Midnight Reflections
by Katrina Michaels
pub: April 2009
288 pages
Giveaway ALERT! If you've already entered the contest, a comment on this post (within 5 days of post date) gets you 2 extra entries in our MegaBook Giveaway. If you haven't entered yet, go to the contest post (or click on the contest link on the upper right sidebar) to learn about the giveaway and enter! Good luck!
All Tara Daston Wanted was a fun night out clubbing. But fun nights don’t normally include dying and waking three days later as one of the undead. Her best efforts to adapt to the new and bizarre life are complicated when a friend is killed by a creature neither vampire nor lycan. As more killings happen, Tara is drawn into the investigation where she meets Tom Duncan, the lead agent of the Preternatural Investigation Agency (PIA). Despite his resistance to her input, Tara refuses to back off, partly because she’s involved but also because he treats like a five year old and she enjoys riling him, and because they are both vampires. Once the killer takes a personal interest in her, Tara is forced to work with Tom and the entire agency to catch this cunning and brutal killer before he claims another victim, possibly her.
Midnight Reflections takes place in our current world…sort of. Everything is pretty much the same except for the fact that supernatural beings are an accepted norm. So when Tara is near death’s door after a violent moment with her boyfriend outside a bar full of vampires, it’s not unheard of for her to be turned into the living dead. Alexander becomes her ‘sire’ and she becomes his ‘childe.’ (That’s the spelling due to Alexander’s ancient age.)
She’s an orphan and he becomes a father figure who shows her the ropes of learning how to live her new undead life. We go through this transition time which slows things down but then the story picks up as the killings start. More action equals more interesting to me. I could have done without so much background of her acclimating to her new life.
While Midnight Reflections has plenty of supernatural creatures, it is first and foremost a murder mystery. Think of it as a preternatural CSI. The PIA team that investigates the serial murders (by some sort of shifter) is made up of ‘special’ members. The leader, Tom, is a former police detective who started PIA after he was turned into a vampire. The rest of the group includes an empath, a werewolf, a pyrokinetic (she set fire to a guy who was trying to assault her) and a warlock for that magical touch.
The characters have their unique personalities and use a combination of their special skills as well as the usual science to analyze evidence and solve cases. Tara gets forced into the group when she sticks her nose into the case and the killer takes an unhealthy interest in her. The group is believable and the network of clues follows a logical path. Enough red herrings keep the reader guessing until the end.
The relationships within the team work well and Tara integrates nicely. She and Tom have a bit of a spark but no real romance is developed between them. They’re too busy trying to catch the bad guy but we are left with the impression that their relationship will bloom in the future.
The supernatural elements aren’t the primary aspect of the story. The plot definitely focuses its attention on being a who-dun-it murder-mystery-suspense-crime novel with supernatural elements, which spices it up and gives it an unusual twist.
Midnight Reflections is adult fiction but appropriate for older YA’s who want a creepy urban fantasy thriller. I've heard others say that it is very gorey but as an avid reader of this genre, I disagree. There’s no sex and very little cursing (and in comparison to some of the YA out there, this is easily a G-rating.) If you like CSI, you’ll enjoy this urban fantasy vampire version.
by Katrina Michaels
pub: April 2009
288 pages
Giveaway ALERT! If you've already entered the contest, a comment on this post (within 5 days of post date) gets you 2 extra entries in our MegaBook Giveaway. If you haven't entered yet, go to the contest post (or click on the contest link on the upper right sidebar) to learn about the giveaway and enter! Good luck!
All Tara Daston Wanted was a fun night out clubbing. But fun nights don’t normally include dying and waking three days later as one of the undead. Her best efforts to adapt to the new and bizarre life are complicated when a friend is killed by a creature neither vampire nor lycan. As more killings happen, Tara is drawn into the investigation where she meets Tom Duncan, the lead agent of the Preternatural Investigation Agency (PIA). Despite his resistance to her input, Tara refuses to back off, partly because she’s involved but also because he treats like a five year old and she enjoys riling him, and because they are both vampires. Once the killer takes a personal interest in her, Tara is forced to work with Tom and the entire agency to catch this cunning and brutal killer before he claims another victim, possibly her.
Midnight Reflections takes place in our current world…sort of. Everything is pretty much the same except for the fact that supernatural beings are an accepted norm. So when Tara is near death’s door after a violent moment with her boyfriend outside a bar full of vampires, it’s not unheard of for her to be turned into the living dead. Alexander becomes her ‘sire’ and she becomes his ‘childe.’ (That’s the spelling due to Alexander’s ancient age.)
She’s an orphan and he becomes a father figure who shows her the ropes of learning how to live her new undead life. We go through this transition time which slows things down but then the story picks up as the killings start. More action equals more interesting to me. I could have done without so much background of her acclimating to her new life.
While Midnight Reflections has plenty of supernatural creatures, it is first and foremost a murder mystery. Think of it as a preternatural CSI. The PIA team that investigates the serial murders (by some sort of shifter) is made up of ‘special’ members. The leader, Tom, is a former police detective who started PIA after he was turned into a vampire. The rest of the group includes an empath, a werewolf, a pyrokinetic (she set fire to a guy who was trying to assault her) and a warlock for that magical touch.
The characters have their unique personalities and use a combination of their special skills as well as the usual science to analyze evidence and solve cases. Tara gets forced into the group when she sticks her nose into the case and the killer takes an unhealthy interest in her. The group is believable and the network of clues follows a logical path. Enough red herrings keep the reader guessing until the end.
The relationships within the team work well and Tara integrates nicely. She and Tom have a bit of a spark but no real romance is developed between them. They’re too busy trying to catch the bad guy but we are left with the impression that their relationship will bloom in the future.
The supernatural elements aren’t the primary aspect of the story. The plot definitely focuses its attention on being a who-dun-it murder-mystery-suspense-crime novel with supernatural elements, which spices it up and gives it an unusual twist.
Midnight Reflections is adult fiction but appropriate for older YA’s who want a creepy urban fantasy thriller. I've heard others say that it is very gorey but as an avid reader of this genre, I disagree. There’s no sex and very little cursing (and in comparison to some of the YA out there, this is easily a G-rating.) If you like CSI, you’ll enjoy this urban fantasy vampire version.
The Cover: I like the font, colors and eerie sky but as you know I'm not a big fan of seeing the character's face on the cover, so can't say I love it. However, it does get points for the creepy factor.
We have a copy of Midnight Reflections, signed by Katrina Michaels, offered in the MegaBook Giveaway that will have 23 winners so far. Go to the contest post if you'd like to enter!
67 comments:
I haven't heard of this author before but I agree with the creapy cover.
Hate the cover and the font. It's kinda creepy...
Sounds ok.
Though not a fan of the cover, it looks strange
Alyssa, I can't believe you are up to over 300 followers.! Good for you guys!
This one looks good.
is it just me or does she look decapitated? oO;
the cover is a big turn-off for me, mostly since it looks like generic creep (and the yellow font is kind of hideous)
the title also kind of gives off a generic feel...but I guess you can't always judge a book by the cover
I probably wouldn't have even looked at this twice if there had been no review XD;
- ninefly(at)gmail.com
Hmm, I've never heard of this one. But it sounds interesting. :)
I haven't heard of this before,I must add it to my tbr list. :) thanks for the review.
Scary cover!
Great review, I agree about the cover, its a turn-off
Elie (ellz readz)
This one sounds interesting!
Ugh, very creepy cover. I don't think I'd pick up this one - too scary for me.
That cover is really, really creepy.
Yeah, I think the person ruins the cover for me. Sound interesting, but it might drive me crazy if the romance feels left hanging. Hm.
I haven't heard about this author nor the book before...
The girl in cover is scary!
I haven't heard of this book or author before, but it did sound interesting.I agree with you on the cover, it has a creepy factor for sure...
I've never heard of this author either.The cover is a little odd.But the story sounds good.
Sounds good, don't really like the cover though.
tirachii@yahoo.com
http://fantasysink.blogspot.com/
I don't like the cover either :\ But it sounds good!
I just gave you an award too. It's my newest post.
I've never heard of this book before. It looks quite interesting.
I have never heard of this book. I don't think I would pick it up if I saw it, only because the cover makes it seem cheesy and 70's ish
This one sounds really good!!
Definitely a creepy cover. I've never heard of this book, but it looks good-i love anything supernatural
Sounds interesting, but I'm not liking the cover much.
Holy 90s teen fiction-style cover, Batman!
Pity the cover quality doesn't match up to how interesting the book sounds.
Sounds good! Enjoyed the review.
Ooh the cover makes me shudder. It looks fierce! I think the plot sounds interesting...
Not sure if I should read this though.
Great cover. Sounds a fascinating book.
Definitely a creepy cover! Never heard of this book, sounds interesting though.
Looks good, interesting cover...a liitle bit crepy but interesting
I agree with some people here; I'm not a big fan of the cover of this one.
Hopefully the book is good though...
Hey Allysa, thanks for the review !
I really like to win this book since Katrina had personally informed me about her book giveaway on your blog !
i hope i win this :)
the book sounds like it is okay but that cover kinda puts me off.
Very creepy!!!!! The book itself sounds interesting.
The book sounds good. But ya...the cover....
I havent heard of this before. But it sounds good.
I'm not a huge fan of CSI but I like the supernatural- The cover isn't really what I would go for.
Seahn
I haven't read this book. However the creepy cover is what lured me to it in the first place.
Its my first time seeing this book and it sounds pretty good.
Yeah...It doesn't seem like the most well-known book out there.
Great review! I don't mind a gory book every so often - throw in some supernatural elements and a good mystery plot - sounds like a good read! I haven't heard of it before, so thanks for bringing it to light!
When picking up a book in the first place, I'm a big 'cover person' - and unfortunately this cover would have put me right off.
But, with your review, maybe I'll check it out sometime if I come across it.
They do say "Don't judge a book by its cover..."
The books sounds interesting, but the cover is weird...
The cover IS creepy...but it does sound like a good book.
As Alyssa says, it is a "creepy urban fantasy thriller." I'm fine with teh "urban fantasy" part but not so fine with the "creepy" part.
Great review, I hadn't heard of this book til now but sounds pretty interesting to me. Loved the description preternatural CSI!
Is it just me or does the woman on the cover look like Vanessa Williams?
i love the word 'creepy':)
Everything about this book just seems creepy. . .
That cover hits so many levels of "creeper status". Kinda weirding me out...but, your review really makes me want to read it. :)
I don't know about this one. Thanks for the review, you probably steered me right.
An urban fantasy vampire version of CSI, you say. Why haven't I heard of this book before? I'll have to check it out!
I get goosebumps just looking at the cover!
A CSI Vampire story? That sounds interesting!
Thanks for the review. Not a fan of the cover at all. I have this book on my wish list, since it does sound pretty interesting :o)
-Lisa
alifeboundbybooks(at)hotmail(.)com
The preternatural mystery squad sounds bit like Soulless, but modern. I'm not really much for murder mysteries myself, but this might be enteresting.
I'm glad the supernatural takes a lesser role in this one. It sounds great!
I LOVE murder mysteries, but mixing it with the supernatural is awesome! I can't wait for this one!
I'm not sure why but I'm not crazy about the cover either. The story sounds interesting though. Sounds like a great choice to add to the winnings!
I've never heard of this before, but it sounds interesting. I like how it's a murder mystery, but has the supernatural within the story. As for the cover, I don't really like it, but I'm also not a big fan of seeing a character's face on the cover.
Oh wow two of my favorite things CSI type things and vampires!!
I had never heard of the author before reading her interview posted on this blog.
Never heard of this one before. Sounds pretty interesting!
I entered your MegaBook Giveaway!
this cover is creepy....
Although I agree about the cover being different, I loved the interview!
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