Tricks Of The Trade (Paranormal Investigations #3) Laura Anne Gilman
Urban Fantasy
November 15, 2011
Luna

Favorite Quote: “The world we live in isn’t black and white…it’s always been shades of gray “

Reviewed by Tori

Tricks Of The Trade is the 3rd book in Ms. Gilman’s CSI like paranormal series-Paranormal Investigations. Heavy with criminal investigative lingo and procedures, this steady paced urban fantasy combines multiple criminal cases with personal crisis’s to keep the reader well engaged to the end. Innovative world building coupled with rich characterization continues to improve as we enter the third book of this series. The team has added a new member whose magical talent isn’t quite known yet but her administrative skills rock the office. Still not taken seriously by the Cosa Nostradamus or the human police force; the PUPIs do the best they can in a political climate that is stacked against them. Bonnie and her team are given to two separate crimes to investigate which while dividing the team’s skills, it brings them together in more ways then one. A fatae floater shows up in the river and a rich human’s break in has the smell of magic all over it. Add in Bonnie’s violent visions of the future, the sudden appearance of an ancient trickster and Bonnie and Ben’s merging and you have all the elements for a inventive paranormal mystery.

While I thoroughly enjoyed the investigation and subsequent handling of the robbery (it’s really diabolical) and the appearance of Robin the trickster, I did feel the fatae floater was an extra storyline that really didn’t do much to enhance the story. Rather is it used to illuminate the problems the trickster is causing for the team later in the story. We see more of Ian and what exactly his talents consist of. He often handles the political schmoozing that is required between the Cosa Nostradamus and his company so it was a treat to see him play a more active role in the plot. Ian’s crazy sister is also present and a deal Ian and she make when he asks for her help makes me wonder what Ms. Gilman has in store for this series.

Bonnie Torres continues to grow as a character with her easy going personality and increasing attraction to Ben. She begins to shed her more juvenile/free spirit aspects and starts to settle down. Though originally convinced the attraction is based on the merging of their talents, Bonnie and Ben both realize that the attraction was always there and the merging may be the catalyst that exposes it. A series of events solidifies this and I am very excited to see this move forward. The chemistry between them burns even hotter in this installment and it’s impossible to keep it from the rest of the team.

While the rest of the team is present and accounted for, we really don’t see as much of them as we did in the last book-Pack Of Lies. This story seems to revolve mainly around Bonnie, Ben, and Ian which leaves you sometimes feeling like you missed something when the scenes flash from the lead characters to the secondary characters without much warning. Plus, the switching back and forth between Bonnie and Ben’s POV caused some confusion for me.

Al in all Laura Anne Gilman continues to write a solid urban fantasy series that may not blow you away but it does entertain and ignite the imagination..

Overall Rating: C

Recent Reviews:
Scooper Speaks
Book’d Out – 3/5
Goodreads

Author’s Website l Series Listing

Amazon l Nook l Sony