"Fabulous fantasy undercover investigative tale"

Susto is taking over the streets as the designer drug of the moment because the rumors have it that it embellishes sexual performance. Worth billions on the black market, the Feds assign its vampire squad team Darkwing to get the drug off the street.

Darkwinger vampiric fashion plate Daphne Urban is hurting as her first love affair in almost two centuries with the then human Darius, whose life she saved when she converted him, ended when he dumped her (see BEYOND THE PALE). Though wallowing in self pity, her superiors could not care less as they assign her the key role to get inside what appears to be the first family of Susto distribution, the Fitzmaurice brood, who has connections to the highest levels of political power. Daphne quickly concludes the best way to go undercover is to go under cover with hedonistic party animal St. Julian Fitzmaurice. However, to her chagrin, Darius returns with demands that could if she heeds her heart, soul (?) and body could destroy her mission.

This is more a fantasy undercover investigative tale than a romance but the second Darkwing Chronicle is an exciting tale starring a wonderful heroine who wants to left alone to drown in self pity, but has no choice but to do as the government wants which is putting her to work or will kill her. The story line is action-packed but controlled by the heroine who works the nightlife on the streets of Manhattan with some flashbacks to her previous lover prior to Darius, Lord Byron. Fans of fun urban fantasy romps with a pinch of romance and several cups of suspense will seek savannah Russe's delightful charmer PAST REDEMPTION.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted May 25, 2006

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Summary

Scandal. Secrets. Seduction. It's all in the family.

There's a lethal new recreational drug out on the party circuit. To stop its spread, Team Darkwing must immerse themselves in New York City's nightlife, where they discover ties between the drug's revenue and the country's most powerful dynasty. To infiltrate the family, Daphne flirts with its weakest link, a party boy whom she'd love to sink her teeth into. But even as their dalliance leads her deeper into the case, Daphne can't stop thinking about Darius, the darkly sexy human she claimed with a passionate bite. He's the bad boy she knows she must forget—if she doesn't, she'll be risking not only the mission but her own heart.