Review: Dead Mann Walking by Stefan Petrucha

Dead Mann Walking is the first book in the Hessius Mann series by Stefan Petrucha and an Urban Fantasy from ROC.


Book Blurb:


The name is, or maybe I should say was, Hessius Mann.  I’m dead.  After I was executed for my wife’s murder, suppressed evidence came to light, and the verdict was overturned.  


Lucky me - I was brought back to life, thanks to the miracles of modern science.  Not that anyone believes I’m innocent.  Hell, even I don’t, seeing as I can’t remember.


Livebloods would rather we zombies be unseen and unheard as well as undead, but now that I’ve joined the ranks of Fort Hammer’s pulse-challenged, I try to make a “living” as a private investigator.  Not that I get hired often.  


So when a lawyer brings me a missing-person case and offers a whole lot of cash, I’m not inclined to say no.  But after a few zombies turn up cut to pieces, I start thinking someone’s giving me the runaround - and it’s not as if I’m in any condition to make a quick getaway...


My thoughts:


Hessius Mann was a police officer.  He was convicted of murdering his wife and sentenced to death.  Shortly after his death, evidence was brought forth that had his conviction reversed.  


To atone for the wrongful execution, Hessius Mann was brought back from the dead.


Now Hess is a zombie.  A zombie private eye.  Unfortunately, he doesn’t get a lot of business - livebloods don’t want much to do with zombies - and well zombies, don’t have much need of PI’s.


Lately the news has been full of zombies going feral and having to be put down - not an unheard of occurrence.  What is disturbing to Hess though, is that zombie body parts are turning up - all except the head.


Hess has been hired to find a missing person - er, zombie - but what he finds is a serial killer.  If only he can prove it...


Dead Mann Walking is a different take on zombies - instead of being bitten and turned, folks are brought back from the dead using Science.  


I like Hess a lot - he is the everyman zombie, trying to play the cards he’s been dealt.


I give Dead Mann Walking 3 out of 5 stars and I’m interested in reading more.


Product Details
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Roc (October 4, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0451464214
ISBN-13: 978-0451464217