Blog Tour: Picture The Dead by Adele Griffin and Lisa Brown (Review + GIVEAWAY)

Genre:	YA Mystery, Historical Romance, Supernatural
Publication.Date	February 1st 2012
Pages:	264
Published By:	Sourcebooks Fire   |
Website	Adele Griffin | Lisa Brown
	Picture The Dead - Goodreads
My review copy:	ARC received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Where to get:	Barnes and Noble | Amazon | Book Depository

   A ghost will find his way home.

Jennie Lovell's life is the very picture of love and loss. First she is orphaned and forced to live at the mercy of her stingy, indifferent relatives. Then her fiancé falls on the battlefield, leaving her heartbroken and alone. Jennie struggles to pick up the pieces of her shattered life, but is haunted by a mysterious figure that refuses to let her bury the past.
(Goodreads)

I wake with a pit in my stomach. I wish I could yank up my quilts and hide from the day, but the morning doesn't know how to mourn.

The dead cannot defend themselves.

I've never been Aunt Clara's ideal specimen of niece, with my flat feet and too curly black hair and wide lipped laugh - though there's been no reason for laughter these past months, and certainly not this morning.

   

     Picture the Dead is more than a ghost story. It's a truly masterful, original, and jaw-dropping creation - a work of art. There's a touch of romance, beautifully described historical setting, goose-bumpy atmosphere, and a thrilling mystery. Above all, there's a skillfully executed, bone-chilling plot line, emotionally engaging first-person narrative, and a totally unexpected yet entirely satisfying conclusion. Combining Adele Griffin's excellent writing style with Lisa Brown's phenomenal illustrations, Picture the Dead reaches a whole new level of storytelling, taking the reader back in time to the last months of American Civil War. The deliciously eerie scrapbook-like graphics perfectly complement the plot line, adding flavor and resulting in an unforgettable reading experience. Be prepared, this book will haunt you long after you turn the last page.

     In this riveting book, set in 19th-century America (1864-65 - the last two years of American Civil War), we meet sixteen-year old Jennie Lovell, who, after both her parents died and her twin brother was killed on the battlefield, was taken in by her Aunt and Uncle - the parents of her childhood friend and soon-to-be-married fiance, William. Jennie doesn't have anyone left. She has no other family members to turn to, nor does she have any savings of her own. She's fully dependent on her fiance's family, and when the news about Will's death reach the Pritchett household, Jennie finds herself in a very difficult living situation. Aunt Clara becomes even more hostile towards her, making it clear that Jennie does not belong there. With no status and nowhere else to go, she tries desperately to prove herself useful to her Aunt and Uncle by performing various household tasks. She's also caring for Will's brother, Quinn, who returned home seriously injured. Moody and withdrawn, Quinn refuses to speak about his war experiences, nor does he want to talk about Will and what happened to him. It quickly becomes obvious that he knows more than he lets on. There's an air of mystery surrounding Will's passing, and Jennie is determined to find the truth. Even if it means doing something unconventional, like, say, trusting in the supernatural and looking beyond the rational to seek answers to her fiance's death. What she uncovers is so much worse than she ever expected.

     In this enthralling wonder of a book, Adele Griffin and Lisa Brown managed to create a truly breath-taking and spine-tingling atmosphere, without the book becoming overly creepy or frightening. Is it scary? Oh yes, it is, but in a very subtle and balanced way. Mystery and supernatural play a big role in this novel, and the delicious Gothic illustrations blend well with the story, enhancing the already powerful, eerie atmosphere. The amount of thought put into this project is really admirable. Down to the last detail, everything is well thought-out and executed with care: all the mesmerizing drawings, choice of colors, even the font type.

     With rich descriptions and accurate language for the time period, Adele Griffin does an excellent job painting a vivid and realistic historical background, and breathing life into the characters. The landscapes, the city and the Pritchett House are all very well drawn, the dialogues come across as natural and believable, the scrapbook elements add intensity and flavor to the story, the pacing is excellent and, in the end, it all comes together in a way that is nothing short of brilliant. Plus, we get a look at the social/class issues of the period. Not only do we see the suffering of the families affected by the Civil War, but we're also introduced to a fascinating phenomenon of 19th-century Spiritualism - a significant social movement, that was especially popular during the war, when so many lives have been lost, and people would do anything to contact their loved ones one last time.

     All in all, this was a very unique and enriching reading experience and one that I won't forget for a long time. If ever. Picture the Dead is a haunting and painfully beautiful tale of love, betrayal, trust, hope, perseverance, death and new beginnings. Extremely well-written and gorgeously illustrated, it's a fabulous ghost mystery. Highly recommended!

Sourcebooks Fire generously offered a copy of Picture the Dead up for grabs!

Ends: March 15th

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About the Author

Evie is the Blogger behind Bookish. She enjoys reading many different genres, especially YA, Paranormal, Contemporary Fiction and Fantasy.

She loves talking to authors and is always happy to welcome them for interviews, and guest posts. She also likes spreading the love for awesome books and  chatting with fellow book-worms.

You can find Evie here: Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Shelfari | The Library Thing