REVIEWED by Jen B.
TITLE: Convicted
SERIES: The Bureau
AUTHOR: Kim Fielding
PUBLISHER: Kim Fielding
LENGTH: 159 Pages
RELEASE DATE: October 26, 2019
BLURB:
Vietnam veteran Kurt Powell’s addiction almost cost him everything, but a job as federal agent with the Bureau of Trans-Species Affairs helped him find sobriety and purpose. Now he tracks down dangerous paranormal creatures as well as humans who abuse their magical powers in illegal ways.
Sent from Belfast to the United States as a boy, Desmond Hughes later fell into a disastrous relationship that led to horrific murders. He’s spent seventeen years in a bleak prison with few comforts and no hope of release.
A new mission throws Kurt and Des together in a desperate attempt to prevent disaster. Sometimes what’s long been lost can still be found, but the road to redemption is never easy—and a mutual attraction may not ease the way.
REVIEW:
I was really looking forward to this installment, although I admit it wasn’t anything like what I was expecting. After the last book, I wrongly assumed this would be about Edge and Terry working to bust the dog fighting / breeding ring that was uncovered in that story. While they made an early appearance here, this story takes us in an entirely different direction.
I had a lot of questions that never seemed to be answered here. Why was Kurt chosen all those years ago to be an agent when he was naught but a convenience store clerk? Was Des some other type of creature? I don’t think it was ever mentioned he was, but if not, then why did he end up in a prison for monsters/creatures? If he has been incarcerated for 17 years, it took that long for the FBI to want to find the boxes?
The story itself was interesting. Agent Seth is paired up with Des (who is set free long enough to help with the mission) to find magical evil boxes that Des had been involved in with his ex, Larry, before he landed in prison. Larry had been killed when Des was captured, but it was Larry who created or had planned to put the boxes to use. Seth (and Des) are tasked with finding the boxes before someone else.
I liked these two characters. They made a good team and seemed good for each other. Seth has a few issues of his own he is trying to atone for (Vietnam, ensuing alcoholism, failed marriage, etc.), and I loved how he was considerate of Des from the get go. Des is super sweet – basically someone who was taken advantage of at a young age who got caught up in some bad stuff. They had great chemistry although we don’t really get to see it in its glory until the end.
I realize it is stated that these are stand alone stories, but they are technically set in the same world – although the time lines seem a bit off from book to book which threw me a bit at times. Regardless, while I wasn’t wowed by this one, I love the premise here and am looking forward to seeing where this series goes next should there be more in the future.
RATING:
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