Book Review: Harmony Black by Cragi Schaefer

Harmony Black
Author: Craig Schaefer
Series: Harmony Black (Book 1)
Publication: 47North (February 1, 2016)

Description: Harmony Black is much more than your average FBI special agent. In addition to being a practicing witch, she’s also an operative for Vigilant Lock, an off-the-books program created to battle occult threats—by any means necessary. Despite her dedication to fighting the monsters threatening society, Harmony has become deeply conflicted about her job. Her last investigation resulted in a pile of dead bodies, and she suspects the wrong people are being punished for it.

While on a much-needed vacation, Harmony gets pulled back into action. This time, though, she’s gone from solo work to being part of a team. Their target: the Bogeyman, a vicious and elusive figure…and the creature that destroyed Harmony’s childhood.

Surrounded by quirky, fascinating characters as dedicated to one another as they are to their new partner, Harmony must learn to trust her team—and a new romantic interest—on a dangerous and deadly mission that conjures up memories she’d much rather forget.

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed the book which begins a new series that combines two of my favorite genres - urban fantasy and mystery. Harmony Black is a straight-arrow FBI agent who also happens to be a practicing witch. She is recruited to be part of a secret FBI operation and sent to Talbot Cove to investigate the disappearance of some children.

Harmony knows Talbot Cove. She was born there and lived there until she was six years old. She and her mother left town after her little sister Angie was taken and her father, the sheriff, killed trying to save his daughter. Harmony was sure that it was the Bogeyman but the police were looking for a more rational explanation.

Since then Harmony has had other encounters with the strange. Being back in Talbot Cove with her partner was was raised by a serial killer, a computer hacker, and an old pro in a wheelchair, Harmony has to find out why the Bogeyman has come back. And she and the team have to find a way to stop him.

I liked the characters and the relationship between Harmony and her new partner Jessie. I also liked that she got to meet a childhood friend who is now a Deputy. I liked the supernatural bounty hunters. While neither one cared much for humans, Fontaine proved himself useful while Nyx made an excellent secondary villain.

I am eager to read more in this new series.

Favorite Quote:

"Okay," Kevin said,"want some weird? Here's some weird. We've got only partial blueprints, scanned in from the originals. I'm showing first-floot access to a pretty good-size cellar. The cellar itself? Not shown. Probably want to check that out."

"The cellar," I said. "Great. Because nothing bad ever happens in the cellars of creepy old houses."

I got this one through the Kindle First program. You can buy your copy here.