Reviewed by Taylin
TITLE: The Reanimator’s Heart
SERIES: The Reanimator Mysteries #1
AUTHOR: Kara Jorgensen
PUBLISHER: Fox Collie Publishing
LENGTH: 98K
RELEASE DATE: October 25, 2022
BLURB:
A reluctant necromancer, a man killed before his time, and the crime that brings them together.
Felipe Galvan’s life as an investigator for the Paranormal Society has been spent running into danger. Returning home from his latest case, Felipe struggles with the sudden quiet of his life until a mysterious death puts him in the path of the enigmatic Oliver Barlow.
Oliver has two secrets. One, he has been in love with the charming Felipe Galvan for years. Two, he is a necromancer, but to keep the sensible life he’s built as a medical examiner, he must hide his powers. That is until Oliver finds Felipe murdered and accidentally brings him back from the dead.
But Felipe refuses to die again until he and Oliver catch his killer. Together, Felipe and Oliver embark on an investigation to uncover a plot centuries in the making. As they close in on his killer, one thing is certain: if they don’t stop them, Felipe won’t be the last to die.
REVIEW:
A former doctor, now medical examiner, Oliver is a paranormal specialist. People send him the bodies of those they believe died via otherworldly means. Being a necromancer means that he can wake the dead long enough to get their final moments from their own mouths. When called out to the body of a nun, the clues are few until the investigator Felipe also turns up dead. Felipe is a man who Oliver had just worked up the courage to ask on a date. In his grief, Oliver brings Felipe back to life, and Oliver is coerced into keeping him alive until the case is solved. At least, that’s the plan.
The Reanimator’s Heart is a well-thought-out, touching, entertaining story with characters that pull at the heartstrings. The story has depth and is interesting as well as entertaining.
The story is told in the third person from the viewpoints of Oliver and Felipe. Technically, there were a few typos, but given that I received a review copy well before publication, it is highly likely that it wasn’t the final edition. That said, I found a classic hole of specific unqualified autonomous body parts – the eyes. Regardless of being written in the third person, phrases like ‘his eyes scanned’ are still frowned upon unless qualified with something like – it was as if his eyes had a mind of their own. The eyes didn’t independently scan XYZ. Instead, the phrase should be more like – bill scanned the item with his eyes. I realize that this seems picky, and using the eyes seems obvious, but an item can be scanned by smell, touch, etc. Anyhoo, gripe out of the way, onward to more praise.
The world-building is extensive without going into minute detail. The information provided gave me an immersive view of the people and places perfect for me. I am not the kind of reader who needs to know the color of a coat lining to paint a picture in my mind.
Oliver is a kind, private soul who finds justice for the victims brought to him in the quiet of his laboratory. Outside the doors is noise and clatter, which frays his nerves. The paranormal society is his home, his sanctuary. In the opening pages, I found the dedication relating to autism poignant, and I found it wonderful to have the main character written in such a way, proving that no matter who you are, you are unique and wonderful, and there is someone out there for you. Another aspect I loved about Oliver was his honesty with Felipe. Despite his own heartache, he was upfront with situations.
As for Felipe, he is the yin to Oliver’s yang. He’s the out-there investigator with all the kudos that brings. Unfortunately, he’s a man who has let his job rule his life with all the family angst that entails. In reanimated death, he has some rethinking to do. While being captivated by Oliver, Felipe is further enamored by the scientific brilliance that Oliver brings to a case. The two encourage the other to be better.
The wider cast, scenario’s and other factors gave this story a lovely depth and an area of the paranormal that I haven’t read before.
I found the Reanimator’s heart to be a page-turner of a story, laced with different scenarios. And as it is the opening book of a series – I look forward to reading more.
RATING: 
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