The Ghoul Vendetta

Shearin’s fun fourth SPI Files supernatural mystery (after The Brimstone Deception) moves the series forward but gets bogged down in the weight of what came before. Seer Makenna Fraser is an agent for the Supernatural Protection and Investigation Agency, based out of New York. She’s out for a date with her dark mage ghoul boyfriend, Rake, hobnobbing with the rich, elite, and supernatural, when a kraken attacks and their host is kidnapped by sea monsters. The attack proves to be just the opening foray in the lead-up to a cataclysmic plot perpetuated by the recurring nemesis of Ian, her SPI partner. While the stakes grow dire and the enigmatic enemy taunts the SPI, Makenna must rally her forces to prevent apocalypse. The book is bloated with references to events from earlier in the series, so new readers will find it easy to catch up, but it’s hard to become immersed. Makenna is charmingly quippy, though, and Shearin delivers a pulpy good time for undemanding readers. (Jan.)