Harper Blaine was slogging along as a small-time P.I. when a two-bit perp's savage assault left her dead. For two minutes, to be precise.
When Harper comes to in the hospital, she begins to feel a bit ...strange. She sees things that can only be described as weird-shapes emerging from a foggy grey mist, snarling teeth, creatures roaring.
But Harper's not crazy. Her "death" has made her a Greywalker-able to move between our world and the mysterious, cross-over zone where things that go bump in the night exist. And her new gift (or curse) is about to drag her into that world of vampires and ghosts, magic and witches, necromancers and sinister artifacts. Whether she likes it or not.
Title: Greywalker
Author: Kat Richardson
Series: Greywalker, Book 1
Start & Finished: 4/21/08- 4/24/08
Published: 2006
Publisher: Roc/Penguin
Pages: 352
Genre: Urban Paranormal Fantasy/ Horror Mystery
Private investigators who deal with the supernatural like P. N. Elrod and Jim Butcher’s heroes have become very popular over the past several years. With her debut novel Greywalker, Kat Richardson proves that her heroine Harper Blaine can most certainly play with the big boys
without being a “man with breasts” (she actually started out as male but to relate more, the author made her female) or a typical cliché.Smart, funny, and incredibly interesting are the best ways to describe this urban fantasy/ paranormal/ horror mystery. Although it’s the first book in the series and the first thing published by this author you would hardly guess due to how well done the characters and the story is. There were a few parts that confused me and some of the subplots were a little complex but most of the story was straightforward and explained very well.
Ms. Richardson claims that she got her idea for this series from watching the old My Partner the Ghost (aka Randall and Hopkirk, Deceased) TV show as a kid and later on in life playing with the idea. Ghosts and other supernatural creatures need help just like everyone else and whom would they be able to go to? Harper Blaine that’s who! She’s still human but because of her brush with death is becoming more and more aware of their world (the Grey).
Kickass heroines that have great supportive friends have become fairly common in this genre (Jaz Parks, Mercy Thompson, Anita Blake, Merry Gentry, Sookie Stackhouse, etc.) and Harper is hardly any different but the whole premise of the series is so different (despite the expected ghosts, witches, vampires, etc) that it manages to stand out and be unique. So far, only three books in this series have been released: Greywalker, Poltergeist, and Underground but more are being planned and written. I’ll be reading the second one soon!
Links: Author Blog, Wikipedia (author)
Interview: Getting Medieval, Suite 101 (Seriously Persuing Writing), Suite 101 (On the Supernatural), Suite 101 (Walks the Grey Line), Science Fiction and Fantasy (Penguin group)
I love how you've set up your blog and all the details you add to your reviews, illos and all! I'll have to spend some time looking around. :)
ReplyDeleteThis is one I really really really want to read. I am glad you enjoyed it, Jen. Another great review! :-)
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of this book or author before. It sounds great!
ReplyDeleteI've not heard of this book/author either. I'll have to check it out. Thanks, Jen!
ReplyDeleteGreat review! I read this book, too, and I really enjoyed the whole foggy noir aspect. Interesting Harper started out as a guy!
ReplyDeleteThat photo really captures the look. You're reminding me I need to read the next one!
Thanks so much for the review Tink. I keep seeing this one but didn't know much about it and certainly wasn't sure whether it would stand out from the other numerous similar series around at the moment. Will see if I can find a cheap copy in New York in a couple of weeks.
ReplyDeleteShelly: Thanks!
ReplyDeleteWendy: I think you might like this book.
J. Kaye & Melody: It was different but I liked it.
Carolyn Jean: Lol, I reminded me that I need to read the next one!
Rhinoa: I had heard a lot about the book but it took me awhile to get around to reading it. Glad I did even though I really didn't need to start a new series!
Thanks to you, I found a copy at the library and started reading last night. I'm like on page 70 and loving it!
ReplyDeleteJ. Kaye: That's great! I'm glad you're enjoying it. I've got to read the rest of the series someday soon.
ReplyDeleteI have this book on my TBR list, so I am glad to hear it's good. I really like your review style. Thanks for stopping by my blog, by the way.
ReplyDelete