My big complaint about [b:Dead to Me|1823237|Dead To Me (Simon Canderous, #1)|Anton Strout|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51BdxwDXqfL._SL75_.jpg|1822923] was that I loathed Simon Canderous. He mistakes chauvinism for chivalry and that really bothered me. Don't get me wrong, he's still a bit of a jerk, but I found him less offensive in this book, which is good for me since there are so many other things to like in [a:Anton Strout|833164|Anton Strout|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1216234235p2/833164.jpg]'s universe.

One of my favorite moments was of Simon, believing there had been a vampire attack, glumly changes the safety sign in his office from "737 days" from the last attack. It's touches like this that keep me reading. ( )

I bought this 2009 paperback from Better World Books. It's a sequel to Dead to Me, which I read as an ebook.

Simon Canderous is still working for the Department of Extraordinary Affairs in New York City. It's been 737 days since the Department has had to deal with a vampire incursion, but that ends when a boat full of dead lawyers is found on the Hudson River. Simon discovers that the booze cruise was crashed by something that sucked the blood out of the litigators. Now his girlfriend is studying technomancy, and getting a little too chummy with her boss, and an old girlfriend is back in town and threatening to make his life hell on Earth unless he helps her with one last job. Some days just suck.

Another entertaining book about Simon Canderous. There are a few more books in the series, and I intend to read them all, so I'll hang onto this copy for a while.

Deader Still by Anton Strout is the second book in the Simon Canderous series. Based in New York City, the series revolves around reformed thief Simon, trying to use his power of psychometry (the ability to learn about an object's past via touch) for good by joining the Department of Extraordinary Affairs. The DEA has been set up to protect NY citizens from the supernatural, and to hide the supernatural from ordinary beings. Simon finds his power a mixed blessing, as touching objects and people often leads to debilitating and unwanted visions. He is mentored by Connor, his supervisor at the Department of Extraordinary Affairs, and his girl friend Jane, a previous cultist.

In this story Simon's grown up a bit, and joined the Old Foggies. He is approached by someone from his past who forces him to aid her in one last crime. At the same time, he is battling zombies, vampires, and bad buys. Lots of laugh out loud moments and fun, but most interesting to me is the side story of Connor's brother who disappeared when they were children. What happened to him, and who would now be sending notes to Connor about it? ( )

There is more focus on characters here with Simon addressing his criminal past, Connor dealing with his own issues and Jane trying to be good but still a little evil. There are old and new enemies and while there is still some of the silliness of the first novel it's much less present here. The slapstick is downplayed in preference to Strout's wit. ( )

Though still crafting oddball events and giving his main character plenty of recriminatory moments, Strout steps Simon Canderous up a notch, moving his soggy-behind-the-ears rookie to a moderately-moist-behind-the-ears rookie. There is still lots of red tape and bureaucratic finagling and mangling, weird ghosts and possessed statues, vendettas and opportunities for batting practice, but the most challenging aspect for Simon: dealing with his former cult member girlfriend in an actual relationship. The slap-happy romp continues in this second caper, just mind that when you rip off the red tape you don't take skin with you. ( )