Bayou Born

A mysterious girl and lovestruck demons combine to odd effect in a story that begins as a crime novel and then veers into dark urban fantasy. Edwards (the Black Dog series) introduces Luce Boudreau, who, as a child, was found in the bayou with no memories of her early life. She follows in her adoptive father’s footsteps and becomes a cop in Canton, Miss. When a young girl is found floating in the swamps bearing the same metallic markings on her arms that Luce has, Luce believes that this nameless girl is the key to unlocking the mystery of her past—but she quickly learns some secrets should be left alone. Cole Heaton, head of White Horse Security, is retained by Luce’s father to protect both the foundling child and Luce. A topsy-turvy romance forms between Luce and Cole, though he rebuffs all of Luce’s advances—for surprising reasons related to demons, dragons, and the four horses of the apocalypse. By the end of the book, FBI investigations coexist uneasily with human-demon mergers. Though the ending leaves much unresolved, fans of snarky heroines and creepy atmospheres will still find the story enjoyable. Agent: Lucienne Diver, Knight Agency. (Jan.)