A Series After My X-Files-Ever-Loving Heart

For the past few weeks I have immersed myself in a world of supernatural crime and mystery, of demons and witches, politicians and assassins, and a nice, Southern man named Quincy Morris who is responsible for wrangling them all. I have Justin Gustainis to thank, with his Quincy Morris and Libby Chastain series, which currently has three books – Black Magic Woman, Evil Ways, and Sympathy for the Devil. And hopefully more for the future.
I think I have finally found someone who is as big of an X-File nerd as me. There are not only several overt references to the greatest television drama of all time, but the general formula for Gustainis’ books are very X-File-ian. So it didn’t surprise me when I heard him interviewed on the Once & Future Podcast and he admitted in his office proudly hangs an “I WANT TO BELIEVE” poster.

Now the real question is does he have an X-Files tattoo?

Gustainis’ series doesn’t maintain the heavy government conspiracy, but rather sticks closer to the creature feature format that I most appreciated about the X-Files. But I don’t want to make it sound like Gustainis is merely recycling an already well explored idea. Gustainis has brought plenty of his own ideas to the table.

Quincy Morris is a private investigator for the supernatural, pragmatically and fearlessly doing whatever needs to be done to whip those forces back in line. To help him in his pursuit of order in the world is Libby Chastain, a white witch of considerable power. While there are plenty of baddies in the world, Morris and Chastain focus most of their ass kicking talents on the demons and black witches that are determined to destroy the world as we know it.

What I most like about these books is the way the story is told. Gustainis tells a story through the eyes of many characters, each character possessing a very specific set of goals and motivations for achieving those goals.  The real talent is the way Gustainis always brings these components together into a action packed, climactic, and always gratifying end. Through each of his books, I find myself midway thinking, “How is he going to bring all of these together in the end?” And upon finishing the book, I nod, a satisfied and pensive smile on my face and think, “So that’s how it all comes together in the end.”

I only can hope that Gustainis plans on picking up this series again. The ending of the third book wrapped up some major plot points, but definitely left it open for future installments. But for now he’s putting efforts into his latest character, Detective Sgt. Stan Markowski, who is a part of the Occult Crimes Unit in Scranton, PA. I haven’t read this book yet, but I certainly plan to.

The Quincy Morris and Libby Chastain series will definitely appease mystery fans and urban fantasy fans. And horror fans, don’t worry, you’ll be taken care of, too. Gustainis doesn’t skimp on the gore, but it’s never gratuitous or ill placed.

And if you decide to pick up the first book, just do yourself a favor and grab all three. Because once you’ll start, you’ll want to keep going.