Spirit Dances

....intrepid investigator dancing through the shadows of her world

The exploits of urban shaman Joanne Walker, Seattle police detective extraordinaire, continue. Once more Walker’s best planned intentions go astray creating havoc during a new murder investigation. Sure she intuitively connects many of the dots of the case, if she could only solve her own relationship challenges and inner turmoil this would be an added bonus.

As Joanne herself explains,
‘I was bad at relationships. I was bad at reading between lines, at figuring out what people really meant if they didn’t actually say it, and at being charming or flirty or whatever I was, exactly that women were supposed to do to attract men. My skill sets lay along the lines of taking apart car engines, drinking grown men under the table—and more recently—solving esoteric murders.'

The death of a Native American dancer under bizarre circumstances and the disappearance of some of the homeless of Seattle are seemingly unrelated. Yet even the most distant of relationships sometimes merge and dance to a different rhythm.

A foot-in-mouth heroine who goes from incredibly wise, to a gangly teenage in under 30 seconds, Walker treads her world as a warrior-shaman, dealing with cases that would make the rest of us shudder.
Here is a character we can laugh with and wince with. A heroine we readers can enjoy standing alongside—quirky, irreverent, yet sparklingly sincere and loveable. The self-deprecating humor and irony Murphy laces the direst of situations with is wonderful.

The supporting characters of Billy and Melinda continue to grow and add strength to the story. Joanna’s relationship with her boss Morrison continues to fascinate and frustrate both her and us.
Another fast paced, well crafted read from Murphy.

A NetGalley ARC ( )

I think this is the best of the bunch. I can't really talk about this book without spoilers. I will say that I could.not.but.this.down. I was actually getting a little frustrated with the series because there wasn't much forward action overall. This book totally makes a quantum leap and I'm desperate to see how the next book goes! ( )

I have to admit, I have read the Walker Papers multiple times, and every time I do (which is every time a new one comes out, and then whenever I feel a need for an upper) I get more out of them, and enjoy them even more than the last time.

It is wholly admirable how Ms. Murphy has developed her characters through the series in a slow, methodical manner which allows you to grow to love them both individually, and as a group. I do have to disagree with the people who are wanting the "sexy Morrison" scenario to come to a head. Come on, people! Jo/Siobhan has a LOT on her plate! She has grown from an obnoxious, self-centred, arrogant mechanic into a nearly-fully-realized shaman in a period of months. Maybe kicking and screaming all the way, but she HAS grown. There is a little too much on her plate right now to gain the "reward" of a relationship right now. Who has time? Especially with everything that is coming up in her life. She was put here for a purpose, remember, and I would be devastated if she turned into just another stupid romantic fiction character, as so many kick-ass women in urban fantasy seem to turn out as. Sure, give her a love life, I am all for it, but keep her strong, working to save the world, not just a relationship.

Ms. Murphy is doing an incredible job of making Joanne someone I can truly both like and admire! I have already read Raven, and can hardly wait for Mountain - - - and of course, I will go back and read all of them again before I start each one . LOL. THANK YOU Ms. Murphy, for incredible characters, marvelous world building (just WAIT till you read Raven Calls!!!) and a tight storyline which shows just how much Jo is making a difference in the world - sometimes, despite herself. ( )

Oh, what a difference time makes! I've at last made my way 'round to this book in the sequence of the series, and it makes so much more sense. I did really enjoy it. As said of previous books in the series, the characters grow and develop and learn, making them that much more interesting (and, at times, frustrating!). Plus, this one has shape-changing; fun!

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I didn't finish this one. Leaping from the first book in the series to the sixth didn't work at all. The author does a great job at getting the reader up to speed as much as possible with the characters and her world, but there's too much backstory to just skip over the previous four books. I'll try to pick this one up again in sequence after I've read the previous books. ( )

Coyotes and rattlers and werewolves, oh my!

The adventures of Joanne Walker, reluctant shaman, continue. Joanne is becoming more comfortable with her power as she faces new challenges, including a sort-of date with her boss. ( )