fantasy book reviews science fiction book reviewsurban fantasy book reviews Mike Carey Felix Castor 4. Thicker Than WaterThicker Than Water by Mike Carey

The fourth Felix Castor novel starts out with a bang: the liberation of Rafi from the Charles Stanger Care Facility under the nose of Jenna-Jane Mulbridge, told in a clever departure from Felix’s usual first-person narrative.

From there, Thicker Than Water follows the same formula as the other Castor novels — a tangled supernatural mystery comprised of seemingly unrelated parts — but with some significant differences.

For one, the case is personal this time, revolving around an old childhood acquaintance who was brutally attacked with razors and Castor’s name written in blood.

Also involved somehow are Felix’s brother Matt, the Anthemata, a zombie who is following Castor, stigmatas, and a haunted housing district. Throw in great roles played by regulars Juliet, Nicky, Rafi/Asmodeus, Coldwood and Sergeant Basquiat as well as a couple of new faces; some compelling childhood flashbacks that shed further light on Felix and his strained relationship with Matt; and the series’ most jaw-dropping twists and revelations yet, including one hell of a cliffhanger; and Thicker Than Water has all the ingredients for being the best Felix Castor novel to date.

 

Felix Castor — (2006-2009) Publisher: Felix Castor is a freelance exorcist, and London is his stamping ground. At a time when the supernatural world is in upheaval and spilling over into the mundane reality of the living, his skills have never been more in demand. A good exorcist can charge what he likes — and enjoy a hell of a life-style — but there’s a risk: sooner or later he’s going to take on a spirit that’s too strong for him. After a year spent in ‘retirement’ Castor is reluctantly drawn back to the life he rejected and accepts a seemingly simple exorcism case — just to pay the bills, you understand. Trouble is, the more he discovers about the ghost haunting the archive, the more things don’t add up. What should have been a perfectly straightforward exorcism is rapidly turning into the Who Can Kill Castor First Show, with demons, were-beings and ghosts all keen to claim the big prize. But that’s OK; Castor knows how to deal with the dead. It’s the living who piss him off…

Mike Carey Felix Castor 1. The Devil You Know 2. Vicious Circle 3. Dead Men's Boots 4. Thicker Than Water 5. The Naming of the Beasts Mike Carey Felix Castor 1. The Devil You Know 2. Vicious Circle 3. Dead Men's Boots 4. Thicker Than Water 5. The Naming of the Beasts Mike Carey Felix Castor 1. The Devil You Know 2. Vicious Circle 3. Dead Men's Boots 4. Thicker Than Water 5. The Naming of the Beasts Mike Carey Felix Castor 1. The Devil You Know 2. Vicious Circle 3. Dead Men's Boots 4. Thicker Than Water 5. The Naming of the Beasts Mike Carey Felix Castor 1. The Devil You Know 2. Vicious Circle 3. Dead Men's Boots 4. Thicker Than Water 5. The Naming of the Beasts

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  • Robert Thompson

    ROBERT THOMPSON (on FanLit's staff July 2009 — October 2011) is the creator and former editor of Fantasy Book Critic, a website dedicated to the promotion of speculative fiction. Before FBC, he worked in the music industry editing Kings of A&R and as an A&R scout for Warner Bros. Besides reading and music, Robert also loves video games, football, and art. He lives in the state of Washington with his wife Annie and their children Zane and Kayla. Robert retired from FanLit in October 2011 after more than 2 years of service. He doesn't do much reviewing anymore, but he still does a little work for us behind the scenes.

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