2012: #33 – The Taken (Vicki Pettersson)

Title: The Taken
Author: Vicki Pettersson
Series: Celestial Blues #01
Format: Paperback
Pages: 432 (2012 total – 9,098)
Approx. Word Count: 108,000 (2012 total – 2,603,314)
Release Date: June 04, 2012
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Categories: urban fantasy
Source: ARC from the publisher
Rating: 3 out of 5

Back of the book:

Griffin Shaw used to be a PI, but that was back when gumshoes hoofed the streets . . . and he was still alive. Fifty years later, he’s an angel, but that doesn’t make him a saint. One small mistake has altered fate, and now he’s been dumped back onto the mortal mudflat to collect another soul—Katherine “Kit” Craig, a journalist whose latest investigation is about to get her clipped.

Bucking heavenly orders, Grif refuses to let the sable-haired siren come to harm. Besides, protecting her offers a chance to solve the mystery of his own unsolved murder—and dole out some overdue payback for the death of his beloved wife, Evie.

Joining forces, Kit and Grif’s search for answers leads beyond the blinding lights of the Strip into the dark heart of an evil conspiracy. But a ruthless killer determined to destroy them isn’t Grif’s biggest threat. His growing attraction to Kit could cost them both their lives, along with the answer to the haunting question of his long afterlife . . .

My thoughts:

This was the first Vicki Pettersson I’ve read, and I did so on a recommendation from Kim Harrison, whose books I LOVE.

This wasn’t bad, but she’s no Kim Harrison. There were a number of things about this story that set it apart from the usual paranormal/urban fantasy books out there. The angel stuff was new and interesting, and I also liked the focus on the rock-a-billy lifestyle. Really, the rock-a-billy stuff was necessary in order for Grif to be accepted with few questions, and I liked the “film noir” feel it gave the story. The mystery went in directions that I didn’t expect, so that was good. Las Vegas is also the perfect setting, because there no one raises an eyebrow at things that would be considered quite odd elsewhere.

But I wasn’t overwhelmed. Things moved quite slowly at times, and it took me a long time to get into the story. I found I was more invested in Grif than in Kit, when it should have been at least equal.

I would definitely read Ms. Pettersson again, but I’ll be hoping her other books are a little stronger.

Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound | WorldCat

Other reviews:

• “Fans of Pettersson will certainly enjoy THE TAKEN, but with its toned-down fantasy and more cheerful heroine giving the story broader appeal, I think many more readers will be taken with Pettersson.” — Urban Fantasy Land
• “Definitely for adults, due to the violence and some sexual situations, The Taken is a unique voice in the paranormal mystery/romance genre.” — Bibliophilic Book Blog
• “I thoroughly recommend this to fans of dark & gritty Urban Fantasy lovers with an engaging plot that keeps so on your toes failing to solve the mystery.“ — Miss Vain’s Paranormal Fantasy

Past reviews:

2011: Ricochet (Sandra Brown)
2010: A Stab in the Dark (Lawrence Block)
2009: The Kiss Murder (Mehmet Murat Somer)
2008: Those Who Trespass (Bill O’Reilly)
2007: The Monkey’s Raincoat (Robert Crais)
2006: Origin in Death (J.D. Robb)
2005: I is for Innocent (Sue Grafton)