by Lily Oak

Created on: June 26, 2010

When a serial killer starts targeting local prostitutes, standard police investigations may not be enough. The autopsies don’t make sense, and girls are disappearing by the day.

Rita is your standard tough girl cop, hardened by years of teasing and ridicule of her Roma heritage. A heritage that has given her a gift she shares with few.

When the police investigations start to flounder, Matt Boulet rolls up to the precinct.

Matt has been brought in from PCU, a ‘specialist unit‘ and bears the mental, and physical scars of coming face to face with the killer before.

Matt and Rita soon find themselves drawn together by forces greater than just law enforcement.

"He bent over the table and lowered his voice. “Detective, I need to have a word, if you don’t mind. It’s important.” Boulet put his lips closer to her ear. “This place is busy. Can we go somewhere else for coffee?” She couldn’t help but be intrigued, plus she hadn’t felt this pleasant pit-of-the-stomach surge for a long time. “There’s a Starbucks across the street. Follow me.” “Any time, anywhere.” ~ (from ‘Gypsy Crystal’, copyright Lorrie Unites-Struiff 2010)

When I first started reading Gypsy Crystal the characters felt a little stereotyped, tough girl cop, handsome out-of-towner, little to sassy best friend, etc. But by chapter 3 the charm of the two main characters, Rita & Matt, have helped pull you into the story. And, as the book goes on the characters develop into fuller more relatable roles.

The story itself is tightly written and quick paced. Unlike a lot of paranormal fiction that has a romantic element, this is not what drives the plot of this book.

There are enough twists and developments to keep you turning pages, but not so many as to make the plot hard to follow. Lorrie Unites-Struiff has done an excellent job of explaining enough lore and legend of the back-story of the characters to add meaning to the plot. Some paranormal fiction books have a tendency to drift from the plot in order to explain myths, legends and fantastical histories, what this book does well is reveal them with the plot, rather than as a side note.

Over all I really enjoyed Gypsy Crystal. At just over 100 pages it makes the perfect summer pool-side/winter duvet day read. It’s also the kind of book that cry’s out to be part of a series.

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