Welcome to Trifles & Folly, a store 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 Sorren, a 500-year-old vampire and former jewel thief, Cassidy makes it … her business to get infernal objects off the market.
When a trip to a haunted hotel unearths a statue steeped in malevolent power, and a string of murders draws a trail to the abandoned old Navy yard, Cassidy and Sorren discover a diabolical plot to unleash a supernatural onslaught on their city.
It’s time for Kincaide and her team to get rid of these Deadly Curiosities before the bodies start piling up.
more
I was asking about a popular M/M series that members of a book recommendation group were praising. To my surprise, the author herself answered the question–“Yes, that series is linked to my other written work!” As paranormal has ALWAYS been my favorite, I wasted no time purchasing the first two books of the Deadly Curiosities series, and what a wonderful investment it has been.
In the story, we encounter Cassidy Kincaide who owns Trifles & Folly, an antique and curios store she’s inherited located in historic, ghost-riddled Charleston, South Carolina! It quickly becomes clear that the shop is a front for a secret organization whose purpose is to remove dangerous magical objects from circulation. Cassidy is able to ‘experience’ objects she touches, her work partner/her best friend Teag is a weaver witch whose talent extends to any objects or construct that can be woven or webbed, and Sorren is a nearly 600-year-old vampire originally trained as a thief, whose supernatural speed, strength, and healing. All three with a group of other specialists and consultants form the Charleston chapter of the Alliance of mortals and immortals whose objective is the save the world from supernatural threats.
In Deadly Curiosities Book 1, a group of grisly murders suggests ritualistic killings that point to a demon being utilized for some unknown reason. Its presence allows artifacts to manifest malevolence that was not originally expressed. Tracking down evidence, they are led to an old abandoned naval yard and a man looking to retrieve an object that will allow him to regain control of the demon. Cassidy, Teag, Sorren, and their associates battle the very devil to eliminate the threat permanently. Wow, what a start!
The world-building for Deadly Curiosities is incredible as Gail Z. Martin makes full use of the history and environs of Charleston, South Carolina while at the same time adding her own special spin. She is well versed in lore concerning the occult in its many forms, giving her work a sense of complexity, fullness, wholeness. Her secondary characters are ROCKING and include the most interesting cast I’ve EVER encountered in fiction! There is even an Episcopal lady priest, for goodness sake! Cohesion exists within the narrative in spite of its complexity as the writer exercises great care in pacing the novel. There are points in the novel when characters are discussing matters theoretically, letting the reader in on every aspect of the conflict. Then there’s action when the reader is holding on to their seat for dear life as the characters tackle the problem in actuality. Such lends credibility and plausibility to the entire story. Let’s face it, this book is BANGING, and Gail Z. Martin is all kinds of a wonderful storyteller!
I am a huge fan of Gail Z Martin. Before I started the book I knew I would like it, but I really really loved it. Objects collect good and bad energy from owners of the past. Cassidy’s family has a gift of feeling and seeing past life on objects. As part of an Alliance to remove objects that cause harm or negative energy to the new owners and this world, things can get very scary, very dark and unfortunately deadly. With Soren as a business partner (because you need a 500 yr old vampire/jewel thief) and let us not forget her best friend Teag whose power helps keep her grounded from the energy in the objects be prepared for a wild ride into the unknown. When the battle of good and evil comes up talk about intense. You will meet many interesting characters along the way and I will never think of clocks the same again. Excited to read the other books in this series.
One of my favorite urban fantasy. paranormal mystery series.
I am a big fan of Urban Fantasy, and Deadly Curiosities is one of the best. The whole series, set in Charleston and focusing on a group of people working to keep deadly magical artifacts out of the world, is the perfect combination of fun and frightening. I’ve read the three novels and all the short stories in the series, and can’t wait for the next one!