C.T. Adams & Cathy Clamp, Howling Moon

Howling Moon

C.T. Adams & Cathy Clamp

Tor, Jan 2007, $6.99

ISBN: 0765354020

Chief Justice and head of the Sazi community asks former shapeshifter secret police agent Raphael Ramirez to do him a favor: be there when his goddaughter Catherine Turner changes. Were-jaguar serial killer Jack Simpson murdered her parents; Catherine endured but she was mauled and will change at the full moon -- that is if she survives the transformation.

Raphael heads to Boulder where Catherine, suffering nightmares from the lethal massacre, is staying with her Aunt Violet Wildethorne. He knows that Charles asks a lot of him because his pack would want Catherine dead and Jack is probably hunting her down to complete his kill. When Raphael meets Cat, he is stunned as she is his soulmate, but he is wolf and she is jaguar.

The latest Sazi, romantic, suspense fantasy is a terrific tale starring a dedicated hero who knows scandal firsthand from the incident that cost him his police position, but also knows he will risk anything to keep his beloved safe from his pack and Jack. Readers also learn a lot more about killing Jack whose previous appearances were somewhat limited. The star-crossed romance combines delightfully with the woman in peril subplot as the world seems to be focusing on a traumatized Cat.

Harriet Klausner