My Favorite White Whale
Title: Harbinger of Evil
Author: Meb Bryant
Genre: Crime Fiction/ Mystery
Length: 248 pages
I met Meb Bryant at her book signing at Half Price Books Humble in October. She’s a lovely lady, sweet, professional, wonderful conversationalist. She left with me a signed copy of her book to review for my blog.
I feel terrible that somehow the book ended up in my manager’s stash cube in the warehouse at the store (how completely unprofessional of me). Yes, a little bit terrible because I feel like I should have gotten a review ready for the author sooner – but mostly selfishly terrible because I denied myself this reading experience for two whole months! Words of wisdom, don’t do that… read Meb Bryant’s work NOW.
Between Dutton sending me Elizabeth George’s latest work, a very full Halloween month of book signings, and the general mood of my year – I’ve read a lot of crime fiction this year. A lot more than usual, anyway, I think. Bryant’s crime work is the best of 2013 – no exaggeration – and I’ve read some really good ones. John Oehler is excellent, Elizabeth George always nails character development, Pamela Triolo has a grip on a genre all her own (healthcare mysteries with a registered nurse solving the mysteries), but Meb Bryant blew me away.
I adore Richard Mobey, aka Mobey Dick, he’s my favorite white whale. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know him, watching him build relationships with the other characters in the novel, witnessing his snotty banter, and finally experiencing him unravel the mystery and put all the puzzle pieces together.
I love the back drop of the novel, there’s no exaggeration with the tagline: New York Crime Meets New Orleans Voodoo. In all my reading history, this is my favorite ‘voodoo’ piece. I can’t think of a better novel set in the French Quarter.
If I had my way Detective Richard Mobey would have a series longer than Inspector Lynley’s, but I have a feeling I won’t be getting my way.
Anakalian Whims 
Meb Bryant said,
December 5, 2013 at 4:21 am
WOW! I’m blown away by your review of my novel, Harbinger of Evil. I’m truly humbled and grateful for the effort you put into the book. Thank you.
Anakalian Whims said,
December 5, 2013 at 6:04 am
I really did love it! Thank you so much for sharing it with me! When can I have you back at the store?
Meb Bryant said,
December 5, 2013 at 10:50 pm
I’d love to visit again. How about in the spring?
Anakalian Whims said,
December 6, 2013 at 5:09 pm
Absolutely. Email me some preferred dates.
lorettawheeler said,
December 5, 2013 at 5:57 pm
Ahhh, you have another “Mobey” lover here:) And, I don’t see why you can’t have your wish for more Mobey…why not?:)
We get a glimpse of him cruising the waters in “Killing People” so he’s still “out there”, alive and well:)
Like you, I enjoy Meb’s writing…I’m one of her crit partners…and trust me, it’s always a delight to read her WIP, no matter the genre:)
Loretta Wheeler
Spelling V | Anakalian Whims said,
December 20, 2015 at 9:30 pm
[…] pretty darn riveting. I especially love that one of the characters reads Bryant’s novel Harbinger of Evil. I’m a huge sucker for when authors do this. I like the idea of one interconnected world […]