Doppelgangster, by Laura Resnick
Esther Diamond is a struggling actress in New York. When she starts working at a restaurant known for being a local mob hang out, her current love interest (who happens to be a cop) isn’t happy about it. After Esther is the sole witness to a murder of a well-known wiseguy, she soon finds herself in the middle of a mystery involving doppelgangers, curses, and revenge.
As soon as I picked this book up, I couldn’t put it down. Esther is a fantastic character, complex and smart. But the wiseguys are the real treat, appearing as if they walked right out of Goodfellas. The plot is a fast-paced mystery, with and plenty of suspense, magic, and laced with humor. Italian mafia, peculiar magic, a bit of romance, and a murder mystery – what a great combination! Doppelgangster was completely entertaining from beginning to end.
This was easily some of the most fun I’ve had reading urban fantasy. I’m glad I read it over Christmas break, as I couldn’t put it down and finished it within a day. If you’re looking for a fast and fun fantasy, look no further. I have found a new author to follow, and another book to make my list of favorites of the year.
—
Doppelgangster will be available from DAW Books January 5, 2010 in bookstores everywhere.
Wow, this sounds absolutely great. This is so going on my TBB list. Thanks for the rec. Also, what a fantastic title.