Bad Moon Rising
Tess Pendergrass
Five Star, Dec 2004, $26.95
ISBN: 159414236X

Pacific Coast Community College hazardous material technician Serena Davis worries that something bad happened to her former fianc Jesse Bantos though she blames her feelings somewhat on her psychic pal Callista's warning. With her daughter by her side, the divorced Serena breaks into Jesse's home, allegedly seeking her stuff, when he fails to respond to her calls. She concludes something bad indeed occurred to the missing man.

Serena asks Police Officer Kermit Riggs to investigate. Only because he secretly loves Serena does Kermit makes inquiries at Jessie's place of work, the Hope Point Life Integration Clinic. Kermit soon concludes that Jesse ran off on his own accord to spend time with his new girlfriend, and Serena reluctantly accepts the findings until strangers arrive seeking quality time with Jessie.

BAD MOON RISING, the latest Hope Point merging of an amateur sleuth with a police procedural tale (see DARK OF THE MOON for Serena's sister Destiny's tale) is an exhilarating novel that sub-genre fans will enjoy while wondering foul play or not. The storyline contains a fabulous subplot involving the growing love between the lead couple that hinders (in a good way for readers) the official and unofficial investigations. Tess Pendergrass provides a fabulous cozy that requires one more novel starring a zany star-gazing friend.

Harriet Klausner