Review: Unholy Ghosts

Unholy Ghosts is the first book in the Downside trilogy by Stacia Kane and a Ballentine Books Fantasy.

Book Blurb:

THE DEPARTED HAVE ARRIVED.

The world is not the way it was. The dead have risen, and the living are under attack. The powerful Church of Real Truth, in charge since the government fell, has sworn to reimburse citizens being harassed by the deceased.

Consequently, there are many false claims of hauntings from those hoping to profit. Enter Chess Putnam, a fully-tattooed witch, freewheeling Debunker, and ghost hunter. She's got a real talent for nailing human liars and banishing the wicked dead. But she's keeping a dark secret from the Church: a little drug problem that's landed her in hot and dangerous water.

Chess owes a lot of money to a murderous drug lord named Bump. And Bump wants immediate payback. All Chess has to do is dispatch a very nasty species of undead from an old airport. But the job involves black magic, human sacrifice, a nefarious demonic creature, and crossing swords with enough wicked energy to wipe out a city of souls. Toss in lust for a rival gang leader and a dangerous attraction to Bump's ruthless enforcer, and Chess begins to wonder if the rush is really worth it. Hell, yeah.

This book was submitted for review and I retain my copy.

Unholy Ghosts was a very different read. :) Quite enjoyable - but very different.

Chess Putnam lives in a world that has abolished organized religion - and embraced the Church of Real Truth. It seems that a few years back the dead arose, grabbed weapons and went on a killing spree - and if it weren't for a small organized group of magic practitioners - the dead would have overrun the living. That small group of people have now become the Church of Real Truth - and it is their job to protect mankind from ghosts.

Chess is a drug addict. No doubt about it. She spends most of her money on drugs - and most of her time using those drugs. Fortunately - or not - Chess is able to function even while under the influence - and so far, her job has not suffered - and her bosses have not found out. But now, she owes her dealer a pretty fair amount of money and he wants Chess to pay up - or do a job for him. Bump wants to expand his drug empire and thinks that using an abandoned airport to bring drugs in and out of town is the best way to go - but the airport is haunted - and Chess is the only one who can Banish those ghosts.

Unholy Ghosts is set in a world all to itself - populated with characters that are in turn - endearing and scary - and a heroine that is messed up - but trying to do the right thing. And I was fascinated. :)

I give Unholy Ghosts 4 out of 5 stars and can't wait for the next 2 books. :)

M

Downside
1. Unholy Ghosts (2010)
2. Unholy Magic (2010)
3. City of Ghosts (2010)