A serial killing rogue were-creature, a Luparii were-hunting assassin, and a new teenage shifter? How much can one lone wolf handle?
My name is Tazlyn Hunt. I'm a Finder. It's what I do.
I have the somewhat mysterious ability to sometimes link with missing people. Linking can make Finding much easier. Easier on the body, on the mind, on the paws.
Oh yeah, I'm a Benandanti werewolf too.
I make it a rule to never take on dark cases. For one thing, clients don't seem to feel obligated to pay if you find their loved ones no longer among the living. For another... well it's just plain gross.
I'd like to say I made an exception in the case of little Jimmy Riley because I had a sixth sense that this job would literally change my life. But the truth? My Jeep needed new tires.
Now I'm trying to track down a serial killer, elude a Luparii were-hunting assassin, and mentor a new teenage shifter. All in a day's work, right?
Oh, and did I forget to mention that Coyote has decided to take a vested interest in my town, not to mention my life?
Creator, help me.
Finders Weepers is the first book in the Benandanti Series Trilogy. Join Taz in this fun-loving Urban Fantasy Mystery as she goes from being a lone wolf to having a full-fledged pack of her own.
Belinda lives in a tiny house fairly close to McCormick’s Creek State Park in Indiana. She shares her home with a German Shepherd. Please note that any and all resemblances to Tazlynn Hunt, the main character in The Benandanti series, is purely coincidental.
Belinda White is not, in fact, a werewolf. No really, she isn't...
I must say, I felt at 'ease' when I was reading it; the pace itself comes casual and natural where it's quite easy to follow through without having to re-read a chapter or page.
The main character known as Tazlynn is quite likable and I liked how the author was pretty honest about how she viewed things in the world that she lived in. I had a few good laughs every now and then for various reasons, as it has a good sense of humor at times. A few pop-culture references didn't bother me at all, and while there was something going on with one particular character that didn't seem 'right' to me (no spoilers) due to his 'desires', it didn't ruin the story for me.
Now while this sounds like a 5-star book, it's not so 'amazing' where I would recommend this on the spot; the whole supernatural thing with werewolves (or even vampires) seems too mainstream and most people can get irritated with this 'gimmick' that has been running around for quite some time. Thus, this story isn't that unique, but there is decent effort that I can respect the author for keeping me going until the end.
This is going to be the last of this author's work for me. I read several books in her Accidental Familiar series. I thought the first one in that series was fairly good until I read this earlier book and noticed that the author likes to reuse lots of ideas and even whole scenes. There is a scene in both series where the lead female character is summoned to a strange (also old, wise, and supernatural) woman's house. The protagonist sits in a car outside debating whether she should go in until the old woman comes out and says, "Well are you coming in or are you just going to sit there all day?" It was as if the author just cut and pasted this from one series to the other.
If that was the only issue with the book, I would have given it 3 stars. There is suspense and some twists but then other things kept annoying me until I had to take off star after star. These annoyances sprouted from the author's apparent bigotry. This is the weird part, because the author is TRYING to be woke, but is actually being offensive. It's like this:
Attempt to be woke: includes 2 gay characters.
-- Then has the heroine (first person btw, so this is the character telling us) say they are uncomfortable with flirting with a woman.
-- Then the (straight) protagonist tells us she could kiss her (straight) friend for doing something great but she doesn't want to "send the wrong message".
-- And here's the real kicker, the protagonist feels like a third wheel with two guys because they are bro-ing out and she says, "It would be different if they were gay. I looked at Mason closely. Nope. He may be small, but his muscle was whipcord strong and toned." Uummmm, what?! Because he's muscular he can't be gay?! Omg. What is going on?
Attempt to be woke: includes non-white characters.
--Then says racist things like, how it wasn't AS annoying as you might think when a Japanese woman left out articles when she spoke her SECOND language. And "actually, when she did it with her little Asian accent, it even managed to be cute." Her "little" accent managed to be cute. Isn't that nice? Not. Talk about condescending.
-- Calls a Native character Chief and asks if they're going to have a pow-wow. Seriously?
Annoying bonuses: 1) has a character that weighs 115 say she needs to lose weight 2) MC doesn't know which of three men she'd rather sleep with (just *thinking* about who she *might* like to sleep with) so she says she is "turning into a slut" for thinking about it.
And btw for those that might STILL be interested in reading the book possible triggers are: mentions of incest, bestaility, pedophilia, rape, child death, and the attempted rape of a character from first person perspective.
The best thing about Finders Weepers was probably the masterful pacing. Belinda White relies on short chapters with nice cliffhangers that keep you glued to the page. If I hadn’t been distracted by some work related issues while I was reading, I might’ve even finished it in a day or two.
The story has a little romance, some mystery, plenty of humor, macabre elements here and there that actually gave me chills, and a very likable protagonist.
Taz is a good natured person and very easy to identify with. She works for the police as a tracker/psychic, using her nose and other specialized werewolf powers to help find missing people.
There’s a very earthy quality to the book that I didn’t expect when I first saw the cover. Everything has a rural, grounded feel that doesn’t really come through in the cover at all.
I haven’t read many books in this particular style—most of the urban fantasy I read is either a lot darker than this or a leans a little more on the mythic side of things—but Finders Weepers definitely reminded me of the Dresden Files books I’ve read, and I think fans of that series would probably enjoy this as well.
At times, it also reminded me a little of Steven Brust’s Vlad Taltos series—I think it’s something about the way Taz’s thoughts are structured in scenes where she’s trying to reason through the complexities of a problem.
The biggest weakness is probably the dialogue, which can be occasionally awkward. Most of it is fine, but there are spots here and there where things get a little tangled. The rest of the prose is solid, especially in the way it helps you get a firm grip on the main character’s personality.
Overall the book is quite enjoyable. I think it will hook most readers early and keep them going to the end.
I was given a copy of this to read in exchange for an honest non-reciprocal review.
Hey, I really enjoyed the voice of Taz, the main character in this novel. Living in a one-room cabin in rural Indiana (it felt like Montana!) she enjoys the company of Rebel, her soulmate dog companion... Taz is a werewolf who usually appears in human form, while Rebel is more wolf than dog, but does not revert to human form.
An author who actually knows who Ma and Pa Kettle are! Wow! I'm not old enough to have grown up with these one-time celebrities of the past, but my parents were. Thanks for putting that in there!
Rose is my favourite character. She displays the nerve of steeliness with a soft deft touch and a helpful dash of humanity. She guides Taz through her identity crisis, without stating so.
The antics of tracking wolves in the canyons and forests--especially with the sheriff--are exciting and send up thrills. Like a Western outing without the familiar tale of the Old Wild West, and taking place in modern day times.
I only hold back from a full five stars mainly because of the ending. The motive and opportunity for the pivotal guy at the end (I won't give it away) didn't seem to ring true. Especially the opportunity. I won't say more, because I'd give away the ending, but that was a huge factor that didn't quite resonate with the whole story.
The characters all feel real and fresh. I loved hearing about Taz's way of life in her isolated cabin up in the rural area. Oh, and also this could be a good young adult book if the author excised out the mature passages (easy to do as the entire book is geared toward a good young adult story). Hey, the cover does look young adult, right?
Loved it! Loved it! Loved it! Unless you lived under a rock for the last 5 years and you love fantasy, vampire and werewolves stories, you are already engrossed with some of the stories that even make it to the big screen. What stands out most is the effort to shock the reader and waste his time by explaining that he is in werewolves’ story and it’s awesome. The reader knows that already!
Finders Weepers is way above a lot of stories that I read for two reasons: First of all, the entire story comes natural. The necessary explanations that come with the first pages are balanced without overwhelming. And second, the author jumps over the big special effects that set the stage of a supernatural story, going to the details of an everyday life werewolf.
The main character, Tazlynn, is a loveable one. The mysteries in her life, past and presents, a mix of action and romance create a good urban fantasy. I enjoyed her view of the world, her imperfections and her desire to protect her town. It’s a book that you will love to read and it will leave you with a pleasant memory for the time you gave to it.
Taz is a stone carver and a finder of lost persons. She is also a secret werewolf. A good werewolf. She and her partner, Rebel, a shepherd-wolf mix, protect their territory, which includes the little town of Spencer. Life should be good, but years ago Taz's family was killed by were hunters. She was too young at the time for them to bother with. But now she's gained their interest, and they are coming after her.
The title is apt, and the story captured my interest immediately and held it through surprising twists to a satisfying end. Taz tells this story with wit, never straying from her point of view. We meet interesting and delightful characters, developed just enough to carry the story. My favorite, besides Taz, is the Trickster.
I wanted to give the novel 5 stars, but it needs proof reading for comma and word usage. Too many typos.
Nevertheless the writing is strong, with just enough description and background to bring us in and keep us there. It is fast paced and a fun read. It is sure to win fans for the entire series.
Good light werewolf read with a clever imagination. This is more Carrie Vaugn's Kitty type book rather than Kelly Armstrong. The main character is a "finder" - finds lost people and pets - and a stone carver. She comes from a long line of benevolent were wolves - the benandanti or good walkers - were folks who looked after their neighbourhood and Wikipedia mentions them as a real group, something of a fertility cult, who protected the fertility of farms (so learned something there). Her parents were murdered some years back and her sister went missing. This first book addresses the mystery of what happened - and rather more. It does have some mild erotic elements - three men fancying her and one with a voice like strawberries dipped in chocolate. However that is a minor element in the book and the next book in the series doesn't do that at all - it is very much concentrated on relationships in the style of Carrie Vaugn.
Let me preface this review by stating that I have read all books in her 'Accidental Familiar' series and truly enjoyed them. This book though, was something quite different. I felt I had been dropped in the middle of a book series without having read the preceding books. I was lost and just couldn't find my way to understanding what the heck was going on. I didn't even get half way through the book before deciding to let it go and read something else.
I will continue to read any books that come out in the previous series mentioned and I will look forward to further books written by this author. I just wont be reading any books in this particular series.
If half stars were available this would have been more of a 3.5* read for me. I enjoyed the supernatural set up but had a lot of trouble connecting with the characters. Even at the end, I didn't feel like I really knew them. There were things that happened that should have made me feel their sadness, shock, anger etc but for the most part I didn't feel anything. I had actually considered the person who was the villain but my theories went in another direction until right before the reveal. Regardless of the negatives, there was still an interesting story and enough mystery to keep me reading.
Instead of showing us action, the author has it all take place off screen and tell us about it afterwards. Not even in great detail just takes the anticipation that’s been building and gives us paltry compensation for our time. I will not be reading this author again.
I figured out the killer way too early. And I am not one of those people who regularly figures out the who done it. I skipped to the end to see if I was right I was and was dismayed to discover that the action packed ending I was anticipating fizzled out due to the author’s decision to tell instead of show.
Taz was one of the good werewolves. She, along with Jeb, her wolf dog mix worked with the police to find animals and people. A "Wolf, but not a wolf" was a serial killer that Jed, Sheriff Dunwood, Taz, and Jeb were constantly frustrated in not being able to catch as it's scent would mysteriously disappear. At the same time, a werewolf assassin was after Taz and she had no idea who it could be. There was lots of thrills, twists and turns with a little romance thrown in to spice things up. A very enjoyable read.
Entertaining urban fantasy/supernatural cozy mystery series
Entertaining urban fantasy/supernatural cozy mystery series. And entertaining cast of characters with a unique storyline. A spinoff series that details the lives of shifters and who and what they are. Follow along as our main character figures out who is going around killing people. And entertaining read from beginning to end.
You know what I love about recommendations? Finding little gems like this!! I was not expecting to like this book so much, but I really did! I love the mystery, I love the character depth, I love the intrigue of not knowing what’s about to come! Looks like I’ve also got a new author that I need to continue it. I thoroughly enjoyed her writing style. I’m ready to dive into book 2, and I definitely recommend you check this one out!
This has nice mix or humor and suspense to go with a well formed protagonist. Speaking of the leading character she is an orphaned werewolf whose family was brutally murdered when she was young. With no family and no other werewolves to teach her has had to figure out how to survive on her own. There is a little violence and some death but most of it happens off stage.
He is a finder of people, he is also a werewolf. Things work well but things are not always easy. Especially if the person he needs to find is dead. He needs new wheels and so he takes another case but a serial killer is about. He needs to find out what is going on. Will he? See if he does
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I enjoyed this read more than I guessed. The storyline is unique and intriguing. The characters are complex and complete the story seamlessly. I had guesses of the who or what but was pleasantly surprised that I didn't choose the right one. I have a tendency to know too often and it takes away from the story's climax. Loved it!
Very well written, the characters are love them, hate them ,& I haven't made up my mind yet type of characters. The storyline is well paced, not too fast, that you don't have time to enjoy the nuances of the story. The twists and turns keep you guessing at every turn of the page and hoping for the outcome.
This book gets you hooked from page one. I literally could not stop reading it until it was finished. OMG every chapter just got better and better and the final chapter was a complete surprise!! There is a mixture of new friendships, mysterious legends, love, and loss. This book has it all. One of my new favorites.
What tracks do you leave behind that can be followed? How long would you hunt? Taz is alone. She has an FBI agent and a Sheriff she works with. She has her dog Rebel. Otherwise she’s a loner. Her family was brutally murdered years ago. The one who killed them is now after her. Will she find enough allies to survive this hunt?
Ms. White did a very good job on this story. She has some twists and turns in it to keep you interested. I won't give spoilers you will have to read it yourself. Which I highly recommend.
Good read, but could be better. Her use of advanced notices sprinkled throughout the story I found unnecessary, and the resolution of the storyline was to quick. That said the cozy romance series seems to be more her forte' .
Twists and turns and surprises everywhere. That last extra twist was really shocking in a very good way... Well, not the last one, but you know what I mean. This book was wild and insane. Sooo good! Thank you.
2 🌟🌟 - Felt like a lot was missing in terms of back story and the identity of the bad guy was easy to mark early on. Chemistry between characters was lacking and the third act unbelievably rushed and underwhelming. Won’t be continuing the series.
This book was terrific. It grabbed my interest in the first chapter and held it to the end. The villain was a total surprise. I will definitely read the rest of the series.
I never saw the culprit! This is a great start to a series! So many twists and turns. I am loving this author and can’t wait for more of her work! Well worth your time!
If you like a great mysteries and thrilling chemistry this is your must read book. It's magically heartwarming, and somewhat chilling in equal parts. Enjoy!