Karma Patrol: Book Review

RACHEL GORDON

“As a karmic account enforcer, Jade Bailey makes sure that what goes around comes around. Jade has dedicated her life to Karma Division, and in return she’s expecting her own personal fairytale, complete with her dream job and love at first sight with a tall, dark, and handsome soulmate.”

When I first heard the premise of Dr. Kate Miller’s debut novel Karma Patrol, I must admit I was a bit perplexed. A karmic account enforcer? What kind of job title is that? Is this a dystopian fantasy? Once I began reading the book, all my confusion and questions went away. Dr. Miller’s writing style and plot are so clear and understandable that I was swept right into the story of Jade and her fellow characters in New York City.

Jade Bailey is a woman in her early thirties whose only close friend is a Destiny Divisions soulmate matchmaker named Shannon. Jade is fiercely devoted to her job, and the novel begins with her attempts to maintain her district’s karmic balance at a level close to zero, so she can ensure her promotion. Chaos ensues, and Jade must focus her energy on protecting her own life and that of her new soulmate.

Dr. Kate Miller received her undergraduate degree from the University of Florida, and as a student here, she was a member of the honors program. After graduating, she attended medical school at the University of South Florida and completed her fellowship training at the Medical University of South Carolina. In her third year of medical school, Dr. Miller began to participate in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), a national creative writing movement that encourages writers to write 50,000 words during the month of November.

“It seemed like a cool way to use my creative side,” Dr. Miller explained to me, “which was pretty stifled in medical school.” She continued participating in NaNoWriMo for the next ten years, leading to the eventual publication of her debut novel.

Karma Patrol is overflowing with wit and charm. Jade is the epitome of a sweet southern belle, with the sass to match. The dialog is very clever, and I was impressed with the high level of vocabulary. Dr. Miller adeptly walks the fine line between clever and didactic. I was not required to look up obscure or archaic terms, nor did I become bored or uninterested due to weak descriptions. Her characters are easily relatable and have a depth of development and backstory, making them feel as real as any person living in New York today.
I suppose this book would be categorized as a mystery thriller, but it is so much more than that. Karma Patrol is equal parts romance and suspense, crime drama and fantasy. Dr. Miller wrote a book that can appeal to a wide audience, while maintaining a high standard of storytelling and acuity. This novel drew me in, and I could not put it down. My only concern: having to wait for the sequel.

Image Source: http://linnanliterary.com/kate-miller/