THUNDERBIRD FALLS

Author: C.E. Murphy ISBN: 0373802358 5/2006 PARANORMAL Publisher: LUNA

For all the bodies she's encountering, you'd think beat cop Joanne Walker works in Homicide. But no, Joanne's a reluctant shaman who last saved mankind three months ago—surely she deserves more of a break! Yet, incredibly, "Armegeddon, Take Two" is mere days away. There's not a minute to waste. Yet when her spirit guide inexplicably disappears, Joanne needs help from other sources. Especially after she accidentally unleashes Lower World demons on Seattle. Damn. With the mother of all showdowns gathering force, it's the worst possible moment for Joanne to realize she should have learned more about controlling her powers. Or to discover she's being lied to...

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

For a follow-up, THUNDERBIRD FALLS is a solid sequel to the fabulous URBAN SHAMAN. Great writing, beautiful details, and witty dialogue ensure its place among great stories. The heroine is still amongst my favorite characters ever created, and the whole idea of her being a present day shaman still makes me eager to see what trouble she finds herself into this time.

But, unlike URBAN SHAMAN, THUNDERBIRD FALLS drops a bit of the mystery and suspense that gives this series that special something. It's too predictable and, even for a paranormal, it's a bit too far-fetched. The heroine dumbs down, a big no-no in my book, and becomes way too trusting of things that would send anyone screaming that something is wrong.

THUNDERBIRD FALLS is an engaging and enchanting read because the author is very talented at painting her scenes and keeping her characters interesting. The plot is a bit off for me, but not enough to keep me from liking the book.

Shannon Johnson