C. L. Clark

This book turned into something different than what I was expecting. So look at my rating and my review with a grain of salt. What didn’t work for me may very well work for someone else.

First off, I do have to say that the author knows how to write. Descriptive passages are well balanced and provide the reader with a fantastic visual for Cassie and her world. When the spirit side of the story is described, the reader experiences it just as well as the sleuthing and daily life of a small town. Grammatically and descriptively, this novel is very well done.

I enjoyed the ghost aspects of the story. They were both touching and at times eerie. I found the parts with Sharon and her boyfriend and the trailer scene especially heart-warming. I felt that the author was able to incorporate this element well with the mystery aspects.

I started out liking Cassie. She was portrayed as a practical, modern woman who doesn’t take any gruff from hinky co-workers or smarmy neighbors that she’s dating/non-dating. She was a girl I could get behind.

Aaaannnnndddd then she discovered sleuthing…. After that turn in the story, all sympathy or connection I felt for her went down the toilet. She starts making idiotic decisions that place her and others in danger. She starts to think that she knows better than the law-enforcement professionals and goes off halfcocked following half-backed theories. Half the time, I wished the killer would just finish her off so another Nancy Drew stand-in could appear. ‘Cause Cassie is no Nancy Drew!!

And then there’s the whole cat/magic thing….. I swear, when this development in the story happened, I had the hardest eye roll that I’ve had in the longest time. This story could have been so much better without kitty spirit magic. The reader knows going in that this book is as much urban fantasy as mystery or whatnot. But the whole overreaching good vs evil plot thread and the cat being the key to the spirit world?! Twas a bit too much for my taste….

So mixed feelings on this one. I really wanted to give it a higher as the scene-setting was great and I started out liking Cass. But things went downhill bullet fast after the magic hit the fan and Cass got it into her head to be an investigator. I grew to hate Cass more and more as the story went along. And when you grow to hate the main character? Yeah, time to pull up stakes and go onto the next book. So like I mentioned, someone who likes urban fantasy or ,hell, just cats would probably like this more. But it was just way too off the wall for me. Sorry I couldn’t have gone higher, C. L.

Note: Book received for free from author in exchange for an honest review.… (meer)