Disenchanted & Co.-Lynn Viehl

Disenchanted & Co. Lynn Viehl Pocket, Jan 28 2014, $7.99 ISBN: 9781476722351 In the Provincial Union of Victoriana, Charmian “Kit” Kittredge firmly believes in the logic of science and math though she knows many in society strongly accept the existence of magic. Kit investigates crimes in which magic is allegedly reported with her objective being to solve the case while proving the mundane not the hocus pocus was involved. In Rumsen, Lady Diana Walsh states her spouse’s first wife cursed her with the odious words etched into her skin. Though Kit hates dealing with the aristocracy, she decides to look into the assertion; expecting to debunk Walsh’s claim as non-magic means perpetrated by the husband. However, Kit finds there is more under the sun than just physics as she fears the city will turn into a paranormal dead zone while she also avoids the deathmage of Toriana, Lucien Dredmore who pursues her. The first hard copy printing of the opening two Kittredge alternate steampunk America e-books (see Her Ladyship’s Curse and His Lordship Possessed) is an enjoyable paranormal mystery in which the vivid Viehl world’s pivotal moment is the British won the American War of Independence. Kit the skeptic is super when she works her case that curses her belief system by offering proof that counter her logical preposition. Although Dredmore is too aggressive (assault comes to mind) towards the reluctant sleuth he wants to possess, readers will enjoy Kit’s investigation that takes fans on a tour of a different America. Harriet Klausner