Omens

This is the first book I've read by this author. From reading some of the reviews on this site since I finished the book I understand that this is a break from her usual style, which may explain some of the issues I had with the book.

The blurb on the back of the book sounded great. I expected an action packed thriller, part detective novel, based on the lead character making discoveries about her parents' and her own past, and how this affected the present day. I expected dark sub-plots. This was all in there, but it got a bit muddled. I thought there were too many themes going on at once, in particular the investigative theme and the supernatural element, such that they clamoured for attention, and the supernatural part seemed forced. The book would have been perfectly well off without this at all. It was as though it was put in because that was what was expected of the author.

There were a lot of characters in this book, and at times I lost track of who was who. The lead characters weren't particularly endearing. I thought the protagonist was arrogant and selfish. I don't get why she had no friends and that everyone was suddenly so interested in her.

The storyline didn't flow particularly well either. The main thread of the story, trying to prove her parents' innocence, was intriguing and kept me reading, but the end was inconclusive. A major theme was introduced, totally without warning, towards the end of the book, which took over the plot completely. I lost interest by this point as it was another sub-plot too many. It turned into a big mess.

There is no doubt this author can write though, the scenes were set really well and the events were well described. There was just too much going on at once. But credit to her for trying something different.
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Surprisingly good for a mixed genre novel. Interesting characters and a decent ending. ( )

Really good series about a rich woman who suddenly discovers she's not only adopted but her real parents are convicted serial killers. Then things get really weird as she discovers she's the embodiment of a myth reliving it again. Her choices will impact 2 communities. ( )

I read the novella Lost Souls a while back and loved it. Since I never read any of the Cainsville books before I Lost Souls was I eager to get my hands on the first book in the series (and the second and third).

As a big fan of urban fantasy was I curious to see how this series would turn out. Luckily the first book is really good and it was great to get the backstory for the characters in Lost Souls.

Olivia has it all, that's until it's revealed that she was adopted as a child and that her real parents are serial killers. Now, her mother can't stand her, her fiance is (or mostly his mother) hesitant about marrying her and the press is after her. She needs a job and somewhere safe to go. And, through weird events does she learn of a town called Cainsville...

Omens is a great book. I love the mix of paranormal and crime and Olvia is a very likable character. Cainsville intrigues me, you can really feel that the town is hiding things. That it looks normal on the surface, but underneath ... well, there is definitely something weird about the town and the ones living there. Then, there is Gabriel. Olivia doesn't know what she will make of him, he used to be her real mother's lawyer, but now there is bad blood between them. Now he wants to help her, well for a price of course.

Omens is just the kind of book I love to read. I love weird little towns in the middle of nowhere and Cainsville is just the kind of town that I just know have a lot of secrets. The first book managed very well to introduce the characters. I'm curious to learn more about Olivia, her parents, Gabriel etc. If you like urban fantasy will you love this book! ( )

I've previously read Kelley Armstrong's Rockton series, which I found thoroughly entertaining and impressive. I don't think this particular series is for me, however. There's a touch of paranormal, but it pretty much boils down to a whodunit. Much of the plot moves forward via events that are beyond normal realms, and there are clues as to what it could be, but ultimately no reveal is offered. I had the feeling of having left something unresolved, when I finished reading Omens .

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