Undeath & Taxes by Drew Hayes: House of Fred book 2 -- a review by Elleanore Vance

Admin note:  This is the second book in a series, and Elleanore Vance reviewed the first book for the blog some time back. You can find that review HERE. 

Frederick Frankford Fletcher, Winslow, Colorado's favorite undead number cruncher has another feather in his cap. He has just earned his CPPA ! (He's now a Certified Public Parahuman Accountant) And! He's on the prowl for new parahuman clients. 

What Fred worries about is that the parahuman community is flooded with accountants... let's just say Fred's recruiting poster for his firm could read "The Few, the Proud,  Fletcher Accounting Services". 

Learning his skills are in high demand does not make  for smooth sailing. Especially because so many treat him like a typical vampire, instead of the mild mannered bean counter he is at heart 

For example: Fred meets a close friend of Crystal's. It is totally understandable that this friend is suspicious of our hero. It proves that she is a great friend, maybe even as good a friend as Neil is to Albert, or Gideon is to Sally (although this last may be triggering for some in a Jacob-and-Renessme kind of way). 

For this second Fred book Drew Hayes uses his vignette style we saw with U³, and avoids Book-two-itis. Our view into the Fred world gets broader but it doesn't do so much of the world building info-dump thing that other series tend to do. 

What we get feels like a logical progression of events.  We learn more about Neil The Necromancer, and the relationship between Gideon, Sally, and Richard. We get more of Crystal's back story, and we even get to meet some people who knew Fred while he was human! 

This is an extremely well rounded second book. I swore to myself that I wouldn't fill this space with a bunch of sequels, but dammit! This is Fred! I am honestly amazed at just how quickly this motley crew of parahumans took up residence in my heart and mind. 

Maybe it was because of 2020's move, maybe not. Whatever the reason, Fred and the gang feel like family. There is a reality that Drew Hayes gives to his worlds that allows these quiet, logical progressions. Actions have lasting consequences, and growth is earned. Come on and join me in Winslow with Fred in Undeath & Taxes.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐5/5