An Easy Death by Charlaine Harris

Gunnie Rose, Book 1

Synopsis: Set in a fractured United States, in the southwestern country now known as Texoma. A world where magic is acknowledged but mistrusted, especially by a young gunslinger named Lizbeth Rose. Battered by a run across the border to Mexico Lizbeth Rose takes a job offer from a pair of Russian wizards to be their local guide and gunnie. For the wizards, Gunnie Rose has already acquired a fearsome reputation and they’re at a desperate crossroad, even if they won’t admit it. They’re searching through the small border towns near Mexico, trying to locate a low-level magic practitioner, Oleg Karkarov. The wizards believe Oleg is a direct descendant of Grigori Rasputin, and that Oleg’s blood can save the young tsar’s life.

As the trio journey through an altered America, shattered into several countries by the assassination of Franklin Roosevelt and the Great Depression, they’re set on by enemies. It’s clear that a powerful force does not want them to succeed in their mission. Lizbeth Rose is a gunnie who has never failed a client, but her oath will test all of her skills and resolve to get them all out alive.

Review: I was really curious to discover this novel when I learned that Charlaine Harris was releasing a new series. It must be said that the frame is also very original and I was curious to see what the author had done with it.

We find ourselves in a very different world where Franklin Roosevelt was murdered and the children of the Russian Tsar took refuge in the United States, bringing magic and sorcerers with them. It is in this context that Gunnie Rose works as a sniper for those who are willing to pay her. But two Grigori come forward to hire her to find a low-level wizard across the territory, and our heroine didn’t expect these two individuals to attract so much trouble!

I had a good time with the novel even though I find that sometimes the story is a little uneven and loses its appeal. But I must say that I was more carried away by the last part and I was curious to see where all this would lead. I found it very nice to have something different, a mix of genres that you don’t expect, a kind of fantastic western that makes you discover a different world.

I’m very curious to see what the outcome will be!