Review: Hard Magic

Hard Magic by  Laura Anne Gilman

Paranormal Scene Investigations #1 

329 Pages - Fiction, Paranormal, Adult

May 1, 2010- Luna Books

http://www.lauraannegilman.net/

Facebook: Yes 

Twitter: @LAGilman

Source: Louisville Public Library 

Purpose: Review Related 

From Goodreads: Welcome to P.U.P.I.—Private, Unaffiliated, Paranormal Investigations

A handpicked team trained to solve crimes the regular police can't touch—crimes of magic. My name's Bonnie Torres. Recent college grad, magic user and severely unemployed. Until I got a call out of nowhere to interview for a job I hadn't applied for. It smelled fishy, but the brutal truth was I needed the work—so off I went. Two days later I'm a PUPI—me and Nick, Sharon, Nifty and Pietr. Five twentysomethings, thrown into an entirely new career in forensic magic. The first job we get is a doozy: proving that the deaths of two Talents were murder, not suicide. Worse, there are high-profile people who want us to close up shop and go away. We're sniffing out things they'd rather keep buried.
Looks as if this job is gonna get interesting. The only problem is, we're making it up as we go along…

My Thoughts:I have a confession to make. I saw this book a looong time ago in Gilman's Retrievers series. But I never picked it up so I kind of forgot all about it. But then I received Dragon Justice for review, and it kind of reminded me. If you know me at all then you  know that I have to read the series in order -no matter how many books are in it.  I'm glad that I received Dragon Justice for review, pushing this series back into my memory and up to the top of the pile. Umm.. sort of. 

First using current in the place of magic is very original. (Before the Retrievers series I have not seen it used.) It brings a wild card element into everything.  It's not something that I completely understand -right now- and yet it's something so common.  It's almost the same as breathing for the characters , so they don't bother to go into the boring details.  It gives the book a nice balance of information. 

The PSI series is a spin off of the Retrievers series, and it begins with the creation of PUPI -Private Unaffiliated  Paranormal Investigations. This is a current using forensic team  that involves crimes against Talent by Talent. How awesome sounding is that?! It's purpose is to collect evidence and report it, the key being finding without bias. It's new and it steps on tradition. Which means I really liked this book. Five strangers answer the summons for a job  that they'd be perfect for. Each person comes for their own reason and they have their own strengths. Yet, they soon discover that the job is more than what they had expected  and they truly are the right people for the job (for very different, individual reasons).  Despite -or because of- the various personalities  they become a cohesive team rather quickly. 

This is  a combination of their first case and their training, but it's still action - packed  and with bits of humor. Though other people are involved and have their own importance, this is really Bonita Torres' story. I really enjoyed seeing this world through her eyes. She's a very likable character. This was a great beginning to the series.  And I am definitely looking forward to reading the next installment. 

What's Next? Pack of Lies

3 Stars ***

Always Shine, 

Starr K

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