This was a DNF but I read enough to rate it for creativity of premise and the main character’s backstory.
Rating : 3🌈
I like Jenn Burke as an author which is why I bought this book but immediately the character of Wes Cooper, the “not ghost” who died and was resurrected but in a different state, one where he’s not exactly alive, is the issue.
What sort of person is Wes? Has Wes used the opportunity for a new life, no matter what form, to progress in his development as a person? Matured or at least, become grateful to those who saved him, given back, or in any way done anything that would make the reader not immediately write him off as a waste of our time?
Nope. He’s cowardly, content to do as little as possible to get by and maintain his life, such as it is.
For me, every interaction with Wes was a constant fight not to just not quit the story right there. He’s that much of a reminder of everything that I avoid in RL atm.
The story is short. Extremely short. There’s no realistic scenario where Wes decides that years of stagnation and avoidance is overcome and he accumulates all the missing assets and pieces in that time period.
Unfortunately this is a no go for me.
Burke has other excellent series and characters to explore. This isn’t one of them. Wes and Hudson, his “silver fox” police detective are underwhelming in their dynamic and chiefly the reason it’s a DNF.
NOT DEAD YET (book one)
GIVE UP THE GHOST (book two) GRAVEYARD SHIFT (book three)
Don’t miss this thrilling and suspenseful second chance romance, book one in a fan-favorite supernatural detective series from Jenn Burke.
Dying isn’t what it used to be.Wes Cooper was dead. Then he wasn’t—though he’s not exactly alive, either. As an immortal not-ghost, he can transition between this world and the otherplane, which makes him the perfect thief for hire. For seventy years he’s made a “living” returning items to their rightful owners, seeing his fair share of the bizarre in the process. But he’s never witnessed murder. Until now.
His latest mission brings him more than he bargained for: a very-dead actor who is definitely going to stay that way. It’s just Wes’s luck that his ex-boyfriend, Detective Hudson Rojas, is assigned to the case. Hudson broke Wes’s heart years ago—and could again, given he’s rocking a hot silver-fox look that shouldn’t be legal.
As they work together to track down the murderer before anyone else gets hurt, it becomes clear Wes and Hudson have unfinished business. And when a secret Hudson’s been keeping threatens more than just their happiness, it might mean the end of their not-life together—permanently.
Evan is the second in Taylor’s crossover series in her fabulous Reckless Damned universe. I’m highly fond of the foundation series and its sequel featuring Lucifer’s sons and their fated mates. Just incredible tales.
The Wild Edges contains characters from many of their stories and preceding events which have been woven into newer characters and their search for their own fated mates.
Evan and his clan are werewolves with ties to the original characters who are mentioned here. The dramatic storyline carries over from Finlay’s book and his tragic story, the ripples of which continue on centuries later.
There are trigger warnings associated with Reid story that are listed on Taylor’s website and I suggest that a reader should take the time to check them out. It includes DV, child abuse, and physical violence.
Reid suffers from his childhood trauma and the damage inflicted by his father and clan. He’s has untreated ADHD as well as a terrible self image issues from years of neglect and continual abuse. This includes his depression. All of which are handled throughout the storyline with sensitivity and a clear understanding of these issues by the author.
So although it’s titled Evan, the book is really about Reid, the human born into the jaguar clan. And how Evan, the werewolf, handles his involvement in Reid’s past and reappearance in Evan’s clan’s territory.
Because that’s as hurtful and traumatic to them, but especially to Reid.
I really enjoyed their romance and the entire storyline with multiple new characters, family members as well as some of my old favorites. Like Logan.
Taylor’s setting up several different couples for their fated mates storylines, all of which look intriguing. Calan’s next up. A glimpse of his is a bit of a cliffhanger.
I’m so looking forward to it.
Another winner.
Book cover design: BreathlessLit
The Wild Edges:
Finlay #1
Evan #2
Calan #3 – Dec 9,2026
Complete universe in the order it should be read:
▪️Reckless Damned Series ( the OG foundation series /Lucifer’s sons)
When I first met Reid, I failed to see the signs that were right in front of me. He asked me to do one thing–take him away and keep him safe.
I turned my back on him.
Now I have to live with the guilt and shame of knowing I let him down. He can’t forgive me, and that’s okay.
Because I’ll never forgive myself.
When Reid’s family comes to take him away, I have a chance to redeem myself. I can keep him safe. But the more I watch him, the more I fall for the man who doesn’t see his self-worth.
Trouble is, can either of us forget the past in favour of the future? Or did my mistake all those years ago cost me any chance with the man of my dreams?
Either way, I’m not giving up until I find out.
Evan is a heartfelt hurt/comfort, M/M shifter x human romance. The second in the Wild Edges series, these books are best enjoyed in order. Each story follows a new couple, and always ends in a HEA.
With this crossover series in the The Dead Serious Universe, two previously supporting characters are finally getting their own story and relationship series.
That’s which Harrison Ames, recently relocated to town to look for his mother. And former DI, now PI Sam Stone, with his own connections to Danny and Tris, and magical powers of his own.
Both characters have figured largely in prior stories, and author Cassidy takes many of these impactful moments and dramatic events from these novels and repurposes them here. The reader gets to see certain scenes again, only this time from either Harrison’s or Sam’s perspective.
I have to admit I loved (spoiler alert) seeing Chan meet Death all over again. I can’t get enough of this couple, so this was an enormous surprise and plus for me.
I think Sam turned out to be my favorite character, more mature and better defined character of the pair.
Or maybe it’s because Harrison spends the entire story lying to everyone around him. Sam, Tristan, Danny. Even as the mystery and investigation surrounding the magical bookstore, the portal, and other aspects of that storyline, Harrison, knowing full well he had important information and details about the events surrounding the ongoing crisis, kept quiet.
He’s not a teenager. He’s in his thirties. Not communicating highly needed information to people who consider him a friend in a time of crisis.
No, I long ago learned that I’d had enough of this type of character. Whether the author needed him to be incommunicative due too plot purposes or considered it a necessary part of his personality, either way it led to a disconnect for me.
Yes to Sam, no to Harrison. And there are things I do like about him. Like his dynamic with his dads. So funny. But everything else? No.
I’ll continue to read because all the wonderful crossover characters and scenes. Maybe Harrison will win me back over. Who knows.
A definite winner otherwise.
Cover design by Natasha Snow
Crawshanks Guide to the Occult:
The Little Shop of Curiosities Cursed Object 1 The Music Box
Connected series:
The Dead Serious Universe,
Crawshanks Guide to the Recently Departed (6 book series)
Crawshanks Guide to Mischievous Spectres & Spirits(2 book series)
The Grim Adventures of Death & Chan Vol 1-3 (on the author’s website)
Despite being raised and well loved by his two adoptive fathers Harrison Ames has always felt alone. As an incredibly powerful witch he’s never come across anyone else who can do the things he can. Moving to London from Devon, he’d hoped that if he finally gathered the courage to confront the biological mother who’d given him up as a baby, he might finally have some answers.
Sam Stone, carries scars of his own, both physical and otherwise, but he’s determined to ignore them and get on with his life. But when fate drops a gorgeous prickly red haired witch in his life, he figures his luck is finally changing.
With mediums, dead drag queens, and supernatural beings as his new friends Harrison finds himself drawn into a world of magic and chaos. But amidst all the insanity that is his life, there’s Sam, his anchor when the secrets of his biological family begin to tear his life apart…
Deadly Arrogance is the series finale that brings the journey of Necromancer Erasmus Boone to an exciting and happy conclusion.
I’ve been absolutely thrilled by this fantasy/paranormal universe of May’s since the first Perfect Pixie novel, a series which introduced necromancer Erasmus Boone.
So it’s fitting that many of those characters play roles here in Boone and Franklin’s battle against a terrifying enemy. It’s emotional and wonderful to see each one, settled into their own lives and relationships, as they come together to fight and support their friends and own communities.
And May, who has created throughly villainous characters in the past, has exceeded herself here in crafting shadow bourne Tenzen Huxley, a seemingly unbeatable and immortal being. Huxley is an ominous figure whose role is one that’s always in the game, even when absent from the current situation. The enormous threat he brings to the couple and those around them is a real concern, no matter what else they are dealing with.
They are mentally, emotionally and spiritually under pressure and attack all the time and the reader, who’s intimately connected with them, feels that same overwhelming stress and suspense.
On top of Huxley’s magical threat to everyone, there’s a multiple murder investigation that requires the attention of both Franklin and Boone. It’s highly unusual, incredibly rare in its sheer scope of detail and complexity.
I won’t elaborate further because there’s many twists here that spin beautifully within the plot. The story is highly suspenseful, compelling emotionally, and has some truly heartbreaking scenes.
And yes, it does end happily with everyone in attendance. I absolutely love it.
And there’s a new connected series on the horizon. Thrilled about that too!
Check out all the books below if you’re new to this universe. Read them in the order they are written. Enjoy them! Highly recommended!
Cover design by cheriefox.
Perfect Pixie Series
Perfectly Imperfect Pixie
Perfectly Perfect Pixie: Peaches’s Story
Perfectly Charmed Pixie: Parsnip’s Story
Perfectly Perplexing Zombie: Wendall’s Story
Purrfectly Peculiar Pixie: Phlox’s Story—finale
Perfectly Petite Shorts: Short Stories from the Perfect Pixie Series M/M
Necromancer Tales Series: Spin-Off from the Perfect Pixie Series
Deadly Lineage: Necromancer Tales Book I
Deadly Deception: Necromancer Tales Book II
Deadly Avarice: Necromancer Tales Book III
Deadly Arrogance: Necromancer Tales Book IV—End
Warlock Nikodemus Holland’s Book—Coming Spring 2026
Necromancer Erasmus Boone’s life is on hold—every shadow suspect, every trip outside his warded home a gamble. Afraid of bringing more attention to already wary necromancers, Erasmus has stopped hunting for his own kind. Unwilling to place an even larger target on his back, Erasmus has even delayed his own wedding.
Human homicide detective Franklin O’Hare wants nothing more than to be there for the necromancer he loves. Unfortunately, he’s neck-deep in not one but two separate multiple-body dump scenes. With little more than skeletal remains to go on, Franklin’s days are consumed with work, and his sleepless nights are spent wishing he had more time for his fiancé.
Waiting and wondering when Tenzen Huxley will make his move is physically exhausting and emotionally draining. Information regarding shadow borne is slim and little more than hearsay, and what is known is horrifying.
Will Erasmus and Franklin be ready when Tenzen finally makes his move? Is there truly any way to be prepared for the hell a shadow borne can unleash? Despite the support of powerful friends and family, Erasmus and Franklin desperately need to find a shadow borne’s weakness.
Sometimes, weakness comes from within, not without, and often, arrogance is the deadliest flaw of all.
Deadly Arrogance is the fourth book in the Necromancer Tales series and should be read in order. This series is a spin-off of the Perfect Pixie series and takes place in the same world but can be read as a stand-alone series. Deadly Arrogance is a m/m romantic fantasy mystery with an unusually sane necromancer just trying to make a living, a humble human detective attempting to keep his necromancer fiancé alive, an arrogant but redeemably overprotective warlock father, a questionably moral all-powerful djinn who may just get her scuttlebutt wish, a welcome Mississippi spring, and an ancient being who desires more power than any creature should wield and has decided a certain necromancer is key to satisfying that greed.
This is one of the best written, and often times hardest to read series and universe because of the topics and complexity of damaged histories of the main characters here.
I often start with saying that the readers must read the trigger warnings for each novel as well as for the universe that Avery has created and continues to explore in such horror detail.
Here bad things happen, often to children. First by disease, the Arcana virus which acted like a plague, transformed the World’s population, reducing its numbers drastically. Some remained human, others were transformed into fantasy or horror beings. Vampires, elves, werebeings of all kinds, orcs, ghouls, the virus , if the human survived, became whatever the Arcana provided. Adults or children. Didn’t matter. And the human race terrified acted accordingly.
Beyond the Veil is divided into mini-series where different characters have their own stories told while adding to the overall series world view and theme that’s being presented. They interact and sometimes the same events happen in different perspectives.
Now it’s Rayn’s turn. Rayn, a death witch, who was rescued from an horrific situation was first introduced in Ward’s series (The Boy in the Locked Room #2). It’s book 10, Rayn has had time to grow up, adjusting to their powers and life outside the cage and hospital. (Trigger warnings).
Avery does an excellent job in relaying a character without any social skills, or understanding of how some situations work. Rayn’s lack of knowledge and inability to understand the signals given feels believable and honest. And Raj’s reactions to Rayn are part of a whole picture that has to be assembled the more they interact. A neat feat.
One person pov, it’s fascinating to see how Rayn has matured but still is learning how to use and manage their magic and various powers.
I love seeing Hart here, in his role as partner with Raj. He’s still my favorite. The mystery, while good, doesn’t have as much of a complex role as Rayn’s development and growth with those characters around the agency and with the investigation. It’s more of a personal journey, which I really enjoyed and thought was really exceedingly well written.
And certain aspects are left open enough for the investigation to continue further.
Amazing series and fantastic characters. One of the best paranormal group of storylines I’ve read. Certainly one that has the most impact on current events.
Highly recommended.
Beyond the Veil Series
💀Ward’s story (1-3):
The Ghost in the Hall
The Boy in the Locked Room
The Skeleton Under the Stairs.
💀Hart’s story (4-6):
The Dog in the Alley
The Bones in the Yard
The Elf Beside Himself
💀Seth’s story (7-9):
The Turning of the Tables
The Badger in his Burrow
The Past in the Present
💀Rayn’s Story (10-12)
The Diamond in the Rough
The Rut in the Road (coming 2026) The Rock and the Hard Case (coming 2026)
My life has been… rough. I spent most of my childhood in an asylum, and I’ve spent the better part of the last six years trying to deal with the fact that everything I touch tells me something about the last person who owned it, the person who made it, and sometimes several people in between.
It’s exhausting, and I hate it. I will do pretty much anything to avoid doing it, in fact.
Until a six-four, golden-eyed FBI agent walked through the door and dropped literal diamonds into my hands. Well, a diamond necklace. And he asked me to tell me everything I could about who’d owned it, who’d given it to her, and so on.
I guess I have to learn how to control my abilities fast, or a murderer might go free.
And I might lose my chance to impress the FBI agent who haunts my dreams.
The penultimate (so the author says) book in this delightful paranormal romance series, Mae is looking towards tying up several important series storylines by bringing back secondary characters from previous stories. The purpose of which is to connect them together with their soulmate by way of elevating them into main character roles.
Gabriel,the tightly wrapped, overly worked, stressed out Divine Herald, the messenger of the Lord, the Angel of Revelation we’ve known before is now ready for a new path. Mae’s charted a sexy, joyful story for Gabriel here. It’s one of discovery and insight for himself and his afterlife. We feel so happy for him. And his partner.
That’s the demon Leviathan aka Levi , a sea demon/monster who has also made appearances in preceding books. Levi is a sexy tentacled delight of a demon and his development along side his relationship with Gabriel is wonderful to read.
The story also brings in important elements and characters that will help finish off the series in the concluding storylines. I’m really excited to see what this will entail.
Shannon Mae has written a highly entertaining, happy and sexy story. It’s a terrific read and one I’m happy to recommend.
Cover artwork by, Grimm Kat Cover assembly by, Tammy, Aspen Tree E.A.S.
Demonic Disasters and Afterlife Adventures:
Demonic Disasters and Afterlife Adventures: (Paranormal Romance ):
🔷 A Beginner’s Guide to Death, Demons, and Other Afterlife Disasters #1
🔷A Beginner’s Guide to Mistakenly Summoned Demons and Other Misadventures #2
🔷A Beginner’s Guide to Revenge, Chaos, and Other Absurd Escapades #3
🔷A Beginner’s Guide to Ghosts, Fallen Angels, and Other Afterlifers #4
🔷A Beginner’s Guide to Sea Monsters, Messenger Angels, and Other Management Mishaps (Demonic Disasters and Afterlife Adventures #5)
Demonic Disasters and Afterlife Adventures Novellas:
🔷A Beginner’s Guide to Christmas Miracles (A Holiday Novella)
🔷A Beginner’s Guide to the Care and Feeding of Pet Demons
🔷A Beginner’s Guide to Demonic Possessions
Demonic Disasters and
Afterlife Adventures Collections: 🔷Demonic Disasters and Afterlife Adventures Collection 1
Gabriel is the Divine Herald, the messenger of the Lord, the Angel of Revelation… and he’s currently losing ground to social media. (Really, how is he supposed to compete with that ticking app?) When the afterlife’s management team forces him into a “professional development partnership” with a demon, Gabriel is horrified—until he meets Leviathan, a sea monster with tattoos, tentacles, and a knack for helping him connect with mortals.
Levi:
Leviathan has no interest in going back to the underworld. He’d much rather spend his time topside with his octopus sidekick and now, apparently, one very uptight angel. Teaching Gabriel about mortal pleasures—food, coffee, books, and other things (that require less clothes)—is the best adventure Levi’s had in centuries.
But as they both start to enjoy their unexpected partnership, one problem remains: what happens when the leadership team decides the partnership is over? Levi isn’t about to give up his angel, and Gabriel isn’t sure he wants to return to Heaven without his demon.
Tags: Featuring one grumpy angel and one cheery sea monster demon; accidental stroke of genius from the leadership team (very accidental); Mt. Everest is overrated, but mortal coffee is divine; even angels enjoy a good book; Gabriel discovers the joys of food, and other mortal pleasures (wink, wink); Levi has tentacles, and Gabriel definitely approves.
Sam Burns is an auto buy/read author for me, a consistently excellent writer whose stories never fail to engage my imagination as well as my heart.
Knight & Daywalker is another fantastic hit of a paranormal/urban fantasy trilogy from Burns with one last novel to go.
In Façade, the second book in this series, Burns moves her characters into new territory, exploring new powers, expanding their relationships, and diving further into their respective backgrounds to bring them and this series into a broader and richer world and with a darker mystery to investigate.
Flynn Knight has multiple problems ahead of him, new friends and neighbors to explore and help get settled, along with maybe bf/business partner, Davin Byrne to sort things through with. Plus he’s got his scary kitty of unknown origins, to feed.
How Burns beautifully develops the new storylines alongside the evolution of the characters growth in their relationships and powers is a joy to read. This is a great read and one I couldn’t put down until it was finished.
And that teaser at the end? That intro into the first chapter of Masquerade? How I want that book right now!
Low spice romance, high adventure, fantastic characters and amazing storytelling.
Highly recommend this book and the series. Read them in the order they were written.
Flynn Knight has a million things to do. From the mundane, like helping his new friends open the restaurant next door, to feeding his cat—a near full-time job. Then there are the unexpected things, like trying to find out about his father’s people, now that one has tried to kill him.
When someone adds yet another attempted assassination to the mix, the only thing he knows for sure is that he can’t hide in his back office until everything blows over.
Right?
No, of course not.
Besides, if he’s in danger, then so are his friends, and he can’t have that; he’s attached. Especially to his new business partner, Davin Byrne, the world’s weirdest vampire, who has dark secrets of his own.
Façade is second in a new series set in the Fantastic Fluke universe. It settles Flynn into his new life with his friends and family, begins to explore the slow burn romance plot, and continues the main overarching plot, which will complete in book three, Masquerade.
The Night Vision: A Nelson & MacIlwraith Mystery (Moon Murder Mysteries) by K Sterling really improved upon the previous story and those characters here, especially Lord Smoak who, along with his Park Ranger lover have important roles here and show huge character developments or make that revelations.
The Moon Murder Mysteries is evolving into a group of powerful characters that Demi Sun God/anthropology professor Lennox “Nox” MacIlwraith, and his mate, Agent Nelson, along with Merlin, one of their magikal found family of witches, hellhounds, and medics is gathering together, book by book to help him fight the darkness.
Sterling’s is a rich tapestry of Irish mythology, Celtic lore and language as well as literature . She then matches this with the deep historical context of the American mountain culture and tapping into the world of the paranormal and ancient traditions for a dark, compelling mystical tale.
It can work too well as it does here with the Wolves of the Ossery, a horrific element that needs further foundation as well as exploration to due justice to such a uniquely powerful piece of this narrative. Its introduction is detailed and memorable. Dark and damaging. And pieces of it, history and their culture pops up in the story in various ways. But there’s no resolution, no insight into what happened to them.
What Sterling crafts so beautifully is a mystery. Here with visions from the Oracle (another story and person brought into the circle), is used by Nox and Parks Service investigator, Agent Silas Shelby to locate a mysterious man they believe will be killed soon if they don’t help him, Tighe Ossor.
Silas was featured heavily in the previous story, Dead Air, which was about the Ranger, Niall, and the demon, Cenn, aka Lord Smoak. Here, Lord Smoak becomes the character who is worthy of the name. Here, his character evolves to become the overwhelming threatening force with its own agenda, something that we didn’t see before in his and Niall’s book.
Other characters are showing signs of their own new powerful abilities and adaptations as new threats emerge.
The instant connection between Silas and Tighe Ossor is believable, intimate and even mystical. So the reader is eager to see how this relationship develops between them. I would liked to have had actually less sex and more time spent with them getting to know each other, especially as Tighe is so much a man “out of time “.
The Night Vision suffers from having too much of a narrative agenda to get through and not enough pages with which to get it done throughly and with all the storylines well developed.
Sterling has offered up fantastic content and ideas here. So much to think about and take into consideration. Just the idea of the emergence of a new god, its evolution and what it means for the universe and other realities is mentioned here.How much control does that god have over its own creation?
That’s just a small part of the story.
The villain is barely a part of the book. Blink twice and you will miss him. A dramatic moment and what’s highly anticipated about it is glossed over, but it’s there. One sentence.
This is a small narrative suitcase that’s bulging with all important storyline things, the sides are separating as stuff is trying to fall out. But even more is needed.
It ends on a sort of cliffhanger. Which will lead to an explosive start I’m sure to the next in the series.
We’re on the journey of an evolution of a god that started with the first trilogy, now he’s gathering his set of warriors.
I can’t wait to see what happens next.
No, not one is a standalone story.
Definitely recommend. But there’s many trigger warnings for multiple reasons. Read them.
Great covers.
Cover art by @KillerLaurent
Moon Mysteries 1 – 3 (first series)
Nelson & MacIlwraith Mystery (Moon Murder Mysteries sequel series)
A vision of a corpse in a stream. A man with a heart too wild and a soul too pure for this world.
Parks Service investigator, Agent Silas Shelby, isn’t supposed to chase prophecies. But when an oracle named Tony shows him the skull of a man he’s never met, obsession takes hold. The trail leads him to Tighe Ossor—a descendant of ancient warrior-hunters hiding in the Appalachian wilds.
Tighe walked away from his brutal pack to live free, only to be hunted by a necromancer bent on power. To protect him, Silas must rely on anthropology professor Lennox MacIlwraith, Agent Nelson, and their magikal found family of witches, hellhounds, and medics.
Together, they must outwit dark sorcery before the oracle’s vision comes true. But with destiny, danger, and desire colliding, can Silas save a man fate has already marked for death?
The Night Vision can be read as a standalone but it includes numerous spoilers for the rest of the series and the original trilogy.
* [ inserting note of my own: imo not one of these complexly interwoven books can be read as a standalone story. Why this author and others seem to be adding this comment to blurbs for their series as a standardized note is puzzling, especially considering taken on their own merits, essentially all the characters foundation and the world building is lost without each others story ]
Demon Dating Service by Jocelynn Drake is a really cute paranormal romance. A graduate student in need of housing and romantic relationship advice gets both in the form of a “haunted” mansion that’s home to a found family of demons.
Luke is in desperate need of a cheap place to rent when the crows he feeds drop a flyer advertising a room near campus that’s the right price. Except he’s not aware that the landlords are demons playing a game of scare the human because they are bored.
This is an engaging out story with well defined characters, especially the demons which I really enjoyed. The joint journey they all take to acceptance, friendship and found family is marvelous.
The romantic relationship is less interesting as we don’t get as much background on the other character or their time together.
For me, Luke and his demon found family made the story. Along with his best friend who deserves more time here.
Luke is a poor grad student, desperate for a cheap place to live.
Desperate enough even to live in a house full of demons.
(Anything is better than his last roommate.)
When the demons find it’s nearly impossible to scare Luke away, they decide on a new plan to amuse themselves.
They’re going to help Luke with his love life.
Can they really aid Luke’s efforts to catch his college crush? Or are they headed for a disaster that neither heaven nor hell can fix?
Demon Dating Service is a fluffy, chaotic stand-alone novel about a sweet guy making friends with the misfits of the demon world, trying to survive grad school, and snagging the hottest guy on campus.
E.M. Leya writes the terrific Ghostly romance mystery series and this is the first in her new paranormal murder mystery series, Touched.
The main characters , located in the small town of Hidden Falls , WA, are Barrett Whitestone, 34, PD detective skeptic and Adam Wrecker , 32,a psychometric psychic. That’s someone who can , by touch, sense events and experiences from an object they have been given.
A missing girl brings the two men together and the cosy nature of the small town dynamics repeatedly makes repeated visits necessary in various ways.
One aspect of this story that’s out of the usual box for this author is the graphic depiction of violent SA, torture and murder of the victim here. I suspect that, given the circumstances surrounding the psychic gift of Adam Wrecker that this will be a reoccurring issue.
I feel this series and story should have trigger warnings associated with it given those elements. FYI.
Leya is creating a new cozy mystery atmosphere for her series by introducing a full cast of townsfolk and shopkeepers, police officers included. It’s a tiny town that counts on tourism. But most cozy mysteries don’t have such raw material as part of their storylines.
There’s a sweet, slow burn romance between the two characters but countered by the graphic horror of the victim’s death.
For me, the other seems jarring here. I get that it helps authenticate Adam as a psychometric, but it’s out of “character “ for the rest of the narrative. If this was a harder type of story with characters who are hardcore, a romance with an edge , and darkness, then I’d expect this aspect of the novel.
But with donuts, small towns communities dynamics and cozy spaces, along with the occasional slow burn sweet kisses, it other feels out of place.
Adam comes across as very believable in his gifts. The slow investigation of the culprits and frustrations of the small police force also seems real and credible.
A Touch of Murder is a good start to a new series. I look forward to seeing what the author has in store for us next.
Officer Barret Whitestone loves the small town of Hidden Falls. After all, he grew up there. He takes his job of protecting the people seriously, and so when a case brings him to Touched, he’s sure he has just met the biggest fraud and charlatan in town. With a murder case to solve, he doesn’t have time to waste with someone he’s sure is taking advantage of a grieving family.
Adam is a psychometric—a person who has the rare ability to sense an object’s history through touch. But unlike most others with his gift, he can’t turn the ability off. He’s used to people not believing him, but when it comes to murder, he knows he can help identify a killer.
With pressure from the town, Barret humors Adam. At first, he’s convinced he’s wasting time and energy, but when what Adam tells him starts to match with the evidence, he can’t help but believe there may be something to Adam’s ability.
Forced to put their differences aside, the two slowly piece together what happened to a missing woman. Navigating through a confusing case while searching for evidence that can be used in court, they’re both determined to bring a killer to justice and learn to trust each other along the way.
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 