Not having read the first book in this series, I had hoped that I could understand all the characters and not be confused. I sort of managed that but the book's synopsis, while sounding interesting, just didn't hit with me. I will probably try the next in the series and maybe go back and read the first. If you are looking for an unusual read try this series. I received an e-book from NetGalley in return for an unbiased review.

Fun and entertaining paranormal adventure. The characters are enjoyable, and I know that I'd read more with them.
I know it's an ARC but something put out by one of the bigger publishers, I'd expect a little more finesse in the ARC put out. Hopefully the final product does look better. I had to force myself to turn off my working brain (editor here!) and just let myself entirely enter reader mode. This made it a little harder than some to do so, but I'm confident it will have been addressed.

I realized there is another book before this which makes a lot of sense. However voodoo is super fun to read about however I did get the feeling this dragged at times.

I really enjoyed this book. I like the idea of a voodoo practicing detective. Very cute concept. The world is very cleverly done, and I enjoyed the book. I didnt realize it was book two in the series, and I still enjoyed it. 8/10. Would read the rest of the series.

I am really enjoying this series. It is fun, clever, and keeps me reading. I love the sense of humour in these books and the lightness of them, especially considering they deal with zombies and ghosts.

Kincaid is a great character who is smart and talented, but also fallible. It is interesting to see how she solves the mysteries around her.

And I love Nate, the dead grunge rock star. He presents lots of interesting challenges, especially in this book.

If you are looking for a lighthearted, modern, non-apocolyptic zombie/ghost/mystery, then you’ll enjoy this series.

Kincaid Strange is Voodoo Practioner. Her best friend is a ghost, or was a ghost. Now Nate is a zombie hybrid. Nate’s past is about to catch up to him and drag Kincaid along for the ride. Interestingly, Aaron, the ex-boyfriend cop, is the one to bring up Nate’s past. Will Kincaid be able to solve the mystery and save Nate? Don’t forget the sorcerer’s ghost Gideon she cheated who is out for revenge.

This was a cool premise. I like the Voodoo aspects and wish there had been more of that. This was a different story but it dragged a little. Kincaid was a little boring and there were no good or funny dialogues between the characters. I have not read the first book so maybe that has something to do with it. There were definitely parts where reading the first book would have helped. None of the characters were built for me. They seemed a little one dimensional. The first part of the book was the most interesting and that was before the actual story started. The potential is there. The characters need more to them.

Two stars: It was ok. There is a lot room for growth. The stars are for the fact that it was different story.

Enjoyable read. It was well written and unique. It was my first read from this author and it won’t be my last!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

This is the second book in the Kincaid Strange series. I hadn’t read the first book so at first some of the details were a little confusing but I think this still works well as a stand alone. Kincaid Strange is a voodoo practitioner in the very haunted, zombified city of Seattle. She is on a quest to free her roommate’s ghost who somehow became trapped in someone else’s body. That body had been earmarked for Gideon, a powerful sorcerer’s ghost and he is not happy about Nate being trapped in his coveted body. Kincaid is recruited by her cop ex-boyfriend to assist the Seattle police department in solving a cold case. Then there are a series of paranormal murders of people that are somehow related to Nate. She must find out who or what is committing the crimes while trying to help Nate. I am a big fan of urban fantasy so I enjoyed this book. I think it could use a little editing but that may be because this is an ARC. I think there are parts that could use a little more explanation and clarification for situations that occurred in the first book so that this could truly be a stand alone. I enjoyed this world of zombies and ghosts and intend to go back and read the first book as well as the rest of this series when they are published. I received this ARC copy of Lipstick Voodoo from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Kincaid Strange, the paranormal practitioner, is trying to figure out how to help her roommate Nathan Cade after her last case left him entrapped in another body and indebted to Gideon, a powerful sorcerer's ghost. Kincaid's ex, Aaron, brings her in on a new paranormal investigation that links to a 30 year old cold case in which Nate is a suspect. Something is murdering Nate's old band mates, freezing them to death, something Kincaid has never encountered before. Kincaid is running out of time to save Nate, but he's keeping secrets that may just make her a target.

Lipstick Voodoo is the second novel in the Kincaid Strange series. This novel picks up where the first novel (The Voodoo Killings) leaves off with Kincaid still recovering from her last paranormal battle. I absolutely loved the first novel and was so excited to get the chance to read an early copy of the second book. Kincaid is still as spunky as ever and we get to reunite with some of the characters from book 1 such as: Lee, Nate, Aaron, Gideon (yeah), and Mork. One complaint is that I didn't care for the character/plot rebuilding that took up a lot of the first half of this novel. It's great for people who haven't read the first book (read the first book), but felt like a repeat of everything I had already read. We are introduced to a new entity which freezes its victims and has an unusual effect on otherside. The novel ended in a way that suggests we might be getting more adventures from Kincaid and Gideon in the future...fingers crossed. Am I the only one hoping that there might be a romantic element later between Kincaid and Gideon? This is such a fun preternatural/paranormal series with a feisty and strong female protagonist. This is definitely one of my favorite series and a perfect fall read.

I usually wait until less than a month before release to read and write reviews but after reading The Voodoo Killings I found that I HAD to read this ARC that I had received since book 1 was so good.

While this was an exceptional story I did not think it reached the 5 Star level that book 1 did but it was more of a combinations of frustrations than the story actually lacking. I got tired of a boyfriend who was not even a good fried much less any one who really cared but the author tried to make me think he really did but it did not come across as real. I am still trying to figure out Gideon and he may be my favorite character even if he really needs some social interaction that does not include death threats. I want to see more of him and this came close.

I have to say that in my personal opinion when the heroine is involved in near death situations many times the "Captain" is a level of frustration for me I hated, he served no real purpose other than to make a gritty story kind of depressing when local police politics was involved in the story, but it did serve one purpose to show how spineless her "boyfriend" really was at times.

The fact remains that with all that it was still an exceptional story and that kept you guessing (most likely wrong) with twists and turns you never saw coming and a heroine that spends most of the book so tired from paranormal fights you feel tired right along with her. As the story builds and it gets more complicated you just can't figure out the "whodunnit" and it was a bit of a surprise.

So a great story that had some character frustrations that kept me from getting the same level of enjoyment as I did with book 1 but be assured I will be grabbing the next book as soon as I can but since I have totally ruined my reviewers schedule by reading/reviewing this book 5 months before release means I will have a horribly long wait :(

Written by Kristi Charish, which it turns out is the second novel in the Kincaid Strange series, is about a voodoo practitioner, the only one registered in the Northwest of the US, who raises zombies. But she has a few problems, including an ex she is trying to get going with again, an ancient wizard and ghost who is upset with her, a zombie that shouldn't be there, and clients.

This isn't a bad book. In fact, if you are a zombie fan, I highly recommend it. It involves a bit more of "how zombies are made" and different kinds, as well as the idea of what happens to a spirit and other interesting topics.

Its a decent book. It just wasn't what I wanted to read, and wasn't really my style. Part is because, again, I ended up hopping in on the second book. The other half is, it takes a lot for me to be interested in a zombie book. I do know a few folks who I will suggest this series to, see what they think.

A good choice for zombie fans who are tired of post-apocalypse stories and urban fantasy fans.

Lipstick Voodoo is my first introduction to Kristi Charish and I was captivated by the paranormal setting for this story. Loved the setting and the overall premise I found the story dragged a bit in areas and having not read the first book some elements of why our protagonist made certain choices were a little hard to grasp. Overall I felt like it was a good addition to the paranormal genre and I look forward to reading other works by this author.

A continuation of the Kincaid Strange series, Kincaid's ghost roommate, Nate, is trapped in a quickly decaying zombie body. Kincaid doesn't know how to "disconnect" Nate from the body. In addition to the Nate problem, there is an angry ghost sorcerer who forces Kincaid into an apprenticeship which she really doesn't want but has to take to settle her debt. An exciting second installment in the series. Recommend for fans of urban fantasy with strong female protagonists.

It was a fun read, I enjoy these kinds of books so this was right up my alley. Kincaid always had her hands full that is for sure. I voluntarily read this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I didn’t finish the book. I tried really hard to like it but it was just blah. The cover is pretty and I guess I was judging the book by it and the few reviews I saw.  I love the paranormal and voodoo and necromancy and was pumped for this but it fell flat for me.I guess it just wasn’t meant for me.

The second installment in the Kincaid Strange series finds her over her head in trouble once again. I really like the premise and all the elements of this series. Great characters and a world that I want to learn more about. I’m looking forward to more Kincaid, Nate, and Gideon.

*ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review.

Lipstick Voodoo is a pleasant departure from the average paranormal/ urban fantasy.  While it isn’t perfect, (Nate can be extremely annoying) it has a lot in its favor - an intriguing magical premise (spiritual energy comes from the otherside and can be used to contact/raise the dead), a capable heroine, and interesting supporting characters (a sorcerer’s Ghost, a zombie attorney/bar owner, a dead grunge rocker stuck in a decaying body, etc..).  


Kincaid Strange is a Voodoo practitioner, bringing the dead back in order to resolve issues and answer questions.  She was looking for murderers with the local police, but the new chief has canceled all contracts and is painting all practitioners as charlatans.  Now, she is left dealing with lawyers looking to resolve disputed wills. Kincaid’s biggest problem is her friend Nate. His ghost has somehow gotten caught in a decaying body - the body that a powerful sorcerer had planned to inhabit.  She is drawn into helping with a cold case, the accidental overdose of a rocker that simply doesn’t add up. Nate is connected, but he refuses to share how. Soon the body of a former roadie shows up, frozen solid and surrounded by ice - in the middle of a former dive bar.  


I didn’t care too much for Nate.  He was remarkably stubborn and creepy when it came to stalking his former girlfriend, and his propensity for keeping secrets endangers them both.  Of course the book would be a LOT shorter if he hadn’t been. It’s a small weakness in the plot. On the whole Lipstick Voodoo is an entertaining book and shows a lot of promise.  I have high hopes for the future of this series.


4 / 5


I received a copy of Lipstick Voodoo from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.


— Crittermom

Kincaid Strange is a voodoo practitioner. However, she's not your stereotypical voodoo priestess! Twenty-seven years old, she's in Seattle, WA, of all places, doing what it takes to keep the rent paid. She's headstrong, tenacious, and more importantly, a little unconventional. Sounds like a great protagonist, right? She raises the dead to pay the bills. She's great at her job; Not so great at people skills. She's obviously more comfortable in the company of the dead. She's extremely likable, in spite of her poor decisions and innate ability to create chaos in her life. To add to the mayhem, she has a ghost turned zombie for a roommate, and an ex-boyfriend working for the city's police force that recently distanced itself from all things paranormal. Did I mention the sorcerer's ghost that pops by occasionally in her bathroom mirror, or that said sorcerer can't know about the zombie incident? Awk-ward.

Lipstick Voodoo doesn't waste any time getting drawing you in. Kincaid is raising a zombie for the family to contest the dead man's will. It gives you an introduction into how Kincaid does what she does, how she uses the magic of the Otherside to do so, and how the norms while enjoying the benefits, are still prejudiced against the magic that makes it all possible. I think you truly get a feel for Kincaid right from the start. She's good at what she does and makes it look effortless, but those around her are surprisingly indifferent.

After this engaging intro, the pacing felt extremely slow until about the 50% mark, and then the proverbial crap hit the fan. The rest of the book couldn't come quickly enough. If it feels slow, stick with it because it's worth it! I devoured the rest of the book until it came to a very, steep cliffhanger. It couldn't have happened better if it were a movie script! I know some people hate cliffhangers, but I love a book that makes me want to get the next one into my grubby hands immediately!

Charish's world construct overlaying Seattle was thoroughly satisfying. It's gritty and imaginative. There is a diverse cast of paranormal creatures. Other than the ghouls, all the supernatural beings have retained their humanity, which is rare for an urban fantasy. There are very few characters that are unequivocally human. All the magic in Kincaid's realm comes from the Otherside. It's an incredibly complex system involving multiple forms of Otherside, bindings, and anchor symbols. The bindings come from all cultures across the world and vary in degree and difficulty. I think the magical aspects of the book are extremely well thought out and planned, but in practice, could use a little more asides to the reader as they occur.

This is the second book in the Kincaid Strange series. I have not read the first book, so it was a little hard to orient myself in the story. If you had read the first book, I think you'd easily follow along. The backstory is given to us almost right away but we aren't introduced to all the characters until a bit later. It's like when your grandmother starts telling you about people you don't know and you're expected to be invested in her story. If you've met them, even once, you go "oh, okay", but without a face to the name, all you hear is a Charlie Brown "wah wah wah' until she stops talking. I read the words, but they didn't mean anything yet. Eventually, as the characters introduced themselves to us, I felt like I got the hang of the who, what, when, and where. It just took a bit of repetition for me to get there. I look forward to getting to know some of the supporting characters better, especially Gideon.

All things considered, it was an enjoyable urban fantasy read with a flawed but relatable protagonist, a mixed bag of amusing secondary characters, and a well-planned universe.

If you love Kim Harrison's Rachel Morgan, you'll like Kincaid Strange!

I cannot say enough about this book. In the style and grit of Laurell K Hamiltons Anita Blake, Kincaid Strange is a dark pleasure to read. With her very much relatable personality (flaws and all), she shines in the story. Not as the heroine the book wants but one that is needed.

This being the first book I read from Kristi Charish, it was easy to pick up without having read the first book in the series. While there were references to the previous books events, you didn't feel like you had to read it first to understand this story. Books that are written this was are a pleasure to read. In fact that is how I started with the Anita Blake series ( Cerulean Sins ).

Being from Seattle myself, I loved this present day version of my beloved home. As I was reading, I could actually envision this as a possible version of Seattle. Kristi Charish spares no part of Seattle in this telling. Especially in her use of Seattles historic underground, which you can really take a tour of if you visit there in real life.

The descriptors that she uses for her characters make you able to visualize them with ease. You can tell what the characters style choices and even their posture is. Enabling a fully envisioned picture to form as you read. Which, at least personally, makes me dive fully into a book and get lost in it world.

I will be looking forward to another installment. Hoping that she continues the momentum and longevity of the story arch.

I love this book and character. It's quirky and the cast of characters fit right in. A great new take on the world of ghosts, zombies and other things. I can't wait until the next book in the series comes out. #LipstickVoodoo #NetGalley