Linda Welch

"I'm told the dead are all around us. I wouldn't know about that, I see only the violently slain. They can be victims of hit-and-run, innocents caught in a cross-fire, the murdered. They whisper to me and they never, ever, forget the face of their killer. I've learned to live with my uncanny ability, in fact I've made a career out of it.
The departed aren't the only supernaturals I see. No, they're not vampires or werewolves or fae - those things don't exist. We live side by side with what show more some call the Otherworldy. That's too much of a mouthful for me, I call them demons. If you saw them as I do, you'd know why.
Right now I'm trying to track down a missing six year-old boy whose mother was murdered. Or maybe she wasn't. To further complicate the case, Clarion PD gave me a partner I'd rather shoot than work with.
I can't tell them he's a demon.
They'd think I'm crazy.
I'm Tiff Banks. Welcome to my world."

Ms. Welch has a very unique way of exploring the paranormal. The characters are well-developed for a first book in the series. I found myself laughing out loud at several scenes. Added bonus - Mac! I encourage anyone to try out this series. show less

I loved these books - one of my rare five star ratings. Tiff can talk to the spirits of those who have died a violent death, as their spirits remain at the location of their death (including murder) until the one who killed them has died. She consults with the police, who just consider her a very successful psychic.

Creativity - check. Romance - check (although I do tend to skim over some of that part - sorry). Mystery - check. Quick pace - check. Nowhere near as 'complicated' as Kim show more Harrison's series, which I really enjoyed.

I read the first three novels (together in this well priced package) back-to-back, and then went and bought #4. show less

Tiff Banks is an investigator and only a few understand or accept that much of the information she gets that leads to solving a case comes from ghosts that were victims of violent death. She has two living in her house. But she finds out what life is like from their side when her soul separates from her body and the doctors can’t figure out why she isn’t waking up. She’s got to find a way to communicate with Royal to stop him from pulling the plug on the machines keeping her alive, as show more well as figure out how to get back into her body.

Finding the solution has them crossing into Downside and bringing characters together from both series as well as facing a scary adversary from their past; one who seems impossible to stop.

Well this was a nice treat since the author had announced that A Conspiracy of Demons, released in December 2012, would be the last in the series as she started a new one. There is enough information in this story to remind readers of what they might have forgotten, but it’s not a good place to start, especially if you hadn’t read either series. Along Came a Demon, the first book in the series, is free as of this writing.

This story is loaded with a great deal of emotion; pretty much hitting on every one you can think of with the story told from Tiff’s point of view and the situation she finds herself in. And through her eyes we see how it affects her Gelpha lover and investigative partner, Royal, as he needs to make a decision that would affect not only Tiff, but Downside as well as his own world.

I liked how the characters from the two series were brought together. We get a lot of interaction with Jack and Mel, her ghostly roommates as they help in the investigation and teach Tiff how to deal with her situation; experiencing the limitation in their existence certainly gives her a new perspective. show less

Downside; a realm within the Earth where the monsters dwell, and we aren’t talking about Hell. We meet trolls, gnomes, vampires, sirens, shifters, demons, fallen angels, elves and a whole host of others who aren’t comfortable living on the surface, or who would terrify humans if their presence was known. Rain is a wraith and has a business with her wraith mentor, Castle, where they take out or even relocate the more pesky monsters in their Downside town of Gettaholt. There are definite show more advantages and disadvantages to being a wraith.

The story follows Rain on both an action-packed and emotional journey We do get some limited first person point of views from three others close to her when she’s not on scene, giving us a better idea on what others are thinking and doing.

I found an interesting world in Downside and was grabbed right away by Rain and what she experiences. This appears to be a stand alone, although I think there is plenty here that could continue the story in a number of directions. show less