FurOut centers on a new and unsavory pack of werewolves which comes to town claiming rights to some abandoned property. It appears that they are using forbidden magic which may be tied to Adele and the Arete (book 1). Ford gets tangled up in a shifter rite which includes a fight to the death with the werewolf Alpha. Hazel is determined to protect her man and her town, but stubbles into trouble.
As I started FurOut, I was a little confused by some of the information being shared, until I reached page eight when it’s revealed that roughly EIGHT YEARS have passed! What?! I was a bit shocked, and honestly, other than aging some of the younger characters, I am not certain why the author did it. Here’s the thing… it appears that nothing has changed. Our heroine Hazel remains the police chief, and apparently she has not gained any additional magical acuity, she’s still disliked by the same citizens, and her character has not grown or changed in any way. The jump in time makes no sense to me and is not an effective tool, leaving me with more questions than answers.
How Hazel managed to work for the FBI for years before coming home is a wonder as she seems to cause herself and her investigations so many problems. This time around she acts impulsively and ends up banned from the investigation by her grandmother, the Grand Inquisitor. I was really frustrated with how quickly many of the town’s denizens believed the worst about Hazel. Again, if it had only been a year since she moved home, I could understand, but she’s been their police chief and neighbor for eight years.
New powers for some of the supporting characters are revealed in an all-too-convenient manner. The reason for the bad guy doing what was done is a good story. The conclusion of the mystery wraps up neatly.
Despite my nit-picking, in general I’ve enjoyed the Witchin’ Impossible Cozy Mysteries. The easy, quick stories are entertaining even with the flaws.
My Rating: B-