Beyond Dead — Jordaina Sydney Robinson

You thought living was hard? You should try being dead ...

Dead less than twenty-four hours, with a job that doesn't pay, a fashion disaster for a uniform and more afterlife rules than she can shake a stick at, Bridget Sway thinks it's as bad as it can get. And then she finds a dead ghost stuffed in her locker.

Since the police are desperate to arrest her for murder, Bridget's new best friend convinces her the only way to save herself from an eternity in prison is to solve the murder themselves.

With a handsome parole officer watching her every move, an outlaw ghost befriending her and two persistent mediums demanding her attention, solving the murder is not quite as easy as it sounds. And when “murder” turns into “murders” Bridget needs to solve the case … before she becomes the next dead body stuffed in her locker.



Interview with the author

What makes the Bridget Sway series so special?

I think it's a couple of things, to be honest. I read across genres, from cozy mysteries to paranormal mysteries to a wide range of chick lit. So when I was writing the Bridget Sway series, I wanted to incorporate all of my favourite elements of those genres into the series and the characters as well.

That might sound like a bit of a strange mash up, but it blends together really well. From cozy mysteries, I stole the dead bodies and the amateur sleuthing because I love whodunnits! One of the things that can become frustrating in cozy mysteries, though, is the ditsy heroine that continually runs into dangerous situations. I wanted to make Bridget smarter than the average cozy amateur sleuth, so I gave her the sassy or snarky attitude of the strong female characters that are so prevalent in the paranormal mystery genre. I also borrowed a little of the sarcastic wit and humor as well. Because everyone needs a little humor when finding dead bodies!

And, despite her being a ghost, I wanted to make sure Bridget Sway was relatable, so I made sure she struggles with friendships and personal growth just like everyone in real life. Both of these themes are dominant in the chick lit genre.

All of this means that the Bridget Sway series has roots in all three genres; cozy mystery, paranormal mystery, and chick lit. I think this is what makes the series so popular because it appeals to a much wider audience.

Who would enjoy the series?

Really, anyone who loves a good whodunnit!

With it being part cozy mystery it means there's no swearing or sex, and no real blood -- people aren't getting limbs lobbed off -- so it's fine for younger readers. And, apart from the fact it's set in the afterlife and the characters are ghosts, the paranormal element is fairly limited to that. It's not a horror story by any stretch of the imagination.

In terms of similar reads, I think if you enjoy Angie Fox's Southern Ghost Hunter Mysteries, Angela Roquet's Lana Harvey series or Charlaine Harris's Sookie Stackhouse/Harper ConnellyGrave Sight series then you're in the right place!


Do you have to read them in order?

Nope, you don't. They're all standalone mysteries so you can read them in any order. That said, it is a series, so to get the most out of it I'd suggest the following order:

Just a Touch Dead (prequel)
Beyond Dead
Deader Still
A Little More Dead
Dead and Buried

Bridget Sway: A Paranormal Ghost Cozy Mystery Series categories:

Mystery Series
Cozy Mystery
Paranormal
Ghost
Amateur Sleuths