Listen to the Soundtrack
As I write the Spectral Inspector books, I can SEE what's happening. Almost always, it's accompanied by music. So I've compiled a soundtrack for y'all and hope it captures the flavor of the books.
Osgood as Dead
The Spectral Inspector, Book IV
$4.99 – $17.99
Like a bad habit you just can’t quit, your favorite queer as hell alcoholic hunter of the supernatural is back … just in time for the end of the world. Osgood is in a pretty sorry state after the events of Osgood as She Gets, but watching your girlfriend get bisected by flying glass and then being hurled from a crashed subway train car yourself, well it isn’t pretty. She’s spent a lot of time in the hospital in the past, but now she’s got Locked-In Syndrome. She can see, she can feel, she can experience all around her but is paralyzed and cannot communicate, and while this is happening, something inside her is desperate to make a deal to wear her like clothing.
When she gets back to work (you knew she would, right?) she’ll have to up her game. That very subway crash that tried to kill Osgood managed to kill 844 other Chicagoans, ushering in an opportunity for someone or something to bring forth the end of the world. With Chicago besieged by spectral forces, Osgood and her stalwart Spectral Inspectors find themselves face to face with a body-hopping force who may just be the avatar of a god.
One thing Osgood knows for sure is that something really bad is about to happen, and she sure could use a stiff drink.
Reviews have called Osgood as Dead “paranormal horror at its finest, with a dynamic lineup of quirky and endearing characters,” “a sensual, surreal mind-bender that pins your eyelids open no matter how hard you try to look away,” and “deliciously brutal—a nonstop horror coaster that will make your stomach drop at every twist and turn.” Critics call Beckett’s writing “sharp as a knife, horror that lingers, wrapping itself around guilt, grief, and the shadows we leave behind,” and praise Osgood herself as “the bad habit you didn’t know you needed” and “a foul-mouthed, rip-roaring disaster you can’t help but love.” With Chicago on the brink of destruction, Osgood as Dead delivers “a cinematic adventure for (very) grown-up fans of Buffy” that’s “raw, sexy, and terrifyingly entertaining.” They say, “Beckett writes like someone’s about to break down the door and take his computer away. If you love unhinged gonzo horror lit, Osgood as Dead is the book for you.”
We all know that when weÕre craving outrageous queer antiheroes, the creepiest of urban legends, and inappropriate quips we want Beckett. What? No not that Beckett. The other one.
Things are waxing dire as secret inner and very public outer worlds collide, and both the powers of evil and the death toll seem greater than ever. If the Spectral Inspector team are going to be all that stands between the monsters and the city this time they are going to need to recruit powerful help anywhere they can get it.
Even so this is one adventure where not everyoneÕs making it out in one piece.
The next installment of the Spectral Inspectors series brings the mystery, horror, and cynical sarcasm readers know and love from Osgood and co. After almost dying, Osgood finds herself face-to-face with another malevolent entity seeking to use her to bring evil into the world. The Spectral Inspectors once again must figure out a way to stop this evil taking hold into the world-by any means necessary. The real question is, how far is Os willing to go?
This is my second Spectral Inspector novel, and the author does a great job recapping the previous books in case youÕre coming to this for the first time. If you enjoyed the previous books or enjoy a detective paranormal horror read that is dark and mysterious with a touch of humor, this will be a great read for you.
This isnÕt my usual genre, I usually stay in a lighter fantasy/romance area, but still find myself engaged and interested in the characters and the story. Beckett is an extremely detailed and thorough author, which showcases his imagination and skill as an author. Please read the trigger warnings and know that Beckett delivers what he says he does in those trigger warnings.
I rated this 3.5 stars because while I enjoyed the characters and the overall journey, I was not a fan of the pace for this story and did not like the particular cliffhanger the story ended on. I wished there were some more moments of levity for Osgood and co without self-depricating humor, and while I think Osgood is an incredibly realistic character I want her to have two seconds where she isnÕt the one who feels she has to sacrifice. These elements are all well executed, and are a matter of personal preference rather than what I feel like is BeckettÕs skill as an author.
One of my favorite series – fantastic characters, excellent creepy and historic elements, a clear love of the city, and some delightful spice. Looking forward to the next one!
I think I found my new favourite paranormal series!
Secondly, Although the author assured me I can read this as a standalone (of which I can, I got a nice summary of what happened in the first 3 books) it felt like I was the newest addition to the friend group and they had to explain to me why their inside jokes were funny.
That being said, I loved the characters! Each had their own strange personality, especially Zach, and his friendship with Osgood is so quirky and full of love I just adore them together!
The writing is also phenomenal! I was sucked into the world in the first few pages and couldn't get enough of it. Everything was so new and intriguing, I didn't want to put the book down.
I don't think I would recover from that ending though. I was reading with one eye, keeping my hand over the rest of my face because like Osgood, everything slowly clicked into place and left me on a MAJOR cliffhanger. Thanks for that… I'll be staring at the wall for a while now..
From the first page, this book delivers a gripping, high-stakes noir story with a fierce and unforgettable queer heroine. Osgood is tough, complex, and impossible not to root for as she navigates a world of danger and deception. She is a badass! Osgood Goddamn!
BeckettÕs writing crackles with sharp dialogue, rich atmosphere, witty one-liners and a fresh take on classic noir. ItÕs dark, thrilling, and unapologetically boldÑeverything I love in a crime story. A must-read for fans of gritty, boundary-pushing storytelling!
This is part of a series but I didn't have to read the first three books to know what was happening. Cooper gives a good explanation at the start of the book. So don't worry about jumping right in! __