First: WOW.
Second: Wait, WOOOW.

This clever, entertaining, and ambitious novel straddles science fiction and the classic noir detective story.

Asher Gale has a talent that has been nearly driving him mad: he can see the Higher Colors--the ones in the uv spectrum––but he cannot seem to keep a lid on his skill. Others, like his sister Amelia, see Higher and create with Higher-pigment paints and get by just fine. But Asher suffers "chroma storms" where the colors induce ecstatic seizures, and when confronted with emotional or physical trauma, he tends to Gray out (when he cannot see any color, Gray Asher becomes more or less a curious sociopath. A useful but dangerous talent.)

Asher drinks to numb the pain; his main side-gig is spotting forged paintings for a rich buddy. But when the rich buddy's daughter is found dead, Asher finds himself involved in a private investigation that keeps uncovering more and more trouble. Plus he seems to be seeing the dead girl's ghost.

One of the great charms of noir is the very specific voice of the world-weary, creatively wise-cracking anti-hero hero. And Asher fits the bill to perfection. For instance, his throw-away description of the California Coast where the action occurs: "The rocks of Manders Point piled in a basalt spine on the right. The waves beat those rocks. The rocks loved it and asked for more." And this minor character, "Her forlorn deluged off the doorway, like water from a broken dam." And this description of pulling himself out of the Gray, "...it's like having an argument with a moth where you and the moth are both drunk."

Like the best science fiction, this novel is but the first of series. It's a distinct pleasure to know the rest of the series (culminating in what the publisher bills "Odd Thomas" meets the Lord of the Rings) is available already.

Fans of fun, twisty, speculative detectives (like Christopher Moore's Noir) and supernatural mutations (Stephen Woodworth's Violet Eyes series comes to mind), step right up!

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my unfettered opinion.

At six, Asher displayed prodigious talent. Yet, seizures triggered by peculiar ultraviolet hues made painting excruciating. Now 26, he grapples with life's complexities from a bar in the secretive Southern California artist haven of Skysill Beach, moonlighting as an art sleuth. In Skysill, everyone worries about art forgeries. But for Ash, they're like painful shards. His distinctive ultraviolet sight unveils unsettling sights he'd rather avoid.This book drew me in with its unique charm. While its storytelling initially puzzled me, I soon adapted to the author's narrative style. I was charmed by the protagonist's spirited nature throughout and pleasantly surprised to learn this was just book one in a series. A mix of murder mystery and fantasy? Absolutely captivating. The story's magical elements whisked me away on a thrilling ride through detailed world-building and unforeseen plot twists.The author crafts a lively and unique setting where art is not just an outlet but also a weapon and a doorway to other worlds. Characters are intricately developed, each with their own secrets and motivations. Asher emerges as a flawed yet relatable hero, wrestling with inner demons and emotions. The book also touches on deep themes such as self-discovery, artistic expression, addiction, and destiny.A big thank you to NetGalley and Kevin Hincker for this engaging read.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

2.5 stars

I will be honest and say this book is hard to get into. I thought the concept of this book was so interesting really liked the aspect of the colors, but it felt a little like wading through mud. I wasn't a huge fan of the main character and that probably plays a big role as well. I think the main character was supposed to be stuck up guy, but one with enough redeemable qualities you ended up liking. For me, there were just two many bad traits and not enough redeemable traits to make him likable. This is a series so I might continue on to see what happens as the ending left you with so many questions unanswered.

First off, I fell in love with Asher almost immediately! I loved everything about that character. The book itself was unique- fantasy/art, ghosts, old school detective mystery.....I haven't read anything that mashed such elements together so beautifully. If you love supernatural themes and mysteries, you'll love this!

Let me introduce you to the weirdest love of my life. I don’t know if I loved it or hated it but I’m obsessed with it and told my friends about it so I’m going with love!
murder mystery, drama, dark humor and twists galore! It kept me completely captivated the entire time.

I LOVED Asher. Such a sassy character. I can’t wait for more.

Thank you so much to Kevin Hincker and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I loved this to its core. I enjoyed almost every element—the deep dive into this fantasy-laced art world, our barely functioning MC who's plagued by both metaphorical and real ghosts, and the murder mystery at the core of it all, propelling the story forward.

The characters were colorful; the language was rich. Asher was, for all his faults and inability to hold himself together, a fantastic character to follow and dissect and root for. He's sarcastic, pessimistic, and possibly an alcoholic, but the morally gray, unreliable facets of his character made every moment either hilarious or dangerous for his wellbeing. And when humor or his self-destructive tendencies failed him, there were hints of unexpected sensitivity that were so beautiful for their rarity.

I wouldn't know how to categorize this book, but it reminded me of old-school detective mysteries with an almost noir vibe. I can, however, say the writing was lush with sensory detail and unique, otherworldly mechanics, and the result was original and magical, and I'm thrilled the story continues and doesn't end here!

Asher Gale is a former artist who has an exceptional ability to perceive colors that are beyond human perception. However, this ability comes at a cost as it is challenging for Asher to regulate his visual experiences. The higher colors take him on a roller coaster of emotional and physical highs and lows, making it difficult for him to navigate through life.

Despite the difficulties, Asher is working towards recovery, taking it one day at a time. But his progress is derailed when a former employer compels him to solve a series of deaths and crimes. Fighting through bouts of apathy, impulsivity, and delirium, Asher pushes through, striving to solve the mystery.

Asher is a fascinating character with several peculiarities. He often belittles himself, but he is adored by many. The writing is vivid and evocative, transporting the reader into Asher's world of colors and emotions. The story is laced with a dash of humor, loads of suspense, and plenty of supernatural occurrences, making it an excellent read for those looking for something a little out of the box.

Special thanks to the author, Kevin Hinker, for providing me with a digital copy of The Ghost with a Knife at Her Throat in exchange for an honest review.

Yo wtf-- I think I loved this???

This book is definitely weird but doing a lot of interesting things. It's got that Dresden Files vibe with a talented screw-up turned addict (alcoholism in this case) who's doing amateur gumshoe work that is much more caught up in a secret underworld than he could've anticipated.

The community here is fascinating. It's an insular beach town in Southern California full of artists and collectives and mom and pop shops (think something like Aptos, where they've successfully kept most of the big chain stores from opening within the city limits). But while it has a visibly artsy vibe on the outside, there are secret societies (kinda) underneath. A whole world that mundanes are unable to see.

The magic system is fascinating and continued to expand as the book went on. The murder mystery is twisty and intriguing, and deeply tied to the Fantasy elements here.

But honestly it's the tone that kept me laughing and invested. Asher is a textbook sasshole and since it's first person POV, the narration is too. While it's a little unbelievable that everyone he interacts with can match his sarcasm and sassy, they're all slightly different flavors and I can buy that he's just the kind of guy who brings that out in people. There were some real gems and turns of phrase that tickled my funny bone and I had to send them to people to enjoy it with me.

I think this book will be a little more niche, and I honestly hope it finds its audience. But at least for me-- I'll be strapping in for the whole series. Original, creative, and fun!

Thank you to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book— I requested it before learning that the series was already out.

Truthfully, I enjoyed certain elements of this book. I loved how the characters talked about the different colors and call/pull that they had. However, I found myself frequently confused by the main character. I would probably understand him better if I continued reading the series (and I may in the future), but for now I don’t think I will continue it.

I did absolutely love how everything was depicted. Though this author was PHENOMENAL for a compelling scenery and largely likable characters.

start time: 20:00 05/03/24
When I started this book it felt like wading through mud, difficult, cumbersome and unenjoyable. I forced myself to tough it out and for once in my life, I love my hyperfixation.

Asher Gale is a man of profound confusion and nonsense. It was a new narration style for me and first I did not think I enjoyed it but ultimately I fell utterly inlove with this cesspool of disjointed insanity.

Deeply jaded and heavily burdened by his abilities he sets out (more like forced) to unthread the death of his client? Boss?

From there we're dumped into the deep end of mystery, thrill and Asher's hilarious monologue. Not once throughout did I know where this book was headed and that was immensely appreciated.

The world that Kevin Hinckler built was a beautifully and nauseating blend of every wildly discriptive word and phrase you can think of. The corner of every street builds languidly over time that roots you in the soil of the book.

If you are a fan of complicated but yet oversimplified characters that burrow themselves deep in your fibre. It takes you on such a journey from start to finish that when the book ends you're left bereft and unhinged.

For the side characters:

Amelia Gale had me eating out of her hand the moment I met her. The connection and banter that brother and sister has was heatwarming. Like Asher, she's also an artist. Where Asher abandoned his passion for painting, Amelia embraced hers.

Tante Celine is a snickerdoodle of a character, with a soft whimsical airiness. We don't see her a lot in the first installment of this series/dualogy? We do see her love and commitment to her chosen family.

And to the last mention worthy side character, Caroline, the psychic who believes in psychometry, but never ghosts. She's introduced towards the middle of the book and she encapsulates the perfecr version of someone who's psychic in my opinion. Her go with the flow attitude and general acceptance of anything - except ghost. (strange hill to die on)

While I absolutely loved this book here are a few gripes I have:
- The pacing felt off to me at places, but that could be attributed to Asher and his singlemindedness.
- At times it was hard for me to actually understand what heck I was reading, but that could also be attributed to english not being my mother tongue.
-It ended too abruptly. It's as annoying as a sneeze that gets stuck in your throat.

A lot of the problems I have could be intentionally done by the author because Kevin Hinckler did describe Asher Gale as roided up unrelatable narrator (paraphrasing).

But ultimately none of what I mentioned deterred me from finishing this book.

*chefs kiss*
End time: 06/03/24 23:50

this was a wild ride from start to finish. an unseen (by most) color spectrum allows Asher Gale to experience the world in a unique way. to his chagrin, this talent pulls him from drinking himself into a stupor at his favorite bar and into a murder mystery where he's followed by an ultraviolet ghost.

the magic system in this book is so incredibly unique, focusing on colors and the ultraviolet spectrum. it makes it hard to follow at times and I found myself a little lost at the beginning. Asher, while snarky and fun, is a bit of an unreliable narrator which isn't too helpful in some cases with the nature of the magic system. there are twists throughout that remind you this is only the first of a series. I don't know that I'm fully compelled to read the next book at this point, but I'd say it's certainly worth a try.

overall this was a fun read and if ghosts, murder mysteries, and snarky-drunken-burnt-out artists are your thing, you'll have fun too

I really wanted to love this book but I just couldn't. The whole concept of the book was what drew me in, especially after reading the blurb. However; once I started reading I did not like it at all. I found it a alot like the main character, very scattered. Paranormal is a love of mine so when I read that this book combines it with art I was very intrigued to read this book. I regret that decision. I just couldn't get into this book at all it was to all over the place for me. I just couldn't finish it.
Thank you Netgalley for giving me early access to this book. Such a shame I didn't like it.

This book is amazing! I loved every word of it. It is book 1 in a 5 book series and I cannot wait until the rest come out. I will be devouring them just like u did this one. The story line is so original. I loved it!!!!
I just reviewed The Ghost with a Knife at Her Throat by Kevin HIncker. #ghosts #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]

This is Book One of a five-book urban fantasy series entitled The History of Light. It's a story cycle turning on Asher's discovery that no human alive should see ghosts - human beings no longer have ghosts. Millennia ago, unknown hands cut our ghosts away. Now those hands have returned, and taken up the blade again, in The Ghost with a Knife at her Throat.

As I devoured this mesmerizing tale, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was walking alongside Asher, shouldering the weight of his haunted past and his extraordinary gift. The vivid descriptions of Skysill Beach and its eclectic artist community transported me to a world where creativity and darkness entwine. Asher's struggles with his ultraviolet eyes, his 'crazy,' resonated deeply, and I found myself rooting for him to confront his demons. The mystery unfolds like a masterful painting, with each brushstroke revealing a new layer of intrigue. I was captivated by the way the story explores the blurred lines between art, reality, and the supernatural. Asher's journey left me with a lasting sense of empathy and awe. If you're ready to immerse yourself in a world that's both haunting and beautiful, then step into the ultraviolet world of Skysill Beach.

This was such a wonderful and enjoyable read!!!! I loved this book and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys this genre. Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The magic system in this book is unlike anything I have read before, it's so original and unique. The book starts off with a quick note introducing the setting of this world, before the reader is thrown headfirst into the vibrant town of Skysill. Readers are expected to pick up on how the magic system works along the way, without much hand-holding from the author. That being said, I feel the author does a good job of gradually introducing different aspects of the magic so as to not overwhelm the reader, while trusting the reader to be able to pick it up without much exposition.

Although the narrative style might not be for everyone, I liked the sort of off-hand way the MC, Asher, makes observations and his dry humour adds to that as well. Asher as a character though, is kind of a wreck. He has to solve the mystery, while dealing with quirky cast of side characters who are either intent on helping or hindering him. At the same time, he's dealing with stuff that is <insert spoilers> that also makes it hard for him to figure shit out. And he's not a good detective (Asher agrees).

The mystery was mysterying! I was kept intrigued until the end, but this book finishes without solving all the pieces of the puzzle, which I suppose will be left for the sequels.

I wish that we could have seen more of the Higher colours explored in this book(presumably they will be in the sequels), as the only colour that was really talked about is compulsion. Another nitpick I have is the way the Higher colours are perceived. Italics are used when talking about /seeing/ Higher colours (eg /sighted/, "can you /see/?") and I feel that this hinders the flow of the narrative as it makes me emphasis those words in my head while reading it, I think it would have been better if the first letter was capitalised instead. I also found the romance in particular to be the least convincing part of this book. It was very love-at-first-sight-y and really just came out of nowhere. Like, the romance could have been removed completely, no need to change the characters, and the plot would have been exactly the same.

2.75

First off, thank you NetGalley and (I’m thinking also?) Kevin Hincker! I’m glad I was given the opportunity to read this book.

“The context is they’re failures, the context is it’s obvious”

So. That was a story. I don’t know how to say it, but the whole colour concept was really interesting, it was just really hard to visualize it. For most of the book I really didn’t understand it and then it’s like the climax slaps you in the face, leaves you with so many questions and then that’s the end of Book 1. That’s right folks this is a series.

“The town could barely contain her, and it didn’t deserve her.”

So to start off with the things I liked, I really liked the idea of the whole different colours thing, it was just hard to keep track of the meaning of each colour. Good thing I read this where I could go back and forth with bookmarks. I liked the touch of LGBTQ+ representation. Aaaaaaand I think that’s basically everything I liked.

“The past will not stay silent forever. It wants to be heard.”

However, there were some things about the book I did not like at all. For one, the drunk driving. I tried so hard to give the benefit of the doubt that that wasn’t what was happening, but I don’t like that that’s actually in the book. The main character driving after drinking. Ok ok maybe not drunk, but I do not condone driving after having a full glass of vodka or something like that. There were some tropes in there that I did not like, and it’s like some of the metaphors made sense and then you get quotes like:
“The dead eye is here, please eat my swing.”
Like ?????? What does this even mean I’m so confused. And then what actually happened is not what was going on in my mind at all.
I’m sorry, but I really did not like the protagonist. Drives after drinking, really annoying; which I guess can have its endearing moments, but those moments are pretty fleeting. Oh oh oh and I hated this:
“I was forced to watch those things.”
This is the main character’s thoughts about the love interest’s breasts. All in all I found the character annoying and entitled for the most part.

“The waves beat those rocks. The rocks love it and ask for more.”

So I guess this raised a 0.25 for me because I couldn’t stop thinking about the book at one point before my finals ended, and even though it is not a 3, I do want to keep up with the series because too many questions were left at the end.

I want to add that I do not hate the quotes I put in between the paragraphs. One I find actually hilarious. Can you guess which one?

Maybe the problem is, I'm not artistic AT ALL... I was highly intrigued by the concept here, but unfortunately the author's writing style just didn't do it for me. It's very graphic - in the visual, as opposed to linguistic, sense - and I've never been a visual reader. I like to draw my own pictures from the words, but the words were so artistically presented that I felt like I couldn't here.

Then there's the issue of the random italics and capitalization, which was another way that I felt the author was forcing me to visualize his emphases, rather than get their on my own. It's not that that's anything inappropriate about either of these things, just that they didn't resonate for me and made the reading more work than I enjoy in my fiction.

This just wasn't a good fit for me and I wasn't able to finish as a result. Still, that's not a statement about the book so much as the pairing of style/ author and reader. Hence 3 stars. If you are more visually oriented and appreciate a more art- focused writing style, you may feel very differently...

Expressive. Mind Bending. A tortured artist has a murder to solve!

Asher, cursed with seeing beyond the human color spectrum, is tasked to solve the murder of a wealthy art dealer’s daughter. Mysterious ultraviolet paint and a ghost are the key to solving this case.

As intriguing as the story is, I don’t think this book was for me. The writing is shrouded in mystery, it’s artistic and lyrical, and I found it hard to follow the plot. Very high brow, mirroring the characters in the book. With the right audience, I believe this book will shine. It has such a unique premise, so I urge readers to take my review with a grain of salt, and give this book a try!

Thank you to Netgalley and Hincker for this ARC.