Book Review: Sandman Slim by Richard Kadrey

In the Urban Fantasy genre, Sandman Slim was one of the most hyped UF/fantasy debuts of 2010.  Author reviews are worthless, but when William Gibson and Charlaine Harris agree and the professional reviews are kind, it was worth a try.  Unfortunately, like most hyped books, this one doesn’t live up to its press, though it was a quick, fun read.

• Title: Sandman Slim
  
• Author:  Richard Kadrey
• Type:  Paranormal UF
• Genre:  Revenge tale of a live human returned from Hell
• Sub-genre:  Magic and death is alive and well in LA
• My Grade: C  (3.0*)
  
• Rating:  NC-17
• Length and price:  Plus novel – about 100,000+ $7.99 with discounts available
• Where Available:  Available at most bookstores
• FTC Disclosure:  purchased from online bookstore

What’s Going on with Romantic Suspense

Obviously, as a mystery reader, I also read romantic suspense.  OK, maybe that’s not obvious.  Not all readers will read and enjoy both genres, but I do, just as I enjoy Urban Fantasy and paranormal with a mystery element.  To some readers – especially male readers – romantic suspense is lame.  Yes it is if you’re looking for noir type stories.  You’d get closer with UF.  My brother hates both genres and he’s pretty picky about mysteries too.  He does like some action thrillers and we both like historical mysteries, but we’re picky there too.  But here’s my problem.  Romantic suspense has been invaded by romance writers who frankly can’t seem to generate any suspense.

Short Reviews: Paranormal UF and Mysteries

I’ve been reading through a large pile of books for various swaps and the Reading Challenge.  Remind me not to do reading Challenges in the future.  Damn.  It always happens when I get a work surge.

• Title: Love In the Time of Dragons
  
• Author:  Katie MacAlister
• Type:  Paranormal – Lightening Dragon series #1
• Genre:  Humorous paranormal involving resurrection and dragons
• Sub-genre:  Another convoluted tale of the dragon and magic communities
• My Grade: C+ to B- (3.5*)
  
• Rating:  PG-13
• Length and price:  Full novel 90,000 words for $7.99; discounts available
• Where Available:  book available at any bookstore
• FTC Disclosure:  purchased from online bookstore

New Releases – Paranormal UF and 2 Siren Erotic Romance

We all know I do love my paranormal, especially shifter and UF and there have been some good and blah releases lately, plus a couple of erotic romances.  Here we go.  First is a favorite series of mine, the Elemental Assassin.

• Title: Venom
  
• Author:  Jennifer Estep
• Type:  Paranormal Urban Fantasy
• Genre:  #3 of the Gin Blanco Elemental Assassin series; murder and mayhem as Gin finds her youngest sister
• Sub-genre:  Former assassin goes after the elemental who murdered her family
• My Grade: B- (3.8*)
  
• Rating:  PG-13
• Length and price:  Full novel about 90,000+ words for $7.99
• Where Available:  book available at any book store
• FTC Disclosure:  purchased book from online bookseller

Misc Book Reviews – Paranormal/UF Series

Let’s start with a very ‘chick’ book that’s second in a series, then on to two Urban Fantasy series entries.

• Title: Deeply, Desperately
  
• Author:  Heather Webber
• Type:  Paranormal mystery lite
• Genre:  Psychic gets involved in missing person’s case
• Sub-genre:  Second in the Lucy Valentine series
• My Grade: C (3.0*)
  
• Rating:  PG-13
• Length and price:  Full novel about 80,000+ words for $7.99
• Where Available:  book available at any book store
• FTC Disclosure:  purchased book from online bookseller

Book Reviews: Two Paranormal Mysteries

Paranormal mysteries are all the rage these days.  Like any other genre, things go in and out of fashion.  Now before you noir snobs snipe at paranormal mysteries, I’d suggest you remember that urban fantasy is part of that mix and the UF has been a male author domain for decades.  Award winning mystery author Charlie Huston has his Joe Pitt series, best selling fantasy author Jim Butcher has Harry Dresden, Mario Acevedo writes the Felix Gomez series – and the list goes on.  Many women writers are getting in on the craze with everything from cozies to UF.  Some of my favorite new series are by women authors.  The two reviews below examples of the variety that you’ll find these days.

• Title: Murder in Vein
  
• Author:  Sue Ann Jaffarian
• Type:  Paranormal mystery/UF
• Genre: An ordinary waitress gets involved with vampires and witches in LA
• Sub-genre:  First in series; A near murder victim becomes involved with a Vampire Council
• My Grade: B (4*)
  
• Rating:  PG-13
• Length and price:  Full novel about 90,000+ words ebook for $14.95; 30% discounts available
• Where Available:  book available at any book store
• FTC Disclosure:  purchased book from online bookseller

Short Reviews – 3 New Releases in Urban Fantasy and Erotic Paranormal

May and June are big release months for ‘beach reads’.  That includes lots of romance, mystery, urban fantasy and paranormals.  I read my way thru some good ones and a below average one from a writer I generally like a great deal.  I am often amazed and pleasantly surprised by some authors – good and bad:

• Title: Twice Bitten
  
• Author:  Chloe Neill
• Type:  Urban fantasy
• Genre: Werewolf and vampire in an uneasy alliance; Chicagoland Vampires Book 3
• Sub-genre:  Schemes and plots; should the world know about shifters?
• My Grade: B-  (3.9*)
• Rating:  PG-13
• Length and price:  Full length novel; about 90,000+ words for $15.00 list but discounts available ($I paid 8.85)
• Where Available:  book available at any book store
• FTC Disclosure:  purchased book from online bookstore

The Chicagoland Vampires is a bit of a guilty pleasure for me. It isn’t quite the type  story I like, but I was surprised to find that Chloe Neill is getting better with each installment.  Hardcore UF readers will justifiably complain this is UF light.  True, but I think UF light has broader appeal than the noir style stories while maintaining just enough of an edge keep from sliding into paranormal chick-lit.

Short Reviews: Two New Paranormal Urban Fantasy Novels

Paranormal/urban fantasy are very personal genres.  Either you like them, or you don’t.  Within any genre, there are a few authors that manage to do something so appealing, that I pre-order the books – Linda Robertson is one of those authors for me.  Her Persephone Alcmedi books are just that readable.  Here we go.

• Title: Fatal Circle
  
• Author:  Linda Robertson
• Type:  Urban fantasy/paranormal
• Genre: Witch, werewolf and vampire in an uneasy alliance
• Sub-genre:  Search for truth, destiny and balance
• My Grade: B+  (4.3*)
• Rating:  PG-13
• Length and price:  Full length novel; about 90,000+ words for $7.99
• Where Available:  book available at at any book store
• FTC Disclosure:  purchased book from online bookstore

And Still MORE Super Short Reviews – Assorted Genres

Yes, there are still MORE reviews of urban fantasy, paranormal romance, mystery, and erotic romance to get through.  So here we go again!

• Title: Quick Study
  
• Author:  Maggie Barbieri
• Type:  Mystery
• Genre: Amateur sleuth college professor
• Sub-genre:  Professor with cop boyfriend steps on law enforcement toes
• My Grade: B-  (3.8*)
• Rating:  PG-13
• Length and price:  Full length novel; about 80,000+ words for $6.99
• Where Available:  book available at at any book store; 4-for-3 program on Amazon
• FTC Disclosure:  purchased hardcover book from online bookstore

This third installment in the Alison Bergeron series is an entertaining read.  Alison is late thirties, divorced from a ‘serial philanderer’, and college literature professor with an indomitable curiosity and a talent for finding trouble.  Written in the first person, Alison is a likable character who realizes that age is no barrier to her acting like an idiot.  Her ‘boyfriend’, divorced police detective Bobby Crawford, could decide she’s more trouble than she’s worth.  Her childhood friend, now a priest, keeps hoping she’ll get interested in his too handsome brother, and best friend Max is a drop dead gorgeous TV personality married to Bobby’s caveman like partner.

Alison is working her community service hours at a soup kitchen where an extended Latino comes once a week for a family dinner.  She hires the father and his nephew to do some painting in her house in Dobbs Ferry.  When the nephew turns up dead on a piece of land in Brooklyn that’s being developed by a former boyfriend of Max’s, Maggie gets involved in trying to find out what really happened.  The action just keeps moving and the plot has plenty of surprises, so settle in and enjoy.

The verve is fun and interesting.  Though some characters are ‘central casting’, it’s kind of hard not to get interested in Alison and her chaotic approach to life in general.  Fans of amateur sleuths can enjoy a fun read.  Good summer choice!

More Super Short Reviews – All Genres

Moving right along, we have:

• Title: Pretty in Ink
  
• Author:  Karen E Olsen
• Type:  Mystery
• Genre: Amateur sleuth in Vegas
• Sub-genre:  Tattoo artist gets involved in another murder
• My Grade: B  (4.0*)
• Rating:  PG-13
• Length and price:  Full length novel; about 80,000+ words for $6.99
• Where Available:  book available at at any book store; 4-for-3 program on Amazon
• FTC Disclosure:  purchased book from online bookstore

I always like finding a worthwhile amateur sleuth/cozy that isn’t so contrived my eyes roll.  I so enjoyed The Missing Ink that I won in a book swap on Paperback Swap, I bought this book as soon as it was released and it went right to the top of the TBR pile.  I’m glad I did.  This sophomore outing for 30 something tattoo artist and high end shop owner, Brett Kavenaugh, is really worth the effort.  Karen E. Olsen is a journalist and mystery writer, and her training shows in her tight prose that moves the story surrounding the murder of a female impersonator and a missing broach at fast clip despite the convoluted plot.  On my list of ‘must read’ series.