The premise of this comical mystery series is that a freak event called the 'Big Uneasy' resulted in a spate of ghosts, zombies, ghouls, vampires, golems, werewolves, goblins, etc. joining Earth's population. Most of these 'unnaturals' live in a neighborhood called the Unnatural Quarter, but they interact with humans on a day to day basis as shop owners, pawnbrokers, laborers, hookers, and so on.
Dan Chambeaux, usually referred to as Dan Shamble, is a private sleuth that was killed by a bullet to the head. Dan promptly returned as a zombie, and continued running his detective agency with his ghost girlfriend Sheyenne and his human partner Robin Dyer - a skilled attorney.
In this second book in the series, Dan and his colleagues assist a variety of creatures in the unnatural community; help solve a murder; and fight a bigoted right-wing Senator's proposed legislation.....which slashes the rights of unnaturals. The book can be read as a standalone.
*****
Located in the Unnatural Quarter, the 'Dan Shamble Detective Agency' usually draws cases from the supernatural population. In this book the agency's clients include:
- Bill the golem, who - along with his golem friends - is being compelled to work 24/7 in a factory that makes cheap souvenirs.
- Neffi, a mummy madam who runs the Full Moon Brothel. Neffi's establishment - which employs vampires, werewolves, zombies, etc. - is being sabotaged by intolerant humans.
- A mixed-race couple (vampire and werewolf) who face housing discrimination when they try to move out of the Unnatural Quarter.
- Alphonse Wheeler, a bank robber who died in prison and returned as a ghost. Alphonse wants advice about keeping the loot from his big heist.
- William Shakespeare, whose 'Shakespeare in the Dark' theatre - which features ghost actors - was damaged in a deliberate fire.
- Francine - a kindly human bartender who'll lose her job when 'The Goblin Tavern' is gentrified by its new corporate owners. Francine is a favorite of the unnaturals.
- Hope Saldana, whose zombie employee, Jerry, sold his heart and soul to a pawnshop. Now merely a shell of his former self, Jerry needs his vital parts back. When Dan attempts to retrieve these items he discovers a murder..... and sets out to find the killer.
Meanwhile, Sheyenne's good-for-nothing thief of a brother shows up, apologizing for missing her funeral and trying to cadge money from her. Sheyenne gives him the benefit of the doubt, but Dan has his suspicions.
On top of all that, loudmouth Senator Rupert Balfour is organizing demonstrations to support his anti-unnaturals legislation, which would strip the supernaturals of almost all their rights. Attorney Robin Dyer is on the job though, filing motion after motion against him.
There's some romantic angst in the story since Dan can't touch ghostly Sheyenne, and spends a little too much time helping a beleaguered succubus. There are also fun descriptions of Dan's 'grooming regimen', which requires make-up artists to hide his bullet hole, plasma to hydrate him, and tailors and seamstresses to sew him together and keep him presentable.
I enjoyed this humorous light mystery and would recommend it to fans of paranormal suspense.
Rating: 3 stars
Not my cup of tea, but it sounds really humorous. I love the characters as well.
ReplyDeleteIt's not my usual genre either Carla. I thought I'd try something different....and they really are fun characters. 😊🍉🍍
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