Every Which Way But Dead (The Hollows, Book 3)

I can't for the life of me understand how this author every got published. Some of the worst writing I've ever encountered.

3rd book in the series and its only getting better! I absolutely love all the characters and that is rare for me. Each character has enduring qualities that makes you want to read more. The author have such a pleasant flow to her writing when creating scenes and capturing the intensity in small nuances. Definitely recommend just buying several books at one time just so when you are done with one, you don't have to wait to purchase another to continue the story.

This was another breathtaking entry in the complex and colorful world of Miss Rachel Morgan, sort of a supernatural bounty hunter if you may, who always manages to get into immense trouble and who longs for drinking coffee on Ivy's couch while trying to figure a way to save her life. This is the third installment of this delicious series and I cannot stress enough to read it in order, this story line has so many twists and turns that's it's easier than I can say to spoil things and ruin those great surprises, I don't even read reviews for next entries because it's never safe with the amount of ingenuity Kim Harrison puts into each one of her books. I adore the subtle mix of humor thrown in, the main heroine has the audacity to make fun of the demon that keeps trying to pull her into the ever after, calling him big Al and stealing his familiar, and she enrages him to the point where their battles become hairy. Her relationship with Ivy is back on track although an old flame shows up, a vampire that I am sure Ivy is not going to be done with yet and whose job stands in Rachel's way. Kisten is back, the bad boy has some heart and really grows on the reader, I am starting to adore his role in the books, and he always smells like silk and leather, interesting combo...There is also more Trent drama but better than ever, I didn't know whether to sit or stand when reading, some parts were so ingenious and wonderful that I giggled or made noises while reading, making my boyfriend look at my strangely, books rarely have this effect on my hard to please reading palate but his one was superb. Nick is here somewhere, he needs to have a great excuse for his deplorable acting or he's out of my fan club, Jenks is fresh as always but with some changes, and new characters are subtly added, it's hard to tell who's bad and who's just pretending - but that's just part of the fun. Currently being in the middle of the series I have to force myself and not read the remaining three books in the next three days, because then I think depression would set in, so hopefully I can stretch out the time between each because they are true jewels in the fun, wicked world of witchcraft, vampires, werewolves and all things magical. Although these books are very much part of the fantasy world of writing they are realistic, insurance, jails and lawyers are always breathing down everyone's back, some things can't be avoided even in other worlds... - Kasia S.

Every Which Way But Dead (2005) is the third Urban Fantasy in the Rachel Morgan series, following The Good, the Bad, and the Undead. In the previous volume, Rachel slams Piscary into unconsciousness and turns him over to the FIBs. Later she convinces the Howlers to pay her fee for searching for their mascot fish. In this novel, Piscary is convicted for the murders of several ley line witches after the demon Algaliarept testifies against him. Now Rachel summons the demon to fulfill her promise in exchange for his testimony. She goes through the rites to become his familiar. After accepting her service, Al no longer needs his former familiar, the elf Ceri. Despite his sadistic intentions, Rachel convinces Al to release Ceri and then she gets Ceri onto sanctified ground. Ceri is now free after a thousand years of service to the demon. Although Ceri is rapidly adjusting to her new freedom, Rachel needs to find her another home. Jenks is frustrated because he can't tell what kind of creature she is. He knows that she is the same kind as Trent Kalamack, but Rachel prefers not to release that information and pixies are not known for keeping secrets. Besides, Rachel, Ivy and Jenks are not exactly a normal household living in a typical lifestyle. Rachel invites Keasley, the old witch living across the street, to come over and meet Ceri. While Keasley is not exactly a typical inderlander himself, he is more so than the Vampiric Charms team. At first Ceri and Keasley are a bit reluctant, but soon find much to like in each other. Keasley returns home to install Ceri in his spare bedroom. In this story, Rachel notices that an older Were has been following her and confronts him in a back corner of the zoo. David Hue is an insurance adjuster who has a few questions about the fish that Rachel had taken from Mr. Ray's office. It seems that the fish had been stolen and the original owner has filed a claim. He also has some papers for Rachel to sign concerning the final disposition of the fish. Algaliarept cannot use Rachel as his familiar without taking her back to the ever-after and is less than happy about her refusal to cross over. One day, when Rachel uses the ley line in her back yard, Al unexpectedly appears and starts dragging her away. Since the backyard ley line is surrounded by sanctified ground, the nearest available ley line is eight blocks away and Al is determined to drag or carry her to it. But Ceri, Keasley and David form a circle to stop him and Rachel, as the de facto summoner, then banishes him back to the ever-after. This story also tells of Rachel's troubled relationship with Nick Sparagmos. After he became her familiar, Nick was subject to seizures and other upsets whenever Rachel drew upon a ley line. Now that she is Algaliarept's familiar, that tie has been broken, but Nick still isn't returning home. Then Kristen takes her out on a date and she finds herself becoming more attracted toward him. With Piscary in

Have loved Kim Harrison's books since the first, "Dead Witch Walking." "Every Which Way But Dead," is the third in the series dealing with witch Rachel Morgan, her runner partners, Ivy (an undead vampire) and Jenks (a pixie with a large family). In this installment, Rachel has to deal with the Demon...literally. In a previous episode, she committed herself to Algaliarept (Big Al for short) to put a drug dealing 'undead' vampire Piscary in jail. She figures the price was worth it, seeing as she'd be dead otherwise and the vamp's evil would continue. So, she starts out repaying the deal to Big Al and managing to slip him. Of course, she cannot go into a ley-line for magic anytime soon or Big Al will get her. Meanwhile, since Piscary's out of action, the bosses of Cincinnati are duking it out. Piscary's 'scion' Ivy, who is also Rachel's partner, doesn't want to have anything to do with Piscary's business. So, Kisten, the former scion is running things. A new threat, Saladan is moving in---selling more dangerous drugs and trying to take over gambling and the other gangland interests. Rachel's challenge in this book is to keep out of Big Al's way while she's trying to keep the city she loves safe. The intro is somewhat slow, but the finish makes up for it. Definitely have some time to spare when you start reading this book because you will not want to put it down!

Ms. Harrison's books never let you down! While we'll occasionally put up with a book that doesn't quite live up to our estimates from a favorite author, all 3 books in the Rachel Morgan saga have been edge of your seat, bite your fingernails even though your laughing out loud ( be careful you don't choke), root for the severe underdog page turners. If you haven't read them yet I must ask - Why the heck not?! 7 months after being a dead witch walking when she sneakily used a leprechaun and the help of her two best buddies, Ivy the living vampire and Jenks the jovial pixy, to leave the I. S. and survive...and 3 months after finding that Ivy really staged the whole thing and having to bludgeon Piscary, the head scary homicidal maniac vamp, into submission with the aid of Big Al the demon whom she owes way to many favors to... Rachel has to submit to becoming Big Al's familliar...or does she? Nick her accidental familliar, once rat boyfriend may have been more of a rat then she thought. Oh, and never mind the werewolf who's stalking her and that silly incident about eating the wishing fish...And is she really going out on a date with Kisten And protecting Trents but?! Don't miss this! It's worth every penny!

Kim Harrison has positively out-done herself this time. Every Which Way But Dead is the best in the Rachel Morgan/Hollows series to date. New friends, old friends, and a new romance to set the sheets on fire await in this latest installment. Rachel made a deal with the devil -- a demon, actually -- and now "Big Al" is coming to collect. Our beloved heroine finds a why to stay one step ahead of the demon but karma has a way of finding you when you least expect it. And Rachel has quite a debt to repay. Yeah, he's a demon. Yeah, he's evil. But, you have got to like a guy who dares to wear lace while supplying some of the book's best one-liners and some of the most unforgettable scenes. New friends are introduced and promise to make Rachel's continued existence all the more interesting. Many mysteries remain while many questions are answered along the way. Old friends return and offer a new view of their own lives and their ties to Rachel. Kisten and Ivy offer the most interesting twists and the most possibilities for the future. Both show their human sides and leave Rachel (and the reader!) craving more. Filled with wit and seat-of-your-pants action, anyone who is already in love with this series is bound to enjoy this book. For those who are just beginning to explore the world of the Hollows, be sure to pick up the other two books -- Dead Witch Walking and The Good, The Bad, and the Undead -- to read first so the full impact of Every Which Way But Dead isn't lost.