Necromancer Tales

Shunned by most species and abandoned by their warlock fathers, necromancers are marginalized, feared, and reclusive. Erasmus Boone is different. His warlock father chose love instead of abandonment. Unusually powerful and talented, Boone embraced his necromantic abilities and managed to carve out an existence within a world that would rather he not exist at all. Humans aren't the most respected species. Hell, they're just a step above termites in the eyes of most. Detective Franklin O'Hare has never taken derision towards his humanity to heart. Determined to do the best given his human limitations, Detective O'Hare does whatever it takes to right the wrongs of the world-no matter the species concerned-even if that means working with a necromancer. Besides, Erasmus Boone isn't so bad. In fact, he's temptingly perfect. Seeking solace after a difficult case, Boone walks the typically peaceful gravesites of Trinity's Holy Cross Cemetery. The gentle hum of contented, long-dead souls eases Boone's mind-until he's hit with an unearthly cry unlike any he's heard before. Unfortunately, that first soulful cry isn't Boone's last, each wail revealing a disconcerting pattern. There's a serial killer in the wind, and their murders are resulting in souls with painful, missing pieces, leaving their voices incoherent and indecipherable. Boone and O'Hare must work closely together if they're going to stop the killings. O'Hare learns quickly that keeping Boone safe from disgruntled clients and serial killers is a never-ending and nearly impossible task. As O'Hare and Boone grow closer, so does the killer. They need to figure out who's indiscriminately murdering seemingly unrelated species and why the victims' souls are devastated beyond repair before Boone becomes another victim on the ominous list. Deadly Lineage is the first book in the Necromancer Tales series. This series is a spin-off of the Perfect Pixie series and takes place in the same world but can be enjoyed on its own. Deadly Lineage is an M/M romantic fantasy mystery with an unusually sane necromancer just trying to make a living, a humble human detective attempting to ignore his attraction to the aforementioned necromancer, an arrogant but redeemably overprotective warlock father, a twisted serial killer, a questionably agreeable all-powerful djinn, damaged souls, humans-some redeemable and some not, a steamy Mississippi summer, and far too much sweet tea. It also contains mentions of violence, murder, souls brought back from the beyond, speciest bigotry, and a few characters of questionable morals and sanity. Deadly Lineage has an HFN ending.

Necromancer Erasmus Boone's life is better than he ever imagined. Bucking the typical necromancer storyline, Erasmus has managed to carve out a life filled with love and purpose. With Halloween fast approaching, Erasmus is ready to enjoy his favorite time of year. Unfortunately, Detective Franklin O'Hare's Midwestern past has other ideas. Covered in blood and found wandering the streets surrounding Chicago, a necromancer is being accused of murder-the victim and circumstances unknown. Mentally unstable, this unfortunate necromancer is in jeopardy of being railroaded for a crime he may or may not have been involved in. Franklin O'Hare's former captain doesn't want to witness another victimized necromancer. Aware of Franklin's association with Erasmus, he calls on them for help. Now headed for chillier climes, Erasmus and Franklin need to figure out if a crime has been committed, and if there's one thing Erasmus excels at, it's finding where the bodies are buried. Only Erasmus doesn't just fine one victim; he finds several. When the souls of the departed blame their deaths on a long-dead bogeyman, it becomes clear the local sheriff has a problem, and a necromancer accused of murder is just the tip of the iceberg. Between bringing back the dead, dealing with local prejudices, and meeting Franklin's family, Erasmus has his plate full. Add on a worried warlock father and more than one attempted assassination, and Erasmus is more than ready to pack it up and head back to the warm Mississippi breeze. Deadly Deception is the second book in the Necromancer Tales series, which should be listened to in order. This series is a spin-off of the Perfect Pixie series and takes place in the same world, but can be enjoyed as a standalone series. Deadly Deception is an m/m romantic fantasy mystery with an unusually sane necromancer just trying to make a living, a humble human detective attempting to keep his necromancer boyfriend alive, an arrogant but redeemably overprotective warlock father, a deceptive killer, a questionably moral all-powerful djinn, a kitten who can't figure out how it wound up in a backpack, let alone staring through a plastic bubble, humans-some redeemable and some not, a chilly Chicago fall, and a playfully bloodthirsty vampire. Mentions of violence, murder, souls brought back from the beyond, speciesist bigotry, and a few characters of questionable morals and sanity. Deadly Deception has an HFN ending as it is part of an ongoing series.

Sane and loved, Erasmus Boone is a unicorn among necromancers. Others aren't nearly so fortunate. Necromancers need help, and since no one else is applying for the job, Erasmus feels it's his responsibility. The hurdles are many, not the least of which is locating off-the-grid necromancers. When the Warlock Council stubbornly refuses even the barest of aid, Erasmus makes a call he fears he'll regret. Help doesn't come free, and Erasmus wonders if he'll be able to pay the price when the bill finally comes due. Detective Franklin O'Hare is a human hopelessly in love and helplessly out of his depth when it comes to keeping Erasmus alive. Erasmus's need to locate and aid other necromancers is an emotional ticking time bomb. Add this newest quest to Erasmus's penchant for digging up dead and buried secrets, and Franklin is left wondering how he can ensure Erasmus not only lives his best life but remains alive at all. Erasmus's quest is derailed when a simple soul retrieval turns out to be anything but. Erasmus has retrieved numerous souls over the years, but he's never had a case where the soul attached to the remains didn't match the name written on their grave marker. Something stinks, and it's not the burnt remains Erasmus is working with. Avarice is rarely satisfied and is the root of far too many evils to count. Erasmus and Franklin know that fact all too well. Avarice hides behind murder, but it can also shadow covetous intentions. While one form of avarice strives to end Erasmus's life, another desires to enslave it. One form is far more dangerous than the other, and it's not the version attempting to kill Erasmus Boone.