Alright, I've finished the book, and now I’m sure: To my mind, Death most definite is just OK.

Despite an intriguing opening sentence: "I know something's wrong the moment I see the dead girl standing in the Wintergarden food court.",
the book is not particularly original. The main character is familiar (to quote myself) “We’ve yet another male-less-than-stellar-magic users; thrown in to the thick,” but this time the protag’s got more of an occult power. He’s a psycho pomp (Read: grim reaper) whose family business it is to transition dead souls to the afterlife, while keeping nasty beings called Stirrers from inhabiting the vacant body. The idea of Death as a business (or reaping for your daily bread), has been done before too. (Not the best example; but I love the TV show, “Dead like Me”)

The cinema-ready action of this story is built around what amounts to a decidedly hostile and bloody corporate take-over, which our reluctant hero has got to survive and surmount. The protagonist is no inept, for a change. Steven de Selby is more of the "slacker-suddenly-responsible-to-save-the-world" Sort of guy we’ve seen before. So he’s a bit behind the curve in getting the job done.

The book's world view and what happens in the after-life are a bit drear, and not clearly stated until the end, but the character is redeemable enough that I’m mildly interested to see what may happen to him, and his world, after the conclusion of this book. The next book, Managing Death (Death Works, #2) is available and I might pick it up on the cheap from an Amazon.com seller. But truth be told; I think the real appeal I found in Death most definite, is that it takes place in Brisbane with attendant vernacular. I’ve got friends from the region, so as I read, I heard the dulcet tones of Queensland in my mind’s ears. Sad but true, it seems the accents of my Australian friends may have been more influential in my finishing Death Most Definite, than its story and narrative.

If I do get the next book, I’ll have to thank my friends appropriately; perhaps with a chiko roll...
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DON'T.
Please save yourself the trouble and find something better.

I spent a long time just spacing out, mind blank after finishing.
I honestly don't know how to feel about it. It was such an interesting concept, but the execution... *cue groan and a facepalm*

I felt like strangling the main character. He's a bloody moron with vastly non-existent brain, common sense of a rock and head buried in the sand so far as to almost reach Tartarus.

I don't even know where to start on its many flaws, shortcomings and general "meh".

Total let down.
AVOID IT. ( )

The plot was interesting, but the dialogue was horrible. I think he was aiming for cute, but it just sounded contrived. Yes, many of the ideas have been done before, but he put a nice twist on them. My friend who recommended the book says the books get better, but I won't suffer through that again.
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This was such a great book. I loved the way death was portrayed as a business, and the detail that was used to create such a vivid and believable story world. I really liked Steve and how he did everything he could to stave off the Regional Apocalypse. A fantastic read, and I can't wait to dive into the second book in the series to see what happens next. And I know it is going to be a hell of a ride. ( )

This is the first book of a series based on the premise that regional Deaths and their agents take care of sending people onto the afterlife.
Steve works in the family business in Queensland as a rather lacksadaisical "pomp", sending people to their reward, until someone starts murdering all the Pomps in Australia. Then Steve is on the run from overwhelming enemies, accompanied by a dead girl he's inconveniently fallen for.
I found it difficult to get into this book as the whole premise didn't grab me and the main character just bumbled from one disaster to another in a very unbelievable fashion. I just really didn't feel involved in his plight.
2 1/2 stars. ( )