Demons Are Forever: 05/02/08

The best part of Demons Are Forever is its title and maybe the cute cover art. It's the third in "Confessions of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom" series and the only one I've read (and am likely to read).

The reason I didn't enjoy the novel has nothing to do with it being midway through a series. The problem stems from: concept, setting and the execution of the mystery.

I don't know why Kenner felt compelled to add in all the back story about Kate Connor's training and life as a demon hunter for the Vatican if this is a well established series. It was distracting and frankly so far removed from Kate's current situation that it was completely unbelievable. Some things are best left to the imagination.

Then there's the setting: San Diablo which is some weird hybrid of San Diego and San Dimas but renamed ala Santa Teresa in Sue Grafton's ABC books. Sure, I can understand the fun of using Diablo for a town over-run by demons but the San (or Saint) has to go. It doesn't make sense.

The mystery itself would have been fine for a Three Detectives or Nancy Drew type mystery but for an adult book it was too obvious and silly. When teeny poppers can drop useful hints about the upcoming demon show down and Kate can't connect the dots until much further into the book, something is wrong because it makes for 100+ pages of waiting for the experienced semi-retired demon hunter to get a clue.

I know there are huge fans of the series but I am obviously not one of them.

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