I found R.S. Guthrie on twitter and had to buy this book. You know how much I like getting into a series from the very beginning! Black Beast was a fun, scary ride!

Detective Bobby MacAulay hasn’t had it easy. His partner and friend is killed on the job, in a crime that also takes Bobby’s leg. His wife dies of cancer. He and his teenage son aren’t on the best of terms, but are spending an uneasy summer together after Cole’s first year at college.

He’s summoned to death row for a conversation. He takes on a case with horrible murders. He gets a visit from a priest claiming to know things about his family. And Bobby MacAulay’s life will never be the same.

This is a fast read. It doesn’t always flow perfectly, but the story makes up for some awkwardness. While it has gory parts, Guthrie avoids the trap of milking the goriness.

The fantastical element of the story is told with straight-forward-ness that works. I never had the feeling that this was a fantasy–it’s a mystery with some very mysterious things happening in it.

This was a good book and I am looking forward to reading Lost, the sequel to Black Beast.