His Father’s Eyes

Justis Fearsson, a PI who loses control of his magic abilities during the full moon, must ally with both criminals and the law to prevent a greater evil from rising to power in the enjoyable second Case Files of Justis Fearsson novel (after Spell Blind), best described as homestyle urban fantasy with extra pulp. Fans of hard-boiled crime will quickly recognize Coe’s thematic echoes here: Justis is a former cop who evades the law when he’s framed for murder and makes morally questionable decisions because there is no other choice. The underlying mystery is provided by a clever magical system that slowly kills the caster, powerful mages sworn not to interfere, and a blend of the supernatural with ordinary police affairs. A strong sense of the present-day Arizona setting, including prominent Latino characters, grounds the reader. Coe mixes spells and Sherlocking with snappy dialogue, tight pacing, and characters who catch and keep the reader’s interest. (Aug.)