Dark and Disorderly {book review} * * * *

Dark and Disorderly by Bernita Harris

- paranormal, mystery, thriller -

reviewed by Tara SG

received for review via NetGalley

Book Order (The Adventures of Lilly St Claire)

1. Dark and Disorderly * * * *

Links

Author’s Website : www.bernitaharris.blogspot.com

Amazon : eBook (only $4.79!)

Add To Your GoodReads TBR List

This book in 6 words:

best paranormal mystery read this year

Why did I read this? And am I glad I did?

I added this to my TBR list after seeing Reading with Tequila’s review. When I got the chance to review the book, I jumped at it and I’m VERY glad I did! This is the best paranormal mystery I’ve read this year (or really the best I’ve read in a long time). I don’t like ghosts and did not read one review for this prior to Jennifer’s because of that. I could kick myself for almost missing this one. I did not in any way see the end coming. I still can’t figure out what the main characters are (but not in a confusing way) and am dying to see how the relationship advances.

Brief Summary

“I was standing there naked when my dead husband walked into my bathroom…”

Lillie St. Claire is a Talent, one of the rare few who can permanently dispatch the spirits of the dead that walk the earth. Her skills are in demand in a haunted country, where a plague of ghosts is becoming a civic nuisance.

Those skills bring her into conflict with frightened citizens who view Talents as near-demons. Her husband comes to see her as a Freak; so when Nathan dies after a car crash, she is relieved to be free of his increasingly vicious presence. Lillie expects to be haunted by Nathan’s ghost, but not to become Suspect #1 for her husband’s murder and reanimation.

But what’s most surprising of all is the growing attraction between her and psi-crime detective John Thresher. He thinks that Lillie killed Nathan–and Nathan must agree, because his zombie is seeking revenge. Now she and Thresher must work together to solve her husband’s murder–before his corpse kills her…

- via GoodReads

Plot/Pacing/Writing Style

I thought the plot was highly original and very well-developed. Lillie lives in a world where ghosts and Otherworldly creatures are seen by all. The mix of paranormal and crime was perfect. It seemed like if it wasn’t one thing it was another. I loved the added real myths. I could have used a little more romance, but I can see why it was left out. I’m looking forward to more in books to come.

The pacing was very well-done! I was pained to put it down to work or sleep. The writing style was good. Some people have felt the beginning in particular was a little information heavy, however, it is just Lillie explaining what she is and the world around her. You don’t need to memorize the details about each Otherworldly myth she talks about.

Characters

Lillie is fantastic. She is sarcastic, smart, and self-conscious. She’s been through some very tough shit that makes her say and do things that make me want to hit her in the head… but I understand why she does what she does. Lillie does not trust men and is used to being treated like a Freak. But she’s still strong and wants to be part of the action and not just told what to do and when. She gets sick when faced with grisly scenes, but puts herself in danger to save others.

John (I refuse to call him Johnny) is complex. Who is he really? What is he? Why is he so interested in Lilly? He doesn’t trust Lillie (and I sometimes I got sick of his questioning her as much as she did), but he is caring and sweet. He isn’t your typical “unearthly gorgeous”. He’s a rugged man and I love that! You never can quite figure out how he feels and while I normally find that annoying… I was complete engrossed in the twists and turns.

Recommendations

If you like paranormal mystery, you have to try this. If you are a mystery fan in general, I think this would be an enjoyable read.