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C E Murphy’s debut novel, Urban Shaman, is a winner and you won’t want to stop reading until you reach the thrilling conclusion. Joanne Walker has just returned from a trip to Ireland for her mother’s dying and subsequent funeral, when everything changes for Joanne. When she sees a woman in danger from a flying plane, she knows she has to do something. Upon meeting this mystery woman, Marie, Joanne is shocked at what she learns. When a near death experience unveils long hidden shamanic powers in Joanne, she discovers she can heal herself from fatal wounds and other people as well. Celtic god Kernunnos and his Wild Hunt are loose in our world and only Joanne can stop him. She has only three days to find the missing soul who can return Kernunnos to his own world. On top of that, there is a serial killer loose in Seattle who has his own mission to fulfill. Can Joanne stop the killer and find the one who can bind Kernunnos to his own realm before time runs out? Combine strong characters, lots of action, mythical legends of Celtic gods, and you get one breathtaking adventure ride in Urban Shaman. It is fast paced, full of twists and turns and entwined plotlines that provide several hours of enjoyment for readers (or listeners as the case may be). The entire novel takes place in the space of an action-packed three days, which lends an almost “real time” feel to the novel. Joanne’s background is steeped in folklore, being the offspring of a Native American father and an Irish mother, two races that have centuries of spiritual legends and beliefs in their makeup. Still, initially she has a hard time dealing with these new revelations. But that changes fast as she learns to control her new powers. I love the way she looks at life. Joanne is an auto mechanic and this comes to play many times throughout as she equates the human body to a car in how it runs and breaks down. That’s a different outlook I’ve never seen before. I also liked the fact that even though she has these abilities, she is still just an ordinary girl. Some people may get tired of the constant references to how tired Joanne is, but I liked that aspect. It made her more human as she is exactly like me when I’m exhausted. I could completely relate to what she thought and felt as a result of going almost entirely without sleep for a few days. The assorted cast of characters is very appealing and everyone will find someone they especially like… or hate. A coupe favorites of mine were Billie the cross-dressing police detective and Gary, the tough on the outside but cuddly on the inside cab driver who becomes Joanne’s sidekick. The addition of the Celtic gods… or demigods (you’ll just have to read to find out about them) and other mystical character touches add to the appeal. Christine Carroll does a wonderful job bringing Joanne and company to life through her voice. Though she sounded like she struggled a bit on some of the masculine voices, each character was individual and resonant. There were a couple times where it was difficult to tell who was talking, but for the most part, she did a mighty fine job. I’ve already purchased Thunderbird Falls, the sequel to Urban Shaman in audio and will begin to listen to it immediately. I love the world C E Murphy has created in her stories and look forward to spending more time with Joanne and company. © Kelley A. Hartsell, October 2006. All rights reserved.Copyright © 2006 CK2S Kwips and Kritiques. All rights reserved. |
The Walker Papers Book 1:
Urban Shaman
Rating:
Posted October 2006 |
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