| Title | : | Dance with the Devil (Dance with the Devil, #1) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1620047519 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781620047514 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | ebook |
| Number of Pages | : | 204 |
| Publication | : | First published January 27, 2009 |
But the people he hunts and the mysteries he solves take him along unusual paths, many of them dangerous. Chris has never been a fan of running from a fight—even the fight that takes him to the door of the most dangerous man in the city.
Dance with the Devil (Dance with the Devil, #1) Reviews
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Dislike.
The structure robbed the romance of tension, but even more eyeball-hostile to me was the writing.
It was dull, and repetitious, with many errors, and cliches, and unfunny puns, and long chunks of infodumpy background on the very large array of paranormals.
In other words: I can see the overall appeal, but the macro problems with plot, style, and tone were compounded by painful lapses in micro, sentence-level execution.
Not much fun for someone like me, then. -
I liked grouchy Chris and amusing Sable, and the concept of the basic story was intriguing. Derr was imaginative with the short stories, but it wasn't what I was expecting, and I wasn't a fan of the stories told out of order. I get some of the reasoning but it hurt the enjoyment some.
There were also a few holes that bugged me. Semi-spoilish, but if consorts are so important and they know 'right away when they first set eyes on a person', why did Sable
There could have been more steam too, but I think the short story interruptions was a small part of that. Had a lot more potential for on-page sizzle than what ended up happening.
Overall glad I read it - was hard to put down and I couldn't wait to see what happened while reading it. The format was creative but not my favorite, and based on a few nuances I wrote above, can only give a 'good' rating instead of a great one. Looks like the rest of the series focuses on other characters as the mains, and not sure about the anthology format for those.
If it helps, the second story is the one where the two first meet. -
4.1 stars
Megan Derr is one of those prolific authors that everyone else read (and love) -- which is part of the reasons I'm a bit weary to try hers. I have a tendency to not be part of the in-crowd *grin*. BUT ... I'm glad that I give this series a try. Must personally thank my friends, Cleon and Lada, for the push towards her stories.
I know that I will not read all in this series (since one of the titles is said to have a polyamori relationship *shudders*), however, this one is REALLY good. Chris White -- the half-ghost, paranormal detective, and Demon Lord's consort -- is adorable, especially when he's grumpy. Doug, his imp partner at the detective agency, is also likeable with one heartbreaking phase in his past. Sable, the Demon Lord, is annoyingly romantic for a demon.
This is actually a collection of cases (short stories); the way it is structured, it starts with a case in the present, and then a case in the past. Usually, it gets confusing -- but somehow it works here (although I admit, I was "warned" by reading other reviews first).
Sable's repetitive terms of endearment in calling Chris "beautiful" should've annoyed me to no end, but again, somehow it doesn't. Maybe because Chris is annoyed by it also, and he's just so cute when he's angry, so I keep wanting Sable to do it to Chris.
I can't even choose which story is my favorite. I love them all -- though I must say I love the past stories slightly better. I can't help it, I love to read about Chris's first meeting with Sable, Chris's first dance with Sable, Chris's story with Doug ... ALTHOUGH, the present story relates to Doug and the vampire, Zach, is lovely too. Oh, okay, I love 'em all!!
I have a couple of niggles though. The mystery part, in all cases, are pretty 'weak'. Like it is solved reall quickly? Then again, it is not really a mystery/thriller. Another one is there is no story where Chris tells Sable "I love you" for the first time. I feel robbed of that moment :).
Overall, lovely collection... -
Hmmm, weird. I did not enjoy that book, and yet I think I'd like to read the next one. It was like a spoonful of an unfamiliar food, which you want to repeat before you're completely sure you don't care for it.
I didn't like the structure of the book, with alternating chapters in the present and the past. This wasn't because it was confusing, but rather because I then knew from the beginning how the MC's ship would pan out i.e. not even a hint of sexual tension. I didn't like the 'mysteries', which felt disjointed and uninteresting. There wasn't enough angst or sex or romance in the MC's relationship: was this the most bland ship I've ever read?
The whole thing made me feel really uncomfortable and unsettled, yet there's nothing inherently wrong with the book: I guess it's just not for me. -
3.5 Stars
Review:
*I received an ecopy of this book from the publisher. This has not influenced my review.*
This was a light, easy-to-read urban fantasy, just as the other books in this series have been (I started with Books 5 and 6), and I do mean that as a compliment. The writing was clear. The plot was uncomplicated. The characters were easy to like. It was just what I was looking for, something that would be enjoyable and that I'd be able to get immersed in despite my difficulty concentrating at the time.
That being said, the way the plot jumped in time between two storylines (past and present) confused me at first. I didn't pay attention to the case numbers that headed the chapters, so I didn't realize we had jumped into the past the first time and couldn't understand why the MC was suddenly acting like his lover was a stranger and why he said he'd never been in the casino even though he was just there when the book opened. Oops lol. Once I realized though, I ended up liking the way it jumped in time. It worked.
The plot was also unusual in that there was no single focus to it. The main character, Chris, was a detective, so we got to see him solving a few cases. We got to see the past when he first met his demon lover and his friend/business partner Doug. There were also chapters from Doug's POV because had his own romance subplot. There were a couple parts from Phil's POV too, though I'm not sure what the point of that was, to be honest. And then the climax was just about a case in the present. But just like I didn't mind the jumping around, I didn't really mind the lack of singular focus either because it was all interesting and fun to read about.
As for the characters, they were so likeable! Chris was grumpy but good-hearted. Doug was good-natured. Sable was irresistible and surprisingly kind for a demon. This would've been a great group to have a whole series about, but alas, it's just this book since the rest of the series is about different characters.
I also liked the idea of a half-ghost/half-human and a storm demon. We should have more of those in books.
Overall, this was an enjoyable, uncomplicated, fluffy read with easily likeable characters!
Recommended For:
Anyone who likes M/M, paranormal/urban fantasy, likeable characters, and detective work.
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
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Initial Thoughts:
Easy-to-read urban fantasy with likeable characters! Full review soon. -
I'm pretty sure that Megan Derr sprinkles her books with "perlimpinpin" powder. It took me some time to get into the story,I wasn't thrilled by the romance(s), didn't particularly fall in love with the characters and the cases were not captivating but when I closed the book, my overall feeling was that I liked it. "Perlimpinpin" powder, I tell you!
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This was fantastic, I liked everything.
First of all, the structure. The story is told in episodes, following the cases of Chris' paranormal detective agency. The cases are not presented in chronological order, so we meet the characters at different stages of their lives, knowing less or more about them case after case. Sometimes it puzzles us, sometimes it makes us more curious, but we keep wanting more.
Second, the characters. Chris is the protagonist. He is half ghost, his dad is a ghost tied to his house, his mother is a witch who had to use black magic to conceive Chris. His partner in the agency is Doug, an imp, who can use powerful magic, but he's also gentle and a little bit insecure, since imps are considered like slaves in their world. Sable Brennus, the demon lord, is dark, powerful and sexy, and when Chris and Sable meet, sparkles fly. Then there's Phil, a new detective in the agency, and Zach, a fascinating vampire. There is not only Chris' point-of-view, but there are also the POV's of other characters, and page after page we are invested in their own stories. Chris and Sable's romance is very sexy, because Chris is proud, he comes from the poorest part of town, and being a half-demon, he had to endure a lot of bullying when he was a child. He is also generous and idealistic. Sable is possessive, powerful, but he's smitten with Chris, who can bring out his more playful side.
Third, the world building. As I said before, there are a lot of creatures, each with their rules and history. In few strokes the author can paint a whole species, without needing a lot of info dumping. The cases often deal with magical books and I adore these kinds of stories. Also the richness of the world gives a lot of opportunity to devise new stories. I could read them for days.
The mix of fantasy, romance, mystery is winning. Recommended! -
"I think it safe to say that you are my consort, beloved. Two people so hopelessly stupid about each other must be meant to be."
chris was so angrily in love with sable and i was here for it 😂 -
Reads a little weird, not at all in chronoLOGICAL order...but, oh by golly' it's frustratedly good! Okay, this is what I felt like when I started reading~
Frustrating, Yet Fun!
WHAT WAS FRUSTRATING & WHAT WAS FUN
☂Frustrating~The book was told via cases , and was not in chronological order.
☂Fun~ Chris and Sabin personalities , gosh, I love those storm eyes!
☂Fun~ cases were different and very interesting.
☂Fun~ The side character's Doug, Rita and the Red Fairy/Pixie pure sweetness and lots of fun!
Gosh, Really I Liked it ! -
In a genre literally saturated with Gay Paranormal Investigators, this book stands a head and shoulders above most of the other, similar stuff I'v read. It's funny and compelling, and the cast of characters is seriously great. Told in a series of brief vignettes which are not in chronological order, the non-linearity is pretty cool and lends a kind of freshness to the story. The touchy-feely romance is a bit overdone, so minus a half-star for that, but it's not so overwhelming that I enjoyed the story any less because of it. What I'd really like to know, though, is why is this not a TV show yet?
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4.0 Stars
This was an engrossing novel set in a world of demons, ghosts, imps, goblins, witches, werewolves, and vampires. Chris White is a paranormal detective who fearlessly investigates this supernatural world. A product of the Woods – the poorer district of the city – he and his partner, Doug, are dedicated to helping the underprivileged.
This story is not laid out in chronological order but rather pieced together through a sampling of the cases Chris and Doug have solved. First off, Megan Derr dives right in to the world. No set up or intro. Just bam! … and there you are. Couple this with the lack of chronology and, in the beginning, things are confusing. But, I was never truly lost. Rather, Derr unfolds her tale by doling out cases like puzzle pieces. The overall effect is a wonderful story that comes together like a jigsaw.
I especially loved reading about Doug and Zach's story ... so sad but really sweet!
Bottom line: An incredibly entertaining read with one really HAWT demon lord. Recommended! -
*2.5 stars rounded to 3*
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3.5 Stars
So fun! We follow Chris White, a paranormal investigator through his world of demons, ghosts, witches, vampires, goblins, and many more "abnormals". The structure of the book was unique in that it's written as a collection of cases in which each one is presented in non-chronological order. I thought this would dampen the characterization and the relationships but I still felt the tension and the build-up. It created more questions that had me excited to find the answers to. We have no idea how any of the characters met or why they are together. It was an interesting way to get to the answers. With each case we get a little more information. A drawback for me was that even though we get the answers to the questions, there were huge gaps in time and I wanted to know more about what the characters were feeling and doing during this time.
The mysteries/cases were weak but the world was well developed. You weren't inundated with facts, it was just laid out chapter by chapter as the characters became more developed. I actually wanted more details about the abnormals. I think because there was so many, the details were lacking. Hopefully, we'll learn more as he series progresses. All the characters were strong and had their own voice, including all the side characters. It was fun ensemble. The only character I had a problem with was Phil. She was whiny and clingy.
Note: there were a lot of typos.
This is a world I will definitely be re-visiting soon. -
Chris is a paranormal detective. His mother is a black magic witch and his dad is a ghost which gives him unique talents. His side kick is an Imp named Doug. Together they work on cases for the paranormal community that they live it. Chris is also the consort of a demon lord.
I wasn't sure about this for about the first 30% due to how the story is told. It's done in a series of case file clips. Each chapter is a case that they have previously worked. They are not presented to us in chronological order and at first the flow bothered me. After I got used to it and got to know the characters I decided that it didn't bother me after all and I found myself enjoying it. I will definitely be reading the next in the series. -
A fun read! This is a series of shorts told as detective cases. Really cute.
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Great narration!
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Very fun paranormal mystery about Detective Chris White and the many cases that take him across the city to help other “abnormals” in need, including werewolves, vampires, goblins, and even a lusty demon lord (who becomes very invested in Chris.)
The book is broken up into nine “cases” that stretch over several years. The cases are told out-of-order though, which may sound confusing, but was actually a lot of fun, as you start “at the present” and then shoot back to the past to earlier cases, like one where Chris meets his imp detective partner, or another where his client is an exasperating, handsy, demanding demon that won’t leave him alone (and one he can’t seem to stop thinking about.) Then it shoots back to way later, where things are established and warm, but you shoot back in time again to see how things reached that point.
I found the mixed-up timeline playful and interesting, even though sometimes I had to make a mental checklist of which character had already been introduced.
My only wish was that I kind of wanted to see Sable at full-power to see what that might be like. That, and Chris is extremely capable, which was a nice change of pace (no wilting flowers here), but I wouldn’t have minded seeing him slightly more vulnerable on a case, just to heighten tension more.
Sable is a very pushy alpha. In some ways I found his intense devotion sweet, but if this was an m/f romance, I would have hated his character and how he never took “no, back off” for an answer during some of the early cases.
That aside, I still really had fun reading this, and I recommend it to anyone who likes paranormal stories and mysteries. The format was fun, the characters were super appealing, and the writing was very imaginative. I definitely look forward to checking out more in the
Dance with the Devil series.
(I also think this would make a smashing TV show, especially with its many colorful characters and all the different cases.) -
I have a new favorite couple: Chris White and Sable Brennus. It's amazing how these two play off each other, each having a personality you'd likely want to attribute to the other. They are so perfect together.
Demon lord Sable is so calm, easygoing, and spoils Chris rotten, totally smitten from their first meeting, from the first time he called Chris "Beautiful". Despite his rags to riches story line, Chris remains...well...Chris, cynical, snarky, and willing to tell the city's most powerful man to shut up. However, he deeply loves Sable, and I really love how the author was able to keep him in character even as he gave his heart.
The story is oddly told, in a series of cases, as Chris is a private investigator in a paranormal world. Though he tries to come across as hardened and sarcastic, Chris can't help being softhearted toward those in need. Through these cases, we meet an amazing cast of characters, from spoiled rich girl Phil (love the pet pixie!), to Doug, an imp who captured my heart, to sorcerers, witches, ghost dads, goblins, and many more. At first the way the cases were laid out threw me, because one might be in their present day, then the next from years ago, but as I absorbed the story, I was impressed by the creativity, as I am with all Megan Derr stories. The end result is that, now finally having the whole series of events, I'm going to listen to this book again with the full knowledge of how the relationships end up. Yes, sigh. Doug got his happy too. I'd hoped for Phil to find someone, but don't think anyone could adore her as much as the pixie she saves and takes home.
I enjoyed this work as an audio book, and the narrator did a perfect job of capturing the characters, Sable, Chris, and Doug in particular.
It seems the next installment stars different characters, and that's cool, but here's hoping for another glimpse of the Dance With the Devil #1 gang. -
✮4.5 Stars✮💗
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ok read would have been better if we learned how the 2 main characters got together in the first place
but there already together from beginning so 3* from me :-) -
Not just a detective story...
but a supernatural detective story! Yes, you WILL love it if you want a book with suspense and cases to be solved, and also adore supernatural creatures, such as vampires, werewolves, ghosts, imps, goblins, demons etc!
The cases
First I WILL not spoil ANYTHING. You must read, and slowing (as a detective) get the clues and know more about the narrators. The book will start and end with Chris as narrator, but it will have also Doug and Phil's POVs. Who are they? CAN'T tell you! Seriously, you must read to know! If I even say WHAT is Chris (it will be obvious he is not human) I can ruin your fun! So NO! Will not tell it...
What I have to say is keep an eye on the case number. Chapter are named as cases numbers (how cool is that? YEAH I know!) and of course each is one story, and... IF THE NUMBER IS bellow 503 it's a flashback! So while reading check careful the case number.
I love ALL cases, and narrators, but if I have to named one I must say Case # 76. It's romantic, but I was SOOOOO curious about the romance between Chris and a Demon (can't named him, you must finish the first chapter to know who is he)! That chapter told me how things get how it was in the present time of the story.
While, as a suspense, I must say Case #532 and #709 (Bad blood, part one and two). It's a GREAT story, and I really was catch by surprise! LOVE IT!
The narrators
Of course, all are detectives, PI, trying to solve mysteries. Clients will arrive and Chris, Doug or Phil will be your eyes and mind.
It's mesmerizing... From a total of 10 cases (chapters) Chris was the narrator of 7, Phil just one, and Doug's point of view were 2 cases. I can't pick the best narrator! Of course Chris is the owner of the PI agency, and will be the most interesting narrator, but you can't decide if he is the best narrator... I loved Phil's humor and Doug's sadness and sense of honor. How can I pick one, just ONE as the best narrator of the book? SO yeah, NO, I can't do it.. I must say ALL were perfect to show me the paranormal world, and make me bite my nails to discover the mystery of the cases.
My final comment?
I loved it! All cases, all narrators, all magic creatures!
I MUST read more and I WILL read all books of this series! How can I stop now? So many cases to be solved... and I NEED to read more about that fantastic world, with so many amazing supernatural creatures.
5 stars -
So, this was interesting. I loved the world-building with it's intrigue, clans and supernatural creatures (Chris is half-ghost which is original!) as well as the paranormal detective angle...but hopping back in forth in time was a bit confusing, especially since I listened to this one and it was hard to tell when the scene was a flashback until well into the action. Also, while I liked having the short excerpts from the side characters' PsOV, it threw me off a bit; that said, I loved Doug's story...and wish he'd had his own installment instead of weaving it into this one.
I decided a while back that I would read/listen to these in chronological order (I'm weird like that) rather than the recommended reading order and I don't think it was a mistake (yet). The world-building was rich and complete, the story stood on it's own and there was nothing more than a passing mention of the characters/arc in Book 3 (
Midnight) which is set in the past. (But seems to have been published around the same time as Book 1 so confusion, right?) I think I'll go ahead and keep going in chrono order unless it looks like I'm missing out on something...which I doubt will be an issue because, while MD's books can sometimes be hit or miss for me - usually for character driven reasons when I'm Not Impressed - I can never complain about the 'verses she creates.
(Also, I read this because it was on a list for interesting/unusual jobs for a BINGO round and it was also chosen for me ages ago in a PIFM challenge - that I never got around to completing - so twofer! YAY! Not sure how PI qualifies, but...whatever.) -
5 star must read!
This is one of my favorite books that I have read in awhile. There are so many great things about this book - where to start? Let's start with the format. I was a bit confused at first because this book contains various Case Files from Christian White's Paranormal Detective Agency. That wasn't the confusing part - In fact I thought it was quite clever - the confusing part is that the cases are not chronological. When I was reading the first case file I actually stopped reading and looked up the series in Goodreads again to make sure I wasn't reading it out of order. Once I realized that it was actually the cases that were out of order, I was no longer confused and I really enjoyed the quirkiness of the book structure which became one of my favorite features.
I absolutely love these characters. Okay, Chris is a little cranky and likes to yell a lot, but his super hot alpha male Demon Lover sure keeps him happy. Each of the cases were contained with separate "chapters" and they were very interesting. Each case contributed to the world building as well as introduced great secondary characters.
The overall premise was exciting. This is a world of normals (humans) and abnormals - everyone else. Chris is an abnormal but I won't give away what type he is - let's just say he's one of a kind.
I definitely highly recommend this book and it made me jump right into the next book in the series (which I loved just as much). -
FIRST RE-READ 16 September 2016
Because a new book in the series was just released, I figured I'd take advantage of the encouragement and re-read the whole series.
And this was lovely to return to. I still just completely adore all of the characters, and love how fleshed-out even the secondary characters are.
I also still thoroughly enjoyed the format. Each case helped develop the story and made it feel fast-paced and exciting, while giving opportunity to introduce us to each character without any huge info-dumps. Wonderfully great fun!
Favorite Quote:
What sort of crazy bastard brought a dragon to a lovers' quarrel?
ORIGINAL REVIEW 1 March 2012
I loved the format of this book. Introducing us to the characters through the different cases, hopping back and forth in the timeline, was just absolutely fascinating. So much fun to read.
I think the thing that helped make it extra fascinating was getting to see all of the powers that Chris got from Sable being put to use in the first case, and then getting to go back and experience their acquisition with him.
And I love all of the characters. Sable couldn't be more perfect for Chris. And Doug is just the sweetest guy ever!
Yet again, Megan Derr amazes me. -
Again Megan Derr just drew me in and kept me captivated till the end.
Chris and Sable are firm favorites of mine. The banter that takes place in Chris' head was delightful, but the possessive demon side to Sable had me melting.
Doug made these tales complete. Learning how he and Chris met broke my heart and watching him and Zach made it whole again, although not without a little upset first.
The little mystery’s worked well for me, but the main focus for me was the characters and the emotional rides they took me on.
While each story alone is very brief, the fact they are all interlocked makes them seem much longer.
ETA Oh how I wish there were more like this. I had forgotten how damn cute Sable and Chris were lol
ETA See above -
So this book is told in case files which are like short snippets of the MC's lives as well as the mysteries that the Detectives Chris and Doug solved. You also see how they met along with how they met their partners. This is not told in chronological order which made it a little harder to put things in order while reading but you have a good foundation by the end of the book. I will be continuing this series as I want to see what happens with side character Phil as well as continuing to see Chris and Sable's antics.
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Audio Review
4 stars
I enjoyed the use of the cases to tell the stories of how each character met and how they formed the bonds that were created
the narrator a great job of this one.
I'll admit the start of this book confused me to no end, the way the chapters worked with each one being a different case and jumping back and forth between past and present, took some getting used to. But by the end of this book I was well and truly captured in this world Megan Derr has created.
Looking forward to the next in the series -
3.5 Stars. Unlike many reviewers, I loved the patchwork style of this novel and how each story or vignette connected with the other regardless of chronology.
There was a lot of activity in this book, which I liked, but perhaps to the detriment of the complexity of the characters.
I liked the MCs, but didn’t truly feel the heat between them. My favorite of all the MCs was Doug and wish we could have seem more of him and Zach. -
wow - astonishingly bad. I have no idea what people could find to like about it (harsh I know, but there it is). Ridiculous characters, silly plots, and slow pacing.
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Review posted on
World of Diversity Fiction
What a great novel vampires, demons, imps, ghosts, and witches almost every type of paranormal being is here. This story was different and fun. The different is in the way the story is structured, every chapter is a case on its own and not always in chronological order but somehow Megan Derr made this story flow. It took a couple of chapters to get into the groove but once I was comfortable with it this was a great read.
Chris owns and runs a paranormal detective agency, he’s a product of a black witch and a ghost with the ability to become transparent and walk through walls. His co-worker Doug is an Imp with powerful magic but poor Doug is a little bit insecure, Imps are what we would call lower class, they are usually someone’s slave. Phil is an ‘almost detective’ we don’t get to see her as much as I would have liked. She’s a victim in one of the early cases and after her case is solved she starts working at the agency. Phil is desperate to become part of the detective team but she’s young and doesn’t have complete grasp of her magic so Chris is hesitant to use her in the field but like all strong minded women does she listen....no....so when a case falls in her lap she takes it, what could go wrong? Phil has a very sweet soul and she tries hard to please, I loved her I just wish we could have seen a bit more of her. Zach is a vampire we first meet him when he hires the agency to find his lover that’s gone missing. Doug takes the case on and while working together to find his lover Zach and Doug find themselves attracted to each other. One very strong secondary character in this story is Sable, a big bad scary Demon Lord that makes everyone shake in their boots around him except Chris. He meets Chris and becomes instantly smitten much to Chris’s annoyance. I loved these two, their relationship made for some funny scenes with Chris trying desperately and failing miserably to not feel anything for Sable while Sable will try anything to win Chris over.
The romances in this story, like a few other books I have read recently, are not the focus of the story but rather a really great addition to it. Megan Derr is able to make the relationship between Sable and Chris hot and sexy without using graphic sex to convince us they are perfect for each other and Doug and Zach’s relationship is just plain sweet!
I loved the way this story was put together but I can see how some may have a hard time with it. The chapters move back and forth in time working like flashbacks and we get chapters written in different POV’s. If someone had of told me this type of story could work I’d have been sceptical but to my surprise it does. It was an easy interesting read but at the same time it made me think. I can’t wait to read the rest of this series.
I recommend this to paranormal fans.
