Urban Shaman (original 2005; edition 2005)

The Walker Papers is a series with a lot on it's side. Joanne is a half Native, half Irish woman, working as a mechanic for the Seattle PD. She loves her job, and she loves cars. Joanne grew up on the road with her father, a full-blood, traveling across America, visiting historical sites of great Amerind historical note, and learning how to work on cars - both theirs, and cars found in old junkyards. Now, she is happy in her job and her life, though a little company might not be bad. She is, however, returning from Ireland, were she spent time visiting a mother she never knew, and never really got to know, before her mother passed away. From the plane, she witnesses, against all odds, a young woman fleeing from a pack of dogs. This incident leads her onto a new journey, a journey she doesn't have the time to comprehend. She is too busy just learning to stay alive.

If you have a daughter, a niece, a daughter of a friend, I highly recommend this series. Joanne is flawed, without a doubt. She is low on confidence, but high in sense of self, and her journey is a fascinating one. Unlike a lot of the series out there that feature women leads, Joanne admits her flaws, but stands, for the most part, on her own. She accepts, and appreciates, the help of her friends, including a 70 year-old mentor whom you can't help but come to love, but she never just lays down and becomes a damsel in distress. She may wind up in distress multiple times during the series, but by golly, she can haul her own ashes, thank you very much. If someone else is around to assist, well, great, wonderful, but this is NOT the "Oh, help me, someone, I am so weak and helpless!" main character written by a lot of women authors who should know better. Neither, thank goodness, does Joanne hop from bed to bed, taking advantage of what each can give her. She is stronger than that, and a terrific role model for today's modern girls.

Neither does Ms. Murphy write an 'unbelievable' character. Yes, Joanne has powers, but she takes that power for her character and grows it within a series of logical boundaries, built on an understanding of Native culture and belief systems. She doesn't grab a new superpower every new book that comes out, which makes her strengths believable within the development of an urban fantasy, and gives you an insight into the character. It is a great deal of fun to watch Joanne grow and change, and begin to understand her own personal potential as the series develops.

The secondary character development is marvelous. There is a core group of secondary characters, whose development is very well managed - you come to know them as people, and truly like them. Additional players are added, whether good, bad, or indifferent in character, when needed. Each has their own series of quirks which make them great additions to the story lines.

Overall, this is a marvelous series of books, well worth adding to anyone's library. I have read them all multiple times, and can hardly wait for the next!

Thunderbird Falls (The Walker Papers, Book 2)
Coyote Dreams (The Walker Papers, Book 3)
Walking Dead (The Walker Papers, Book 4)
Demon Hunts (The Walker Papers, Book 5)
Spirit Dances (The Walker Papers, Book 6)
Raven Calls (The Walker Papers, Book 7)

And also, don't forget to check out C.E. Murphy and Faith Hunter's

Easy Pickings
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ereader ebook,headless woman cover

I was honestly surprised by how much I liked this book. It was more akin to the urban fantasy I enjoy reading. It's not without flaws, but I liked Joanne enough that I might seek out more of this series. I'm far too picky when it comes to urban fantasy (I've been spoiled). But Urban Shaman was enjoyable and I'd really like more of her spirit animal. ( )

Joanne Walker has a shield, but she's happier being the police department's mechanic. Until she looks down from a landing plane and sees a woman being chased by something resembling a pack of golden hounds, and a man with a switchblade.... Like Alice down the rabbit hole, Jo's life just got a LOT stranger. Except in this case the Cheshire Cat's a coyote...

Not sure what it is about the west coast, but if I was a woman mechanic I'd think long and hard about moving east to avoid getting smacked with the supernatural - lol! Seriously, a good opener. ( )

For a book with an interesting premise it was a poor choice in my opinion to have such a passive character. ( )