Helpful Score: 7
First, please understand that I do not read much in the horror-fantasy genre. This book was a big departure from my normal reading.
A freelance exorcist in an alternate world in which ghosts, werewolves, and other supernatural things are commonplace, takes on a deceptively-simple assignment because he's broke and needs to pay the rent. (I think the book is in part a send-up of every hard-boiled detective novel ever written. After a time, it became a game of spot the cliché.) The first half of the book was full of surprises, very interesting, witty, pleasantly creepy, and made the world of the book quite real to me. Then the author ran out of gas and plot and rather plodded his way to the end. The writing is very good, and the dialogue is particularly good. The first half of the book is good. I gather that this is the author's first full length novel, and I'm hopeful his skill will improve.
A freelance exorcist in an alternate world in which ghosts, werewolves, and other supernatural things are commonplace, takes on a deceptively-simple assignment because he's broke and needs to pay the rent. (I think the book is in part a send-up of every hard-boiled detective novel ever written. After a time, it became a game of spot the cliché.) The first half of the book was full of surprises, very interesting, witty, pleasantly creepy, and made the world of the book quite real to me. Then the author ran out of gas and plot and rather plodded his way to the end. The writing is very good, and the dialogue is particularly good. The first half of the book is good. I gather that this is the author's first full length novel, and I'm hopeful his skill will improve.
Oh, I enjoyed this one! It was thoroughly fascinating with its array of ghosts, demons - not to mention mysterious intrigue. It was definitely original - one of the more original books that I have read in a while. I'll keep an eye out for this author, for sure!
I really liked the narrator, Felix "Fix" Castor. He had some great phrases and the dialogue was great, too. There were some holes (his friend, who was possessed, for instance) but overall, it was a good, thoroughly entertaining story.
I really liked the narrator, Felix "Fix" Castor. He had some great phrases and the dialogue was great, too. There were some holes (his friend, who was possessed, for instance) but overall, it was a good, thoroughly entertaining story.
I do NOT read real hard core Horror, but, you have to read this. Good supernatural thriller [mystery]. It has everything
you are looking for murder, mystery, mayhem, ghosts, demons, and EXORCIST. Relationships start and end. Oh, well, maybe the
next time. Mike Carey's world is/or can get creepy. Not the kind of evil you want to run across in real life.
This was my first read of his books and I'm looking into his other books.
you are looking for murder, mystery, mayhem, ghosts, demons, and EXORCIST. Relationships start and end. Oh, well, maybe the
next time. Mike Carey's world is/or can get creepy. Not the kind of evil you want to run across in real life.
This was my first read of his books and I'm looking into his other books.
The concept of this book holds a lot of promise--a near-future Raymond Chandleresque exorcist working the dirty streets of London to send annoying ghosts packing. Unfortunately, it didn't work for me, although I do think it is well-written and others will enjoy it. The humor is very British. If you don't find British humor uproariously funny, you won't enjoy this book. The setting is also largely in an archive. As a librarian myself, I honestly found the setting an odd choice and quite boring. The mystery itself was good, although I do think the paranormal aspect of the book let Carey get away with some plot oddities that he would not have been able to get away with in a regular mystery. Overall, if you enjoy British humor, the paranormal, and the setting of an archive, you'll enjoy this book. If any of those ring dull for you, though, you should probably steer clear.
Check out my full review.
Check out my full review.
