Harry, Harry, Harry...

     The Harry Dresden novels by Jim Butcher are the epitome of magical-noir. The graphic novels are wonderful additions to this collection. We have added three more stories to accompany The Dresden Files: Omnibus Volume One graphic novels collection: Down Town, Ghoul Goblin, and War Cry.

     Harry is a wizard and private investigator who consults with the Chicago Police Department. He has formidable magical skills but his execution could use some spit and polish. Need to track down some black magic practitioners? blood-thirsty vampires? Ancient monsters all set to destroy mankind? Then Dresden is your man...er...wizard.

     In Down Town, Harry and his new apprentice, Molly Carpenter, are trying to end the chaos caused by a power-mad sorcerer hell bent on turning the streets of Chicago into his own private kingdom. Dresden and Molly find out that this usurper has entered into an alliance with big time, bad news mob boss "Gentleman Johnnie" Marcone. Dresden's brash style may not be enough to protect himself and his young charge when things come to a head.

     Harry comes to the aid of a small Missouri town being terrorized by Nevernever monsters in Ghoul Goblin. The Talbot family has been decimated by a terrible curse that has plagued them for generations. In order for Harry to help them, however, he will have to navigate a quagmire of hostile lawmen, menacing town secrets, and an ancient guardian spirit, and not one, but two, deadly carnivores! Will he be able to clear the Talbot curse without sacrificing himself in the process?

     In War Cry, Harry--now a warden for the White Council--must lead a group of inexperienced young wizards against the vampires of the Red Court. The White Council and the Red Court have been fighting a shadow war for a while now, but the Council's ranks have been decimated by the vampire scourge. Harry and his team head to Iowa to protect the scholars of the Vantori Umbrorum haven from the bloodthirsty legions surrounding them.Once there, Harry realizes that the situation is worse than he imagined; much worse. For hidden beneath the haven lies an ancient and terrifying entity that could bring about the end of humanity.

     These adventures of the irascible Harry Dresden are sure to delight, entertain, and thrill anyone who love a good mystery, fantasy, or both!

Fifth Grave Past the Light

One of my favorite heroines is at it again as she stars in her latest book, Fifth Grave Past the Light by Darynda Jones.  Charley Davidson is the grim reaper---but she's not just your normal, everyday grim reaper.  Charley is a tough, private investigator who sees dead people, solves crimes, and serves as a portal through which dead folks pass through her to reach "the other side."  Her only real problem in life is her attraction to sexy, sultry Reyes Farrow, the son of Satan, who has moved into the apartment next to hers!  Reyes is the main suspect in Charley's unsolved arson case and with the the help of her police detective Uncle Bob, she vows to solve the arson case and clear Reyes' name.  The investigation is at a standstill until Charley opens her apartment door one day and finds 27 dead blonde women hovering around.

Charley deduces that the dead women have been murdered by a serial killer and when Charley realizes her own sister, Gemma, is a target, she is forced to ask Reyes for his help in solving the case.  Reyes agrees to help Charley but at a price...he wants all of her, body and soul.  Is that too big of a price for Charley to pay?  This novel is fast-paced and humorous and has just a few paranormal elements.  I suggest reading this series in order, as the characters grow with each book and the stories build on previous events.  Darynda Jones won a Golden Heart and a RITA for her first novel in the Charley Davidson series, First Grave on the Right. She lives in New Mexico with her husband and two beautiful sons and can be reached on the Internet at www.daryndajones.com.

Light of the World

James Lee Burke's latest Dave Robicheaux novel, Light of the World, is fantastic in its melding of two storylines that Burke is familiar with.  The characters that we all love from the New Iberia stories (Dave Robicheaux, Clete Purcel, Molly Robicheaux, Alafair Robicheaux and Gretchen Horowitz) are vacationing in Montana (setting of his second series) at the home of Albert, one of Dave's rabble-rousing friends.  The story begins with Alafair almost getting pierced by an arrow during her morning run up the mountain behind Albert's house.  Through a string of events, Dave (Police Detective) wonders if the shooter could be serial killer Asa Surrette, who Alafair visited in prison, and who may have escaped a fiery crash while he was being transported from one prison to another. Clete (Ex-policeman and current

Private Investigator)  is also staying in a cabin on Albert's property when he receives a visit from his ex-hit-woman daughter, Gretchen, who decides to stay and enjoy a little rest and relaxation.  Clete is up to his old tricks when he becomes enamored with Felicity Louviere, an unhappily married woman who's daughter has been recently murdered.  The plotlines become twisted until all of the characters end up chasing the same man, who is behind all of the killing.  There are some very tense moments in this book, and the ending is definitely a surprise.  Dave is the perfect flawed hero but his sidekick Clete takes more of the stage in this book, as the reader watches his dangerous downward slide.  Could this be the end for "The Bobbsey Twins from Homicide?"  Gritty but fun, and full of lovely descriptions of the gorgeous Montana countryside, this book could be read alone.  However, I suggest beginning with the first in the series, because James Lee Burke's books build on the characters lives with each one.

 

Don of the Dead

Casey Daniels' Don of the Dead is the first volume in the Pepper Martin mystery series.  Pepper is beautiful and chic and never had to work...until her surgeon dad was convicted of fraud and sentenced to federal prison.  Her family fortune dried up and her fiance' left her for greener pastures, so Pepper was forced to take the only job she could get--tour guide in a cemetery.  The job is boring but Pepper is a good tour guide until she trips one day and hits her head on a mausoleum.  Suddenly, she begins to see (and hear) Augustino "Gus" Scarpetti, a mob don murdered many years ago.  Gus is unable to "move on" until he discovers who shot him, and since he is hampered by being a ghost, he decides that Pepper is the perfect substitute for his investigations!  Gus is a macho man who likes to be the boss, but he and Pepper team together in order to find his killer.  As Pepper delves deeper into the mystery, she uncovers more layers of mafia secrets and soon she becomes the object of a hit man too!  Will Pepper uncover the killer before the killer gets her?  Pepper is a spunky heroine and has her own share of romance issues.  This book is sure to please paranormal mystery fans.

Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet

I've got the perfect way to celebrate Valentine's Day-read a paranormal mystery/romance!  Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet is the fourth mystery in the series written by Darynda Jones and starring Charley Davidson, Grim Reaper Extraordinaire. Besides being a sexy scythe swinger, Charley is also a Private Investigator, and the case she solved in the third book was a real doozy.  This fourth book in the series opens with Charley taking a couple of months off of life to hide in her apartment, lick her wounds and wallow in self-pity.  With the help of an intervention planned by her sister, Gemma, her secretary Cookie and her police detective Uncle Bob, Charley shakes off her grief to investigate the mystery of a woman who shows up on her doorstep convinced that someone is trying to kill her.  The woman's rich family thinks she is making the whole stalking story up, but Charley is determined to set the woman's mind at ease, while she assists dead people who are attracted to her light, helping them "cross over" to the other side.  Meanwhile, Charley is trying to avoid confrontations with the sexy, sultry, Reyes Farrow, son of Satan and the man with the uncanny ability of showing up to save her life at opportune moments.  Charley knows she should stay away from Reyes but something about him is irresistible.  Also thrown into the mix is Charley's anger at her dad, who turned on her in book three and whom she has not forgiven or been able to speak to.  This book is another hilarious installment in this New York Times bestselling series.  If you are not familiar with this series, start with the first one, First Grave on the Right. Darynda Jones lives in New Mexico with her husband and two sons--check her out onlinie at www.daryndajones.com. 

First Grave on the Right

It is rare for me to find a book that is both funny and heartfelt honest. Set in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Darynda Jones' First Grave on the Right is a book that fills both of those categories. The main character in the story is Charley Davidson---and if you can picture the type of woman that can stand up to that name, you'll know what a feisty character she is! Charley is a part-time private investigator and a full-time grim reaper. What, exactly does that mean? Charley literally sees dead people and it's her job to convince them to "step into the light"--and apparently she is very sparkly and attracts a lot of dead people to her. When the dead people that Charley sees have died under less than ideal circumstances (like murder), they often ask Charley to bring the bad guys to justice. Charley has a few admirers amongst her retired police officer father's former co-workers, and continues to help her police officer Uncle Bob solve cases with the help of her dead friends. Added to this mix is a mysterious, misty, stranger who keeps slipping in and out of Charley's dreams and waking life and who she can't seem to stop thinking about. The most entertaining part of this book is when Charley carries on conversations with the dead people (that she can see) while she is sitting in cars/ restaurants/ offices with live poeple (who can't see the dead people)---it is hilarious! If you like Janet Evanovich's books starring lingerie-seller-turned-bounty-hunter Stephanie Plum, you will enjoy getting a taste of this entertaining story by Darynda Jones.

A Decadent Way to Die

I've been reading this series by G. A. McKevett sine the beginning (Just Desserts is the first one) and have loved every one. This is the best book yet though and I can't wait to read the next one. This series is about a private detective originally from Georgia, Savannah Reid, and A Decadent Way To Die is set in the fictional town of San Carmelita, CA. Savannah is a plus-size woman and she left the San Carmelita Police Department due to issues with her weight. She now runs the Moonlight Magnolia Detective Agency with her friend and assistant Tammy, and two retired FBI agents. Her one-time partner at the police department, Dirk Doulter, often helps them on cases and she returns the favor.

In the latest installment, Savannah is commissioned to find out who wants to do harm to Helene Strauss, the 81 year old owner of Strauss Doll Works, Inc. There have been two suspicious "accidents" and the evidence and motive are pointing towards members of Helene's own family. Savannah is on the case but has to do some work alone because Tammy's time is taken up with a new boyfriend who seems intent on controlling her every movement. Savannah's efforts to get Tammy to see the boyfriend's controlling nature are met with resistance until Tammy is savagely beaten. Savannah doesn't let anybody get away with that! As the case of who wants to kill Helene draws to a close, there are some unforseen consequences for Savannah and perhaps at long last the simmering attraction Savannah and Dirk feel for each other will come to a head--or will they once again part ways as just friends?

G. A. McKevitt is a pseudonym for Sonja Massie.

Dead Ringer

Dead Ringer by Michael A. Black and Julie Hyzy stars kickboxing Private Investigator Ron Shade (from Windy City Knights), and Hyzy's TV reporter/sleuth, Alex St. James (Deadly Blessings). Both authors are based in Chicago and blend their talents nicely in this book which is their first team effort. Ron Shade is working for an insurance company that paid out $12 million in an accidental death case, but now has reason to believe that the insured person is still alive. Alex St. James is working on a story about the homeless that requires going underground equipped with a Taser for protection. Told in roughly alternating chapters, their assignments eventually merge as they separately, then jointly, uncover a massive case of fraud with the unfortunate byproduct of murder. The bad guys, as deadly as they are, are pretty easy to identify, but the way the physically tough Shade and the gutsy St. James deal with them shows the protagonists to be a well-matched pair. The frisson of mutual attraction between St. James and Shade should make readers hope for future joint endeavors. Having two different types of protagonists in this book gives readers the chance to side with one (or both) of the main characters, which should make this book appeal to a wider audience.