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The Midnight Detective Agency #1
Obsidian Murders
A journalist who's kinda weird. A 500-year-old vampiric detective. Two young women dead from an unknown, magical source.
Tessa O'Hara is tired of people thinking she is crazy. Growing up sensitive to the supernatural and deemed mentally unstable by every therapist she’s ever seen, Tessa moves to Washington D.C. to start fresh. But when there are two murders in her neighborhood that reek of magic, she's a bit freaked out and utterly regretting her decision to become a semi-functioning adult.
Seeking aid from a vampiric detective, a grumpy house faerie, and several local Wiccan covens, she is determined to use her abilities to help. But Tessa and her new friends are at a loss when the case abruptly goes cold with no leads or suspects.
Can Tessa help find the killer before another woman is found dead?
Obsidian Murders is the first book in the all slaying, no laying Midnight Detective Agency urban fantasy series. If you enjoy a sassy main character, magical sidekicks, and puzzling mysteries, then you will love this novel.
Buy your copy of Obsidian Murders to make it bleed and lead today!
Tessa O'Hara is tired of people thinking she is crazy. Growing up sensitive to the supernatural and deemed mentally unstable by every therapist she’s ever seen, Tessa moves to Washington D.C. to start fresh. But when there are two murders in her neighborhood that reek of magic, she's a bit freaked out and utterly regretting her decision to become a semi-functioning adult.
Seeking aid from a vampiric detective, a grumpy house faerie, and several local Wiccan covens, she is determined to use her abilities to help. But Tessa and her new friends are at a loss when the case abruptly goes cold with no leads or suspects.
Can Tessa help find the killer before another woman is found dead?
Obsidian Murders is the first book in the all slaying, no laying Midnight Detective Agency urban fantasy series. If you enjoy a sassy main character, magical sidekicks, and puzzling mysteries, then you will love this novel.
Buy your copy of Obsidian Murders to make it bleed and lead today!
231 pages, Paperback
First published August 4, 2023
27 people are currently reading
54 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
April 11, 2024
This was a surprisingly enjoyable read considering it is completely outside of my comfort zone. It is a fun, uncomplicated, cozy Paranormal mystery with a delightful protagonist and host of magical creatures. A real palette cleanser between the horror!
I will be having a chat with the author about the book and some other horror/fantasy related goodness on my channel.
I will be having a chat with the author about the book and some other horror/fantasy related goodness on my channel.
August 1, 2023
I was provided an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
I am fairly far from Obsidian Murders's target demographic (as a reader), and in circumstances of not having found my first ARC offer in my email to read and review before release, I doubt I would have even know this book existed, let alone have naturally come to read it on my own volition. But, of course, that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy the book as I read it - as indeed I did - or that I couldn't enjoy it despite the demographic being a bit different.
Obsidian Murders is an urban fantasy novel set in Bethesda, Maryland, basically a suburb of Washington, D.C., told in 1st person by a young investigative-journalist-wannabe Tessa O'Hara. The novel follows a sort of mystery as Tessa and a fellow vampiric private investigator she meets try to solve a couple of murders in the area (and by area, I mean one of them happens across the street from Tessa's home for crying out loud) and the secrets buried within.
At this current stage in my reading life, I am all in on epic fantasy. That means BIG. That means COMPLEX. That means paying attention lest you miss important details, even though you probably won't catch those things until the re-read anyway. Despite this, the things I enjoyed most about this book come down to its brevity and its simplicity in the midst of actively reading 3 different epic fantasy books (and therefore 3 different epic fantasy series). The mystery doesn't necessarily make you wrack your brain, as you're simply learning things along with the characters rather than watching (so to speak) as the characters uncover or conclude what you've already put together. The plot as such is relatively simple to follow, but always engaging; it guides you along its path - an experience enhanced by the fact that it's somewhere around 50K words - short, like I said - which, for the record, is even shorter than Carrie by Stephen King.
The book is a smooth and easy reading experience and is full of fun characters of various types that are all enjoyable in their own unique ways. And speaking of the "various types" part of those characters, Nicole's fantasy leans on certain ideas related to portal fantasy, and then utilizes a lot of familiar fairy tale, fable, and folklorish creatures, but she flips a lot of those ideas and tropes on their heads, creating a much more fresh story. For example, Tessa - the main character and narrator - works the case of this story with Thomas Bloodsworth, a vampire. As such, going into this book, I encourage you to expect for Bloodsworth to differ quite handsomely from your stereotypical vampire of last century...and also your stereotypical vampire of this century...
Also, some things you might typically expect to happen by the tone of this story - it is perfectly accessible to a YA audience for example, and could be argued to read as a YA book, for example - just don't! Because Nicole doesn't care to do anything like anybody else here :D
I guess the point that I'm trying to make is that Obsidian Murders is fun, not too complex, and - in the midst of several epic fantasy books/series - almost TOO short, yet totally worth reading if something of this sort as a palette cleanser sounds interesting to you.
Although, I'd recommend maybe buy it now and read it this winter, since it's set in winter - right before Christmas in fact. That it, unless you're a literal "Christmas in July" kind of person...or you live in the southern hemisphere, in which case read it now!
3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 stars for the review.
Also, Kindle version at the time of writing I think is only $5 versus the $15 paperback (which I ordered). This story is easily worth the $5 if you want to dip your toes into this new urban fantasy adventure. I'm excited for the follow-up to use as another palette cleanser next year!
I am fairly far from Obsidian Murders's target demographic (as a reader), and in circumstances of not having found my first ARC offer in my email to read and review before release, I doubt I would have even know this book existed, let alone have naturally come to read it on my own volition. But, of course, that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy the book as I read it - as indeed I did - or that I couldn't enjoy it despite the demographic being a bit different.
Obsidian Murders is an urban fantasy novel set in Bethesda, Maryland, basically a suburb of Washington, D.C., told in 1st person by a young investigative-journalist-wannabe Tessa O'Hara. The novel follows a sort of mystery as Tessa and a fellow vampiric private investigator she meets try to solve a couple of murders in the area (and by area, I mean one of them happens across the street from Tessa's home for crying out loud) and the secrets buried within.
At this current stage in my reading life, I am all in on epic fantasy. That means BIG. That means COMPLEX. That means paying attention lest you miss important details, even though you probably won't catch those things until the re-read anyway. Despite this, the things I enjoyed most about this book come down to its brevity and its simplicity in the midst of actively reading 3 different epic fantasy books (and therefore 3 different epic fantasy series). The mystery doesn't necessarily make you wrack your brain, as you're simply learning things along with the characters rather than watching (so to speak) as the characters uncover or conclude what you've already put together. The plot as such is relatively simple to follow, but always engaging; it guides you along its path - an experience enhanced by the fact that it's somewhere around 50K words - short, like I said - which, for the record, is even shorter than Carrie by Stephen King.
The book is a smooth and easy reading experience and is full of fun characters of various types that are all enjoyable in their own unique ways. And speaking of the "various types" part of those characters, Nicole's fantasy leans on certain ideas related to portal fantasy, and then utilizes a lot of familiar fairy tale, fable, and folklorish creatures, but she flips a lot of those ideas and tropes on their heads, creating a much more fresh story. For example, Tessa - the main character and narrator - works the case of this story with Thomas Bloodsworth, a vampire. As such, going into this book, I encourage you to expect for Bloodsworth to differ quite handsomely from your stereotypical vampire of last century...and also your stereotypical vampire of this century...
Also, some things you might typically expect to happen by the tone of this story - it is perfectly accessible to a YA audience for example, and could be argued to read as a YA book, for example - just don't! Because Nicole doesn't care to do anything like anybody else here :D
I guess the point that I'm trying to make is that Obsidian Murders is fun, not too complex, and - in the midst of several epic fantasy books/series - almost TOO short, yet totally worth reading if something of this sort as a palette cleanser sounds interesting to you.
Although, I'd recommend maybe buy it now and read it this winter, since it's set in winter - right before Christmas in fact. That it, unless you're a literal "Christmas in July" kind of person...or you live in the southern hemisphere, in which case read it now!
3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 stars for the review.
Also, Kindle version at the time of writing I think is only $5 versus the $15 paperback (which I ordered). This story is easily worth the $5 if you want to dip your toes into this new urban fantasy adventure. I'm excited for the follow-up to use as another palette cleanser next year!
September 14, 2023
I was provided an ARC of this book by the author in exchange for a fair and unbiased review. Outside of The Library at Mount Char, I don't think I have read any urban fantasy to my knowledge, and to be honest, I am not sure if that book even qualifies so it is safe to say that this is my first Urban Fantasy read. I didn't know what to expect honestly, I also intentionally went in with minimal expectations to try to remain as unbiased as possible, needless to say I was pleasantly surprised, it was an entertaining read, it moves along at a brisk pace full of short chapters to keep you motivated to read more, and the banter between the two main characters, a young aspiring journalist and an old vampire (well old relative to human life expectancy, but young at heart I suppose) was very well done. The book revolves around a mystery behind two murders and the plot develops from there. The central mystery was quite creative I thought, very different, I won't say anymore. It should be noted that the ARC I was provided had some tense problems here and there, but those will be addressed in the release version.
Worth reading? Yes.
Worth reading? Yes.
May 12, 2024
A very straightforward case with a wholesome plot and fun characters. A couple one liners nearly killed me, they were so weird and funny and out of nowhere. I was surprised the MC was left out of all the action and didn’t take it upon herself to butt in and get captured, which makes her a lot smarter than the usual UF heroine.
July 1, 2025
What a wonderful read. I enjoyed everything about this story. The characters are well written, the story keeps moving along and you just want to keep reading to find out what will happen next. Humans, Fairies, Werewolves, Vampires and more. Magical portals, a junk food smuggling ring, and 2 dead humans. Tessa finds herself drawn into the case at a time when she is wondering about her future career choices. With the help of a vampire she meets at her local coffee shop, together they track down the clues and Tessa discovers perhaps she has more options then she thinks with her career outlook. Definitely looking forward to reading the next book to find out what Tessa gets up to in the future. Highly recommend for adventure, fun and many laugh out loud moments as the characters get into various situations we can all relate to.
August 4, 2023
This was a fun, cozy paranormal mystery that was fast and easy to read. We are following Tessa who, through elfish blood in her lineage, has the ability to see all magical creatures from the house elf living in her office to the ghost living in her hall closet. When a witch is murdered outside of Tessa’s apartment right next to a portal to the other world, she finds herself wrapped up in the investigation which is led by a vampire named Bloodsworth.
The relationships between Tessa and her friends, not all of which are human, were endearing and so sweet. I chuckled quite a few times while I was reading. Overall the story was very fun and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I did wish there was more world building and we learned more about the other world and the creatures. The story is written from Tessa’s POV and since, as a human, she is unable to enter the other world, we did not get to see the parts of the investigation that took place there. It also meant that the final climax scene where the killer is caught was told to us later when Bloodsworth tells Tessa what happened. I would have liked to see Bloodsworth’s POV as well to give a better sense of the other world and to feel included in the take down of the killer and other criminals.
This was still very fun and I read it in less than a day. I would absolutely read the next book in the series because I really want to know more about the creatures and the other world. Overall it was 3.5 stars, rounding up to 4 stars for the 5 star rating system.
I received a free advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much Nicole Fox and Book Sirens for the opportunity to read this book.
The relationships between Tessa and her friends, not all of which are human, were endearing and so sweet. I chuckled quite a few times while I was reading. Overall the story was very fun and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I did wish there was more world building and we learned more about the other world and the creatures. The story is written from Tessa’s POV and since, as a human, she is unable to enter the other world, we did not get to see the parts of the investigation that took place there. It also meant that the final climax scene where the killer is caught was told to us later when Bloodsworth tells Tessa what happened. I would have liked to see Bloodsworth’s POV as well to give a better sense of the other world and to feel included in the take down of the killer and other criminals.
This was still very fun and I read it in less than a day. I would absolutely read the next book in the series because I really want to know more about the creatures and the other world. Overall it was 3.5 stars, rounding up to 4 stars for the 5 star rating system.
I received a free advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much Nicole Fox and Book Sirens for the opportunity to read this book.
December 9, 2024
solid book
Hilarious at times, adorable at others
Had themes that reminded me of the Dead Witch Walking series and a recent book I read called Vampires of 1863
Great self-pub author
A series to sink teeth into for sure
My favorite line:
I'm from the 1500s, I don't care for vehicle technology.
Hilarious at times, adorable at others
Had themes that reminded me of the Dead Witch Walking series and a recent book I read called Vampires of 1863
Great self-pub author
A series to sink teeth into for sure
My favorite line:
I'm from the 1500s, I don't care for vehicle technology.
August 7, 2023
What a fun read! The mystery was unique, the characters were hilarious, and the stakes were high. Tessa and Bloodsworth made a great team, and I can't wait for more!
September 13, 2023
This is a great little cozy mystery urban fantasy book to pick up as autumn approaches. I don’t drink coffee, but I wanted to grab a cup of it when I was reading! I loved that the author was able to capture those cozy vibes. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series!
August 9, 2025
What would you do for a klondike bar?
April 15, 2024
Great First Installment
Detailed world, great characters, and a fast paced plot. I look forward to reading more from the Midnight Detective Agency.
Detailed world, great characters, and a fast paced plot. I look forward to reading more from the Midnight Detective Agency.
July 20, 2023
A young journalist, a wizened detective and two dead bodies.
What could go wrong?
Tessa is a budding journalist trying to make it big in Bethesda, MD. While she is building up her experience, handling odd articles and paying her dues as an assistant, Tessa is hiding a secret. She can see ghosts and fairies and other paranormal beings.
This is both a blessing and a curse.
1. She has access to all sorts of witnesses
2. She can't really use what they say.
When two young women are murdered outside her apartment complex and she gets recruited by a visiting detective to help him solve the mystery. With the promise of the scoop of a century and an opportunity to help can Tessa solve the mystery and keep her day job?
I live in the DC/Metro region, so it was great to see places that I have driven by metioned in books. The name of the stores mentioned are places I hope to find in my travels.
I absolutely loved this book and can't wait to see where the next installment takes us…
All in all, this was a fun read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
What could go wrong?
Tessa is a budding journalist trying to make it big in Bethesda, MD. While she is building up her experience, handling odd articles and paying her dues as an assistant, Tessa is hiding a secret. She can see ghosts and fairies and other paranormal beings.
This is both a blessing and a curse.
1. She has access to all sorts of witnesses
2. She can't really use what they say.
When two young women are murdered outside her apartment complex and she gets recruited by a visiting detective to help him solve the mystery. With the promise of the scoop of a century and an opportunity to help can Tessa solve the mystery and keep her day job?
I live in the DC/Metro region, so it was great to see places that I have driven by metioned in books. The name of the stores mentioned are places I hope to find in my travels.
I absolutely loved this book and can't wait to see where the next installment takes us…
All in all, this was a fun read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 18, 2023
This was a fascinating PNR mystery. - it was much more than a murder mystery. It had interesting characters and was set in a unique world that was well described. I really enjoyed the story and can hardly wait to read the next one!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 15, 2023
Loved the book, there were so many interesting characters and I enjoyed the humour within the book too. The interplay within the different characters was good and I liked how the main character really developed in a literary sense and throughout the book as she carried out the investigation. Ready for the next book please.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.se.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.se.
December 10, 2023
Title: "Obsidian Muders By Nicole Brona Review" (Spoiler Free Review)
I recently had the pleasure of diving into the pages of Nicole's novel, and it's quite an intriguing experience. This fantasy novel, set in a world of magical realism, brings together a range of imaginative ideas and concepts. The first-person POV really helped me jump inside the head of the main protagonist, Tesa O’Hara. With that said, I’m going to keep this generic to keep from giving away any spoilers, since it’s a mystery with some uniquely interesting characters.
1. Tight Chapters: There was little to no fluff within each chapter. The author pushed through the events needed for my journey with Tesa to make sense, immerse me in the experience, and build on what I learned as I read the novel. I am traditionally comfortable with long, extended epic fantasy chapters that go on for pages, but it was nice to take in tight, full chapters.
2. Vivid World-Building: One of the standout features of this book is the author's incredible talent for world-building. The fantasy realm they've crafted is rich with unique elements and imaginative landscapes. I loved how information about the world was gently placed throughout the reading experience.
3. Character Development: The characters in the novel are flushed out quickly within the first few chapters. You know who they are, what they want, and where their positions stand. Their journeys are thoughtfully depicted, adding depth to the narrative. And at no point did their voices sway from what was established in the first act.
4. Inventive Magic: The novel introduces an inventive approach to magic and the supernatural, offering a fresh take on traditional fantasy elements. Some people think magic needs to be complicated, but ultimately, what I love is that the supernatural elements, creatures, and powers all develop productively through story and not deep exposition.
5. Eloquent Prose: Nicole has clearly been writing for a while. She has a way with realistic, terse sentences. She doesn’t spend a lot of time on purple prose, but it makes sense since the novel is in first-person POV through Tesa’s experience. Which shows the world through her eyes, and thus the narrative elements are all in her personality.
As I tell everyone, writing is hard, and starting a novel is harder. But Nicole continues to do both as she builds on her catalog of work. I’m proud of her and all she has accomplished. What a fantastic adventure she allowed me to share! Now it's time to read another one of her novels to get a peek inside her fantastically awesome mind!
I recently had the pleasure of diving into the pages of Nicole's novel, and it's quite an intriguing experience. This fantasy novel, set in a world of magical realism, brings together a range of imaginative ideas and concepts. The first-person POV really helped me jump inside the head of the main protagonist, Tesa O’Hara. With that said, I’m going to keep this generic to keep from giving away any spoilers, since it’s a mystery with some uniquely interesting characters.
1. Tight Chapters: There was little to no fluff within each chapter. The author pushed through the events needed for my journey with Tesa to make sense, immerse me in the experience, and build on what I learned as I read the novel. I am traditionally comfortable with long, extended epic fantasy chapters that go on for pages, but it was nice to take in tight, full chapters.
2. Vivid World-Building: One of the standout features of this book is the author's incredible talent for world-building. The fantasy realm they've crafted is rich with unique elements and imaginative landscapes. I loved how information about the world was gently placed throughout the reading experience.
3. Character Development: The characters in the novel are flushed out quickly within the first few chapters. You know who they are, what they want, and where their positions stand. Their journeys are thoughtfully depicted, adding depth to the narrative. And at no point did their voices sway from what was established in the first act.
4. Inventive Magic: The novel introduces an inventive approach to magic and the supernatural, offering a fresh take on traditional fantasy elements. Some people think magic needs to be complicated, but ultimately, what I love is that the supernatural elements, creatures, and powers all develop productively through story and not deep exposition.
5. Eloquent Prose: Nicole has clearly been writing for a while. She has a way with realistic, terse sentences. She doesn’t spend a lot of time on purple prose, but it makes sense since the novel is in first-person POV through Tesa’s experience. Which shows the world through her eyes, and thus the narrative elements are all in her personality.
As I tell everyone, writing is hard, and starting a novel is harder. But Nicole continues to do both as she builds on her catalog of work. I’m proud of her and all she has accomplished. What a fantastic adventure she allowed me to share! Now it's time to read another one of her novels to get a peek inside her fantastically awesome mind!
September 20, 2025
*only minor (hopefully) spoilers*
This is definitely a different kind of read for me. But not unfamiliar. It was a nice mix of some of my favorite reading genres: fantasy, some thriller, comedy and mystery.
Tessa is a very entertaining character, and I loved that Brona wrote her in a way that conveys confidence and resilience in someone with special abilities and the fact that Tessa does not dwell on them; she’s at the point where she’s accepted it, especially after having received some past bullying and negativity towards her regarding those abilities yet she perseveres and moves on without it hindering her in any way. It’s treated as such a casual detail and I loved that.
Bloodsworth was not what I was expecting but he was a pleasant surprise of a character! Especially given he’s a vampire. Tessa still stole every scene in this book but Bloodsworth was high on my favorite characters list here. Which brings me to the subject of the other magical beings in the story. Aside from Bloodsworth we have a ghost (George), a werewolf pack (Jefferson, Benjamin and the Swedish twins, mainly), an office worker Faerie (Drusil), and various others including witches, ogres, and goblins. Another thing I loved that the author did here was give these “other beings” a bit of non traditional traits and personalities that defied stereotypical caricatures. This, along with the creation of an inter dimensional Other World that humans cannot travel to lest they be destroyed in the process, made for a really different but elegant imaginative setting.
Being that this is the first book of a series, I felt like a lot of plot in this book was quite rushed but not devoid of detail or conclusion. For example, Tessa ends up being not quite as involved with something you would think she would at one point but I think that was written to serve as a prelude for her to be fleshed out in the series’ journey. I felt like a majority of this book was a setup goal for future installments, especially when we are privy to reading about Tessa receiving a huge life pivoting point by book’s end. I for one am excited to see where her story goes next. I think we’ll see many of these characters grow as the series continues.
I loved the premise. It offered something very unique and had some truly quirky but enjoyable characters that are indeed worthy of investing in. I’m giving this 4 stars with a high recommendation for reading.
This is definitely a different kind of read for me. But not unfamiliar. It was a nice mix of some of my favorite reading genres: fantasy, some thriller, comedy and mystery.
Tessa is a very entertaining character, and I loved that Brona wrote her in a way that conveys confidence and resilience in someone with special abilities and the fact that Tessa does not dwell on them; she’s at the point where she’s accepted it, especially after having received some past bullying and negativity towards her regarding those abilities yet she perseveres and moves on without it hindering her in any way. It’s treated as such a casual detail and I loved that.
Bloodsworth was not what I was expecting but he was a pleasant surprise of a character! Especially given he’s a vampire. Tessa still stole every scene in this book but Bloodsworth was high on my favorite characters list here. Which brings me to the subject of the other magical beings in the story. Aside from Bloodsworth we have a ghost (George), a werewolf pack (Jefferson, Benjamin and the Swedish twins, mainly), an office worker Faerie (Drusil), and various others including witches, ogres, and goblins. Another thing I loved that the author did here was give these “other beings” a bit of non traditional traits and personalities that defied stereotypical caricatures. This, along with the creation of an inter dimensional Other World that humans cannot travel to lest they be destroyed in the process, made for a really different but elegant imaginative setting.
Being that this is the first book of a series, I felt like a lot of plot in this book was quite rushed but not devoid of detail or conclusion. For example, Tessa ends up being not quite as involved with something you would think she would at one point but I think that was written to serve as a prelude for her to be fleshed out in the series’ journey. I felt like a majority of this book was a setup goal for future installments, especially when we are privy to reading about Tessa receiving a huge life pivoting point by book’s end. I for one am excited to see where her story goes next. I think we’ll see many of these characters grow as the series continues.
I loved the premise. It offered something very unique and had some truly quirky but enjoyable characters that are indeed worthy of investing in. I’m giving this 4 stars with a high recommendation for reading.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 21, 2025
This is probably more of a 2.5 star book for me, but I'm rounding to three. My response is mostly due to personal tastes.
First of all, I tend to like mysteries to be a little less "cozy" than this one. By that I mean it rarely feels like these characters are truly confronting the depravity of murder to me. In fact, while I'm no fan of the practice, they seem to grow far more shocked and outraged by the possibility of animal sacrifice, just before stopping at a cafe to calm themselves over coffee and sausage.
Secondly, the fantastical characters and elements, while sometimes amusing and clever, are overall a little too warm and cuddly for my preferences, especially when it comes to Bloodsworth. I guess I like vampires, even if they're allies, to be a little bit "alien," and eerie with an unsettling air of potential menace. Sipping at herbal tea doesn't leave much room for that sort of thing.
Finally and most substantively, it's disappointing that the protagonist doesn't participate in, or at least observe, the conclusion to the mystery plot, but rather has events related to her ex post facto. True, it's established that it would be impossible, or at least very dangerous, for Tessa to do so thanks to her mortality, and I have a feeling that this particular threshold may be something she faces in later books, but even so, it makes for some disappointment here.
All that being said, there is some fun and charm to be found here when I set my preferences aside and take the book on its own terms. It's enough that I'm curious to check out the follow-up eventually, just to see how things develop.
First of all, I tend to like mysteries to be a little less "cozy" than this one. By that I mean it rarely feels like these characters are truly confronting the depravity of murder to me. In fact, while I'm no fan of the practice, they seem to grow far more shocked and outraged by the possibility of animal sacrifice, just before stopping at a cafe to calm themselves over coffee and sausage.
Secondly, the fantastical characters and elements, while sometimes amusing and clever, are overall a little too warm and cuddly for my preferences, especially when it comes to Bloodsworth. I guess I like vampires, even if they're allies, to be a little bit "alien," and eerie with an unsettling air of potential menace. Sipping at herbal tea doesn't leave much room for that sort of thing.
Finally and most substantively, it's disappointing that the protagonist doesn't participate in, or at least observe, the conclusion to the mystery plot, but rather has events related to her ex post facto. True, it's established that it would be impossible, or at least very dangerous, for Tessa to do so thanks to her mortality, and I have a feeling that this particular threshold may be something she faces in later books, but even so, it makes for some disappointment here.
All that being said, there is some fun and charm to be found here when I set my preferences aside and take the book on its own terms. It's enough that I'm curious to check out the follow-up eventually, just to see how things develop.
August 9, 2023
Obsidian Murders is a solid urban fantasy, that has the potential to be a really good series. The murder mystery at the heart of the novel was an interesting idea. The characters are a bored journalist Tessa and vampire detective Bloodsworth and their search allows us to be introduced to the politics and some of the diversity of the worlds the author created, its an easy, non-demanding read.
I liked that the vampire character Bloodsworth was not sexualised as in many other books. It made for a nice change and that there was no romance between the main heroine Tessa and him. Just because it gave it a different dynamic from others in the genres. As with many urban fantasy novels we get introduced to an array of different and fun magical beings with interesting personality and modern twists to how they exist. I also liked that Tessa's power gives her insight into the otherworld, but she is not a part of it, making her an outsider looking in and truly being in-between the two worlds.
I would have liked more action and because it's first person narrative, through the character of Tessa, we don't witness the resolution of the mystery directly. I hope her access to the fae world and her ability to witness showdowns changes in future novels.
Disclaimer: I received a free ARC copy for review, all opinions are my own amd freely given.
I liked that the vampire character Bloodsworth was not sexualised as in many other books. It made for a nice change and that there was no romance between the main heroine Tessa and him. Just because it gave it a different dynamic from others in the genres. As with many urban fantasy novels we get introduced to an array of different and fun magical beings with interesting personality and modern twists to how they exist. I also liked that Tessa's power gives her insight into the otherworld, but she is not a part of it, making her an outsider looking in and truly being in-between the two worlds.
I would have liked more action and because it's first person narrative, through the character of Tessa, we don't witness the resolution of the mystery directly. I hope her access to the fae world and her ability to witness showdowns changes in future novels.
Disclaimer: I received a free ARC copy for review, all opinions are my own amd freely given.
October 7, 2025
This is a fun, quick read.
Tessa has some fae blood meaning she can tell when someone is other. She is also a journalistic major but stuck doing advise and gossip columns. She shares her small apartment with a snarky ghost.
When a murder is committed across the street from her, she meets the Fae private detective, Thomas Bloodsworth, a vampire – how’s that for a perfect name.
The main part of this book is trying to track down the witch involved as well as stopping a junk food smuggling ring – it seems some of the fae are addicted to junk food which is forbidden in their land as it destroys it. That’s a problem I’ve never read about before.
This book has some action, lots of different characters, some of which are pretty funny.
There are definitely some ideas that I’ve never come across before – I’m still getting my head around junk food smuggling.
This was an easy, quick, fun book and book 2 looks pretty interesting too.
Tessa has some fae blood meaning she can tell when someone is other. She is also a journalistic major but stuck doing advise and gossip columns. She shares her small apartment with a snarky ghost.
When a murder is committed across the street from her, she meets the Fae private detective, Thomas Bloodsworth, a vampire – how’s that for a perfect name.
The main part of this book is trying to track down the witch involved as well as stopping a junk food smuggling ring – it seems some of the fae are addicted to junk food which is forbidden in their land as it destroys it. That’s a problem I’ve never read about before.
This book has some action, lots of different characters, some of which are pretty funny.
There are definitely some ideas that I’ve never come across before – I’m still getting my head around junk food smuggling.
This was an easy, quick, fun book and book 2 looks pretty interesting too.
August 14, 2024
What a fun mystery! I feel like fans of Kim Harrison's Hollows series would really enjoy this in that there are LOTS of great supernatural beings that fans of urban fantasy adore! Vampires, werewolves, ghosts, fae folk, elves, witches, and more. The world building was SO much fun and the main character, Tessa, has one of the coolest dispositions I've ever seen in an urban fantasy.
did-not-finish
May 26, 2025DNFed 23%. I didn't like the writing style. Everything is all over the place. The writing is very simplistic and there is no depth to it.
September 6, 2025
I adored the humour in Obsidian Murders, especially Bloodsworth's vampiric snarkism. Who doesn't love a vampire?
I've jumped straight into the next book as I need to know what the characters get up to next.
I've jumped straight into the next book as I need to know what the characters get up to next.
August 4, 2023
FEELGOOD READ
Graduate journalist Tessa O'Hara is bored with her job on the local newspaper, and jumps at the chance to investigate a murder. But this is no ordinary killing. Tessa, secretly able to detect magic, knows the corpse was left outside an other-worldly portal for a reason. Working with Bloodsworth, a sexy vampire, she begins to uncover dangerous truths.
Despite a dark underlying theme, writer Nicole Brona plays the story for laughs. There's wisecracking dialogue, amusing characters and a will they, won't they vibe about Tessa's attraction to Bloodsworth. After all, there's a five century age gap.
If you're looking for a feelgood read, this book delivers it in spades.
Graduate journalist Tessa O'Hara is bored with her job on the local newspaper, and jumps at the chance to investigate a murder. But this is no ordinary killing. Tessa, secretly able to detect magic, knows the corpse was left outside an other-worldly portal for a reason. Working with Bloodsworth, a sexy vampire, she begins to uncover dangerous truths.
Despite a dark underlying theme, writer Nicole Brona plays the story for laughs. There's wisecracking dialogue, amusing characters and a will they, won't they vibe about Tessa's attraction to Bloodsworth. After all, there's a five century age gap.
If you're looking for a feelgood read, this book delivers it in spades.
June 30, 2023
I received this eARC from Booksirens.com and am providing an unbiased review.
This is the first book in a new series from this author, and it wasn't bad at all, in my small opinion. I believe this is the first work put out (though the author pen name, Nicole Fox, could be found to a different person, this work is not accredited to) and can be read as so. The plot is fairly easy to follow, and overall is a nice, fun , easy read for the day. IT is your overall vampire/human relationship, and throw in a couple weird things - oh! and add that you hope future books in this series will fill in all details, piecemeal, about the main characters. In short, the usual that seems to be put out every three months in this genre.
In honesty, I did enjoy it though, more than I do most books that seem to randomly appear every few months from some "big" writer with a psuedo. There were a few issues with the use of tense in the writing (it is an ARC) but otherwise I did find it a nice distraction for the day.
This is the first book in a new series from this author, and it wasn't bad at all, in my small opinion. I believe this is the first work put out (though the author pen name, Nicole Fox, could be found to a different person, this work is not accredited to) and can be read as so. The plot is fairly easy to follow, and overall is a nice, fun , easy read for the day. IT is your overall vampire/human relationship, and throw in a couple weird things - oh! and add that you hope future books in this series will fill in all details, piecemeal, about the main characters. In short, the usual that seems to be put out every three months in this genre.
In honesty, I did enjoy it though, more than I do most books that seem to randomly appear every few months from some "big" writer with a psuedo. There were a few issues with the use of tense in the writing (it is an ARC) but otherwise I did find it a nice distraction for the day.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 4, 2023
Updated on August 4, 2023:
I'M SO EXCITED! TODAY'S THE DAY! Obsidian Murders is out in KU, ebook, and paperback form. So many choices, so little time.
Grab your copy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BZ5BLXCZ
Updated on June 18, 2023:
I'm excited to say that this is my first ever Urban Fantasy book AND my first ever book series. There are a lot of firsts with Obsidian Murders, and I'm so happy with this novel. It is listed under Nicole Brona mainly, but I am not trying to hide my pen name or given name, so you'll often see Nicole Pierman/Nicole Brona connected to this series.
Here's a little background on the cover, main character, and story because I just can't help it.
Fay Lane is my cover artist and I absolutely adore her art. She's an absolute treasure, and that's why I knew I needed her help with my first ever Urban Fantasy book series (6 books; are you ready for that?!). We talked in-depth about the first novel and the subsequent book covers, and she hit the preverbal nail on the head.
This is an all slaying, no laying Urban Fantasy, Meaning, Tessa and Bloodsworth (the vampiric detective) aren't romantically involved, but they are close friends and colleagues. I focus on friendships and familial relationships in this book series because I think we're missing that connection in literature lately. Not everyone needs to be in a romantic relationship, but best friends? Yes, please!
Tessa O'Hara, my main character, doesn't have the "usual" Urban Fantasy magical powers: she can see through other beings' glamour. So, she can see vampires, werewolves, mermaids, elves, ghosts, faeries, etc. as if they were walking around just like humans—and they usually are in this alternative universe. So, we do need a little bit of magical wisps, but not too much. This first book is set in Bethesda, Maryland, which is a stone throw's away from the Washington D.C border. You sometimes hear about Bethesda in TV shows and movies regarding politics since many politicians and people that work on The Hill also live in or on the border of Bethesda. It's a big city full of life and drama, and that's why I wanted to put my first novel within Bethesda's border.
Order Obsidian Murders right here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BZ5BLXCZ
I'M SO EXCITED! TODAY'S THE DAY! Obsidian Murders is out in KU, ebook, and paperback form. So many choices, so little time.
Grab your copy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BZ5BLXCZ
Updated on June 18, 2023:
I'm excited to say that this is my first ever Urban Fantasy book AND my first ever book series. There are a lot of firsts with Obsidian Murders, and I'm so happy with this novel. It is listed under Nicole Brona mainly, but I am not trying to hide my pen name or given name, so you'll often see Nicole Pierman/Nicole Brona connected to this series.
Here's a little background on the cover, main character, and story because I just can't help it.
Fay Lane is my cover artist and I absolutely adore her art. She's an absolute treasure, and that's why I knew I needed her help with my first ever Urban Fantasy book series (6 books; are you ready for that?!). We talked in-depth about the first novel and the subsequent book covers, and she hit the preverbal nail on the head.
This is an all slaying, no laying Urban Fantasy, Meaning, Tessa and Bloodsworth (the vampiric detective) aren't romantically involved, but they are close friends and colleagues. I focus on friendships and familial relationships in this book series because I think we're missing that connection in literature lately. Not everyone needs to be in a romantic relationship, but best friends? Yes, please!
Tessa O'Hara, my main character, doesn't have the "usual" Urban Fantasy magical powers: she can see through other beings' glamour. So, she can see vampires, werewolves, mermaids, elves, ghosts, faeries, etc. as if they were walking around just like humans—and they usually are in this alternative universe. So, we do need a little bit of magical wisps, but not too much. This first book is set in Bethesda, Maryland, which is a stone throw's away from the Washington D.C border. You sometimes hear about Bethesda in TV shows and movies regarding politics since many politicians and people that work on The Hill also live in or on the border of Bethesda. It's a big city full of life and drama, and that's why I wanted to put my first novel within Bethesda's border.
Order Obsidian Murders right here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BZ5BLXCZ
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