The Infernal Detective

Riga Hayworth #3

by Kirsten Weiss

When Riga Hayworth finds a dead body in her bedroom a week before her wedding, it’s par for the course. When the corpse drives off with her fiancée… That’s a problem.

Riga knows dead. More intimately than she’d like. So when a murdered photographer gets up and walks away, she’s believes there’s necromancy afoot. And when she discovers that several of her wedding guests are under the influence of dark magic, she’s certain. But how can she catch a killer and stop a necromancer when even her nearest and dearest are lying to her?

Murder. The undead. Irritating relatives. The Infernal Detective is a fast-paced, paranormal mystery, where nothing is quite as it seems, and magic lies just beyond the veil.

Genres: Paranormal, Mystery, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Fiction, Ebooks

277 pages, ebook

First published May 4, 2013

About the author

Kirsten Weiss writes laugh-out-loud, page-turning mysteries. Her heroines aren’t perfect, but they’re smart, they struggle, and they succeed. Kirsten writes in a house high on a hill in the Colorado woods and occasionally ventures out for wine and chocolate. Or for a visit to the local pie shop.

She is best known for her cozy and witch mystery novels. So if you like funny, action-packed mysteries with complicated heroines, just turn the page…

Kirsten sends out original short stories of mystery and magic to her mailing list. If you’d like to get them delivered straight to your inbox, make sure to sign up for her newsletter at kirstenweiss.com

Feel free to follow her on Twitter @KirstenWeiss or Bookbub, get in touch on Facebook, post a picture of this book to Instagram and tag her @kirstenweissauthor, or send her an email. She’ll answer you personally…which may be a good or a bad thing, depending on your perspective.

Reviews

[Katy · Rating 4 out of 5]

See also my guest post from Kirsten Weiss, "The Magic of Salt".

Book Info: Genre: Paranormal mystery
Reading Level: Adult
Recommended for: fans of paranormal/supernatural mysteries.
Trigger Warnings: murder, assault, stalking, hints of human trafficking and slavery

My Thoughts: Well, it's been a great journey, and now I'm at the end. And I'm sort of depressed about that. I do hope this series will continue, but honestly? I have no idea if it will. Edit: A fifth book, The Elemental Detective, was released in December 2013. But There are so many questions that are left unanswered. that I really hope they will. More details in my “about the series” section.

I absolutely adored Peregrine and Dot (and what little we saw of Livinia). Riga's aunties are an absolute hoot! I think it would be great to have a spin-off series with their various adventures, and especially about Livinia, whom I found the most intriguing. I think those would be books I would very much like to read.

I was very bothered by Riga's attitude, especially at the beginning of this book. She's supposedly 44, but she was acting like an insecure 20-something in a lot of ways. It seemed out of character, which is why I've ended up only giving this four stars.

Nonetheless, I enjoyed the story a lot. And the series as a whole. If you like your mysteries with some paranormal, be sure to check out this series.

Thoughts on the Series as a Whole: Since I'm at the end of the series thus far, I thought I'd share some thoughts about it. Overall, I liked the series a lot. I was a bit disappointed that only the first book was set in San Francisco, but I did like the Lake Tahoe setting, and the smaller town atmosphere and casino added some interesting aspects that would have been missing in the larger San Francisco setting. However, there were a number of questions and plot threads that were brought up and never answered, or hinted at and never outlined, and I would love to see a book or books that would explain the following:

What is up with Riga's necklace? It is described as a “strange, twisted cross”, but no further details are ever provided. How is it strange and twisted? What is the significance of it? How did she acquire it?

Details on her shamanic training with Sal and what went wrong there. What was the story with her running off with a “hot fae from the upper”? Why did she end her training? What happened in that infamous journey?

Why does Riga dislike the fae so intensely? What happened to cause her to distrust and dislike them so?

What is the full story behind her acquiring Bridgette and the death of the necromancer? How did she end up involved in the situation? There are so many mentions of this story it almost feels like there was an earlier book that no one has seen, and it has driven me crazy the entire time.

How did she initially hook up with the Tarot and Tea ladies? There seems to be a larger story there that is never mentioned.

What happened in Afghanistan, really? Again, there are so many hints and mentions, but very few details. We know she went over there with some sort of relief operation, but then what happened?

Is Donovan still looking for Erin?

These and many other questions are really haunting me. So, to the author I say: start writing! Enquiring minds what to KNOW!

Series Information: Riga Hayworth Paranormal Mysteries

Book 1: The Metaphysical Detective , review linked here where formatting allowed
Book 2: The Alchemical Detective , review linked here where formatting allowed
Book 3: The Shamanic Detective , review linked here where formatting allowed
Book 4: The Infernal Detective , received from author for review
Book 5: The Elemental Detective ; I have not acquired this one yet.

Disclosure: I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Synopsis: When Riga Hayworth finds a dead body in her bedroom a week before her wedding, it’s par for the course. When the corpse drives off with her fiancé… that’s a problem.

Riga knows dead. More intimately than she’d like. So when a murdered photographer gets up and walks away, she believes there’s necromancy afoot. And when she discovers that several of her wedding guests are under the influence of dark magic, she’s certain. But how can she catch a killer and stop a necromancer when even her nearest and dearest are lying to her?

Murder. The undead. Irritating relatives.

[Mooncat · Rating 3 out of 5]

As with the last book: Not enough Donovan! I don’t get it. So often, once a prota falls in love or gets engaged, instead of exploring that new love situation, authors just find ways to separate them and let the significant other disappear or be kidnapped or is whisked away to some secret mission or whatever. It’s so frustrating.
But, at least, we finally get to know Riga‘s ominous aunts. Though there too, one of them barely shows up before leaving the stage again, the author hardly dealing with that. It’s an okay read, albeit a bit frustrating and again with a rushed end.
In the next Riga will be on her honeymoon. I do hope that at least there Donovan will get enough time with Riga …

[Pamela Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another winner.

I like how each of the Rega books move forward. The heroine and her family grows. This one had the strongest beginning and a twist that kept me turning the page.

I do think this one could have used a few more conversations between the Hero and Heroine.

Also, the aunts needed a bit more back story, at least in my opinion.

I didn't figure out the bad guy until near the end. While the reasoning wasn't as grounded as the previous Rega books, it was satisfying none-the-less.

[Pat McGhan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riga reigns

I love this series, the characters of the human and non-human forms, the setting, the building disclosure of paranormal details and people like Riga ' s aunts. The romantic tension had me cheering Donovan and Riga on, hoping they could make it. I always am thrilled that there is a next book in the series !

[Rose Mcclarin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is like a maze, just when you think you know which way things are going something happens and you're off in a completely different direction full of surprises and unexpected events that finally wind up with the wedding you were expecting. Another book that keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole time.

[Gwynneth Ott · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun paced mystery

I love this writer's way of showing her main character "discover" magic. Oh yeah, you can't pick your family, watch out. I enjoyed reading this, even out of order!

[Lisa Norvell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love

The journey of Riga Hayworth and her Donavan gets better and better. Their wedding is approaching and a murderer strikes. A magical mistake endangers not only the wedding but their future together.

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable

This wasn’t my favorite until the latter part of the book when the threads of Riga’s history began to tie together and the pace of the book increased. Looking forward to Book 4.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riga and Donovan have had a world wind romance and now they're about to be marries, but there's a dead body in their bedroom on the night of a party. That's only the beginning of strange events and the wedding is at the end of the week.

[Sandee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series! In this book, Riga's adorable and annoying Aunties arrive add to the confusion. Donovan becomes one of the 'victims' of their antics and Riga has her hands full trying to resolve Donovan's situation as well plan their wedding. As usual the mystery is wonderful, the magic scary and the bad guys are well, bad guys. I recommend this book!

[Jeannie Zelos · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Infernal Detective: Book Four in the Riga Hayworth Series . Kirsten Weiss.

ARC supplied by author.
Jumping into book four of a series as I have I wasn't sure how I'd be able to follow the story. Whilst I did need to refer back a couple of times it wasn't hard to pick up, Kirsten gives enough explanation to keep up without being too repetitive for followers of the series. I hate it when an author keeps repeating detail from earlier books I've read if its overdone. Its a turn off and I feel cheated, I always think that the readers should buy the earlier books.....so its good that Kirsten has found the right balance. Riga is getting married to Donovan in a week and they're having a pre wedding party at their new lake house. They go into the bedroom and find a dead body, Riga goes out of the room and moments later the body has disappeared along with Donovan. He turns up next day at one of his casinos and Riga spots Cam, the dead man although he seems to be trying hard to avoid her. Puzzles and batty relatives, ghosts, witchcraft, necromancers, dark magic and Hunters, talking gargoyles... its a book packed with adventure and mystery. I love books like this and really enjoyed it, Kirsten has managed a perfect mix of supernatural without resorting to the tired clichés so many books like this have utilised.
I think I'd get even more from the book if I'd read the earlier ones, as often there were things that referred back to past incidents, which of course I didn't know about. It didn't make the story hard to follow but I’d have had a greater understanding if I did know who was who, and what had occurred in earlier series.
The cast of characters are great, a good mix, and each carefully thought out to fit within the story line. They felt like real people – though if I had aunts like that I'd be tearing my hair out :) I liked Riga ( and Donovan!) and felt for her when she's trying to work her way out of danger, solve the puzzle of the dead/alive Cam, and keep the other guests from harm, and with the problem of her magic not helping as for some reaosn its been going wrong recently. All the while she's doing this she also has to try to avoid a local mob boss who's convinced she's part of his destiny. Big task for anyone but riga doesn't shy away from doings what's right and needed. I was there with her, holding my breath and reading franticly when she was in the middle of yet another dangerous scenario.
Stars: Great book, well written and I'm sure the whole series is one for fantasy readers to follow. Certainly I'll get to the earlier books when I’ve time :) and spare cash. I'm going for four stars but I think if I’d read the earlier ones I'd be giving five. I may come back and edit at a later date but this is my rating based on current reading.

[Chiara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whilst The Infernal Detective is not my usual kind of read, I enjoyed it nonetheless.

Riga Hayworth finds a dead body in her master bedroom a week before her wedding. Not long after, she discovers that the ghost of her fiancée's father is in the body of her fiancée, and that the spirit of her fiancée is now in the dead body. Sounds confusing, right?

I was surprised that I did not find myself floundering around with no idea of who was who or what was going on when I was reading The Infernal Detective. I had a little worry that I might, since The Infernal Detective is the fourth in the series. But Weiss has done really well in creating a story that can be read out of the context of the series, and still be enjoyed. Of course, prior knowledge of the series could have helped with a few things (like the similarities between Riga and Rita), but they weren’t integral to the story.

I thought the story was cleverly played out, and paced really well. There was enough action to prevent boredom, but enough non-action to keep the story from feeling overplayed. I liked the intricacies that were weaved into the story, and how each was slowly revealed to both Riga as a character, and me as a reader.

The magic aspect of The Infernal Detective was by far my favourite. For some reason, I have been reading quite a few books about necromancy lately, and I think the way Weiss has presented it in The Infernal Detective was really interesting. I loved the addition of Hecate, and the ‘in-between’. Reading about magic being an everyday part of Riga’s life was unique. The Infernal Detective is not your typical magical novel, and I really liked that. Magic was just part of who Riga was, and she didn’t think that made her uber special, or better than anyone else. It was just a part of herself, like anything else.

I would have liked to read more of Riga and Donovan’s relationship, but I am sure there is more of that in the previous novels.

The story regarding the shifting spirits, and the creepy mobster Vasily were intriguing, and captivated your attention. It makes me wonder what the stories are like in the previous Riga Hayworth novels.

All in all, I enjoyed The Infernal Detective. If you’re looking for an adult fiction book with a magical twist, I’d say give this one a go.

© 2014, Chiara @ Books for a Delicate Eternity . All rights reserved.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

My disclaimer here is that I'm coming into this series at book 4. So, if I make any absurd statements/questions on things that have been addressed in previous books...ignore me. I'm cool with that.

Here's the thing, although I'm starting at book 4, I had no problem jumping into who the characters were and what was going on. Clearly, there are things in Riga's past that I'm unfamiliar with (she seems to get into deadly trouble often!) but Riga and her gang weren't hard to sort out or follow along with.

That said, not knowing the characters as well as someone who'd been with them from book 1, there were a couple of things that happened that put THE FEAR in me. I'm pleased to say that everything turned out a-okay in the end (in regards to THE FEARS!) but there were several tense moments along the way.

The story itself is fun and nicely dark. Riga herself is a bit of a mystery. Her magic is on the fritz and she doesn't quite know what she's capable of or how to fix it. A dead body, a mobster stalker, and something shadowy that clearly does not have good intentions round out her issues. Oh, plus there's a little, bitty problem of people keeping secrets from her.

And her family. Oh, they made me laugh. The ditzy aunts were a hoot and a half -- even with the secret keeping and seeing how I'm not a huge fan of people keeping life-changing things from others for their own good, I think that's saying a lot. I'm not sure how much I'd trust some of Riga's acquaintances -- especially those in the media -- but she seems to know what she's doing and how much information to give.

All in all, this was a fun, fun ride with a romance that takes a back seat to the danger and intrigue that keeps falling into Riga's lap. Which isn't to say that the relationship between Riga and Donovan wasn't present (because they're getting married in a week. There's definitely a relationship going on!), but it wasn't the main focus.

Bottom line, I liked it!

-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal

[Trina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I’ve read from the series and I will definitely be picking up the rest so that I can learn more about Riga Hayworth and her intriguing adventures. The Infernal Detective definitely had flavors of Kim Harrison’s The Hallows series -which I LOVE! The story combines witchcraft, crime, mystery, and Greek mythology.

It was very interesting to learn that Riga pulls her magic energy from the Greek Goddess Hectate – and that is just totally awesome! In The Infernal Detective she is battling a necromancy mystery, a subject I haven’t read much about so it really kept me turning the pages to find out how all this unravels. From beginning to end Riga struggles with light and dark magic; she doesn’t want to be associated with dark magic but finds sometimes there’s no choice.

You can definitely feel the chemistry and love between Donovan and Riga, but you won’t find any graphic sex scenes or much sexual content, that context is very tame. I would say The Infernal Detective is suitable for ages 13 and up.

I also enjoyed the family connections that Riga has with her aunts, Peregrine and Dot and her niece, Penn. Most of their interactions are amusing and comical.

FAVORITE QUOTE:

This is between Riga, her niece, Penn, and Riga’s familiar, Brigitte who is a gargoyle:

“Aunt Riga?” Pen stood inside the room. She rubbed her bare arms, shivered in her tank top and sweatpants. “What’s wrong?” Brigitte sniffed. “Your aunt lost a battle on ze astral plane, and now she is throwing ze temper tantrum like a five-year-old child.” “That is not why I’m throwing a temper tantrum,” Riga snarled. “I’m angry because I’m tired of being told I have to be a necromancer.” Pen took a cautious step closer. “But is it really so bad?”

If you are looking for a mystery crime novel with heavy doses of magic and a dash of humor The Infernal Detective is the read for you. Kirsten Weiss writes with a spellbinding flair and intelligence that makes her story easy to read and captivating.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here is another author and series that I have never tried and find that I am totally ready to commit to. Silly me I have started with number four in the series but will be going back to the beginning so that I can understand the references that were made here about past action. The language is excellent and conveys the feelings of the characters perfectly and gives you glimpse into how they operate. The main characters are given life by descriptions which give a good visual of what they look like and and how they move. This is really enjoyable way to get to know characters even if it is not from the beginning, it's like having a friend you have known for years and then getting to go back and find out all those embarrassing things they did when before you knew them.

Riga Hayworth is preparing for her wedding and at her pre-wedding party she finds a dead body in the master bedroom and as if that isn't enough when she returns the body has gotten up and walked away. Now Riga knows dead and that guy was definitely it, so how did he leave under his own power. With only days to her wedding and with her fiance acting strangely Riga has to find out who killed the photographer, why he is walking around and what the heck is wrong with Donovan. Oh, and just to keep her on her toes a mobster has decided that she is his destiny and wants her for his own and a black lodge has something to do the all this mess. Throw in a couple of necromancer Aunts and a neice who needs her help with harnessing her magic and things are just a little out of control.

This was a fun read that blended elements of mystery, romance and the metaphysical into a great read read that I could not put down. The fact that there are multiple mysteries to be solved as well as a magical dilemma makes for a great time. Riga has found her way into my small pantheon female hard cases, love a girl with a spine and who is fearless, or at least doesn't let fear rule her. Because this is the 4th in series if you have not read the first 3 go back, otherwise enjoy this.

[Michelle Willms · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Infernal Detective by Kirsten Weiss

Riga and Donovan are having a pre-wedding party at their new house at Lake Tahoe. Riga takes a much needed break from the crowd; Donovan soon follows her. As they try to enter their bedroom, they discover that Donovan’s father, the latest ghost inhabitant, has frozen their bedroom door closed. Riga’s magic has been on the fritz for some time now, so she can’t magick the door open. She suspects the door-freezing is a warning of some sort. It is. A man lays in their bedroom floor, dead.

Minutes later, the entire scene has changed. Riga is chasing about trying to find missing persons. Someone is using dark magic; Riga recognizes the odor. A guest at the party must be guilty because Riga checked the security cameras and no one left the house or entered. An evil force is at work and Riga is supposed to get married in one week.

Kirsten Weiss has delivered an intense and ever-changing mystery with The Infernal Detective, filled willed an assortment of twists and turns and hills and valleys, not just of the usual suspenseful variety, but also of the emotional sort, as well.

Weiss has the ability to sculpt characters in a way that is truly artistic. Her creations walk, living and breathing (or not, for those who are ghostly or otherwise supernatural), straight off the page and into the room with the reader. Her descriptions are vivid and the crises of the characters become the reader’s crises, as well. This is what makes a book worth reading.

This series is also compelling because a reader can jump in at any time – it isn’t necessary to read these books in order. She manages to draw new readers into the fourth book of the series just as easily as if the reader was reading book one in the series. This is a talent few authors of any type of series possess.

This novel was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review (participating in Goodreads Read for Review program).

[Tracyk · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a humorous, light mystery, laced with paranormal elements. Riga Hayworth looks a lot like Rita Hayworth and people are always telling her this. So from that point, you know this is not a totally serious, hard hitting mystery. Some of the characters are a little bit over the top. There are two ditsy aunts and a mobster who is stalking her. Riga has a niece who is pretty normal; a teenager who wants to learn to use her powers.

I don't really want to tell much more about the plot than the overview above... so as not to spoil the fun of reading the book. I will say that Riga is 44 and thus has some maturity. She has a Private Investigator's license, but it is for California and she is living in Nevada. Thus I did find that it was believable for her to investigate a crime on her own.

I did not read the first three books in this series, and this is a departure for me. I am usually rigid about reading in order. Luckily, in this case, I was able to enter into the spirit of the book with the background that is provided. The author did a pretty good job of providing just enough information without spending a lot of exposition on her past. I did have questions about how Riga got to her present situation, and that will send me back to the earlier books to see.

As I noted, this is a light mystery and it is clearly in the fantasy genre. So not a typical read for me. I would call this a cozy, also not typical for me. But I was entertained by the story and Riga's predicaments. She is a take-charge person and not timid at all. My prejudice in the past has been that paranormal gifts give the detective an unfair advantage, thus taking the tension out of the story. Not in this case, however.

I would recommend this for readers of paranormal mysteries or urban fantasy. Although this is not a Young Adult novel, I think it would work well for young adults.

This book was provided for review by the author.

[Laura Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given a copy of this book from the author for my honest review.

The first thing I discovered was that although this is the fourth book in her Riga Hayworth series, it read easily as a stand alone novel.

The author introduces a new mystery for Riga to solve and laces past characters and events into the story in increments so you don’t feel lost and are able to become acquainted with everyone easily.

Riga’s wedding day is only a week away and hectic doesn’t describe her life. When she finds a dead body in her bedroom things go from hectic to crazy. The dead body is seen driving away with her soon to be husband.

A lot is happening in this book. Riga has accepted she’s a necromancer but struggles with being drawn into dark magic. Her niece, Pen, is also struggling with it, and Riga has her hands full trying to coach her and deal with some wicked aunts, a magic attack on her wedding guests, and a sarcastic gargoyle who gives cryptic answers.

I think it would be fun to have a companion like Brigitte. The gargoyle is a formidable foe and guardian and never hesitates to set you straight, often not sparing your feelings. She’s also funny and extremely loyal.

Riga is stronger than she thinks. She’s able to sort things out without losing it and when you find out what’s really going on with the dead guy and her fiance, you’ll wonder how she does it.

Urban fantasy slash mystery slash romance, The Infernal Detective unleashes all that plus magic galore and an excellent cast of characters. There’s so much to keep you entertained and guessing, which leads to an addictive series.

I recommend this to all who enjoy a good mystery, fantasy, and some laughs.

[Gaele · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 4th in the series, and while there were places and moments that I wished I understood all of the references from past books, I didn’t find that my understanding of the current storyline was compromised by not being familiar with the earlier books in the series.

We meet Riga, a paranormal PI and a witch who seems to have some issue with her powers not working properly, either too much juice or none at all. I liked Riga, even as she annoyed me occasionally with her immature whingy behaviors. Engaged and just a week from the wedding, she and Donovan have caved to pressure for a larger wedding, and this pre-party is where the story starts.

From a dead guest in a bedroom with a door frozen shut, the story starts with a bang and keeps on with the fast-paced tympanic rhythm to the end. Necormancers, disappearances, dark magic, talking gargoyles and a mob boss with a crush, Riga Hayworth has few moments to breathe. Add in her aunts: delightfully funny and eccentric enough to provide interest while managing to frustrate Riga to no end and gargoyle Brigitte was an unusual and delightful addition to the story, fearsome in look alone.

This was a story that managed to skirt the edges of the dark themes with humor and lightness in the characters that are so well-intentioned they just shine through the doom. Donovan and Riga are a couple that feels well-matched and comfortable together, and their relationship is one that feels solid, even as Riga often seems to question it.

I liked this story, and may find some “free reading” time to read the first three in the series.

I received an eBook from the publisher for purpose of honest review for the Jeep Diva. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

[Maghon Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will start by saying I did not read any of the first three books, which normally is bad, but here it wasn’t bad. You may not get as much of the original world building and character backgrounds, and a few references from the earlier books, but other than that, I found it pretty smooth. It’s also quite a fun little mysterious ride :) I happen to like supernatural mysteries and this is perfect for that category.

Riga is a detective of the supernatural variety. The book literally starts out at Riga’s engagement party. Her wedding is in a week, she’s got a whole bunch of super important people at this party, including her eccentric aunts, and when she goes to their room for a little break, there’s a dead guy. Her fiancé is smart and calls the police, instructs her to go get copies of their building’s entrance security cameras, and upon returning the dead guy and her fiancé are both gone. Lol And then she sees the dead guy and her fiancé WALKING AWAY! this is an excellent way to start out a book to make it begin with a bang. Dead guys walking around, black magic leaving traces, crazy aunts, mob bosses hitting on her, it’s a hilarious thrill ride!!

There’s some very lovable characters. Her aunts make me giggle. Riga is a well written character and I like Donovan, her fiancé, and the bad guys will swing you for a loop.

I now will be reading the first three books because there was such a fun, exciting, memorable ride! The plot was very entertaining, and had twists and completely action packed! I’m so glad the author emailed me for this one because I found another great book!! 4.5 WALKING DEAD, THRILLING PAWS!

[Aimee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This isn't my usual genre of choice but I really like to change things up once in awhile. It helps to keep reading new and exciting. The Riga Hayworth Series is new to me. I haven't had the opportunity to read any books in this series until now and I'm glad I got the chance.

The Infernal Detective is a paranormal mystery/urban fantasy sort of book. There are all kinds of magic in plentiful amounts. Creatures too. And one Riga Hayworth who is a PI and a bit of a magic filled person herself.

This is the 4th book in this series and like I said, I haven't read any before this one. While I was reading, I knew there was a history I was missing but I never felt like I was lost because of it. I really think that this can be a stand alone book. Having said that, I think that the book would have meant more to me and I would have had a greater connection to the characters if I would have read the previous books.

I really enjoyed this book for the most part. It had excellent pacing and a story line that I was invested in from the beginning. I loved Riga's no nonsense attitude and her smarts. I also liked that Riga isn't a young whipper snapper but a 40 something adult. It came from a more mature standpoint which was cool. I don't read a lot of those these days. The one drawback of this book for me was the language. If I could take out all the swearing I would be much happier. But, this is a personal preference. I know not everyone is bothered by swearing so take that for what it is. :)

If you enjoy paranormal/urban mysteries you will really enjoy this book and probably the whole series.

Content: Frequent swearing (including the F word), alcohol use.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC: The Infernal Detective

I received a free copy, in exchange for a review.

Riga Hayworth, yes you heard that correctly, finds a corpse, in her bedroom, a week before her wedding, you would think what a horrible thing to find. But, this is nothing for a metaphysical detective. That is until she comes back and there is no body and her soon to be husband, who was watching the body is not in the room, things get a little weird. Then, not to mention that she can sense that there is something a foot, with her wedding guests, something involving black magic, possibly even necromancy. This should be an easy enough case for her to figure out...as long as she can find out where the hell her fiance is.

'She could see it all crumbling now, the faint outlines of the life she's planned with Donovan, disintegrating. Her aunts were right. Necromancers were always alone, largely because they were always trying to kill each other. There was no one to trust. Innocents got caught in the cross-fire. And Riga had once joked the necromancer on necromancer violence kept the population down.'

I will have to say that when I found out that this was the 4th in the series, well, I went out and bought the first 3 books! I love series that have interesting characters and this one definitely has that, along with a great story line. Super quick and easy to read! I'll have to start at the beginning and then reread this!

[Sheryl Painter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was gifted this book, which was a new author for me. I am so grateful - I thoroughly enjoyed this story. The author was able to keep me entertained, enthralled, and guessing the entire time. The characters were interesting and fun, the story line was not your typical paranormal who-done-it, and the twists and turns kept me interested from the beginning to end. I was absorbed into the story from the first chapter, and by the final, I was searching for the other books in the series. Ms. Weiss has created characters that seem very real, some you would care about and want a happy end, and some you are glad are only in the book and no one you'd meet. I especially enjoyed how the main character had self-doubt and learned to find her strength - without becoming obnoxious. The author never let her story become sappy, bogged down, or cookie-cutter characters. Anyone who adds a gargoyle named Brigitte makes me smile! She kept it fun, interesting, suspenseful, and FRESH. With all the paranormal books available - she moves to the front of the pile. I can happily recommend this book, and I'm quickly going to add the rest of the series to my library. Hopefully there are more books from Ms. Weiss in the future, I'll eagerly go where she takes me in her worlds!

[Rosie Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Infernal Detective is book #4 of the Riga Hayworth paranormal romantic mysteries. This book is set at Lake Tahoe, Nevada.

One week before Riga's wedding to casino owner Donovan Mosse, a body is found at their new home during a pre-wedding party. Magical meddling occurs and Donovan finds himself in the body of the dead photographer and his own body is filled with the ghost of his father.

Metaphysical detective, Riga, isn't fooled easily and soon finds out shocking revelations about her eccentric Aunts. Riga is also trying to deal with the unwanted advances of local mob ruler Russian Vasily Gregorovich, who claims she is his high priestess.

A black lodge band of dark magic members are causing Riga trouble as is her own unreliable magic and time is not on her hands with the wedding only days away. Can Aunt Lavinia be found in time to get Donovan back in his own body? Can the astral police help? Or will Riga have to admit she really is a dark necromancer herself?

Each book in this series has some great characters, this time it was Aunt Dot and Perigrine; eccentric, meddling, muddling and mind-blowing. I'm enjoying how Riga is developing with her magic and the mysteries in each book work well too. Another great read for those who like cosy paranormal mysteries.

[Laurie: Almost Faemous · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of The Infernal Detective in exchange for a fair and honest review. Had I realized when I signed up to review the book that it was the fourth book in a series I probably wouldn't have agreed to review but I am glad that I did. While there was some backstory I hadn't read there really wasn't any confusion and the book could easily be read on its own.

Despite not reading the first three books it was the characters that really made this story for me. Riga is a witch who's powers are on the fritz and she is a paranormal PI, she also worries about becoming a necromancer because they are all evil and insane. She has a houseful of crazy relatives...oh the aunts, they were hilarious! She has an insane, really evil mobster stalker, a party full of celebrity and reporters and a week before her wedding she finds a dead body in her bedroom...makes for an interesting week.

The story focuses on who left the dead body behind and how to get rid of the crazy stalker all while trying to figure out her magic. I thoroughly enjoyed The Infernal Detective and will definitely try and get my hands on the first three books to catch up.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the fourth installment in this series and prior to my reading this book I had only read book one. The Infernal Detective is a whole new story with less world and character building, but there is a plethora of new and colorful characters, as well as some old favorites who have been there from the beginning. It reads well even if I had not read the first book in the series, although I do feel some of the backstory and history will be missed, but not much that cannot be filled in with the reading. I did feel that Riga was more scattered in this book and appeared less together than she did in book one and sometimes this annoyed me, but in all fairness she is on a journey of self discovery in the midst of murder, necromancy, and mayhem. It just seemed to me that this installment was not as smooth as book one. However, I really enjoyed the read and definitely it is worth reading. I received this book from the author with a request for my honest review without any compensation whatsoever, other than the joy of reading a new book.

[Sharon Stevenson · Rating 4 out of 5]

'The Infernal Detective' is the fourth book in a series that combines mystery with urban fantasy. Riga Hayworth finds a dead body in her bedroom, a dead body that gets up and walks away. Things go from bad to worse when it appears her fiancé has been kidnapped by the dead man walking.

I totally forgot this wasn't a first in series when I started reading it but although I quickly realised I was missing a bit of backstory the book was still easy enough to get into. It's a fast-paced mystery with an interesting mix of well written characters and easy to understand magical stuff. It's light entertainment with a good sense of humour and it's a fun read.

The book seemed to lack tension and because of this I didn't feel particularly worried about what was going to happen to Riga's fiancé. This didn't stop me from enjoying the story however, and it helped keep the atmosphere fun and light.

I would recommend to fans of urban fantasy and mysteries. I would say this is suitable for YA readers also.

[Theresea Wasson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book free in exchange for an honest review. I had a bit of a hard time in some places due to the fact that I haven't read the earlier books, and there were some references to things from previous books. But this detective is great! Murder, astral projection, spells, familiars, necromancy. All this while trying to get married, but first she needs to get her fiance's soul out of the dead body of a celebrity photographer, and get her dead future father in law's soul out of her fiance's body. She also has to deal with her eccentric aunts, the "dark lodge" and a "hunter's lodge". Oh, and let's not forget the mob boss who has the hots for her as well.

Action packed, funny, never ending ride. I loved this book and am going to have to go back and get the earlier books, and read the entire series.

[Candy Korman · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Infernal Detective" deftly combines magic with standard mystery fiction. The plot is a light confection set in a world of dark magic. Author Kirsten Weiss handles this mix with skill and humor. Her featured detective, Riga Hayworth, is charming and surrounded with an off-beat collection of standard wacky-mystery characters and characters more often found in magical fantasy fiction. I particularly enjoyed Riga's necromancer aunts, the magical hunters hiding in plain sight, and the "unfamiliar" familiar Brigitte -- a gargoyle).

Riga faces ghosts who simply won't cross over, a stalker/mobster obsessed with her magical abilities, a magical mix-up involving her fiance, a dead man & her ghostly father-in-law, all during her pre-wedding celebrations. The dark passages of magical action raise the stakes in nightmarish descriptions that leave real life consequences.

[Danielle (Dannie) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! There was action, suspense, mystery, comedy, and more all rolled into one book! Even though this was Book 4 in the series, it was also a great stand-alone book. There were a couple of parts that mentioned what seemed to be in the first three books, but it didn't confuse the plot of this book. If anything, it made me more determined to read the first three books, since I haven't read those yet! The ending was excellent, and I am hoping that there will be more to come in this series!

DISCLAIMER: This book was gifted to me by the author (through the Goodreads) website in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own, and no money or other compensation was provided for this review.