Black Magic Woman (Morris and Chastain Supernatural Investigations)
Already tagged with major kudos from writer Jim Butcher (creator of the Dresden Files series), Gustainis’ first book featuring supernatural investigators Quincey Morris and his partner, Libby Chastain, seems primed to make a big splash across genres. Set in a contemporary world where such phenomena as vampires, werewolves, and similar critters are an acknowledged part of the landscape, the tale centers on Quincey and Libby’s quest to end the black-magic career of an elusive descendant of a witch killed in seventeenth-century Salem who still has a family grudge to settle. Although he draws from the work of Butcher, Gustainis adds plenty of his own twists, including backstories that give depth and range to his magical protagonists. This warp-speed page-turner will appeal first to horror fans, but don’t be surprised to see it make significant inroads with crime-fiction readers who don’t usually mess with the supernatural. --Elliott Swanson