WORKING STIFF starts quietly with Bryn Davis, our heroine, returning from her tour in Iraq and beginning work at an upscale funeral home. Oddly enough, she's never physically described, so I can hardly write about her dark, pain-filled eyes or whether or not her blonde hair falls into her face when she's feeling insecure. The most physical description the reader receives is of an ill-fatedly bright pink lipstick worn on her first day, and descriptions of just about every outfit she wears (not that that is a negative!). In any case, she's sedate and seems to just want to bury herself in her work and in the cool quietness of the funereal. Unfortunately for her, her boss is hardly the dark-suited sympathetic hand-holder he appears to be and is actually part of a black-market resurrection drug ring. Strangely enough, this book is not fantasy but pure science fiction instead- in fact, this is a world with no magic. The drug itself is a pharmaceutical accident that is now wreaking havoc. Its resurrection powers are as far removed from a neuromancer's freshly risen zombies as is possible. Forget about Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake and her grave dirt-loving zombies, these are the clean, sterile, undead for a Nip/Tuck generation.

In any case, Bryn is quickly over her head (not even Iraq prepares you for slowly-rotting sentient beings) and chaos ensues. While the book was a bit rough in places, it has a great deal of potential as a series and Caine's fast, clear writing style is as compelling as ever. Be warned however- this is not the sassy upbeat Weather Warden series. If you're not ready for a dark delving into some death and pain, keep this book shut.

Book Summary

Read an Excerpt