Deadly Curiosities by Gail Z Martin (Urban Fantasy, 9/10E)

3rd July 2014, Solaris, 384 pages, Paperback, Review copy

Themes: investigating strange goings on, demon hunting, trusting people, friendships, alliances, faithful pets, wooden spoon,

Content: supernatural, ghosts, murder, voodoo, major peril, humour

Summary from Solaris

Welcome to Trifles & Folly, and antique and curio shop with a dark secret. Proprietor Cassidy Kincaide continues a family tradition begun in 1670 - acquiring and neutralizing dangerous supernatural items. It's the perfect job for Cassidy, whose psychic gift lets her touch an object and know its history.

Together with her business partner Soren, a 500-year-old vampire and former jewel thief, Cassidy makes it her business to get infernal objects off the market. When mundane antiques suddenly become magically malicious, it's time for Cassidy and Soren to get rid of these Deadly Curiosities before the bodies start piling up.

Nayuleska's thoughts

It has been well over a year since I've read a book for Solaris, as mostly their books aren't for me at the moment, so this was an ace choice to reconnect with them. Cassidy's voice is easy to read and is my kind of humour. I love her job, both the official and unofficial one. Investigat7ng the paranormal with a vampire family friend and other not simply normal human friends means Cassidy has help when she needs it...unless she is on her own, of course. Plus she manages to get help from spirits/ghosts which come in handy for when she is alone. I was extremely taken by the way a previous pet dog of hers managed to protect his mistress from beyond the grave -it was a heart melting moment at a scary time for Cassidy. Her strong friendship ties save her on many occasions, and make the trickier part of her job easier, because they know what she needs to de-stress.

The supernatural element did prove too scary in places so I skim read some parts. I'm never comfortable reading about voodoo/voodon, and happily skipped those infrequent parts. I made sure to only read this during the day, part of my precaution of reading potentially scary books, just like Cassidy and her friends take precautions including lots of salt and a wooden spoon. I had to skim some of the grand battle as that spooked me a bit. However, despite the necessary skimming/skipping I thoroughly enjoyed Cassidy's adventure, and I'm looking forward to reading more. Both she and her friends have skills that have the potential to develop, and I doubt there will be a lack of unusual items given the way some town members heavily insinuate they know what Cassidy does. I'm fond of Sorren being Cassidy's longstanding family protector - her own powers are pretty hefty when she connects with items that have a protective nature, but a vampire has many handy skills, including using mojo to make her living dog like him.

Find out more about Gail on her website.

Suggested read

For more magical investigation check out Grave Dance by Kalayna Price (Urban Fantasy, 10/10E)