“Alexandra Gilchrist breathes new life into the buddy cop genre with Baptism by Fire, resolving natural themes of biblical faith with a supernatural story.”
Lorehaven review, 2024

Baptism By Fire

· July 2023 · for

When Secret Service Agent Rick McCoy punches his partner’s murderer in the face after arresting him, he fears his dream of getting promoted to the President’s personal detail is over. His boss has a different transfer in mind and partners him with the agency’s top agent in the super secret Paranormal Investigations Division – an immortal phoenix cursed to human form. The problem is that Rick doesn’t believe in the paranormal, immortals, phoenixes, or curses.

Phoenix Dante Brand was cursed centuries ago to human form for daring to think himself more beautiful than a fae. Finding his purpose in stopping mythic crimes, he has been an agent of the US government since he escaped Revolutionary France. Breaking in a new human partner is always hard, and a rash of murders targeting human sidekicks doesn’t bode well for their already rocky relationship.

When one attack nearly ends their fledgling partnership, and another places Dante himself under suspicion, Dante and Rick find themselves scrambling to figure out who is blaming human murders on mythics before the flames of violence are fanned into full-fledged war. There are factions on both sides who would benefit from a human mythic war, and are more than willing to pour gasoline on the fire of prejudice and suspicion regardless of how many lives it costs.

Book 1 of the Rick and Dante Paranormal Mysteries series

Review of Baptism By Fire

· November 2024

Rick McCoy once punched an arrested suspect. Now the detective is sure his new partner is sent to serve as his personal punishment. Soon he learns Dante Brans is no fool, but an accomplished agent—as well as a cursed phoenix. Now that Rick knows magical creatures are real, he and Dante must prevent a war between them and the human race. Alexandra Gilchrist breathes new life into the buddy cop genre with Baptism by Fire, resolving natural themes of biblical faith with a supernatural story. Witty banter, a well-paced police thriller, and a wide variety of fantasy beings create this unique paranormal tale.

Best for: Adult fans of light-hearted murder mysteries with urban fantastical elements.

Discern: Lightly described violence in a modern context.

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