The Case of the Twisted Truths

Dr Ribero's Agency of the Supernatural #4

by Lucy Banks

Kester and Ribero's team of inept supernatural investigators are back again. But this time, the stakes have been raised. Hrschni, a powerful daemon leading the Thelemites, is hellbent on bringing spirits back to the world of the humans . . . at any cost. Kester needs to gain control of his unique abilities while coming to terms with the fact that his mother had more secrets than he realized. He must also decide where his allegiances really lie. As the twisted truths keep coming out, he finds it increasingly hard to know who to trust.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Fantasy, Science Fiction Fantasy, Cozy Mystery, Supernatural, Paranormal

352 pages, Paperback

First published October 6, 2020

About the author

Lucy Banks grew up in provincial Hertfordshire, before fleeing to the wilds of Devon, where she now lives with her husband and two boys. As a child, she spent a disproportionate amount of time lurking in libraries, and prowling car-boot sales to feed both her hunger for books and her book collection. It's fair to say that she's bypassed being a bookworm, and become a book-python instead. Today, most of the available space in her house is stuffed to the brim with literature, which is just the way she likes it.

Regular forays into fictional realms at a young age created a desire for more, and she soon began to create alternate realities through writing. After teaching English Literature to teens, she set up her own copywriting company and turned her love for the written word into a full-time career. However, the desire to create never went away, so Lucy turned her insomnia into a useful tool--penning her novels in the wee small hours of the night and the stolen moments of the day.

Reviews

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I could not tell you what it is about this series, but I adore it. The characters are on the whiney annoying side, but there is something about Kester, the son of Ribero, that draws on the reader's heartstrings. Being bullied by everyone around him and not sure of the gifts from his mother, Kester is a weak-kneed fighter that you cannot help but cheer on.

With Dr. Ribero's Agency of the Supernatural down on its luck, which it has been for a while, the team must pull together when the powerful daemon Hrschnie and the Thelemites are determined to use Kester to open the spirit door. Kester has not quite mastered the skill that his mother had conveyed on him, so when he finds himself in the middle of a good versus evil tug of war, and the agency has teamed up with their arch enemy, Kester is in for a battle when it comes to the truth and how deep the lies go.

The ending leaves the future wide open, and though Kester is a ripe old twenty-three years of age, he is just coming into himself, and as he learns more about his mother, he and the reader question all that is around him.

[Bookish_Aly_Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book 4 in the Ribero’s Agency of the Supernatural series. It was yet another delightful read just like the previous ones in the series. It’s nice to see the character and relationship development with the main characters as the series goes on. Some of the characters still get annoying from time to time, but overall I still enjoy them and their interactions with one another.

I feel like with each book in this series more and more happens, which definitely keeps your attention. There were a lot of changes that took place with the Kester and the team in this installment and I can’t wait to see where the story goes!

If you are looking for a lighthearted ghostly read for during the spooky season I highly recommend checking this one out! This one leaves you on another cliffhanger, so be prepared to need the next book right away!

[Annarella · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series and I was happy there will be more books.
It was great to catch up with the quirky and well thought cast of characters.
There's a lot going on in this book and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
The world building is as interesting as usual, the characters are well thought and I loved the humor.
I can't wait to read the next installment.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for this ARC, all opinions are mine

[Janice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Chicago Review Press and Goodreads for my copy of "The Case of the Twisted Truths". I found it to be a delightful insight into the workings of spirit-busting by an interesting earthly agency. This reader wants more of Dr. Ribero et al.

[Rosie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Feels unfinished -stopped abruptly. Almost like the suthor went away for a cuppa and forgot to return. May well be intentional however it gives the book an unfinished sudden feel. Aside from that, I enjoyed it other than serenas whineyness.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this series by Lucy Banks. Lots of changes with Kester and the team.

[Shandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Doh! Another cliff hanger... when does the nest book come out?? This series had a bit of a slow start, but it’s gotten more intriguing with each new book!

[Janine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good story where there is a sudden ending. I am not saying too much but things unravel with Kesters past history. I am waiting for the next installment to find out what has happened.

[Tara Kozocari · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hate cliff hangers... but love this series.

[M · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75

Joe Jameson (Orator) is a treat.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was provided an ARC via Edelweiss in exchanged for an honest review.

This is four of the Dr. Ribero's Agency of the Supernatural Series. I thought that this was the final book of the series, but was pleasantly surprised to find that there will be more books. I really enjoy this series. The cast of characters is hilarious, and they are terrible at investigating the supernatural and sending them back to whence they came. This book does end on a cliffhanger, however I'm glad to know that we will finally uncover some of the missing pieces of the backstory.

Like the other books, this follows Kester, a lovable character who kind of stumbles along his newfound life in the realm of the paranormal after his mother's death. His mother was involved in the paranormal world, but kept it all from Kester and now that he has reunited with his father he has been thrust into the paranormal world and is trying to find his place in it. Unlike the previous books in the series, where his father's "ghost hunting" agency is actively working on a case, this book is mainly focused on Kester and following up on events of the previous book The Case of the Hidden Daemon. Kester is still facing his fear of the spirit world, which terrifies him, trying to learn his father's business, and going to the university to learn about all things paranormal. While juggling all of his responsibilities he finds himself in the middle of a moral dilemma and he can't tell anyone what he is doing. Hrschni, the daemon who kidnapped him, has an agenda that Kester doesn't support, but he also has information that Kester is desperate to learn.

I really liked that Kester is finally accepting his fate as a spirit door opener and starting to believe in himself. He is still scared of his own shadow, but he is starting to find his stride. I loved seeing him finally stick up to his father when it came to running the business. Kester's development is slow, but he makes steps in the direction in each book. It is mentioned in this book that he is only 23 years old, so he is still figuring out who he is as a person and he's had a lot thrown at him in a short amount of time. While I didn't appreciate the cliffhanger (who does), I do like that we are finally going to find out more about Kester's mysterious mother and perhaps why she kept so many secrets in the next installment.

I love this series and highly recommend it if you are looking for a paranormal, mystery type of series. This series sort of fits into the cozy genre as there is some comedy and it is fun and easy to read. I've really come to love the characters and really like the humor.