Thanks to Stacy for the loan!
I enjoyed the first three books of the series: Ill Wind, Heat Stroke, and Chill Factor. They all have a very different feel but share being fast, fun reads.
Joanne goes through a lot in these books. In the first book she’s on the run, hunting for a hidden ally… and facing a devastating clock; she’s dying to a corrupting demon twisting within. Her balance and resourcefulness in the face of her many challenges is wonderful and completely engaging.
The end of the first book sets up the second– but the hope you’re left with at the end of the first is swiftly tempered. It’s a dog eat dog world, and she’s completely reliant on others for her sustenance. The book wanders a bit, but the core relationships are solid and well done. The end is very incomplete– really, it’s just an open hook for the third book. The resolution, returning her to normal life is a little vague and… obvious, but it mostly works.
The third book is a bit more “normal life” despite the unusual circumstances. There’s some appealing flashbacks that do a good job of explaining more about Joanne and where she came from. The additional development is nice, though the rape and interrogation scene was disheartening. (More disheartening that it had to happen in her storyline; she had plenty of motivation without it.) This time the book resolves clearly, then tacks on an open hook to the 4th book.
A slew of library books came in so I set the series aside for now– but I enjoyed them all.