Kelley Armstrong's Cainsville and Otherworld

Kelley Armstrong at a local bookstore in 2009

This past week I read two books by Kelley Armstrong, the author of the "Women of the Otherworld" series (not to be confused with Yasmine Galenorn's "Otherworld" books--same genre, different worlds and plotlines):  Brazen, and Omens.  Brazen is a recent novella set in the Otherworld universe and features North American Wolf Pack member Nick Sorrentino as he leads the search for the elusive (and somewhat psychotic) former Alpha, Malcolm Danvers.  Although the series officially ended with the publication of the novel 13, Kelley continues to write the occasional short story and novella set in her created milieu, such as this one.  It is always nice for both readers and authors to re-visit familiar settings and people, and this little book was no exception.  In the series, we don't see Nick play a leading role, as he is generally overshadowed by the more dominant (pun intended) members of the Pack, Clay and Elena, who play a minor role in this book.  This was a good story, picking up some loose ends from the series, and not resolving things fully.  So, I imagine we will see more of these characters in the future.

Kelley's new series is called "Cainsville" and the first book is Omens.  Although this series is has a definite supernatural/fantasy theme, it is also a mystery, and, in my opinion, would also fit very well in that film genre that we call "the buddy movie."  Cainsville is a small town about an hour outside of Chicago, and there are mysterious and interesting things that happen there.  Although it is never explicitly stated in this first volume, it appears that this town is a haven for the Fae/fairies/wee folk who immigrated from the British Isles at some point in the past.  There are strong hints that the main character of the book, Olivia Taylor-Jones, has some of that magical blood flowing through her veins, as does her reluctant partner, Gabriel Walsh. 

The book begins with Olivia's comfortable upper-class life in suburban Chicago being turned upside-down as she learns that she was adopted as a toddler and that her biological parents are infamous convicted serial killers.  That is only the first twist in Olivia's life, as readers transition with her to a new way of living and thinking both about her world and herself.

I liked this book, maybe better than the Otherworld series, but I'll hold that thought until I read more.  I devoured the 486 pages in two days, which shows how it held my interest.  There are enough hints that readers of fantasy will see where things are headed, but can't really tell what this particular series' take will be on these supernatural/magical beings.  Readers of fantasy should like this book, as will readers of mysteries and thrillers.  The relationship between Olivia and Gabriel, and Olvia and the town of Cainsville will no doubt develop much more as the series goes on and we see what happens with her and her mothers (both adopted and biological).  I, for one, am very excited for the second book in this series.