Hawk & Fisher

Fantasy cop pairing, in all senses. In a bit of a twist, these City Guard partners are actually married. In your basic low fantasy setting they have to keep the peace, and have the scars to show for it. In this sort of cop story, your heroes usually come up against pressure or hindrance (or worse) from superiors, and politicians, and that absolutely happens here. So, solve the case, stay alive is what this married pair of canny cops have to do, whether they have to deal with vampires of drunken barbarians. Pretty good stuff. 3.5 out of 5

Hawk and Fisher are husband and wife. They are also both in the city guard. The city is Haven and it exists in a world of magic. But this is not some simple sword and sorcery story. No, Hawk and Fisher are intelligent characters as well as excellent fighters.The team has ticked of some higher-ups when they investigate a report of child prostitution. As a reward for this action, they have been assigned to hunt down a vampire that has been eluding capture.No sooner have they completed that assignment, then they are assigned as bodyguards to a city councilor who has made many enemies with his progressive reforms.They begin the task at a dinner party held at the home of the sorcerer Gaunt. But soon a murder occurs. A locked-door mystery ensues and Hawk and Fisher must find the murderer. But soon another body turns up and the investigation must proceed more quickly.Although set in a fantasy world complete with magic and monsters, this book is a wonderful mystery. The pace does not let up and the reader is kept guessing as to what will happen next. A very enjoyable read.

Oh, my! I absolutely adore this series. Now, that's a very gushy way to start a review, I know. Still, that doesn't make it any less true. About six years ago, I was shopping for fluffy reading for a trip to Tenessee. By chance, I stopped by the bargain bin at Walden books and found the first three Hawk and Fisher books on sale. They looked fluffy. They looked amusing. Happily unprepared for what would follow.Well, oh, my. Let me just say that the opening chapter in this book just BLOWS you away. The vampire hunt is a slam-bam-thankyou-ma'am kick to the head. GREAT imagery and lovely set up of two characters who you can't help but hate, and you can't help but like. They are toughness personified. They are... hardboiled detectives.Now don't get me wrong. This series is first, and foremost a fantasy series. Wizards, magic, and swordsmen abound. Thing is, at the base of it all, these two people are City Guards, and Guards first. They have to solve a problem, come hell or high water (and frequently both), and that's ONLY what they're there to do. Sure people die, lose body parts, and feel generally bad in their wake, but the reader doesn't.So, if you want a genre-busting series that packs a great viceral punch, do yourself a favor and check this series out.