Urban Fantasy published by Sourcebooks Casablanca 26 May 20
In this new series, Ms. Tyler pivots her SWAT collection into a new series, which expands her repertoire of supernatural characters both good and evil. From the get-go the story plunges readers into action with a few brief pauses to handle the team’s emotional and romantic interludes. Clearly, the launch of a new series requires setting the stage and introductions to who and what the various characters are, which the author manages with great finesse, while serving up the action and thrills that her readers have grown to expect from her.
The story opens with a horrific attack in the heart of London where werewolf like creatures tear out the throats of the other members of Jestina’s team. Given the nature of Jes’s work, she’s promptly assigned to a new team to work on a high-profile kidnapping. As it turns out, this is an all-star supernatural team led by an alpha werewolf. Definitely not something Jes is comfortable with, given the fate of her erstwhile team. Despite personal misgivings and the team’s lack of togetherness, they’re all federal agents and professionals who have a job to do, so they plunge into action, going undercover to a charity event whose super rich and royal host is suspected of being the front for some nasty business, including kidnapping.
As the team follows the clues and works the case and evades death and dismemberment, Jes and Jake find themselves sharing meals, chats with Jake’s wards, and before long a bed. I find the speed of the bed sharing a bit disconcerting, given Jes’s fear and distrust of werewolves, but a story’s got to move forward, I suppose. Despite rules about cohabitation within a team, there’s another couple who get a pretty rude awakening on how difficult it is to keep certain secrets in a team of werewolves with super noses and super hearing.
I really enjoyed the author’s versatility and imagination in character building with the new characters that she introduces, in addition to the various types of werewolves. I can’t wait to see how this series evolves.
Grade: C+
Summary:
For the cases no one else can solve, they send in the Special Threat Assessment Team
Supernatural creatures are no longer keeping their existence secret from humans, causing panic around the globe. To investigate, monitor, and—when necessary—take down dangerous supernatural offenders, an international task force was established: The Special Threat Assessment Team.
STAT agent Jestina Ridley is in London with her team investigating a suspicious kidnapping. Over her radio, Jes hears her teammates being savagely attacked. She runs to help, but she’s too late. The only survivor, Jes calls for backup and gets former Navy SEAL and alpha werewolf Jake Huang and his new pack. Convinced that the creature who butchered her teammates was a werewolf, Jes doesn’t trust them. But if they’re going to uncover the facts and make it back home alive, she’ll need Jake’s help. And with everything on the line, Jes will have to accept Jake for who he is, or lose the partner she never expected to find…
No excerpt available.
