Author: Chris Marie Green
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Jensen Murphy, Ghost For Hire #2
Mass Market Paperback, 416 pages
Publication: November 4, 2014 by Roc
Source: I received a review copy from the publisher in exchange for a honest review.
Buy|Amazon|Book Depo|
I was an ordinary eighties California girl, dead before my time, until psychic Amanda Lee Minter pulled me out of the time loop where I was reliving my death over and over. Now I’m Jensen Murphy, Ghost for Hire. I decided to put my spooky talents to use in helping Amanda Lee track down bad guys and killers (including my own).
It’s taken time to figure out exactly how that will work (our first case was definitely a learning experience for all involved), so when a young woman asks Amanda Lee for help convincing her best friend to leave a dangerously hot-tempered boyfriend, I’m ready and willing to use our collective powers on her behalf. But some people are dangerous not only to the living—especially when there are darker forces involved...
Jensen Murphy is back at work on another case in Another One Bites the Dust. Instead of a murder mystery like the first book, Jensen’s newest case involves a potential for domestic violence. Wendy Edgett’s online friend Heidi believes that her friend Nichelle’s boyfriend, Tim is one spark from exploding. Tim is so possessive and controlling to the point that Heidi thinks Nichelle’s life is in danger. Heidi has done everything she could yet Nichelle confuses possessiveness as love; so Heidi last efforts brings her to seek assistance from Amanda Lee and Jensen.
Since Tim’s case is pretty straight forward, it’s not as interesting since there’s nothing much to solve but thankfully we get some mystery with Jensen’s case which is explored deeper in this latest installment. Amanda and Jensen not only digs into Tim’s background but also into his mind using Jensen’s ghostly abilities. And what they find in his head and files all point to a seriously disturb and violent young man. And Amanda finally keeps her promise to Jensen as she actively looks into her death. Along with Jensen, readers learn of new evidences about the night Jensen was murder, and talk to those there that night in the Elfin Woods. Jensen also starts remembering bits and pieces of her murder which is as horrible as you can imagine. But every clue the duo discovers puts them one step closer to finding out who killer is.
Jensen has definitely grown in the short time since she was pulled from her time loop. She’s gotten the gist of being a ghost and everything that comes with it. Green expands on the ghost abilities with Jensen being able to create hallucinations that evokes a specific emotion she wants the person to feel…and in Tim’s case, who is always full of rage…a little tranquility does the trick however temporarily. And she’s kind of like a mind reader and lie detector. Jensen is able to see into people’s mind and read/see their thoughts as they’re thinking, which was how she was able to learn if people were telling the truth about her case. I really enjoyed discovering more of Boo World; what the ghosts are capable of and what happens after ghosts are called away by their wranglers (reaper). Green did a great job in building her ghost world and spinning a new take on any stereotypes or preconceived notions we might have about ghosts. Because I for one, will not look at ghosts the same way after reading this series.
I pretty much liked everything about this book, except for the romance part. For some reason, I just can’t get on board with it. You’d think with the plethora of supernaturals: vampires, faeries, and werewolves dominating fantasies and with a romance subplot…that this would be another of the same thing, except it inst. I just cannot picture a ghost in a relationship (I have an issue with Zombies too). Jensen has the hots for Gavin Edgett, whom readers met in the first book and was a murder suspect. And the thing is, I think Gavin is obsessed about Jensen too…he draws pictures of Jensen and stalks her by investigating her murder and contacting her old best friend from high school. While they’re not in a relationship, just seeing Jensen drool over Gavin and Gavin obsessing over Jensen’s case is just odd. Then there’s Fake Dean who wants Jensen, to own her because she amuses him (but obviously he has an ulterior motive). He is disguised as her high school boyfriend, and I swear he’s always trying to seduce her or something. Again, I just can’t see it and therefore it’s not believable. There were moments that I just wanted to skip over all these scenes…but then that would be a big chunk of the book.
All in all, Another One Bites the Dust was a good installment in the Jensen Murphy series. I hope we get more details about Jensen’s case in the next book, solving it would be even better! If you like ghosts, and a little mystery and suspense, then I recommend checking this series out. The books can be read as a standalone, but like all series to get full understanding on the background/characters, start with the first book, Only the Good Die Young.
No comments:
Post a Comment