3.5
This is the fourth book in this series.
Again we don't get enough Quincey and Libby (I am greedy like that), even though this is their fight. The first half of this book made me think that we should start calling this series Morris, Chastain, O'Donnell, Fenton, Ashley, Peters and others. Libby and Quincey were actually more present in this book than in others.
The altar boys/Catholic priests references and jokes are becoming tiresome. I understand where it is coming from, but when you use that in every book, then it goes too far. To be clear I am not a Roman Catholic, but I find this really annoying. It does not contribute anything to the story. Neither does this weird author's notion on monasteries: "YOU HEAR THE word “monastery,” and, if you’re like most people, the image in your mind’s eye is of a cold, forbidding structure of stone, where odd-looking men live out their lives copying manuscripts and dreaming up new ways to torture heretics." Most people, really? As far as I know, most people don't think about monasteries. At all. And if someone mentions them, most people have some vague idea of a closed off building (emphasis on vague). Somehow I doubt the dreaming part too.

There was the part, almost half way through the book, where you get everything from the previous book retold. And I mean everything.

I did not like Ashley and Libby's conversation when they met again or any other time after that. I have a feeling the author is trying to impress some of his readers with this. Well, I am not impressed. In the first two books Libby's bisexuality was part of her. It seemed natural. It was not forced. In this case it doesn't look natural. She had an encounter with an incubus in the first book, so the attraction is understandable since Ashley has similar powers. However, after Morris and she recovered from incubus/succubus attack, they were aware of its danger. Speaking of Ashley, it is unbelievable that none of the other white witches has a problem with the idea of working with a demon. At least, the author didn't give them any opportunity to say something (except Libby).

Most of the things I had issue with were in the first part of the book except Libby/Ashley thing. All that aside (since none of it is really a big deal), I loved this one more than the previous. Two seemingly two separate cases become the same. This was used in previous books too, but this case was more interesting. O'Donnell and Fenton's arson case flows into the Morris and Chastain's search for the stolen item.
There was a moment when they thought they failed and that all they were left to do is to wait. "“If you decide to... do it that way, would you... will you...?” Libby swallowed. “Will you kill me, first? I’m not sure if I’d have the nerve to do it myself. But if you’re not going to be here anymore, then I don’t want to be, either.” Libby began to cry softly.
Morris’s throat was so tight, he was having trouble making words come out, but he finally managed to say, “’Course I will, if that’s what you want. I won’t leave you for them. How could I leave you behind, when I love you so much?”
Libby was crying harder, now. “I – I love you, too, Quincey. I guess I always have.” Nothing happens between them then and I found the moment perfect, which Gustainis ruined with another stupid Libby and Ashley conversation in the end.
Quincey Morris and Libby Chastain are among my favourite characters (no, I don't have any particular reason) and, for me, their presence alone makes a book an ok read. Even though this one had questionable situations such as the one where they let Ashley at the guy who stole the item or killing three people in the end. They were evil, but the senator from the previous book was saved and Morris ended up in jail because of that., I liked it a lot. ( )