Every Which Way but Dead

the author is great, as is the reader, but the subject matter is... well, the best supernatural summertime reading i've come across in quiet some time. it's got violence, a plucky female lead, sex, horrid fashion sense, foreseeable plot lines and engaging writing style! on the whole highly recommended! the only bad thing is the reader's pauses at inappropriate times. like. in the. middle. of a sentence.

Okay, so I didn't know it was a sex/romance novel (well at one point it explodes into a romance novel). This was my first Kim Harrison book. I had seen her titles all over the place at Border's, and I liked her kitschy comical horror/Sergio Leone spaghetti western titles. I was rrrrrrreally disappointed with Dan Brown's "Lost Symbol" narration--and the book in general, and I was extremely skeptical about audible. I finally just went with this--and I am glad I did. I liked it, I didn't like it, then I loved it and Kim Harrison, then I didn't like it again, and then I liked it--and finally I realized that it got me through an entire week of work. I was so involved with the story that the hours flew by, and I had a hard time every day turning off my myPod (my iPod) and forcing myself to stop listening.

Would I recommend it? Yes. Highly. I probably should have started with her first book, but as I said, this was my first K. Harrison novel, and I was just looking for something really long to get me through a week of boring work. The action is detailed, but not neurotically so, the protagonist is likable, and occasionally unlikeable. She doesn't always "win," or get her way, she whines, she lies (well sometimes), and most important: she is human (as in "not perfect"). That makes her entirely believable.

The only drawback IMHO were the few over-the-top romance novel romanticized scenes that I found saccharine and unreal. Men were a bit two-dimensional (mostly muscular though) and women were for the most part hard to get along with. The only proper action I suppose is to do more research. Thus, I will buy her first novel (of this character) and see if this was a plot device, or if this is a writing style issue. I will report back on my findings. All in all though, it was a good time, and a fun ride--despite a few blemishes.

The story line had potential to be exciting, and the book started off with action. Unfortunately the author developed the lead character, Rachel Morgan, into a sex starved witch who evaluated each male (elf, werewolf, vampire, even demon) she encountered from a sexual standpoint. It was really annoying when it became so pervasive, maybe she was writing to other women.

Additionally, the author allowed the lead character to squeak out of mistakes through luck instead of clever intelligence. And the constant whining by the lead character of negative events that were affecting her also annoyed me. I wanted the lead character to take charge and develop into a strong person, and kept listening to the book because of tantalizing moments of action in which the heroin succeeded in overcoming the challenge of the moment.

Still frustrating waiting for those moments, and having to listen to the constant whining and sexual evaluations of the males in the book.

This the 2nd book I've listen to and i'm still waiting for Rachel to break out...I hope this is the point of the author to make her a hothead, out of control person that need clues to beat her over the head before she gets them. It is however entertaining nonetheless with pixies, vampires, elves and the like. I also kinda like the horny woman point of view, which is different. Will listen to book 3 to see if it gets better.

The fast pace of the story

This is my first audio book series so I really don't have a comparison one yet.

The different voice styles of the caricatures.

When Rachael had to relive the death of her father. It moved me to tears.

I look forward to getting Kim Harrison's other books as soon as I can.

I really enjoyed this book as it doesn't focus on one event happening to Rachel but there's a series of things that happen to her which keeps it interesting. Another reviewer didn't like how Rachel objectified men by expressing attraction to some of the men in the book. IDK, when one sees someone of the opposite sex that is attractive - one appreciates the view - I don't know what the big deal is. Wasn't a main point in the book. If you liked the other books in the series - you will definitely like this one.

Love this series! Been listening from book-to-book with only pauses for my audible credits to catch up! Don't care for the explanations from previous events covered in other books of the series, been there done that, don't need the recap. But understand that it helped with picking up the series in the 2nd book. Would be nice to put the book series number in each title!

Just finished this one and it was even better than the last...I am hooked on the story line and the characters..can't wait to purchase the next book!!!!

Rachel is such a strong female character. I love her. This is my favorite new series. You have to start from the first book though. I loved love to see this become a tv series.

Book 3 in this series is Superb.

Kim Harrison continues to write these stories seamlessly and without flaw.

The characters, plot, and emotion seem so alive.

Of course that is also with the help of the fantastic narrator that really puts so much into the the story telling.