SELENE SHADE, RESURRECTIONIST FOR HIRE

Selene Shade is a resurrectionist, a woman able to raise the dead, but only for the right price. While her ability is rare enough to earn her the nickname “Zombie Queen,”she’s not the only supernatural being existing among a wary human population. Goat Hill is just one of numerous towns forced to coexist with the witches, vampires, elementals, and other creatures since they revealed themselves decades ago. When a brutal serial killer begins to terrorize the town, local police ask the resurrectionist to assist on the case by reviving the latest victim. Although she’s reluctant to help, the recent death of her colleague and only friend, Dot, has increased Selene’s loneliness and desire to feel useful. The discovery that one of the lead investigators, Det. William Marlow, is a vampire, a group that has a complicated history with resurrectionists, leaves Selene more intrigued than she expected. As the investigation progresses, however, a doorway may be opening that will allow the entry of powerful, malevolent beings. As Selene reaches out to old contacts, forges new connections, and tries to avoid becoming the next victim, she’ll have to adjust to working with others again and learn to understand how her powers fit into these gruesome events. Will she be able to trust Marlow? In Dalpe’s thriller, the immersive worldbuilding brings to life a realm not that different from our own (despite the omnipresent otherworldly beings). The novel, told mostly through Selene’s perspective, gets a slow start as readers learn about the lead and her universe in a long infodump. Once the stakes are introduced, however, the pace accelerates, especially when Selene begins interviewing her network, and we learn more about her. The romance doesn’t progress as naturally as the clue-gathering, but Dalpe’s storytelling compensates for a so-so love connection. Overall, this is a strong, charismatic series opener.