Review
"Dastardly devious, cleverly conceived, and just a whole lot of fun to read, Death Perception is Lee Allen Howard on fire and at his finest. Rife with winsome weirdness, it's like the mutant stepchild of Carl Hiaasen and Stephen King, mixing a truly unique paranormal coming-of-age story with a quirky cast of offbeat noir characters into a novel that's simply unforgettable... and hilariously original. A supernatural crime story, blazing with creative intrigue... don't miss it."—Michael Arnzen, author of Play Dead
"Lee Allen Howard's Death Perception is a red-hot union of Gothic crime thriller and grim humor that burns with supernatural tension. Beneath the sickly sweet scent of caramelized sugar lies the wildly entertaining tale of a man who delivers justice to the dead while fanning the fires of the living. Ever hear the expression, 'laughing in a morgue'? Death Perception feels just like that. Howard has a gift for crafting eccentric characters and clever plots. This is dark fun at its best."
—Jason Jack Miller, author of The Devil and Preston Black and Hellbender
"Death Perception has officially made me envious of Lee Allen Howard. It sings like a choir of angels, yet weeps like a ghost in winter. Everyone should have this in their collection."
—Trent Zelazny, author of To Sleep Gently and Butterfly Potion
"Part ghost story and part murder mystery, Howard's clean prose and spot-on timing make for a compelling read. If you enjoy ghosts, revenge tales and mysteries this book is for you."
—Jennifer Barnes, Editor, Raw Dog Screaming Press
"Lee Allen Howard has seamlessly joined the characters in this book, and you find yourself hoping that good prevails and that Kennet doesn't meet the same fate as some of the customers he cremates. I highly recommend this book to anybody who is looking for something a little bit different and offbeat. Lee Allen Howard is definitely going on my favorite author list!"
—Pinky Pollock, Pinky's Favorite Read
"This is enjoyable and dark—a real good read!"
—Sandra Scholes, SF Site
"This entertaining novel is a perfect young adult book... the spooky premise, the ill-used hero, the innocent youthful romance, the coming-of-age stuff, the clear-cut goodies and baddies, the ghosts, the marshmallows... and it's got death and dead bodies! ... a terrific read."
—Anastasia
"This was a delight. Honestly. If you're looking for a fun supernatural novel with a unique premise, give Death Perception a go."
—Jasmine
"This was my first time reading Lee Allen Howard's work and you can color me impressed. It is an uncommon book, and incorporates such fine-tuned pacing I finished it in four hours..."
—Nisar Masoom
"Was Death Perception weird? YES. Was it creepy? YES! Seriously, roasting marshmallows over ashes and then eating them is WEIRD and CREEPY!"
—Kameron
"Quite a surprising ending."
—Priscilla
"Death Perception was a good read sending me back to the first time I read The Dead Zone."
—Jodie Cook
"Like marshmallows roasted in crematoriums, this is a suspenseful-thrilling read with just the right amount of tension and humor to make it a sheer delight."
—Tonja Drecker
"Simply: Mind-expanding."
—Anni
"I thoroughly enjoyed this well written, engaging and intriguingly dark amalgamation of a ghost story and a murder mystery."
—Graham Sillars
"The first pages sit with a wonderful mix of under-dog, creepy places, death, and a twist of quirky fun. And that's a good start for the entire tale. The author masterfully weaves dark, harsh scenes with eyebrow raising humor to create let tension and suspense run high, while keeping it intriguing and just a bit fun."
—Tonja Drecker
"If you're looking for a book to kick off the spooky season, but you don't want to dive too deeply into horror, give Death Perception a try."
—Tabitha Tomala
"The novel is well written. Full of decent plot twists and well-built characterization. A brilliant story idea that is also brilliantly executed. This is a book I'd highly recommend."
—Graham Sillars
"Death Perception is the second book I've read by Lee Allen Howard, and I have to admit, I'm becoming a bit of a fan of his stories."
—Jasmine
"Kennet was an unforgettable character, and very, well I don't want to say insane, but his perception of death is very different from others. I do like how the story unwinds, and [Howard] brings the story to life."
—Amy Shannon
"I can't say I've ever seen or read anything that even comes close to being along those same lines, so score one for uniqueness and creativity."
—Jasmine
"Howard's writing style was artful when he describes the settings and people within the book and he definitely has a talent with words that rivals some of the horror greats."
—Jasper Emmett Haru
From the Author
When I first got the idea for Death Perception nearly two decades ago, Iknew only religious notions of life after death. But when a young relative committed suicide, the shock and devastation of this loss prompted me to find out what happens when you die. After a thorough study of Spiritualism, I was able to flesh out my idea with what I'd learned. Death Perception was my master's thesis in the Writing Popular Fiction program at Seton Hill University.
From the Back Cover
"AVENGE US!"
Nineteen-year-old Kennet Singleton lives with his invalid mother in a personal care facility, but he wants out. He operates the crematory at the local funeral home, where he discovers he can discern the cause of death of those he cremates--by toasting marshmallows over their ashes.
He thinks his ability is no big deal since his customers are already dead. But when his perception differs from what's on the death certificate, he finds himself in the midst of murderers. To save the residents and avenge the dead, Kennet must bring the killers to justice.
About the Author
Lee Allen Howard writes horror, supernatural crime, and psychological thrillers. His trade paperback publications include THOU SHALT NOT... (anthology), TALES OF BLOOD AND SQUALOR(anthology), THE BEDWETTER: JOURNAL OF A BUDDING PSYCHOPATH, THE SIXTH SEED, THE ADAMSON FAMILY, and DEATH PERCEPTION. His fiction titles for Kindle include DEATH PERCEPTION, THE BEDWETTER: JOURNAL OF A BUDDING PSYCHOPATH, THE SIXTH SEED, THE ADAMSON FAMILY, MAMA SAID, STRAY, DESPERATE SPIRITS, NIGHT MONSTERS, and SEVERED RELATIONS.
Howard edits fiction and non-fiction. His writer's site is leeallenhoward.com. Please visit and subscribe.
