Book Review of Redemption by C.J. Barry

Synopsis:

Reya Sinclair is the last person a man sees before he dies. As a Redeemer, she offers the soon-to-be-departed one last chance to atone for their sins. It's a painful job, but it's her only shot to secure her own salvation. She won't let anyone stand in her way-not even a ruggedly sexy cop hot on her trail. Bound by her duty, Reya must shake him before he ruins her . . . but her heart can't seem to let him go.

Detective Thane Driscoll has watched too many criminals get away. The man who murdered his father was no exception. Now Thane carries out his own brand of justice, even if it means compromising his soul. When a string of deaths leads him to a beautiful woman in black, he discovers there's more to his father's murder than meets the eye.

As fate brings them closer together, Thane discovers that only Reya's touch can calm his rage. Racing to uncover an evil plot, they must fight together to stop the coming storm. But when the time comes, can Reya sacrifice her own redemption to save Thane?

Review:


Redemption by C.J. Barry
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

This is a very intriguing read and the first book in a brand new series. I loved it!

Reya Sinclair is a fascinating character. She is a Redeemer, a type of intermediary who gives souls a chance to atone for their sins, but who is also atoning for her own. She has been to Hell and back, literally. I liked her spunk, of which she has a lot! However, I also think she is rather hard on herself.

Thane Driscoll is a police detective, who has become a bit jaded and disillusioned over the years. I liked this character. He has good intentions, but his moral compass has become slightly bent. (The saying - The road to Hell is paved with good intentions - comes to mind with this character). When he meets Reya, secrets are revealed and his life will change forever.

This is a fantastic Urban Fantasy that captured my attention from the first page. There have been many books that use the concept of angels or other metaphysical beings (such as the Grim Reaper) as soul gatherer's, but this is the first book I have read that uses human souls called Redeemers to do the reaping. This is a good thing, because it gives the story a fresh twist. It's a dirty job, but someone has got to do it I suppose, and Reya is a strong, independent and resourceful woman. The story is a thrilling mix of suspense, mystery, romance and danger that takes the reader on a roller coaster ride with a metaphysical twist. The characters come alive on the page; I even like Orson, Reya's supervisor and contact with Heaven, even though his attitude bugs Reya no end. Surt is a character that I think was not as threatening as he could have been. Although power hungry, he didn't send shivers down my back as a truly evil being would have done. Nevertheless, his dark presence gave the story enough of a threat factor to keep it interesting. The Hellraiders were more scary though!
The author's use of dimensions to describe the evolution of enlightenment and peace, and the role they play in the state of things made sense to me, but may not to other readers. I think that the Earth is alive and evolving, just as we are, and has a soul too; it is no wonder that she takes exception to being used and exploited by us! The ending is bittersweet in some respects, but it is mostly a reminder that love is the biggest healer of all.

C.J. Barry has written a fabulous story that was fast paced, flowed beautifully and kept me entertained. I am looking forward to reading more books by this author in the future.

I highly recommend this book if you love Paranormal Romance or Urban Fantasy genres. - Lynn Worton

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