New Books Review

Book Review: Dead Men’s Boots (9780446580328): Mike Carey: BooksDelightful 3rd installment of Felix Castor,

By Colin P. Lindsey (Manchester, NH) -
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)
  

  

  

This review is from: Dead Men’s Boots: A Felix Castor Novel (Felix Castor Novel 3) (Paperback)

I got very lucky a few years ago and stumbled upon “The Devil You Know” while shopping on Amazon. I ordered the book and found it to be a wonderful read exploring the trials and tribulations of Felix “Fix” Castor, a professional exorcist in a world that is a darker shade of our own. Felix practices his profession in a modern day London, but one that contains were-beasts, ghosts, demons, and zombies. Most of London toils on though paying little attention to these revenants, unless, of course, a ghost comes to haunt the place you call home or work. Whereupon Felix or one his competitors may get a call. If you haven’t read “The Devil You Know” or the sequel “Vicious Circle” do yourself a favor a get yourself a copy of these books. They are simply delightful. I liked them so much I couldn’t wait for Dead Man’s Boots to be released here in the States and ordered it as an import.

Carey writes novels that feature complex characters, detailed and exciting plots, and some of the smoothest writing it has ever been my pleasure to read. The only disappointment in reading Carey is that even though the book may run over 500 pages, the next day you’ll be blinking at the last page and wondering “how do I get more?”

I’m not generally into fiction that has magic, demons, ghosts, etc. mostly finding the genre formulaic and unimaginative. Carey blew a great big gaping hole into my assumptions and prejudices, happily showing me that this genre can be done superby well. I am a complete convert, in least as regards to his works. His books are atmospheric, even noirish, and he tells fascinating, compelling stories that sweep you breathlessly from plot twist to plot twist, tales that always end on a surprising and satisfying note.

The protagonist, Felix Castor, is an amazingly well-drawn character…likeable, smart, and dogged as he chases after the bad guys, brandishing his tin whistle. Yep, between the forces of darkness and you is a tin whistle. Castor a big guy and very tough, but we learn that because all too often Castor finds himself on the receiving end of a beating. That’s what happens when you try to run with demons, loup garous, and cultists. Even though he is an “exorcist”, it would be more apt to describe him as an occult private detective. There a strong elements of Marlowe and Spillane peeking through these pages. You’ll love Castor because he always gets back up again and struggles on trying to do the right thing, even while saddled with mounting bills, complicated relationships, doubtful friends, and enemies that are generally a step ahead. You’ll find yourself cheering him on in an “everyman’ way because he isn’t batman, and a tinwhistle sure isn’t the batmobile.

In Dead Man’s Boots, Felix finds himself trying to unravel a dangerous mystery after a friend commits suicide and leaves a few, generally unhelpful, clues laying about as to why he did it. A nebulous, but threatening group, seems to be involved and a classic “locked room” mystery is then thrown in the mix. Felix soon finds himself battling with a monstrous cabal along with some friends. Friends that bring to mind the phrase “with friends like these who needs enemies?”. This book is every bit as delightful as the first two, with the same complex plotting and smooth writing that I have come to love. Carey is one of those few writers who make it onto my “A” list, meaning that anything they publish is something I am going to read with no questions asked. Indeed, anything they publish is something I am going to get my hands on as soon as possible, even if I have to order it as an import. Try this series, you will not be disappointed, even if the genre is not your normal cup of tea.

super urban fantasy thriller,

By Harriet Klausner -
(#1 REVIEWER)
  

  

London exorcist Felix “Fix” Castor attends the funeral of his possessed friend John Gittings when a fancy dressed lawyer Maynard Todd arrives with a court order authorizing cremation; the widow Carla asks Fix to prevent the disinterring of her spouse’s body. The spirit remains in his body’s home.

Fix is at the Magistrate Court supporting the contention of Pam “Pen” Bruckner that she has power of attorney for possessed Rafael Ditko. However, Professor Jenna-Jane Mulbridge has a counter claim insisting Rafi is unsafe to free from her asylum where she researches the paranormal. Judge Runcie realizes there are two issues with his legal focus on a review panel, angering Pam and satisfying Jenna-Jane for now.

Janie Hunter wants to hire Fix to prove her husband Doug did not commit the rape and murder that he has been accused of and arrested for. She insists that American serial killer Myriam Seaforth Kale performed the deeds although she has been dead for four decades. Fix knows the MO in the brutal King’s Cross rape-murder is exactly that described of Kale. So he assumes somehow the odious evil came back, but how and where she is stymies the exorcist because he fears a repeat that he wants to prevent. However, Fix’s inquiry assisted by Juliet the succubus and Nicky the paranoid zombie leads him to something even darker crossing over.

This London based urban fantasy thriller contains three prime subplots that grip the reader from the moment the body of Gittings is interred and never slows down as every move the exorcist makes seems increasingly dangerous. The story line is fast-paced as Fix works his inquiries. Sub-genre fans will enjoy his escapdes and seek his previous two caseloads (see Vicious Circle and THE DEVIL YOU KNOW).

Harriet Klausner

Carey keeps up the great work,

By J. Shurin “carnivore” (London) -

  

  

This review is from: Dead Men’s Boots: A Felix Castor Novel (Felix Castor Novel 3) (Paperback)

Dead Men’s Boots is the third book in the Felix Castor series, written by famed comic book writer Mike Carey. Best known for his work on Lucifer and Hellblazer, Carey’s series poaches creative elements from both those titles.

Felix Castor is a London exorcist. For no clearly defined reason, the dead have started to rise again - in a wide variety of terrifying forms (ghosts, zombies, werethings, etc). Worse yet, demons and devils are real - summoned by suicidal warlocks to stalk the streets. Although Carey hints towards a broad, apocalyptic metaplot, the series is skillfully composed of individual mysteries, each featuring the restless dead.

In Dead Men’s Boots, Castor is hired by a unhappy wife to get prove her husband’s innocence (apparently he beat a rent boy to death with a hammer). Simultaneously, Castor is unhappily bequeathed some esoteric notebooks from a fellow exorcist. The two mysteries swiftly become connected, and Castor begins to unravel a disturbing conspiracy.

Fans of Felix’s friends and allies won’t be disappointed. The ambitious cop Coldwood, the paranoid zombie Nicky and the alluring-but-scary demon Juliet are all involved - Juliet taking her most significant role so far. Carey also introduces a few new characters, including a horde of undead gangsters and a slightly different demon, the enigmatic Moloch.

Carey does strong work building out Juliet. Introduced as a bit character in the first book, the former succubus now has a life of her own. The author does a good job fleshing her out as an interesting, evolving character. She finds the world totally alien, but is having a good time exploring it - even as human beings (and the relationships between them) continue to mystify her.

Carey’s long-time friend Pen, and their unfortunate mate Raf (possessed by the demon Asmodeus), take a step back. Although Castor encounters them both briefly, they’re less involved in this particular adventure. After the focus on them both in the previous book, this is a welcome break, and shows that Carey isn’t a one-trick pony.

Mike Carey has successfully made the transition from comic books to novels. Deftly balancing character and story-telling, Carey has created a terrific framing device for presenting mysteries, with a cast of fascinating characters to help tell them.
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