I’ve finished reading The Blackburn & Scarletti Mysteries, Volumes I and II.
Ms. Koehler has done a very good job with the Blackburn & Scarletti Mysteries. Her character development was such that I alternately wanted to cheer on, or smack her protagonists in frustration. I often got the feeling that her protagonists felt the same way about each other.
The series starts off with a dhampir from the Vatican’s secret coven, Dorian Scarletti, and a human FBI agent, January Blackburn. They’re not unlike Mulder and Scully; indeed, reference to The X-Files is made a few times in the series. Along the way, Blackburn becomes a ghoul.
My favorite story was “Legion,” set in New Orleans. The scenery and happenings may sound hokey to a Northerner, but they really aren’t much of an exaggeration. I loved the part in which the Rev. Sonny Duvall rose from the dead, momentarily. It’s a nice twist, as well, that Blackburn and Scarletti stay in The Jackal’s home when they arrive to investigate, since the Jackal is Scarletti’s master. The Jackal also is the one who turns Blackburn into a ghoul. Blackburn ultimately saves Scarletti’s life when a demon takes residence in his body, and with the dead minister’s help, banishes Baal.
My least favorite story was “The Sign of Six.” I simply couldn’t bring myself to care about Miguel, nor to finish the story. I lost interest after the chase up the scaffolding and Miguel’s jump to his death.
“Hyde Park” was interesting. The premise is that a werewolf is on the loose in Boston, shredding people. Blackburn’s venture into Dante’s nightclub is a venture into hell. Of course, she survives, only to encounter worse things. This is the story in which she first encounters Legion.
The more I read of “The Phantom of the Soap Opera,” the more I liked it. At first, I thought it seemed, well, daytime tv-ish; soaps strike me as way too contrived and hokey. It got better very quickly, and grabbed my interest. Most of the actor characters aren’t very well developed; I’m not convinced that even Christina/Canary has much character. Other than Blackburn and Scarletti, they come across as caricatures, but as soap actors and actresses, they probably should be that way. One cut-em-up scene was really cheesy, so to speak. It was the one in which Canary slices Blackburn through the gut, and a slice of her flab folds over to hang down, like, well, cheese.
I must say this: there were an awful lot of proofreading errors. Volume II had a lot more than Volume I. The worst proofreading was in “Legion.” It was mostly the erroneous homonyms that slapped me in the face as a reader. There was one continuity error in “Phantom” that struck me when the protagonists raided Mike’s house. Scarletti cut the electric lines to the house, they entered, he decided it wise not to flip on a light, and moments later, it was mentioned that the power had been cut to the house.
That having been said, I read Ms. Koehler’s stories in order, through both volumes. None of the things I criticized stood in the way of my enjoyment of her stories, and this series. Indeed, I think her writing is getting better and better with every one. I’d buy her next B&S volume in a heartbeat.
I have always liked the series and I agree with most of your points.
I think that karen is more creative than the writers were for X-files. It is possible to take a lot more chances with a book than it is with a tv show. So karen had a lot more freedom to experiment.
Overall, i give them a nine out of ten rating.
Thanks. I’m glad the both of you enjoyed the stories, ultimately. 🙂
The characters make the books. i love Scarletti.
I also adore Scarletti. Blackburn’s pretty cool, too. Janrae is right–the characters make the series. They are like people we all know and have as personal friends–love them one minute, and want to kick them the next.
Karen, I’m sorry if it seemed as though I gave you short shrift with my mini-review. I simply didn’t have time this week, with my boss all over me like a bad rash, to give it a full-blown scholarly formal review. If you produce a Volume III, I’d willingly stand in line to buy it! You have a satisfied customer.
Don’t worry about it, Rusty. I appreciate it. Really. I’m hoping to have a new story completed within the next year.