Mind of the Phoenix by Jamie McLachlan (Website, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads)Published by Penner Publishing on September 28th 2015
Genres: Fantasy, Historical, Mystery & Detective, Paranormal
Pages: 350
Format: eBook
Braxton, 1903. Moira is a powerful empath, a psychic graced with the ability to read emotions and memories. Her skill is as much a curse as a gift, for in the harshly stratified city of Braxton empaths are slaves. Clever and beautiful, Moira has learned to rely on no one but herself. Determined to escape life as a concubine, she kills her master, and is imprisoned for the crime. This could be the end for Moira, but the government has need of her skills. A mysterious serial killer known as the Phoenix has been planting suggestions in his victims' minds that drive them to murder and suicide.  To gain her freedom, Moira partners with Keenan Edwards, a handsome young detective, to stop the killer.Hunting the Phoenix will bring Moira on a more dangerous road than she imagined, forcing her to confront dark minds, twisted moralities, and her growing feelings for the detective.
Mind of the Phoenix by Jamie McLachlan caught my attention because of the cover and as soon as I read the summary I decided this book was what I was looking for and I am glad I took a chance on this one.
McLachlan grabbed my attention from the very beginning of this book as she pulls you directly into the middle of a tough situation for the main character, Moira. Moira is a powerful empath and because she killed her master, she is currently close to death in prison. When she is presented with an opportunity to save herself – at least for the time being – she decides to take it.
First, I want to say that McLachlan created an interesting world in this book. Empaths are common enough but they are considered slaves to those in power. McLachlan also adds a historical feel to this story by setting it in the 1900’s which I loved. It created some constraints that I think added a layer to this story that perhaps wouldn’t have been there if this were set in a different time.
I liked Moira as a main character. She has had a tough and interesting life and because she is an empath, she was owned by a pleasure house prior to being in prison. She also happens to have some abilities as an empath that she hasn’t necessarily advertised which gives her a bit of an edge when she is presented with an opportunity to help a detective work to solve some murders that are happening to the Elite.
Moira’s partner in working to solve the mystery is Keenan Edwards. Initially he is pretty standoffish and restrained. Don’t get me wrong, he has some secrets and he isn’t necessarily broadcasting his story to everyone but as Moira begins to work with him, little pieces of who he is start to break through the cracks of the image he puts out to everyone and I honestly wish we would have learned more about him. I am hopeful that if there is another book, we will get to learn more about Keenan and his past. I feel like there is a good story there.
One of the things I enjoyed was the banter between Moira and Keenan. As they begin to work together, they definitely do not trust each other and with that, they don’t hold their tongues when they have something to say. Moira isn’t bashful and Keenan isn’t afraid to face her head on. While at first their interactions are somewhat distant and show that they barely tolerate each other, as the story progresses, it is clear their thoughts about each other change.
The mystery of the Phoenix and what is going on is what helps to drive the story forward. Because the story isn’t resolved within this book I am hopeful there will be another book to delve more into the story of the Phoenix and what the vendetta against the Elite is. I thought McLachlan did a wonderful job with this book and I look forward to more from this author. If you are looking for a fantasy with a historical bend and a bit of a mystery, consider checking this one out.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy.
Recent Comments