
Dead Streets is my Halloween recommendation and gets a well deserved four stars. Waggoner goes from strength to strength.
1. Vampires
2. Werewolves
3. Ghosts
4. Zombies
5. Monsters
6. Demons
If the answer to any of the above is yes, then wait till you get a load of the mean streets of Nekroplis. If you are planning on spending your halloween there then make sure you pack a 9mm with silver bullets dipped in holy water and a pocket full of magical charms; because this city break is going to be unlike any you've experienced before.
Dead Street's is Tim Waggoner's sequel to Nekroplis, based in the underworld of the same name, established by Lord Dis and with each of its five areas ruled by one of the five Dark Lords. Matt Richter returns as the zombie detective, near fresh from his last preservation spell and famous for having saved the underworld from destruction, but he is struggling to come to terms with being in a steady relationship with his half-vampire girlfriend, Devona Kanti, especially when professional and personal lines become blurred. Whilst helping out Devona on a security gig, Richter manages to fall foul of a number of people, including a gorgon gossip queen and Nekroplis' most feared bounty hunter. Soon after, Richter loses his head, or rather his body, and finds himself implicated (at least part of him) in the theft of a powerful artifact belonging to one of the Dark Lords. Richter, reunited with his body, finds himself the subject of Nekroplis' largest ever man(zombie)-hunt, with everyone and their undead mummy gunning for him, whilst he tries to uncover who killed him for the second time and who is the actual thief behind the stolen artifact.
The world-building is as rich as it was in the first novel, allowing Waggoner to take us deeper into Nekroplis (literally) and meet some of the astonishing and frightful characters that roam the streets and the city's version of prison/hell. There are a few familiar returning characters, but for most part we are treated to a whole new cast, as well as a new bunch of relational dynamics that not only fleshes out the world (excuse the unintentional puns) but adds to its mythos. The plot is just as gripping as the original, the dark humour is fresh, with the pacing equal to any thriller currently in the bestseller charts. One thing that Waggoner does exceptional well is foreshadowing, with enough clues injected throughout the book to ensure that the reader never feels cheated by the reveal. Budding writers should take note of Dead Streets to learn how well it works when done right.
Dead Streets is my Halloween recommendation and gets a well deserved four stars. Waggoner goes from strength to strength.
July 14, 2012
Shortly after finishing Nekropolis I moved on to this sequel and quickly devoured it. Although this book had less copy editing errors -- though still many were present -- the text felt a little more repetitive and unoriginal. Also Waggoner has the annoying habit of making the narrative move forward solely through character dialogue. Sometimes zombie P.I. Matt Richter and his now girlfriend half-vampire Devona felt more like talking heads (which Richter actually was for a portion of the novel) than real flesh (dry as it may be) and blood (or half-blood) characters.
Again, I really wanted to like this -- the concept is fun, a living dead dick! -- but I just didn't got into the story. I read through it fast enough, but it didn't engage me like a stronger novel would.
The mystery in this one starts when Richter loses his head and has it re-attached by the Frankenstein Creature. Then he goes about trying to figure out who decapitated him, all while trying to avoid the authorities who want him based on a crime that he didn't commit.
It has an interesting concept and some witty one-liners -- Death isn't necessarily the end in Nekropolis, but it does seriously cut down on your options. (p. 44) -- but there is no earth-shattering prose. I'd like to see Richter as a lone wolf (the dick genre standard) instead of being saddled with relationship baggage that he must drag along throughout the story.
When you're alone you don't have to deal with other people's expectations and feelings and you don't have to worry about saying or doing the wrong thing and hurting them. Being alone means freedom and no hassles. There's only one problem with it: it's damn lonely. (p. 254)
Based on the ending I'd say the series will continue as an investigative duo -- with the possibility of a growing family. Which, I suppose, leaves the field of urban zombie detective fiction open for the the true hard-boiled, lone-wolf, zombie P.I.
Again, I really wanted to like this -- the concept is fun, a living dead dick! -- but I just didn't got into the story. I read through it fast enough, but it didn't engage me like a stronger novel would.
The mystery in this one starts when Richter loses his head and has it re-attached by the Frankenstein Creature. Then he goes about trying to figure out who decapitated him, all while trying to avoid the authorities who want him based on a crime that he didn't commit.
It has an interesting concept and some witty one-liners -- Death isn't necessarily the end in Nekropolis, but it does seriously cut down on your options. (p. 44) -- but there is no earth-shattering prose. I'd like to see Richter as a lone wolf (the dick genre standard) instead of being saddled with relationship baggage that he must drag along throughout the story.
When you're alone you don't have to deal with other people's expectations and feelings and you don't have to worry about saying or doing the wrong thing and hurting them. Being alone means freedom and no hassles. There's only one problem with it: it's damn lonely. (p. 254)
Based on the ending I'd say the series will continue as an investigative duo -- with the possibility of a growing family. Which, I suppose, leaves the field of urban zombie detective fiction open for the the true hard-boiled, lone-wolf, zombie P.I.
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