Tuesday 9 April 2013

URBAN FANTASY REVIEW: Morris and Chastain Investigations: Play with Fire and Midnight at the Oasis - Justin Gustainis

Release Date: 26/03/13
Publisher:  Solaris

SYNOPSIS:

This omnibus contains two thrilling occult investigations featuring the urban fantasy sleuths Quincy Morris, grandson of Dracula's killer, and the white witch Libby Chastain. In Play With Fire, houses of worship are burning around the U.S., from churches, to synagogues, to mosques. Usually while the places are full of people. The fires are initially dismissed as random acts of violence, until Morris and Chastain uncover the deadly meaning behind the destruction, and the terrifying cause the arsonists seek to serve. In Midnight at the Oasis, Middle Eastern terrorists have conjured a deadly djinn that will lay waste to America unless Morris and Chastain can stop it first.


REVIEW:

It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of Justin’s writing and to be honest I love the way that he brings other known characters from other authors into his world. It’s creative, works wonderfully and to be honest a lot of readers probably wonder why there haven’t been cross overs before.

What Justin brings in this book is two short stories that deliver not only kick ass action but wonderful character interactions as each investigation leaves its own marks upon the people within. Add to this cracking dialogue, a great use of misdirection and of course villains who challenge our heroes in a number of different ways and all round it’s a cracking read. My only real grumble was the abrupt way that the second title ended, it seemed a little to sudden and neat but even so, it was a book that I had a lot of fun with and I can’t wait to embark on Justin’s next outing, personally I think he’s one of the genres hidden gems.




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