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364th out of 1,207 books
—
6,935 voters
Spirit Dances (Walker Papers #6)
by
C.E. Murphy (Goodreads Author)
For Seattle detective Joanne Walker, spring is about new beginnings. She's mastered her shamanic abilities (mostly), survived a cannibalistic serial killer (barely) and now she's facing the biggest challenge of her career--attending a dance concert with her sexy boss, Captain Michael Morrison. But when the performance--billed as transformative--actually changes her into a...more
Paperback, 368 pages
Published
March 22nd 2011
by Luna
(first published January 1st 2011)
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39th out of 70 books
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219 voters
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That was exciting.
Spirit Dances is probably the most cohesive, well-plotted story since the first of the series. It takes all of Murphy’s promises and hints and brings them to the fore in the great mash-up of change and progress I hoped was on its way. Although I’ve been frustrated at times by Joanne’s brute force way of dealing with magic, this installment strongly reinforces the idea of a build-up to transition. It’s now very clear that Joanne had to undergo all her flailing and wailing to pr...more
Spirit Dances is probably the most cohesive, well-plotted story since the first of the series. It takes all of Murphy’s promises and hints and brings them to the fore in the great mash-up of change and progress I hoped was on its way. Although I’ve been frustrated at times by Joanne’s brute force way of dealing with magic, this installment strongly reinforces the idea of a build-up to transition. It’s now very clear that Joanne had to undergo all her flailing and wailing to pr...more
4,5 stars
So far, my favourite book in the series!
From reticent shaman to someone who finally feels confortable in her skin, Joanne's character has really undergo some monumental changes.
She continues to be her same "funny" self. She has one of the craziest senses of humour i've met in a book, and then she's surrounded by a vast number of interesting and complex characters, like her colleague Billy, who up until a few books ago, used to appear in the police precint in high heels and dresses. I wo...more
So far, my favourite book in the series!
From reticent shaman to someone who finally feels confortable in her skin, Joanne's character has really undergo some monumental changes.
She continues to be her same "funny" self. She has one of the craziest senses of humour i've met in a book, and then she's surrounded by a vast number of interesting and complex characters, like her colleague Billy, who up until a few books ago, used to appear in the police precint in high heels and dresses. I wo...more
When I reviewed Demon Hunts (Walker Papers, Book 5) by C E Murphy, I said that it was the best in the Walker Papers series to date. Well, as befits a series, Spirit Dances (Luna Books) trumps its predecessor as the best book in the Walker Papers. And, the ending leads one to believe that there are better books to come.
The book opens with promise. Joanne actually ends up, albeit accidentally, on a date with Morrison. They are attending a performance of a Native American spirit dance, which I exp...more
The book opens with promise. Joanne actually ends up, albeit accidentally, on a date with Morrison. They are attending a performance of a Native American spirit dance, which I exp...more
Ah, Joanne. The lovely thing about these books is that Jo manages to find entirely new ways to screw up, and it creates a delightful ride for the reader. There are many reasons why I consider this to be my favorite urban fantasy series, but a lot of it comes down to Jo. She's nice and approachable. Sure, she has a hard edge and can kick hiney in a fight if needed, but she's also a healer at heart. I can't help but love a Seattle cop-turned-shaman with a fondness for maple-covered donuts.[return]...more
Joanne Walker, urban shaman, investigates the murders of a dancer and a homeless man. Joanne learns new skills and gains new allies while tracking down the killer.
Warning, spoilers ahead...
What I Liked -
The plot - it was easy to understand. My complaints about the first few books were that the scenes in the other realms were too trippy for me but that wasn't the case here.
The cliffhanger - It looks like we may get more background on her mom's side of the family in the next book. Maybe Joanne wil...more
Warning, spoilers ahead...
What I Liked -
The plot - it was easy to understand. My complaints about the first few books were that the scenes in the other realms were too trippy for me but that wasn't the case here.
The cliffhanger - It looks like we may get more background on her mom's side of the family in the next book. Maybe Joanne wil...more
C.E. Murphy continues the story of Joanne Walker, reluctant shaman. As her power grows, she is learning to control it, but is still prone to major magical mishaps. Joanne, a Seattle police detective and her boss, Captain Morrison, have been trying to be professional and not give in to their mutual attraction. When Joanne accidentally asks him to join her at a dance performance, things get magically mucked up. The troupe does modern interpretations of Native American dances, and are quite aware t...more
Very good story, fantastic descriptions, exposition, again, a primer on doing magic work and/or spirit work in the real world. Joanne is one of the more real UPF female charactars I've encountered in all my reading. She is truly fullly fleshed.
But the nerve! i guess it's Luna and the author's personal preference, and mine, but I like a lot more sex in my books, and this was all teasing. Actual physical activity occurs every other book. Sigh. So, at least there will be some in the next one! The...more
But the nerve! i guess it's Luna and the author's personal preference, and mine, but I like a lot more sex in my books, and this was all teasing. Actual physical activity occurs every other book. Sigh. So, at least there will be some in the next one! The...more
I was hugely excited to read this book. This is the sixth entry in The Walker Papers books, one of my favorite current series in any genre. There’s always the worry that the newest entry in a series won’t live up to the books that preceded it. I’m happy to report that, far from losing momentum, Spirit Dances may very well be the best Walker Papers book yet. I appreciate how the character of Joanne has progressed throughout the series, and how what she has learned in previous books is often tied...more
Finally some resolution... AND THEN NONE! I've loved this series because of the complex characterization that Murphy includes with Joanne Walker and Morrison. They have been like oil and water from day one but now they seem to be oil and vinaigrette on a tasty salad. The growth both exhibit has made the relationship believable and based on mutual respect, attraction, caring, and perhaps love. Like any good author Murphy gives us a mere HINT of the possibilities before flinging Jo back into the m...more
It's been fifteen months since Joanne Walker saved her life by agreeing to be a shaman, and boy has she come a long way. With more confidence, more willingness to ask for help and listen to advice, she's got better control over her abilities. And now she's got to find a balance between her warrior and healer paths. When Joanne is presented tickets to a spirit dance show as a thank you from a woman she'd helped, she goes to Capt Morrison to see if it's okay to use them. He thinks she asked him ou...more
Spirit Dances is a free book I received from Amazon Vine. It is the sixth book in the series and I was afraid I might be totally lost. I have to give C.E. Murphy credit; she knows how to treat and catch new readers. All the back-story I needed was inserted in small snippets in the first few pages. I had not trouble jumping right into the story.
Joanne Walker is a Seattle detective who also has shamanic abilities. She has survived her first challenges and is beginning to feel comfortable with her...more
Joanne Walker is a Seattle detective who also has shamanic abilities. She has survived her first challenges and is beginning to feel comfortable with her...more
Oh my goodness!! The ending to Spirit Dances totally knocked me over. Don't get me wrong, it was a good knock-me-over, but I'm still digesting it... On the one hand, I'm soooooooo happy for Joanne. On the other I'm like, "wait, what???" Way for C.E. Murphy to leave me hanging! When is Raven Calls coming out? Aargh!!!
Ok, ok, let's start at the beginning. After Demon Hunts, which I cannot believe I didn't review (I will have to rectify that oversight!!), Joanne's made some discoveries about her ma...more
Ok, ok, let's start at the beginning. After Demon Hunts, which I cannot believe I didn't review (I will have to rectify that oversight!!), Joanne's made some discoveries about her ma...more
This series continues to grow into itself. Each book is better than the last, and this one is no different. Joanne continues down the path of accepting herself and her new talents, while learning just how far she can push herself. In Spirit Dances, Joanne must stop another killer, but this time she doesn't know if it's paranormal or if she's just being paranoid. Homeless people are disappearing and she might just be the only person that cares enough to even look into the matter.
At the same time...more
At the same time...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Murphy has a talent for capturing the imagination, and she definitely achieved and surpassed that in the sixth installment of the Walker Papers series. As with the rest of the series, I thoroughly enjoyed Spirit Dances and am anticipating the release of Raven Calls.
It is easy for an author to get caught up in the mundane details, which leave the book feeling as though there is not much going on while a lot is going on. Unlike some other books that I have read, this one actually moves along smoo...more
It is easy for an author to get caught up in the mundane details, which leave the book feeling as though there is not much going on while a lot is going on. Unlike some other books that I have read, this one actually moves along smoo...more
Spirit Dances by C.E. Murphy
Spirit Dances is number six in the Walker Papers series and WOW what an addition to the series.
If you're not familiar with the Walker Papers series, and you like the Paranormal genre, you should be. These books have everything, Zombies, Wendigos, ghosts, demons, spirit guides, and gods. Joanne Walker, starts out a mechanic for the police department, with a love of classic cars and a Cherokee, Irish heritage. She soon finds out in book one, the spirit world that she ha...more
Spirit Dances is number six in the Walker Papers series and WOW what an addition to the series.
If you're not familiar with the Walker Papers series, and you like the Paranormal genre, you should be. These books have everything, Zombies, Wendigos, ghosts, demons, spirit guides, and gods. Joanne Walker, starts out a mechanic for the police department, with a love of classic cars and a Cherokee, Irish heritage. She soon finds out in book one, the spirit world that she ha...more
Spirit Dance ~ Book Six of the Walker Papers series is an incredible read! I have not read any other books from this series, but I am sure I am going to pick them all up! C.E. Murphy keeps you absolutely spellbound by her vividly descriptive action packed story.
The main character Joanne Walker is just one accident after another. Whether she is getting herself or others into troubling situations, there is always has a sense of duty and a sense of humor attached to it.
In Spirit Dances, it looks li...more
The main character Joanne Walker is just one accident after another. Whether she is getting herself or others into troubling situations, there is always has a sense of duty and a sense of humor attached to it.
In Spirit Dances, it looks li...more
Spirit Dances is one of the best of The Walker Papers series, if not the best! Joanne thought she might get a break from the supernatural world for a little while when she’s given tickets to a dance concert – and invites Morrison! Now her worry is focused on not screwing up on their date. However, nothing is as easy as it seems for Joanne…
I’m quite impressed with how much confidence Joanne has gained and how much she’s grown throughout the series. It’s nice to see her working toward actualizing...more
I’m quite impressed with how much confidence Joanne has gained and how much she’s grown throughout the series. It’s nice to see her working toward actualizing...more
Coming Into Her Own
It's been fifteen months since cop mechanic and cynic Joanne Walker became warrior shaman and Seattle detective. In those fifteen months, she's been stabbed, hung, strung out, strung up, wiped out and beat down. She's done battle with creatures that aren't supposed to exist outside of grim horror stories or fantasy books. She's had crises of faith, been riddled with self doubt and guilt, and gotten several close friends almost killed just by associating with her. But she ain't...more
It's been fifteen months since cop mechanic and cynic Joanne Walker became warrior shaman and Seattle detective. In those fifteen months, she's been stabbed, hung, strung out, strung up, wiped out and beat down. She's done battle with creatures that aren't supposed to exist outside of grim horror stories or fantasy books. She's had crises of faith, been riddled with self doubt and guilt, and gotten several close friends almost killed just by associating with her. But she ain't...more
As with all of the "Walker Papers" novels, this is a fantastic read. Each book in the series is better than its predecessors, with this one obviously being the best so far.
If I can be nit-picky here, there are minor editing problems in the book (in point of fact, in several of the books in the series) that seem to consistently get missed by both Murphy and her editor; editing problems that tend to momentarily shock me out of the story. For instance, "these ones" is NOT proper grammar, but it ha...more
If I can be nit-picky here, there are minor editing problems in the book (in point of fact, in several of the books in the series) that seem to consistently get missed by both Murphy and her editor; editing problems that tend to momentarily shock me out of the story. For instance, "these ones" is NOT proper grammar, but it ha...more
I really enjoyed this latest installment of the Walker Papers series because I think Joanne has finally grown-up. She has come to terms with her shamanic powers and is really learning to take responsibility. I liked how she had more confidence. Now, she’s not perfect because lets be honest that would not be Joanne-style. She makes mistakes with the best intentions and spends twice as much time trying to fix them. Her big mistake involves Morrison this time. Yes, it’s unexpected but good.
Joanne’s...more
Joanne’s...more
Good First-person narratives are hard to find.
Grade: A
The Story: Detective and Shaman Joanne Walker is accepting her dual nature as a healer and warrior. She has a long-running "Not a Thing" thing with her boss, the handsome Captain Morrison. Her mentor, Coyote, is her spiritual and shaman guide into multiple planes of existence and she is learning and sometimes going beyond his teachings.
Jo is at a dance performance on a date with her boss when the lead dancer is murdered using psychic energy...more
Grade: A
The Story: Detective and Shaman Joanne Walker is accepting her dual nature as a healer and warrior. She has a long-running "Not a Thing" thing with her boss, the handsome Captain Morrison. Her mentor, Coyote, is her spiritual and shaman guide into multiple planes of existence and she is learning and sometimes going beyond his teachings.
Jo is at a dance performance on a date with her boss when the lead dancer is murdered using psychic energy...more
FINALLY! It only took them six books. That sounds so crass to say, like it's all that I got out of this book. This author is consistently one of my favorites. I seem to have developed some weakness for Native American female leads who are mechanics and have some kind of supernatural lifestyle and responsibility thrust upon them. I don't know what to do with that but I will take it since it makes me happy.
I'm unsure how much I like Jo's transformation. I rather liked the bumbling Jo who really ha...more
I'm unsure how much I like Jo's transformation. I rather liked the bumbling Jo who really ha...more
Can I get an AMEN?!? About flippin time that the story got back on track and where it should have been for awhile..
In this book we are finally getting what the readers have wanted all along. Joanne has a date with Morrison to the theater. Mind you it's to see a Native American dance that goes terribly wonky. Turns her somewhat into a Coyote and a dancer ends up getting killed on stage. But hey that's just another day in the life of super shaman Joanne Walker!
The novel moves at a super fast pace...more
In this book we are finally getting what the readers have wanted all along. Joanne has a date with Morrison to the theater. Mind you it's to see a Native American dance that goes terribly wonky. Turns her somewhat into a Coyote and a dancer ends up getting killed on stage. But hey that's just another day in the life of super shaman Joanne Walker!
The novel moves at a super fast pace...more
Whew!
This was a great book, and easily my favourite so far. As you can see from the back-cover blurb Joanne actually goes on a date with Morrison! Did you hear what I said? A Date! With Morrison! I know!
Of course partially shifting into a Coyote during a "special" dance performance will put a dampener on most romantic evenings, still, progress is progress and I'm taking it where I can get it!
I don't want to spoil the rest of the plot from here but lets just say that, whereas other books have inv...more
This was a great book, and easily my favourite so far. As you can see from the back-cover blurb Joanne actually goes on a date with Morrison! Did you hear what I said? A Date! With Morrison! I know!
Of course partially shifting into a Coyote during a "special" dance performance will put a dampener on most romantic evenings, still, progress is progress and I'm taking it where I can get it!
I don't want to spoil the rest of the plot from here but lets just say that, whereas other books have inv...more
This series had been a little flat for me and I was unsure I wanted to read anymore. However, this book has piqued my interest again. I think it helped that there was a little romance for our heroine.
Joanne is visited by the girl she saved in Demons Hunt, and is offered tickets to a native american spirit dance. This night introduces Joanne to a new shaman trick, however, before she can learn much about how or why, the show ends in disaster and Joanne finds herself caught up in yet more trouble...more
Joanne is visited by the girl she saved in Demons Hunt, and is offered tickets to a native american spirit dance. This night introduces Joanne to a new shaman trick, however, before she can learn much about how or why, the show ends in disaster and Joanne finds herself caught up in yet more trouble...more
C.E. Murphy is definitely growing as a writer. This is the 6th in the Walker Papers, and I can really see the development of her talent. There have been parts of the last two books that have had me literally laughing out loud, and that didn't happen in the first couple of books.
As Murphy's writing has developed, so has her character. Joanne Walker (Siobhan Walkingstick) is also coming into her own. She is much more accepting of her talents, and more willing to do what needs to be done to save t...more
As Murphy's writing has developed, so has her character. Joanne Walker (Siobhan Walkingstick) is also coming into her own. She is much more accepting of her talents, and more willing to do what needs to be done to save t...more
Despite jumping head first into this series without reading any of the previous novels I had no trouble picking up the storyline, world building or any of the relationships between the characters. Starting off with a bang, we find our Heroine Jo struggling with her magic, a DV case, accidentally turning into a coyote but above all, somehow accidentally going on a date with the Captain, Michael Morrison.
Jo is an all guts, uncensored, unrepentant woman of a Heroine and instantly has my heart. Her...more
Jo is an all guts, uncensored, unrepentant woman of a Heroine and instantly has my heart. Her...more
This book 6 of the Walker Papers; Seattle Detective Joanne Walker is a Shaman, and in the previous books we have travelled with her as she discovers this fact, and seen how she learned how to use her abilities. We have enjoyed getting to know her partner Billy who can see and communicate with certain ghosts, and her boss Captain Michael Morrison.
This book begins with Joanne and Billy on a call out which results in Joanne having to shoot a woman in order to stop her killing Billy. Although there...more
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C.E. Murphy is a writer of fantasy novels and short stories. She also writes "action-adventure romance" novels under the pseudonym Cate Dermody, which was her grandmother's maiden name.
More about C.E. Murphy...
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“Rita folded her arms around herself and peered up at me. “If you’d asked me
three months ago I’d have said you were hitting the bottle too hard. But then I
got stabbed and should have died, but instead a bunch of cops and ambulance
people showed up because somebody who wasn’t even there sent them on ahead to save my life. If something like that happens to someone like me, you start to
have a little faith in something bigger. I don’t know if I believe in magic or miracles all the time. But I believe in you, Detective Walker. I believe in you.”
—
5 people liked it
More quotes…
three months ago I’d have said you were hitting the bottle too hard. But then I
got stabbed and should have died, but instead a bunch of cops and ambulance
people showed up because somebody who wasn’t even there sent them on ahead to save my life. If something like that happens to someone like me, you start to
have a little faith in something bigger. I don’t know if I believe in magic or miracles all the time. But I believe in you, Detective Walker. I believe in you.”
Apr 10, 2011 08:52am