By Patricia Briggs

Place: Publisher & Year: New York: Ace Books, 2008

Genres: Fantasy, contemporary fantasy, paranormal, mystery, paranormal mystery

Series: Mercy Thompson; 3

ISBN: 9780441015665

Intended audience: Adult

Number of pages: 287

Setting: Tri-cities (Richland, Kennewick, & Pasco), WA

Time period: Contemporary

Plot summary: When Mercy’s friend and mentor, Zee, is charged with a murder which he didn’t commit, Mercy does all she can to prove his innocence.  This becomes problematic because Zee is one of the fae and the fae do not like outsiders, like Mercy, poking their noses’ in their business.

Appeal factors:

Pacing: Like the previous books, this is an extremely fast paced book.

Characterization: Told in first person through Mercy.  Both Samuel and Adam continue to be important characters.  Uncle Mike (a fae) also has an important role in this story.

Frame: The title sets the frame for the story.  Zee is one of the few fae who is considered “iron kissed”; he can work with iron and steel without being harmed by it.

Story line: Mercy continues to put her own life and well-being at risk for her friends.

Subject headings:

From Pima County Public Library:

Automobile mechanics — Fiction.

Werewolves — Fiction.

Occult fiction.

Thompson, Mercedes (Fictitious character) — Fiction.

Similar authors:

Jim Butcher – The Dresden Files series

Charlaine Harris – Sookie Stackhouse series

Kim Harrison – Rachel Morgan/ Hallows series

Karen Marie Moning – MacKayla Lane/ Fever series

Personal notes: Great read!  I finished it in a day of travelling.  I still love the series.  It’s been a while since I’ve read two series books right in a row.  I would read the fourth one immediately if I had access to it.  I like how things have worked out so far between Mercy and Samuel.

Other: Diversity – walker (shape shifter), werewolves, gremlin, fae, ghost, multiracial woman – part Native American, female auto mechanic, homosexuals

Patricia Briggs website