This first installment in the Jill Kismet series introduces the reader to a dark, scary world and one of its protectors. Rescued from a life on the streets, Jill was trained by Mikhail, her former mentor, as a Hunter - one who stands between humanity and the creatures of the night, working side by side with law enforcement. On the advice of Mikhail, Jill enhanced her power by making a deal with a local hellbreed (demon), Perry: in exchange for an hour of her time each month, the mark that Perry leaves on her wrist allows Jill to pull on hellbreed strength, making her almost indestructible in her battles against whatever evil she fights.

When several police officers are brutally murdered, Jill suspects that some sort of Were may be responsible. Shortly thereafter, a special FBI squad comprised of Weres arrives to aid in the investigation, announcing that they have a rogue Were on the loose. The team brings along tracker Saul Dustcircle, a werecat, and he and Jill manage to aggravate one another, complicated by the fact that he stays at her home for the duration of the case. Tracking the rogue while fending off Perry means Jill will not rest anytime soon.

Aside from the intricate world-building and riveting action, this book contains two fascinating characteristics. First, the fact that hunters are essentially denied the comforts of religion because they take lives on a daily basis, though they are in fact providing a service to the Church, seems blatantly unjust. Jill does get in a few well-placed jabs now and then: “Religion might be a little more civilized if a picture of a feast instead of a Roman torture was pasted up in the churches” (281). Second, creating male Weres with a domestic bent presents a fresh perspective. With characters to root for in their seemingly impossible tasks, this novel provides a superb beginning to a series that promises to be an excellent addition to the urban fantasy genre.

Book Stats:

• Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Orbit; 1 edition (July 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316001783
• ISBN-13: 978-0316001786

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Books in the Jill Kismet series in the order they should be read:
Night Shift
Hunter’s Prayer
Redemption Alley
Flesh Circus

(2 votes, average: 5 out of 5)

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