Book Review: Dead Witch Walking

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

[5 stars]

Dead Witch Walking Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Kim Harrison
Class/Genre: Fantasy Mystery Vampire Woman Main Character Paranormal
Series: Rachel Morgan # 1
Harper, April 2004, $6.99, 432 pp.

On an alternate Earth a bioengineered weapon escaped from a lab, spread around the world killing off a quarter of the world’s population. Beings of myth and legend known as Inderlanders because they were immune to the disease held civilization together until the germ died out. Local enforcement was dissolved and the Federal Inderland Bureau was formed to monitor the actions of the Inderlanders. The I.S. was created by out of work Inderlander law enforcement officials to police the supernatural beings.

Rachel works for the I.S. but every case she is sent out on results in failure. She knows her boss Denon hates her so she decides to quit and go freelance. Her friend Ivy, a live vampire, also quits much to Demon’s dismay and he calls for Rachel to be assassinated for luring Ivy away.. The earth witch is no match for the creatures he sends against her so she decides to find the evidence that will convict Congressman Trent Kalanack for trafficking in Brimstone. If she is successful her contract with the IS is nullified and she is a free woman but Rachel almost gets killed in her attempts to expose the congressman.

Fans of Laurell K. Hamilton and Tonya Huff and Charlaine Harris are going to love DEAD WITCH WALKING, a supernatural action adventure novel set in what feels like a fantasy realm. The gutsy and honorable heroine goes through a lot of perilous adventures to gain her freedom, but uses her earth magic powers as a defensive weapon that won’t permanently injure or kill those attacking her. Kim Harrison has the magic touch to enchant her audience with her storytelling while placing a spell that requires reading future books in this series.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner