Book Review - Soul Trade by Caitlin Kittredge

Caitlin Kittredge’s Soul Trade puts Pete Caldecott squarely in front of the camera as the lead protagonist instead of Jack Winter. Pete normally stays away from cases involving possessions or exorcisms and leaves them to Jack to handle. This time out she has no choice due to the fact that Pete and Jack have a baby daughter Lily now to raise and ensure her safety from all things that go bump in the night. On top of that, the magical community has labeled Jack and Pete as enigmas and wants nothing to do with them after they stopped the demon Nergal from destroying the world.

When Pete helps a former colleague with a possible rogue ghost, she gets more than she bargained for. After using her Weir abilities to thwart the Wraith, Pete receives a visit from a group calling itself the Prometheus Club. They give her an invitation to attend their next meeting saying that the penalty for refusing is dire. By opening the letter itself, Pete is put under a strong compulsion spell (geas) that leaves her with no room for refusing the invitation much to the chagrin of Jack who absolutely hates the club and for good reasons.

Never fear readers. Jack is still around and snarky as ever. His sharp tongue and chain smoking hasn’t changed one iota and hopefully that won’t change anytime soon. Jack’s job this time around is to keep Pete safe and away from harm, while remaining one step ahead of Morrigan as well as the Prometheus Club who believes that Pete and Jack are keys to the clubs goals. Morrigan continues to taunt Jack and her demands that he lead her army out of Purgatory thus causing the apocalypse haven’t abated. Pete, thankfully, continues to stand in the way of that coming to fruition as well as denying her own part in the end of days.

Pete really shines in this book. Her abilities as Weir are put to the test time and time again and she doesn’t sneeze or hesitate once. Readers will also learn more about her Weir abilities and the part she is expected to play in end of days. There is a nice reunion with Margaret from Bone Gods (Book # 3) and it appears she may play an even bigger role in upcoming releases. There is deception, betrayal, zombies, and darkness as the Black is growing more dangerous by the day. Jack returns to his boyhood home in Manchester where he reunites with someone he not only shagged with, but, his own father who he hoped had rolled over and died by now. It isn’t a pleasant reunion.

I continue to read this series because it gets better and better like a fine wine that has fermented for several years before opening. I have had reservations over Pete and Jack’s relationship because he is such a mess and she gave up everything, including a career as a Detective Inspector, to be with him. It would seem that I may have jumped the shark on my thoughts and now take them back. Pete and Jack work well together, and now that they have a daughter to look after and care for, it seems to have changed the way they act towards the other.

I have, in past reviews, put Pete down as inconsequential and annoying. I take back my comments after reading this book. I liked how she is more firm and takes charge of situations while Jack seems to muddle his way out of dangerous situations. I like that she stands up to Morrigan time and time again and doesn’t step away. I also liked the fact that she knowingly bargains with Bilial who we shall see again very soon without batting an eye.

Definitely worth reading if you are a fan of this series.

Author - Caitlin Kittredge
Title - Soul Trade (Black London # 4)
Published by St. Martin's Press
Released August 28, 2012