cover image Lies & Omens

Lies & Omens

Lyn Benedict. Ace, $7.99 mass market (320p) ISBN 978-1-937007-50-8

Paranormal investigator Sylvie Lightner has a lot on her mind: she has inadvertently helped create a new and disturbingly active god, and gained unwanted personal notoriety as the “New Lilith.” She could be forgiven for ignoring—or celebrating—a string of bloody supernatural attacks targeting Internal Surveillance and Investigation, the government-sanctioned stalkers of magical entities. If left unchecked, however, the casualties may include more than the expendable agents of the ISI, and this compels Sylvie to take an interest. Sylvie’s fourth adventure (after Gods & Monsters) is composed of equal parts cliché and convention. Despite being the focus of the story, Sylvie is never realized as a three-dimensional character, instead remaining a kick-ass rogue PI just like dozens of other protagonists. The familiar plot and characters sadly suggest that Benedict has entirely given up on attempting innovation. Agent: Caitlin Blasdell, Liza Dawson Associates. (May)