Mike Carey, The Devil You Know

The Devil You Know

Mike Carey

Warner, Jul 2007, $24.99

ISBN: 0446580309

In London exorcist Felix Castor has earned a reputation for his work with ghosts. He uses a tin whistle to "capture" a restless spirit in his music and when he ends the tune, the apparition fades away. As good as he is and how great the fee is, Castor knows that somewhere out there is a phantom too strong for him and potentially could exorcize the human.

Castor agrees to remove a ghost from the Bonnington Archive in Euston. To this expert this is a typical haunting that he, as an experienced professional ghost eradicator, figures will prove easy and fast and he needs the money to pay his bills. However, nothing goes according to the rules of ghostbusting as the living and the different species of the dead want Castor eliminated. Handling demons and ghosts prove easy and fast, but the living turn out deadlier than the dead.

The key to this delightful urban Noir fantasy is London as the city seems genuine even with all types of supernatural residents. Castor is a terrific protagonist who holds the exciting story line together as readers learn about him somewhat through his reflections on previous cases, but mostly on the supernatural and natural assaults he faces at the museum. Loosely reminiscent of Dresden, yet different and definitely unique, sub-genre fans will gain immense pleasure from entering the world of Mike Carey.

Harriet Klausner