Sunday Salon: WORKING STIFF And A Birthday Celebration

It’s time once again for Sunday Salon where we take a few moments to relax, unwind and share thoughts on good books.

Today while you’re enjoying that second cup of coffee (or tea), I have a book review to share with you and news of an upcoming birthday celebration that Sourcebooks is hosting for the author Georgetta Heyer who would have been 109 years old on Tuesday, August 16. First up, the review.

WORKING STIFF by Rachel Caine

While I love scary books and movies, I’ve never been a big fan of zombies. Just too creepy and unbelievable, I guess.

Author Rachel Caine has changed my mind with WORKING STIFF, A REVIVALIST NOVEL. This is the first installment in a new zombie trilogy that will have you laughing, crying, shaking your head in disbelief, and holding your breath when the suspense builds.

Bryan Davis believes she’s found a good job and can finally start planning a future. Having just return from the military, she isn’t afraid to be around dead bodies so working for Fairview Mortuary seems a good move. However, Bryan’s first day on the job turns out to be filled with tragedy including her own.

Learning that her boss is selling illegal drugs that bring dead people back to life, Bryan gets caught snooping and is killed by one of her co-workers. A short time later, however, Bryan wakes up alive only to learn she’s been brought back from the dead by espionage types from Pharmadene, the pharmaceutical company developing the illegal drug.

Bryan can remain ‘alive’ with the help of the drug on a trial period as long as she helps Pharmadene find the mole who is stealing the drug and selling it on the black market. It make matters worse, she learns the drug has an usual side effect - making the recipients susceptible to mind control.

With the help of a rogue Pharmadene employee and his cast of unique assistants, Bryan tries to find the leak and put a stop to Pharmadene’s madness at the same time. She also has to deal with the clean-up operation of the ‘clients’ her former boss had been supplying.

This is not a cozy murder mystery. It has gory details of decaying bodies, death and a bit of colorful language, but it is a book about zombies after all. It’s also filled with humor, intrigue, a bit of romance, and suspense. The greed and power struggle portrayed within the drug company is very plausible. The potential abuse of a drug being created to help combat diseases is the central theme and a scary reality.

WORKING STIFF is a fast-pace adrenaline-driven read. It’s filled with twists, turns and surprises that will keep you guessing until the last moment. Author Rachel Caine has created a protagonist in Bryan that is strong, determined, witty, and a bit comical at times. Can’t wait to see what lies ahead for Bryan and her troupe of unconventional collaborators.

Author Rachel Caine’s website is www.rachelcaine.com. 

WORKING STIFF is also available in mass market from ROC.

Working Stiff, A Revivalist Novel by Rachel Caine, Read by Julia Whelan, Penguin Audio, @2011, ISBN: 9781101540237, Unabridged Digital, Listening Length: 12 hours, 7 minutes.

FTC Full Disclosure - This audio was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.

Now the upcoming birthday celebration.

In honor of author Georgette Heyer, who many call the Queen of Regency Romance, Sourcebooks is discounting EVERY SINGLE one of her eBooks they currently have available to $1.99 for one week, getting Georgette’s Birthday Party started a day early on Monday, August 15! 

That’s 46 books by Georgette Heyer, plus the reader companion, GEORGETTE HEYER’S REGENCY WORLD by Jennifer Kloester, available for $1.99 from August 15 through August 21. This is the perfect time for everyone to read Georgette Heyer, and celebrate the woman who was such a prolific author. Please note that this promotion does not start until MONDAY. 

Here’s a link with a look at those gorgeous covers: http://www.sourcebooks.com/readers/casavip/happy-birthday-ms-heyer.html. The eBooks will be available through Sourcebooks.com and major eBook retailers (and please give them some extra time if prices aren’t adjusted right away on Monday—this is a long list and a lot of data to update). 

Here’s a full list of Georgette’s titles separated by category (regency romance, mystery, historical fiction and non-fiction):
REGENCY ROMANCE - Arabella, Bath Tangle, Beauvallet, The Black Moth, Black Sheep, Charity Girl, The Convenient Marriage, The Corinthian, Cotillion, Cousin Kate, Devil’s Cub, False Colours, Faro’s Daughter, The Foundling, Frederica, Friday’s Child, The Grand Sophy, Lady of Quality, The Masqueraders, The Nonesuch, Powder and Patch, The Quiet Gentleman, Regency Buck, The Reluctant Widow, Sylvester, The Talisman Ring, These Old Shades, and Venetia.
MYSTERY - Behold, Here’s Poison, A Blunt Instrument, Death in the Stocks, Detection Unlimited, Duplicate Death, Envious Casca, Footsteps in the Dark, No Wind of Blame, Penhallow, They Found Him Dead, Unfinished Clue, and Why Shoot a Butler?.
HISTORICAL FICTION - The Conqueror, An Infamous Army, My Lord John, Royal Escape, Simon the Coldheart, and Spanish Bride.
NON-FICTION - Georgette Heyer's Regency World.

What are you reading this week? Have you read any of Georgette Heyer’s books? As always, thanks so much for stopping by. Have a wonderful and safe Sunday.