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Jill Kismet #3
Redemption Alley
Some cases are unusual - even for Jill Kismet.
When her police contact asks her to look into a "suicide", she suddenly finds herself in a labyrinth of deception, drugs, murder -- and all-too-human corruption. The cops are her allies, except for the ones who want her dead. The hellbreed are her targets, except for the ones who might know what's going on. Her city is in danger, time is running out, and each lead only draws her deeper.
How far will a hunter go when her city -- and her friends -- are on the line?
Just far enough.
Step into Redemption Alley...
When her police contact asks her to look into a "suicide", she suddenly finds herself in a labyrinth of deception, drugs, murder -- and all-too-human corruption. The cops are her allies, except for the ones who want her dead. The hellbreed are her targets, except for the ones who might know what's going on. Her city is in danger, time is running out, and each lead only draws her deeper.
How far will a hunter go when her city -- and her friends -- are on the line?
Just far enough.
Step into Redemption Alley...
311 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 3, 2009
50 people are currently reading
1527 people want to read
About the author
Lilith Saintcrow
132 books4,512 followersLilith Saintcrow was born in New Mexico, bounced around the world as a child, and fell in love with writing stories when she was ten years old. She and her library co-habitate in Vancouver, Washington.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews
January 27, 2016
I enjoyed this one quite a bit - the story was interesting and multi-layered. Jill is asked by a cop and personal friend to look into something that at first doesn't seem to be her kind of thing. As a favor, she digs into it, as in the same day seems other nightmares come into play.
I think the story works well because the mystery is more complex, richer, and tied into all sorts of villains and things. It was interesting to see a returning villain having something to do with it - there was a neat twist there. It digs a little deeper into the Sorrows, which sound mighty nasty. Besides that you run into corrupt police officers, conspiracies, and even someone trying to kill Jill herself.
Jill isn't my favorite character. I understand she has to be tough and brutal in her profession, but some of her actions are a little arrogant. I get that she's tough because of her hellbreed mark, but the author goes overboard with having her almost die in this book - seriously, at least three times.
There is very little Saul since he's away visiting his sick mother, and Perry is hardly in the book either since party of their relationship changing last book. I like Saul's weres that are left behind to back her up, and the were angle was interesting.
There's plenty of violence, bloody gore, killing, action scenes, and tight knit pacing. I don't care for Saintcrow's dialogue or language but she writes well and I enjoy her stuff. As far as the mystery tales go, this has the best one so far.
I think the story works well because the mystery is more complex, richer, and tied into all sorts of villains and things. It was interesting to see a returning villain having something to do with it - there was a neat twist there. It digs a little deeper into the Sorrows, which sound mighty nasty. Besides that you run into corrupt police officers, conspiracies, and even someone trying to kill Jill herself.
Jill isn't my favorite character. I understand she has to be tough and brutal in her profession, but some of her actions are a little arrogant. I get that she's tough because of her hellbreed mark, but the author goes overboard with having her almost die in this book - seriously, at least three times.
There is very little Saul since he's away visiting his sick mother, and Perry is hardly in the book either since party of their relationship changing last book. I like Saul's weres that are left behind to back her up, and the were angle was interesting.
There's plenty of violence, bloody gore, killing, action scenes, and tight knit pacing. I don't care for Saintcrow's dialogue or language but she writes well and I enjoy her stuff. As far as the mystery tales go, this has the best one so far.
November 27, 2009
Poor Jill... that's what I always end up thinking after I'm through with one of her books. This was another great one by Saintcrow. Jill of course is running around trying to save her city and getting caught in a crazy situation that ends up getting her almost killed a few times.
Then of course there's Perry... I sort of like him more and more every book even though I know we're supposed to dislike him. He just always shows up at the weirdest times and you never know quite what he's thinking.
Saul wasn't really present in this novel, that was a little disappointing but I'm sure he'll be in the next one.
After I read one of these Kismet books though, my body hurts for all the hits Jill takes, she's a machine. Can't wait for the next installment!
Then of course there's Perry... I sort of like him more and more every book even though I know we're supposed to dislike him. He just always shows up at the weirdest times and you never know quite what he's thinking.
Saul wasn't really present in this novel, that was a little disappointing but I'm sure he'll be in the next one.
After I read one of these Kismet books though, my body hurts for all the hits Jill takes, she's a machine. Can't wait for the next installment!
August 30, 2009
I really enjoy this series and this author. She writes a mean fight scene! I was definitely missing Saul and more Perry in this one though, we dealt with a lot of characters we aren't really long-term invested in. The last few books were dealing with relationship stuff and wrangling with Jill's past and I loved them, so this one felt a bit on the "procedural" side, but still really enjoyable. Nice setup for big stuff next book though, I'll be reading!
February 15, 2025
TW: for multiple uses of ethnic slur targeting Mexicans
April 1, 2017
One of the best series I've read in a while. Keeps your interest throughout the entire tale. It's hard to find a flaw in such a great story, strong characters with depth, and honestly good writing.
September 9, 2015
Jill Kismet has been pulled in to an interesting case, one that doesn't seem to have any ties to her speciality of hellbreeds and Traders. Monty asks her to quietly sniff around an apparent suicide of a cop, one that was his former partner. After discovering his widow also appears to have committed suicide, she knows it's something bigger. Add to that an outbreak of a hellbreed called scurf, and Jill has her hands full.
This particular installment of the series was not my favorite. I contemplated skipping right to number 4 after starting and stopping this numerous times. I think what was missing was both Saul and Perry weren't in this book nearly enough; there were quite a few token mentions of each and several exchanged phone calls and those took up the bulk of their "appearances". Perry, the hellbreed I love and loathe, is one of the characters that really make this series for me, so of course I missed him dearly :)
Another aspect I found tedious was the amount of lamenting from Jill this time around. Not only was she missing Saul like mad, but the amount of reflection on her bargain with Perry started to irk me. She knew from the jump what he is and what having this particular relationship would entail and after 3 books in, you would think her grumbling would slow a bit. Not so, my friends. It seems to just get worse.
Hopefully book 4 has more of both Saul and Perry (mainly Perry), as I do so look forward to them. Despite this being my least favorite in the series, I still look forward to the remaining books which will hopefully answer some questions I have from previous installments.
This particular installment of the series was not my favorite. I contemplated skipping right to number 4 after starting and stopping this numerous times. I think what was missing was both Saul and Perry weren't in this book nearly enough; there were quite a few token mentions of each and several exchanged phone calls and those took up the bulk of their "appearances". Perry, the hellbreed I love and loathe, is one of the characters that really make this series for me, so of course I missed him dearly :)
Another aspect I found tedious was the amount of lamenting from Jill this time around. Not only was she missing Saul like mad, but the amount of reflection on her bargain with Perry started to irk me. She knew from the jump what he is and what having this particular relationship would entail and after 3 books in, you would think her grumbling would slow a bit. Not so, my friends. It seems to just get worse.
Hopefully book 4 has more of both Saul and Perry (mainly Perry), as I do so look forward to them. Despite this being my least favorite in the series, I still look forward to the remaining books which will hopefully answer some questions I have from previous installments.
November 27, 2012
Ok Jill...I'm done. I kept thinking you were going to get more interesting, that these books were going to be about more than gratuitous violence..and "I'm so tough I don't need to eat or sleep or be nice to anyone ever...blah blah blah..."
I really thought these books were going to have some kind of story Arc. But it seems like all of the interesting things that could develop the Character happen OFF STAGE. Like her whole relationship with Saul. The fact that they got married is casually dropped in one sentence. Um...OK.
And Perry....SOOOO much potential there. What motivates him, who is he really, what's his endgame. But instead Perry didn't even feature in this book. Perry's bad, so it's OK for Jill to use, manipulate, and generally mistreat him...um...who's the bad guy here?
Jill is one of the LEAST sympathetic characters I have ever met in fiction. Yes, as a former whore, she had a rough life. But it didn't make her at all sympathetic to the prostitutes that were getting killed in the previous book.
I could deal with that, if I felt like her character were going SOMEWHERE. But it's not. Every book is just more of the same. Jill acting all badass and constant violence and seeing the entire world in black and white.
I really thought these books were going to have some kind of story Arc. But it seems like all of the interesting things that could develop the Character happen OFF STAGE. Like her whole relationship with Saul. The fact that they got married is casually dropped in one sentence. Um...OK.
And Perry....SOOOO much potential there. What motivates him, who is he really, what's his endgame. But instead Perry didn't even feature in this book. Perry's bad, so it's OK for Jill to use, manipulate, and generally mistreat him...um...who's the bad guy here?
Jill is one of the LEAST sympathetic characters I have ever met in fiction. Yes, as a former whore, she had a rough life. But it didn't make her at all sympathetic to the prostitutes that were getting killed in the previous book.
I could deal with that, if I felt like her character were going SOMEWHERE. But it's not. Every book is just more of the same. Jill acting all badass and constant violence and seeing the entire world in black and white.
February 29, 2016
People try to kill Jill a lot in this book. Be prepared for lots of action.
July 10, 2016
in which Saul is out of town on a family emergency and Jill has to pick apart what's really going on in the police force, since the half that's secretly dirty is also cutting deals with demonkind.
June 18, 2021
Today’s post is on Redemption Alley by Lilith Saintcrow. It is 311 pages long and is published by Orbit. The cover is purples with Jill in the center looking tough. As is it the third in the Jill Kismet series, you need to have read the first two in the series to understand what is going on. There is foul language, no sex, and lots of violence in this volume. The story is told from first person close of Jill. There Be Spoilers Ahead.
From the back of the book- Some cases are unusual - even for Jill Kismet.
When her police contact asks her to look into a "suicide", she suddenly finds herself in a labyrinth of deception, drugs, murder -- and all-too-human corruption. The cops are her allies, except for the ones who want her dead. The hellbreed are her targets, except for the ones who might know what's going on. Her city is in danger, time is running out, and each lead only draws her deeper.
How far will a hunter go when her city -- and her friends -- are on the line?
Just far enough.
Step into Redemption Alley…
Review- A very fast paced action novel that shows Jill at her best, when she is neck deep in trouble and demons. Jill is on her own as Saul’s mother is dying and he had to go home for that. Of course that’s when things start to go down but not in the normal way for Jill. Her police contact asks a favor from Jill and at first nothing seems like it has to do with the nightside but the deeper Jill gets, the more the nightside shows up. One interesting choice from Saintcrow is that that demon Perry, who Jill has a deal with, is only in one scene and that’s all. That makes this volume all the more interesting to me, as Perry overshadowed the other villains in previous volumes. I think this volume might be my favorite but I haven’t finished the series yet, so that could change. A solid volume and I look forward to the next adventure with Jill.
I give this novel a Four out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this novel with my own money.
From the back of the book- Some cases are unusual - even for Jill Kismet.
When her police contact asks her to look into a "suicide", she suddenly finds herself in a labyrinth of deception, drugs, murder -- and all-too-human corruption. The cops are her allies, except for the ones who want her dead. The hellbreed are her targets, except for the ones who might know what's going on. Her city is in danger, time is running out, and each lead only draws her deeper.
How far will a hunter go when her city -- and her friends -- are on the line?
Just far enough.
Step into Redemption Alley…
Review- A very fast paced action novel that shows Jill at her best, when she is neck deep in trouble and demons. Jill is on her own as Saul’s mother is dying and he had to go home for that. Of course that’s when things start to go down but not in the normal way for Jill. Her police contact asks a favor from Jill and at first nothing seems like it has to do with the nightside but the deeper Jill gets, the more the nightside shows up. One interesting choice from Saintcrow is that that demon Perry, who Jill has a deal with, is only in one scene and that’s all. That makes this volume all the more interesting to me, as Perry overshadowed the other villains in previous volumes. I think this volume might be my favorite but I haven’t finished the series yet, so that could change. A solid volume and I look forward to the next adventure with Jill.
I give this novel a Four out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this novel with my own money.
November 2, 2020
Redemption Alley is the third book in the Jill Kismet series written by Lilith Saintcrow. It centers on Jill Kismet, a Hunter, set in a world five hundred years in the future.
Jill Kismet is asked by her police contact to look into a suspicious suicide and she suddenly finds herself in a labyrinth of deception, drugs, murder, and corruption. The cops are her allies, except for the ones who want her dead and things gets worse as Saul Dustcircle is out of town and Pericles is angry with her.
Redemption Alley is written rather well. The narrative is action packed filled with death, political intrigue, double dealing, and murder, all of which Saintcorw does well by blending apparent unconnected cases together to make one giant mess of deception, intrigue, and corruption by the very members that should be on her protagonist’s side. While not a bad thing, this installment is more of a plot-centric narrative than a character driven story as in previous installments.
All in all, Redemption Alley is written rather well and is a good continuation to what would hopefully be a wonderful series, which I plan to continue in the very near future.
Jill Kismet is asked by her police contact to look into a suspicious suicide and she suddenly finds herself in a labyrinth of deception, drugs, murder, and corruption. The cops are her allies, except for the ones who want her dead and things gets worse as Saul Dustcircle is out of town and Pericles is angry with her.
Redemption Alley is written rather well. The narrative is action packed filled with death, political intrigue, double dealing, and murder, all of which Saintcorw does well by blending apparent unconnected cases together to make one giant mess of deception, intrigue, and corruption by the very members that should be on her protagonist’s side. While not a bad thing, this installment is more of a plot-centric narrative than a character driven story as in previous installments.
All in all, Redemption Alley is written rather well and is a good continuation to what would hopefully be a wonderful series, which I plan to continue in the very near future.
August 15, 2020
Not much to say at this point. Once you make it three-plus books into a series, the fact that you're still reading means you like something about it. But there's not a lot new to actually comment on. So, I'll just repeat what I've said before. I dislike that Saintcrow cut and pastes certain passages from one book to another. (Reading them back to back makes this super obvious and annoying. I know by now that she doesn't wear leather because it makes her ass look cute, for example. I've been told before.) I like the characters (though I missed Saul in this one but enjoyed Theron and Leon). I liked the world and I liked the mystery. I'm hoping that she takes Gil on to train, but I don't actually think it'll happen.
August 12, 2019
See, THIS is how you drag a protagonist right up to the edge of sanity, and maybe a toe over. This entry took the sense of desperation that has typified the series thus far and dialed it up to 11 - every ally and every support gradually stripped away from the protagonist before the end. Some real notes of foreboding got laid here as well, so it'll be interesting to see what gets built out of that.
September 4, 2022
The third book in the Jill Kismet series went to some gross places. When a friend asks Jill to look into a mundane crime she's not thrilled but takes it on reluctantly. When things on the nightside heat up suddenly the combo has people trying to kill her multiple times a day, and nearly succeeding. The action follows the spider web and not everything turns out okay in the end. It's the gritty reality of a hunter, and part of the charm of the series.
December 14, 2017
I did not think this one was as good as the two previous novels in the series. The plot was messy at best, and the action was a little over the top, making it kinda hard to follow what was actually going on; mostly I just felt lost.
I'm giving it 3 stars anyway, because damn you Jill, I love you so much.
I'm giving it 3 stars anyway, because damn you Jill, I love you so much.
April 9, 2019
This book was less series-driven, and more like a standalone procedural. Saul wasn't in the book, and Perry was barely there either. Instead, Jill was mostly on her own, fighting nonstop. It made for an exciting read, but not one that really left me craving more, or left me more invested in the series.
June 30, 2022
This series died for me when the biggest weakness of a supernatural creature that's entire existence is to hunt and can communicate across a city quickly to all the other creatures in his community that are currently out running searches is a blue Buick.
It's a were-pather's one weakness. Gets him every time
It's a were-pather's one weakness. Gets him every time
November 3, 2016
Yet another good read!
Loaded with action. Very grim in some ways. Human and hellbreed mix to create a near apocalyptic scenario. Kismet just barely saves the city but its not a win, the price was too high and too close.
Loaded with action. Very grim in some ways. Human and hellbreed mix to create a near apocalyptic scenario. Kismet just barely saves the city but its not a win, the price was too high and too close.
August 1, 2017
Excellent urban fantasy, on the grittier side.
April 21, 2019
Really enjoying this series! Jill is awesome but wish there was more of Saul of Pericles in this.
October 4, 2019
4+. Absolutely loved this even though I missed Saul. Dark and horrible and wonderful.
November 12, 2019
Good book
Enjoyed this one. It wasn't as good as the previous books but I enjoyed it. Will be reading the next in the series.
Enjoyed this one. It wasn't as good as the previous books but I enjoyed it. Will be reading the next in the series.
December 20, 2019
Favorite in the series so far.
April 17, 2020
I loved it! The only reason it got 4 stars instead of 5 is that there was no Saul. WTF?? I need Saul! :(
This is by far the darkest Kismet book so far and it was fabulous.
This is by far the darkest Kismet book so far and it was fabulous.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 31, 2020
High-action, interesting magic, strong main character, all the hallmarks of good urban fantasy.
November 29, 2020
Now to get the rest of the series. Missed Saul in this book.
February 26, 2022
3.5 stars
June 17, 2024
Just okay for me.
December 20, 2025
Read this years ago
February 19, 2012
Well, what can I say here that hasn't been said before? Maybe... combine Lilith Saintcrow's brain, some ink and paper, a kick-ass character, and some crazed hellish villains and you have a book that's an intense reading ride. All of the books that I've so far read by her have been enjoyable reads, and she does not shy away from doing horrible things to her characters. But with each book, I've found a strange combination of almost poetical writing and horror story aspects - it's like your nightmare by a lyricist. Like your worst nightmare written to a beautiful melody. (haha - that's as poetic or lyrical as I'll ever get. just pops out once in a blue moon) In other words, it's hell-a-fun in a kind of heart pounding way. Redemption Alley is right up there - even surpasses some of her other works for sheer action. Jill Kismet starts out the book in a fight and rescue and doesn't get one break until the the book has ended. I might have rolled my eyes at the sheer non-stop action with other writers or characters - really, how much can one person take? But somehow, it's just fun for me to read the complete mayhem that's Jill Kismet's life, trying incessantly to fight off the hellspawn and evil doings in her city while trying not to go over the edge herself. Saintcrow can take a plot and make you feel like you're right in the middle of everything, seeing, hearing and smelling what's going on. She's able to write a story that in other hands would be melodramatic, but in her words and style I enjoyed every minute of the chaos that Jill Kismet is fighting.
**If you haven't read any of the novels, there might be a couple of minor spoilers for the previous two books**
For this chapter in Kismet's life, Saul (her were-kitty, or cougar) is out of town, so even though she's just gotten used to having Saul as backup (and tried to fight the attraction in the previous story) she's feeling the lack of her man. And her hell-strength donor, Perry is being strangely quiet and cooperative, or cooperative quiet, so she's a little creeped out and suspicious of him.
**end of possible minor spoilers**
As the blurb says, there are police officers and others dropping like flies. Sudden deaths and suicides. Monty, her main police contact asks her to check out a former partner's death,an apparent suicide, on the down low. Something doesn't feel right to him. So against her better judgement she agrees, even though it's not a paranormal event - it's a mundane thing. Seems like the moment she agrees to this, things go from bad to worse. Suddenly more people are dying and someone is trying to murder her. Everywhere she goes, it seems she has to deal with an attack that's more than the usual - these are serious attempts on her life, and if it weren't for her extra hell-strength (via Perry) she would have died a few times. As it is, it slows her down a bit, and seriously pisses her off. Might piss me off too, I guess - must suck when people try to kill you over and over. (Glad we don't have to go through that, right?) Since someone seems to know where she's going, she suddenly can't even trust the police, the people who are usually there when she needs them.
An interesting new character is introduced when Jill makes a visit to the barrio, to try to question one of the local gangs. Not a very likeable guy, but someone who just might continue to make an appearance in the series? maybe. There are also some repeat appearances by the weres of the city - I like the way Saintcrow describes them - the way they act when Jill is hurt, and homey they are in general.
Reading a Lilith Saintcrow book is never a happy ever after experience - but even so, there's enough good things that happen (even if it's not obviously, ecstatically good at first) that I'm not depressed after reading a book by her. There've been books that seem to be such downers, that I can feel myself sinking into the depths of despair while reading. (tried to read some Ann Rice books and they were sooo damned bleak...) I think that the combination of the characters' fighting spirits and the overall attitude of people in her books make you feel that even though you know things can explode in a hot minute, there's also people fighting for the greater good - so overall, you feel like there's a thin thread of hope buried in all the chaos that's going on in the Kismet books. (that was a very long sentence - thank goodness this isn't for a grade, lol) So while Saintcrow doesn't necessarily give out HEA endings, she does write satisfying endings to her books. They work.
**If you haven't read any of the novels, there might be a couple of minor spoilers for the previous two books**
For this chapter in Kismet's life, Saul (her were-kitty, or cougar) is out of town, so even though she's just gotten used to having Saul as backup (and tried to fight the attraction in the previous story) she's feeling the lack of her man. And her hell-strength donor, Perry is being strangely quiet and cooperative, or cooperative quiet, so she's a little creeped out and suspicious of him.
**end of possible minor spoilers**
As the blurb says, there are police officers and others dropping like flies. Sudden deaths and suicides. Monty, her main police contact asks her to check out a former partner's death,an apparent suicide, on the down low. Something doesn't feel right to him. So against her better judgement she agrees, even though it's not a paranormal event - it's a mundane thing. Seems like the moment she agrees to this, things go from bad to worse. Suddenly more people are dying and someone is trying to murder her. Everywhere she goes, it seems she has to deal with an attack that's more than the usual - these are serious attempts on her life, and if it weren't for her extra hell-strength (via Perry) she would have died a few times. As it is, it slows her down a bit, and seriously pisses her off. Might piss me off too, I guess - must suck when people try to kill you over and over. (Glad we don't have to go through that, right?) Since someone seems to know where she's going, she suddenly can't even trust the police, the people who are usually there when she needs them.
An interesting new character is introduced when Jill makes a visit to the barrio, to try to question one of the local gangs. Not a very likeable guy, but someone who just might continue to make an appearance in the series? maybe. There are also some repeat appearances by the weres of the city - I like the way Saintcrow describes them - the way they act when Jill is hurt, and homey they are in general.
Reading a Lilith Saintcrow book is never a happy ever after experience - but even so, there's enough good things that happen (even if it's not obviously, ecstatically good at first) that I'm not depressed after reading a book by her. There've been books that seem to be such downers, that I can feel myself sinking into the depths of despair while reading. (tried to read some Ann Rice books and they were sooo damned bleak...) I think that the combination of the characters' fighting spirits and the overall attitude of people in her books make you feel that even though you know things can explode in a hot minute, there's also people fighting for the greater good - so overall, you feel like there's a thin thread of hope buried in all the chaos that's going on in the Kismet books. (that was a very long sentence - thank goodness this isn't for a grade, lol) So while Saintcrow doesn't necessarily give out HEA endings, she does write satisfying endings to her books. They work.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews