Lime Gelatin and Other Monsters (Kristin’s Review)

Title: Lime Gelatin and Other Monsters (Off Beat Crimes #1)
Author: Angel Martinez
Publisher: Pride Publishing
Release Date: August 16, 2016 (2nd edition)
Genre(s): Paranormal
Page Count: 91
Reviewed by: Kristin
Heat Level: 2 flames out of 5
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
Blurb:

Kyle Monroe, his irritating new partner, and their fellow freaks at the 77th Precinct must learn to work together to stop a vicious murderer that might not even be human.

Kyle Monroe’s encounter with a strange gelatinous creature in an alley leaves him scarred and forever changed, revealing odd abilities he wishes he didn’t have and earning him reassignment to a precinct where all the cops have defective paranormal abilities.

Just as he’s starting to adjust to his fellow misfit squad mates, Kyle’s new partner arrives. Tall, physically perfect, reserved, and claiming he has no broken psychic talents, Vikash Soren irritates Kyle in every way. But as much as he’d like to hate Vikash, Kyle finds himself oddly drawn to him, their non-abilities meshing in unexpected ways. If they can learn to work together, they might be able to stop the mysterious killer who has been leaving mutilated bodies along the banks of the Schuylkill.

Publisher’s Note: This book has previously been released elsewhere. It has been revised and re-edited for re-release with Pride Publishing.

Pre-order Date: 5th July 2016
Available exclusively from Pride Publishing: 19th July 2016
General Release Date: 16th August 2016

This is short and sweet and hit all my happy buttons: references to books and movies that I hadn’t thought of in a looonng time, (Pern! Gamera!), a cast of misfits that could give the Island of Misfit Toys a run for its money, and a sense of humor that will have me reading this again.

Premise is Kyle’s new ability is freakish even among the freaks. He amplifies everyone else’s talent and usually not it a good way. Vikash is newly assigned to the squad and as Kyle’s partner, and as they get to know each other, they realize they have more in common than not. Now it’s up to them to stop a monstrous killer lurking in the river.

Like I noted above, this is a fun and fast read. I adore all the quirkiness Martinez throws in – Mr. Jacket, someone who can only teleport fruit, a vampire who can only drink skim blood, and more. I enjoyed Vikash and Kyle’s rapport and how even in short story, it built from standoffish partners to something more substantial. Nicely done!

My only complaint with this was it was too short. I’m really hoping that there will be more in this series!