The Foreign Exchange by Veronica G. Henry

TL;DR: An intriguing second in a unique series.
Source: NetGalley , Thank you so much to the publisher!

Plot: Mambo Reina is attempting to solve a client’s mystery and gets caught up in so much more.
Characters: I liked the variety of the cast here and really was cheering for a lot of them. Not the copy boyfriend though, I am dying to see what happens there.
Setting: While the people of New Orleans felt real and deep I didn’t get as much from the world around them.
Mystery: This had me thinking and pondering the whole way. I really enjoyed this aspect of the story.

Thoughts:

After solving a crime blamed on Vodou in New Orleans’ French Quarter, Vodou priestess turned amateur detective Reina Dumond has returned to her benevolent work as a healer. But when her friend and enigmatic client Evangeline “Vangie” Stiles comes to her for a spell, Mambo Reina quickly realizes what Vangie really needs is a sleuth.

Something is amiss in the Stileses’ marriage. Five thousand dollars has inexplicably appeared in the bank account Vangie shares with her scam-artist husband, Arthur, and she smells trouble. So does Reina. Especially when her investigation into Arthur’s likely new con leads to murder. Considering the manner of death and the signs on the victim’s body, Reina recognizes it for what it is: ritual magic of the vodouisant kind.

As Reina digs deeper, she encounters a conspiracy exploiting vulnerable youth—one of whom may have abilities just like hers. With the help of her friends Darryl and Tyka, Reina must hone her ever-evolving skills to uncover a mystery that reaches further than she imagined.

Thoughts:

The Foreign Exchange is going to be a fantastic read for anyone who enjoys old school urban fantasy but with a more modern twist. We’re following Mambo Reina, a Vodou priestess working after some big events in her previous book. Full honesty – I didn’t know this was a sequel but I still enjoyed this and was able to read without that previous knowledge.

We see her day to day with small time clients and jobs but how these can all affect the mystery at large. One client asks Reina to look into a husband and along the way pieces fall into place from friends, other clients, and Reina’s own intuition. This I think was the strongest aspect of this book. It is focusing on the community of New Orleans. The city itself doesn’t have the biggest personality in setting, but the people and community shine here.

The ending has a great hook (though I don’t see a third listed anywhere) and the whole progression of the plot was impressive. Veronica G. Henry doesn’t shy away from real world issues and really hooks you in with unique and interesting twists. If you’re an urban fantasy fan – this is a great one to pick up.