Series: The Body Shop # 2
Format: Kindle, 339 pages
Release Date: September 19, 2024
Publisher: Black Dog Books, LLC.
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Genre: FantasyThe other family
business at The Body Shop is slow after word gets out that Frankie had
clients die—cease to exist?—on her watch. Considering they were dead to
begin with, she understands why the news shook the spirit community’s
faith in her, but it’s a hard hit to her bottom line.
When a
spirit appears in her office, ready to sign a contract, she’s eager to
please. Until she learns why he wants to hire her. He heard about her
clients’ deaths, yes, but he also learned Frankie was instrumental in
bringing their killer to justice.
The spirit’s human
granddaughter has gone missing, and he wants Frankie to find her before
it’s too late. Frankie’s no detective, but her schedule is wide open.
The job is to save the girl, but with so many gods and monsters prowling
the streets of Thunderbolt these days, she’ll be lucky if she can save
herself.
Amber Gambler, by Hailey Edwards, is the second installment in the authors The Body Shop series. Frankie's business has dwindled since her last
case. Most prospective clients have learned that there were deaths and
they are going elsewhere for their needs. However, an elderly dead
grandfather come to Frankie for assistance in locating his teenage
granddaughter. She is missing and he is afraid for her safety. Frankie
takes on the case not knowing what she is fully getting herself into.
Having
grown up as street kids, Frankie’s childhood experiences play a pivotal
role in this installment, particularly when she takes on a case
involving a missing child for her ghostly client. Especially when it appears that someone is preying on the weak and innocent, and not necessarily human girls. The gritty realities
of her past give her unique insight and empathy, allowing her to
navigate the darker aspects of her investigation with both determination
and a nuanced sense of right and wrong.
Frankie’s bond with her
siblings (Matty & Josie, who is struggling with her own guilt after
finding out her former boyfriend was none other than the God Anku and he was
using her all along to get to Frankie) is shaped by their shared history, and this background of
survival and loyalty is a key theme throughout the book. Their values,
though sometimes morally grey, are clear, shaped by the exploitation and
harsh experiences they faced as children.
This adds a layer of
emotional complexity to the story, especially as Frankie works to track
down the missing child, tapping into her own painful past to aid her
search, while also accepting that she has powers that she hasn't fully embraced. Alongside the mystery, Frankie’s relationship with Kierce
continues to develop, building on the connection hinted at in the first
book. Though interrupted by Kierce’s injury, their bond deepens in this
sequel, as does Frankie’s growth in her friendships and personal
choices.
Adding to the complexity of Frankie’s life is the
reappearance of Harrow, her ex who not only broke her heart but is now a
police officer. His return, which began in Book 1, complicates her
journey in this installment. Harrow’s unraveling serves as a cautionary
tale, showing how one morally corrupt decision can lead to many more.
His choices highlight the twisted paths people take when they mistake
obsession or control for love, offering a stark contrast to Frankie’s
own growth and emotional clarity. His downfall adds another layer of
moral exploration to the story. The story is a mixture of paranormal, mystery, and character driven storytelling with Frankie's past and present colliding in ways that are unseen at this point.
Not my favorite story. It meandered round and
round before finally coming to the truth about Frankie and the author
decided to leave the ending on a cliffhanger.
No comments:
Post a Comment