Blood of Eden

Chick lit meets police procedural in Dane’s series launch, which will disappoint fans of paranormal romance. Dane, better known for erotic romances written as Tawny Taylor, rejects the usual paranormal tropes without establishing any new ones; her entirely human protagonists use entirely human methods to hunt a creature that may, in fact, be human. Sloan Skye, a 20-something genius with self-esteem issues, is interning with the brand-new Paranormal Behavioral Analysis Unit of the FBI alongside two gorgeous guys who (of course) vie for her charms as they and other members of the inexplicably all-white cast roam a sound-stage version of Baltimore in search of a vampire. Sloan’s schizophrenic mother and mad-scientist roommate offer comic breaks from the romantic and professional maneuvering, resulting in a crowded canvas that never achieves high adrenaline or page-turning tension. (Dec.)