Publisher's Synopsis
When Supernatural Investigation Bureau agent Bluebell Kildare (a.k.a. Blue) arrives at the scene of the crime, it's obvious the grotesquely damaged body of the deceased teenage boy was caused by far more than a simple hit and run. Using her innate sixth sense, Blue uncovers a powerful magical artifact nearby. She soon discovers it acts as a key to an ancient Grimoire that was instrumental in the creation of the Vampire breed and still holds the power to unravel the boundaries between Earth and the Plane of Fire. Blue and her clever wolf Varg follow a trail that starts at the Cock and Bull Tap and leads all through the town of Crimson Hollow. Between being sidelined by a stalker who sticks to the shadows and chasing a suspect who vanishes in thin air, the case is getting complicated. If that isn't enough, Dark Vampire activity hits a record high, and hate crimes are increasing. However, it's Blue's growing feelings for Jack Tanner, her magnetic Daylight Vampire boss, that just might undo her. While Blue searches for clues to nail the perpetrator, it seems someone else is conducting a search of their own. Who will find whom first? Danger lurks in every corner, and Blue needs all her focus in this increasingly dangerous game or she risks ending up the next victim. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Rated R: a few scenes contain explicit sex and graphic violence; recommended for 17+ years Alternative Genres: mystery - crime fiction - suspense - thriller - alternative history fantasy - dark fantasy Content Tags: detective * murder * vampire *wolf * demon * magic * witch * burning * psychic * empath * sensitive * Smoky Mountains Setting: The story is placed in our world with an alternate history in contemporary times where three different breeds of humans exist: regular humans as you and I know them, magically Gifted humans, and Vampires (Dark and Light). The culture is strife with tension as these three breeds deal with a bloody history and lingering hate. Main Character: The heroine is a paranormal inspector named Bluebell Kildare (a.k.a. Blue) who was born with the gift of being a sensitive and an empath, gifts which are extremely well suited for her work. Her empathy is so pronounced that she is practically a walking lie detector. She can also sense souls. While her physical abilities seem limited, she compensates by being intelligent, assertive, and having a will of steel. As the story moves forward, she learns there is more to her power then she originally thought. Plot: The story starts out at the scene of the crime where a teenage boy was found horrifically tortured and murdered. The plot follows the investigation of that crime and unfolds from the alternating first person perspectives of the heroine (Bluebell Kildare) and hero (Blue's boss, Jack Tanner). Underlying Theme: There are some deeper aspects to this story as the characters begin to explore the nature of good and evil. The main societal conflict present in this world is prejudice and hate, and it is in fact the primary underlying theme for the book. While the typical prejudices we see in our reality don't exist in this world, the author has flipped the lens of prejudice to focus on the three different breeds of humans. The characters are forced to deal with the prejudices that permeate their society on both a professional and a personal level, in an environment where hate seems on the knife's edge of destroying their dearly bought peace.
