Let me preface this review with the fact that I was nurtured as a child with a healthy (or unhealthy considering I was single digits in age) dose of Night Gallery, reruns of Twilight Zone, and Outer Limits. My favorite book was A Wrinkle in Time.

Somewhere along the line, I lost the love of the odd and interesting. Since paranormals are a hot trend, I figured now was the time to get back into the world of ghosts, goblins, and werewolves.

So I read Caridad Pineiro's latest book Darkness Calls. Diana Reyes was an FBI agent tracking down a would-be serial killer who found his victims in a New York City nightclub called The Lair.

Diana was a three dimensional heroine with baggage and a dark past. And she knew how to kick butt. This was no heroine that needs to be saved, which was a refreshing change from a lot of category women who are just waiting for their knights in shining armor.

On her first encounter with the hero, Ryder Latimer, she decked him. My kind of lady. Ryder was the owner of The Lair and Diana found herself instantly attracted to him. She sensed his dark side and didn't want to be pulled down into it again. She had already dragged herself out of her own brand of darkness to become a Special Agent in Charge for the FBI.

What she didn't realize is what Ryder's secret really was. He's a vampire. And not undead in the Anne Rice style, but one you'd find in the grocery store, albeit at midnight. Once again he's a fleshed out, very real character.

The story progressed as Diana enlisted Ryder to help her find this killer who frequented his nightclub. That required her to go undercover and dance several times with Ryder. Pineiro captured the heat and lust felt in a club full of singles. And she had this reader fanning herself from the heat and lust between Ryder and Diana.

This book is an excellent read, for the beach or for your commute to work on a train.

Reviewed By: Chris Redding
© May 2004