Beneath a Darkening Moon

When the peaceful Ripple Creek Werewolf Reservation is disturbed by not one but two murders, Ranger Savannah Grant is worried. These murders aren’t ordinary murders either; they are very similar to the murders that took place ten years ago at the Rosehall commune in Kansas. The murders are eerily similar to the murders committed by Jontee McGuire, but he’s dead now, so there’s no way he’s can be the murderer. The Ripple Creek murders not only bring death back into Savannah’s life, but it brings Cade Jones of the Interspecies Investigation Squad, back into her life. Ten years ago, Savannah loved Cade with all her eighteen-year-old heart. But he betrayed her beyond belief, and now, seeing him again only brings hurt and the anger of his duplicity back again.

Cade isn’t any happier to see Savannah. The way he sees it, she’s the one who betrayed him, who hurt him, who almost got him killed. During his infiltration of the Rosehall commune, he came to care very deeply for Savannah, but wasn’t able to handle her ability to have sex with any man who Jontee wanted, especially Jontee himself. Cade wanted her for himself, thus their promise to the moon that Savannah couldn’t be with anyone other than himself and Jontee. The promise is still in effect ten years later and now, the heat between Cade and Savannah is flaring up more than ever. Though they each despise each other for different reasons, the desire for each other is still there, something that they have to fulfill. Cade has no intention of letting Savannah get away from him this time though and he makes her promise to the moon again, that this time, she can’t leave him until he says so.

But as the murder investigation gets underway, Savannah and Cade have to learn to work with each other. The local reservation rangers and the IIS never get along but both these leaders know that they have to make a concerted effort to try to put their animosities aside before anyone else gets hurt. What ensues is a suspenseful and mysterious murder investigation that simmers with passion and lust, unanswered questions, all within the confines of a quest to stop a murderous rampage that shows all the signs of being something personal against Cade and Savannah. Will they stop the murder in time? Will they learn to trust each other again? Be sure to read Beneath a Darkening Moon to find out.

This was an outstanding story. There really is no other statement that can describe how much pleasure I derived while reading it. Not only was the romance a strong part of the story, but Keri Arthur’s combination of werewolves, murder, and small town gossip and lives makes for an enthralling tale. What made this an even better story is the fact that Keri Arthur so cleverly and complexly created a rich cast of characters that were interwoven throughout this story. She left no stone unturned and no plot incomplete, giving the romance and the murder mystery equal attention, ensuring that the reader was constantly on the edge of their seat, wondering who was doing the killing and wondering if Cade and Savannah were ever going to be able to trust each other again. If you like a good mystery that is flavored with the paranormal and plenty of romance, Beneath a Darkening Moonis definitely the story to read. You won’t be disappointed.

Reviewed by: Sarah W