Title: Deadworld
Author: J. N. Duncan
Publisher: Kensington Publishing
Publication Date: 1st April 2011
Pages: 352
Format: E-Book - EPUB
Genre: Paranormal/UF
Source: Free from Kobo
She's as tough as anything haunting Chicago's streets. But to deal with an inhuman power that won't stay buried, this FBI agent needs help that comes at an immortal price...
Jackie Rutledge has seen her share of supernatural killers. But her latest murder case is what recurring nightmares are made of. Brutally exsanguinated human victims, vanishing-into-the-ether evidence, and a city on the edge of panic mean that she and her psychic partner, Laurel, are going to need more than just backup ...
So Jackie is fine with any help rugged P.I. Nick Anderson can give--even if that includes the impish ghost and sexy vampire who make up his team. But Nick is hiding secrets of his own. And Jackie's investigation has plunged them both into a vengeful game reaching back centuries--and up against a malevolent force hungry for more than just victory... (Goodreads Synopsis)
This was another of the books I got for free from Kobo some time ago. The blurb sounded really interesting and I thought it would be an entertaining tale. Sadly I was somewhat disappointed.
The story idea is great: I liked the suggestion of Deadworld and the concept of a vampire feud going back over a hundred years. This could have been a great read, but it just never came together for me. The characters were so cliched at times that I couldn't take them seriously and, more importantly, I never believed in it. Now, I know this is fantasy, but if it's done well, it should feel like it could be real.
My main problem was the ease with which the FBI accepted the ghosts and vampires. Sure Laurel can sense ghosts, and we are told the FBI team are used to this from her. But the sudden appearance of vampires makes them do no more than shrug and carry on regardless. It just didn't sit right with me.
Up until the last 50 pages or so, I was bordering on the thought of having to give this just one star, but I upped my estimation to two because I did find the ending enjoyable. The way the 'fight' at the end plays out is imaginative and actually fairly poignant. And, although I hadn't cared much for the characters up till that point, I did shed a little tear.
The clever ending was this book's saving grace, but I doubt it is enough for me to want to read more from the series or to pick this one up for a second read through.
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