Book: Trese, Last Seen After Midnight

“Foul play. Magic spells. Supernatural criminals. When crime takes a turn for the weird, the police call Alexdra Trese.”

Trese: Last Seen After Midnight is one of my most anticipated books of 2011. And I’m very happy to say that it delivered in all my expectations. If there was anything I would complain about, it’s only the fact that I was done reading it before the book launch even started.

The fourth Trese book follows the format of the first three: four short stories that happen independently off each other. What separates the fourth volume from the first three though is the magnitude of the stories. Creators Budjette Tan and KaJO Baldisimo doesn’t shy away from reality in this volume, marrying our reality with their created world. In Cadena de Amor, the first story they previewed online last year, Trese comes across a police case that is very reminiscient of the Ruby Rose Barrameda news item that shocked many people back in 2009. And, of course, we have The Fight of the Year which has a hero you can mistake for a certain world-renowned boxer.

I have to say, I do feel a little disappointed that we don’t find out more about Alexandra Trese the character. This isn’t a complaint so much as it is an observation. I understand that the creators wanted sulf-sustained stories. But the fanboy in me was looking forward to delving into Trese’s life after the awesome Mass Murders. The closest we get to peeking into Trese’s past is a throwaway line in Wanted Bedspacer.

With these said though, Trese: Last Seen After Midnight is a must-buy for any Filipino Horror enthusiast. Or anyone who loves horror, actually. And since it’s in English, it’s international reader-friendly too.

You can catch Budjette Tan and KaJO Baldisimo on the upcoming Komikon this coming November 18, at the Bayanihan Center.

And if you’re not happy with how I wrote my reaction to the fourth Trese book, check out the Geek Out! review of the volume.