Osgood as She Gets: The Spectral Inspector -Book III by Cooper S. Beckett
Osgood as She Gets: The Spectral Inspector - Book III by Cooper S. Beckett was published on February 29, 2024 by Horror & Carnage Press and weighs in at 338 pages.
I don’t usually read many mystery books, but when I was approached to read Osgood as She Gets I jumped at the chance. Not only did I enjoy the title, being a huge nerd for wordplay, but main character Prudence Osgood seemed like an intriguing and complicated person to explore. I was correct in that assumption!
I’d like to note, despite it being the third book in a series, I was able to read it as a stand alone story with no issues. I felt I received all of the appropriate background needed to enjoy the main characters and follow the storyline effortlessly.
The story at its core is about a series of murders and suicides amongst teens in Chicago. Mix in a group of spectral inspectors, their emotional trauma, some stunning side characters, and the tormented Osgood, and you’re in for a wild ride. Beckett starts us off with some chaos right off the bat. I love a story that drops you into the action, especially if it gets a little grisly. Once we get to meet Os, it gets even better.
There’s just something about Os, aside from the fact that she died for eight minutes and has battled a lot of demons—chronic pain, guilt, and alcohol to name only a few. Being inside her head gives the book another exciting layer. Os is a no holds barred, blunt character who isn’t afraid to drag you to the depths of Hell alongside her. I loved listening in on her inner thoughts as well as the ones that haunt her.
Aside from teen murders and suicides, there’s an underlying theme to this story about fitting into a group, wanting to be a part of something bigger than yourself, and feeling valued by others. This is touched on numerous times and strengthens the believability of the characters, their intentions, and the interactions between them. One example is The Graveyard Game. It brought back old memories of “Bloody Mary” and things I did as a kid to fit in or share in an experience with my peers. It’s just one of many parts of the book that are relatable when it comes to relationships.
Calling all specterinos!
As I mentioned earlier, I don’t read a lot of stories in the mystery genre, but there were enough horror and paranormal elements to keep me engaged throughout the book. I did not find anything to be overly frightening, but I did love the scenes where it got a bit gory or I was introduced to an unsavory character. I definitely felt invested in Os and intrigued to learn more about her and her friends. Readers will get the excitement and payoff of chasing down clues and solving the case.
As noted at the top of this review, this book has erotic elements. If you aren’t comfortable with bold sexual language or scenes, this might not be the book for you.
On a fun note, I was excited to find artwork throughout the book! It was a pleasant surprise, and I thought it added to the enjoyment of the story.
If you enjoy mysteries, solving cases, emotional characters, and ghosts, check out Osgood as She Gets. It’s well written and packs a punch. Beckett balances out the heavy subject matter with wit and sarcasm. His character Osgood is one of a kind and a real asset to the enjoyment of this story.
***I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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Get to know Cooper S. Beckett:
As a queer non-monogamous writer, Cooper S. Beckett endeavors to create characters that reflect the diverse lifestyles of his friends, his partners, and himself. From that mandate, he writes scary, silly, and sexy books and essays. Beginning his writing career as a podcaster as host of the Life on the Swingset Podcast and speaker in the sexuality education community, he wrote My Life on the Swingset, a memoir of his first five years in non-monogamy, then followed that up with two novels that take a brutally honest look at swinging and polyamory, A Life Less Monogamous, and Approaching the Swingularity. Returning to his first love, the horror genre with first Osgood as Gone, and now Osgood Riddance, has been like a homecoming. From a young age, his obsession with horror movies and books seriously concerned his mother. It probably still does. Given a choice, he would rather winter at the Overlook than the Waldorf. Like Lydia Deetz, he has always thought of himself strange and unusual, be it his perspective on sexuality, monogamy, politics, or where Elder Gods ought to fall in the hierarchy.
He lives in Chicago with Elle, his wife, constant, and binary star, Egon, their ghost terrier, and black cat Willow.
***Taken from Cooper S. Beckett’s website
