New Tricks by John Levitt

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New Tricks
Author: John Levitt
Publisher: ACE
ISBN-10: 0441016561
ISBN-13: 978-0441016563
Rating: 8/10

Who says old dogs can’t learn new tricks? Not John Leavitt. Since turning in his badge and gun in Salt Lake City, Utah for life as a successful author in the decidedly hip city of San Francisco, the former police officer and PI has made a career for himself churning out supernatural tales of jazz, death and derring-do in San Fran-supernatural derring-do, of course. The sophomore follow up to “Dog Days” is no more explosive than the debut novel. Yet this second installment finds life becoming more complicated for Mason and family-to say nothing of Levitt’s richly woven narrative.

Eighteen months after stopping Christoph, Mason is in a bit of a slump. The love of his life has been murdered by parties unknown. Gigs are falling by the wayside, and to make matters worse, an old flame of his is seeing another practitioner. So when Mason and the gang stumble on the comatose body of an ex of his lying on a beach, he seems to be on the verge of a breaking point. Yet there’s more to this medical mystery than a vegetable-the woman also is in possession of a mysterious green rune-a green rune linked to a series of disappearances in the practitioner community. Jumping on the case, Mason, along with trusted dog Lou sniff out the clues, only to hit upon a tangled web of secrets, lies and bodies worthy of a Cronenberg film.

In typical Levitt style, the case winds and turns with each development more gasp-worthy than the last. Unlike “Dog Days” , though, this isn’t a relatively open and shut matter. There are suspects and unanswered questions galore, and the more that pile up, the more work there is for Mason-not to mention the reader. This is undoubtedly one of the more involved tales the author has spun. Never fear though-there is a beginning, middle and an end to this morbid journey. But just like Mason, you just have to know where to look.

Overall, though, “New Tricks” is definitely one of the more challenging books in the urban fantasy genre. This one is definitely worth lugging to the beach this summer.