Brimstone Bound

Starred review from December 21, 2020
The fantastic first Firebrand urban fantasy from Harper (Best Wishes) bristles with tension, mystery, and a tantalizing hint of romance. Emma Bellamy is a heartbeat away from finishing up her detective training when she’s assigned to the worst rotation in her London police department­­—Supernatural Squad. The vampires, werewolves, and Others of London have their own system of justice, so the Supe Squad is largely a formality. Shortly after receiving this disappointing assignment, Emma wakes up in the morgue following her own murder, and her life turns into a complex, deadly game of cat and mouse as she hunts for her killer and tries to understand why and how she was resurrected. To make matters worse, werewolves keep disappearing, her mentor on the Supe Squad vanishes without a trace, and she seems to have acquired a vampire shadow in the form of the mysterious Lukas. Harper brilliantly pairs supernatural intrigue with humor and well-drawn procedural elements. Readers will quickly come to adore the quirky characters, sharp dialogue, and exquisite world building. Combining the urban fantasy stylings of Ilona Andrews with tense British mystery that will put readers in mind of Agatha Christie, this spellbinding series opener promises good things to come.