WALKING DEAD Book 4 in the Walker Papers by C. E. Murphy

Publisher: Luna/Harlequin
Date published: September 2009
ISBN: 978-0-373-80301-9
Urban Fantasy/Series
Paperback
Obtained by: Library Copy
Reviewed by Dawn




Joanne Walker was thrilled that she wasn’t out to save the world again. She could enjoy Halloween and finally have a life again complete with shaman powers, a hot boyfriend and friends to enjoy. Well that was the theory anyways until a murder happens that turns all of Joanne’s plans inside out and she is in a race to save the world yet again as the undead become alive, ghosts keep trying to kill her and the wild hunt is called too early. Can Joanne find a way to save everything she holds dear without destroying herself in the process?

I have to admit C. E. Murphy’s Walker Papers series is a phenomenal series. It delivers everything from magic, mysticism, gods and more all wrapped up in a bow, waiting for you to unwrap it. This is an author who is a masterful storyteller, who creates characters that leave you laughing one minute and on the edge of your seat biting your nails the next. I fell in love with spunky former mechanic turned homicide cop Joanne Walker and loved at how she always jumps in first then asks questions last when trouble erupts. Ms. Murphy keeps the reader glued to the pages as Joanne and her friends try to stop another ‘end of the world’ from happening while in the same breath keeping zombies from eating them, ghosts from harming them and more. Tight writing, fast paced storyline and beloved characters that are back for another round with magical forces will keep you highly entertained from start to finish.

WALKING DEAD is the fourth book in the Walker Papers series and though you can read them as a stand alone, I highly recommend reading them in order (Urban Shaman, Thunderbird Falls, and Coyote Dreams) to get the full effect of Joanne’s acceptance of her powers and her growth with each book. Ms. Murphy definitely keeps you on the edge as you race with Joanne for a way to stop an ancient evil from being released into this world as magic, shamanism and more all wrap up to a thrilling climax. With each book, this author delves a bit deeper into the soul that makes up Joanne Walker and the reader is along for the journey as well. Add in secondary characters that keep the story flowing smoothly and make you laugh at the right times, Ms. Murphy delivers a story that literally had me up till the wee hours of the morning, trying to see what happens next for Joanne and her friends. WALKING DEAD is a pure gem and one of those “keepers” that you can read over again and again with the same enjoyment as before. If you haven’t picked up any of these books, run, don’t walk to grab them. Ms. Murphy does it again with a story that will resonate with the reader and capture their heart.

"This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book."

THE QUEEN’S BASTARD :Book 1 of The Inheritors’ Cycle Series by C. E. Murphy

Publisher Ballantine Books
Date published April 2008
ISBN 978-0-345-4946-1
Fantasy/Series
Trade Paperback
Reviewed by Dawn



A world gone mad by power mad religion fanatics. The world as it was once known is being made anew by them. Belinda Primrose is about to begin a career that she has trained for all her life, Assassin for Queen Lorraine. Fluent in languages, cunning and seductive, Belinda weaves herself around the courts wherever she is told to go. A new twist is on the wind as Belinda finds herself in a court where fears, magic and rivals are embroiled in a power game that will have one or the other dead. Can Belinda save herself amid all the treachery or wills he succumb to the aphrodisiac that is power?

C. E. Murphy’s latest series has been introduced in THE QUEEN’S BASTARD. It is a vivid, complex story that will have the reader wondering if they should have place cards for all the main characters. You get many different points of views as this reviewer found out and was highly confused as I read this new book from one of my favorite authors. Here you meet Belinda Primrose, a woman who has been trained since age 12 to be an assassin and she relishes in it. She is devoted to her career and her loyalty knows no bounds to her Queen, Lorraine. She is cunning, independent and yearns for some freedom from her assassin life every now and again. She is a character that is multi faceted yet also very mysterious as well. I was intrigued at first by the introduction and uniqueness of Belinda yet I had a hard time finding out why I should care for this character. The reader is introduced to so many characters; it is hard to place many of them. I felt a score card or a who’s who list should be placed in the front of the book.

THE QUEEN’S BASTARD is an interesting yet hard to get into book. As much as I adore Ms. Murphy’s other series, The Walker Papers Series and the Negotiator Series, this is a series I just couldn’t get into, no matter how many times I put it down and picked up again. Very disappointing to say the least but this reviewer is willing to try to see if the second book, The Pretender’s Crown, is better. Overall, if you enjoy magic, political intrigue, some interesting characters and a rich storyline, then grab THE QUEEN’S BASTARD.

THE INHERITORS' CYCLE, BOOK 1: THE QUEEN'S BASTARD by CE Murphy

Publisher Del Ray
Date published April 2008
ISBN 978-0345494641
Fantasy
Trade Paperback
Reviewed by Shaiha





Belinda Primrose, the queen’s bastard daughter, is the ultimate assassin. She has been trained to become anything from a serving wench to a lady in waiting. But now Belinda has discovered that she has yet another attribute; magical powers that enable her to win the love of Prince Javier. Now she must decide if she wants to become a power rather then being the power behind the throne.

THE QUEEN’S BASTARD by C.E. Murphy is just plain good fantasy. It has it all; magic, political intrigue, love, desire, good and evil. THE QUEEN’S BASTARD is a certainly good book to savor as a way to escape the stress of the everyday world. Belinda is a character that one isn’t quite sure whether to feel sorry for because of her upbringing, hate because of her deeds, or love because of her possibilities. Regardless of what you decide, she is one that will stick with you. Readers will have no such ambiguity with other characters in the book such as her father and his organization.

What it is really missing is that special spark that is so hard to pinpoint that raises a good fantasy up to the level of a great fantasy. And this did really disappoint this reader as she is quite the fan of C.E. Murphy’s urban fantasies and loves nothing more then a great fantasy.

All in all, THE QUEEN’S BASTARD was an enjoyable read that this reviewer has no problems recommending to any readers who enjoy political fantasies. This reviewer will certainly be keeping an eye out for the next in the series.