Gini Koch's The Night Beat reminded me of The Curse of the Concullens. The Curse of the Concullens by Florence Stevenson is a fascinating send up of the Gothic Novel. Every Gothic element is crammed into one novel. It is a delightful confection. Gini Koch has done the same for Horror.
The book includes every possible horror element. Tentacled Monsters from the Great Beyond, Chasms leading to Hell and other dimensions, Werewolves, Vampires, Zombies, Witches, Warlocks, ancient gods, etc. It is not Horror, but Horror Fans will love it.
Our Heroine, Victoria Wolf, is a werewolf who was bitten in 1666 after escaping from her evil family. Today she is a
Prosaic
City
police officer assigned there by Necropolis Enforcement.
Prosaic
City
was built at a location where it overlaid Necropolis which exists in a slightly different dimension. Unfortunately, there is frequent bleed-over between the two.
Victoria
's job on the night beat is to catch these occurrences and deal with them. We first meet her in a dark alley facing down a tentacled monster out of H.P. Lovecraft. This is a major incursion and there is more to come.
Prosaic
City
and all of the universes are in dreadful danger. There is a crack in the structure of the cosmos endangering all.
Necropolis Enforcement must move quickly to organize against the threat. Unknown to them they have been infiltrated and there are threats from within. Also the monster in the alley spawned doppelgangers of everyone present at the original encounter.
The book abounds with wonderful not-quite-stock characters;
Victoria
's stuffed-shirt seemingly virtuous partner Jack whom she loves well but not wisely; The Count, the ancient Vampire who runs Necropolis Enforcement; H.P. Lovecraft and Edgar Allen Poe are also undead. Villains are many;
Victoria
's Father, the current Adversary; Adolf Hitler, undead and evil as ever; Nero; various fallen angels, monsters etc.
The book moves delightfully forward carrying the reader along. The flavor is delightful. I am certain that on re-reading I will see many more delights I missed the first time. I recommend it highly. ~~ Gary Swaty
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