Reviewed by Lit Amri for Readers' Favorite

Rider Juliet Jermaine lost her Olympic horse, Gothic, and his rider, Isabella Levine, in a horrific unprovoked road rage attack. Isabella’s murder is investigated by psychic detective Rosetta Barrett, whose earlier warning about the attack was ignored by Juliet. She discovers that the murder is only a small part of a cycle of revenge and retribution born from a terrible atrocity that occurred in an Apache Indian territory centuries ago.

The concept of Spirit of Prophecy by J.J. Hughes is a familiar one, but the combination of paranormal, crime, and sci-fi genres with an intriguing premise will hook any readers who really appreciate a healthy fusion of themes. Set in the near future of 2021, there’s an interesting proposal regarding the role of AI in our lives, which I think is easily plausible. The characters are complex and well developed. It’s easy to empathize with Rosetta’s situation. Her otherworldly ability doesn’t compensate for her failed marriage and her separation from her children. That said, I do question her judgment in some situations. Juliet is also easy to root for, especially when she is betrayed by people that are closest to her. 

The prose is clear cut and the transitions between different characters’ POVs as well as the timeline are deftly handled. Even though I feel some events could be developed faster, the overall pacing is good. The plot is well thought out, and much more intricate and extensive than I had anticipated. The story line is mainly crime-based but there’s a good dose of well-timed humor and light moments. Overall, Spirit of Prophecy is a roller-coaster journey of intrigue and suspense, a solid read from Hughes.

KIRKUS REVIEW

Hughes delivers a complex case of weighty history, violent trauma, and untold mystery in this debut paranormal thriller.

The supernatural has long been a part of Rosetta Barrett’s life, but that doesn’t make the burden easier to bear. It’s 2021, and she’s a psychic detective who’s found gainful employment and validation with the Elite Paranormal Intelligence Service, but she’s lost plenty to the demands of the job. The secrecy required led to the collapse of her marriage and the loss of custody of her kids, Alice and Edward. That would be more than enough to deal with, but recently, she’s also been having psychic visions that have been keeping her from a good night’s sleep. Although what she sees—a car accident involving a horse—wouldn’t normally be serious enough for Rosetta to commit any real resources to an investigation, she nonetheless pieces together the deadly truth of the visions. Soon, she’s racing to stop a predicted tragedy from occurring. She’s too late to save the victims, but as she investigates and talks to the horse’s owner and event rider, Juliet Jermaine, it becomes clear that the tragedy was no accident. After Rosetta and her team dig deeper, they discover a cycle of violence and revenge that poses a major threat. The novel’s short chapters and tight pacing are its greatest assets, keeping the pages turning and allowing for rapid shifts between characters’ points of view without becoming confusing. The prose never neglects description but tackles it efficiently, couching it in the characters’ natural voices. The very beginning of the novel is somewhat disorienting, as its briskness makes it somewhat difficult to take in the paranormal aspect of this near-future world. Nevertheless, the prose grounds the action quickly, and Rosetta, as a character, connects with readers powerfully and immediately; her anger and sense of duty ring true from the outset. Her struggles with career and family further elevate this exciting, unusual story.

An engrossing tale with nuanced themes and a genuinely complex heroine.

5 Star Review from Amazon Customer

If you're looking for the paranormal, Southwestern mythology, Gothic narrative, and murder mystery fun to come together, all with a splash of Steven King, you've come to the right place.

The summary starts out asking how one would feel engaged to a murderous psychopath. Of course, once you open the book and start reading, you see it gets a lot more involved, with many unexpected twists and turns.

The writing of the book is also good. I really did find that it pulled me in right way, with a certain suspense, grit, and psychological narrative worthy of the Steven King reference I made earlier. Great read!