Reviewed by Scotty
TITLE: Blood and Bone
SERIES: U.S. Marshals I.S.R. (Interspecies Response)
AUTHOR: Patricia Logan
NARRATOR: Declan Winters , Kevin Earlywine
PUBLISHER: Patricia Logan
LENGTH: 7hrs and 59mins
RELEASE DATE: June 17, 2024
BLURB:
Aristotle Brown is starting to like his new job with the U.S. Marshals Interspecies Response unit. If anyone would have told him vampires, shifters, werewolves, and space aliens existed a few months ago, he would have called them crazy. But meeting his new partner has proven to be the best part of the I.S.R. He’s settling into the new job and the new man nicely. When he moved out to Los Angeles from Lexington, Kentucky a few months ago, he thought he might try finding a guy, but he never expected to feel that way about his new partner.
Eoghan Sapphire thinks Ari is beautiful and brilliant, and that’s probably a good thing since they spend a lot of time together. Very quickly, he realizes that the feelings he’s having for the man, aren’t purely professional. He wishes things would slow down but when work gets in the way, he realizes they can’t stop moving…not even for a minute. On the way to Northern California to help the local tribal police locate a fugitive shifter Eoghan once put behind bars, he and Ari drop in on a friend before coming face to face with a couple of unexpected predators. And if their life wasn’t crazy enough, a few insulted cephalopods give chase.
Better still, a case involving a vampire with a very unusual oral fixation, has both of them grateful for the blood-sucker’s restraint. Just when both men think things might settle down and there’ll be an end to the madness, they’re tasked to meet a couple of the scariest shifters they’ve ever heard of. And just to put a cherry on top of the assignment, it turns out these guys aren’t exactly the forgiving kind. As Eoghan and Ari enter a world neither could have prepared for, they come face to face with something thought to live only…in legend.
REVIEW:
“Blood and Bone” by Patricia Logan offers a whimsical romp through a world where the supernatural and alien mingles with law enforcement. It is the second book in her new series featuring a special branch of the U.S. Marshals tasked with handling interspecies cases, from vampires to space aliens.
The writing style, while accessible, often stumbles into repetitive territory. For example, on at least 3 occasions Ari describes in detail the scent of Eoghan’s shower gel. The author’s tendency to over-explain certain aspects of the world and characters’ motivations can also really slow the pace, and hindered me getting into the book at first, despite having really enjoyed the first book of this series.
The missions undertaken by protagonists Aristotle Brown and Eoghan Sapphire are the true highlights. These escapades, ranging from encounters with alien lizards preparing for hibernation, to an incarcerated vampire with a peculiar proclivity, are delightfully absurd. While they may be pretty cheesy on the surface, the sheer inventiveness and humour make for entertaining listening.
Unfortunately, the character development and romantic elements fall short of the mark. The relationship between Ari and Eoghan lacks depth and genuine chemistry. Their interactions, particularly during sex scenes, feel perfunctory and devoid of the emotional resonance I’d expect from a romance story. They still feel a little unprofessional, leaping into situations with little or no preparation, although half the plot depends on them being dumbasses.
The narration of the audiobook is decent. The narrator delivers the story with clear diction and a steady pace, making it easy for listeners to follow along. However, the lack of distinct voices for different characters may occasionally lead to confusion during dialogue-heavy scenes. Two narrators are alternating this series, but I’m not sure if that adds anything to the mix.
Despite its flaws, “Blood and Bone” manages to be an enjoyable listen for those seeking light-hearted supernatural fare. The blend of law enforcement procedure with outlandish paranormal elements creates a unique flavour that will appeal to fans of the Men In Black franchise. While it may not satisfy those looking for deep character exploration or passionate romance, it succeeds in delivering an entertaining adventure through a imaginatively crafted world of supernatural law enforcement.
RATING: 
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