The Ungrateful Dead is the final book in the Dying Squad trilogy, and nicely wraps up what has been a very different, but enjoyable, series of books.

As with the previous 2 books, this one is witty, fast paced and engrossing, but also tugs at the heart strings as the series comes to a close.

I look forward to seeing what Simcox tackles next.

Oh wow the world took a really dark turn!

This book is so well researched and perfectly plotted, at the same time being heavier due to the topics of Nazi Germany! We all know about their experiments on humans… but have you suspected the experiments on ghosts?

The Ungrateful Dead takes us through several timelines and perspectives.
Daisy May needs to brought back from nearly-dead and prove herself worthy of being a warden, Joe doesn’t remember a thing and even though he’s told he’s working for The Dying Squad, he can’t stop the feeling that something is wrong…
Bits and Meghan get into a very uncomfortable situation trying to find Joe…
Let’s not forget about a little boy who’s been trapped in this world for decades!

I love how the book is a mix of genres and if you like crime, you’ll love it. If you like fantasy, you’ll love it. Now I feel that historical fiction lovers have something to find for themselves too!

I truly hope it’s not the end, because The Dying Squad is one of my favourite series ever! I couldn’t stop reading and I can’t wait what Adam brings next!

This is one of the most original urban fantasy I read in the last year: a mix of noir, thriller and metaphysical fantasy.
Great characters, tense and fast paced plot, excellent storytelling.
The last instalment is a great closure of this great series
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Adam Simcox is one of my favourite author discoveries of the last five years. This trilogy is nothing short of stupendous and what a finale! Amazing characters, pacy plot, and such an incredible world created that sucks you in, assaults the senses and leaves you clamming for more.

The end of a special trilogy, the end of 3 books, characters and a world I genuinely like so much. If that’s the end, which it clearly is, I will miss the Dying Squad.

Joey, Bits, Daisy May, Mabel, The Duchess, Chestnut and more ❤️

480 pages deep, and with the knowledge this was the finale, I enjoyed every page of Adam Simcox’s Fantastic series about a crew of characters from the afterlife trying to right wrongs back in the land of the living.

Whilst Simcox does make it possible to just read this book as almost standalone it would be a huge shame not to start at book 1 and enjoy the world building, characters arcs, the humour, the music, the everything that makes this trilogy one of the favourite things I’ve read in a long time.

I finished the book, feeling something like emotional, as the final pages and epilogue play so perfectly. I don’t think Adam Simcox could have closed the show any better.

Quite simply a masterclass in urban fantasy.

5 huge ⭐️

I reviewed The Ungrateful Dead for book recommendation site LoveReading.co.uk. I’ve chosen it as a Liz Pick of the Month and the full review can be read on the site (attached).

This book ... It left me with very mixed emotions if I am honest, but not in a bad way. It's kind of one of those end of an era kinds of reads, where lingering questions from the previous novels are finally answered, not least of which is what the heck did happen to the person who was really next in line to act as Warden of the Pen instead of Daisy-May. And just what has happened to Joe Lazarus? Our favourite supernatural Detective is missing in action, at least as far as his Dying Squad colleagues are concerned. And speaking of Daisy-May, she's not finding her role as Warden easy, and with enemies at very close quarters, it's really hard to see how she will overcome this latest challenge.

This book is a little different from its predecessors. Whilst we do still get the central investigation, or investigations in this case as there are two very separate threads going on, there is a historical element, scenes where we are taken back in time to World War II and some very pivotal moments in history that come to inform all that follows (and precedes as is the case with books one and two of the series). It goes a long way toward explaining the one investigative thread, the emergence of Spook, a new designer drugs which allows your everyday Joe (or Josephine) to see ghosts. Whilst for some this is may be a pleasant experience, for others it is far too disturbing, especially knowing what we know about those who stay soil side for too long. I must admit that this foray into the past did throw me for a while, wondering where the author was going to lead us but, when all is said and done, it actually made a perverse kind of sense, adding unexpected plausibility to the story.

There is a lot of drama and tension in this book, and plenty of playing with our emotions. Whilst certain characters face near fatal challenges, others undergo a kind of metamorphosis, the kind of which also brought a smile to my face, as well as being a touch skin crawlingly icky too. Do not fear -all of our favourites are back - Joe, Daisy-May and Bits - with a few unexpected cameos as well. There is a new character whose story takes up quite a bit of the book, but I'll not say too much about them as you really need to read to understand. I love (if that's the right way of putting it) the way in which the author uses the jeopardy our heroes face to really drive the pace of the book, and it drew me right into the heart of the book straight away. I'm completely invested in these guys and seeing them fail or prevail made this book compelling and completely addictive.

This is a kind of supernatural/sci-fi, crime based, historical fiction mash up. That might seem like quite a busy book but believe me, it works. It maybe shouldn't, but it does. Perhaps because the characters are so well established, the story rooted in historical fact, with shades of scientific possibilities. The pacing is just right, an ebb and flow of action that just kept me glued to the page. Add in the double crossing, the conspiracy and some pretty epic battles, plus a setting which is well fleshed out and surprisingly appropriate for the story, and I found myself completely immersed in another winner.

And then the ending. Sticky-outy bottom lip time. It was the right ending, the just one, but still. Sad times. If you loved books one and two I can most definitely recommend this, a perfect way to round off those lingering questions. Loved it.

The Ungrateful Dead, even the title is mind blowingly good. I've read the previous two in this trilogy so I knew what to expect from Adam's writing. The blend of real and fantasy worlds is incredible and completely immersive, and when a new drug called Spook gets thrown into the mix things become even more explosive.

I absolutely love this trilogy. The Dying Squad are amongst some of my favourite characters of all time and I'd recommend it to anyone, whether they usually read supernatural/fantasy or not. Another show stopping book, I'd give it 10 stars if I could.