Veena’s review of Dead Heat (Alpha and Omega, Book 4) by Patricia Briggs
Paranormal Romance published by Ace Books 03 Mar 15
In all the flavors of paranormal and wolf shifter stories, Charles and Anna continue to be two of my favorite characters. Ms. Briggs skillfully blends in various paranormal elements with a stand-alone spine tingling mystery that holds the reader spellbound. With the deepening intimacy and comfort in their relationship, it’s time to consider the addition of children. So it comes as no surprise that saving children is at the heart of the mystery that the two are plunged into when Charles takes Anna to visit an old friend. The pacing, as the story unfolds, is superb as the reader is quickly drawn into a world of show horses, werewolves, and manic fae.
I like the conflicts presented in this story. On the one hand is the conflict between Charles and Anna with regard to children. Anna is ready to start a family, but Charles is deeply resistant. Then we get to meet his friend who has chosen to remain human and age gracefully, even as his son, the werewolf alpha of the local pack, disagrees and wishes to force the issue. Interestingly enough, we come face to face with Charles’ past as the backdrop to some of this controversy, which is further inflamed when Charles turns the deeply wounded granddaughter-in-law of his friend.
This story really highlights the cruelty and capriciousness that bleeds through the Grimm version of fairy tales. As they work with their friends to solve the mystery behind the attack on his friend’s family that almost killed his daughter-in-law and endangered his grandchildren, they discover a missing child and the possibility that a faery serial killer has gone undetected in the neighborhood for some time. The killer fae comes as a complete surprise when it is finally exposed.
The author’s love for horses really shines through in this story, with horses playing a large role in the plot, and I quite enjoyed the level of detail on the topic that comes along with this. This is a great addition to the continuing saga of Charles Cornick and his omega wolf mate.
Grade: B
Summary:
For once, mated werewolves Charles and Anna are not traveling because of Charles’ role as his father’s enforcer. This time their trip to Arizona is purely personal, as Charles plans to buy Anna a horse for her birthday. Or at least it starts out that way….
Charles and Anna soon discover that a dangerous Fae being is on the loose, replacing human children with simulacrums. The Fae’s cold war with humanity is about to heat up – and Charles and Anna are in the cross fire.
Other books in this series:
