Greywalker

Greywalker (2006) Kat Richardson

Greywalker starts off strong–Harper Blaine gets beaten to death–although she is dead only for a few minutes.

I’d been surprised when the guy belted me. Most people don’t flip out when they get caught in such a small fraud. I had expected am embarrassed apology and a hasty check to appease my client–his stepdaughter. But instead, the guy leaned over his desk and smacked a sledgehammer fist into the side of my head.

When Harper awakens, her very world is changed and a supernatural world she never knew existed now fills her sight.

I also liked the way that just as Harper does not understand what is happening around her, so we too are unclear as to precisely what the Grey is. It was confusing, but that seems to match the confusion that Harper feels.

There were a few things that I found difficult however–I was unsure of the time span of the first chapter. I also was surprised by the fact that although Harper repeatedly resisted the fact that she was a Greywalker, she seemed to have no problems accepting the existence of vampires.

Overall, I found the story strong enough that I read it all in one sitting. Of course all I planned for the afternoon was reading, but I had several other books lined up if this one didn’t draw me in immediately. Which it did. I also liked that the characters were well done, and had distinct personalities. I particularly liked the people she discovers as she talks to the vampires. Gwen in particular was quite vivid.

I also found the PI portion well done. She does lots of boring work and paper pushing and phone calls. Although we don’t spend time with the details of those mundane tasks, she talks of doing them, and chunks of time are spent doing them. Not enough to be boring, but enough to let you know that parts of her job could be boring. Although by the end of the book you’re sure that Harper is probably desperate for some boredom.

Although the story arc was concluded satisfactorily, there were many questions left unanswered–plenty of material for a continuing series. And I’m a fan of supernatural mysteries, so that’s a good thing. I would have liked to have had more of my questions answered, and I’m not a big fan of the “Schrodinger’s villain” where you’re not sure whether the bad guy is dead or alive. Bah humbug. But the story arc was concluded, and I don’t feel as though I was left hanging. So it was alright.

If you’re a fan of supernatural fantasy, then you’ll most likely enjoy Greywalker.
Rating: 8/10

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