Gena Showalter Awaken Me Darkly

Awaken Me Darkly

Gena Showalter

Chief of the Chicago Police Department, Alien Investigation and Removal Agents, huntress Mia Snow and her second in command Dallas Gutierrez investigate the murder of human William Steele. Mia quickly recognizes that the victim died from onadyn poisoning, an item used by three alien groups to breathe in earth's oxygen world. She next notices three pieces of hair tied to one follicle which means a deadly Arcadian committed the murder. Other evidence link Arcadian Lilla en Arr to Steele.

Lilla is taken downtown, but insists her brother Kyrinen will avenge this affront even as she hypnotizes males to abet her escape. At the precinct, for no known reason, Isabel Hussin shoots Dallas, whose chances of surviving are nil; only Kyrinen can save him, but Mia wonders at what price as he wants her. He also seems to know who the killer is and how the murder connects to Mia, but refuses to reveal anything at this time.

Using the Men In Black concept, Gena Showalter provides a strong ET police procedural that grips the audience from the moment the tough heroine investigates the murder scene and never slows down until the final altercation. Mia is a fabulous "Bad Girl" who has a license to kill, but struggles with her growing feelings for an alien Kyrinen who she believes his sister is probably the serial murderer. The final spin will shock the audience though clues are cleverly placed in our faces as Gena Showalter will awaken more than just her female champion with this fine sci fi who-done-it.

Downtown, Jun 2005, $12.00, 352 pp.

ISBN: 074349749X

Harriet Klausner