Book and Audio Review: Autumn Bones by Jacqueline Carey

Autumn Bones
Author: Jacqueline Carey
Narrator: Johanna Parker
Series: Agent of Hel (Book 2)
Publication: Recorded Books (October 2, 2013); Ace (October 1, 2013)
Length: 12 hours and 58 minutes; 433 p.

Description: New York Times bestselling author Jacqueline Carey returns to the curious Midwest tourist community where normal and paranormal worlds co-exist—however tenuously—under the watchful eye of a female hellspawn…

Fathered by an incubus, raised by a mortal mother, and liaison to the Pemkowet Police Department, Daisy Johanssen pulled the community together after a summer tragedy befell the resort town she calls home. Things are back to normal—as normal as it gets for a town famous for its supernatural tourism, and presided over by the reclusive Norse goddess Hel.

Not only has Daisy now gained respect as Hel’s enforcer, she’s dating Sinclair Palmer, a nice, seemingly normal human guy. Not too shabby for the daughter of a demon. Unfortunately, Sinclair has a secret. And it’s a big one.

He’s descended from Obeah sorcerers and they want him back. If he doesn’t return to Jamaica to take up his rightful role in the family, they’ll unleash spirit magic that could have dire consequences for the town. It’s Daisy’s job to stop it, and she’s going to need a lot of help. But time is running out, the dead are growing restless, and one mistake could cost Daisy everything…

My Thoughts: This story begins with Daisy being called to local gay bar to deal with a rutting satyr which is not the usual sort of thing done by a normal file clerk who works for the police department. But neither Pemkowet, Michigan, or Daisy Johanssen are normal. 

Pemkowet sits about a haven for the eldritch and Daisy is the goddess Hel's liaison to the human world. Daisy is uniquely qualified for this job given that she is half-demon. Her eighteen-year-old mom inadvertently called a demon by using a Ouija board while on vacation with friends in Pemkowet. Daisy is determined not to realize her demon heritage given that it could bring Armageddon.

In fact, Daisy tries to be normal which includes dating a cute guy who runs a supernatural bus tour. Sinclair Palmer is hiding some secrets though. His mother is an obeah woman from Jamaica and she wants him to come back home and help her in her political career. She sends Sinclair's twin who excels in dark magic to convince him. 

Between hexes and the promise to unleash a powerful duppy on the town, Daisy is kept very busy. Things get even busier when the bones of a local legend Tall Man Brannigan are stolen from his crypt and Daisy needs to find them and return his spirit to his grave before Halloween.

Daisy needs to enlist all her allies for this one. From the local coven who is teaching Sinclair about his powers to the local ghoul population led by Stefan who has a thing for Daisy, and Cody Fairfax an in-the-closet werewolf who also works for the Pemkowet Police Department, it is all hands on deck if the world is to be saved and Daisy's job as Hel's liaison is also to be saved.

This is an interesting world populate by all sorts of eldritch characters. I like the complex mythology and Daisy's desires to keep the peace and figure out her own life. Daisy isn't the usual kick-ass urban fantasy heroine but she is brave and determined and knows how to gather friends.

This is the middle book of a trilogy and I recommend beginning with DARK CURRENTS to get some of the backstory referred to in this book. I thought the narrator did a great job with Daisy amply demonstrating both her human side and her paranormal world. 

Favorite Quote:

See that's the problem with paranormal tourism. Tourists flock to Pemkowet expecting sparkly fairies and frolicking naiads, or maybe the covert thrill of glimpsing a vampire or a ghoul, but the fact is it can be downright dangerous here. And there's no way to anticipate or control a wild card like a rutting satyr. Although I bet I was going to get an earful about it from Amanda Brooks at the Pemkowet Visitors Bureau anyway once the story--or at least the rumors about the story--got around.

I bought this one. You can buy your copy here.