Rating: 3.5⭐️
Banshee Cries was originally released in an anthology and I’ve included the publisher/author’s notes about this below. It’s a good story with some interesting magical elements to this tale. However, its brevity also highlights some of the more irritating or worst aspects of the main character, Joanne Walker. She’s in her late thirties, but her personality is often more of a whiny juvenile, which she admits but does nothing to correct.
She’s a reluctant Shaman, a reluctant police officer, and really, a reluctant adult. And given all the mystical powers she’s empowered with and guidance by Coyote which she doesn’t follow through on, the serious lack of development in her character’s growth is slowly eroding any interest I have in her and the series.
There’s really terrific content here, a magical system that Jo decides her gateway into it is her love of car mechanics. So she envisions how her magic powers works the way most cars and their mechanical systems do. That’s exciting. And unique.
But then there’s the rest of the story. And the reader is left to deal with her waffling thoughts about her life, not wanting to admit she’s a shaman whose powers will “save the day” or whatever. This is only the second book and it’s tiresome.
I won’t even mention the ghost of the mother plot with ginormous holes in it.
So while I appreciate the potential here, and some of the other characters, as well as the unique magic system, the character herself is becoming progressively less interesting. On book 2. That’s an issue.
Haven’t decided yet whether I’m going forward or not. You can decide if you’re willing to chance it.
Like the covers.
Cover Art & Design: G&S Cover Design Studio
Cover Model: Marissa Turcotte
Author’s Note:
Banshee Cries was originally published in the anthology Winter Moon as ‘Book 1.5’ of the Walker Papers. With the reissuing of the series, it has been promoted to a full Book Two status, and the numbering of the books going forward will reflect that. Aside from the numbering, there are no changes from the original release of Banshee Cries to this one.
The Walker Papers (10 book series):
Urban Shaman #1
Banshee Cries #2
Thunderbird Falls #3
Coyote Dreams #4
Cauldron Bourne #5
Demon Hunts #6
Spirit Dances #7
Raven Calls #8
No Dominion #9
Mountain Echoes #10 – July7,2026
Buy link
Banshee Cries (The Walker Papers Book 2)
Blurb
The last thing reluctant shaman Joanne Walker wants is to be assigned to a case of ritual murders. It’d be creepy enough all on its own, but her boss, already trusting her magic more than Jo does herself, suspects there’s more to it than just a serial killer. As Joanne is pulled more deeply into the bloody mire, she begins to realize this is a murderer with a deadline—the changing winter moon seems to be key to the power they’re building.
But Joanne’s not the only one entangled in the increasingly dangerous magic raised by the killer: she has a protector, someone who has already given up their life to keep Joanne safe…and who may be the only person able to stand between Joanne and a dark power far greater than she’s ready to handle….
Publisher’s Note: Banshee Cries was originally published as part of the Winter Moon anthology, and was fondly numbered ‘1.5 of the Walker Papers.’ With the reissue of the series, Banshee Cries has been elevated to book two, and the series numbering henceforth reflects that change.
Publisher
Miz Kit Productions
Publication date
January 1, 2024
Language
English
Print length
120 pages
Book 2 of 10
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 