The Devil You Know

It's an interesting concept (Dashiell Hammett style stories in a London filled with ghosts, zombies, and loup garou) but the book's tics and affectations make it too annoying to be excellent. The main character is frustratingly dense, failing to make the most obvious connections, but all the while talking down to the reader as if he's a grizzled expert. And Carey has the maddening habit of using an expression and then apologizing for it as hackneyed or corny.

There's enough here to have me interested in other books in the series, and the plotting of this one was compelling enough to keep me engaged, but I can't help but think how much better it could have been.

I adored this book! I've been slowly reading the Harry Dresden novels, and they're OK, but as I read this, I thought, “This is what Jim Butcher wishes he could do.”

The basic plots are remarkably similar - modern day setting, protagonist who trades in supernatural services in the style of a noir detective, plenty of suspects and double crosses. This book just struck me as more literary, more polished. (Though Butcher's later books may be as well - I'm only on number 3.)

One major difference that I liked was that while the setting is modern, it is not set in our world, precisely. The portrait of a London well known to be haunted by ghosts is eerie and effective.

All in all, it's a fun read, with a plot that pulls you along and provides mystery and surprise, with a side of chills and personal drama.

I love it when a book exceeds my expectations.

I came across this as a recommendation for Urban Fantasy/Supernatural Thriller. I'd put it closer to Supernatural Thriller as it's not terribly “out there” in terms of fantasy elements. It's actually pretty grounded with subtle and believable touches.

The plot is an excellent crime thriller with plenty of exciting scenes and tension and nothing too predictable. There were also a lot of thoughtful moments. Even things I did see coming, I was fine with because of the storytelling.

Every character was well developed but the big selling point is the exorcist himself, Felix Castor. Since other reviewers are comparing him to famous Urban Fantasy protagonists, I'll go ahead and say he's more convincing than Harry Dresden and warmer than Peter Grant. Castor has charm and empathy, audacity and courage, flaws, weaknesses, cynicism, and personal issues.

I also enjoyed the deeper elements of the story and character, the existential and spiritual questions as well as the moral ones.