Wrong Side of Hell

Bateman (Realm of Mirrors ) gives this urban fantasy novel a familiar setup: supernatural creatures exist, and the protagonist has the singular power to stop an evil group that’s bent on destroying them. In this case, Gideon Black, a Manhattan “body mover” who transports corpses for criminals, is thrown into a war between the Others (vampires, werewolves, fairies, etc.) and the Milus Dei, a shadowy group opposed to anything supernatural. He’s also frequently called on to help NYPD detective Abe Strauss. Vicious killings that look a lot like wild-animal attacks have both Abe and Gideon stumped until Gideon uses his ability to commune with the dead, leading Abe to dub him the Corpse Whisperer. Soon, Gideon learns that his talent has very unusual origins, and he teams up with werewolf Sadie to stop the Milus Dei before they take any more lives. Unfortunately, Gideon’s constant shock and disbelief over each subsequent supernatural event are grating, and though the writing is competent, seasoned fans of urban fantasy looking forward to something fresh and new won’t find it here. (BookLife)