Juniper Wiles and the Ghost Girls

Juniper Wiles #2

by Charles de Lint

Anyone who knows her wouldn’t be surprised to learn that Jilly sees the world through a prism of faerie tales. It was years before I came to understand that she wasn’t just being whimsical when she talked so easily about hobs and brownies and various kinds of faerie creatures.

They were real.

Faerieland, otherworlds, and all the denizens and creatures you might imagine to live there.

It was all real.

And so were ghosts.

I remember when I first realized this. I felt like my head was going to explode.

* * *

Juniper should have known better after her last foray into the otherworld. But when she’s asked to look into a mysterious box full of poltergeists she ends up making a promise to seven teenage ghosts that puts here directly in the crosshairs of a blood witch’s deadly ire.

Genres: Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Mystery, Young Adult, Fiction, Contemporary Fantasy

328 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 28, 2022

About the author

Charles de Lint is the much beloved author of more than seventy adult, young adult, and children's books. Renowned as one of the trailblazers of the modern fantasy genre, he is the recipient of the World Fantasy, Aurora, Sunburst, and White Pine awards, among others. Modern Library's Top 100 Books of the 20th Century poll, conducted by Random House and voted on by readers, put eight of de Lint's books among the top 100.
De Lint is a poet, folklorist, artist, songwriter and performer. He has written critical essays, music reviews, opinion columns and entries to encyclopedias, and he's been the main book reviewer for The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction since 1987. De Lint served as Writer-in-residence for two public libraries in Ottawa and has taught creative writing workshops for adults and children in Canada and the United States. He's been a judge for several prominent awards, including the Nebula, World Fantasy, Theodore Sturgeon and Bram Stoker.

Born in the Netherlands in 1951, de Lint immigrated to Canada with his family as an infant. The family moved often during de Lint's childhood because of his father's job with an international surveying company, but by the time Charles was twelve—having lived in Western Canada, Turkey and Lebanon—they had settled in Lucerne, Quebec, not far from where he now resides in Ottawa, Ontario.

In 1980, de Lint married the love of his life, MaryAnn Harris, who works closely with him as his first editor, business manager and creative partner. They share their love and home with a cheery little dog named Johnny Cash.

Charles de Lint is best described as a romantic: a believer in compassion, hope and human potential. His skilled portrayal of character and settings has earned him a loyal readership and glowing praise from peers, reviewers and readers.

Charles de Lint writes like a magician. He draws out the strange inside our own world, weaving stories that feel more real than we are when we read them. He is, simply put, the best.
—Holly Black (bestselling author)
Charles de Lint is the modern master of urban fantasy. Folktale, myth, fairy tale, dreams, urban legend—all of it adds up to pure magic in de Lint's vivid, original world. No one does it better.
—Alice Hoffman (bestselling author)

To read de Lint is to fall under the spell of a master storyteller, to be reminded of the greatness of life, of the beauty and majesty lurking in shadows and empty doorways.
—Quill & Quire

His Newford books, which make up most of de Lint's body of work between 1993 and 2009, confirmed his reputation for bringing a vivid setting and repertory cast of characters to life on the page. Though not a consecutive series, the twenty-five standalone books set in (or connected to) Newford give readers a feeling of visiting a favourite city and seeing old friends.
More recently, his young adult Wildlings trilogy—Under My Skin, Over My Head, and Out of This World—came out from Penguin Canada and Triskell Press in 2012, 2013 and 2014. Under My Skin won 2013 Aurora Award. A novel for middle-grade readers, The Cats of Tanglewood Forest, published by Little Brown in 2013, won the Sunburst Award, earned starred reviews in both Publishers Weekly and Quill & Quire, and was chosen by the New York Times Editors as one of the top six children's books for 2013. His most recent adult novel, The Mystery of Grace (2009), is a fascinating ghost story about love, passion and faith. It was a finalist for both the Sunburst and Evergreen awards.

De Lint is presently writing a new adult novel. His storytelling skills also shine in his original songs. He and MaryAnn (also a musician) recently released companion CDs of their original songs, samples of which can be heard on de Lin

Reviews

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun urban fantasy story set in de Lint's iconic Newford and serves as a fine second adventure for Juniper Wiles. Many of the characters from previous stories participate to one extent or another, and it's like a happy family reunion to check in on them all again. There are three intermingled storylines, as Juniper and Jilly and their friends try to help a box full of ghosts, find a missing sister from a fictional land, and solve the mystery of what happened to the man who used the Newford Police paranormal investigation unit to steal city funds and then disappeared. (There's also a nifty bonus story that shows the very early days of the unit that guest stars none other than Mike Mignola's Liz Sherman and Hellboy from the B.P.R.D.) There's not a whole lot of detecting; it's mostly the supporting cast doing internet research and then Juniper playing bad cop and Jilly Coppercorn playing good cop, and they conclude that their mission will be to help those who are in need of it. There's a sub-plot about a transgender character that didn't mesh too well with the rest of the story, but overall it's a fun return to a friendly group of wonderful and familiar characters, and a fine bit of development for Juniper. I enjoyed it and hope for a third volume soon.

[Richard Christou · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book from De Lint. I like the way his urban fantasy has continued to delight over the yesrs without any falling off of quality. Instead it develops in keeping with the harder edge we see in the latest trend but unlike much other urban fantasy it never loses De Lint's spectal touch of humanity and tenderness.

[Lis Carey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Juniper Wiles, former actor who starred as the plucky teen detective Nora Constantine, was dragged back into the Nora Constantine world in a previous book, Juniper Wiles, when it started to bleed into Newford, starting with her meeting with the ghost of a murdered young man. She survived that adventure, but decided that she didn't want to be a detective, teen or otherwise. And she's certainly no Nora Constantine.

But having learned that she can see and talk to ghosts, and that they all have unresolved problems they want to solve, she can't always say no when they ask her for help. Yet while she often helps, she has no interest in making it the focus of her life.

Then Christy persuades her to come to a meeting at the police station, with Captain Sam Cray, head of the Newford Police Department's Paranormal Investigations Task Force. Christy consults for the part of the police that's informally called the Spook Squad, and Cray is having a problem that involves ghosts. Juniper is there only as a reluctant favor to Christy, and Cray is angry that Christy has brought "an actress" who only thinks she's something because she played Nora Constantine. He's offensive enough about it that she decides to walk out, but Christy persuades her to stay, and Cray to at least show her the problem.

Soon Juniper has met the "ghost girls" tied to box taken from a house that was being plagued by what seemed to be a poltergeist. They can't open the box, and no one can see or hear any ghosts--except, when she enters the room, Juniper. Soon she has promised the girls that she'll do her best to solve their problem of being trapped by the box---and find their killer, who got each of them, over several decades.

That would be enough of a problem, with no real clue who the girls are or when and where they were killed, but this is Newford, and Juniper has a reputation of helping people who aren't part of the everyday world. She meets a young man who isn't a ghost, but rather an Eadar Duncan Fairweather, one of the young mages studying at Kingsmoor College, wants her to find his missing sister, also a mage student, called Daisy Fairweather. Getting this information clear takes a few minutes, because Juniper isn't one of the fans of either the books or the movies based on them, and doesn't even recognize their names. She agrees to do some preliminary investigation and decide if she'll be able to help him.

Soon Juniper is doing exactly what she doesn't want to do--two investigations that become dangerous and high-stakes, sometimes involving her friends, especially the all too willing Jilly Coppercorn, into events Juniper things are too dangerous for her gentler friends. She's happy to have the assistance of Joe, the shapeshifter "cousin," and Christy's sister Christiana after she learns more of Christiana's abilities, but she's also not at all sure she likes who she becomes when she's dealing with genuine bad guys--such as the killer of the ghost girls.

And things don't get better with Cray. They get worse. When he figures out he really needs Juniper's help, he wants a pro forma apology for his rudeness and insults to wipe the slate clean, and then dictate how she's going to help him and how it will work. Juniper does not respond well to this, and Cray becomes another problem she and her allies have to deal with, while hunting a a killer and looking for a missing woman. Along the way, she learns a lot about herself, her friends, and also about the reputation she's already earned in parts of the magical world she has till now been only marginally aware of, from listening to Jilly, Christy, Joe, and other friends. De Lint's character development is never less than excellent, and we see him doing his good work here.

On that note, it would be wrong not to say a bit more about Sam Cray. I don't like him, but he's understandable. Several characters in the book say he's "not a bad guy," but I really don't like him. He does have some painful events in his past that make his behavior understandable--but it is at best an unhealthy reaction. Charles de Lint says in an afterword/intro to the bonus short story about the beginnings of the Spook Squad, that Cray is "not a bad guy."

And I read the bonus story, and it's good, and I still don't like Sam Cray. Perhaps that's my past experiences, that give me a low tolerance for people who think they can tell me what to think and feel, and want pro forma apologies to wipe the slate clean, without anything really changing.

Highly recommended.

I received this book as a gift, and am reviewing it voluntarily.

[Connie53 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ik heb, net als van boek een, erg van dit boek genoten. Heerlijk en ook heel fijn om te horen dat Charles de Lint al een paar nieuwe Juniper boeken heeft geschreven die alleen nog moeten worden geredigeerd.
Juniper en Lilly gaan dit keer op zoek naar degene die de dood van zeven meisjes op zijn/haar geweten heeft. Juniper heeft deze meisjes aangetroffen als zij bij de politie wordt geroepen. Ze zitten als geesten in een doos en Juniper is de enige die ze kan zien. Met het hele team gaan ze op onderzoek uit en dat brengt ze af en toe in precaire situaties. Juniper krijgt hulp van Joe, als het op veld onderzoek aankomt. En Jilly houdt zicht bezig, samen met een aantal bewoners van het huis op Stanton Street. Er spelen ook nog wat andere zaken. Zo is er Duncan die op zoek is naar zijn zus Daisy. (LHBTQ+), En er is Nida Dill, een van de meest krachtige tovenaars van Kingsmoor College (Een soort Zweinstein) die gestopt moet worden. Die zaken hebben allemaal iets met elkaar te maken en dat maakt dat het allemaal lekker leest.

Ik kan niet wachten op nog meer Juniper.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun mystery in De Lint's Newford setting. I like Juniper as a character, and I like revisiting this city and all of its colorful characters. I would be perfectly happy to keep reading Juniper mysteries as long as Charles de Lint continues to write them.

[Lenore · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's Newford and there's Jilly, Christiana, Joe, Georgie, Sophie, Wendy, and Christy so it's going to be a homey and familiar, fantastically urban and productive story, right? Here's to Charles de Lint and his extraordinary ability to transport us into living rooms for tea, city streets to walk to and from our friend's homes and shops, and the magical settings of other books come alive with Eadar. Ghost-seeing Juniper Wiles fits in nicely with our beloved artist-musician community at Bramleyhaugh, bringing her boxing skills and independence to this mystery. It's a lighter read than Widdershins and The Onion Girl. It's just fun even though the central mystery is a gory affair, presented as one of three main threads in the story. There are many layers here for the de Lint fan to explore.

[zjakkelien · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it. The conflict between the police and Juniper feels a little contrived, and I think I can do without the action scenes, but overall, it's a good read.

[Naomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was pleased as punch to have another doorway to a magic world in my hands - all I had to do to open it was turn the page, and I did that! Charles de Lint has once again led readers into the city of Newford and the endearing characters who populate it. I loved the current issues which fleshed out the story, and the magic which took away their sting. Missing girls, a serial killer along the lines of Countess Elizabeth Bathory crossed with Cleopatra, a family struggling with a trans member, overpopulated pounds, and of course, day to day relationships and just existing.

As is so standard with de Lint, once you pick it up you cannot put it down! I only pray for another novel soon to keep me reading!

[Joy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Twenty years ago I was a big fan of de Lint and the Urban fantasy world he built until his work turned into lightweight YA fantasy.

I read this new book of his for old-time sake but it had way too much explanation, easy saves, CW style drama and became a hodgepodge of supernatural's from all his old work. It really removed the mystery, mythology and poetry of magic he once created.

[Kathy Davie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second in the Juniper Wiles subseries (twenty-second in the Newford urban fantasy series) and revolving around Juniper, a reluctant detective in this “real” world. It’s been a couple months since Juniper Wiles , 21.

My Take
We’re introduced to bigotry right away, for while Cray will use a voudoon priestess and fortunetellers as consultants, he draws the line at a former actress. Then that actress, Juniper, discovers how Cray treats other supernaturals. Juniper has her own continuing bigotry when it comes to the Eadar, another type of being who are considered less.

To be fair, Juniper’s perceptions are colored by her frustration with people who confuse her with the fictional character she played in the TV series.

It is interesting how skeptical Cray is and yet Pearse is accepting of it — the weird has happened too often for him not to. What is scary, however, is how far Cray is willing to go with his psychological warfare. What does it say about a cop who’s willing to abuse his consultants? I do like how supportive Christy and the others are for Juniper.

Unfortunately, or is that fortunately?, Juniper has a soft heart, that gets a wake-up call to this supernatural world. More fortunately, even though Juniper doubts her detecting abilities — we know this from first person protagonist point-of-view from Juniper’s perspective — yet she’s discovering the lure of detective work.

As in Juniper Wiles , Jilly is a good and giving person who brings the cozy into this story, always going out of her way to help and encourage people. It’s also the story in which Juniper had first learned that Jilly’s tales of Faerieland and otherworlds is true. Juniper’s thoughts on this continue in Juniper Wiles and the Ghost Girls.

I do appreciate Christiana’s take on art:

” . . . if someone likes something, they’ll still like it when you’re done explaining why they shouldn’t.”

Juniper and Tam both grew up in a commune, an environment that has them open to Jilly and her crowd, brought up by parents who encouraged the sister and brother to dream big. It’s a great and welcoming group of people who are supportive of each other. Jilly calls them her family of choice and Juniper thinks of them as her tribe.

One quirk in the story is how Juniper feels about Nick, and it does add a tension.

Christiana’s home sounds fascinating.

As disappointed as Juniper is with life in LA, she’s coming to appreciate all that she learned while working on Nora Constantine.

I do love those portals Christiana creates in this. It cracked me up how fascinated Juniper is with the portal in her linen closet!

I do like how de Lint incorporates present-day issues in his story and that includes trans issues. De Lint points out how people drive out those they can’t accept but then want them back so they can fix AND punish them.

No one has the right to tell others how to live.

There’s action in Juniper Wiles and the Ghost Girls , but it’s more about characters thinking and talking. A supportive story that explores the fantastical, the “reality” of book worlds, and the choices people make.

As Davey says:

”Each of us is a whole mess of stories, all of which get tangled up with those of other people . . .”

Whoa, whoa . . . that was an unexpected ending, and so perfect. I can’t wait to read what comes next in the Juniper Wiles series!

The Story
Coppercorn and Wiles, Private Investigations, has begun to get cases, small ones, but their discoveries do bring closure to friends and family.

There’s a missing persons case, a cursed box that Captain Cray can’t open, a serial murderer to catch . . .

And it all comes down to what you’re willing to give up from a part of yourself.

The Characters
Newford is a city of magic. The Light of India is one of Juniper’s favorite restaurants — and it does make me hungry! The Black Fox. Gracie Street is where the LGBTQ community hangs out. The Half Kaffe Café. Turtle Moon is another secondhand bookstore.

Juniper “Joon” Wiles, an actress who once played a teen detective in Nora Constantine, has retired to her hometown of Newford and took up painting again. She’s discovered she sees ghosts. Sonora is the bull terrier she adopted in Juniper Wiles . Tamarack “Tam” Wiles is Juniper’s musician brother who shares the house they inherited from their grandmother. Nick Burns, Juniper’s boyfriend, manages a second-hand bookstore, Burns Books, for his uncle.

It was in Juniper Wiles that Jilly decided that she and Juniper should become Coppercorn and Wiles, Private Investigations.

Bramleyhaugh is . . .
. . . a huge house on Stanton Street inherited by Jilly Coppercorn and Sophie. It’s been converted to an artists’ colony and inhabited by Jilly, a popular artist, and her husband Geordie Riddell, a musician; Sophie; Christy, a writer and Geordie’s brother, who consults for the Spook Squad; Saskia, who lives in a digital world; Wendy, a brilliant computer hacker who loves to read; and, Mona, who creates a comic strip, lives there with her werewolf boyfriend, Lyle. The Grumbling Greenhouse Studio had been a greenhouse behind Bramleyhaugh, which Jilly converted to an artist’s studio. Bobo is the terrier/poodle mix Jilly adopted in Juniper Wiles . Olaf “Goon” Gooneskara, a king of the skookin, had been the professor’s housekeeper.

Christiana, a shadow of all the things Christy didn’t like about himself and Geordie’s sister, has her own place in an otherworld, the wild. She can step sideways as well. Meran Kelledy, faerie royalty, also lives on Stanton Street, in Kelledy House. The Bone Circus Gallery is owned by more friends: Eliza, an artist with a studio out back, and Sarah.

Allison who played "Gabi" in Nora Constantine is still friends with Juniper. ”Gabie” and “Nora Constantine” still exist as Eadar in their otherworld Crescent City. “Charlie Midnight” had been the big bad in Juniper Wiles .

The Spook Squad is . . .
. . . more formally known as the Newford Police Department’s Paranormal Investigations Task Force and is led by the incredibly rude and obnoxious Captain Sam Cray. Other members include Detectives Assi Namome, Chad Waller, and Ramirez. Some of their consultants include Phara Torreau, a voodoun priestess, fortunetellers, and Joe, a.k.a. Bones or Animandeg, who is half-canid, half-corbae, and all Kickaha, who easily steps sideways into otherworlds. The fortunetelling Cassie Washington is Joe’s wife.

The seven ghost girls from different eras include Blondie, a cheerleader whose name turns out to be Sandy Collins; Debbie Owens, a.k.a. MisRule; Victoria Bell; the grungy Brooke Hardy; Caitlin Burns; Patti Green; the nerdy Victoria Bell; and, Della Boyd. Loretta Jones, Elena Brown, and Monique Wilson appear through the years.

The Kingsmoor Chronicles
Daisy Fairweather, a.k.a. Davey Fayre, an Eadar from The Kingsmoor Chronicles by Colin Bishop, is missing. Duncan Fairweather, a wizard, is her worried fictional twin brother — he’s got a dependence issue. Master Mage Stoddard is the head of Kingsmoor College. Oliver Tye is a hero who became a Master Mage; Lionel is his bodyguard. Arden Tye, a rogue Master Mage, is Oliver’s evil uncle. Jerad Sloan is the Big Bad. More characters, er, Eadar, include the sports-minded Adria who plays krakenball; Euna Wentworth; Dora Nowlin, who had been Oliver’s girlfriend; and, Nida Dill, a hedge mage. Friends of Davey’s include Amos, Kristen, and Colby. Someone evil lives in The Warrington Towers.

In our-world, Matt is a friend of Davey’s. Jaden Storm is the artist for the books. Magers are die-hard readers.

The shadow girl lives in an otherworld. Mother Crone, a.k.a. Galfreya, is a faerie seer with a court at Woodforest Plaza Mall. Hazel is a protector. Edgan is part of Mother Crone’s court. Tatiana McGree is the Queen of all the local Seelie Courts. Ollie Thistledown is a healer. Cynthia Norton had wanted Donald Lee Hale, Esquire, who had been married to that floozy, Essie Holmes.

The places where Jilly volunteers include St Vincent’s Home for the Aged, the soup kitchen, the animal shelter, and the Katharine Mully Memorial Arts Court — a drop-in center for street kids to give them a creative outlet. Pearse O’Shaunessy, Juniper’s boxing coach, runs a gym: The front half of the building caters to the yuppie crowd while the back half is all about boxing. Annie is a part-time employee at Burns Books.

Old City is a part of Newford that got dropped underground. Raven’s World is our world. Infinite otherworlds exist and the space between our world and an otherworld is called the between. Eadar are characters from books, who come to life when enough people believe in them. Tedious, a.k.a. teddies, are non-magical people. A cousin is a shapeshifter. The cousins call humans five-fingered beings. Anna had been Christy’s grade school crush. A ghost glove is a dangerous artifact but may help with communication. Hedge mages can only beg, borrow, or steal magic. They tend to squat in the Round Ways. Ethan Law was a client from Juniper Wiles . Edward had been Ethan’s transgender boyfriend. Devin Nash is a crook who successfully embezzles from law enforcement.

The Cover and Title
The cover is about one of my favorite parts: The portal that Christiana creates in Juniper’s linen closet. It features the back of a red-haired Juniper wearing a red tank top and light brown jeans with a gun tucked into the back of her pants, as she stands before the open linen closet door, looking out over Christiana’s wild of meadows. The linen closet shelves are on the right with Sonora sitting in front of them. All the text is white with the title at the top above Juniper’s head. The author’s name is across her thighs with an info blurb below that.

The title is the inciting case, Juniper Wiles and the Ghost Girls.

[Jaimie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first Juniper Wiles book was a fun attempt by author Charles de Lint at playing with the detective noir genre through his unique mythical lens, but this second adventure in the series saw the story settle into a more comfortable place that is just a touch closer to what we expect from this prolific fantasy author. Juniper is once again at the centre of a magical interlude, which seems to intrude into her mundane life with increasing frequency now that she has discovered that the world is far closer to the magical realm than expected. We see her meet the fey court that hangs out at the mall, learn more about the magical worlds that are just a step away from ours, and travel to fictional realms made real through belief in a quest to find a wizard’s lost sister and solve a mystery around a group of murdered girls. The story is pure noir-meets-magical adventure, with these two nicely complex storyarcs that weave perfectly together, but what keeps audiences riveted to the Newford crew (even after all these years) is the depth with which De Lint has written his characters and the strong social themes that underpin the narrative. Yes, we’re definitely here to see Juniper save the day with her clever detective work, but the true magic is in the connections that she builds with the community - which also make readers feel like we’re part of the squad and have a deep emotional investment in the goings on in this fictional city. When the story comes to a close, we’re left with a similar feeling to our redheaded protagonist: the cases have concluded satisfactorily and the good that Juniper has put into the world leaves a positive legacy, but mostly we’re left with a small but hopeful glow of possibility that the world is just opening up for her (and us). Her friendships are stronger than before, she’s found a purpose to her life besides acting and put her skills to use, and she’s finally starting to re-emerge from the routine mundanity that was her life - all major life themes that we need to be reminded of once and a while, which De Lint does with perfectly magical aplomb.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is even more delightful than the first Juniper Wiles book. After the events of that book, she's developed a bit of a reputation. The paranormal division of Newford's police department calls her in on a case where a locked box appears to be infested with a poltergeist. Since she can see ghosts, she finds out that it is instead inhabited by the ghosts of seven teenage girls who were all murdered by the same serial killer, who put their little finger bones in the box. She is determined to find the killer, obviously a magic user, before anyone else is murdered.

She's also approached by a young man from a world that arose from a fantasy series about a school of magic. He wants her help to find his twin sister, who has come over to our (er, Juniper's) world. He's kind of obnoxious, but Juniper works on it. A good thing, because his world turns out to be related to the murders. This school of magic reminded me more of Rainbow Rowell's Simon Snow books than of the obvious one (which, yeah, Simon Snow is based on too).

So she has two jobs that use her investigative skills and her connections to the unusual denizens of Newford. In the process, she deepens those connections and connects with more people and other magical beings. Jilly is still her partner in all of it. They both have their doubts and are doing it reluctantly, but they can't back away from people in need.

De Lint says in the introduction that he has complete drafts for three more Juniper Wiles books. So we now have a supernatural crime investigation/murder mystery series set in Newford. I love it!

The book includes a bonus Hellboy short story, reprinted from a 2004 Hellboy anthology. It takes place 12 years previously in Newford. It doesn't include Jilly or Juniper or any of their friends, but it shows the origin of Newford's paranormal task squad and a quick job they do together with Hellboy, involving a kraken.

[Mel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this more than I did. I usually love the Newford stories and De Lint is one of my all time favourite authors. It was great to see trans characters in the books and have them accepted when Newford has traditionally been a pretty cis and straight place. But it was a bit disappointing. I don't know if it's a difference between Queer people in Canada and Queer people in the UK. But it felt like CDL had spent a lot of time listening to what cis people say about trans people and not what trans people say. Things like "I identify as a gay man" rather than "I'm a gay man!" and even down to "I was born in the wrong body". Then instead of actually dealing with being trans they just went to the fairy court and magically became a different gender. (And the description of the physical changes involved things like adam's apple and not voice changing?) And suddenly they were "real" men. It was well intentioned. I'm glad of that. But also a bit cringe.
And the story itself was just TOO magical. The early Newford books were great because it was set in the real world with hints of magic behind the corners. Whereas this had teleportation all over the place, and constant magic it felt like pure fantasy not urban fantasy.
I also felt like the social commentary had been lost. Everyone now was independently wealthy and could just live leisurely lives of art.
And they were BAD detectives. Like the only thing they did to try and find the girls was a couple internet searches. They didn't even look in local newspapers at the library for the older girls just concluded as they disappeared before the internet there was nothing that could be done. But in the end who the girls were din't matter because it was all tied up in the story characters who just happened to come along at the same time.
So alas did not enjoy nearly as much as the others.

[Lucy Cummin · Rating 3 out of 5]

de Lint sure can move a story along at a swift clip. I'm still a fan, though less, perhaps, than I was twenty years ago or whenever it was I fell into de Lint's orbit. He has such an easy writing style and matter-of-fact way of drawing the denizens of other worlds and other modalities into his made up Earthly city of Newford. In this one, Juniper (who I am guessing made her first appearance in a novel I haven't yet stumbled across) is working with a shape-shifter Joe (who I vaguely remember from another story) to help the newly formed Newford Paranormal Investigation Unit solve the problem of a weird find, a box they can't open but is dangerous. Juniper comes in and sees seven ghosts and can talk with them. The box appears to connected to their ghosts who were murdered by someone . . . there's also an alternate Hogwarts and some wizards and some gender shifting, lots going on! As a writer of the Elizabeth Bowen school (she once stated she has trouble moving characters from one room to the other) I am in awe of just plain story-telling and de Lint is a master.***1/2

[Keith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read a short blurb on this book and thought, "That sounds fun; I'd really like to read that." I read the first book in the series earlier (Juniper Wiles) and, while I liked it, it just felt like a very fast read. This book felt like it had more depth to it, in addition to being a bit longer, and I enjoyed it all the more for those aspects.

I've read enough of Charles de Lint's books to really love seeing many of the same characters show up in them, and I wasn't disappointed in that with this book either. The new characters introduced, and the accompanying bonus story at the back that gave even more history on those characters, were great too.

This was a very good read from an excellent author.

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charles de Lint is a master craftsman. Any book that he writes has a great lyrical quality to it where the reader just gets wrapped up in the story. I enjoyed this second Juniper Wiles book more than the first. It seemed like the first one relied heavily on the reader's knowledge of Newford and some of the author's longtime characters. This one relies on that to such a small extent that it would be POSSIBLE to read the book and still enjoy it. But for us long time readers, there are a number of payoffs to be had as well. Ms. Wiles is a great character and I look forward to more stories with her as the lead.

[Diane Perazzo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just love being in Newford. And so any of Charles De Lint‘s books that are set there are a wonderful escape for me. Juniper, Jilly and Joe are all fabulous characters and I love the system of magic and travel between worlds that deLint weaves through the story. Also nice to see some current issues such as gender being integrated in a good way. I get the need for a little violence, and I appreciate that Juniper struggles with this, but do she and Joe really need guns? Not sure that really adds much.

[Beverly Warner · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good to be back in Newford! I'm familiar with Jilly and company from well earlier in this gorgeous, limitless universe, and the way de Lint weaves our ever-changing present into existing lore is enchanting, thoughtful, and often hilarious (you had me at magical telecom providers). Juniper is a strong, bright wind of certainty and confidence, not exactly unbothered by her paranormal experiences, but curious and compassionate when facing dangers and darkness. Can't wait to see this heroine and her network solve more mysteries!

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Juniper Wiles story

Was usual, Charles Dement has delivered another delicious story. I've read almost all his books, and I never turn down a new one. We have the original Newford cast (not characters because they are real to those of us who have been reading CDL books since the beginning); we have the cousins, fairies, Mother Crone and lessons learned from all. Great story and well worth the time spent reading it.

[Judy Cyg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once I started this Charles de Lint story, I didn't put it down until the satisfying ending. Yes, Mr. de Lint, I'd like to see more of this feisty hero. I admit, he is my overall favorite author, and I'm always ready to read and read about Jilly and Geordie, his poets and artists, cousins, with myth and magic and urban living mixed in like the best plum pudding on Christmas, alight and waiting for hungry appetites. If you like his style and storytelling, this is a must-read.

[Marsha Valance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Former TV girl detective star/actress Juniper Wiles, who can communicate with ghosts, is hired by the Newford Police paranormal crime unit as a consultant. Despite the aggressive disbelief of the unit's chief detective, Juniper vows to id 7 girl ghosts & help solve their murders. With the aid of many familiar Newford characters, she does so.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magic and mayhem

Juniper Wiles is a fun character. She feels like a teen sleuth who's grown up and is joining the big leagues...even if her teen sleuthing days were only on TV. I was excited to read another book about her and this was just as much of a gripping experience as her last case.

[Simon Busk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another brilliant novel

I always say that my favourite novel is Moonheart by Charles Dr Lint, but that was a long time ago and I have enjoyed reading his books ever since, especially this one which is a great continuation of the Bedford story. The characters are very real and the writing is superb, I do hope there is another instalment soon.

[Eric Wentling · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second in the series. I do love visiting so many of the characters from Newford again, they helped keep me sane in a tough period of my life. I will say that Juniper herself is not my favorite of these characters--being very short-fused. However, by the end of the book there is certainly some character growth for her. I hope we will get to see more of these stories in the future.

[Tom Mcmillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun Read

I just finished the second book in the series and loved it. This is a quick paced book with solid character development that just begs for another book exploring this delight world Charles de Lint has created. Thank you Charles.

[Darrel Melvin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every book written by Charles DeLint provides stories within an immersive world which is always a pleasure to read. The second book with Juniper Wiles, and familiar characters from the setting of Newford kept be me enthralled for the last two days.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Juniper learns more about herself

Plus there’s a Hellboy story as bonus material on kindle! It totally figures that this series came from a Hellboy short story. I don’t know how he manages to mix that and Jilly, but somehow it works.

[Chuck Ledger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this reminded me of reading Many Waters when it first came out. I wanted to quickly devour the book for the story and wanted to read slowly to savor the writing. Hopefully the next 3 stories he mentions in the intro will be out soon.

[Dan Carey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have not read the predecessor novel. But it really did not interfere with my enjoyment of this one. If I have one complaint about de Lint's works, it is that I want so damn much to visit some of the places he sets his stories in. This one is no exception.

[sjackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another joyous tale

I am loving the Juniper Wiles stories and it has been a happy time going back to Newford to catch up with old friends. Hopefully Charles de Lint will let us visit again soon ❤️