In her time as a detective, Samantha Ballard has never encountered anything as strange as the series of murders that have just occurred in Philadelphia. How a person can go from very much alive to dead and looking like an ancient mummy is completely beyond her comprehension. But it's happening, and it's her job to find out how, why, and who is responsible. As more bodies are discovered, local radio DJ Jack Allyn becomes involved after a friend is one of the hapless victims. An unlikely pair, Samantha and Jack end up working together in their search for answers, only to learn that what their up against is far more dangerous and powerful than they ever could have imagined.

If urban fantasy with strong ties to mythology is your thing (and I will be honest, it's definitely one of mine), you will very likely find this to be an enjoyable and gripping read. It has that element of authenticity that I think is incredibly important in science fiction and fantasy writing (just because it's fictional doesn't mean it shouldn't still be believable in context), and there is a realness and complexity to the characters--especially Samantha and Jack--that shines through in the writing. The story is paced well, with a couple of lulls that seem to work for the overall plot. And in many ways, I see this as a very likely scenario of how law enforcement in an urban setting might very well deal with an ancient and mythological force suddenly showing up in town and doing its thing.

Definitely worth a read!

[Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.] ( )