Thursday, July 8, 2010

Blood Law: Mississippi Vamps & Good Ole Boys

Blood Law
Alexandra Sabian series
Author: Jeannie Holmes
Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Dell
Available from Amazon

Summary: Alexandra Sabian moves to the sleepy hamlet of Jefferson, Mississippi—population 6,000, nearly one-half vampires—to escape the demons lurking in her past. As an Enforcer for the Federal Bureau of Preternatural Investigation (FBPI), Alex must maintain the uneasy peace between her kind and humans, including Jefferson’s bigoted sheriff, who’d be happy to see all vampires banished from town. Then really dead vamps start turning up—beheaded, crucified, and defanged—killed in the same gruesome manner that Alex’s father was murdered decades ago. Things get even more complicated when the FBPI sends in some unnervingly sexy backup: Alex’s one-time mentor, lover, and fiancé, Varik Baudelaire.

Growing up I loved mysteries. As an adult, my dad introduced me to John Stanford, and Patricia Cornwell, then I discovered urban fantasy and paranormal romance. Tuesday night I bought Jeannie Holmes book, Blood Law, for my Kindle, and was in heaven. Her first book in the Alexandra Sabian series is all the things I loved in a gritty mystery combined with the elements of urban fantasy and paranormal romance. It's a fast paced thriller with Alex and her co-workers trying to catch a serial killer while she battles with emotional demons from her past.

I loved Alex as a main character. She is strong, loyal, passionate and smart. Varik, her former fiance, is sarcastic, sexy, tough and protective. Combine the two of them and it's a roller coaster of emotion and sexual tension. However, the author doesn't let that aspect of the story overwhelm the problem at hand, but rather works their attraction and past into the plot as it unfolds. The cast of characters from the citizens of Alex's town to the FBPI agents are quirky and complex.

Jeannie Holmes has introduced us to a gritty and sexy world where the mystery of the day is not overshadowed by characters who think of nothing but sex and the vampires are complex, intelligent and leave us wanting to know more. I can't wait to read the next book in the series to see what Ms. Holmes has come up with next. Blood Law is a fantastic debut novel, and a must read.

Learn more about the book and author on her website here.

~Moonsanity