I received this book for free from my own shelves in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Source: my own shelves
Dead Even
by
Patti Larsen
cozy mystery, detective mystery, paranormal fantasy in a Kindle edition that was published by Patti Larsen Books/Mayhem and Murder Ink on May 1, 2021 and has 185 pages.
Explore it on Goodreads
Other books by this author which I have reviewed include Merry Little Mystic Murder, Drawn to Death, "Dead Weight", "Dead Heat"
First in the Whitewitch Island cozy paranormal mystery series revolving around a retired inquisitor, Georgia Drake. The focus is on an old murder, new murders, and Georgia moving to the island.
My Take
I do enjoy Patti Larsen’s work. It’s cozy with great characters who pull me in. In this case, I think Benjamin has my heart!
Although, that opening was enough to creep me out . . . Larsen does eventually dribble out what happened to her and her partner’s last case.
It took awhile to figure out what Elias’ complete role was with Georgia, and I think Larsen could have wrung more drama from this, if I’d known this earlier. I felt bad at Georgia’s loss but it was a more intellectual feel than visceral. Too much on the tell here.
The sound of Georgia’s new house sounds fabulous! I’ve always wanted to live on a cliff looking out over the water, watching storms come in. Although, these days, not so much. Eeek.
I do find Benjamin always calling Georgia “Mother” creepy. Not only Benjamin, but Conscio and Caprice add to the menagerie. Poor Benny is terrified something will happen to Georgia, that her grief will pull her under.
Larsen is using first person protagonist point-of-view from Georgia’s perspective, which really makes it fun when Georgia thinks about how much she enjoys intimidating some and supporting others.
It did make for a treat that the sheriff has no problem with Georgia helping out, and of Georgia trying not to overstep her bounds.
Built-in conflicts include Georgia’s grief about her partner and her worries about fitting in with human society. There is so much she has taken for granted, and she does not want any trouble! Thankfully, Benjamin is there to help her navigate the social waters, lol. Another concern is to NOT use magic as she doesn’t want to be arrested for illegal tampering.
It’s a concern throughout the story and helped along by Georgia’s, ahem, misunderstanding with the Fates, and as for that last missive at the end. Hoo boy.
There’s a snooty flavor in here of those with magical talents being so far above and more interesting than humans. I’m suspecting Larsen plans on disabusing these ladies as the series goes on. We’ll see . . . That question in Georgia’s mind about the limited choices of food was funny.
I do envy that magical ability to produce clothing and furnishings, and I had to laugh at Georgia wanting to behave like a normal human.
The difference between Georgia’s law enforcement experience and the human side becomes obvious with the terminology that confuses Georgia. I don’t think those of us who’ve immersed ourselves in all kinds of crime stories can easily grasp this difference. I’m waiting for it to trip Georgia up.
I like that miasma and aura thing Larsen has going on with assorted characters. Talk about atmosphere!
I must confess I’m wondering about a number of “clues”, starting with Circe, the name of the island, Olive’s belief in herself, Mavis . . . Is there magic on Whitewitch Island?
Georgia’s relationship to her family can be summed up with “thanks for calling to make me feel worse than I already do. Love you too”.
I’m suspecting Georgia’s grief for her interpretation of her guild’s lack of action. Then again, that kind of thing does happen. Sadly. It’s a bit of a mirror with Dead Even.
There is action. Don’t get me wrong. But the worst is the bullying that goes on. Arghhh!
And politics are as rife in the magic world as it is in the human one.
The Story
Twenty years ago, Miles Williams went to prison for manslaughter. Now he’s out and back in Circe.
Circe won’t be the quiet haven Georgia Drake thought it would be when she’s recruited by the eager but untested sheriff to assist in uncovering the truth.
A past that most residents of Whitewitch Island would rather forget . . .
The Characters
Retired Guild Artemis Inquisitor Georgia “George” Drake has moved cross country and purchased the old Miller house. I think she’s been an inquisitor for 22 years. Hades Guardian Benjamin, a giant black mastiff, is compassionate and sentient and can speak to Georgia. Seems he was too sweet for Black Hound Guard candidacy. Hmph. Conscio and Caprice are a pair of sentient mated ravens, a black one and a white one, whom Georgia had rescued. Elias Barrow had been Georgia’s hunter partner.
The Drakes are . . .
. . . Georgia’s prominent family. Her mother, Morgana, is Emissary to the North American Magic League. Her father, Quarrian, is Chief Defender in the Guild Nemesis. Her brother, Mattew is posted to the World Paranormal and Supernatural Forum with a Guild Nemesis Assistant Defender wife and three brilliant kids. Georgia’s grandmother, Arimanthia, a necromancer Sentinel for Guild Hades, had married the dragon-blooded Grandfather Chamberlain Drake, a Gold Dragon’s Sentinel.
Circe is on Whitewitch Island, California, and is . . .
. . . a small town with the passionate Sheriff Harriet “Harry” Quinn. Dr Mavis Fernsby, the medical examiner, is a retired necromancer, a thaumaturge. Grant. Austin Cooper, Tommy’s dad, had been the previous sheriff. Philip Cantos and Jacinto Wren are on the town council. Judge Grundle has his perceptions.
Olive, who believes she’s a psychic medium, and Holly Henry are mother and thirteen-year-old daughter (Holly wants to be a vet someday), neighbors just down the road from Georgia.
Nick Parks is the real estate agent who worked with Georgia to get her house; Kim is his wife. Dr Tommy Cooper is the local veterinarian. Mophie, an inland taipan, is Tommy’s snake. Charlie and Sue Jackson. Luke Morrison had a wife, Megan, and baby Skyler who died. Jim Collins, the team nuisance, is a lawyer. The men were all friends.
Sam Spencer is the very hunky town handyman with his own mystery; Miles Williams is his assistant recently released from prison. Norm had been Miles’ drunken, abusive father. Or is Gary Miles’ dad? Roger was an older son. Jeremiah Temple has bloodhounds.
Riley “Riles” and Brian “Bri” Gray, sister and brother, had been friends with Miles. Mona and Fred Gray are/were their parents.
Guild Artemis is a law enforcement organization with inquisitors and hunters Guild Hecate is all about foreseers, clairvoyants, healers, and necromancers while Dinorah works at Guild Hades.
Mnemosyne is a goddess. Captain Johnathan Sahtroy, NYPD, 25th Precinct is Georgia’s backup story.
The Cover and Title
The cover is a stark graphic of black and white with the dark-haired Georgia in her black suit and white top, lightened by a pink scarf around her neck, standing in front of a windmill on the right and a two-story house on the left with teal-green evergreens peeking over the roof. The sky is primarily white with some gray and Conscio in silhouette. All the text is white and outlined in black, starting at the very top with the author’s name and the title at the bottom. At the very bottom is the series info.
The title is the aim, to make them Dead Even.
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