"Great supernatural romance"

American book critic Jordan Riley visits her cousin Jared and his wife Cindy in Venice during Carnevale. On Fat Tuesday, the trio attends a masquerade party. After dancing with a 'wolf', Jordan wanders into a blood bath in which her wolf rescues her from human looking beasts with fangs.

The police refuse to investigate, scoffing at Jordan's account as that of a foolish inebriated American tourist. The next morning Jared insists that it was a jest in poor taste, but Jordan rejects his explanation. Unable to let go, Jordan begins her own inquiries into her mysterious rescuer and the blood bathed orgy. Her quest places her in perilous danger yet puts her on the path for a lifetime of love.

DEEP MIDNIGHT is a strong supernatural romance that continues award winning Shannon Drake's vampire stories (see BENEATH A RED MOON and WHEN DARKNESS FALLS). The current tale engages the audience from the start, but readers of Ms. Drake's previous novels will find this one, albeit well written, to follow too closely, at least at the start, of WHEN DARKNESS FALLS. Still the story line is quite entertaining due to the relationship between Jordan (a delightfully daring damsel in distress) and the 'Wolf' (a phenomenally powerful protector) leading to thrills for sub-genre fans.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted August 22, 2001

Summary

An opulent Carnivale ball in Venice takes a terrifying turn for book critic Jordan Riley. As festivity turns into frenzy, she is rescued by a powerful man disguised as a wolf. But was what she witnessed really just the evening's entertainment -- or something far more sinister?

From a deconsecrated church in Venice to a secret society in New Orleans, Jordan is led on a nightmare journey to the razor's edge of reality. Her mysterious savior is always a shadow behind her. A man whose closeness will both torment and tantalize her as darkness falls -- and an eternal hunger threatens to consume her.