Rating: 4 stars (Spotlight Review)
Felix "Fix" Castor wants no part of the dead...not after what happened to his friend, Rashi. As an unemployed exorcist in London, he'd rather keep it that way by making ends meet playing parlor tricks for annoying, spoiled children (the book starts out with Fix dressed in a green tuxedo and pink shoes.) However, the supernatural otherworld is leaking out all over town; ghosts, demons, and were-beings are a regular part of the landscape, and it's annoying the locals.
Although he considers himself "retired," Fix decides to take one last so-called easy job: ridding the Bonnington Archive of a red-veiled ghost. Seemingly harmless for the last two months, this phantom has suddenly turned menacing and scaring the bejeebus out of the employees and patrons. The head of the archives wants her removed...now....and he's willing to pay a hefty sum to get it done. Seeing his bank account balance back in the black would make Fix a happy man, right?
This isn't an easy job. Not even close. With every turn the mystery behind this haunting uncovers yet another layer, and Fix is harassed from all sides; a dazzling succubus, a hostile fellow exorcist, pimps, and prostitutes . Sounds like he's got enough on his plate but it becomes very clear that every supernatural being has painted a target on Fix, and it's a free-for-all to see who can take him out first.
Just another day at the office for Felix Castor.
Classic Raymond Chandler crossbred with paranormal fantasy? As odd as it sounds, the author pulls it off with excellent results. Felix is well written as the traditional, wisecracking tough-guy and when he's thrown in with some rather unusual characters (including the prerequisite hot, sexy dame), it works like a charm. Not only is the pace just right, but the mystery will hold your attention from the first chapter. Don't even think you'll figure it out either; the author is sly and smart, giving the reader just enough to keep the storyline very interesting, and leaves plenty of space open for a sequel.
I highly recommend this for fans of fantasy/paranormal and remarkably, the gumshoe crowd. I'm really looking forward to the further adventures of Fix Castor...
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Hardcover: 416 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (July 10, 2007)
ISBN-10: 0446580309
ISBN-13: 978-0446580304
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