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Walker Papers #5
Demon Hunts
Seattle police detective Joanne Walker started the year mostly dead, and she's ending it trying not to be consumed by evil. Literally.
She's proven she can handle the gods and the walking dead. But a cannibalistic serial killer? That's more than even she bargained for. What's worse, the brutal demon can only be tracked one way. If Joanne is to stop its campaign of terror, she'll have to hunt it where it the Lower World, a shamanistic plane of magic and spirits.
Trouble is, Joanne's skills are no match for the dangers she's about to face—and her on-the-job training could prove fatal to the people she's sworn to protect….
She's proven she can handle the gods and the walking dead. But a cannibalistic serial killer? That's more than even she bargained for. What's worse, the brutal demon can only be tracked one way. If Joanne is to stop its campaign of terror, she'll have to hunt it where it the Lower World, a shamanistic plane of magic and spirits.
Trouble is, Joanne's skills are no match for the dangers she's about to face—and her on-the-job training could prove fatal to the people she's sworn to protect….
294 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2010
129 people are currently reading
1691 people want to read
About the author
C.E. Murphy
96 books1,786 followersCE Murphy began writing around age six, when she submitted three poems to a school publication. The teacher producing the magazine selected (inevitably) the one she thought was by far the worst, but also told her–a six year old kid–to keep writing, which she has. She has also held the usual grab-bag of jobs usually seen in an authorial biography, including public library volunteer (at ages 9 and 10; it’s clear she was doomed to a career involving books), archival assistant, cannery worker, and web designer. Writing books is better.
She was born and raised in Alaska, and now lives with her family in her ancestral homeland of Ireland.
She also writes paranormal romance as Murphy Lawless and cozy mysteries as Catie Murphy.
She was born and raised in Alaska, and now lives with her family in her ancestral homeland of Ireland.
She also writes paranormal romance as Murphy Lawless and cozy mysteries as Catie Murphy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 178 reviews
January 1, 2013
Currently re-reading because I totally forgot I'd already read it. And I must take time it to squee and flail at the best fandom reference I've found in an urban fantasy yet. As they're driving into the state park on p184, Jo's gaze lands on a '67 black Impala with Kansas plates.
Well played, Ms Murphy. Well played.
I *desperately* want the crossoverfic now!
ETA: and it just got better! Apparently, the FBI got to the body before Jo, Coyote and co; and there are three of them. There's a woman and two guys... one of whom was really tall, and the other was really cute". I'm vaguely amused that all these references completely sailed over my head last time I read the book
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Definitely enjoyed this one - it's great to see how far Joanne's come emotionally since the first books, and really good to finally meet Coyote in the flesh - not just in the spirit world as we did the first few times. Really curious to see where the series goes from here
Well played, Ms Murphy. Well played.
I *desperately* want the crossoverfic now!
ETA: and it just got better! Apparently, the FBI got to the body before Jo, Coyote and co; and there are three of them. There's a woman and two guys... one of whom was really tall, and the other was really cute". I'm vaguely amused that all these references completely sailed over my head last time I read the book
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Definitely enjoyed this one - it's great to see how far Joanne's come emotionally since the first books, and really good to finally meet Coyote in the flesh - not just in the spirit world as we did the first few times. Really curious to see where the series goes from here
March 13, 2011
Demon Hunts is the fifth book in The Walker Papers series, and by now, Joanne Walker (aka Siobhán Walkingstick) and her friends are familiar staples in my reading library. I've enjoyed to varying degrees watching Joanne mostly bumble along with this whole shaman gig she's always been pretty reluctant about, and while there have been times when her character's reluctance to just accept this new world she's been forced into has frustrated me, I have to admit, overall I've enjoyed the slow and sometimes fitful journey her character has taken to become more and more comfortable and aware of her skills and gifts as well as her calling.
Demon Hunts is no different in that regard, and it managed to capture in very poignant detail that growing up and accepting responsibility is very rarely a painless process. In fact, it's often burdened by farewells we have to say and amends we have to make. It's littered with regrets for past mistakes and tinged with the iridescent sheen of broken childish dreams. It's about doing what needs to be done in the face of criticism and rebuke, no matter the struggle, if the doing is the right thing. Above all that, it demands an acceptance of self that is often uncomfortable and a paradigm shift that is as necessary as it so often is terrifying. And at the very core, that is what Demon Hunts is about. Joanne finally...finally...growing up. That aspect of Demon Hunts was well written, exceptionally well paced, and a little heartbreaking, but there was also humor, self deprecating as only Joanne can do, and hope, and friendship, so it wasn't a totally bleak endeavor.
Unfortunately, the other aspect of Demon Hunts, the threat, crime, and rush to a solution, was bleak enough on its own. A series of odd murders that leave no clues of any sort are plaguing the Seattle Police Department - no blood, no DNA, no fibers, no footprints...nothing is left at the scene. So Captain Morrison calls in his paranormal dynamic duo, Joanne and Billy Holiday, because they're who you call when normal doesn't quite cover it. Except, there's nothing either one of them can pick up either - even with their magical connections. And people are still dying. Outdoorsy people. Leaving empty, bloodless husks behind.
As Joanne races to find out what is responsible and more importantly, stop it, long lost friends return to the fold and old friends stand as stalwart support. Old enemies pop back up and persistent thorns remain thorny. And while all that sounds like fantastic building blocks for another kick ass 'Joanne's Magical Mystery Tour,' in this case the Big Bad of Demon Hunts and the narrative surrounding it was ultimately a confusing, unrewarding mess that ended up feeling more repetitive than threatening.
I'll admit, throughout the series, I've had trouble understanding some of the magic related world building and mythos of each of the books. I don't blame the author for that, really. I have trouble wrapping my mind around magical concepts and other dimensions and stuff to start with (linear thinker, unfortunately), and Murphy just doesn't describe them conceptually enough for me to always catch on to the full scope of Joanne's shamanic world. I've gotten used to that. But this book went a bit further, and I struggled to understand a lot of the too-subtly woven interpersonal stuff between Joanne and other characters - in particular a few scenes with Morrison and Coyote. There seemed to be an overabundance of dialogue with inexplicable double meanings and on top of that, I have trouble grasping the full impact of a scene if everyone's just looking at each other and the narrative doesn't really explain what's going on. In that regard, this book's narrative felt far more internal (from Joanne's POV) than others in the series, and that was exceedingly frustrating.
Another problem that's starting to niggle me is the evolving relationship between Morrison and Walker, which, in this book in particular, was far less 'evolve' and far more 'evade.' That whole 'one step forward two steps back' adage could definitely be used here...if the steps back were Jolly Green Giant-sized. I hope that Demon Hunts is a turning point, a stepping stone, or the last of the metaphorical shaman baby steps that Joanne needed to take to really become the warrior shaman Seattle needs and that by the sixth book in the series we'll start to get an idea of where that relationship is headed, as well as some overall arc progression or definition, because there wasn't any of that in Demon Hunts.
For the maturing and the personal growth, both well written and touching, I'd rate Demon Hunts 4 stars, but because of the weakness in the storyline of the killer and the repetitiveness of the battles with it, the conflict of Demon Hunts gets only 2 stars from me today. I averaged it out to 3 overall. I hope the next one has got a little more to offer.
~*~*~*~
Reviewed for One Good Book Deserves Another.
Demon Hunts is no different in that regard, and it managed to capture in very poignant detail that growing up and accepting responsibility is very rarely a painless process. In fact, it's often burdened by farewells we have to say and amends we have to make. It's littered with regrets for past mistakes and tinged with the iridescent sheen of broken childish dreams. It's about doing what needs to be done in the face of criticism and rebuke, no matter the struggle, if the doing is the right thing. Above all that, it demands an acceptance of self that is often uncomfortable and a paradigm shift that is as necessary as it so often is terrifying. And at the very core, that is what Demon Hunts is about. Joanne finally...finally...growing up. That aspect of Demon Hunts was well written, exceptionally well paced, and a little heartbreaking, but there was also humor, self deprecating as only Joanne can do, and hope, and friendship, so it wasn't a totally bleak endeavor.
Unfortunately, the other aspect of Demon Hunts, the threat, crime, and rush to a solution, was bleak enough on its own. A series of odd murders that leave no clues of any sort are plaguing the Seattle Police Department - no blood, no DNA, no fibers, no footprints...nothing is left at the scene. So Captain Morrison calls in his paranormal dynamic duo, Joanne and Billy Holiday, because they're who you call when normal doesn't quite cover it. Except, there's nothing either one of them can pick up either - even with their magical connections. And people are still dying. Outdoorsy people. Leaving empty, bloodless husks behind.
As Joanne races to find out what is responsible and more importantly, stop it, long lost friends return to the fold and old friends stand as stalwart support. Old enemies pop back up and persistent thorns remain thorny. And while all that sounds like fantastic building blocks for another kick ass 'Joanne's Magical Mystery Tour,' in this case the Big Bad of Demon Hunts and the narrative surrounding it was ultimately a confusing, unrewarding mess that ended up feeling more repetitive than threatening.
I'll admit, throughout the series, I've had trouble understanding some of the magic related world building and mythos of each of the books. I don't blame the author for that, really. I have trouble wrapping my mind around magical concepts and other dimensions and stuff to start with (linear thinker, unfortunately), and Murphy just doesn't describe them conceptually enough for me to always catch on to the full scope of Joanne's shamanic world. I've gotten used to that. But this book went a bit further, and I struggled to understand a lot of the too-subtly woven interpersonal stuff between Joanne and other characters - in particular a few scenes with Morrison and Coyote. There seemed to be an overabundance of dialogue with inexplicable double meanings and on top of that, I have trouble grasping the full impact of a scene if everyone's just looking at each other and the narrative doesn't really explain what's going on. In that regard, this book's narrative felt far more internal (from Joanne's POV) than others in the series, and that was exceedingly frustrating.
Another problem that's starting to niggle me is the evolving relationship between Morrison and Walker, which, in this book in particular, was far less 'evolve' and far more 'evade.' That whole 'one step forward two steps back' adage could definitely be used here...if the steps back were Jolly Green Giant-sized. I hope that Demon Hunts is a turning point, a stepping stone, or the last of the metaphorical shaman baby steps that Joanne needed to take to really become the warrior shaman Seattle needs and that by the sixth book in the series we'll start to get an idea of where that relationship is headed, as well as some overall arc progression or definition, because there wasn't any of that in Demon Hunts.
For the maturing and the personal growth, both well written and touching, I'd rate Demon Hunts 4 stars, but because of the weakness in the storyline of the killer and the repetitiveness of the battles with it, the conflict of Demon Hunts gets only 2 stars from me today. I averaged it out to 3 overall. I hope the next one has got a little more to offer.
~*~*~*~
Reviewed for One Good Book Deserves Another.
February 14, 2018
Fun series, although it's getting a bit predictable.
August 12, 2016
Once again:
Love the characters!
BUT, most of the times while reading what Joanne does as a Shaman, i can't help feeling lost!
YES, PLEASE!! O_O
Heck, maybe i'm just too dense to understand it....
I can't help feeling that had the series been, less "inner dialogue oriented", less mystical or at least more interspaced with other parts, like some action or some romantic scenes, this would have worked better. As it is, i feel like there are "clumps" of the shamanic aspects....that suddenly remove all fluidity to the narrative.
But that's just me.
And i'm just a reader.
As it was, i'm liking the way Joanne has accepted the person she has become. She has a new maturity and a sense of self.
I also liked to see Coyote.
Gary is one of my favourite characters, as is Billy. (where are his dresses and his nail polish??). Like i said before, they're here more than to just fill pages, and i wish that the author would give them more spotlight.
Then there's Morrison....OH MY GOD....the way the romantic aspect of the Walker papers is worked, makes me want to scream. Really....this is.....
In the previous book, out of the blue Joanne started dating Thor. Then she breakes up with him, and that was it. The guy disapears...leaving the road free for Morrison....
Yeah, right...
And now Coyote comes back, and once again the situation with Morrison is placed on hold!!
I'm frustrated!!! Five BOOKS!!
Love the characters!
BUT, most of the times while reading what Joanne does as a Shaman, i can't help feeling lost!
YES, PLEASE!! O_O
Heck, maybe i'm just too dense to understand it....
I can't help feeling that had the series been, less "inner dialogue oriented", less mystical or at least more interspaced with other parts, like some action or some romantic scenes, this would have worked better. As it is, i feel like there are "clumps" of the shamanic aspects....that suddenly remove all fluidity to the narrative.
But that's just me.
And i'm just a reader.
As it was, i'm liking the way Joanne has accepted the person she has become. She has a new maturity and a sense of self.
I also liked to see Coyote.
Gary is one of my favourite characters, as is Billy. (where are his dresses and his nail polish??). Like i said before, they're here more than to just fill pages, and i wish that the author would give them more spotlight.
Then there's Morrison....OH MY GOD....the way the romantic aspect of the Walker papers is worked, makes me want to scream. Really....this is.....
In the previous book, out of the blue Joanne started dating Thor. Then she breakes up with him, and that was it. The guy disapears...leaving the road free for Morrison....
Yeah, right...
And now Coyote comes back, and once again the situation with Morrison is placed on hold!!
I'm frustrated!!! Five BOOKS!!
March 5, 2011
Since the first book in this series, I've struggled with whether or not I would continue with it. I really like the supporting characters, Gary, Billy etc. However, I didn't particular care for the continuous venture into the astral plane and the incessant self dialogue of the main character. Over time, this corrected itself but now after reading Demon Hunts I am asking myself once again whether or not I will continue with this series.
This time my problem is with the main character's lack of common sense. Joanne Walker, recently made shaman continual whines about how she has no shaman handbook or no way to learn her trade except trial and error. In this installment one of the characters tells her to go home to her people and her father to seek guidance with her skills. I've thought this all along. Another thing that truly pissed me off was that she apologized to Sara, her high school friend for sleeping with the boy Sara liked. Now understand, Jo did not know that Sara liked Luca but Jo was left pregnant and alone while Sara goes on to marry the cad. Sara never apologizes for Jo for keeping in contact with Luca or that Luca never did man up by checking up on his twin babies born. Instead Sara lords over her marriage to Luca like he is some prize. What does Jo do? She slithers on her belly in shame. Forget that! Stand up for yourself and your child why don't cha?
Finally, Jo always whines about her attraction to Capt. Morrison; yet, she dates Mark, Thor, and Coyote. Then she dumps them. Enough already. If in the next book her feelins for Morrison are not resolved, I'm done! I am tired of being frustrated with Jo's lack of self knowledge.
This time my problem is with the main character's lack of common sense. Joanne Walker, recently made shaman continual whines about how she has no shaman handbook or no way to learn her trade except trial and error. In this installment one of the characters tells her to go home to her people and her father to seek guidance with her skills. I've thought this all along. Another thing that truly pissed me off was that she apologized to Sara, her high school friend for sleeping with the boy Sara liked. Now understand, Jo did not know that Sara liked Luca but Jo was left pregnant and alone while Sara goes on to marry the cad. Sara never apologizes for Jo for keeping in contact with Luca or that Luca never did man up by checking up on his twin babies born. Instead Sara lords over her marriage to Luca like he is some prize. What does Jo do? She slithers on her belly in shame. Forget that! Stand up for yourself and your child why don't cha?
Finally, Jo always whines about her attraction to Capt. Morrison; yet, she dates Mark, Thor, and Coyote. Then she dumps them. Enough already. If in the next book her feelins for Morrison are not resolved, I'm done! I am tired of being frustrated with Jo's lack of self knowledge.
May 13, 2016
I'm really enjoying these more as the series goes on. The tropes early on that bugged me have kind of resolved themselves and it's turning out to be a very strong UF series.
June 1, 2013
Joanne and Billy are now the woo-woo team – the pair with supernatural abilities who help with those cases that are just too weird for anyone else. So when people show up dying and partially eaten but without a scrap of any kind of forensic evidence on the bodies, it’s time to call them in.
But even magic can’t work miracles and there’s a limit to what even they can sense, much to their frustration. What they do learn is that their enemy is far more dangerous than they imagined and is going to take some… unorthodox messages to track and stop
Thankfully, Joanne is pretty good at unorthodox methods – as she proves not only to the people around her but also to Coyote, her mentor, finally free from a supernatural coma. In his absence Joanne has grown considerable and they have to refind their balance with what she’s learned, how she’s grown, the path she is on – and the fact they’re both in the real world, in the flesh.
It’s another fun mystery – with a lot evolved. The progression in how the police force treats Joanne and Billy has excellently developed through the series to Morrison now overtly recognising them as his woo-woo experts. The mystery itself is interesting and, while it is quickly solved in terms of “whodunnit” the how to stop it part of the story maintains some excellent tension and questions to keep the story going. The story is really well paced without any lags or moments of boredom, confusion, or vast leaps of logic. But the star of this book has to be the characterisations
I really love the introduction of Coyote, and I really thought I wouldn’t. I expected his presence to shake his mystique and it did. But it did it extremely well because it not only humanised him but helped Joanne to grow. Coyote is a person. He’s more knowledgeable than Joanne, in many ways more capable and Joanne and has powers and skills Joanne can’t touch.
But he is a person and he isn’t god. There are areas where Joanne is better suited than him, there are areas where Joanne is more powerful than him and there are things she can do which he cannot. And him showing up didn’t turn this into a story that focuses on Coyote, Joanne is still the protagonist, she is still the one investigating, she is still the one in charge and the one who makes the decision in her city and her life. I liked that it made it really clear that they can be powerful in different ways and walk different path. That Coyote, healer, teacher, advisor has far greater strengths in those areas – but Joanne doesn’t have to follow the same way; she’s a warrior, a defender, a soldier who heals things and makes things better in her own way. I liked that he had his precious philosophy that was truly valuable to him – but at the same time it was acknowledge he could have that and not need Joanne to follow it.
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But even magic can’t work miracles and there’s a limit to what even they can sense, much to their frustration. What they do learn is that their enemy is far more dangerous than they imagined and is going to take some… unorthodox messages to track and stop
Thankfully, Joanne is pretty good at unorthodox methods – as she proves not only to the people around her but also to Coyote, her mentor, finally free from a supernatural coma. In his absence Joanne has grown considerable and they have to refind their balance with what she’s learned, how she’s grown, the path she is on – and the fact they’re both in the real world, in the flesh.
It’s another fun mystery – with a lot evolved. The progression in how the police force treats Joanne and Billy has excellently developed through the series to Morrison now overtly recognising them as his woo-woo experts. The mystery itself is interesting and, while it is quickly solved in terms of “whodunnit” the how to stop it part of the story maintains some excellent tension and questions to keep the story going. The story is really well paced without any lags or moments of boredom, confusion, or vast leaps of logic. But the star of this book has to be the characterisations
I really love the introduction of Coyote, and I really thought I wouldn’t. I expected his presence to shake his mystique and it did. But it did it extremely well because it not only humanised him but helped Joanne to grow. Coyote is a person. He’s more knowledgeable than Joanne, in many ways more capable and Joanne and has powers and skills Joanne can’t touch.
But he is a person and he isn’t god. There are areas where Joanne is better suited than him, there are areas where Joanne is more powerful than him and there are things she can do which he cannot. And him showing up didn’t turn this into a story that focuses on Coyote, Joanne is still the protagonist, she is still the one investigating, she is still the one in charge and the one who makes the decision in her city and her life. I liked that it made it really clear that they can be powerful in different ways and walk different path. That Coyote, healer, teacher, advisor has far greater strengths in those areas – but Joanne doesn’t have to follow the same way; she’s a warrior, a defender, a soldier who heals things and makes things better in her own way. I liked that he had his precious philosophy that was truly valuable to him – but at the same time it was acknowledge he could have that and not need Joanne to follow it.
Read More
May 31, 2010
Demon Hunts is C.E. Murphy’s fifth book in the Walker Papers series. Joanne Walker is a Seattle police detective who is trying to deal with the facts of her life. She has the Sight. She can Heal. She’s a Shaman. What else could go wrong? When a cannibalistic serial killer starts leaving mutilated bodies in her jurisdiction, Joanne and her partner Billy are thrust into the forefront and try to use their supernatural skills to track a killer.
This is my first entry in the Walker Paper series and I have to say, I really enjoyed this book. I had no investment with Joanne’s character since I was coming into the middle of a series which is typically something I don’t do. But Murphy did a great job, bringing in details of previous books and characters as needed so that I understood each scene fully and intrigued me enough to want to pick up the previous books.
Demon Hunts is written in first person and while it was a little slow-going in the beginning, Joanne was able to pull me into her story. Murphy’s style of writing creates a clear voice for any reader to follow. However, at times, the pace of the story threw. In areas, where I expected fast paced action it dragged a little and some scenes seemed to take forever to end. But overall I enjoyed the book.
Without giving away any spoilers, I will say that, Joanne’s reluctance to accept who and what she is, will reach a pivotal point in this book. Fans of this series will not be disappointed.
This is my first entry in the Walker Paper series and I have to say, I really enjoyed this book. I had no investment with Joanne’s character since I was coming into the middle of a series which is typically something I don’t do. But Murphy did a great job, bringing in details of previous books and characters as needed so that I understood each scene fully and intrigued me enough to want to pick up the previous books.
Demon Hunts is written in first person and while it was a little slow-going in the beginning, Joanne was able to pull me into her story. Murphy’s style of writing creates a clear voice for any reader to follow. However, at times, the pace of the story threw. In areas, where I expected fast paced action it dragged a little and some scenes seemed to take forever to end. But overall I enjoyed the book.
Without giving away any spoilers, I will say that, Joanne’s reluctance to accept who and what she is, will reach a pivotal point in this book. Fans of this series will not be disappointed.
April 10, 2012
This is a brand new release in Murphy's The Walker Papers books, one of my favorite urban fantasy series.[return][return]It's almost Christmas and Seattle is in a deep freeze. Detective Joanne Walker feels the cold a bit more than most: another dead body has been found, obviously chewed on, and not even her shamanistic powers can find a clue. Her partner, Billy Holliday--who really does see dead people--is equally frustrated. All of the bodies have been found in the wilderness, all the victims the outdoorsy type, and the killer hasn't left so much as a footprint. This all points to a few nasty things, like the fact that the killer isn't quite human, and that the death toll will continue to mount unless Jo can find a way to stop it.[return][return]Ah, Jo. She's a great heroine as she accepts her shamanistic gifts. The first book is still about the best in the series, and this one is fun on its own right. My main complaint is that the pacing of the book is uneven. The first half feels more like a mystery as they try to find the killer, whereas the last half is mostly one big battle. It's rather exhausting to have the fighting go on for that long. There are some great side characters in this one, including a nosy news reporter and the return of someone very important to Jo. Still, no question that this book is fun and fast (I had to read it within a day) and will please anyone who enjoys the series.
August 21, 2010
It seems like with this book Joanne hits her stride, she has finally accepted being a shaman and embraces her reality. It seems like there are ramifications that come from the ending of the last book that have changed the landscape in Seattle.
Through out this book Joanne makes strides to incorporate her new powers to figure things out right away instead of being forced to use them as a last resort. People from Joanne's past make an appearance and we get a better picture of her life as a teen and the events that changed her path.
Gary as always is a strong force within her life, and there is a touching scene with the two of them that is soul baring for Jo. Billy and his family are there too, which always makes for some fun scenes to read. And as always Morrison is there with all the strange uncomfortableness between then, but with a twist this time around.
I can't wait for the next book to see where things go from here.
Through out this book Joanne makes strides to incorporate her new powers to figure things out right away instead of being forced to use them as a last resort. People from Joanne's past make an appearance and we get a better picture of her life as a teen and the events that changed her path.
Gary as always is a strong force within her life, and there is a touching scene with the two of them that is soul baring for Jo. Billy and his family are there too, which always makes for some fun scenes to read. And as always Morrison is there with all the strange uncomfortableness between then, but with a twist this time around.
I can't wait for the next book to see where things go from here.
December 16, 2011
There's got to be a heartbreaking book in all the series, especially in the long ones. Well, seems like for the Walker Papers series, this was it. And I never saw it coming...*sigh* *tear*
Anyway, this series is getting better and better. I love C.E. Murphy's writing style, I love her world building and the realistic way she crafts her characters. And Jo rocks! I'm so glad I got to read (well, listen to) all the books back to back!<3
The villain in this book was sooo annoying! For the last 1/4 of the book, I was like "would you just die already m*$*&W?!" :))
Also, my urge to reach into the book, grab Morrison by the shoulders and shake the hell out of him increases with each book. :)) So, book #6, bring it on!;)
4.5 stars
Anyway, this series is getting better and better. I love C.E. Murphy's writing style, I love her world building and the realistic way she crafts her characters. And Jo rocks! I'm so glad I got to read (well, listen to) all the books back to back!<3
The villain in this book was sooo annoying! For the last 1/4 of the book, I was like "would you just die already m*$*&W?!" :))
Also, my urge to reach into the book, grab Morrison by the shoulders and shake the hell out of him increases with each book. :)) So, book #6, bring it on!;)
4.5 stars
September 29, 2010
First half of the book was good, second half not so much. Loved the tension between Morrison and Coyote, wish things could have built up before they came crashing down with Joanne's revelations about Coyote. Loved that Joanne is finally asking someone for help, wish she had done it in the past 4 books! Would have loved to see more of Morrison, glad that Murphy has stopped with her killing rampage (seriously, the first couple books felt like anyone new Jo would meet would die), but the storyline was blah, world building really hasn't improved much either.
January 23, 2016
Joanne Walker is really over her head in this one, a Wendigo no less and one that beats her down over and over before she finally embraces her full powers and does what Jo does best-wins.
Lots of interesting angles in the storyline, a deadly powerful supernatural villain to overcome and even some surprises for readers in Joanne's romantic life.
Next up is Spirit Dances and I am ready to see what this plucky shaman/detective gets herself in book 6 of the series.
Lots of interesting angles in the storyline, a deadly powerful supernatural villain to overcome and even some surprises for readers in Joanne's romantic life.
Next up is Spirit Dances and I am ready to see what this plucky shaman/detective gets herself in book 6 of the series.
May 26, 2011
Coyote is back! Loved him in this book and seeing how he and Joanne act around each other after meeting in person. It's clear that no one can compare to the Captain....I hope something will work out there.
tbr-series-sequels-x
July 17, 201517 July 2015: $0.99 on Kindle
March 12, 2011
I think the series is getting better as it goes along. That, or I'm more invested in it.
May 30, 2017
When I first read this series years ago my library didn't have this book so I just skipped it. After reading it I have a better understanding of a lot of things in those later books now. Especially when it comes to Coyote and her "friend" from back in the day... The whole situation is still sad, but I understand it better now.
I really wish that Jo didn't have so many potential love interests when it is rather obvious who she belongs with. That or it is just me and I got tired of authors yanking me around with possible love interests here and there and I prefer a more cut to the chase sort of happenings.
Guys can be friends without having to be any sort, potential or not, love interests ... really I swear. I quit reading a series because it seemed like the heroine had a new love interest every other book. There were like 13 books in this series…. I know romance isn’t supposed to be a thing in UF, but the one that is here sort of stinks. I mean one book she’s dating Thor, but lusting after Morrison, breaks up with Thor, still lusting after Morrison, hooks up with Coyote, still lusting after Morrison, and now that whole “this isn’t going to work” thing happens with her and Coyote. I get it I totally do, but why invest everything during that short romance to get it abruptly cut off and have that whole Morrison thing going on in the background? Maybe some women think that way and I don’t get it because I’m not, so who knows. Maybe it is a part of Jo’s emotional hang-ups and it is something that she has to work through, like accepting that she is actually a shaman, I can see she has a lot of emotional baggage to sift through, but doesn’t mean I have to like it.
One thing I liked about Coyote finally showing up in the series was you get to see that he is not an all powerful shaman there to help Jo whenever something goes wrong. You see her whining about it in the books where he was gone, but this book really adds that punctuation mark to the whole thing. It showed me that Jo finally grew up and finally realized that her path isn't the same and she has learned most of what she needed to from him and doesn't have to rely on him for everything. Now only need to get her to stop acting like a damn whiner about figuring stuff out ... there isn't a manual for everything and besides the things that do have manuals ... someone had to write them in the first place so there was always that trailblazer.
The shitty thing in the story? The crap she gets from Sara about sleeping with Lucas. Granted it was a crappy thing to do and I know teenagers are buttheads when it comes to certain things, but to go and marry the guy afterward and play off him keeping in contact over the years is a petty, stupid, shitty thing to do. That is like …. Grr a guy cheats (even though this guy didn’t really do that and I think he is a tool from just what I’ve read of him) and you totally blame the other woman because the cheater slept with them. Um, hi it takes two people to connect tab A with slot B otherwise it is masturbation. Also what makes it even shittier is the fact that she knew that Jo had twins, one of them died, and really the guy never bothered to get in contact with her afterwards or even his son?
Jo acting like she did everything wrong was stupid. She was not the only one at fault there and the reactions she got for messing up were the stupid parts of the whole situation. I know this book was written several years ago, but that subject still ticks me off to this day. When you are a teenager you don’t know everything, even if you act like you do, and a lot of the mess-ups they do are them trying to figure things out and instead of making them feel like the lowest scum of the earth people should talk to them and figure out why and then what to do. Gah, I lack the right words for this sort of thing.
I really like the Wendigo bad guy it was pretty interesting since I can only think of one series where they have wendigos in them and they are more like zombies, the brainless herd animal types. I liked seeing Hearn again though that whole still having to do stuff in order to clear the slate between them makes me a bit wtf since he was the psychopath in that instance. I probably read it wrong, but who knows.
I really wish that Jo didn't have so many potential love interests when it is rather obvious who she belongs with. That or it is just me and I got tired of authors yanking me around with possible love interests here and there and I prefer a more cut to the chase sort of happenings.
Guys can be friends without having to be any sort, potential or not, love interests ... really I swear. I quit reading a series because it seemed like the heroine had a new love interest every other book. There were like 13 books in this series…. I know romance isn’t supposed to be a thing in UF, but the one that is here sort of stinks. I mean one book she’s dating Thor, but lusting after Morrison, breaks up with Thor, still lusting after Morrison, hooks up with Coyote, still lusting after Morrison, and now that whole “this isn’t going to work” thing happens with her and Coyote. I get it I totally do, but why invest everything during that short romance to get it abruptly cut off and have that whole Morrison thing going on in the background? Maybe some women think that way and I don’t get it because I’m not, so who knows. Maybe it is a part of Jo’s emotional hang-ups and it is something that she has to work through, like accepting that she is actually a shaman, I can see she has a lot of emotional baggage to sift through, but doesn’t mean I have to like it.
One thing I liked about Coyote finally showing up in the series was you get to see that he is not an all powerful shaman there to help Jo whenever something goes wrong. You see her whining about it in the books where he was gone, but this book really adds that punctuation mark to the whole thing. It showed me that Jo finally grew up and finally realized that her path isn't the same and she has learned most of what she needed to from him and doesn't have to rely on him for everything. Now only need to get her to stop acting like a damn whiner about figuring stuff out ... there isn't a manual for everything and besides the things that do have manuals ... someone had to write them in the first place so there was always that trailblazer.
The shitty thing in the story? The crap she gets from Sara about sleeping with Lucas. Granted it was a crappy thing to do and I know teenagers are buttheads when it comes to certain things, but to go and marry the guy afterward and play off him keeping in contact over the years is a petty, stupid, shitty thing to do. That is like …. Grr a guy cheats (even though this guy didn’t really do that and I think he is a tool from just what I’ve read of him) and you totally blame the other woman because the cheater slept with them. Um, hi it takes two people to connect tab A with slot B otherwise it is masturbation. Also what makes it even shittier is the fact that she knew that Jo had twins, one of them died, and really the guy never bothered to get in contact with her afterwards or even his son?
Jo acting like she did everything wrong was stupid. She was not the only one at fault there and the reactions she got for messing up were the stupid parts of the whole situation. I know this book was written several years ago, but that subject still ticks me off to this day. When you are a teenager you don’t know everything, even if you act like you do, and a lot of the mess-ups they do are them trying to figure things out and instead of making them feel like the lowest scum of the earth people should talk to them and figure out why and then what to do. Gah, I lack the right words for this sort of thing.
I really like the Wendigo bad guy it was pretty interesting since I can only think of one series where they have wendigos in them and they are more like zombies, the brainless herd animal types. I liked seeing Hearn again though that whole still having to do stuff in order to clear the slate between them makes me a bit wtf since he was the psychopath in that instance. I probably read it wrong, but who knows.
July 14, 2014
Fifth in the Walker Papers urban fantasy series revolving around shaman Detective Joanne Walker in the Seattle PD.
My Take
Well, this is definitely an interesting twist: murdered hikers left in their favorite milieu.
I’m with Walker. Just because Joanne and Billy haven’t found anything yet, doesn’t mean they aren’t worth calling in. After all, forensics hasn’t found anything either and no one questions calling them. I do sympathize with Morrison. This magical stuff is not the stuff of police reports, lol. At least Billy could hide his supernatural talents, unlike Jo’s more obvious moves. It doesn’t help that Jo reminds Morrison that the killings are starting to look like what the Bragg twins were doing in Coyote Dreams , 3. I also agree with Joanne when she wonders why nasty is always so much more seductive than good.
I love it…and all you parents out there with kids will certainly appreciate the scene in which young Erik gets jam on Joanne and Mom applies ruthless efficiency to cleaning everyone, lol. Even Billy gets a bit of his own back with an I told you so.
Joanie continues her baby steps in learning; this time she’s learning about gifts and thanking those who help her from the spirit world, particularly the raven who helped her in Walking Dead , 4, even as she continues to mourn Coyote’s death. Yep, baby steps. The only problem is that Joanne’s baby steps amount to major catastrophes. She is at least starting to focus on making things better in the future rather than moaning over what’s gone wrong in the past. And Billy can't help that much as he hasn’t explored his talent much because of his brother's hatred for the paranormal.
Billy's friend Mandy makes an excellent point about bait needing to be a woman. Thank god Joanne has been working on her shielding!
Huh…seems that Jo’s mom was a big deal in paranormal circles --- she was known as the Irish mage --- and we finally learn why she dumped Joanne off on her dad. We also learn more about what Joanne was doing in Europe with her mom. I had the impression she’d sat around her mother’s death bed the whole time!
Jo should be forced to have lunch up at the Seattle Center all the time, use it for a lookout post. Then there’s her mechanic’s view of healing and protection. That image of shock absorbers was too funny. I do love Murphy using Jo’s love for car repair as her metaphor to heal people. Or survive an avalanche. I enjoy the garden metaphor as well for a person’s soul. It’s always interesting to slip in and see what kind of garden people have.
Hoo-wee, Ray is taking Laurie Corvallis out to dinner!
It’s an intense reunion with the miraculous reappearance. It also creates major problems on top of Jo’s already huge problems: teetering on suspension and ignoring the reasons why. The jealousy angle gets explosive as well with the two most important men in her life feeling jerked around and going into throwdown mode!
Yes, more back history on Jo’s childhood, and we finally get into that horrible breakup in high school. When Sara Buchanan stopped being Jo’s friend. What an immature bitch she was! And still is!! And I am so angry about that jerky kid's behavior. I wanna smack that little shit. And if Sara got in my way…he-he-he…
More rueful laughter as Joanne finds out how frustrating it is to deal with people who won’t accept the paranormal. It’s also a bit of a downer for Jo when she learns Coyote’s weakness.
The Story
It’s pretty near fatal to be a hiker in Seattle these days, what with hikers being targeted by something that’s eating them and stripping out their souls.
It’s expedient, but it turns out to be a suspension-able offence to get a civilian to help out with their investigation. When Mandy is attacked, Morrison gives them hours to solve this or they’re out.
Luckily for Joanne --- and Mandy! --- Coyote shows up. It’s short-lived relief as Joanne realizes Coyote's limitations.
The Characters
Detective Joanne Walker, a.k.a, Siobhán Walkingstick, has been learning how to be a shaman for the past year. Petite is her vintage ‘69 Mustang. Gary Muldoon is Jo’s best friend and very supportive of her shamanic work. He’s carrying a tortoise spirit guide after events in Thunderbird Falls , 2. Sheila MacNamarra was Joanne’s mother. Coyote, a.k.a., Cyrano Bia of the Diné had been Jo’s spirit guide until he became trapped in Coyote Dreams . Turns out Coyote’s grandfather is a shaman. Herne, the Green Man, has invited Jo in and gives her an answer to use on Corvallis.
Detective Billy Holliday is her cross-dressing medium partner. Melinda is his witchy wife is a sensitive, and they have five kids now: Robert is the oldest, Jacquie, Clara, Erik, and Caroline, the baby. It’s obvious that the four older kids have inherited some ability to see from their parents. We’ll have to wait and see with Caroline, but I’m not holding my breath *grin*. Dr. Bradley Holliday is Billy’s brother.
Captain Michael Murphy is their boss and willing to suspend belief to use all the skills his people have. Heather Fagan is the head of North Precinct’s forensics team. Sandra Reynolds is the coroner. The cops include the intrepid Ray Campbell.
Sara. Special Agent Sara Isaac, Joanne’s best friend from 15 years ago. The one who spurned her when Jo turned up pregnant with Lucas Isaac’s children.
Sonata Smith is a major medium. Mandy Tiller is a friend of Billy’s who’s into hiking and other outdoor sports. She’s willing to play bait. Jake Tiller is her son and friends with Robert.
Mickey and Henley are fellow taxi drivers. Ashley Hampton gets a mention.
Charlie Groleski loved to rock climb and Karin Newcomb is a student at the university and a fellow tenant at Joanne’s apartment building. Laurie Corvallis of Channel Two News --- her garden is interesting and with a nasty David in it --- is right in there as well along with Jeff, the camera guy.
The Master is a major entity who delights in tormenting Joanne and uses banshees as his servants in the real world. Wendigos are shamans gone bad. They become creatures of the outdoors who have gone mad and want to eat human flesh. Liz Gregory was Tlingit who went missing last March during a blizzard.
The Cover
The cover is Jo kneeling in the snow, prepping a circle in the woods. You'll recognize the scene when you read it. So peaceful looking, so vicious in action.
The title is a misnomer for the obvious subject, and I’m wondering if Demon Hunts refers to Joanne’s own demons from her childhood.
My Take
Well, this is definitely an interesting twist: murdered hikers left in their favorite milieu.
I’m with Walker. Just because Joanne and Billy haven’t found anything yet, doesn’t mean they aren’t worth calling in. After all, forensics hasn’t found anything either and no one questions calling them. I do sympathize with Morrison. This magical stuff is not the stuff of police reports, lol. At least Billy could hide his supernatural talents, unlike Jo’s more obvious moves. It doesn’t help that Jo reminds Morrison that the killings are starting to look like what the Bragg twins were doing in Coyote Dreams , 3. I also agree with Joanne when she wonders why nasty is always so much more seductive than good.
I love it…and all you parents out there with kids will certainly appreciate the scene in which young Erik gets jam on Joanne and Mom applies ruthless efficiency to cleaning everyone, lol. Even Billy gets a bit of his own back with an I told you so.
Joanie continues her baby steps in learning; this time she’s learning about gifts and thanking those who help her from the spirit world, particularly the raven who helped her in Walking Dead , 4, even as she continues to mourn Coyote’s death. Yep, baby steps. The only problem is that Joanne’s baby steps amount to major catastrophes. She is at least starting to focus on making things better in the future rather than moaning over what’s gone wrong in the past. And Billy can't help that much as he hasn’t explored his talent much because of his brother's hatred for the paranormal.
Billy's friend Mandy makes an excellent point about bait needing to be a woman. Thank god Joanne has been working on her shielding!
Huh…seems that Jo’s mom was a big deal in paranormal circles --- she was known as the Irish mage --- and we finally learn why she dumped Joanne off on her dad. We also learn more about what Joanne was doing in Europe with her mom. I had the impression she’d sat around her mother’s death bed the whole time!
”Decent people help the police when they can.”
Jo should be forced to have lunch up at the Seattle Center all the time, use it for a lookout post. Then there’s her mechanic’s view of healing and protection. That image of shock absorbers was too funny. I do love Murphy using Jo’s love for car repair as her metaphor to heal people. Or survive an avalanche. I enjoy the garden metaphor as well for a person’s soul. It’s always interesting to slip in and see what kind of garden people have.
Hoo-wee, Ray is taking Laurie Corvallis out to dinner!
It’s an intense reunion with the miraculous reappearance. It also creates major problems on top of Jo’s already huge problems: teetering on suspension and ignoring the reasons why. The jealousy angle gets explosive as well with the two most important men in her life feeling jerked around and going into throwdown mode!
Yes, more back history on Jo’s childhood, and we finally get into that horrible breakup in high school. When Sara Buchanan stopped being Jo’s friend. What an immature bitch she was! And still is!! And I am so angry about that jerky kid's behavior. I wanna smack that little shit. And if Sara got in my way…he-he-he…
More rueful laughter as Joanne finds out how frustrating it is to deal with people who won’t accept the paranormal. It’s also a bit of a downer for Jo when she learns Coyote’s weakness.
The Story
It’s pretty near fatal to be a hiker in Seattle these days, what with hikers being targeted by something that’s eating them and stripping out their souls.
It’s expedient, but it turns out to be a suspension-able offence to get a civilian to help out with their investigation. When Mandy is attacked, Morrison gives them hours to solve this or they’re out.
Luckily for Joanne --- and Mandy! --- Coyote shows up. It’s short-lived relief as Joanne realizes Coyote's limitations.
The Characters
Detective Joanne Walker, a.k.a, Siobhán Walkingstick, has been learning how to be a shaman for the past year. Petite is her vintage ‘69 Mustang. Gary Muldoon is Jo’s best friend and very supportive of her shamanic work. He’s carrying a tortoise spirit guide after events in Thunderbird Falls , 2. Sheila MacNamarra was Joanne’s mother. Coyote, a.k.a., Cyrano Bia of the Diné had been Jo’s spirit guide until he became trapped in Coyote Dreams . Turns out Coyote’s grandfather is a shaman. Herne, the Green Man, has invited Jo in and gives her an answer to use on Corvallis.
Detective Billy Holliday is her cross-dressing medium partner. Melinda is his witchy wife is a sensitive, and they have five kids now: Robert is the oldest, Jacquie, Clara, Erik, and Caroline, the baby. It’s obvious that the four older kids have inherited some ability to see from their parents. We’ll have to wait and see with Caroline, but I’m not holding my breath *grin*. Dr. Bradley Holliday is Billy’s brother.
Captain Michael Murphy is their boss and willing to suspend belief to use all the skills his people have. Heather Fagan is the head of North Precinct’s forensics team. Sandra Reynolds is the coroner. The cops include the intrepid Ray Campbell.
Sara. Special Agent Sara Isaac, Joanne’s best friend from 15 years ago. The one who spurned her when Jo turned up pregnant with Lucas Isaac’s children.
Sonata Smith is a major medium. Mandy Tiller is a friend of Billy’s who’s into hiking and other outdoor sports. She’s willing to play bait. Jake Tiller is her son and friends with Robert.
Mickey and Henley are fellow taxi drivers. Ashley Hampton gets a mention.
Charlie Groleski loved to rock climb and Karin Newcomb is a student at the university and a fellow tenant at Joanne’s apartment building. Laurie Corvallis of Channel Two News --- her garden is interesting and with a nasty David in it --- is right in there as well along with Jeff, the camera guy.
The Master is a major entity who delights in tormenting Joanne and uses banshees as his servants in the real world. Wendigos are shamans gone bad. They become creatures of the outdoors who have gone mad and want to eat human flesh. Liz Gregory was Tlingit who went missing last March during a blizzard.
The Cover
The cover is Jo kneeling in the snow, prepping a circle in the woods. You'll recognize the scene when you read it. So peaceful looking, so vicious in action.
The title is a misnomer for the obvious subject, and I’m wondering if Demon Hunts refers to Joanne’s own demons from her childhood.
September 23, 2018
Demon Hunts is the fifth book in the Walker Papers series written by C.E. Murphy and centred on Joanne Walker (born Siobhán Walkingstick) is a half-Cherokee/half-Irish, is a Seattle Police Officer and mechanic who so happen to be a shaman.
It has been a year since the death of her mother and Joanne Walker has rather gotten used to being a shaman, despite winging it most of the time. It is fortunate for Joanne Walker and her partner Billy Holliday, because when Mandy Tiller, a friend of Billy Holliday, was attacked while hiking, they have been handed the Seattle Slaughterer case. Apparently, the Seattle Slaughterer is a cannibalistic serial killer who has been killing hikers in and around Seattle and eating their flesh.
They quickly discover that the Seattle Slaughterer is paranormal and in fact is a wendigo. The wendigo is a popular indigenous mythical man-eating monster or evil spirit native to forests. It is historically associated with murder, insatiable greed, cannibalism, and the cultural taboos against such behaviors. I was rather surprised that it did not make an appearance sooner in the Walker Paper series, because of its popularity in mainstream media. In the Walker Papers universe, a wendigos are shamans gone bad and become creatures of the outdoors who have gone mad and eat human flesh.
It is at this juncture that Coyote conveniently returns, which thrills Joanne Walker, because she thought Coyote was dead. However, it is short lived, when Joanne Walker discovers one of the weakness of her spiritual guide and that she had to go into the eerie Lower and Middle World to not only save the victims, but stop the Wendigo. It would take a lot more than her shamanistic powers to overcome this evil or be devoured by it – the last thing that Joanne Walker wants to be is turned into a wendigo herself.
Demon Hunts is written somewhat well. Murphy has mixed the Indigenous and Irish beliefs rather well – an unusual combination, but it is rather interesting. It was a matter of time that the wendigo would be used – it is the most popular Indigenous monster known – I am just surprised that it took Murphy this long to use it. I was afraid that when it came that it would be a tad cliché, but surprising Murphy added her own twist to the wendigo that made it unique and fresh. One tiny quibble is that the wendigo are found mainly on the east coast – not in Seattle.
All in all, Demon Hunts is written rather well and a good continuation for the series, which I plan to read in the very near future.
It has been a year since the death of her mother and Joanne Walker has rather gotten used to being a shaman, despite winging it most of the time. It is fortunate for Joanne Walker and her partner Billy Holliday, because when Mandy Tiller, a friend of Billy Holliday, was attacked while hiking, they have been handed the Seattle Slaughterer case. Apparently, the Seattle Slaughterer is a cannibalistic serial killer who has been killing hikers in and around Seattle and eating their flesh.
They quickly discover that the Seattle Slaughterer is paranormal and in fact is a wendigo. The wendigo is a popular indigenous mythical man-eating monster or evil spirit native to forests. It is historically associated with murder, insatiable greed, cannibalism, and the cultural taboos against such behaviors. I was rather surprised that it did not make an appearance sooner in the Walker Paper series, because of its popularity in mainstream media. In the Walker Papers universe, a wendigos are shamans gone bad and become creatures of the outdoors who have gone mad and eat human flesh.
It is at this juncture that Coyote conveniently returns, which thrills Joanne Walker, because she thought Coyote was dead. However, it is short lived, when Joanne Walker discovers one of the weakness of her spiritual guide and that she had to go into the eerie Lower and Middle World to not only save the victims, but stop the Wendigo. It would take a lot more than her shamanistic powers to overcome this evil or be devoured by it – the last thing that Joanne Walker wants to be is turned into a wendigo herself.
Demon Hunts is written somewhat well. Murphy has mixed the Indigenous and Irish beliefs rather well – an unusual combination, but it is rather interesting. It was a matter of time that the wendigo would be used – it is the most popular Indigenous monster known – I am just surprised that it took Murphy this long to use it. I was afraid that when it came that it would be a tad cliché, but surprising Murphy added her own twist to the wendigo that made it unique and fresh. One tiny quibble is that the wendigo are found mainly on the east coast – not in Seattle.
All in all, Demon Hunts is written rather well and a good continuation for the series, which I plan to read in the very near future.
June 29, 2020
Another good addition to the series, but I think I might have been a little too dumb for this one.
I can usually follow along as Joanne transports herself to different realms and planes of reality, but this one had layers upon layers of those realms and I found myself getting pretty lost (especially when other characters could/could not follow).
There was also the appearance of an old character, and the interaction between Joanne and this character really confused me because of the change in relationship dynamic. I still don't really know where they stand with each other at this point, but l was feeling pretty... weird... about their relationship early in the novel and that might not have changed.
Maybe this was more of a filler novel? It is about halfway through the series so this may have just been the curve that lets the next half of the series take place. We'll see.
I can usually follow along as Joanne transports herself to different realms and planes of reality, but this one had layers upon layers of those realms and I found myself getting pretty lost (especially when other characters could/could not follow).
There was also the appearance of an old character, and the interaction between Joanne and this character really confused me because of the change in relationship dynamic. I still don't really know where they stand with each other at this point, but l was feeling pretty... weird... about their relationship early in the novel and that might not have changed.
Maybe this was more of a filler novel? It is about halfway through the series so this may have just been the curve that lets the next half of the series take place. We'll see.
August 22, 2020
Bodies are being found with no clue how they died or got to their locations, plus shortly after the bodies shrivel up as if they’ve been dead for decades. When it’s discovered that they all were nature hikers/climbers, Joanne ends up in Mt/ Rainier State park hunting for a Wendigo.
Footnote: 1) I think Billy is one of the oddest couples I’ve even come across. A 6,2 cross-dresser police detective who’s married to a wise woman/witch with 5 kids.
2) When I googled Mt. Rainier park while reading this I found out that the remains of a woman had just been found there near one of the entrances. How’s that for coincidence?
Fave scenes: Erik’s strawberry jam, Raven & the copper bracelet, star of wonder/little lamb and the Raven’s path into the storm.
Footnote: 1) I think Billy is one of the oddest couples I’ve even come across. A 6,2 cross-dresser police detective who’s married to a wise woman/witch with 5 kids.
2) When I googled Mt. Rainier park while reading this I found out that the remains of a woman had just been found there near one of the entrances. How’s that for coincidence?
Fave scenes: Erik’s strawberry jam, Raven & the copper bracelet, star of wonder/little lamb and the Raven’s path into the storm.
October 28, 2020
Good book! This "episode" of 'The Walker Papers' has a couple of surprises. One is that Joanne seems to be getting the hang of this shaman thing. A great deal of this one is spent inside the world that she can access at the beat of a drum. It is worth the time spent, in my opinion, to slow yourself down to catch the full scope of what happens in the other worlds. I have to admit that I like it when Raven whacks her with his wings! A lot happens but since I don't do spoilers, I've said as much as I am going to.
October 6, 2023
Another good piece of Walker's story
Where she learns more about her powers, and what she is supposed to do with them.
Fighting an enemy that even she can hardly see, then figuring out what is the right thing to do - Joanne has changed, but is still one who worries about life and ethics. I like how Muphy gives us the superhero but keeps the mixed-up character wondering if she's doing what she's supposed to be doing.
Where she learns more about her powers, and what she is supposed to do with them.
Fighting an enemy that even she can hardly see, then figuring out what is the right thing to do - Joanne has changed, but is still one who worries about life and ethics. I like how Muphy gives us the superhero but keeps the mixed-up character wondering if she's doing what she's supposed to be doing.
May 26, 2018
I like this series but it really irritates me how down on herself Joanne is. She calls herself a moron, blames herself whenever things go wrong and is guilt ridden. You’d think by the fifth book she’d get over it. Her boss is obnoxious and blames her for things that aren’t her fault either. What a jerk. It’s very frustrating yet I keep listening to the audiobooks.
January 9, 2020
In line with this books antagonist I devoured this novel. Catie continues to amaze, delight and entertain as we follow our reluctant shaman on her journey. As before many touching moments and surprising reveals about characters new and established
Well written and a joy to experience, I've already bought book six
Well written and a joy to experience, I've already bought book six
August 10, 2020
This may be because I'm currently binging Supernatural but the inclusion of the 67 Chevy Impala and the two "fake" FBI agents? Absolutely amazing stuff their Murphy. Bravo.
October 30, 2017
This was one of the more interesting novels in the series from the mythological standpoint and it brought together some of the different story lines into a long-awaited resolution (of sorts). It was a quick read, engaging and a decent stand-alone storyline.
March 16, 2018
Worth the read
I admit that I dropped this book several chapters in. I caved and came back to it and there were unexpected occurrences that pulled you into the story. I enjoyed and am looking towards the next book and Joannes continued growth
I admit that I dropped this book several chapters in. I caved and came back to it and there were unexpected occurrences that pulled you into the story. I enjoyed and am looking towards the next book and Joannes continued growth
October 21, 2019
Better than the last couple. This one's main line is about a wendigo. Meanwhile, personal life continues to advance with Cyrano and the appearance of a woman from Joanna's past. All around good read.
Five stars for what it is, urban fantasy with a touch of romance.
Five stars for what it is, urban fantasy with a touch of romance.
February 10, 2021
OKAY, I SERIOUSLY DO NOT KNOW HOW MUCH LONGER I CAN TAKE IT WITHOUT SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION. Seriously. How many books did it take for Kate and Curran?! 3-4. October and Tybalt... 4-5. Mercy and Adam, 3. I AM GOING TO LOSE MY MIND.
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