Switchback

In this satisfying sequel to Nightshades, the Chicago branch of the Bureau for Preternatural Investigation tackles a challenging case. In the backwater town of Switchback, Wis., one of the town misfits is arrested on suspicion of being a shade (a supernatural entity). Special agent Alex McKenna and his vampire partner, Lindy, are called to the scene when the suspect escapes, leaving a pile of mangled corpses in his wake. A bizarre message is found at the crime scene, leading Alex and Lindy to wonder whether there is more to the situation than initially meets the eye. Olson keeps the adrenaline pumping throughout, and her humorous asides lighten the mood. Lindy’s struggle with her identity and place in the bureau injects depth into Olson’s gritty world, where shades and humans coexist. With complex characters, Olson enlivens a familiar genre. Fans of urban fantasy and Olson’s previous work will enjoy the bureau’s second outing. Agent: Ethan Ellenberg, Ethan Ellenberg Literary. (Oct.)