Undead and Unwary, book 13 in the Queen Betsy series, gives us the mystery of Jessica and Dick's periodically vanishing infant twins. Eric Sinclair is still obsessive about his black lab puppies, Fur and Bur. Baby Jon is mentioned, but has no scenes. Laura Goodman shows up to nag Betsy about her promise to help Laura run Hell. Betsy is dragging her feet on that promise. Jessica mentions seeing a previous character thought dead. Betsy refuses to believe it. Betsy meets Father Marcus, protector of the Blade Warriors (see book 2, Undead and Unemployed) again.
Betsy gives Hell a new look. Her late stepmother, Antonia 'the Ant' Taylor, is being unexpectedly helpful. So is Cathie Richardson, the ghost of a murdered woman from book 4, Undead and Unreturnable.
Dick Berry finally lets Betsy have it over her refusal to just call him 'Dick'. Betsy's attempt to atone made me chuckle.

Because I listened to books 2 and 4 just last month, I can tell that Ms. Davidson should have checked them. Betsy got that nightclub from Monique, not Marjorie in book 2. Also, the confrontation with the Driveway Killer in book 4 took place in the killer's house, not the home of the last woman he kidnapped.

Betsy learns things about herself and Laura. I would have to say that the sisters are definitely John Taylor's daughters. I wonder if Laura will take as long as Betsy to stop deluding herself.

It's not as much fun as the earlier books, but still has it's good points. ( )

Not one of my favorites in the series. This one is kind of all over the place. Betsy finally gives in to the strong arm tactics of her sister and goes back to Hell. And Laura promptly disappears. Betsy learns with some help from Cathie the ghost and the Ant that she can shape Hell to her will. She keeps having to return topside as Jessica's babies keep disappearing. Again this one is a bit all over the place. ( )

Review courtesy of Dark Faeries Tales

Quick & Dirty: Queen of the vampires, co-ruler of hell, is the weird stuff ever going to stop happening?

Opening Sentence: “You know how you see someone you love stuck with a job they don’t know how to do?”

The Review:

Betsy is back in Undead and Unwary! Here is my tiny disclaimer, I have not read this series at all! So I am not positive how soon after Undead and Unsure does Undead and Unwary starts. Betsy has killed Satan and is now the co-ruler of Hell with Laura. Betsy also finds out and begins looking into her father’s death, as her bestie Jessica claims to have seen him. Betsy knows her stepmother Ant is dead as she saw her as a ghost shortly after the accident. Betsy also does time-traveling chasing the twins around.

Betsy and Sinclair are still going strong despite the fact that she is sure he is angling to get a piece of Hell for himself. Betsy also finds herself being out maneuvered and being manipulated into taking over all of Hell. It also brings her to the realization that she has a lot of people who care about her and are willing to help her. I am going to stop there as the rest may be spoilers, I will say she does let some people have it!

This being my first book in the series, I have to say I wasn’t as confused as I thought I would be for not having read the 12 books before this one. The author also does a great job of foot-noting things so that you know which book previous things happened in. One of the major things I loved about this book was the wit, the weirdness and just the all around funny stuff Betsy says or thinks. She is a klutz and a train-wreck for bad things on bad days, but she tries and cares deeply about the people in her life.

Just like in real life she finds herself being used and set-up and isn’t happy about it. The only thing that confused me was the time-traveling, it really wasn’t explained and seemed to be just thrown in. However, since I haven’t read the other books that may not be the case, it may just be something that I am not aware of jumping into this series so late. I did enjoy how the paranormal in this book is just ordinary, it’s no big thing to be a vampire or werewolf or in charge of Hell.

I can’t make up my mind about the lack of action, I think most urban fantasy books I read have a ton of action in them, so I am on the fence whether the lack of action bugged me. Or if it was just a really interesting change of pace, someone using their brain to figure out things instead wielding a sword. In fact, while writing this out I have to say I enjoyed that it played a part into why I enjoyed this book, the MC was engaging, witty and totally normally abnormal. I can’t wait to start this series from the beginning so that I really can get to know all the characters and understand fully what is going on behind the scenes.

Notable Scene:

“The things we do in moments of weakness: recycling in a desperate attempt to save the earth, obsssively updating Amazon wish lists, agreeing to run Hell with the Anitchrist.”

“I screamed and nearly fell down the stairs a second time.”

“I wanted a baby of my own, and it had orphaned my brother.”

“Someone had lost their damned mind and egged the Antichrist.”

FTC Advisory: Berkley/Penguin provided me with a copy of Undead and Unwary. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. ( )