The Grendel Affair: A SPI Files Novel (SPI Files, #1)

by Lisa Shearin

We’re Supernatural Protection & Investigations, known as SPI. Things that go bump in the night, the monsters you thought didn’t exist? We battle them and keep you safe. But some supernatural baddies are just too big to contain, even for us…
 
When I moved to New York to become a world famous journalist, I never imagined that snagging a job at a seedy tabloid would change my career path from trashy reporter to undercover agent. I’m Makenna Fraser, a Seer for SPI. I can see through any disguise, shield, or spell that a paranormal pest can come up with. I track down creatures and my partner, Ian Byrne, takes them out.
 
Our cases are generally pretty routine, but a sickle-wielding serial killer has been prowling the city’s subway tunnels. And the murderer’s not human. The fiend in question, a descendant of Grendel—yes, that Grendel—shares his ancestor’s hatred of parties, revelry, and drunkards. And with New Year’s Eve in Times Square only two days away, we need to bag him quickly. Because if we don’t find him—and the organization behind him—by midnight, our secret’s out and everyone’s time is up.

FIRST IN A NEW SERIES

• ISBN10: 0425266915
• ISBN13: 9780425266915
• Publish Date: 31 December 2013
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
• Imprint: Ace
• Format: Paperback (US Mass Market)
• Pages: 304
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9780425266915

Reviews

[kimbacaffeinate]

Apparently, there is a prequel to this called Lucky Charms, which was released as part of the Night Shift Anthology. I didn't feel lost, but I am curious.

Makenna (Mac) Fraser's special ability allows her to see through any disguise, shield, or spell used by the supernatural. Makenna is smart, snarky and has good instincts. That doesn't mean she isn't scared shitless most of the time, but she has a good head on her shoulders.  She is level-headed and an asset to the team. Ian her partner is a little more straightlaced but I think he may surprise us. Their boss is a hoot. The SPI, agency is almost a character in and of itself. They operate in secret, monitoring and protecting the supernatural world from itself and interactions with humans.

This was a fun start to the series and right away I felt at home with the SPI unit. Snark, banter and delightful humor combined with intense action scenes and nasty creatures threatening to expose them all made for an entertaining listen.

This urban fantasy is a genre-bender.  It delivered so many elements I love, including mythology and mystery. Shearin offers a fresh take on dragons and seers and includes unique characters like the Grendel from Beowulf.

The story hooked me from the start but the middle for sagged a little before picking back up. However, the storyline and premise have huge potential as do the secondary characters. A certain vampire cracked me up and I am eager to start book two. I will continue on audio as Johanna Parker was fantastic from her accents to the pacing.

This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer

[malberto]

Actually 3.5 stars. Liked the idea of the book, didn't really engage with the characters.

[EBookObsessed]

This series is perfect for anyone who enjoyed Molly Harper’s Good Girl or Naked Werewolf series. The writing is lighthearted. The characters are funny. And there are so many little zings as tossed in everywhere it was hard to find a favorite scene. Not everyone likes their vampires and werewolves with a side of fun, but I certainly enjoyed it.

After the introductory novella for the SPI Files series in the anthology Night Shift, I had to pick up a copy of The Grendel Affair.

Makenna Fraser is the newest member of SPI (Supernatural Protection & Investigation). She just arrived in NYC from Weird Sisters, North Carolina. Weird Sisters is located on a mystical fault line and seems to draw all types of paranormal creatures. Mac is no supernatural, just plain old human, but she has the ability to see through magic veils to the creature beneath. She has been assigned a partner (read: babysitter and bodyguard), former NYPD officer, Agent Ian Bryne. The last three seers that SPI had on payroll have all died…badly, and it is Ian’s job to make sure their latest seer isn’t taken out by one of the bad guys that she is going to point out.

In The Grendel Affair, someone is plotting to bring supernaturals out of the closet by releasing grendels (yes, out of Beowulf) into Time Square on New Years Eve to wreak havoc and eat revelers in front of millions of TV viewers. Someone has figured out how to cloak a 10 foot grendel from notice and it is up to the newest member of SPI to point out the hidden grendels so the rest of her team can take them down.

Without her ability, SPI would have no way to locate and stop the nightmare attack on the unsuspected crowd, and someone is well aware of that. Not only are they getting ready to release grendels, they will do whatever is necessary to remove Mac from SPI.

Although Mac is not a trained agent, she uses her intelligence and back-mountain wits to think outside the box to take down the group of paranormals who no longer want to hide in the dark afraid of their “food.”

One positive coming out of this story is that her sexy hot, super-agent partner will start training Mac in weapons and hand-to-hand combat so that hopefully in future novels Mac will have more to bring to the group than “I might not be a sharpshooter yet with a gun, but I could aim the hell out of a flashlight.”

THOUGHTS:
This is a fun new Urban Fantasy. I am sad it is only two books so far although Goodreads indicates that another one will be released sometime in 2015. Most paranormal and Urban Fantasy series are very serious about the topic. I love when an author can make it fun as well as entertaining. I also enjoy when the world of supernaturals are treated as just another day at the office.

I love the lighthearted humor to this writing. I was going to download the audiobook of the next book in the series which comes out next month, but I just couldn’t wait and I downloaded the ebook copy instead.