4 out of 4 stars
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Junior Inquisitor is the first book in the Inquisitor Series by Lincoln S. Farish.
Told in the first person perspective, the story was about Brother Sebastian, a Junior Inquisitor in his first solo mission. On his way to Vermont to follow up a lead to the murder of his wife, Brother Sebastian received a phone call from his mentor. He was ordered to investigate the disappearance of the field Inquisitor in Providence, Rhode Island. Bound by duty, Brother Sebastian abandoned his personal quest and obeyed, though reluctantly.
Instead of finding the missing Inquisitor, he was attacked by a trio of Muscle then chased by a pack of werewolves. He took refuge in the nearest church of Saint Bernard and met Father Arnold who took him in and patched him up.
In addition to the interesting plot, the story was fast-paced and action-packed. The scenes were vividly described it felt more like watching a movie instead of reading a book. The backdrop was convincingly creepy and the encounters with the creatures of the dark were depicted in full details, gore and all.
The author seems to have a vast knowledge of the subject matter as he introduced various creatures besides the widely known witches, werewolves and ogres. Among those which were not familiar to me were: the Muscle, the foot soldiers of witches; Hogaana Doll, a Raggedy Anne style doll that housed a soul called from hell and Screwface, a witch who thrived on pain. Though the Jotunn, a Norse giant, was not so common, this was not unfamiliar (thanks to the movie Thor). There were also articles like Goofer dust, Congo Savanne and Grimoire which caught my attention.
My favorite character among the cast of lovable characters was Father Arnold, the cordial and helpful priest of Saint Bernard who loves to cook, followed by Brother Lorenzo, the attentive and patient apprentice Inquisitor who stood by and watched over Brother Sebastian while he was in recovery. Brother Sebastian was my kind of protagonist, strong-willed and duty-bound though a little stubborn. He was merciful and compassionate. His love for his wife was the kind that every woman would want from a husband.
The only problem I encountered with the book was the insufficient elaboration. Personally, I did not know what an Inquisitor was. I was almost halfway through the book when I realized I had to figure it out by myself, which I eventually did. Other readers may appreciate that but I was probably used to long narratives and backstories. Still, it did not make me enjoy the book less than I actually did.
In view of that, I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. I recommend it to those who enjoy mystery, suspense, thriller and dark urban fantasy in general. For a book in a series, this can be a standalone.
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Junior Inquisitor
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I love the mixture of genre in this read - fantasy, thriller, and mystery. This seems like a read to keep you on your toes! Congratulations to the author for receiving such a positive review!
