Friday, September 2, 2011

Wolf at the Door-MaryJanice Davidson

Wolf at the Door
MaryJanice Davidson
Berkley, Oct 4 2011, $15.00
ISBN: 9780425243114

Just prior to the beginning of the tax season plague, Wyndham Pack leader Michael Wyndham informs his cousin Rachel Velvela the accountant she needs to relocate from the Cape to St. Paul to keep an eye on the vampires that have recently surfaced in Minnesota. Michael shakes his head that the Undead pack leader is a shoe designer moronic addict, but he takes no chances in case Queen Betsy Taylor uses her fetish as a front. He also needs his reluctant cousin to keep a close eye for any werewolf trying to ignite a paranormal species war. Rachael adores her relative but believes he asks too much of her; still she follows orders and relocates.

Edward Batley the Human read Taylor’s monthly vamp newsletter that he assumes his a joke though he knows vamps are real. He travels to the state capital to investigate whether Queen Betsy is telling the truth. If affirmed that vampires reside in the Twin Cities, Edward will ask his vampire-slayer buddies Boo and Greg to join him in cleaning out the nest. At a time when someone executes vamps and weres, Rachael and Edward meet with each aware of the mutual attraction but ignorant of the mutual interest in Queen Betsy.

Like a Venn Diagram, the start of a new connecting urban fantasy series is an amusing zany tale starring a CPA who kills with the dangerous modern day weapon of werewolf choice: an audit. The fast-paced jocular story line is fun to read but very thin. Still MaryJanice Davidson’s fans will enjoy the offspring of the Wyndham Werewolves and the Palmer Vampires.

Harriet Klaussner

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