Book Review: Ghost of a Chance

By Sandy Amazeen Jun 29, 2010, 18:33 GMT

A brand-new series from the New York Times bestselling author of the Nightside novels! The Carnacki Institute exists to "Do Something" about Ghosts-and agents JC Chance, Melody Chambers, and Happy Jack Palmer will either lay them to rest, send them packing, or kick their nasty ectoplasmic arses with extreme prejudice. ...more

With their teams of experts, the London based Carnacki Institute is well equipped to deal with paranormal boogies from simple lost ghosts haunting parking lots to more hostile creatures. Operatives Melody Chambers, JC Chance and Happy Jack Palmer make up one such team and while allegedly not one of the Institute’s best, they have a decent track record. Although teams typically get some down time between assignments, some nasty business in the London Underground resulted in JC’s unit being set in to clean it up. JC’s arrogant smarts, Melody’s tech savvy and Happy’s telepathy will be severely tested as they came up against Fenris Tenebrae, one of the Great Beasts about to take form in this world.

While our three heroes attempt to deal with a power far out of their league, agents of the Crowley Project are haunting the Underground with the express purpose of assassinating the Carnacki team. Dedicated to learning the secrets of Life and Death so they can control this and the afterworlds, the Crowley Project is concerned about JC’s continued success and put a price on his head. Natasha is a telepath and the archetypical femme fatale with the disturbing habit of eating ghosts. Her partner Erik is a seriously deranged doctor who likes to “improve” live specimens without benefit of permission. As the Crowley team explores the Underground while shadowing JC and company, they become aware that something very bad is reforming reality. Their only chance of getting out alive may involve collaborating with the people they are supposed to kill.

Strong, diverse characters packed with attitude and some serious (but fun) issues make this an entertaining read. The pace doesn’t disappoint, the banter is lively and the characters rather unusual hobbies add spice to what promises to be an amusing new urban fantasy series.