She Smells the Dead (Spirit Guide, #1) by E.J. Stevens - Review

Thick black smoke entangle my feelings, She Smells The Dead is encased with haunting details and beautiful prose – this is my first book by E.J. Stevens but I can tell you, it will not be the last.

Synopsis via Goodreads:
It's the beginning of senior year and Yuki's psychic awareness of ghostly spirits is threatening to ruin her life. Her ability to sense spirits of the dead isn't glamorous like the ghost hunting on television.

SHE SMELLS THE DEAD.

The smell impressions are becoming stronger. Yuki is being visited in her dreams, and she suspects that her friend Calvin is involved in something strange. To make matters worse her crush on Garrett is going unrequited, Yuki's friend Emma is on a rampage against bee oppression, and annoying Calvin Miller mysteriously disappears.

Will Yuki be able to focus her powers in time to save the lost soul who is haunting her? Meanwhile, who will save Yuki from following the spirits into the light?

When I first saw the cover of She Smells The Dead, I knew – even though your not supposed to judge a book by it's cover – that this was a book I wanted to read – it's beautiful and haunting, and once you have read the book it makes even MORE sense!

Yuki's photo on the book, looks exactly as I picture her – as beautiful as a painting...yet with a tough edge that makes her the type of girl that’s tough to get to know. At the same time she looks somehow broken...and with a secret like her's, a haunting reminder that everyday a new spirit could come across her path with a new scent that could overpower her world, broken and trying to just get though the day's becomes her way of life.

Of course she has friends – good friends, friends willing to go the distance to help her – but with a talent like smelling the dead, what's there for them to do, unfortunately for Yuki, not much! However, that does not stop them from trying, and when Calvin seems to be hiding something from her, and a new smell seems to be taking over her life, Yuki is not at all sure who she can turn to, or where to go for help.

With just over 150 pages in the eBook I read, I was worried – how can a book so short make an impact? There's such a narrow bridge between something being to long and boring to something being to short that, you miss important parts of the story. With that being said E.J. Stevens did not disappoint, her style is lyrical – yet this book is not told in verse, but it's filled with fabulous details whose beauty equal that of the cover!

She Smells The Dead also brought to light an interesting twist on two surprising paranormal personalities – which I can't really talk much about – I was surprised at how well they played off each other, and the details of how it all worked out, made for an interesting read!

Bottom Line – She Smells The Dead while a bit predictable, was an enjoyable read...with characters that I loved, and a plot that's as unique as it is interesting! I honestly I can't wait to find out more, especially about the whole bridge thing (don't ask just read the book)...I have a fascination with bridges so to have that as an added element really brought a smile to my face. E.J. Stevens, is an author that I will be on the look out for and when Spirit Guide, #2 comes out, you better be sure I will be one of the first to get my copy! I give She Smells The Dead 4 mushrooms.

Buy, Borrow or Steal? With it's unique take on the paranormal world we all love so much, I recommend it to lovers of all things haunted!

She Smells The Dead (Spirit Guide, #1)
By: E.J. Stevens
Published: September 9, 2010
Publisher: Sacred Oak Press
Received via my own cash from Smashwords.com.