THE VAN HELSING PARADOX by Evelyn Chartres follows the journey of Clara as she emerges from a life of obscurity into ranks occupied by legends. Set in the early 1900s, she is a hunter trained to kill un-godly perversions. Bright and observant as a child, Clara is formidable as an adult. Curiosity brings her face-to-face with the ultimate enemy, a threat seeking to destroy the organization she serves. Despite access to weapons, her sexuality proves to be her most valuable killer. Ultimately, her training culminates in a deadly stand-off, leading to an unexpected conclusion.

This was an entertaining read. I missed depth, however, among the main character’s relationships. Emotionally, it read cold. I do not advocate for a multitude of descriptions in books, but the lack of adequate details left me piecing together sub-par images. I even read the book a second time to ensure I had not missed important information. Written in third-person, the internal thoughts of Clara marked with quotation marks is redundant and off-putting. By the end, I was left with more questions than answers. Maybe the book’s sequel will offer the answers I seek.

Despite the slow start and unnecessary family dynamics, I thoroughly loved the book’s conclusion!  Creatively, it rocked!