Vicious Circle (Persephone Alcmedi, #1) by Linda Robertson

• Title: Vicious Circle (Persephone Alcmedi, Book 1)
• Classification: Adult Fiction
• Genre: Urban Fantasy
• Format:  Paperback; 384 pages
• Publisher: Pocket Books (June 30, 2009)
• ISBN-10: 1439154287
• ISBN-13: 978-1439154281

Author's Website:  http://www.authorlindarobertson.com/




"The flower sprouts up from the ground when the sun and the rain give the seeds cause to grow. In the right environment, the stem will grow strong and produce a bud that will bloom when the time is right. A rose is a rose, Persephone, and a lily is a lily. They do not chose what color they are or what their petals will look like; they are what their roots have made them. And they can be nothing else."   

Woman Found Dead

Authorities suspect cult involvement

Persephone 'Seph' Alcmedi had just gotten off the phone when she noticed the headlines on the day's paper. Oddly enough Vivian Diamond, the Cleveland coven's high priestess, had just set up a meeting with her citing Lorrie Kordell, the woman who the newspaper reported as being found murdered, had recommended her. Perhaps that should have tipped her off, perhaps she have suspected something was wrong, but she had no idea her life was about to change. No idea that these two events would change her life and bring her closer to her destiny. A destiny she knew nothing about.

"Obviously you know about Lorrie's death?" she said.

"Yes. I smoothed the fringe on the velvet bag.

"I know who did it."

My head snapped up. I hadn't expected that."...."You have to go to the police."

 "I can't." She opened a drawer and pulled a tissue from a pocket pack. She dabbed her perfectly lined blue eyes. "Look, If I start butting into police business, the police will start butting into coven business. I know how the game works, and my coven is far too important to me."...."Oh, please!" She threw the soiled tissue into a wastebasket. Then she started to laugh. "You think I asked you here to read my cards?"

My knee started bouncing again. "That is what I'm best known for among witches." A coldness was forming in my stomach that had nothing to do with the iced mocha. "Ms. Diamond, I'm not into gossip. If you don't want your cards read, them I don't see what any of his has to do with me."

Vivian accessed me, her blue eyes icy. "Lorrie told me how you helped her last year. Help her again."..."The murderer needs to be stopped immediately and permanently."

"And you want me to stop him 'immediately and permanently'?"

"Yes."

This was such a fun book and every time I thought I knew what was coming there was a twist. Persephone is a witch who has decided to live outside the bindings of a coven. Known as a solitary, she's led a pretty low key life never really doing anything out of the ordinary. She writes a weekly column for a newspaper about and for werewolves. She also kennels werewolves during the full moon in her cellar to ensure their safety and the safety of those around them. It also helps her earn some extra bucks. Werewolves, witches, and vampires are known to be in the world, but they still aren't fully accepted by all. Some believe them all to be evil and the police typically try to stay out of all conflicts that deal with the supernatural society. That includes solving and investigating their deaths. Even if the evidence is plain to see, as in the case of Lorrie's murder, they will look the other way and claim there was nothing to investigate. 

When Persephone is approached to kill Lorrie's killer, she immediately says no. She has no formal training, she doesn't see herself as a murderer nor does she wish to be, and what happened previously when she'd helped Lorrie had been an accident. As Vivian starts to sweeten the deal, however, Persephone is tempted not only by her wish for justice, but by what she could do with the money Vivian is offering. Persephone doesn't earn a lot and she's just taken in her elderly grandmother.

Upon investigating the man whom Vivian's pointing her finger at, she discovers she may have put herself and everyone she loves at risk. The friend she asked to investigate the man who's name Vivian had given her, finds out he's a powerful vampire and they don't typically like unsolicited attention. When the friend she asked to help her ends up in a car accident that was by no means an accident she knows she's in big trouble. She incorporates the help of some of the werewolves she kennels who have become her friends and her grandmother who proves to be a big help. If you think you have any idea how this one will end, trust me, you'll totally get it wrong. 

Johnny is one of the werewolves who helps Persephone out. He's been trying to get her to go out with him since they first met. He's always flirting and throwing double entendres at her. There's also something about him which makes him different from the other werewolves she kennels. As the story progresses the two grow closer and Persephone, or Red as Johnny calls her (he insists she's the little Red riding hood to his Big Bad Wolf), starts to warm to his advances.

Overall, I gave this one 5 out of 5 roses. It's a fun, unpredictable, and a slightly addictive series. I've just finished the third book and decided I should start writing reviews before the story lines between them start to blur, but I am so wanting to find out what happens in the next book. I loved all the twists and turns. The romance in this one is just starting to be stirred in this book so there is no Lisarenee Romance Rating for this one, but the next book will have one.   

Order of the series: