Review: Dead Men’s Boots by Mike Carey
Title: Dead Men’s Boots
Author: Mike Carey
Publisher: Orbit
Published: 06 September 2007
Price: £7.99
Review Copy
Felix Castor, exorcist, doesn’t like funerals and at the start of Dead Men’s Boots that’s exactly where he is when a lawyer turns up to exhume the deceased (a former exorcist and someone Castor avoided before he died) so he can be cremated and it’s only the start of his problems. His new client is the wife of a man who is accused of murder only she’s convinced that he didn’t do it and it was done by a woman that’s been dead for forty years.
Told in the first person we follow Castor’s investigations as he figures out clues left by the deceased and wonders how a ghost can wield a hammer though the poor fella doesn’t know what he got himself into. Trouble finds Castor like a drunk finds a chippie. It’s part of the deal when you take that first drink.
As I said in my review of Vicious Circle, the second book of this series, Carey is a master plotter. His plots are focused and well planned though with enough clues that you mentally kick yourself when you start to see the connections.
Dead Men’s Boots is a stand alone title but it’s probably better to start at the beginning as you get to see more of Castor’s make-up as well as the history behind the some what’s going on and his history to some of the other characters. And there are some great fully formed secondary characters.
The subplot from the previous books is kept ticking over quite nicely with a few teasers that I hope are going to make an appearance soon.
It’s a great read. You can’t help yourself from wanting to know how deep in shit Castor can go before he drowns.
If I have one negative I’d say that some things are a little too neatly tied off at the end but I don’t really care as it’s a great read that keeps you thinking and guessing all the way to the end. And it’s left me wanting more.
I really need to pick up Vicious Circle so I can read this one. Loved the first volume!
They definitely build on each other. I’m sure you’d love the sequel!
[...] Gav’s Blog gives Dead Men’s Boots an impressive five stars, saying: Carey is a master plotter. His plots [...]
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Got your copy from readitswapit and have to say that I totally agree with your comments. I loved it, can wait to read the others, have you got any more to swap?
Cheers
Glad you enjoyed it.
Sorry that’s the only one in the series I had available.