Steven de Selby got promoted. This makes the increasing number of stirrers (and the disturbing rumors of a zombie god rising sometime soon) his problem. That time management seminar he keeps meaning to take would also remind him that he's got a Death Moot to plan, a Christmas party to organize, and an end-of-the-world thing to avert.
Steven must start managing Death, before Death starts managing him, or this time the Apocalypse will be more than Regional.
I thought the first book in Jamison’s Death series, was ok but had the potential to be so much better. His second book in the series, Managing Death, proved me right.
I was impressed with the way that Jamison continued the series. I felt the first book in the series, Death Most Definite, was really more of a snapshot of an action packed sequence that happens rolls into Managing Death, instead of a complete novel. That said, yes I do feel it’s important to read Death Most Definite before Managing Death but luckily it’s neither a bad book nor expensive.
Managing Death begins three months after the events in Death Most Definite, and things still are not back to where they’re supposed to be. Steven is still unsure what to do in his new job as Regional Manager (or Death of Australia), unwilling to take on the true aspects of the job, and while they’ve recruited more pomps into the company, there still aren’t enough to put an end to the ever increasing number of stirrers (reanimated bodies) coming into existence. Of course with the Death Moot just around the corner those problems mentioned are just the tip of the iceberg of chaos that’s about to ensue. To top it all off there’s someone out there who’s trying to put an end to the death system, and with Steven’s lack of seniority, he’s just been marked as the perfect first target.
Readers who either liked or were hesitant on just writing off Death Most Definite should definitely give Managing Death a shot. Like Death Most Definite, Managing Death is filled with both action and an interesting spin on the myths on death. Of course, readers are also introduced to a number of other interesting aspects of the job, as well as to the other Regional Managers. But most importantly Jamison does a fantastic job creating an exciting ending filled with twists and turns that will lead to new a fun new fantasy series.
That said, Managing Death is not the best book in the world, some of the characters are a little whiny, the action could have been better described, and some of the supporting characters were a little weak. But it is a very good book that has improved from the first book in the series, and shows even more promise for the next installment in the series. Not only that but the premise isn’t something that’s been done a thousand times, and with the lack of originality that’s been flying about, this book promises to bring an unusual and entertaining read for readers of all ages.
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