Date Published: February 2008
ISBN: 978-0-55358837-8
Paranormal Suspense
Paperback
Reviewed by Gina
Super sexy, red haired necromancer Jamie Vegas is about to realize the dream of a lifetime. Death of Innocence, a reality-type television show staring spiritualists, culminating in raising the ghost of Marilyn Monroe could be the pivotal last step before being handed the television show she has always coveted. The dream coming true, however, is the imminent arrival of Jeremy Danvers, the werewolf alpha who captured her heart some five years earlier. Not that Jeremy knows of her infatuation. Jeremy is all aloof courtesy, putting his pack first and lately, his two grandchildren and Clay and Elena’s babies, Logan and Kate. Jamie lives for the supernatural council meetings where she can drink in even just the sight of the man of her dreams.
When Jeremy calls to say he’ll be late because the twins have colds, Jamie is disappointed, but she understands and expects he will not be arriving at all. Before she can crumble at the thought of not seeing Jeremy, the production team begins their work on the show, starting with a séance where contact is made with the ghost of Tansy Lane, a fledging starlet killed before her career could take off. While Jamie is the real deal, the other two spiritualists hired for the show aren’t exactly the folks you’d want contacting your family member. As the contact with Tansy moves along, Jamie becomes aware of other ghosts, yet they are like no ghosts she has ever encountered. They can’t hear her and she can’t hear or see them. The joy of Jeremy’s arrival is filtered through the mystery of the child ghosts. Jamie looks to Eve Levine for help, yet Eve doesn’t answer. Rather, it is Kristof who shows up. When she tells him of her discovery he goes to the Fates and before long Eve is sent to help. What is going on is of grave concern to the Fates. What unfolds before council members is more than they bargained for.
I became am “Armstrong fan” when I read BITTEN earlier this year, moving on to STOLEN, DIME STORE MAGIC and INDUSTRIAL MAGIC. Both DIME STORE MAGIC and INDUSTRIAL MAGIC were a struggle for me, the stories felt flat and I had a hard time differentiating between Elena and Paige. With HAUNTED and BROKEN I once again saw the writing that set Kelley Armstrong apart. NO HUMANS INVOLVED is proof positive of Ms. Armstrong’s unique talent for story telling. She definitely regained her voice and has come back strong and steady.
The heat between Jeremy and Jamie is palpable and when Jamie sends him from her door without even a goodnight kiss I wanted to shake the characters and yell at them “You gotta do this!” They waited five years to move to the next level. Well I waited through four books! Ms. Armstrong did not disappoint…and neither did Jeremy!
This is a multi-layered story—the drive to out do and the glamour of Hollywood, lost children taken in their prime with no one to care. Lost souls finding their way home and justice meted out to those that need it most. When Eve shows up with her sword I cheered her on. Ms. Armstrong leads her readers into the psychological machinations of some very sick people along with the motivations of the good guys. The cameos of some favorite characters makes for a read that makes the reader feel included. There’s also a touch of humor, as seen through Jamie’s eyes. While the author doesn’t treat some of what Jamie sees as funny, the idea of a ghost hanging from a chandelier does have a certain glimmer of amusement to it.
NO HUMANS INVOLVED shows a believable perspective on the after life. While the names are changed, some of those we meet from the other side are recognizable and honored by Ms. Armstrong’s tale. When justice is done, it’s awesome. NO HUMANS INVOLVED is a do not miss read.
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