1st Avenue

"You, my friend, are a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside a polyester blend."

This line perfectly describes Vic and his attitude toward all things in life.

What I like most about these books is that you get a strong sense of Chicago in the background. You can tell the author knows her setting well, and you can feel each street and neighborhood through the writing. There's both history and life at these locales. No matter how posh downtown Chicago is trying to be these days, it can't shake off its violent gritty past.

As with each book, Vic's adventures and powers grow in increments, and at the end of the book, it's his journey of self-discovery that keeps the stories engaging.

Love the cover art, btw. Although he's still scowling, there does seem to be more confidence in his pose.