Dragon Justice (Paranormal Scene Investigations, #4) in SOS: Serious Overload of Series

Jan 13, 2013 Beth rated it it was amazing

Shelves: paranormal, mystery, urban-fantasy, favorites, print-qp

LOVE this series! Laura Ann Gilman is an amazing author and I know better but I made the mistake of starting it late at night and had to keep reading until I finished it.

Dragon Justice is the 4th in her Paranormal Scene Investigations series and like the others is set in the same world as her Retriever books. I love the way Gilman blends magic, mystery and forensic science into an intriguing story that pulls you in and won't let go. Bonita Torres has become a seasoned investigator and her perso ...more

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Mar 13, 2015 Deidre rated it liked it

Shelves: fantasy-contemporary, mystery-fantasy-sci-fi, series, fantasy-paranormal, sci-fi-or-fantasy-cops-pi-etc, box-c

I want to give 3 ½ stars, but can't since the system won't let me.

Once again, Laura Anne Gilman meanly and selfishly ends a series. What's with this? Look at all the series that go on forever, until you want to run screaming because you don't have book 6, and now the author just put out book 22.

But not Ms. Gilman, no, she cuts you off at the pass, every time.

This series is slightly related to The Retrievers, which she cruelly ended at book 6, I think. There are hints that there might be another I want to give 3 ½ stars, but can't since the system won't let me.

Once again, Laura Anne Gilman meanly and selfishly ends a series. What's with this? Look at all the series that go on forever, until you want to run screaming because you don't have book 6, and now the author just put out book 22.

But not Ms. Gilman, no, she cuts you off at the pass, every time.

This series is slightly related to The Retrievers, which she cruelly ended at book 6, I think. There are hints that there might be another. There are overlapping characters, but the Retrievers always seemed darker, and more serious than this one, which is the Paranormal Scene Investigators. Boy, was I wrong. She really let's you have it in this one. SHE CASUALLY KILLS SOMEONE MAJOR!!!!! No fair, this was supposed to be light-hearted!

The characters belong to PUPI (Private Unaffiliated Paranormal Investigations). Now see, with a cute name like puppies, it has to be light-hearted. Not. I don't think I'm giving away the book to say that FINALLY Ben and Bonnie get together, but it is so low-key, you might miss it. Not hot and heavy, another surprise.

The plot involves a person or thing (I won't tell you, even in a spoiler) running around vivisecting "talents" who are the human magic types. There are also fatae, who are magic, but don't use it, like dragons, trolls, piskies, etc.

This series requires that you read it in order, too much will be missed if you start with book 4. The author's world building is complex, and without reading it in order, you will become lost.

Although I liked this book, it is 3 ½ stars because about 2/3rds of the way through, the plot lines got tangled and confusing. Too many subplots, and then everything wrapped up too fast.

(view spoiler)

I was kind of confused at the end. Do not go into this book thinking it's a light, fluffy paranormal romancy thing, as the first 3 would have you believe. Nope, POW, she goes after everyone. (view spoiler) ...more

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