I particularly like the bit with the Predator.

The book, of course, is about Elisa Cameron, the eponymous Ghost of this Dark Horse series. A murdered reporter, she floats through a half-life seeking answers about her death and those who caused it. (Apparently a LOT of people were in on the caper in one way or another, but every time she tries to question someone, they somehow get killed.)

Anyway, Nocturnes is the first collection of Ghost's ongoing series, picking up from the previous collection of one-shots that started her story. In this book, she deals with a new apartment with jade accoutrements (jade being the one substance she won't sink through while sleeping), a sister who just can't stop posing for naughty pictures, nightclub fisticuffs and a demon of her own unintentional making.

As enjoyable as it all is, the best bit involves a Predator. You know these guys, they're nomadic aliens who hunt, kill and collect trophies from all the best fighters in the galaxy. They've clashed with a variety of DC superheroes and have a running feud with the aliens of Ridley Scott/John Cameron fame. Now one is in Elisa's hometown of Arcadia, and it's hot for a ghostly trophy.

The story fills only a brief portion of Nocturnes, but it's a perfect package of build-up and denouement. Well done!

Ghost is a fun series with plenty of serious overtones and an appealingly different main character. I wish there were more like this on the shelves!

by Tom Knapp
Rambles.NET
23 December 2006