There’s a dangerous monster loose on the streets of Aurora, Michigan, and Detective Cal Kinsey is determined to stop it…or die trying.Two years ago, Cal Kinsey was an up-and-coming cop in the Aurora Police Department. But during a fateful nighttime stakeout in search of a prolific killer, Cal witnessed the darkest corner of his dreams come to life: a rogue vampire slaughtered his partner and … slaughtered his partner and introduced Cal to the supernatural world he never knew existed in the shadows.
Now, Cal is a newly minted detective at the often mocked Department of Supernatural Investigations. By day, the agents of DSI are called “Kooks” by local law enforcement. By night, they’re known as “Crows,” reviled by the supernatural underworld.
Mere weeks out of the academy, Cal catches his first real case, a vicious murder at a local college. An unknown sorcerer has summoned a powerful creature from the Eververse, a realm of magic and mayhem that borders Earth, and set it on a warpath through the city.
With the bodies piling up and the danger of public exposure growing critical, Cal must find a way to stop the Eververse monster and send it back to the hell it came from…preferably before Aurora, Michigan runs out of coffins for the dead.
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I wasn’t expecting to enjoy another urban fantasy series quite this much. After reading the hundredth take on a supernatural crime fighting hero, a reader can get a bit jaded. This book reminded me why I enjoy the genre and the supernatural crime fighting tropes.
Cal is an interesting main character who isn’t afraid to admit to a few personal flaws. He is a very healthy example of how a main character is allowed to grow into a potential hero status. He also isn’t afraid to get support from his kick butt and take names teammates.
The supernatural parts of Aurora, Michigan are nicely constructed. I can easily imagine the same supernatural creatures and events popping up in the Midwest town that I grew up in.
The story took an interesting turn that I wasn’t expecting, and I appreciate how certain mythologies were blended into the story. I couldn’t get enough of Cal’s adventures, so I was reading the second book the moment I finished this one.
One of the things I liked about this book was that the author showed restraint in the romance dept. It was basically Fade to Black on the sex…we have our own imagination..easy on the language and so inventive as to characters. The writer did not fall prey to the need to over inform the reader with info that was unneeded.
I am waiting to read the next book in the series, though the characters are not detailed as in other books you want to move with them to see how they develop and what they get themselves into next. Great imagination
Loved this book.
Great ideas, way too much dialogue.
In spite of the main character’s claim to be bisexual, the only romanctic actions he put forth were to women, which is probably a minor nit pick on my part. Otherwise, the book is well written, the action smooth and almost non stop, the characters are interesting and enjoyable. However, the narrative is first person, present tense, which takes a little to get used to but she handles it well.
My only critique really is Coulson’s repeated use of colloquial cliches such as “knocked him for a loop”. It’s not a major critique as it works well enough within Cal’s folksy kind of narrative.
Good book
Haven’t finished. It has promise.
Clara Coulson was very creative with this book as well as the next four issues. She makes you fall in love with these characters to the point you hate when the book/series is over. She left no stone unturned in the way of science fiction characters and she gave each group their own motive opera. So I’m sure there will definitely be more books in the future…I hope.
I really can’t see the five star ratings that this book has received. On the pro side, after a slow start the story does have a lot of action and some unique supernatural characters. On the con side, the language style was juvenile with overdone and weird analogies and almost nonexistent character development. The author chose to tell the story through first person narration which limited a more in-depth look at some of the interesting characters. I never connected with the main character. He seemed to be a well intentioned immature bumbling idiot that somehow stumbles into success by his shear fortitude, not a well trained detective schooled in dealing with supernatural events and creatures. This book seems oriented toward a teen audience despite references to a bisexual relationship, a sexual encounter with an older woman, and a sprinkling of the “F” word throughout the text. I won’t be following this series.
I didn’t find the violence believable. Kinsey would have been DEAD, not just beat up D.E.A.D. if all that stuff had happened to him. The book reads more like video game violence where you get to bring your dead character back…just because. I just kept finding myself saying “What? No! That’s just not realistic!” And characters just seem to know things like exactly how many MPH they are going without seeing a speedometer, it must be a kind of superpower! I will not be reading book 2.
What a great ride! Interest started immediately and grew thoughout the book. Characters are completely fleshed out and sympathetic.
I love this whole series! I can;t wait till the newest one comes out
Love!love this
I read every one in this series and am awaiting the next in September! It’s one of those where you can’t turn the pages fast enough, then you’re sad when you finish the last page.
Loved the book but please re-edit it is throwing off my reading pace and is annoying your great story and characters stopped me from returning the book unread
Unique plotline
Weak self-esteem
Fun, easy read. Took a bit to really get that Cal is male…..but great character. He is young and real. Enjoyed the book and I am starting the second book in the series.
easy to read and action-packed. Enjoyed it, waiting to read the next one