Unfallen Dead-Mark Del Franco

Unfallen Dead
Mark Del Franco
Ace, Jan 27 2009, $7.99
ISBN: 9780441016891

It has been over a hundred years since the Convergence occurred in the twentieth century when Faerie moved into the human world, and is cut off from their homeland unable to walk between the realms. Connor Grey, a Druid born on earth, was once so powerful, a force to be reckoned within the Guild. An accident depleted him of much of his strength and a black mass inside his head prevents him from using Essence (magic) as he once did.

Now he works as a consultant to the Boston Police Department on cases involving the Fey (see UNQUIET DREAMS and UNSHAPELY THINGS for previous caseload). He joins his BPD contact Lieutenant Leonard Murdoch at a warehouse looking into the murder of a homeless man by a Druidess who etched runes in the victim’s face. A few days later Olivia Merced was killed in the identical manner as the homeless person by the same practitioner. While Connor works the homicides, the veil between the worlds starts to open as Samheim nears with the Fey hoping a portal will enable them to finally go home. That happening is linked to the deaths of humans and the theft of artifacts from the Celtic Faerie Collection at MOMA. Connor realizes he must fight an old enemy and prevent TirNaNog from entering the realm of the living.

This enthralling urban fantasy focuses on murders in the mundane world while providing a deep look at the Fae Guild, which is deeply involved in the homicides. They intersect at the fairy mound in Boston so that Connor is coming around to the thought that something big an odd is occurring as his Essence is acting in weird new ways. His arrogance and pride was stripped away when he lost much of his skill, but in many ways he is a better person as he cares about others; subconsciously he knows this though he refuses to admit it to himself as that would put an end to his hopes of regaining what he lost. Mark Del Franco provides a spectacular paranormal police procedural.

Harriet Klausner