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Reader Reviews | |
Review by Chrissi (311006) Rating (9/10) Review
by Chrissi This is set in modern times but after a genetically engineered disease has wiped out most of the population, the main groups of society unaffected were those previously viewed as mythical - the vampires, werewolves, witches and so on, known as Inderlanders. These groups came out of hiding in significant numbers and made themselves known, and are now living and working in the open with ordinary people although they tend to live in an enclave known as the Hollows. At the beginning of the book Rachel Morgan is a witch working for the police service dedicated to Inderlanders, as normal, human, police services are ill-equipped to deal with the different groups of society. Rachel is bored and, being given only penny ante jobs, she is musing about leaving to work independently. Unfortunately the life expectancy of an independent runner would appear very short, if hearsay is anything to go by. After one more disastrous job, Rachel determines to go it alone, not expecting that anyone else would consider joining her, until she finds herself with two partners - Ivy, a living vampire, (specialties include increased strength and an ability to read scenes by a heightened sense of smell) and Jenks, a pixy (whose specialties include tampering with closed circuit surveillance cameras). Having all left, it would seem that the only grudge held is against Rachel, and things get a bit hairy, with some rather inventive ways to try to polish her off.
When reading this I couldn't help but make some comparisons with
Stephanie Plum, Janet Evanovich's bounty hunter. They are both
sassy ladies who have some rather strange companions and who make
some rather rash decisions but who come through their adventures
unbowed. However, in Dead Witch Walking, the adventure
is a little less slapstick (although it does have its moments).
There are more smiles than guffaws but that is fine, as it develops
into an engrossing story, with a heroine that you are rooting
for even as she is being headstrong whilst trying not to accidentally
get herself bitten by her vampire business partner. |
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