Review: Suspenseful Novel that Blends Noir, Horror, and Fantasy
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 04 1, 2014
“The Seventh Sons of Sycamore” blends a dark noir feel with horror for a read that’s tense, exciting, and inventive.  It begins with an arrest of three bikers after a murder in the small town of Sanctuary; Detective Maxim Dwyer is interrogating the only biker who wasn’t hurt (Diego). When the other two bikers escape, Maxim is plunged into a world of danger and mystery that he once thought was only rumor. Both he and Diego are looking for lost loved ones, and along the way they’ll tangle with the Seventh Sons gang, fierce criminals who shapeshift into werewolves and have been literally getting away with murder in Sanctuary for years.I wasn’t sure I would get into this book based on the Amazon description, even though I really enjoy urban fantasy. Within a few chapters, though, I was hooked—first by the characters and then by the labyrinthine turns of the plot. I liked that Maxim was emotionally wounded and still missing his lost wife, Lola—it made him relatable and softened his hard edge in the tradition of the best noir heroes. I also liked Diego as a character—his brave, devil-may-care attitude and determination to find his sister make him an interesting parallel with and foil to Maxim. The motorcycle gang is a sinister presence, though its members are not always what you expect, and a world where the CDC is aware of werewolves and actively trying to control them while keeping it low-key is interesting and adds a touch of unsettling realism to the book.From a literary standpoint, “The Sevenths Sons of Sycamore” is well-written and nicely paced, switching back and forth between Maxim’s and Diego’s POV to move the story along; the author also writes with detail and clarity, which brings both the setting and the action scenes alive for the reader. Recommended to readers who enjoy mysteries, crime novels, and fantasy with a dark horror edge.