Spells for the Dead

April 20, 2020
The middling fifth urban fantasy of Hunter’s Soulwood series (after Circle of the Moon) offers a serviceable paranormal procedural plot overburdened with unnecessary exposition. When country music megastar Stella Mae Ragel is murdered by means of a “death and decay” spell, Special Agent Nell Ingram of the Psychometric Law Enforcement Division of Homeland Security investigates. The case grows complicated when Nell discovers that Stella spent five years living in a sex commune and one of her many lovers might be the murderer, triggering Nell’s PTSD from her own childhood in a polygamous cult, and causing her to question her relationship with her boyfriend, Occam, a wereleopard. To solve the case, Nell must contend with her trauma and come to an understanding of her own mysterious powers. Hunter’s world is well-developed but over-explained, and extremely graphic descriptions of the effects of death and decay magic will make this difficult for the weak of stomach. But the solid mystery and well-drawn cast are enough to keep devoted readers turning pages. This is for die-hard series fans only. Agent: Lucienne Diver, the Knight Agency.

June 5, 2020

Nell Ingram is a newer PsyLED agent, using her powers to communicate with the land to assist her team in solving paranormal crimes. Their latest case brings them to the mansion of a young country star who, along with some of her bandmates, died and is decaying before everyone's eyes. Even worse--whatever has caused the deaths and decay is spreading out from the home. While the team's witch has never seen anything like this, a paranormal-hating FBI agent immediately causes even more trouble with the investigation. At home, Nell is trying to be peacekeeper between her two sisters: one pregnant, both showing signs of similar powers as Nell. The race to stop trouble from all sides is catching up with Nell and her team, and she only hopes they can all make it out alive. VERDICT The fifth entry in the "Soulwood" series (after Circle of the Moon) continues to build a modern paranormal world, filled with action, suspense, and amazing emotional arcs.--Kristi Chadwick, Massachusetts Lib. Syst., Northampton

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