Static by Eric Laster

When Curtis Brooks starts receiving phone calls from his older brother Wilt, who’s been dead a week, he’s sure it’s to help him find evidence that will lead to a murderer’s arrest. But Wilt claims he wasn’t murdered; his calling, meant to help him adjust, is standard protocol for newly deceased at the Aftermart—a kind of inescapable, ever-expanding Walmart filled with discontinued products.

Wilt’s death ruled a homicide, Curtis embarks on a dangerous plan to find the killer, which soon has him scheming against a billionaire and floundering toward love with his brother’s ex-girlfriend Suzy, all while struggling through high school and his single mom’s poor choices.

Why does Wilt help Curtis win over Suzy, even as he organizes a rebellion at the Aftermart? Who’d wanted him dead? Curtis risks his life to answer these questions, in the process forging a bond with his brother unlike any they’ve ever had.

Goodreads Summary

I can't imagine getting a call from a newly dead relative.  I also don't understand why the brother would claim he wasn't killed unless, in fact, he wasn't.  I definitely wanted to learn about the death and the circumstances surrounding it.  Curtis and Wilt work together to unravel the mystery behind Wilt's death.  

Curtis's character was nice enough and I liked that he loved his brother enough to do quite a few things for him from beyond the grave.  However, sometimes the characters fell a little flat for me.  I wanted the characters a bit more developed than they were.  I liked how the book moved quickly in some places and would have loved that pace to continue.  At times, the book lagged a little bit.  I liked what the author did with the ending.  I thought it was clever and tied up loose ends.  

3 1/2 Stars                                                           


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