Crawshank’s Guide to the Recently Departed, Book 2
In the business of unfinished business…
It’s been over six months since a freak accident left pathologist Tristan Everett able to see ghosts, something he has yet to confess to his boyfriend. Instead, he now has a new calling, one he’s not entirely happy about… help the dead resolve their unfinished business so they can pass into the light, sounds simple right?
Wrong…
When the spirit of a sweet old lady follows him home he has no idea how to help her. When he finds out she’s been murdered by arsenic poisoning, a curiously outdated murder weapon, he once again finds himself tangled up in a murder investigation.
For Inspector Danny Hayes of New Scotland Yard, life couldn’t be better. After moving to London and meeting Tristan he’s ready to move their relationship to the next level, but something weird is going on with Tristan, he’s acting very strangely and with a killer on the loose he’s not taking any chances. He’s determined to discover whatever it is Tristan’s hiding from him.
Surrounded by a bunch of potentially murderous old ladies and aided by his sidekick, deceased drag queen and spirit guide in training, Dusty, Tristan must unravel the mystery of Mrs Delores Abernathy’s unfinished business and find the courage to share his deepest secret with the man he loves.
From author Wendy Saunders writing as Vawn Cassidy, comes the second book in this funny and touching paranormal MM romance/dark comedy suspense series.
Review
After reading Dead Serious Case #1 Miz Dusty Le Frey last year and thoroughly enjoying it, I was excited to have the chance to read an ARC of book 2 Mrs Delores Abernathy. Tristan and Danny are still going strong in their relationship, but Tristan is yet to tell Danny he can see and talk to spirits. After the death of Mrs Abernathy at the nursing home where they are visiting Tristan’s dad turns out to be a murder, Tristan and Miz Dusty Le Frey are drawn into another dangerous investigation in order to help Mrs Abernathy with her unfinished business so she can move on into the light.
There is plenty of humour once again as they get into some interesting situations. Danny and his partner are investigating the death in an official capacity while trying to keep Tristan out of danger. Who’d have thought that the elderly could be so dangerous? Danny is such a wonderful boyfriend and I love how much he adores Tristan and how supportive he is of him. There were a few anxiety-inducing moments, but this was a fun, cute read and I look forward to Case #3.
Excerpt
Shoving the shower curtain aside roughly, I let loose a rather unmanly scream as my eyes land on a strange person standing in front of the closed door of the bathroom. I grab the shower curtain as my feet slip out from under me on the wet ceramic bathtub. I roll into the shower curtain, clutching on tightly as I lose my balance and go down, sending the plastic clips pinging off in all directions like tiny missiles knocking bottles off shelves and cracking the corner of the bathroom mirror. Pain clangs through my elbow and vibrates up my arm as, cocooned in clear plastic, I slide into the bath, breathing heavily and looking like I’ve been gift-wrapped by a serial killer.
“Owwww,” I croak slowly to no one in particular.
Reaching one arm over the edge of the bath, my body follows and I flop ungraciously onto the rug like a newborn baby seal. Squinting without my glasses on I can just about make out the still figure standing in front of the bathroom door clutching a handbag.
Mrs Abernathy, I realise with a groan of resignation. What is it with ghosts? First Dusty and now the old lady. What part of the bathroom is off limits do they not understand? Is nothing sacred anymore?
I’m about to open my mouth when the bathroom door swings open and Danny strides in, passing straight through Mrs Abernathy and making her disappear into a thin vaporous mist.
“I heard a crash.” Danny’s eyes land on me sprawled out on the floor. “You okay?” His brow quirks as he takes in the assortment of displaced bottles and small plastic shower curtain clips everywhere.
“Slight shower malfunction.” I release a winded breath. “A little help, please.”
He strides toward me and effortlessly scoops me off the floor. His hands are gentle, his eyes filled with concern.
“Did you hurt yourself?” He frowns. “Maybe we should get you looked at, you might have a concussion.”
“I’m fine,” I manage.
“We could call 111.” He turns me slowly, peeling me out of the shower curtain like he’s un-bandaging The Mummy in a Lon Chaney movie.
“I wouldn’t even call 111 for advice on how to remove a splinter.” I wrinkle my nose. “Honestly, I’m fine.”
He wraps the towel around me, pinning my arms to my sides as he drops a kiss on my nose. “Be more careful, I have plans for this gorgeous body later.” He smiles, kissing my lips softly.
Enter the Giveaway
To celebrate the release of Dead Serious 2, Vawn is giving away a signed paperback of Crawshanks Guide to the Recently Deceased Book 2!
Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win!
Go back to where it all began with Crawshank’s Guide to the Recently Departed, Book 1
Tristan Everett had always preferred the company of the dead because they were quiet and didn’t talk back. As a slightly awkward introvert working as a pathologist at the Hackney Public Mortuary suited him just fine. That is, until a freak accident with a rogue ice cube and suddenly he can see ghosts. No longer content to just lie on the table and let him figure out how they died, they’re now peering over his shoulder critiquing his work and confessing their most lascivious sins before skipping off merrily into the afterlife.
Just when he thought his life couldn’t get any weirder, London’s most infamous drag queen, Miz Dusty Le Frey, is wheeled in with a toe tag and she’s not prepared to go quietly into the light. Not only is she furious at the prospect of spending eternity in last season’s gold lamé, she’s determined that he help her solve her murder.
Suddenly Tristan finds himself thrown into a world of sequins and fake eyelashes, and worse still, he may have developed a crush on Scotland Yard’s brand new drool-worthy detective, Inspector Danny Hayes, who’s been assigned to Dusty’s murder. Oh, and the killer now wants him dead too…
All he ever wanted was a simple life but suddenly he’s juggling work, a deliciously sexy detective, a stubborn ghost and a relentless murderer… and things have just gotten dead serious….
Vawn is running a special event to help raise money for the True Colors United Charity
The Prize
One winner will win the opportunity to be written into book 3 – Dead Series (Cold) Case #3 Mr Bruce Reyes. They can choose the profession of their character and whether they are living or deceased. They will also get a mention on the dedication page and receive a signed paperback copy plus a Dead Serious themed swag bag including Dead Serious Character trading cards, a DS tote, bookmarks, stickers, a keyring and a mug.
How to enter
Go to the fundraising page on True Colours and make a donation, it can be as much or as little as you’d like. The donation will act as your entry, so you need to make sure your name is on the donation or added to the comments section of the donation. (Anonymous donations will be ineligible simply because I have no way of contacting them if they are drawn as the winner.)
Anyone who would like to make a donation but doesn’t want to enter the competition can also do so, all they need to do is put N/E in the comments section of their donation.
The fundraiser is open until 31st Mar 2023 at which time a winner will be selected at random from the eligible entries.
The Charity
In the United States, 4.2 million youth experience homelessness each year, with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth 120% more likely to experience homelessness than their non-LGBTQ peers.
True Colors United is a non-profit which began in New York in 2008 co-founded by Cyndi Lauper. Through a wide array of advocacy, training & education, youth collaboration, and technical assistance programs, True Colors United implements innovative solutions to youth homelessness that focus on the unique experiences of LGBTQ young people.
Their website link – https://truecolorsunited.org
My fundraising page on True Colours – https://my.truecolorsunited.org/DeadSeriousCharacterMe
All the details are also on the events page on my website and links are on all my social media see links below
About the Author
Vawn Cassidy is the MM pen name of British author Wendy Saunders, she lives in the UK with her husband and children. She loves all things MM and is an avid reader herself.
As Vawn Cassidy she writes Paranormal/Dark Comedy/Mystery and Contemporary Romance and more recently is branching out into Historical & Supernatural MM/LGBTQ+ Fiction with her upcoming London Gothic series.
She also has an insane love of Lego and pop culture.
Connect with Vawn
Website
Facebook Page
Facebook Group
Instagram
Twitter
Goodreads
Bookbub
Amazon
Claire's Reads and Reviews 