A true masterpiece, combines thriller and fantasy elements, and a love story for the ages!

I really enjoyed this authors first few books. This one came highly recommended to me but the supernatural is not anything I enjoy reading. I feel unqualified to judge this book as anything that smacks of fantasy, I find boring. I wish Mr. Sakey all the success in the world but I will wait until, or if, he returns to some sort of reality based stories.

This book was so fun! I don't give 5 star reviews very often but this book deserves every star. It is not only an intriguing premise, it has fantastic characters who are well developed and likeable. Many times I enjoy a story, but the characters don't make me feel anything. I felt the love in this story between our lead characters and rooted for them through every challenge they faced in life and in death. This book is original and kept me on the edge of my seat. Each time I thought I knew where the book was heading, I was wrong! I love when a book can keep me on my toes and leave me guessing at every turn. As I was reading this, I kept getting more and more excited over the fact that this will be made into a movie. That means that I get to relive this book I loved so much. I hope you pick this book up and I know you will love it too!

One cop's alive, one cop's dead. The dead one is stuck in the afterlife which is a version of limbo. Yet there is some kind of inter-dimensional connection between them. It's all been done before but that was all right until the detective on the live side pulls something that NO ONE WHO HAS EVER SEEN A HORROR OR COP MOVIE WOULD EVER EVER DO. I quit reading in disgust.

I received a review copy of "Afterlife" by Marcus Sakey (Thomas & Mercer) through NetGalley.com.

Review will go live on my website on Monday July 31, 2017 @ 6:53am PST (https://theartisanpenguin.com/book-reviews/2017/afterlife)

There are some books that you just read that have no effect on you, there are some books you read that make you cry, other books that make you laugh, and then there is Afterlife, which makes you think about life and death.  

In Marcus Sakey's new book, Afterlife, he explores life after death and a love that transcends both.  Not only does Afterlife make you ponder the meaning of life, but it is also filled with pop culture references that made me chuckle every time I came upon them.  I found that it made the character of Will Brody more relatable, despite actually being dead for most of the story (don't worry, that's not a spoiler). 

When FBI agent will Brody tries to stop a serial sniper form terrorizing Chicago,  little does he know that the sniper is possessed from an evil from beyond the grave. When Will loses his life to the sniper he discovers that there is more after death then he ever believed.

Claire McCoy, FBI task force leader, and secret love of Will Brody, is devastated by the loss of her agent and lover. She becomes even more consumed with discovering the snipers identity and walks herself into a dangerous situation, subsequently loosing her life, but taking the snipers life with her.

In the afterlife, Will and Claire find each other and are horrified to discover beings that devour the souls of the dead, some of these beings are so powerful the can "ride" the living.

It's up to Will and Claire to lead the other souls in the Afterlife, standing up to these beings so called gods before they can continue killing the living.

I have to admit, it took me quite a long time to write this review, I found myself struggling to articulate how I felt about this book.  I really did enjoy it, and at times I found it hard to put down, which for me is the sign of an good story, but it was almost like there was so much going on, I didn't know how to write about it. 

At a certain point, all I can do was to write down a few thoughts and press the publish button.  Would I recommend this book to someone else, yes, and I would tell them that it was an interesting and enjoyable read.  Am I excited about the prospect of Afterlife becoming a movie, I sure am.  I think that it could make a stunning movie and provide a lot of interesting discussions about the meaning of life and death.

I found this one when it popped up as an advert on my Kindle. I usually zone these out but the title caught my eye. I had the idea it was some kind of paranormal about ghosts - it isn't, not in the traditional sense of the genre anyway. I read a sample, thought 'This is the strangest book I've ever read' but was hooked enough to download the rest.

The first chapter is set in the 16th century and is about Edmund, who is shipwrecked and dies before he can reach the shores of America. The next chunk of book is a thriller set in Chicago in the present day, where a sniper has the inhabitants terrified. Special Agent Will Brody and his boss (and lover) Claire McCoy are desperately trying to find him before he can claim his next victim. The blurb on the back of the book gives the next victim away as Will himself. The clue is also in the title, right? But that doesn't necessarily mean the end of Will ...

This story is a mash up of a crime thriller and horror/fantasy, so I can see why the reviews are mixed. The first chapter you think you're reading a horror/fantasy, the next chunk turns into a thriller, then we're into paranormal/fantasy. It shouldn't work but it does. On the cover it says "Imagine the love story of the movie Ghost dropped into The Matrix" and yes, I can see this book appealing to fans of The Matrix (perhaps not so much Ghost!). Also fans of Stephen King (The Gunslinger), Philip Pullman (The Subtle Knife), TV shows such as Supernatural (the hunt for a monster that's not quite understood) and The Waking Dead (a community fighting against a supernatural enemy) - although there are no zombies; the Eaters (enemy) in this story feed on energy/souls.

There is romance between Brody and Claire, but it doesn't dominate the story. There is a little bit of humour. There are a few sex scenes. There is a bit of violence but not too much gore. It's not science fiction and it's not a ghost story, even though most of the characters are dead. Are you still with me?

The only negative for me was that I felt the author, after setting up these amazing alternative realities, didn't know quite how to wrap it all up. I would have liked a longer story, or maybe a trilogy.

Verdict? Seriously weird, totally brilliant! I would definitely recommend it - but it might be worth downloading a sample first to make sure it's the kind of thing you would like too!

Another winner in my book. I just find it so mesmerizing that Mr. Sakey comes up with these stories that you fell you are right in them.

I received an ARC via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. I hadn't read anything before from Marcus Sakey, but I requested this book because it sounded interesting, and the book is getting some serious hype.

The hype is deserved. I was deeply impressed with this book. Will and Claire are richly drawn characters, vibrant and easy to root for. The story is very well-plotted. Just when I thought I knew where the story was going, the direction would change, and each twist made for a more sophisticated story. Mr. Sakey is also a technically skilled writer. I found myself pulled along not just by the plot, but by believable dialogue and sharp, tight prose.

If the plot description sounds at all appealing to you, you should definitely give this book a try. I suppose the final complement I can pay is this: Afterlife was the first book I read by Mr. Sakey, but it won't be the last.

Every once in a while I pick up a book that is something I assume I'll enjoy but ends up being something wholly unexpected. Afterlife is one of these books. Marcus Sakey, author of the Brilliance trilogy, has really outdone himself with this mind-bending, epic, modern fantasy.

The story begins with two FBI agents, Will and Clair, who are in the beginnings of an inter-office romance. When part of a terrorist investigation in Chicago goes horribly wrong, Will is killed, leaving Clair heartbroken and vengeful. But this isn't the end for Will. In death, he discovers that the end isn't anything like we've imagined. And that a war unlike anything the living has ever dared to fear is brewing in the afterlife.

This novel far exceeded my expectations. Having read and enjoyed Sakey's Brilliance Trilogy, I didn't know where he'd go next as a writer. His previous novels are more at home in the crime genre with Brilliance being a a step towards melding that tone and writing style with a science fiction plot, to mostly successful results. In Afterlife, Sakey takes a similar approach, but to a fantasy concept instead. This is not a ghost story, as the plot synopsis might lead some to believe. Sakey's vision of the realm beyond our own is more akin to parallel worlds than a spirit world. In fact, he directly references Stephen King's The Dark Tower, which rings very reminiscent thematically. There are some similar ideas explored here. But there are also tinges of What Dreams May Come, Lovecraft, Inception, and even some interpretations of vampire and superhero lore.

This is a very ambitions novel. To take a concept like the afterlife, put your own unique, fantastical spin on it, while creating believable characters and exciting action is not an easy feat. Yet, Sakey pulls off all of this with impressive skill. Given the scope of the narrative this easily could be a 600 page slog-fest, but he somehow manages to get us all the information and excitement we need in just over 300. But it never feels shortened or abbreviated in its length. There isn't a lot of of fat here, which is good. It keeps the plot moving a long nicely while allowing just enough detail to offer some great world building. And it really is the world-building that shines in this book. The characters are deep enough to get you invested. Sakey even manages to make me care about the love story threaded through out, which is typically of little interest to me. But it's his layers of the afterlife that are the most fascinating.

One last tidbit that I really loved was his love and familiarity of Chicago. I've lived and worked in Chicago for over 15 years so when one of the opening action sequences takes place outside the West Loop grocery store I frequent for lunch almost every day, you better believe I'm going to be paying a lot of attention to your environmental details. It's clear Sakey not only lives here but isn't afraid to write like you do too. I think it helps to establish a setting like this city much more effectively than to hand-hold and over describe. It also helps thrust me into a story when I know the setting so intimately myself.

While I'm not normally one to request a sequel, I would jump back into this world in a heartbeat. The ending is interesting in that it could potentially be opened up to further explore this story. But it also wraps things up very nicely and poetically. Either way, this was an excellent, very pleasant surprise of a read.

People have been debating the idea of an afterlife for centuries. Most of us have heard and/or read stories about reincarnation or an idealistic version of a spirit world. But it's unlikely you've ever read a story anything like this one.

Afterlife is a visual reading experience. I could see the world(s) in which Marcus Sakey placed me. I felt like I was right there, with the characters, baffled and curious and terrified and hopeful.

The plot explores human nature at its very core. It's impossible to talk about this story without giving spoilers, so I'll just say that it's one of the most unique books I've ever read. The concept is one that will stick with me for a very long time.

The cast of characters is totally entertaining. Yes, Will and Claire are a little too perfect as heroes and lovers. They are, perhaps, the quintessential soulmates. But their perfection wasn't a flaw for me. I want to believe there are warriors like these two walking our planet.

Pacing is quick without feeling rushed. The dialogue is believable. And the 'what if' possibilities captured my imagination.

I was disappointed in the authors choice of verbiage for describing certain characters and situations. For example. he used the word Nigger, when another description would have been more than adequate. He also chose to label the killer as a terrorist as opposed to a serial killer. These descriptions border on propaganda could subconsciously incite/encourage readers to use those types of labels in a hurtful manner, or make it seem like these types of descriptions are harmless when they are not.

Actual rating: 3.5 stars.

I was offered a free download for a review.

I'm surprised to see Goodreads listing "Afterlife" as science fiction. From the blurb sent me by the publicist, it was clear to me I was being asked to read & review a fantasy book. Fantasy is not my thing. Books about afterlives and the supernatural leave me cold. I almost said no, and then I had a thought: afterlives=fantasy/supernatural; alternate worlds=science fiction. Something in the blurb told me this book would apply a science fiction interpretation to the afterlife, and I said okay, hit me.

Marcus Sakey's "Afterlife" is equal parts thriller, alternate world-building exercise, and what-happens-after-we-die speculation. It has good old-fashioned heroes and villains, romance, and (at least when it comes to the two protagonists, Will and Claire) good character development. Sakey succeeds in making the supernatural palatable to to readers like me.

That's not to say there isn't an abundance of woo, particularly when it comes to the super-predators of the afterlife. I could handle the eaters when they were individuals gone over to the dark side of what is already the dark side (read and you will see), but the real monsters, explain them as hard as Sakey tries to do, remain incomprehensibly evil, and in the final chapters fantasy overwhelms science fiction. By then, though, I was hooked.

I probably shouldn't say this, but the afterlives of "Afterlife" are my idea of the levels of hell. I don't say that to put off potential readers. "Afterlife" is a gripping, interesting book, and I'm sure most readers will like it and want to read more. And all but the most hard-hearted readers will love the sweet place Sakey puts Will and Claire at the end. I know I did.

Just what happens after we die is unperceivable, in this story Marcus Sakey gives us a concept that you can kick-around. Full MurderinCommon.com review here: http://wp.me/p3XU1u-4DB

The story opens in 1532 as Edmund killed an apprentice and took his place aboard the Persephone, sailing to the new world. Two weeks into the return voyage a violent storm lashed the ship. The cargo and all provisions were lost and the men who survived on the battered ship resorted to desperate measures to stay alive, until only Edmund was left. He died just shy of a mile from land.

Ex Marine, Will Brody, now a Special Agent with the FBI, was at the scene of the seventeenth murder from a sniper’s bullet. The terrorist has all but shut down Chicago, his targets random and deadly. Claire McCoy is head of the FBI task force and Will’s boss. The two are in the throes of a new relationship despite the fact they work together and that alone could cause difficulties. But they both felt an underlying pull, almost as if they already knew each other.

Claire had set up a tip line when it became obvious what they were dealing with. Will volunteered to follow up on one of the many phone calls from the public which leads him and his team to an abandoned church in a run down area........

Will’s team were gone and the church was reduced to a pile of rubble. The city looked desolate and deserted. Then he spotted some people….carrying machetes.

Having listened to Marcus Sakey’s Brilliance saga and loved it I jumped at the chance to read Afterlife when it was offered. It’s a fast moving, well written and masterful plot, which explores a very different take on the afterlife. The concept is incredible, as is the convincing world building and the battle between good and evil, the strong and the weak in such a novel setting. Running through it all is a believable bond between two people that transcends death.

Will and Claire are well developed and engaging protagonists, both with a keen sense of morality. Will is mostly half a step behind Claire in the smarts department, which is a nice touch, especially since it doesn’t trouble him in the slightest. The characters drive the plot, they’re convincing and their interactions and dialogue are realistic in relation to the bizarre situations they find themselves in.

Descriptions of ‘the echo’ have a definite post apocalyptic feel which adds to the atmosphere and the combination of genres, which include supernatural, romance and thriller with a touch of science fiction. Teeming with tension, drama and suspense, I didn’t want the story to end although an excellent conclusion rounds it all out nicely.

I chose to read and review Afterlife based on an advance reader copy of the book supplied by the author/publisher and NetGalley. My thanks also to Claire at LittleBird Publicity.

You guys, this book was a complete surprise to me. I did not expect to like it nearly as much as I did. The first chapter was real rough, and I mean real rough, almost enough to make me DNF the book. But, I kept pushing onwards, and I'm so glad I did because the book was such an interesting, mentally, and intellectually compelling book that drew me in. I powered through this book in 6 hours, only taking a break two times, once to get McDonald's and another time to take a bath.

I don't want to give away anything about the plot because the plot is so damn interesting that you should go into it blind. I will tell you that it focuses on what happens after you die and the possibilities death has. It is very much a mental mindf*** and something I have often thought about. If you don't like the idea of thinking about what happens after we die, then this is not the book for you. However, if you are ready for a mindf***, this is for you. The book also analyzes the evil in the world and looks at how bad people turn out the way they are, and it's a really interesting concept. Because there are those people who just crack and do bad shit without a visible explanation, but it's interesting because maybe there is a reason that just is more than what we can conceptually conceive. Nothing about this plot is predictable, save for the the very beginning. There are so many twists and turns that just mess with your head and just make you think. That's what I really liked about this book. It made you think. I also like how it was a combination of paranormal, fantasy, romance, thriller, mystery, and sci-fi all combined into one book.

The characters were also great in this book. Seeing how they think and handle this situation is just so interesting because it makes you think about how you would handle it. I mean, honestly, if I died and woke up in another level of existence, I have no idea how I would handle it, and that freaks me out. And I love the romance that our main charachters Brody and Claire have. They take their love to the extreme. Like honestly, I would be lucky to ever find someone who I loved as much as these two loved each other. And I really liked Claire because she was a strong, independent, gives no shits women, who puts everyone in their place. She is also an intellectual and handles the situation so gracefully in a way I wouldn't think is possible.

Overall, this book just makes you feel... woke, yeah that's the word I'll use, woke. It puts into perspective every little aspect of our life and the overall politics of living coupled against death and what really matters. It also really makes you look at the science of living and death and how that interplays with the perceived impossible and fictitious. Here are some quotes that give you an idea of what I'm talking about:

"Is it really so hard to imagine there's energy to life we don't know how to measure? Some vital, quantifiable connection between ourselves and the universe that doesn't appear under a microscope"

"It's all energy. The universe began in an explosion. Every element is forged in the heart of a star. There is nothing but energy. With enough energy, existence bends around you like the sea around a sailboat."

As a scientist, these quotes really resonated with me, and there are others like this that container spoilers that just made me think.

This book has already been optioned for a movie, and I'm so excited to see how it translates to movie form. I really do think this is something everyone should experience because although it will probably make you uncomfortable and mess with your mind, sometimes it's good to be uncomfortable and to think beyond the possible.

Marcus Sakey always delivers the unexpected, and Afterlife is no exception. That said, the Brilliance trilogy was a tough act to follow, and using that measuring stick (to mix metaphors, LOL) I didn't love this quite as much..Still, I did love the main characters, Claire and Will, and it's especially gratifying to see a strong, commanding female main character shown in a realistic way. This will make you want to believe that your own love story can last even 'beyond' and whether there's something more for us out there. It's a novel about what comes after that will make you think, and I can't wait to see it on the big screen!

In hindsight should I probably quite early on, just stopped reading this book when I realized that it was not working. Except, my middle name is apparently stubborn and I thought the idea of the book was so fantastic that I couldn't understand why I just couldn't get into the book. I mean it's nothing wrong with the writing, the characters did not annoy me either. I just felt a bit listless reading the book, and I think it's because I just didn't care that much for the story or for the characters. It was just not a book for me.

This will not be a long review. I have nothing really good to say about it, nor bad. I can understand why the story would appeal to readers, I just couldn't feel it myself. I think if the story of this book appeals to you, should you give it a go. The concept is interesting, with an afterlife where you can either become an eater and get godlike powers or try not be "eaten". If I had cared more for the characters would I probably have enjoyed the book more. However, I cared very little about Claire and Will's life and, romance and their angst and that made the book a bit slow to read.

A unique story and twist on what happens after death. The story started off a little slow to me, but I understand that some setup was necessary to build a connection with the characters. After Will Brody dies, that's when things started to get interesting. The author has created a whole new world and rules that Will must learn. I really enjoyed this read and if you like paranormal thrillers, you will too.

This review was written by Confessions of an Ex-Ballerina http://www.exballerina.com it will go live on 7-23-2017

Excellent fun and interesting story! Marcus Sakey is an exceptional storyteller!

This is a hard book to summarize but an easy one to completely lose yourself in. I thought I'd just read the first few chapters and then get some chores done. Well, that didn't work out. Next time I noticed, the day had flown by and the book was nearly over. Hard to believe but I just couldn't stop reading it. Two FBI agents, recently involved with each other and in pursuit of a serial killer/sniper, are separately killed in Chicago. They are reunited in death in a place called the Echo and the sniper is also there. They take their law enforcement roles seriously. That's the set-up and telling any more ruins the story unnecessarily. The author is very creative with his world building and it's a joy to encounter a master at work. There are a few places that drag a little; they seem a bit rough for an otherwise polished tale. Overall this is a gem that delights on many levels. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.