Early Review – The Lost (Celestial Blues, Book 2) by Vicki Pettersson (4/5 stars)

Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Size: 369 pages
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Release Date: March 19, 2013
ISBN: 978-0062064653
Stand Alone or Series: 2nd book in the Celestial Blues series
Source: Amazon Vine for Review
Rating: 4/5 stars

This is the second book in the Celestial Blues series by Pettersson. I really enjoyed it. I love the well done investigative urban fantasy and how it has a bit of old-fashioned flare to it. This is supposed to be a trilogy, but I haven’t heard any information about the 3rd book yet.

Grif has been given time to remain on the mortal plain and solve his murder if he concedes to help guide souls that would otherwise be Lost. When a new drug hits the streets people start dying in horrible ways. Grif isn’t allowed to interfere, but that same can’t be said for Kit. As an investigative reporter she is determined to find where the new drug is being distributed from and save the lives of these addicts before they become Lost.

This was a fun investigative urban fantasy. I really enjoy, Kit, the heroine. She has an upbeat approach to life that is fun to read about. We learn a lot more about Kit’s past in this book and about the darkness that lies there. We learn about why she has chosen a Rockabilly lifestyle and how she fights her personal darkness.

Grif, is an excellent male lead for Kit. He is complex and a bit confused about his purpose as a temporary mortal angel. He is still absolutely supportive and respectful of Kit. We also learn a lot more about Grif’s past. He works to solve the mystery of his murder and along the way we learn more about his lovely dead wife that he pines after so badly.

This story presents an excellent, and slightly gorey, mystery to be solved. The mystery is well done and nicely wrapped up in this book. There is both the mystery of the mysterious and vicious drug source to be solved which is self contained to this novel, and the bigger mystery around Grif’s murder that has spanned multiple books.

The book is well written and moves forward at a good pace. I enjoyed reading the story and found it to be engaging and entertaining.

Overall a well done urban fantasy with old fashioned flare. I enjoyed it. The combination of Rockabilly elements and angelic lore make this something a bit different than other urban fantasy reads out there. Recommended to those who like investigative urban fantasy. The heroine is unique and upbeat.

This book goes towards the following reading challenges:
– 150+ Reading Challenge
– Paranormal Reading Challenge