Chasing The Shadows

When your lover is a vampire, you expect the unexpected…

Chasing the Shadows is the third instalment in Keri Arthur’s Michael and Nikki series, published by ImaJinn books. The other titles Dancing with the Devil, Hearts in Darkness, Kiss the Night Goodbye are all currently available and highly recommended.

Nikki James is a Private Investigator who has spent many years living in a street gang. She is sharp-witted, stubborn and is more than capable of protecting her own skin. Almost a year ago she crossed paths with a vampire, Michael, who has turned her life upside down. As dearly as she has come to love Michael, he continually refuses to let her join his quest to destroy evil entities. Nikki’s own psychic abilities have increased since she became involved with him. Their minds share a telepathic link. As their relationship develops it appears that their minds are also merging, enabling each to draw strength from the other. Nikki wants to be accepted for the strong woman that she is, not just a friend and lover. Michael is just as determined to keep Nikki well clear of danger. This struggle between the couple is a thread worked through the main storyline. The couple also need to hunt down and kill a vampire master, who cruelly mutilates his victims before murdering them. They believe that he is targeting a group of former Boston schoolgirls who are now wealthy women.

The barely recognisable body of a woman is found with indications that at least six vampires were involved in her death. Nikki and her boss, Jake, hightail it to San Francisco. Nikki is able to trace victims of crime by “reading” personal items and two more woman have been kidnapped. When Michael returns from a trip to Ireland he finds that Nikki has left his home. He is then contacted by the “Circle” (a group of paranormal beings who fight the dark side), and told of a group of vampires who are butchering women. Upon his arrival in San Francisco Michael learns that Nikki is already on the case, as she considers herself as more than able to deal with the situation. Michael is irate. Once again Nikki has placed herself in unnecessary danger. When a personal friend becomes involved and the vampire, “Farmer” is able to connect with Nikki telepathically, he is proved to be correct; dealings with vampires are not to be taken lightly. Nikki is ready to give up on their relationship, feeling that if Michael will not compromise and let her assist him, she has no place in his future. It’s all or nothing. Slowly it is dawning on Michael that Nikki is evolving into a powerful being herself and she will not back down. It may be all too late because the vampire has the upper hand…at a horrific cost.

Keri Arthur takes her readers on another trip to the paranormal world of vampires, spirits and zombies. These beings are very realistic and fit right in to her contemporary setting. As the relationship of Michael and Nikki steps up a notch, Ms. Arthur introduces more of Nikki’s mind-control capabilities. Nikki is transforming into an incredibly advanced being because of her psychic talents. The friction between the couple creates additional drama and adds an edge to an already tense situation, the vampire’s cruel torment of his victims. Many of the attacks described are quite horrific, but not out of place and are essential to understand how sick the mind of this vampire is. Absolutely riveting action scenes lead into revelations that force the main characters to realise what they mean to each other and how unique their compatibility is. This series is, for this reader, very addictive; the Michael and Nikki storyline is as compelling as the vampire slaying quests. Chasing the Shadows is essential reading for fans of the paranormal. Another 5 Angels keeper!

Reviewed by: Naomi