Title:  Greywalker

Author:  Kat Richardson

No. of Pages:  352

First Released:  2006

Synopsis (Courtesy of Joseph-Beth Booksellers): “Harper Blaine was your average small-time P.I. until a two-bit perp’s savage assault left her dead for two minutes. When she comes to in the hospital, she sees things that can only be described as weird-shapes emerging from a foggy grey mist, snarling teeth, creatures roaring.

But Harper’s not crazy. Her ‘death’ has made her a Greywalker- able to move between the human world and the mysterious cross-over zone where things that go bump in the night exist. And her new gift is about to drag her into that strange new realm-whether she likes it or not.”

Comments and Critique:  Greywalker was a Christmas gift from my sister-in-law; I had never heard of the series or the author.  I opened the book with little in the way of expectations and slight trepidation because of the lack of knowledge.  I have to confess that I am glad I had such low expectations, as it meant I was not overly disappointed when Greywalker failed to impress.

On the surface, this book has all the elements I typically adore in a book: a butt-kicking female lead, vampires, ghosts and other supernatural elements, and a mystery to solve.  Unfortunately, something just did not click for me.  First, I had no vested interest in Harper Blaine.  Kat Richardson failed to describe her adequately, so I had no idea what she looked like, nor did I have any idea what motivates her.  I just know that she is stubborn to a fault and does not necessarily learn from her mistakes.  There is almost no background information that could have humanized her for me.  Rather, as a reader, I was left very much on the surface, as if I were watching a TV show surrounded by distractions rather than being able to submerge myself into the story.

It is incredibly choppy and yet very repetitive.  The action starts on the first page, with no set-up or further explanations on the motives of her client that beats her to death.  This happens over and over again, as Ms. Richardson hammers home that Harper is constantly nauseous or dizzy or both, that the Grey is difficult to ignore, that Harper has a business to run.  These phrases appear on almost every page, and after a while, frankly it just becomes distracting.

Speaking of the Grey, after 352 pages, I am still not certain exactly what it is.  Ms. Richardson’s description of it is nebulous and ill-defined. I have no idea if it is a type of purgatory for the spirit world or if it is an alternate dimension or both.  Since the entire story revolves around Harper’s interaction with the Grey, one cannot help but wonder how much better the book would have been had it been understandable.

I felt the mystery itself was fairly predictable.  I could see the big double-cross and the vampire situation pages upon pages prior to the big reveal.  If a mystery in a thriller is predictable, doesn’t the entire book lose some of that thrill, some of that mystique that all but forces the reader to continue turning the pages?

I was compelled to keep reading in the hopes that I would finally understand the Grey and that it would get better.  I did not necessarily enjoy what I read.  However, as I mentioned above, there is an entire Greywalker series, so others certainly must like Harper and the Grey.  I would love to say that I am a fan as well, but I cannot do so in good faith.

If you enjoy supernatural thrillers, then Greywalker may just be for you, no matter what I ramble about on this review. If you have read it, then I would really love to know your thoughts on it.  How do you feel about Harper?  What exactly is the Grey?

This book counts towards my participation in the 100+ Reading Challenge, the Read n’ Review Challenge, and the Thriller & Suspense Reading Challenge.  For the FTC, it was a gift from my sister-in-law.  That is still allowed, correct?

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