Parasite is the sequel to Residue, which I reviewed previously. After the events of the last book, Jack Bishop has been relocated to Sacramento as part of an elaborate game of evil-mastermind chess between two genetic research firms, one of which is holding his father prisoner, and both are attempting to control Jack.

I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect from the sequel. Obviously, I expected more of the same blend of urban fantasy, urban sci-fi, and Diamond’s brand of action-horror; but the back-cover description showed things escalating far beyond what I thought the series was going for. Turns out that was deliberate. The first novel was effectively a stand-alone, almost entirely self-contained, with just a few loose threads intended to lead into a sequel. Another mystery, another secret investigation, another delightful Thin Man-esque back-and-forth between Jack and his mind-reading, gun-toting girlfriend Alex.

And yet I had this nagging voice in the back of my head, saying . . .

See, in Residue, we got a combination of urban fantasy and urban science fiction; mostly fantasy, because of the content and magic system, but with a heavy backdrop of 60s-style classic paranormal psychology, ESP, and genetic manipulation. Where you draw the line between that and fantasy is a matter of opinion, and that opinion can change depending on your perspective. For example, the wider film industry classifies Ghostbusters as a fantasy franchise, but SF&F nerds typically refer to it more as a kind of light sci-fi because of how the main characters approach it.

And like Ghostbusters, while Jack starts out working in the shadows of the modern world, Parasite quickly increases the scope of the story. Just trade the comedy for the horror, and the proton packs for the arsenal in Alex’s trunk. And then make it much, much worse for everyone involved.

In the first book’s review, I noted that Diamond uses a horror of the competent man, rather than the helpless victim. There’s plenty of both in this book, thanks to Jack’s ability to read psychic residue; let’s just say I’m not going to recommend the book to parents of small children. But as bad as things get — and they do get very, very bad — the competency of the main characters serves as an anchor, like a flame of hope against an oppressive darkness, even as the latter grows. It’s skillfully done, giving the reader just enough time to catch half a breath before plunging back into Diamond’s take on what I think might be the second-oldest horror movie concept. I won’t say which one here, but I’ll point out that the oldest one is vampires, and that was last book.

I recommend the book for those who enjoy horror, shooting monsters with guns, good pacing, and a willingness to take narrative risks. Just not for parents with anxiety problems. I’ll pick up the third book whenever it’s out.

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