Somehow, knowledge of the existence of Justin Gustainis’ MORRIS/CHASTAIN INVESTIGATION series — beginning with 2007’s BLACK MAGIC WOMAN — has eluded me. Obviously, this has been duly corrected with the release of the second book, EVIL WAYS.
Quincey Morris is an investigator of the occult, along with his partner, bisexual white witch (how’s that for a line on a résumé?) Libby Chastain. If the premise already sounds like Jim Butcher’s DRESDEN FILES, it’s certainly no accident, but brace yourself: This one novel is markedly better than any of Butcher’s I’ve ever read.
When EVIL WAYS opens, FBI Special Agent Fenton visits Morris and tells him a serial killer is on the loose who removes organs from children while they’re still alive. Because it’s thought the parts are taken for their kinetic energy to use in Satanic rituals, Fenton guilts Morris into helping the FBI track down the killer.
So as Morris and Chastain — who’s having her own problems being pursued by people trying to kill her, which she prevents by casting devious spells — pursue their own investigation, so do Fenton and his partner, who’s also a witch. The hunt involves only-in-fantasy elements like dry ice and white feathers, and Morris even tries to seek the advice of a certain Chicago wizard named Harry Dresden.
The dual detective-work storylines make EVIL WAYS rather unique, and so does Gustainis’ decision to let us see what’s going on with bad-guy billionaire Walter Grobius, who paid millions to have a team extract a book from Iraq — and not just any book, but THE BOOK OF SHADOWS, reputed to be written by the author of THE NECRONOMICON.
Gustainis can write; pacing is not a problem for the novel, which moves smoothly with little stumbling blocks. When about the biggest problem with it is the author’s repeated use of “podner” instead of “pardner” as dialect, you can call it a rousing success for the fantasy/mystery mash-up genre. A late chapter is time-coded, which ratchets up already palpable tension; dialogue throughout is strong, as is the non-spoken narrative, which drips with amusing wit — example: “‘Oh, yes,’ he said, in the voice a man might use after fantastic sex.”
Oh, yes, indeed. Harry who? —Rod Lott
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m no fan of the Dresden books and all the knock offs that have followed in its success, but I liked the cover to Black Magic Woman so I thought I’d give it a go. Glad I did. Of all the fantasy/horror detective books flooding the market right now this is by far the best stuff out there.
Better then Dresden? NEVER! I’ll check out the series to see if you are blowing smoke, but I’m going in biased. I have a hard time believing this is so much better than Butcher’s work.
Ooo, Justin’s new one is out? I must hie me to the bookstore and get it.
Justin knows his stuff. By all means, read him.
Jim
Mr Lott, your review just gained in credibility! I’ll start the series this weekend. Thanks for the heads-up, Mr. Butcher. Big fan!
Rod:
I very pleased you enjoyed EVIL WAYS. Thanks for a great review!
But — me, better than Jim Butcher? No how, no way. Jim’s my hero, and has been for years. He’s been incredibly generous to me since the start of my career, and if I can ever, someday, be half the writer he is, I’ll be one happy literary camper.