The first third of this book was totally engrossing as Gray set up the characters, atmosphere, time period, and political factions. The style and narrative style kept me turning pages as fast as I could read them. The middle third of the book was, unfortunately, a chore to read. I kept going because the first chapters had convinced me that I really wanted to know what was going on. Finally, in the last third of the book, everything came together again and found me staying up late to finish because I couldn't wait 'til morning to find out how it all played out. Thinking about it after finishing the book, I'd have to say that the reason the middle dragged so much for me was I really didn't care all that much for the main character of Dr. William Cheevers, childhood friend of Poe, who was our point of view character throughout most of the mid-section of the book. But none the less, I'm glad I read Not Quite Dead.

Living not that far from Baltimore, and having lived several years in Providence, RI, it was the mention of Poe that caught my interest. Poe's part is relatively minor, but pivotal, to the plot which seems designed not only to tell a story, but also a way to bring the reader into the time period. While history is frequently dull, when presented as a story, a well researched work of fiction (even when it's bordering on alternate history) can really give the reader a feel for the way people lived and their day-to-day activities that makes the past come alive.