Helpful Score: 1
2nd Beka Cooper Book.. 1st was Terrier. I got Terrier on audio dvd to listen to on a lengthy drive and was captivated by the characters and story line. The young female protagonist is straight forward, intelligent, stubborn and likeable. I didn't quite have enough time to finish the first book on my trip so I got the actual hardback upon return home and finished it. Was impressed enough to snatch up "Bloodhound" as soon as I saw it on the shelf.
Beka Cooper is a wonderful character and her tribulations at being the newest member of the watch (police...) in a large slum type neighborhood is at once gritty and compelling. The magic involved is unique with her ability to hear the ghosts of recently departed who ride with pigeons and also her abiility to hear spates of old conversations by feeding "twisters"... Not to mention that she has a familiar in the person of a cat who may or may not be a god but is definitely a character unto himself.
Beka's rough and tumble trainers on the watch reminded me mostly of Hawke and Fisher if you've ever read that series by Simon R Green. Pragmatic coppers who keep the peace by dint of being tougher and smarter than the bad guys. Graft is a way of life and the take is expected. Beka herself comes from a poor family but her mother married into a higher status upon the passing of her father so she has in's at all levels of the society. However, her family is less than enchanted with her choice of careers or the fact that she continues to reside in the "lower city". Her friends on the other hand are quite entertaining: The head thief of the city is half in love with her and she has friends who are quite rogueish themselves. Prostitutes, bakers, thieves and lords. Beka walks a tightwire with a balance and precision that is fascinating. A wonderful character.
In this second book she leaves some of her friends behind (kind of missed them) because it is mainly set in a separate city from her own due to her having been sent to investigate a problem there. It mainly relates to a major counterfeiting ring that could destroy the economy stability of the realm. I won't bother you with the whole story line but the book is wonderful and definitely worth the read.
Beka Cooper is a wonderful character and her tribulations at being the newest member of the watch (police...) in a large slum type neighborhood is at once gritty and compelling. The magic involved is unique with her ability to hear the ghosts of recently departed who ride with pigeons and also her abiility to hear spates of old conversations by feeding "twisters"... Not to mention that she has a familiar in the person of a cat who may or may not be a god but is definitely a character unto himself.
Beka's rough and tumble trainers on the watch reminded me mostly of Hawke and Fisher if you've ever read that series by Simon R Green. Pragmatic coppers who keep the peace by dint of being tougher and smarter than the bad guys. Graft is a way of life and the take is expected. Beka herself comes from a poor family but her mother married into a higher status upon the passing of her father so she has in's at all levels of the society. However, her family is less than enchanted with her choice of careers or the fact that she continues to reside in the "lower city". Her friends on the other hand are quite entertaining: The head thief of the city is half in love with her and she has friends who are quite rogueish themselves. Prostitutes, bakers, thieves and lords. Beka walks a tightwire with a balance and precision that is fascinating. A wonderful character.
In this second book she leaves some of her friends behind (kind of missed them) because it is mainly set in a separate city from her own due to her having been sent to investigate a problem there. It mainly relates to a major counterfeiting ring that could destroy the economy stability of the realm. I won't bother you with the whole story line but the book is wonderful and definitely worth the read.
