Voodoo Shanghai

Kincaid Strange, Book 3

By: Kristi Charish

Narrated by: Susannah Jones

The third and final installment in Kristi Charish's thrilling urban fantasy series finds beloved heroine and voodoo practitioner Kincaid Strange shanghaied away from Seattle and pursuing the ghost of a serial killer in Portland.

Just when Kincaid Strange thinks her life is back on track and she's finally put her time as a paranormal practitioner with the Seattle PD to rest, her ex (and Seattle cop) Aaron asks her for help with yet another strange and ominous case. Martin Dane, the White Picket Fence Serial Killer who terrorized West Coast families living the suburban American dream, appears to be back at it with a fresh murder in Portland. There's only one problem: Dane has been dead for three weeks.

Kincaid can't resist a paranormal mystery. Despite her misgivings, she agrees to examine the Portland crime scene. What she discovers is a place of supernatural power unlike anywhere she's ever been - and the reason Aaron had been so tight-lipped about the case details. There's already a voodoo practitioner on the scene: Liam Sinclair, a TV celebrity of questionable talent and dubious intent.

Kincaid wants nothing more than to finish the job and retreat to Seattle, but the deeper she looks, the less the murder adds up. When she uncovers a much more sinister mystery - missing ghosts, scores of them, whom no one is looking for - there's no turning back.

©2020 Kristi Charish (P)2020 Audible, Inc.

a heart-stopping paranormal investigation

Kincaid is asked to assist the FBI in hunting down a serial killer who might be a poltergeist. The job has her working in Portland… but trouble is waiting. The story that unfolded was intense, had dark moments, and delivered plenty of action. Strange had help from local witches, a tall, dark and handsome agent, Gideon, and Noah. Spells, traps, mirrors and twisted magic await you!

With this story we saw the closing of some threads, and the author gave us insight into Kincaid’s relationship with the dead.

Susannah Jones did a stellar job with the characters and had I started on audiobook it would have been my preferred method of devouring this series.

Whether you read or listen, fans of Cecy Robson and Jim Butcher will love Kincaid Strange.

It was brilliant. Dagnabbit; I want more. The story wrapped up nicely but left the door open for more stories as Kincaid accepts a new role.

Life's not fair, nor is the afterlife

This was my favorite book in the series, and as I learned from other reviews, it's also the final book. I'm okay with a cliffhanger ending because it's more like life (especially Kincaid's) than a tidy closure, but I'm sad if Charish planned another book and I know I would have enjoyed it, too. This is one of the best urban fantasy series I've read, so I don't understand why it wasn't continued. Kristi Charish is right up there was Seanan McGuire, Kim Harrison, Jim Butcher (Harry Dresden), and Kevin Hearne (Iron Druid), four of my favorite purveyors of urban fantasy. Original system of magic, unique worldbuilding, a protagonist who is flawed and believable, and a varied cast of characters kept me listening constantly. The friendship between Kincaid and Nate the Grunge ghost is so well-developed and caring--it fills the space usually created by a romantic plotline, which I never missed. I didn't want to set my phone down--I even bought the 2nd and 3rd books on Audible in quick succession, though I normally never buy any book under 20 hrs. Another reviewer mentioned this, and I second her recommendation--do yourself a favor and read the three Kincaid Strange novels. And after you finish them, please read the series she wrote before this one. It's completely different (something that floors me) and just as exciting & original. Alix Hiboux, the Owl, makes Kincaid look all fluffy and well-adjusted, but she's a fascinating protagonist. Alix is a former grad student of archaeology turned antiquities thief, and her closest friends are an incubus, a Russian woman who was in the same grad program as Alix, and an Egyptian mau cat named Captain. Actually, since they both have apartments in Seattle, I wish the next book Charish publishes could be a crossover adventure with Alix and Kincaid (even though their worlds are nothing alike). I'm now at loose ends since I read Charish's seven wonderful novels in about two weeks. If you haven't read any, please start now.

Save Kincaid Strange Series!!!!

I learned on Kristi Charish's Instagram that Voodoo Shanghai would be the last book in the Kincaid Strange series. Which made me sad and also made me wonder if we would be a clean wrap up at the end of this installment. The way Voodoo Shanghai ended leads me to believe she did not know her publisher would not pick up another book. It ends on a huge cliffhanger. I'm hoping maybe we will see at least one more installment via self-publishing.

The Kincaid Strange series is truly a great and unique urban fantasy series. Don't let the fact that it was "canceled" stop you from trying it. I believe it's an unsung series that needs more attention. It has everything a UF fan wants, a strong and likable heroine, action, a mystery to solve in each installment and with Voodoo Shanghai, Ms. Charish had me guessing who the killer was to the very end (I usually figure out the bad guy within the first few chapters of about 90% of the books I read).

Kincaid is working with the FBI on a murder case that takes her from Seattle to Portland. They believe it's a cut and dry case of a serial killer, but she's not so sure. With the help of her ghost friend and roommate, Nate (90’s grunge rocker), Gideon (a ghost who is training her on more advanced skills) and FBI agent Wolf she works the case to find out the whole story of the murder and missing ghosts in the Portland area all while trying to not becoming one of the missing herself. As I mentioned, Charish does a great job weaving the mystery into a hard to guess "who done it" that includes paranormal creatures such as ghosts, zombies, poltergeist, and witches. 

While the case is wrapped up there are unfinished storylines within the series do to the cliffhanger. I really want to know what happens next. Fingers crossed that Ms. Charish continues The Kincaid Strange series at some point. 

The Kincaid Strange series is an audio-only series for me all thanks to Susannah’s brilliant delivery of the characters. After becoming a fan of Susannah's narration work on this series I plan on trying more of her work. Fans of Khristine Hvam would surely enjoy Susannah's voice and pacing as they have a similar sounding voice.

Feels like a turning point

I love this series, and have always been curious about how the MC would grow given how close her past seems. This book felt like a significant turning point in that journey. I really hope the author continues the series!

Final?!? Can’t be!

Every book in this series has just gotten better! The story is obviously not finished- please please finish it. This is one of the best series that I’ve read in a while!