Book four in the Deadly Curiosities series.Cassidy Kincaide runs Trifles & Folly in modern-day Charleston, an antiques and curio shop with a dangerous secret. Cassidy can read the history of objects by touching them, and she teams up with friends and allies who use magic and paranormal abilities to get rid of cursed objects and keep Charleston and the world safe from supernatural threats.… supernatural threats.
Caribbean ghosts terrorize Charleston and start racking up a body count. Then Beckford Pendlewood, the heir to a powerful family of dark warlocks, shows up raving about a bound demon locked in a lost box and begs sanctuary. Can Cassidy and her friends find the demon box, stop the killer ghosts, and break the Pendlewood curse before Beckford’s murderous cousins and the vengeful demon destroy them all?
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The Crew Are Back (an audio review)
I didn’t used to be a huge paranormal fan. I wouldn’t say I’m a huge one now, but I’m slowly being won over. Gail Z. Martin/Morgan Brice is a real reason for that. I normally stick to books with LGBTQ protagonists, but being a fan of Ms. Brice’s Badlands and Witchbane series, I knew I had to pick this book up because Simon, Vic, Seth, and Evan all make cameo appearances. As well, there are other gay couples quite prominent in the story, so I was more than happy to dive in.
The world Ms. Martin has created is astonishing. Ghosts, demons, supernatural spirits, witches, good versus evil – everything is all wrapped up in this package of seemingly ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Now, do I personally believe in all this stuff? Uh, no. Do I enjoy reading books written by writers with such imaginations? Yes.
On to this book. Cassidy Kincaide, Simon’s cousin, is the POV character for the entire book and that just worked for me. She’s a psychometric, still learning the full extent of her powers. Being surrounded by others with supernatural powers definitely helps. When a man approaches their group and talks about being cursed and knowing he’s destined to die, I was intrigued.
Thus began a battle to save his soul. There was mystery, there was suspense, there was a proposal at a birthday scene…a little bit of everything. And yes, my favorite characters all popped up. I enjoyed this book, and will definitely pick up more in the series.
Courtney Patterson is a new to me narrator and I really enjoyed her performance. She was just perfect for this role, as Kale Williams is for the two Morgan Brice series. Great job, can’t wait for more.
Wow just wow. This book is packed with awesome characters, crazy magical relics, lots of ghosts and demons,action galore. It keeps you on your toes and listening.
I actually liked the narration. Not often to female narrators get my attention but I’m felt each character and the voices didn’t come across cartoonish or silly.
If you can get the audio I suggest it. If not grab the book!
I love the way all of Martin’s/Brice’s worlds interweave and characters from different series show up to help characters in other books. I never know which of my favorites will appear in any book. The plots of all these stories are wonderful – creepy and mysterious, but what I really love are all the details Martin provides. You really believe that these people are researchers because you get to follow them along their research paths and make discoveries with them. Just like I love M.R. James and H.P. Lovecraft for their antiquarian characters I love Martin/Brice for theirs.
3.75 stars
“Inheritance” by Gail Z. Martin is part of the ‘Deadly Curiosities’ series that features Cassidy Kincaide of the Trifles and Follies antique and curio shop that features all kinds of intriguing items, and acts as a cover for the Alliance that specializes in disposing of the supernatural threats that are inherent in some of the objects that are brought to them. Cassidy and her friends become embroiled in an inheritance struggle that not only stirs up the resident spirits and inimical beings but threatens to destroy Charleston and most of its surroundings.
This paranormal/urban fantasy story blends a combination of legends and myths, with an emphasis on a few Caribbean entities. I am fascinated by the idea of psychometry (being able to read the history of objects by touching them) and adding the twist of feeling their magic makes things even more intriguing. I enjoyed the cameos by key figures from other stories and series and the variety of techniques that are used to combat the different foes that appear, but I almost had the feeling that this book was a blend of multiple short stories designed to introduce more and more of the members of the Alliance, tied together by the overall threat by the Pendlewood family. It also felt awkward that Sorren, Cassidy’s partner who is a powerful vampire, was absent so long in the face of such a major threat.
Despite all of this, I enjoy getting the flavor of this part of the world and learning about other cultures and belief systems. The confrontations are deliciously creepy and the maltese dog Baxter who has the “heart of a lion, body of a guinea pig” provides a bit of levity to balance some of the intensity. This is a fun series that should appeal to those who enjoy urban fantasy and things that go bump in the night.
A copy of this title was provided for review
I’m already a huge fan of this series, and this new story didn’t disappoint. I love how the author’s series are all part of one universe, so there are cameos and crossovers between the different series. This book made me very happy in that regard, especially when two characters from one of my favourite series by her alter ego Morgan Brice turn up to help out Cassidy and her friends. Their reaction when they find out about Soren was brilliant.
I love the supporting cast, and the family feeling between them. I loved the development in Teag and Anthony’s relationship, and how Cassidy and Kell are getting closer too. Father Anne totally rocks. I liked the new edition to their ‘family’ with Robert who is Chuck’s great-uncle and the former owner of Trinkets, which features in the Treasure Trail series.
This story starts out right in the thick of it with loads of action, and doesn’t let up until the final pages. I couldn’t put it down so for me it was a fast read, despite it being a decent sized book. I enjoyed the plot, and the mystery behind it, and how all the deaths they’re investigating tie together. I always appreciate that they have to do a good sized chunk of detailed research in order to defeat the supernatural threat, and calling in help from other familiar characters made me very happy. I liked the idea of a descendant stuck with a deal with something nasty they don’t want, and that’s it not that easy to get out of.
I also like that the threat is very real, and that they’re in very real danger, and that there are consequences for the battles they fight. I think it’s a cool idea having ghosts helping with the fight against the big bad, and that they are a mix of good and bad guys too. I really liked that they needed help from further afield and that it was a joint effort and that everyone had their part to play in taking down the demon.
As a side note, I’d love to read the conversation between Anthony and Vic, and would love to see Anthony and Teag have an adventure with Vic and Simon at some point. I’d like to see more of the Briggs Society too, and like that they’re starting to become more of a presence in these stories.
I also liked that, as well as the supernatural fight going on, Anthony works with Brent on the legal side of things. I enjoy seeing supernatural and the day to day side of our world, including technology, working side by side. It gives the story even more of a sense of realism and depth.
The final showdown was exciting and edge-of-seat stuff, and I had to keep reading until I knew everyone was safe. Another fabulous read from one of my favourite authors.
I’d recommend this story to readers who enjoy urban fantasy with a good serving of crossover with their series, fabulous world building, and a cast of characters who feel like family—and in this story some are family.
This fourth book in the Deadly Curiosities series by Gail Z Martin was a most entertaining and enjoyable thrill ride as the battles against evil forces, living and non-living, continue for the main characters. In this book the reader gets to have almost every character from this and other series by the author, all collected in one place, which I feel truly helped understand more of who they are and what they were each capable of doing, magical ability wise that is. It also made them feel like a family, as they fight and love together, to try and spare humanity from some of the unexplainable evils that roam. This series continues to be a fun and enjoyable thrill ride to read, as it virtually one battle after another, with just a few “love” breaks in between. I am definitely looking forward to the next books in this adventure series. This is a voluntary review of an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from Hidden Gems Books.
This was an exceptional story! Involved, well written, and absolutely enthralling! The characters are well developed and likable. I loved that no matter what type of entity they faced they had people who were experts. I really love reading these kind of books and this was one I couldn’t put down. I want to read more!
Cassidy Kincaide is part owner of Trifles & folly, an antique and curio shop in Charleston, SC. she and a group of close friends also keep people safe from supernatural threats with magic and other supernatural abilities. When Caribbean ghosts begin to terrorize the city and the body count starts to rise she enlists the aid of everyone she can to research the origin of the of the evil ghosts. Beckford Pendlewood shows up out of the blue and explains the origins of the ghosts, and the deadly artifacts being sold on the darke web. His family is cursed, their ancestor bound a demon, his cousins are willing to kill him for control of the demon, and the family fortunes.
I adore these fabulous and unique characters. Cassidy and her friends will be hard pressed to save Beckford and destroy the demon without taking out themselves. Fantastic read with lots of magic, supernatural mayhem, and many unexpected and surprising twist. I loved it!
I am voluntarily leaving an honest and non-incentivized review of this ARC.
I love these books. I also love the way they all call and keep in touch with each other. It is a way for them all to help when needed and keep an eye on each other. Also to make sure that they are within call reach if and when needed. I do love the stories. They are interesting and exciting. I hope to read very many more and to have them get together and help each other in other stories. I received a complimentary review copy of the book and I am voluntarily leaving a honest review.
I loved seeing such a different mythology being the showcase of this story; it was fun to see and learn about some of the ghostly traditions found in Barbados and the Caribbean Islands.
It was also very cool to see the ties between Cassidy, Simon, Erik, and Seth & Evan in this book. I liked that Cassidy was able to come clean to Simon about the Alliance and what they do. And that Simon was able to tell Cassidy about his Skeleton Crew. It will be interesting to see how Seth & Evan factor in since they are heading Cassidy’s way from their last book.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.