Circle of the Moon

In Hunter’s electrifying fourth Soulwood novel, probationary special agent Nell Ingram must help Unit Eighteen of PsyLED, which investigates paranormal events, confront a vicious foe that seems to be targeting her boss, wereleopard Rick LaFleur. Nell is mostly recovered from their last mission, and she’s hoping to gain custody of her 12-year-old sister, Mud. Her colleague and tentative boyfriend, wereleopard Occam, is still healing from being seriously burned over much of his body. Now magic circles, complete with blood sacrifices, are being invoked all over Knoxville, Tenn., and their tainted magic is calling to Rick—putting him, and the rest of the team, in grave danger. Someone from Rick’s past may have a connection to the circles, as well as to a string of violent vampire attacks. Luckily, Nell has the power of the earth at her fingertips, but she must fight her burgeoning bloodlust, which is tied directly to her land, Soulwood. Hunter’s tense narrative cranks up the danger to a fever pitch, and some genuinely terrifying scenes will have readers on the edges of their seats. Nell is an appealing heroine who really hits her stride in this intense installment. (Mar.)