Meet Quincy Morris, supernatural consultant, a specialist in occult interventions and unorthodox solutions. For a price, he’ll solve your problems, be they vampires or poltergeists, demons or wicked witches. Flush from his success at rooting out a nest of vampires in Texas, he takes on a new case, investigating what looks to be a brutal poltergeist with a hatred for one specific family. However, the truth is far worse: the LaRue family is being stalked by a black witch, someone who uses magic for evil and harmful ends, all because of a curse that stretches back to the Salem Witch Trials. Now Quincy and his white witch friend Libby Chastain have to track down the black witch behind the attacks and take her out of the picture before someone gets killed. This, sadly, is much easier said than done, and their investigations will take them all over the country as they pursue various leads, with danger stalking them at every turn, courtesy of their mysterious enemy.

Meanwhile, a ruthless pair of killers is leaving a trail of dead children in their wake, horribly multilating their victims as part of an evil magical ritual bound to grant its ultimate recipiant great power. On the case are FBI agent Dale Fenton, and Garth Van Dreenan of the South African Ocult Crimes Unit, the latter an expert at this sort of mystery. No stone will go unturned as they track the killers, one a brutal American thug, the other a South African witch who delights in her dark rituals.

While on the surface, these two cases seem unrelated, the paths of the various participants and players will cross in unexpected, subtle ways as actions have consequences and plans are set in motion. Private agendas abound, and revenge is in the air. But can Quincy and Libby avoid the wrath of their foe and prevent her from killing the LaRue family, and can Fenton and Van Dreenan stop their own targets from completing a series of spells which would empower one of the world’s most powerful, and ruthless men? Or will the numerous traps strewn in their path, from fires to demons, monsters to their own worst fears, take someone out of the game before it’s over?

Black Magic Woman is a tightly-plotted, absolutely fascinating dark urban fantasy, an excellent tale of good versus evil that spares no punches as it races towards the inevitable climax. I love the characters of Quincy and Libby; I’m reminded of Steed and Peel from the Avengers, or Nick and Nora Charles from the Thin Man, in terms of inter-character chemistry and personalities meshing together. They’re a wonderful team, for all that there’s almost no sexual tension between them. As well, I liked Fenton and Van Dreenan, who really pull off a buddy cop vibe in their own interactions, one the streetwise down-to-earth American, the other the out of his territory, yet highly competent in his own field, visiting cop with a dark past. I daresay under the right circumstances, these two could carry a story all on their own. Interestingly enough, we’re also granted insights into the villains, where we discover them to be complex, flawed, unredeemable, and yet strangely fascinating. They’re not likeable by any means, but they’re not faceless enigmas.

Gustainis spins out an intriguing plot, and I must say, the way he pulls it together for the overlap and final confrontation is expectedly subtle, and masterfully done. I wish I could say more, but that would just ruin the surprise. Let me just note that it works out beautifully, and appropriately in all cases. Along the way, we meet some fascinating characters, and our heroes risk their lives time and again, so it’s never dull. A tip of the hat as Gustainis references various other authors’ creations in clever ways, quiet enough that it’s unobtrusive, but out there for those who get the jokes to nod knowingly.

The magic system presented here is well-thought-out, consistent and low-key, kept under the surface for the most part. You’ll see very few fireballs or magical explosions here, but a lot more working in quiet or subtle ways, for offense and defense. It’s nicely-done, and comes off feeling organic and easy to accept as a result.

I read this book pretty much in one sitting, unable and unwilling to put it down, and my immediate reaction once done was to find the author and beat him until a sequel fell out somehow. Black Magic Woman is intelligent, exciting, and highly entertaining, a treat for urban fantasy lovers who don’t mind some darker elements (what happens to the children who are killed isn’t pretty by any means, and the language does occasionally get more than a little salty) and who like classic mysteries. I had no complaints of note regarding this book, and I’ll be eagerly looking forward to more from this author.