Circle of Death by Keri Arthur

Circle Of Death

by Keri Arthur

 

PASSION REBORN

In one vicious night, Kirby Brown’s world is torn apart. Her best friend is dead, killed by a madman who is now after Kirby, and she has no idea why. When the police prove incapable of protecting Kirby, she has no choice but to trust a mysterious stranger. And while she finds herself inexplicably drawn to him, she fears the strange abilities he wields.

An investigator for the Damask Circle, Doyle Fitzgerald, has come to Melbourne, Australia, to hunt down a killer. What he doesn’t expect to find is a cadre of witches capable of controlling the elements, a sorceress determined to take that power for herself, and a broken woman who is more than she seems. Doyle is certain that the reason behind the bloodshed lies in Kirby’s past—a past she has no wish to remember. Because Doyle isn’t the only one with magic in his soul: Kirby’s special gifts have the strength to destroy the world.

 

 



I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley.

The first Damask Circle novel, Circle of Fire, gave me an appetite for the series or anything by Keri Arthur.  When I saw Circle of Death was available, I jumped on it.   I was not disappointed.
The writing is just as good as I remembered from Keri Arthur's other books, and possibly better since she's had time to get into the rhythm of this particular series.  The plot itself shone through strongly, instead of being a backdrop to the romance between the two characters.  There was never a moment when I thought the plot was being sidetracked or forgotten, even though Arthur also focused on the relationship between Kirby and Doyle.
What always impresses me about the author's books are her characters.  They are complex, as all humans are, and they all have their own unique personalities and challenges to overcome.  Even the secondary characters are fleshed-out, instead of being merely cardboard cutouts.   Doyle is the kind of hero all women (and men) love to read about.  He has strong protective instincts, but he does not use them to keep the people he loves under his control or to take away their freedom.  He is very kind and sort of a sap at times, which just made me like him even more.  He has a deep sense of honor and the belief that you should never break a promise or make one you didn't intend to keep.  How many heroes in modern books could say the same?
I truly felt for Kirby and sympathized with her through everything she was going through.  With each painful discovery, I was impressed with her character and how she was determined to do her best to fight for what she believed in, even though she was frightened and confused.   This was a wonderful book and I loved every minute of it.  I will definitely be looking for more books by Keri Arthur in the future.