"Slimy Underbelly" by Kevin J. Anderson

A witty monster mash detective story featuring the case files of zombie detective Dan Chambeaux. He's your typical average wiseguy except he's dead. Ten years ago something happened to the world and some people woke up a little different than others. Dan woke up in his grave, dusted himself off and got back to the business of helping those in need. Whether it's future super villains or frog demons opening up a new spa for the masses of monsters who could use stress relief, Dan's your man. With his ghost sweetie Sheyenne and human partner Robin as his side kicks, he's got it made. However, when you throw in weather wizards running campaigns for top position and causing weather to change as quickly as one block away not to mention the illicit love child of a senior elder god trying to flood the world with effluence to prove he's worthy of her love, things get a little, messy.

"Bitten (Women of the Otherworld #1)" by Kelley Armstrong

Like the author, like the characters, did not enjoy this book so much but since it's one of the early ones for these guys I'm glad to say they get better. Still a good read.

"The Secret Place (Dublin Murder Squad, #5)" by Tana French

I have read all of French's titles and have always been intrigued by her immersion into the human psyche and it's blurred edges. The past three were good crime stories of the human capability of extreme cruelty and manipulation. Happiness is not handed out like candy but fought for with tooth and claw and sometimes the pot at the end of the rainbow is filled with manure. This latest edition is to me quite frankly a let down. A murder committed at a fancy school for girls is the basis of the story. I won't go into details, you can judge for yourself but all I can say is that not only was a gifted writer on vacation here but I was actually relieved to finish reading this book, like thank goodness that's done, next chore. There are some areas of the book that were beautifully cut out of the air but all in all there were too many moments that seemed to lack that spark that a story needs to make a book sing. At the end of it, the only thing I would want to know more about are the cypress trees in the secret glen.