Read my reviews of the previous books in the Black and Blue series:
The Mysterious and Amazing Blue Billings (#1) | The Quiet House (#2)
First of all, this book is not a stand-alone. You’ll get the most enjoyment if you are already relatively familiar with Blue, Levi, and their friends and with Blue’s abilities, along with other details such as how and why the house Blue and Levi share is haunted. I’d even argue that this book isn’t necessarily a romance. The bond between Blue and Levi is solid, and the subtle conflicts relating to their relationship are much more about how the greater plot affects their lives together but not in a way that threatens to tear them apart. That being said, Blue may be the nominal hero of this series, but I don’t think his story would be as enjoyable without Levi there to ground him. Morton even brings their relationship to a new level in this story in a way that relates directly to the plot, showing a true deftness in how blending multiple genres can enhance stories rather than fragment them.
The main plot of this book, however, is a dark paranormal tale bordering on true horror. No sexy serial killers here—each psychic encounter Blue has with the enemy is truly hair-raising, especially when Morton shows that the villain is a danger to Blue in both the physical and supernatural realms. Morton doesn’t skimp on the description of scary or gory details when relevant, but she also has an interesting way of infusing them with tragedy that heightens the core emotions of a scene beyond fear. In the same vein, Morton’s skill with detail makes situations in which Blue temporarily loses his powers terrifying despite the lack of ghosts when Blue is cut off from the spirit realm.
The mystery at the core of this story is also well done, especially with good uses of misdirection that stem from Blue collecting clues via his powerful but inherently unreliable abilities. Another element that I especially appreciated is how Blue (and his friend Will) remain cognizant of their current privileged circumstances and haven’t forgotten their uncertain pasts that involved unhoused periods. The police may come to Blue for aid in seeking this serial killer due to his psychic abilities, but it is his past that allows him to truly investigate avenues cut off from the police. Of course, this puts him right in the crosshairs of the killer.
Horror will never be my go-to genre, but Morton threads the line between genuinely scary and deliciously creepy. Blue is a vibrant character that I thoroughly enjoy reading about, but when combined with Levi, this pair makes a fantastic pairing that I’ll happily return to again and again—they are a truly bright light no matter how dark the story.
Disclaimer: I received a digital review copy of this book from the author.
One thought on “Book Review: Something Wicked (Black & Blue #3) by Lily Morton”