A. Leigh Jones, Forever Crossed

Forever Crossed

A. Leigh Jones

ImaJinn, April 2004, $13.75, 232 pp.

ISBN 1893896242

She is not totally human but she is also not totally a were-leopard either as she doesn't change at the full moon. Olivia Peters was hurt by a shifter when she was younger but to everybody's surprise she didn't turn. She does have some of the shifter's powers as well as the abilities inherited from her grandmother who was a witch and a healer. She works at Forever Crossed, a funeral parlor in the Carolinas and since she started no zombies have risen nor have any vampires who didn't want to rise from the earth.

She is also a private detective who works with the local police on seemingly supernatural crimes. In the past three months many vampires have been killed and humans have been drained of all their blood. The police want to capture this rogue vampire as does Antonio Vesci, the Undead Ruler of the Carolinas. He knows the rogue wants to take over Antonio's territory. Antonio's ally Luka Niera, the were-leopard Ra'Jahn will help the vampire in his battle. Lukas believes Olivia is necessary for the upcoming fight. When the rogue and his allies strike at Olivia, it is Luka who Olivia turns to for help and it is Luka she is attracted to even though she believes the were-leopards will never accept her because she isn't a purebred.

Fans of Laurell K. Hamilton's AnitaVerse will enjoy FOREVER CROSSED, an urban fantasy that takes place on an Earth where supernatural beings exist and are accorded the same rights as humans. Olivia is a delightful lead character doubting her prowess though the were-leopards think otherwise. A. Leigh Jones is a creative world builder and fantastic storyteller who must provide a sequel to her bloodthirsty fans.

Harriet Klausner