A Fistful of Charms

Rachel Morgan, a bounty hunter of witches, tries to track down a sacred werewolf artifact and an old flame in the latest in Harrison's series. Vampires, pixies, fairies, demons, elves, witches, werewolves, and even humans inhabit the twisted mystery, and narrator Marguerite Gavin gives each a clear voice and suitable characterization. Gavin resists the temptation to endow the story's players with clichÄd vocal styles, instead reaching into the text to give each a unique personality. In addition, Gavin's narrative passages capture irony, suspense, and humor, moving the story along quickly while maintaining mood and excitement throughout. Her spirited performance may even draw in listeners who don't care much about the undead or supernatural beings with superpowers. R.L.L. (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine

May 22, 2006
This strong entry in Harrison's intricate Hollows series (after Every Which Way but Dead
) plunges headlong into the action as Rachel Morgan, a sexy Cincinnati witch, finishes up her latest bounty hunting mission by taking down an alpha Were (werewolf). The book swings into gear when she returns home to find that her ne'er-do-well ex, Nick, has recruited her partner Jenks's son in a criminal enterprise—and gotten them both imprisoned by Weres in Michigan, apparently for stealing a priceless Were artifact. With the help of some borderline black magic, Jenks—a pixie—is given human proportions in order to accompany Rachel on a mission to rescue his son. Finding the jailed pixie ends up the easiest task in an operation that quickly spirals out of control after Rachel decides she must also rescue the errant Nick. Harrison provides conflict aplenty as Rachel debates how far into the black arts she'll venture to accomplish a good end; past and present boyfriends vie for her attention; and Weres battle vampires for supremacy.

May 26, 2008
Two narrators interpret Kim Harrison's bounty hunter.
A Fistful of Charms
Kim Harrison
, read by Marguerite Gavin. Tantor Audio
, unabridged, 14 CDs, 17 hrs., $39.99 ISBN 978-1-4001-0474-1

Although this is her fifth outing for Tantor playing bounty-hunting witch Rachel Morgan, Marguerite Gavin seems far more comfortable here playing the supporting characters than the lead. Without much emotion or effort, Gavin speeds through most of book four in Harrison's series at a breakneck pace. Her Morgan has no passion or sense of humor and in turn no real likability. She fails to capture the tension and urgency that can clearly be found in Harrison's writing. On the positive side, Gavin's male roles are rich and well-voiced. A HarperTorch paperback (Reviews, May 22, 2006).