Nightshades

This mix of urban fantasy and slick crime drama follows the exploits of Alex McKenna, who's anxious to rise up in the newest division of the FBI: the Bureau of Paranormal Investigations. The city of Chicago is beset by vampiric shades that have been wreaking havoc all over the city. McKenna must solve a string of shade murders before more are committed. Most humans see the shades as purely destructive, but there may be more there than initially meets the eye. Reminiscent at times of both Silence of the Lambs and The Walking Dead, Olson's world is action-packed and gritty, and is complemented by a lively, conversational writing style. Where the novel falters a bit is in the relationship between Lindy, a shade, and Alex, which never transcends the tropes of interspecies paranormal romance. Otherwise, this is an engaging read with plenty of twists and turns. (July)