Review - Vicious Circle

Vicious Circle
By Linda Robertson
Publisher: Pocket Books
Pub. Date: June 30, 2009
ISBN: 978-1439154281
ASIN: B002CT0TS0
Pages: 384

Review:  

I had a limited knowledge of what fantasy/paranormal books were out in the market. I grew up reading a few Anne Rice books and I was addicted to the Buffy the Vampire Slayer tie-in novels, but I only began reading paranormal a few years ago starting with the Southern Vampire Mysteries. When Pocket Books offered me to review the Persephone Alcmedi series by Linda Robertson, I eagerly accepted.

Vampires, werewolves, faeries and witches have already been outed out in Vicious Circle. The main heroine is Persephone Alcmedi (or as her friends call her, Seph), whom pays her bills by writing a syndicated newspaper column under an alias, reading Tarot cards, and running a werewolves' kenneling service in her basement on full moons. Her life is busy and it becomes even busier when her Nana moves in with her. Oh, I forgot to mention that she also practices witchcraft.

In this world, vampires are the higher ups in society, faeries keep to themselves and werewolves are treated as second class, which is one of the reasons Persephone has taken an interest in helping them.

A while back Seph had helped a werewolf, Lorrie, get away from a stalker. Lorrie had recently been murdered and since she was a werewolf, the police will most likely not investigates it. Out of the blue, Vivian, a high priestess, asks Lorrie to track down the killer and get rid of him/she for good in exchange for a hefty sum of cash. She accepts the offer, but soon realizes that a powerful vampire, Goliath Kline, is involved with the killing.

Yes, the whole vampires and werewolves coming of the closet plot have been done to death, but it is very popular, so I understand why the author chose to use it. I have to admit that I instantly liked Persephone as she is just an average woman trying to make a living and take care of her Nana, except for the fact that she is a witch and most of her friends are werewolves. One of those friends happens to be a motorcycle-riding werewolf named Johnny, who wants to be more than friends with her. Persephone never had feeling for the guy, but as he helps her find Lorrie's killer, sparks fly. Unlike most books in the genre, there are no gratuitous sex scenes. Vicious Circle is a well written fantasy mystery with likeable characters. Overall, I more than enjoyed reading Vicious Circle and I plan on reading the next book in the series.

Note: I received Vicious Circle free of charge from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.