David and Aimee Thurlo, Surrogate Evil

Surrogate Evil

David and Aimee Thurlo

Forge, Dec 2006, $24.95, 320 pp.

ISBN: 0765316153

One of the advantages of being a half-vampire working for the New Mexico State Police is that Lee Nez's powers make it easier for him to work a case. Lee and his sometimes partner FBI special agent Diana Lopez are able to solve a case quicker with less danger to civilians. After busting men on various charges that are connected to a senator, Lee and Diane are advised to get out of the area for a while. They are assigned to take down Newton Glover, a man who has intimidated the East Mountain area and is suspected of various crimes.

It is believed he has authorities in various agencies working for him so Lee and Diana move into the trailer across the way from his, pretending to be tough criminals. When Lee sees him watching them through surveillance, he breaks the man's windshield in the hope that Newton will try to get even and they will have something to arrest him on. They are also investigating the disappearance of ten-year-old Tim Klein who Grover might have kidnapped. When Newton tries to kill Lee, with Diane as a witness, Newton knows he will have to murder both of them before they can obtain evidence to put him away.

The Latest Lee Nez combination horror-mystery-police-procedural is a reading experience on the wild side with so many adrenaline-inducing scenes that readers will feel thoroughly spoiled. The Thurlos have a take on the vampire mythos based on Navaho legends and myths and Lee is so unlike Bram Stoker's Dracula that the two characters don't resemble each other in the slightest. Lee is one hero who makes his life and his to keep the area he patrols safe. Diana, who knows what Lee is, loves him because he is a good man who works for the good of society.

Harriet Klausner