No Humans Involved

When I discovered Kelley Armstrong's books last year, I rapidly devoured them. I've been waiting for the next book in the Otherworld series, No Humans Involved, for a long time. When it finally arrived, I dropped everything to read it: 4.5 out of 5.

It's the most anticipated reality television event of the season: three spiritualists gathered together in one house to raise the ghost of Marilyn Monroe. For celebrity medium Jaime Vegas, it is her best shot at the celebrity holy grail: a TV show of her own. Because, unlike her colleagues, who are more show than substance, Jaime is the real thing.

Reluctant to upstage her fellow spiritualists, Jaime tries to suppress her talents, as she has done her entire life. But there is something lurking in the maze of gardens behind the house: a spirit without a voice. And it won't let go until somehow Jaime hears its terrible story. For the first time in her life, Jaime Vegas understands what humans mean when they say they are haunted. Distraught, Jaime looks to fellow supernatural Jeremy Danvers for help.

As the touches and whispers from the garden grow more frantic, Jaime and Jeremy embark on an investigation into a Los Angeles underworld of black magic and ritual sacrifice. When events culminate in a psychic showdown, Jaime must use the darkest power she has to defeat a shocking enemy--one whose malicious force comes from the last realm she expected . . .

One reason I've been looking forward to this book is the fact that it features Jeremy, the mysterious werewolf alpha who was introduced in Bitten. From Elena's perspective, Jeremy is kind, logical, and often inscrutible. I wondered how he would be perceived from another perspective, and No Humans Involved provides a fascinating glimpse.

Jaime made her first Otherworld appearance in Industrial Magic, but this is the first time we get her point of view. She's a thoughtful, less action-oriented heroine than we've seen in previous books, but these traits don't make her less compelling. I enjoyed the opportunity to spend time with her.

The suspense aspect is terrific. I liked trying to put the puzzle pieces together and see where they led. And I loved the plot twists along the way.

As for Jaime and Jeremy . . . sigh. Some great moments. Truly wonderful moments. The hangman scene was nicely done. Then there's the balcony . . .

As an avid fan of the Otherworld books, I loved getting glimpses of past characters. I asked myself once or twice if a new reader would feel lost. I don't think so; most references had minor impact on the main story. There might be some sense of "Oh, something happened before," but that's often the case in a long-running series.

The next book in the series is told from Hope's perspective. I thought she was set up nicely here, and I loved the scenes--however brief--with Hope and Karl. How am I going to wait a year for the next one . . .