This series has become so formulaic that the books are now actually comforting, in an artificial kind of way. Sort of like a big bowl of buttery, warm instant mashed potatoes. My entire life can be in chaos, but at least I can trust Gin Blanco to find a cryptic, hidden message from her foster father, easily kill several low life thugs, make delicious soul food in her restaurant, and eventually vanquish any big bad guy around (after being quite bruised and battered, of course.)
While a steady diet of this stuff would make my literary self sick, a nice piping hot serving every once in a while is just the thing for a cozy evening.