REVIEW: Mind Over Monsters by Jennifer Harlow

Mind Over Monsters

by Jennifer Harlow

(A F.R.E.A.K.S. Squad Investigation #1)

Published October 2011 by MIDNIGHT INK

Paranormal heroes take on zombies in this funny and thrilling debut

Very few people know the truth about Beatrice Alexander. She's no ordinary schoolteacher with a fondness for classic movies. Beatrice can move objects with her mind, an embarrassing and dangerous skill that she's never learned to master—or embrace. After nearly killing her brother by accident, she joins F.R.E.A.K.S. The Federal Response to Extra-Sensory and Kindred Supernaturals is a top-secret offshoot of the FBI that "neutralizes" ghouls, trolls, and other monsters threatening humanity.

Beatrice has no desire to become Buffy the vampire slayer. But F.R.E.A.K.S. offers training to control her power. Also, she doesn't feel like such a freak next to the other supernatural members, including a cute former detective who's a werewolf and an unbearable vampire determined to seduce Beatrice. Despite a natural instinct to flee from hideous, bloodthirsty zombies, Beatrice must prove herself on her first mission to find a cunning necromancer.

Mind Over Monsters is very well written with characters I love and can’t wait to read more about them. I’ve not read many books where the author titles each chapter but I really like it, cause it sets the tone for what’s coming up and with a chapter entitled “A Machete Is a Girl’s Best Friend” you know that the book is freaky funny.

Mind Over Monsters is a great urban fantast read with mystery, some gore (it’s going to get messy when you start cutting up zombies), and there is also a little romance, that looks like it could turn out to be a really good triangle between Beatrice, Will and Oliver.

Think X-Men with paranormal creatures, where the guys are monsters too. The bad guy is a necromancer and the zombie graveyard scenes make me think of the old Anita Blake, you know when she solved mysteries before all the orgies got in the way.

Mind Over Monsters was a great debut novel from Harlow. I will without a doubt be checking out the next book in the series.

If you’re a fan of the Jaz Parks series by Jennifer Rardin or the early books in the Anita Blake series by Laurell K. Hamiltion you will enjoy Harlow’s Mind Over Monsters.

If you would like to find out more about Jennifer Harlow and read an interview with Beatrice plus enter to win your won copy of the book just visit the GUEST POST that was posted here at The Book Nympho last week through Bewitching Book Tours.