Customer Reviews

Harm None: A Rowan Gant Investigation

5 star:		(71)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

I came looking for a good urban fantasy that got its facts right and found it.

M.R. Sellars does not fall prey to the common failing of so many urban fantasy writers who seem determined to make their main characters into pagan supermen saving the world from all evils (while usually mangling the precepts of the religion and everything else).

The characters are believable (not just the pagan, but I loved the Native American policeman, who was very well done. Being native I notice when I have run into so many books that botch that one). The facts (pagan and police) are correct. The plot is well thought out. The action keeps you turning pages.

I am very impressed with this author and am recommending him to my friends, some of whom are pagan. That's how accurate I feel his portrayal is. This is a book my friends can read without cringing.

Well, I have a confession to make. Prior to reading this book, I didn't really believe in miracles. Truthfully. Now, however, I find myself a believer. Truthfully.

M.R. Sellars has indeed created a miracle in his first novel, "Harm None - A Rowan Gant Investigation". Writing a first-class thriller without resorting to cliche and folly is in itself a master accomplishment. But to do so whilst portraying a frequently misunderstood religion successfully (and without pretense), is simply miraculous. On this fine journey, Sellars takes us into the life of Rowan Gant, a practising Witch. A likeable fellow, Rowan becomes involved, via his close friend Ben Storm, in what appears to be a cult murder. What ensues is a story of magick, mystery and human nature. The tale spins you around like a whirlwind, picks you up and throws you onto a rollercoaster ride like no other. The characters are realistic, the technical content is simply incredible, and the ending will indeed surprise and delight you. This book will also scare the pants off you. It did me...and I'm not easily scared!

You must buy this book. As a supernatural thriller, "Harm None" deserves 5 stars. As a cross-genre first novel, "Harm None" is a miracle.

This was a truly enjoyable and suspenseful novel. I'm eagerly awaiting Rowan Gant's next case, having devoured this one in one afternoon. Once I started, I just could not put it down.

I really appreciated the positive view of Wicca; this book ranks right up there with Rosemary Edghill's Bast mysteries. One caveat to the nonpagan reader: while the religious details were pretty accurate, keep in mind that this is a work of fiction -- don't assume that all Wiccans possess Rowan's awesome psychic abilities (to Mr. Sellars' credit, he does point out that they took quite a bit of work to develop).

The one and only complaint I have about this book is the frequency of distracting typos breaking up the flow of the writing. For example, "it's" is used as a possessive, and "your" and "you're" are often mixed up. I'd bet this says much more about budget cuts in the publishing industry than it does about the author! Publishers: how about some human proofreaders instead of computer software that can't distinguish context?

Harm None: A Rowan Gant Investigations M.R. Sellars WillowTree Press ISBN 0967822106 June2000

This is the debut of M.R. Sellars "Rowan Gant Investigations series.

Rowan Gant is contacted by a good friend Detective Ben Storm to answer questions about his religion, which is Wicca, and to give his alibi for the time of the murder. Rowan explains to his friend that even though he is a witch in "The Craft" their code is to harm none, and they do not sacrifice animals or people. When Ben shows Rowan pictures of the crime scene, Rowan realizes he knows the victim. The victim, Ariel, was a student in the craft. Rowan and Ben set out to solve the murder. While they are working the case, other murders happen and they are even worse than the first. This book kept me in suspense to the very end, the author's description of the murders was so real I thought that I might be sick, and I loved it. That's what I look for in a good thriller. Harm None was so good I can't wait for his next book "Never Burn A Witch"; I hope that the author will allow me to review it also.

M.R.Sellars is the recipient of the "Linda White Literary Excellence" and the "Silver Quill Awards for short stories upon which the "Rowan Gant Investigations" are based on.

Pam Stone

What a breath of fresh air in the world of fiction: a well-written story that comes at an area from a slightly different angle.

Having said that, I won't try to claim that other authors haven't done variations on the theme (Jim Butcher, PN Elrod and Laurell Hamilton are 3 -recent- names that come to mind) but it's different in that it's set in what appears to be the world of now and witches are actually set in a good light. I'm certain that the fundamentalist religion über-wing in the nation haven't yet seen this or they'd be protesting it much like they do Harry Potter.

I've read all of the books out as of 03/03 and will cram an overall basic review into this area for brevity and conciseness. The books are good. M.R. Sellars has done his research and the police background work has been thought out appropriately. My only "bone" to pick is that St Louis has 2 serial killers inside of a year. I lived within 2½ hours of St Louis for awhile and, while I'm firmly convinced that not all serial killers are known, much less acknowledged, I can't see 2 of them hitting that close together. St Louis just isn't that developed. No wounding from people in St Louis ok? But that's one of the things I put onto books, as with movies, and that's "suspension of disbelief"...to a certain amount.

There's a few incongruities that are casting questions in my mind about Rowan, and I'm hoping that Mr Sellars will deal with them in the next book maybe, but they're nothing to detract from the overall enjoyment, and I certainly won't bust open any plots in the 2nd or 3rd books for anyone who hasn't read them.

Overall, a good read and traipsing through someone's imaginings. And it doesn't hurt that it gives an oft-thought ill of area of society a good viewpoint. Give it a read, drink some coffee and keep the music to a good level.

This was the first "real" witch story I've read that used correct terms and didn't make sparks fly out of wands and turn the bad guy into a toad or something worse.

M.R. Sellars kept his facts straight and led his reader down the path, briars and all. A terrific story line only got better with the addition of Rowan Gant as a witch. Given the society we live in today, are witches acceptable main characters? It would seem so. Mr. Sellars plotted a real story with believable conflict. I applaud his efforts.

Witches and mundane alike should flock to the bookstores and devour the Rowan Gant investigation series. Mr. Sellars explains enough of the pagan background for those who need the history and is factual enough for those who already know and want to see how he weaves paganism as a subplot.

Good job, M.R. Sellars. I'll be back for more.

Matching Jim Butcher in intensity, but holding more 'real-world' strength, this series is fantastic. I was truly sucked in immediately and have nearly finished the series. I found it had more human emotion and less faerie and wizard hierarchy, a great deal less cynicism, but more believable characters than Butcher's series. Why is this not as popular as Butcher??? I think marketing for this series has truly fallen short. You can't even find it in most bookstores.

I was surprised to see so many negative, or on the negative side reviews of this book. I loved almost every page and have ordered all of the rest of Mr. Sellars' books as well.
I love police procedurals ala Patricia Cornwell and I love books with a touch of the supernatural ala the Jim Butcher series. Being able to combine the two just proved to be a delight. Okay so the book could have used some editing but I still loved every minute of it. I just finished this one and am half way through the second book in the series. I intend to read them all and dont intend to quibble over small flaws. I found the writing to be tight, the characters to be likeable and not much wasted time.

Mr Sellars is a good representative of his religion/craft and I found myself asking how likely any of these skills are. But in the end didnt care as I was in it for the ride. And quite a ride it was. Am enjoying digging into the next book in the series and am only happy there are still two more to go after that.

ENGROSSING! Engrossing. Sellars sets out to destroy the Hollywood created image of Witches and all that is depicted of `them' in movie land. In an almost exposé, Sellars does exactly that when he introduces Rowan Gant to the reading public. HARM NONE is a fast-paced read, full of lessons without preaching. When homicide detective, Ben Storm, approaches his good friend Rowan Gant, he explains that the police need help. A woman's body has been found. There are witch symbols painted in blood on the walls, and no one knows what to make of any of it. Gant, knowing the woman who was murdered, explains to Storm that the victim was a leader of a coven. He joins the investigation because he is a well-versed Witch (a good-witch, as Glinda might say). Their search to find the sadistic ritual-killer becomes more apparent as another victim is discovered. Gant believes the killer is not a witch, but wants to be-only under Hollywood assumptions. The basic rule of WitchCraft is Harm None. This killer is breaking all the rules. From beginning to end, Sellars invites readers into a graphic world of dark mystery and violent intrigue. HARM NONE does more than deliver, it stands out as an icon in the genre that is on the seam of horror and mystery. Sellars knows how to write, to make it all real, and demonstrates this talent chapter, after compelling chapter. I look forward to digesting NEVER BURN A WITCH with relish.

I must admit, when I picked up the book I was leary. A practicing Witch writing a mystery novel? Intriguing idea but can he pull it off? Thankfully, Sellars does.

I was hooked from the first page and I just kept the pages turning. I wanted to find out what happened to Rowan and Ben and how the whole thing tied together.

Sellars uses St. Louis as his backdrop of choice but those readers unfamiliar with the territory won't be inundated with unfamiliar names and places. The books of Mr. Sellars' have as characters the energy and power of his religion as much as the people who solve the crimes. They are rich in description, wonderful in scope, and they draw you in.

For this novel Rowan has to convince a hardened police officer, and then the department that he knows what he's talking about rather than being some nutcase as some people expect. In order to solve the murder of one of his pupils who was not only murdered but murdered brutally for the religion she (as well as Rown himself) practices Rowan will put himself in grave danger more than once, come up against cynics and skeptics, and see visions he would rather leave unseen. In order to stop this cold-blooded killer he has to use ever talent he has. He only hopes it will be enough.