Title:
DEAD TO THE MAX

Author:
JB Scully

Published By:
Liquid Silver Books

ISBN #:
1-931761-69-8

Release Date:
Available Now

Format:
Electronic

JB Scully's Dead to the Max is a totally fun summer read!

Reminiscent of the 1950's television program Topper with its two ghosts adding spice and adventure to the program's namesake, Cameron does much the same for his wife, Max.

Cameron and Max are very much in love. Their love is one of those deeply true loves of a lifetime. There is a small complication; Cameron was murdered two years ago. Much like the Patrick Swayze character in the movie “Ghost,” Cameron has stayed around to protect and, to some extent, guide Max. He tells her many times that he will only be around until she no longer needs him.

Max not only witnessed Cameron's murder, she herself was raped by the suspects. To this date she refuses to speak to anyone, including Cameron, about these dual tragedies. She and Cameron, however, continue their marital relationship and the chemistry and connection between the two is almost magical to the reader.

As Dead to the Max begins, the reader is witness to the murder of one Wendy. Max also witnesses the murder; however, she does so through a vivid, life-like dream. Following Cameron's murder Max began to develop psychic abilities. However, she adamantly denies them despite strong evidence to the contrary as she has more and more dreams that completely replicate other crimes that are committed.

To cope with her life as it is, Max often goes to a bar called the Round Up and ends up bedding a multitude of men in a purely physical act. With Cameron the strong love comes through with each encounter, despite his ghostly form.

As the story progresses Max meets two other men, one a suspect in Wendy's murder and the other the police detective investigating it. While the story seems to want to lead to a future relationship with both these men, this reviewer never felt a true connection with either one. Perhaps the sequel will provide this connection.

The story is supposed to take place in the San Francisco Bay area, yet there was really very little of the city and its outlying area presented in the story. Its local could have been almost anywhere. While not detracting from the story, it was a bit disappointing because San Francisco has so much to offer as a locale.

Ms. Scully tackles two painful aspects of life (and death), that of rape and murder. Max skirts discussing these traumas much the same way the average person does. If the reader takes a moment to reflect he or she can see where there is a need to come to terms with these events that can pass through our lives.

This reviewer did get a tad unhappy when at one point, Cameron says "goodbye" to Max. Their love story is so sweet and makes a reader think "well maybe.......just maybe, someone CAN reach out from the veil." Ms. Scully does NOT disappoint and Cameron shows himself as a modern day white knight. As alluded to in the beginning of this review, Cameron and Max’s relationship reminded this reviewer of the old television program Topper. While they were separated by a double traumatic tragedy their love is strong enough to transcend time and space. For this reviewer that is one of the things true love is all about.

This reviewer suggests if you want to try a different twist on a ghost story with an element of suspense and a true romance, check out JB Scully's Dead to the Max!

Reviewed by: Regan