Paranormal Payback edited by Jim Butcher and Kerrie L. Hughes (book review)
One of the most popular sub-genres of fantasy deals with the paranormal, the pages being littered with witches, ghost, vampires and the occasional zombie. There are whole series of novels featuring them. A number of the stories included in this volume fit into these series and will be a welcome addition to followers of those authors. ‘Paranormal Payback’ will also introduce readers to authors and characters they may be unfamiliar with and give them a taster they may want to follow up on. Other than entertainment, this is one of the objectives of an anthology like this.
As the title suggests, people with paranormal characteristics are somehow involved. A payback suggests an element of revenge or justice. The contents of this volume are book-ended by stories by the editors. Jim Butcher’s ‘Mister Petty’ is set in the same Chicago as his ‘Dresden Files’ series but there is only a slight overlap with the characters in this and the series. Goodman Grey is a PI and a shapeshifter. He is hired by Sheryl Petty to help her get revenge on her husband, Maurice, who has cancelled her credit cards. It gets complicated as Maurice is an accountant for the local crime boss and is having an affair with Sheryl’s sister. Although there are also ghouls involved, this is a case where the revenge is human on human through the agency of the paranormal.
Also in this style is ‘A Midsummer Night’s Scheming’ by Delilah S. Dawson writing as Ilsa Jewell, contains elements of farce. Almost by accident, Keelie discovers she is a witch and her special ability is mimicry. The revenge part of the plot sees her using her new talent to get payback over the couple that ruined her sister’s happiness. The comedy comes from the fact that, as a witch, she finds that her familiar is a donkey who can now talk and who is absolutely in love with her.
‘The Underground Goddess’ by Kevin Hearne is set in Poland. A coven of witches take action against a group of scammers who are targeting the elderly. They find that an Olympian goddess is behind the fraudulent activity.
In ‘Dying Isn’t Just For The Young’ by Holly Black a plague is turning people into vampires. The Coldtowns, as they are called, are quarantined. After Beryl is widowed, she discovers her children are plotting to get their hands on her wealth by tricking her into signing a power of attorney and intending to put her in a home. Her revenge is to enter a Coldtown with the intention of becoming a vampire.
‘Contained’ by Tanya Huff involves Henry, a different kind of vampire. Henry is called by a police friend to view a body that has been flayed alive. It is a message for Henry who tracks the cause to a body jumping demon who has decided Henry would make a good host.
‘Dirt’ by Jennifer Blackstream has great characters. A witch and a necromancer team up and think they are meting out payback for someone being attacked by a zombie. In reality, they find themselves being lured into a trap.
“Black Bond’ by Maurice Broaddus is perhaps the story I enjoyed least, despite it having significant social implications. Rashad is travelling with the ghost of Jerald, his best friend, to the place where Jerald was experimented on as a child and that he wants to haunt. It is too coincidental that the tormentors are hanging around almost as if they are waiting for him.
‘A Clean Break’ by R.L. King has a similar theme. In this case, it is a mage who is helping a ghost get revenge on the thugs that had killed her.
‘Dog-Eared’ by Kim Harrison is told from the point of view of a demon who values his books. When the human wizard damages his book, Al decides to get his revenge. He has a book enspelled but the spell will only be triggered if any damaged is done to the volume. Anyone who cares about books will be on the side of the demon.
‘Razors And Revenge’ by Faith Hunter fits into the same universe as her ‘Jane Yellowrock’ novels. This story centres on Shiloh, who is a witch and a vampire, and, after having been attacked by werewolves, fears she may have those qualities as well. Shiloh is given permission to hunt down the werewolves that attacked her and killed her partner.
‘Grave Payback’ by R. R. Virdi falls into the category of crime but has an original take on the paranormal detective. Vincent Graves is the investigator, but he is a soul without a body. He is inserted into the body of the deceased and has a limited time to find the murderers and the motive in order to bring justice and revenge.
Kerrie L. Hughes’ ‘The Broom’ is another story that comes within the existing franchise of ‘A Great Lakes Grimoire’. Brother and sister, Taran and Eilonwy, are half-witch/half-fae. They want to buy a building to open a coffee shop. It comes with a ghost. While this is another story of paranormal folk helping a ghost get revenge on their killer, it becomes more complicated by the nature of the killer and the methods the siblings have to use to help.
Like many anthologies, the stories cover a range of possibilities and it has done its job as there are a couple of characters within them that I would follow up in other work.
Pauline Morgan
July 2026