Something Wicked

TEST

It’s not news that there are a lot of paranormals out there. Sadly, it is sort of news for me, though, when I come across one lately that I actually like.

Regan Cluny is an investigative reporter hot on the trail of a reclusive millionaire financing an archeological dig about which rumors are swirling. Regan doesn’t buy the rumors – some of which are extremely out there – about the reasons why Charles Nash would finance an expensive dig in a remote California location, but her reporter’s instinct tells her that it’s a story worth following.

Regan comes face to face with the dangers of traveling through the desert alone when a vicious biker gang led by Harper, a guy who gives new meaning to the word vicious, attacks her. Left to die, Regan is found by Charles, who gets her to the hospital in time to save her life.

Of course, Charles is far more than just a millionaire businessman (bet you didn’t see that coming). In truth he is a vampire who shrouded his dig in secrecy to conceal his true purpose: To find a legendary healing spring he hopes will cure his vampirism. Regan’s appearance complicates matters greatly when Charles is astonished to discover that the intrepid reporter bears a strong resemblance to a woman from his – and Harper’s – past. The powerful vampire is soon brought to realize that Regan won’t return to New York without her story and, further, that Harper won’t rest until he’s killed her.

Catherine Mulvaney does an excellent job of bringing both her hero and heroine to life, all the while managing the Herculean task of preventing them from becoming the cardboard characters populating many paranormals these days. And, to keep the good news coming, the story is a good one with enough twists and turns to keep the reader satisfied, without getting bogged down in too much detail and world-building. Harper makes an effective villain and the author skillfully weaves in flashbacks to the past Harper and Charles shared when they fought on opposite sides of the Civil War and, even more importantly, when both loved the same woman.

If I can’t actually get too excited about Something Wicked, I can enthusiastically enough recommend it to anyone who isn’t totally burnt out on vampires. There are an awful lot – make that far too many – vampires out there, but Charles Cunningham Nash and Catherine Mulvany do offer an interesting spin.

Reviewed by Sandy Coleman

Grade: B

Sensuality: Warm

Review Date: 15/07/07

Publication Date: 2007/08

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Recent Comments …

  1. excellent book: interesting, funny dialogs, deep understanding of each character, interesting secondary characters, and also sexy.

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