Shifting Shadows

This rich collection includes all six previously published Mercy Thompson short stories, along with four new ones and two epilogue-like outtakes. There’s a little something for everyone. “The Star of David” offers up monsters and Christmas cheer; “Roses in Winter” is a coming-of-age story starring the youngest-ever werewolf; and in “In Red, with Pearls,” a gay werewolf must determine why a zombie tried to kill his lover. Of particular note for series readers is “Silver,” in which Briggs relates how Bran and Samuel became werewolves, and describes the latter’s sorrowful romance with Ariana. Another standout is “Alpha and Omega,” the dynamic romantic novella that kicked off Charles and Anna’s subseries. These intriguing, suspenseful, and occasionally heartwarming stories will thrill and delight fans of Mercy and her friends. (Sept.)