Matters Of The Blood [Paperback]

"Matters Of The Blood" starts off excellently. Within 3 pages I was hooked, the narrator's voice drawing me in to her story with her brilliant turn of phrase. This book is written in the first person so we see the story from Keira Kelly's eyes... and they're not quite human eyes. Keira is 36 and returned two years ago to the small Texas town where she grew up as part of a very unusual family. The rest of the family are living in Canada, except for Keira's human cousin, Marty. As the book starts we discover that Marty is asking Keira for help as he's in trouble, Keira is suffering from troubling dreams, and the Change is happening to her early... 20 years too early. When the Change is complete she will discover what kind of supernatural being she will be (shapeshifter, necromancer, psychic etc) but at the moment she's randomly experiencing strange dreams and flashbacks as the Change begins. And some of the dreams are troubling with blood, hunting and death - and the death often seems to be happening to Marty.

Keira's past intrudes in her present when her former lover returns as Sheriff and wants to rekindle something, especially as Adam Walker, a man she knew in London eight years before, also arrives on the scene. When Marty is killed Keira tries to discover why and who did it - there are some significant marks of the supernatural about the death, something that the Sheriff can't know about. Keira begins to discover that the new resort in town, Wild Moon, might have some rather unhealthy people staying there and that some of her old friends, holocaust survivors, try to warn her about her safety. Keira discovers that she's not the only supernatural being in her town, and not just because her 1200 year old brother has arrived to take care of her during the Change.

Although partly a romance there isn't a great consummation in this story, the romantic plot is subordinate to the main murder mystery. There are a number of people who might be involved in Marty's murder and for their own reasons, both supernatural and human. Keira has to deal with the strange effects of her Change, with her guilt about Marty's death and with the realisation that people around her are not all they seem.

This was an excellent book, readable and gripping with varied characters, an interesting plot and a great setting in small-town Texas. The narraator's voice has an interesting blend of emotion and humour and she makes some great side-comments as you move through the story. I understand that this book is the first of a series and I look forward very much to the future episodes.

Originally published for Curled Up With A Good Book, www.curledup.com. © Helen Hancox 2007

Keira Kelly is a half-breed descendant of sidhe and other stranger supernatural beings living life in small town Texas. After a relationship breakdown she ran home to lick her wounds and ended up stuck with the job of babysitting her powerless, human throwback cousin Marty. When Marty is murdered Keira is plunged into the investigation into his death. Meanwhile Keira also has to cope with the Change, (when a supernatural comes into their adult powers and it finally becomes clear what sort of supernatural being they will be - werewolf, necromancer, healer, psychic etc...) and Adam Walker, a man from her past turning up unexpectedly.

This story was well written with an engaging main character and set in a version of the real world with an interesting twist. The mystery plot was good with some nice twists and turns but nothing spectacular. I enjoyed this book, but I didn't love it. I liked the characters, I liked the setting, the concept was nicely original but for me something was lacking that I just can't quite put my finger on. All in all though, it's a good solid book that starts this series well. I'll be looking forward to reading more by this author in the future and with any luck I'll be giving the next book five stars.

Keira Kelly lives in a small town in Texas tasked to keep an eye on her cousin Marty who lives in the same town as the resident mortician. The rest of Keira's extended family or clan as this family of powerful supernaturals are known have moved to Canada. Keira is 36 and has started the change a supernatural experience that will determine what supernatural she will become. As a part of this unique process Keira starts to see visions of her cousin Marty. Marty is the outcast of the family he is totally human by some quirk of nature or genetic malfunction). Marty is voilently murdered in these visions and when the visions become reality Keira is thrown into the murder investigation. Then there is Keira's old love interest who has come back into her life and the mysterious Adam Walker to think about.

I did find this book to be slow starting but once it hooked me could not put it down. I will absolutely be buying the sequal.