Loading ...Rogue Oracle by Alayna Williams
The second installment in the distinctive Delphic Oracle series, the excellent Rogue Oracle begins with Tara interrogating a suspected terrorist. After this session, while consulting her tarot cards, Tara’s friend/colleague/lover, Harry Li, appears to ask for her help on a case. Former agents and operatives involved in the Rogue Angel project, the purpose of which was to track down and retrieve nuclear materials from the USSR, are disappearing without much in the way of clues. Tara agrees to help, even though it means leaving Cassie, her ward, in the care of the Pythia, the leader of Oracles, whom she does not trust to have Cassie’s best interests as a priority.
On page one, the reader learns how the people are vanishing without a trace, and the truly chilling villain responsible. As the story unfolds, details become evident to Tara through both forensics and her tarot card readings, and she and Harry discover bit by bit the truth of the events. Aside from the disturbing case with its potentially world-wide repercussions, Tara also seeks to keep Cassie safe from outside forces and the machinations of the Pythia.
Though all along the reader knows both the identity of and method used by the killer, Williams maintains an intense level of suspense by perfectly balancing this knowledge with Tara’s and Harry’s efforts to solve the mystery. The author’s deft handling of this technique results in a breathless cat-and-mouse game sustained throughout the narrative until the very satisfying end.
The fantastic pacing and weaving together of the plot elements do not occur at the expense of character development. We see Tara’s acceptance of her abilities, which appear to be changing with the addition of visions, even though she continues to resist direct involvement with the order of Delphi’s Daughters. Harry and Tara both initially tiptoe around their blossoming relationship, understanding that their jobs can present difficulties and sometimes create roadblocks, but they both are willing to make the attempt and their efforts feel realistic and ring true.
A unique and refreshing addition to the genre, this terrific series will appeal not only to urban fantasy fans but also to mystery and suspense readers willing to entertain a touch of the paranormal. This reviewer will be first in line for the next book in this engrossing series, as well as for whatever else Williams offers.
Book Stats:
- Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
- Publisher: Pocket (February 22, 2011)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1439182817
- ISBN-13: 978-1439182819
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Books in the Delphic Oracle series in the order they should be read:
Dark Oracle
Rogue Oracle
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