74) Death Blows by D.D. Barant

Jace Valchek is an FBI profiler. After being pulled into an alternate world she finds herself confronted with vampires, lycanthropes and golems. These fantasy creatures from her world actually make up 99 per cent of the population in this new one. Eager to go back home, if that is even possible, she has managed to make a life for herself even if she is only human.

A murder investigation turns into a race against time when 'comic book' characters start turning up dead. Jace finds herself up against a killer who may be using a bizarre combination of ancient magic and comic book heroes from her world to kill some of the most powerful vampires and lycanthropes and steal their power. All the friends/work colleagues she has made since being in this new world all seem to be involved somehow. Jace now has to figure out how it all ties together before it is too late.

Back in August last year I read the first book in the Bloodhound Files, Dying Bites. I remember enjoying the new and totally unique debut and of course I have been waiting eagerly for the next book in the series. Death Blows came out the other week and I couldn't wait to start it and dived straight in.

Of course it has been months since I read Dying Bites so I expected that I would need a few chapters to get back into the swing of things. However it took me at least half of the book to really feel at home again in the world where Jace has landed. However Jace herself seemed to be right at home, even though this is only the second book.

Maybe finding my way back into this series wouldn't have been too hard if it wasn't for the detailed plot. I have to admit I am not a huge comic book fan but I did enjoy the angle the writer brought into the case. However there was way too much information and maybe it was just me being over worked and tired this week but I have to say that I had some trouble keeping up with things.

By the end of the book I found myself understanding everything a little more clearly. There are still a few areas that I am not sure about but the last hundred pages really made things easier to understand and stuff started to fit together. While I had problems with this second installment I still want to read book three, Killing Rocks, when it comes out at the end of this year.

Why? Because this series really is unique. A different world with not only vampires and weres but also golems makes this an interesting read. Quirky little 'otherworld' ideas made me smile and a really nice set of characters who guided me through the book are ones I want to meet up with again.

So give this a try and see if you like it. Sure this book left me wondering at points but the concept is brilliant and the style has a certain kick to it.