Book Review: May Day By Josie Jaffrey

**We were gifted a copy of this book in return for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are our own**

At the end of May I was thrilled to be able to help reveal the cover of author Josie Jaffrey’s brand new book May Day, the first in her brand new Seekers series and today I’m finally sharing my full review of this new release. Since reading Josie’s Sovereign series I have been eagerly anticipating a new offering as I absolutely fell in love with her characters and easy to read writing style. Therefore, have been extremely excited to start this brand new vampire release. Before I started  May Day I also read the short 20 page prequel to the Seekers, Killian’s Dead*, which I really enjoyed, devouring it as quickly as I could! Although not necessary to read prior to May Day I did feel that it did a fantastic job of setting up the background story line of Jack, our protagonist in this story and would highly reccomend.

About The Book

If the murderer you’re tracking a vampire, then you want a vampire detective.

Just maybe not this one.

It’s not that Jack Valentine is bad at her job. The youngest member of Oxford’s Seekers has an impressive track record, but she also has an impressive grudge against the local baron, Killian Drake.

When a human turns up dead on May Morning, she’s determined to pin the murder on Drake. The problem is that none of the evidence points to him. Instead, it leads Jack into a web of conspiracy involving the most powerful people in the country, people to whom Jack has no acess. But she knows someone who does.

To get to the truth, Jack will have to partner up with her worst enemy. As long as she can keep her cool, Drake will point her to the ringleaders, she’ll find the murderer and no one else will have to die.

Body bags on standby.

Review

Jack is a relatively new member of the Silver community, but that doesn’t mean she is prepared to sit passively back, something that serves her well in her job as part of the Seekers. As part of the elite Seekers it’s her role alongside her colleagues to ensure that humankind remain blind to the vampires that live freely among them and the latest murder in her stomping ground of Oxford has the Silver scent all over it.

Baron Killian Drake is a big deal in the Silver community, but Jack and he have a history that she has no intention of forgetting, especially as it was his fault she ‘lost’ her one true love. But as she begins to investigate the May Day murder Killian’s name seems to continually crop up. Is this her chance to witness Drake finally get his comeuppance? Or will she need to work with the enemy to delve further into the dark, corrupt world she had no idea existed within the Silver hierarchy?

Josie has exceeded every expectation I had going into this brand new series by delivering yet another page turner that drew me immediately into her fabulously developed world and characters. There are links to her previous series’ included in this story which really enriched my reading experience, however it’s not necessary to have read any of Josie’s previous works to understand and enjoy the world of the Silver.

Jack is by far my favourite character in this new Urban Fantasy, she is ballsy and runs head first into every situation without considering the consequences, something more experienced Silver’s wouldn’t dream of doing! Her kick ass attitude ensures things are done her way or no way making her so successful in her role as a Seeker. Despite being a vampire her character is extremely relateable – probably because she has only been turned Silver for a couple of decades!-  let’s face it who can’t relate to being hungover and turning up at work in yesterday’s clothes!

Josie’s world building is incredible and her writing style has an amazing dark feel that pulls you right into a world where vampires and humans co-exist. It’s really difficult to explain exactly what I mean, but I find all her books so atmospheric and May Day is no exception. Another aspect I really liked is the diverse representation this book offers with queer / bi rep throughout as well as inclusion of characters of colour.

May Day an amazingly strong start to a series I cannot wait to read more of! It offers a little bit of everything from mystery, murder, fantasy and corruption with a dash of romance thrown in for good measure. It’s always really hard to do justice to the reviews of books I adore, but I found it fast-paced and compelling throughout, testament to Josie’s  fabulous writing skills. I highly recommend this book to vampire and mystery fans alike, there is something within it’s pages for everyone. I am already eagerly anticipating the next instalment to see what Jack and the Seekers get up to next.

About The Author

Josie lives in Oxford, England, with her husband and two cats. When she’s not writing, she works as a lawyer, specialising in intellectual property and commercial law. She also runs a video book review club, The Gin Book Club, through her website.

To find out more about Josie and her books visit her websiteor give her a follow on social media; Twitter, Facebook and Instagram

May Day is available to purchase now from Amazon*

*This post contains affiliate links