Better than a Ghost of a Chance you'll love this

Ghost of a Chance
Kate Marsh
Obsidian
Feb
ISBN 0451223241
Mystery/Urban fantasy
****1/2



Thanks to her unusual heritage, Karma has a gift of being able to "clean" houses of ghosts, pixies, imps, and so on; any Otherworldly being, in other words. Because of this, she has a houseful of those she couldn't bring herself to send off to another plane. She also has a no good husband she'd like to send to another plane, or at least divorce, but even if he thinks she's a freak, Spider won't let her go until she does one last job for him, namely getting a property he wants to invest in clear of its current owner. It is thus that Karma finds herself, her fosterchild, her father, husband, his less than honest partners, and a host of Otherworld beings, as well as Adam Dirgesinger, the present occupant, at the house in question when Adam seals it so that no one can leave for twelve hours, or longer if he renews the spell. That's bad enough, and then, Spider gets squashed like his namesake. Now, Karma and Adam, both of whom work for the Council that governs paranormal beings, to solve the case in this tricky locked "room" murder. With time running against them and clashing personalities abounding, it will be a challenge.



Not only is this a fun read, populated with vibrant characters who comprise a fascinatingly complex world, but it's genuinely clever. The ending twist is worthy of Conan Doyle or Christie. I hope this is the start of a new series; Karma and friends are worth visiting many times over.

Jim Butcher's Epic Fantasy - Coming soon Codex Alera IV

Captain's Fury: Codex Alera Book IV

Jim Butcher

Ace

Dec

ISBN-10: 0441015271

Epic Fantasy

****




For two years, war has raged across Alera, but now, Tavi, Captain of the First Legion, realizes that there is an enemy that no one has perceived as of yet, one deadlier than any seen before. It has already forced the Canim out of their lands, exacerbating the tensions in his own as a flood of immigrants vie for their place in the world and resentments boil. But, it won't stop there. If Tavi cannot forge a peace between the antagonists that are already tearing apart Alera on multiple levels, friend and foe alike will be lost in an all consuming void. Politics, hypocrisy, and old fears stand in his way, but Tavi has been forged into the one man who has a chance of victory.





Readers are transported to a distant world that feels like a cross between Ancient Rome and Ancient Britain in this complex tale of war and personal growth. Battles are conducted on the field and in the heart, and everywhere in between. Despite this, there is a strong current of love that makes all the fights worth the effort. Once again, Mr. Butcher demonstrates his versatile talent that never fails to engage his audience. However, this is not the Dresden files. It is a far more serious world, with few quips to lighten the tone.