10-12-09 New Tricks by John Levitt – Fiction

4 – I really like Levitt’s writing style.  The best word I can use to describe it is “easy.”  Not simple, but easy like smooth jazz.  The story just flows well and Mason, the main character, is likable.  Fun for jazz aficionados as well as fantasy readers because Mason compares his magic to his jazz guitar playing.  Each story (there are only two so far) moves steadily and smoothly toward an end so these can (so far) be read out of order but there are a few references to occurrences in the previous book.  Lou, a dog that’s not a dog (he’s an Ifrit), also has his own personality and is as likeable a character as Mason; these are almost but not quite buddy crime stories.  I look forward to the release of Levitt’s next Dog Days book.