The Final Seven (The Lightkeepers)

I don't know if it's been because of the holiday's or what but I've been having a ton of trouble getting into anything. Most of December I couldn't read. In fact, the only books I did read are the ones for reviews. It's not like I didn't like them, because I did, it's just that after I finished them instead of rushing into the next book, I sat looking into space instead.

This did not bond well for one of my favorite authors.

It's seems like forever that I've been reading Spindler. I started reading her when she wrote romance and followed her over when she got into suspense. I know...that doesn't sound like me because I only read romance. Here's the thing, Spindler puts enough romantic elements in her stories that I get what I need from them along with a great story.

With The Final Seven I was given a good suspense story, a romantic element and also a paranormal element too! Talk about happy dance. Of course, I still had that issue about getting into anything. So I started the book and....

LOVED IT!!!!!

Right off the bat I found myself lost in the story. It made me want to know more about the characters and what the story was about. I almost couldn't contain my happiness. Right away I loved Micki. She's tough as nails but yet, likable.

I had a harder time both liking and figuring out Zach. At times he pissed me off. I didn't always like how he treated Micki. I know, you want more info...sorry. You'll have to read the book for more. As the book progressed I found myself liking how Zach grew up. It's wasn't all about him...he started to think of others.

This is a wonderful start to a new series. I can't wait to see what comes next. A ton of things happen within the story and you learn so much, but at the same time the author leaves you wondering what's next.

I thought the writing was very good. However the overall plot was just not for me. Not into the supernatural stuff. I would not read another book in this series.

Erica Spindler is one of the few crime writers I still read regularly. THE FINAL SEVEN is a departure from her usual fare, in content AND in publication. (It's self-published only in the US. Otherwise, Hachette's the publisher in the UK and Australia.) While it has good things in common with the author's thrillers, this first book in the Lightkeepers series has a paranormal bent.

And herein is the problem, because I don't connect with the concept. The FBI has launched a special division for paranormal crime investigation training. Only it's top-secret, and its graduates are now integrated into regular police forces. And thus New Orleans Detective Micki Dare is paired with Zach Harris. Not only that, but he's also given the rank of Detective. WHICH HE DIDN'T EARN. Micki is rightfully furious about this, and the situation is so frustrating.

Anyway, Zach turns out to be handy at finding evidence even though he keeps breaking rules, such as abandoning a crime scene. He and Micki go undercover, and pash on, and she's attracted to him, and I JUST DON'T SHIP IT. Mind you, the first time the two meet Zach harasses Micki with inappropriate comments, so I disliked him from the start.

I'll continue with this series, but I can't recommend it like I would the author's other novels.

The Final Seven (The Lightkeepers, #1) by Erica Spindler is the start of a new series and genre for this author. I have always enjoyed Ms. Spindler’s Romantic Suspense books and I also like a good paranormal story which is how this new genre book is advertised and why I wanted to try it.
NOPD Detective Micki Dare is a veteran, no nonsense cop who looks like a blonde bombshell and is partnered with Zach ‘Hollywood’ Harris from an FBI experimental program. The program participants are called Sixers and they all have special psychic abilities and levels. The disappearance of two young girls on their twenty first birthdays has everyone working to find the girls and to understand who or what has taken them and the abilities of the Sixers to find and fight that evil.
This book is an easy read and an interesting premise. The fight between light and dark forces. That said, the characters didn’t begin to grow on me until much too far into the story and the same with the suspense. The world-building all seemed to be rushed into the final third of the book, with a lot of people in the beginning withholding information to the point of my annoyance. I gave it a try, but I will probably not follow on with this series, but I will with Ms. Spindler’s Romantic Suspense books.
Thanks to Erica Spindler Books and Net Galley for the free copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

This was an easy enjoyable read. The main character is a tough female New Orleans police detective but she has a few soft edges so she is not totally obnoxiousl. The other main characters is her new partner. He's a handsome guy who has been brought on in a special program and she's been moved to that program to pair with him. He has no experience and is mainly there for his special para normal skills as part of an FBI program. I like both characters. The story was about kidnapped girls that end up having been kidnapped by a dark presence to sacrifice them. I'll read the next.

The story is beautifully written and entertaining. But it’s subtle promotion of rape culture, turned me off. I could handle women losing their will power but the bomb dropped in the second to last chapter almost made me vomit. It isn’t imaginative and It’s just disappointing. I have loved Erica Spindler novels since I was a kid. This just didn’t work for me.
I purchased and listened via audible.

I think I accidentally fell into "young adult" territory. All the authority figures say "now now you don't need to know that, just do what I say" and the younger protagonists say "FU, l am not following the rules!" It became quite tedious. That said, it was a well defined world with an interesting premise. A solid 3 that would have been a 4 without the teen-like angst/ bellergiance/whining.

I really enjoyed this book. A little out of the norm for Erica Spindler, more like Kay Hooper or Heather Graham. Looking forward to reading the next in the series.

I really enjoyed this book. A little out of the norm for Erica Spindler, more like Kay Hooper or Heather Graham. Looking forward to reading the next in the series.

I did not like this kind of book. All her other books are great