Urban Shaman

Urban Shaman (2005) C.E. Murphy

I read this several years ago, and never read any further in the series, though I remember finding the book and the premise interesting.

But I’d forgotten the story completely, and decided I needed to re-read the start before I dove into any sequels.

Joanne Walker (named by her mother Siobhan Walkingstick) is returning to the states from her mother’s funeral–a woman she never knew until the end of her life, and even then she never truly knew her mother.

“..(S)o Mother just called up one day and said she was dying and she’d like to meet me before she keeled over. I was furious. I mean, who was she to ignore me my whole life and then turn around and pull something like that?”
“Your mother?” Gary offered.
I sighed and nodded. “That was basically what I came up with, too.”

She’s returning after a long absence from her job, fully expecting to be fired when she gets back to the precinct. Her boss–a dyed in the wool cop, doesn’t like her, even though as the precinct mechanic, she’s certainly no threat to his job.

As the plan bringing her home is coming in for a landing, Joanne sees a woman being chased. No one believes her, so she hails a cab and sets out to see if she can find and rescue the woman herself.

There was plenty to enjoy about this story, especially Joanne’s wit.

“God damn it,” I said, “that was a new bra.” Gary laughed again, and I looked up long enough to glare at him. “Sure, laugh. It cost sixty bucks. God-damned men don’t have to buy goddamned expensive underwear….”

Because, yeah. Women’s underwear IS expensive. Ridiculously so if you want something that fits and is comfortable AND does its job.

I also really loved Gary, and was delighted that he stuck around. What I was less enamored of was the “sexual tension” between Joanne and her boss, Morrison. Yeah, it’s published by Luna, so it has to have romantic elements, but it all just felt unnecessary.

So, I will read the next book, because I’m curious, but I have doubts about the romance parts.
Rating: 6.5/10

Published by Luna

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