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Detective Docherty #2
Detective Docherty and the Vampire's Mirror
It’s been eleven years since the Great Awakening. Not much has changed around Toronto, minus the rumor there’s a new Goblin King in town and that a series of gruesome murders and disappearances are plaguing the city. Are the goblins raiding again or could this be the work of a serial killer? With the flood of bodies and missing fairy reports, the Detective and his team have their hands full. If things weren’t bad enough, the agency has been hired by wizards. Everyone knows wizards can’t be trusted, but how far can their deception go?A shadow has fallen over the city of Toronto. Can the Detective, along with his assistants, Ares and Alexandria, stop this wave of murders? Will their relationships survive the oncoming darkness or will they be changed forever? And will someone please name that d*mn goldfish?
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First published April 2, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 17, 2019
Originally posted on my blog here.
INTRODUCTION AND PLOT SUMMARY
Detective Docherty and The Vampire’s Mirror picks up some point after the first book concludes.
If you’ve read the preceding novel, you appreciate that despite the fact that humans are now conscious about the existence of otherkins among them, things have been rather calm and peaceful so far. All the magickal beings and humans have grown accustomed to living with each other in harmony in spite of their physical and otherwise differences.
However, matters are not looking too good this time. The book begins with a violent car accident and a gruesome murder of a mysterious nature. And while you can’t help being drawn in by that intrigue, you have an inkling that it’s also setting up a darker theme this time around.
No one knows what’s happening in the city since humans AND otherkins are going missing or turning up dead. Things become even more complicated when there’s a suspicion that goblins, under the orders of the new Goblin King, are involved. As if that weren’t messy enough, the Detective and his assistants are hired by Wizards and no one ever knows what Wizards are actually up to.
Oh, and remember the mirror from Esposito’s house that Ares acquires at the end of the first book? Yeah, the ancient-looking mirror with a jaguar carved on the top. So, Ares has been experimenting with it and things are… well… creepy.
What follows is a wildly entertaining tale of the trio of Detective, Ares, and Alex as they work to uncover the mystery behind the missing and/or dead humans and otherkins as the stakes keep getting higher.
CHARACTERS
I mentioned in the review of the first book that the characters were one of the finest things about the book. In this one, they’re even… finer!
Detective Docherty
Detective is as forgetful and as awesome as he’s ever been. I adore the Detective. He’s wise, kind and an incredible detective. Nothing of importance gets past Detective without him noticing it.
Ares
Ah… Ares sighs. Allow me a moment so I can finish fangir… er… fanboying over him. Ahem, okay. Ares. Ares is still magnificent. He is one of the best fictional characters I’ve ever run into. Ares comes across as calm, slightly arrogant, snobbish and cold. But he is not one without a heart. Ares doesn’t care about too many individuals, but I absolutely believe that the ones he’s close to are lucky to have him on their side. He is loyal, intelligent, strong and cares intensely about those few handful of people. Especially Detective and Alexandria. He is not without flaws but those make him even more realistic. He might be an undead vampire, but his heart certainly is very much alive. He is also the best vampire. Ever. Period
Alexandria
Alexandria is no longer a newcomer to the Team Docherty (again, they don’t call themselves that, although I kind of wish they would). Alex has established her place in Team Docherty as the “life” of the trio. She is kind, lively and strong. She’s the ray of sunshine that helps Docherty and Ares get through the darkness and horrors of the world. I’ll avoid giving anything away and add only that things are extra messy and personal for Alex this time.
We further meet a number of new characters this time, including Ares’ parents. The best part is that all the new and old characters are essential for the plot. It’s incredible how all the characters grow throughout the length of the book while still remaining faithful to their own personality.
WORLD
The world of Detective Docherty is even more fantastic this time as we’re masterfully introduced to many new mystical creatures that weren’t there in the previous novel. The way the world works with humans and otherkins living together is wonderful. And while matters are not as harmonious as they were in Detective Docherty and the Demon’s Tears, it is still every bit as fascinating. In fact, I’d argue that it’s even better this time.
CONCLUSION AND FINAL COMMENTS
I assume it’s pretty obvious that I LOVE The Detective Docherty Series by Sarah WaterRaven. I’m only two novels in but the author has been working hard at expanding the universe and I have many more things to look forward to, including the third book which I’ve already started reading. There are a bunch of things going on this second book and the stakes are higher than ever before. And you’re not wrong – things are indeed darker and more dangerous this time and the author handles everything with the same expertise she used in the previous book while introducing and drawing us right into the wonderful world of Post-Awakening Toronto. And I presume they’re only going to grow darker as we move forward.
The way characters are fleshed out with all their subtleties, personalities and complexities is insane and goes a long way to convince you that they are real. So, I laughed with them, worried about them, and cried with and for them.
After turning the last page, I had to stop to marvel at how complex and well put-together everything was and how masterfully the author handles everything. I love this second book even more than the first book of the series.
Things get nasty in real life too, but all you need in the end are people you can count on and care about. No matter how few they are.
“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength while loving someone deeply gives you courage.”
Read all my reviews at: https://aniketreviews.wordpress.com/
March 2, 2019
~Spoiler Free~
Detective Docherty And The Vampire's Mirror is the sequel to Detective Docherty and the Demon's Tears
The second book of The Docherty really kicks things off the start with a shocking murder. Docherty, Alexandria and Ares are on the case.
Characters:
Docherty
He is the title character. And he's one of my new favorite characters of all time. The old forgetful bean with a noggin crammed full of universes of information must be protected at all costs. His charm and passion for solving mysteries to help humans and otherkin is so admirable. He's endearingly dreamy-eyed in nature but also driven. I adore him so much, you guys.
Ares
He is the detective's cool and reserved assistant, who also happens to be a vampire. Honestly he keeps the business alive. He makes sure to consistently take care of the small things that keep a business up and running, and expects no thanks in return. He may seem standoffish, but he definitely cares.
Alexandria
From the first book, Alexandria (or Alex) is a newcomer in aiding the Docherty detective business, but quickly earns her spot on the team. She brings a much needed warmth and empathetic voice to the trio. Her cheery attitude and passion for life really brings a beautiful viewpoint to both big and small things in the series. It rouses a poignant touch throughout.
Raven
She is Alex's fluffy, adorable, nice, cute, helpful dog. Alex holds a special kind of mental connection with her dog and I love seeing their dynamic through this unique plot device.
I can honestly say the Docherty universe has the most reliable sense of follow through in its magical laws I have read to date. It's quite refreshing not to have convenient loopholes to nitpick at . Though there is numerous amounts of magical creatures and accompanying laws to keep track of, the author does so with ease. The world building is subtly applied throughout the book so as not to feel overly expositional, or alternately rushed in nature. It leaves room for the exploration of magical elements to be an enjoyable voyage of discovery throughout the story.
The plot captures intrigue from the start. Some dialogue dose come across a bit over-expositional to fit some character information in, but these are rare in appearance. Though overall the back-and-forths of the main cast are engaging, interesting and realistic.
🔎 🧚♀️ 🧛♂️ 🔍 🔎 🧛♂️ 🧚♀️ 🔍
I recommend this book for anyone seeking a fun paranormal/mystery novel with riveting characters and a strong, driving plot.
Detective Docherty And The Vampire's Mirror is the sequel to Detective Docherty and the Demon's Tears
The second book of The Docherty really kicks things off the start with a shocking murder. Docherty, Alexandria and Ares are on the case.
Characters:
Docherty
He is the title character. And he's one of my new favorite characters of all time. The old forgetful bean with a noggin crammed full of universes of information must be protected at all costs. His charm and passion for solving mysteries to help humans and otherkin is so admirable. He's endearingly dreamy-eyed in nature but also driven. I adore him so much, you guys.
Ares
He is the detective's cool and reserved assistant, who also happens to be a vampire. Honestly he keeps the business alive. He makes sure to consistently take care of the small things that keep a business up and running, and expects no thanks in return. He may seem standoffish, but he definitely cares.
Alexandria
From the first book, Alexandria (or Alex) is a newcomer in aiding the Docherty detective business, but quickly earns her spot on the team. She brings a much needed warmth and empathetic voice to the trio. Her cheery attitude and passion for life really brings a beautiful viewpoint to both big and small things in the series. It rouses a poignant touch throughout.
Raven
She is Alex's fluffy, adorable, nice, cute, helpful dog. Alex holds a special kind of mental connection with her dog and I love seeing their dynamic through this unique plot device.
I can honestly say the Docherty universe has the most reliable sense of follow through in its magical laws I have read to date. It's quite refreshing not to have convenient loopholes to nitpick at . Though there is numerous amounts of magical creatures and accompanying laws to keep track of, the author does so with ease. The world building is subtly applied throughout the book so as not to feel overly expositional, or alternately rushed in nature. It leaves room for the exploration of magical elements to be an enjoyable voyage of discovery throughout the story.
The plot captures intrigue from the start. Some dialogue dose come across a bit over-expositional to fit some character information in, but these are rare in appearance. Though overall the back-and-forths of the main cast are engaging, interesting and realistic.
🔎 🧚♀️ 🧛♂️ 🔍 🔎 🧛♂️ 🧚♀️ 🔍
I recommend this book for anyone seeking a fun paranormal/mystery novel with riveting characters and a strong, driving plot.
February 8, 2019
I don’t know what to say. I came into Detective Docherty and the Vampire’s Mirror giving into my newfound cravings for a niche genre, one that I had never before entertained until discovering this series. And I believe I may now be addicted. As the second book in line, this story has entrapped me through a meticulous wave of plot and character developments, skillfully playing my thoughts and emotions to a climax and teasing me eager for more after. The writing style truly shines as it matures, bringing such a smooth flow that will sweep you off into another world in a wonderful mix of tension(and romantic tension), intrigue, and comedy. I’m excited to see how the plot and relationships develop as the series continues!
July 13, 2017
The reason many fantasy and science fiction mysteries do not work is that there is a temptation for the author to take the easy out with a deus ex machina, simply changing the rules at the last minute and pulling a new machine or magic spell out of nowhere that fixes everything and kind of cheats the reader. Both of the Detective Docherty books I have read eschews this tendency and show that Sarah WaterRaven is a superior writer. A great balance of mystery, character, and world building, and enough loose ends that I am impatient to read the next one.
January 1, 2016
Fair warning: my rating is a bit biased. I am friends with the author and edited this novel as well as the second version of the previous one. But I really did enjoy reading it. In fact, I ended up reading multiple versions of it, and I was entertained every time. I'm glad Sarah WaterRaven is hard at work on the next novel and look forward to seeing these characters again soon.
August 13, 2020
I continue to love this series. There are a lot of ups and downs in this installment. The development of the characters and their relationships is so interesting. There are several surprises here that I had no idea were coming. Really excellent plot.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews