Hell's Belle
by Karen Greco
Another action-packed, supernatural crime-fighting offering from Greco (Bloody Boulevard, 2013).
Half-human, half-vampire Nina Martinez and her partner, Frankie, are members of the supersecret Blood Ops division—a governmental agency that specializes in supernatural crimes. After taking down a vampire nest in Newark, N.J., Nina returns to Providence, R.I., to partner up with her Aunt Babe in the family bar. A highly trained fighter, Nina and her skills come in handy when Marcello, a centuries-old vampire, suddenly appears in the bar, bent on destroying her. After putting up a formidable fight, Marcello succeeds in slitting Nina’s throat, though she survives. Not only is her quick vampire healing on the fritz, but Max, the cute surfer guy she was just flirting with, turns out to be an FBI agent tracking a serial killer. As the body count rises, Nina begins experiencing strange new abilities. Even more shocking, she finds herself falling for Max—at least until she becomes his prime suspect for the murders. Knowing that Marcello won’t stop until he finishes the job, Aunt Babe shares family secrets that leave Nina reeling. Unsure of who or what she is, Nina must reveal all to Max in an effort to convince him of her innocence and hopefully unite them on the same side. With plenty of action and wit, readers are lured into the dangerous world of supernatural crime fighters. What could have easily been just another vampire hunter story is fleshed out with creative storytelling that puts Nina and her team on the same level of those they seek to eradicate. Eschewing the usual lore, Greco impressively navigates a high-energy, contemporary story of vampires and witches. Her straightforward style keeps the pace moving as she deftly unfurls a story that avoids the pitfalls of the paranormal formula and successfully incorporates interesting new twists that fit organically into the plotline. The well-rendered, relatable characters easily hold their own in this captivating read.
A refreshing addition to the well-stocked vampire genre.