Blood Trail [Paperback]

 

 

Create your own review

BLOOD TRAIL is the second book in the thoroughly enjoyable Blood (Ties) series. As a fan of the TV show I was thrilled to discover this 5 part series of books and except for the absence of cell phones you won't be able to tell they were written in 1991. Once more I was impressed by author Tanya Huffs writing as she expertly weaves together multiple storylines and POV's creating a fun, action filled paranormal mystery. We even get a little romance this time (although it remains fade-to-black) as ex-cop turned P.I Vicki Nelson again joins forces with 400 year old romance author and vampire Henry Fitzroy. Throw in Vickie's jealous former partner Mike Celluci, a family of sheep farming werewolves and a crazed sniper with religious issues and you've got yourself the makings of a great story.

Vicki is a strong willed and very likable character who lives in the real world with the rest of us however ever since she met Henry and battled a demon in the last book she has also come to accept the world of the paranormal. It doesn't take much for her to accept a family of werewolves as her next case. It seems someone has discovered the Heerken's secret and has been hunting and killing pack members while they attend to their flocks of sheep. Of course they can't go to the police so investigator Vicki Nelson is their only hope. Huff's descriptions of Wer behaviour are well done here to the point that I felt she must have done research on real werewolves as she gives us often hilarious look at their possessiveness issues, politics, pack hierarchy and other social behaviours. All the while the neighbours just assume they're nudists with lots of big dogs to keep strangers away.

Because of Vicki's night blindness she takes Henry with her to the Ontario farm. This works to her advantage as Henry can patrol nights while she finds clues and tries to discover the sniper's identity during the day. Henry and Vicki continue to have an aura of sexual tension which eventually reaches a breaking point after Henry is injured and forced to feed. Vicki is more than willing to accommodate him and this only gets further complicated when Mike suddenly arrives at the farm. It seems after doing some investigation he's now convinced Henry's s involved in organized crime. There's lots of snappy dialogue as the three fight off the sniper, angry werewolves and each other.

For the most part this was a fast paced and entertaining read with the storyline between Henry, Vicki and Mike continuing to develop throughout. Although I felt the story lagged in the middle it was still a great read that I would recommend to any paranormal junkies. Cheers.

"Blood Trail" is the second instalment in Tanya Huff's "Blood" series and it is superb. I loved the first book in this series, "Blood Price", and so was thrilled to discover that the second book was just as good, maybe better. With three central characters who I have really come to care about and a storyline that gripped me from page one and wouldn't let go, "Blood Trail" is an immensely entertaining and satisfying read!

The series revolves around Private Investigator Vicki Nelson, an ex-policewoman forced to resign from the force because of her failing eyesight. Vicki is a wonderful heroine, a tough and determined woman who readers can respect, but at the same time she has plenty of vulnerabilities which make her seem all the more real and allow readers to identify with her. In "Blood Trail", Vicki's friend, Henry Fitzroy, 450-year-old vampire, romance writer, and bastard son of Henry VIII, comes to her with a plea for help. Henry's good friends, a large family called the Heerkens, are being murdered one by one, and they can't go to the police for help because they have an amazing secret, they're werewolves! The two members of the family who have been killed so far were shot at night in their fur-form, which makes it all the more complicated, since Vicki is completely night-blind. But once Vicki meets two of the younger Heerkens, twins named Rose and Peter, she just can't refuse. So Henry and Vicki head out of Toronto into the countryside around London, Ontario - Vicki planning to do the day work and Henry the night.

But as Vicki begins to investigate, it soon becomes clear that the Heerkens haven't been as careful as they thought. Someone knows just what they are and is planning to murder them all. After a close examination of the area, Vicki discovers where the killer did his/her shooting from, but it doesn't bring her any closer to finding out who it is. And from the location the shots were fired, the killer has to be an Olympic calibre marksman, which doesn't bode well for the wer, who refuse to limit their freedom.

And as time goes by, Vicki becomes more and more attached to the Heerkens, and more and more determined to catch the monster who is murdering these good people before anyone else dies. Huff does an excellent job of portraying the wer society, making it highly similar to that of real wolves. All of the wers are beautifully portrayed, and Huff makes them seem incredibly real; from Stuart and Nadine, the alpha pair, all the way down to Daniel, the youngest child and an exuberant little cub.

And amidst the mystery and suspense, Vicki's relationship with Henry (the main reason I like these books so much) is developing and growing into something very important to both of them. It's great watching Vicki and Henry interact, and the character interactions get REALLY interesting as Mike Celluci, Vicki's best friend, former partner, and sometime lover, arrives to find out just what is going on. Mike, still a cop with the Toronto police, is convinced that Henry is involved in organized crime, and plans to prove it to Vicki. Of course, when Mike arrives, he has a serious coping failure when he discovers what Vicki has gotten herself involved in, and things get a little crazy.

"Blood Trail" builds in suspense, and as the conclusion gets closer, it becomes harder and harder to put the book down. I was utterly absorbed in the story and was amazed when I finished and realized I had read the whole book in one day! Huff has created another winning tale that is sure to please readers everywhere. Vicki, Henry, and Mike will compel you to read about them, and the wers are just the icing on the cake. "Blood Trail" is a fabulous read, containing a perfect blend of mystery, fantasy, and romance. So don't miss out on the fun and excitement, buy "Blood Trail" today!

This is Tanya Huff's second novel in the "Blood Series." If you have not read Ms. Huff's entire series, be sure to obtain all five books. They are excellent and you will not be disappointed! (Blood Price; Blood Trial; Blood Lines; Blood Pact; Blood Debt).

In her first novel, Blood Price, you met ex-cop Vickie Nelson turned private investigator, who had to leave the police force due to a dibilitating eye condition which leaves her literally blind at night. Quite by accident while working on a case, Vickie met romance writer/400 year old vampire Henry. Henry helped Vickie with her first case by being her eyes at night. Vickie and Henry are not only friends but there is an attraction beginning to blossom between them. Also in the mix is Vickie's ex working partner, Mike Celluli, who she still sees as a friend and romantic interest. This second book continues here.

Vickie receives a telephone call from her friend Henry. He has a new case for her if she decides to accept. Vickie goes to Henry's apartment to meet her new clients, who turn out to be none other than werewolves. It seems that someone has discovered the werewolves' secret (that they are indeed half human, half animal), and has been shooting and killing various family members. The various killings have all taken place at night while the weres are at their home (they own a farm in the London countryside). As you can guess, the weres cannot go to the police in fear of their secret being discovered. Vickie and Henry will have to go to the weres' farm and work together to help the weres discover the killer before any further family members are killed. That's the basic premise of the story.

I have noticed that many vampire fans of early Laurell Hamilton's Anita Blake series have always recommended Tanya Huff's series as another excellent vampire series. I have to agree. I collect all types of vampire novels, and next to the early Anita Blake's work, this series is just as good. You will not be disappointed. I highly recommend.

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review

› See all 20 customer reviews on Amazon.ca

 

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow, excellent!!
I really enjoyed this book. The plot with the werewolves kept me in the pages for hours. I really enjoyed the conflict between Henry and Celluci.

Published on Aug 15 2008 by ap236

3.0 out of 5 stars The storyline thickens
The love duel between the vampire and the policeman over the former police detective is about 2/3 of the plot. Read more

Published on Dec 13 2003 by J. Martin

2.0 out of 5 stars Not in the same class with others of the ilk
I've read the first three books in this series, and I can't say I particularly cared for this one. The werewolves are pretty silly, and not nearly as fleshed out as other... Read more

Published on Jun 17 2003

4.0 out of 5 stars I love this book
Seriously though anyone who is a fan of vampire or lyncanthrope fiction needs to read this book. I fell absolutely in love with the Blood series and any Hamilton fan will... Read more

Published on Dec 4 2002 by V. Dalpe

3.0 out of 5 stars Not bad...
This series gets stale fairly quickly. This book in particular was so so, the werewolves were interesting, but not so much the rest. Read more

Published on Sep 26 2002 by Moe811

4.0 out of 5 stars A Werewolf Hunting Sharpshooter
This is the second book in the Vicki Nelson/Henry Fitzroy series. Vicki's life is just getting back to normal after her demon-hunting escapade in the last book when Henry, a... Read more

Published on July 24 2002 by Silmarwen

5.0 out of 5 stars If you like Laurel Hamilton, you'll like Tanya Huff
This was the second in this series that I read and while the first one (Blood Price) was very good, this one went on to be great. Read more

Published on May 20 2002 by redtraveler

5.0 out of 5 stars Vampires, Werewolves, oh my!
This is the second book in a series by Tanya Huff. And it gets better and better. The trio is back, Vicki, Henry and Mike, who all come together to help solve the case of who's... Read more

Published on Mar 9 2002 by MizMode

4.0 out of 5 stars Someone is Killing the Werewolves of Canada
"Blood Trail" is the second in Tanya Huff's vampire series. Written in 1992 it anticipates and foreshadows Laurell Hamilton's Anita Blake series. Read more

Published on Aug 23 2001 by Marc Ruby™

5.0 out of 5 stars Blood Trails
The entire "Blood" series by Tanya Huff is an excellent mix of adventure, humor, drama, thriller, and fantasy. Read more

Published on Aug 16 2001 by P. Clay

Search Customer Reviews
Only search this product's reviews

› See all 20 customer reviews on Amazon.ca

Search Listmania!