By Patricia Briggs

Place: Publisher & Year: New York: Ace Books, 2009

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

Series: Mercy Thompson; 4

ISBN: 9780441016761

Intended audience: Adult

Number of pages: 309

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

Time period: Contemporary

Plot summary: When Marsilia, the head of the local vampires, discovers that Mercy killed Andre, one of her favorite vampires, she takes her revenge by torturing Mercy’s friend (and vampire), Stefan.  When the consequences of this action do not bring the intended results, Mercy worries that her friends’ lives are at risk.  If Mercy had known that Marsilia knew she had killed Andre, she would never have agreed to mate Adam.

Appeal factors:

Pacing: The story begins with a slower pace which increases as the story progresses.

Characterization: Told in first person through Mercy.  Adam and Stefan are both very important characters in this story, in addition to an old friend of Mercy’s from college – Amber.

Frame: The title sets the frame for the story.  Marsilia has crossed bones painted on Mercy’s garage door as a symbolic gesture.

Story line: Mercy’s new status as Adam’s mate in the Tri-Cities Pack does not bring joy to all of the pack members.  Additionally, Mercy is still suffering from the traumatic events of the last book and finding it difficult to rely upon others.

Subject headings:

From Pima County Public Library:

Automobile mechanics — Fiction.

Metamorphosis — Fiction.

Vampires — 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: Another great story – I’m still really enjoying this series.  This book starts right where the last one ended – so Mercy is still dealing with panic attacks on top of trying to figure things out with Adam.  This makes for a slightly slower beginning than some of the previous books, but this slower pace doesn’t last long.

Other: Diversity – walker (shape shifter), werewolves, vampires, fae, ghosts, multiracial woman – part Native American, female auto mechanic, homosexuals, deaf child

Patricia Briggs website