An elf packing heat who enjoys looking like jail bait when necessary is the latest twist on the New Weird—fantasy fused with contemporary mystery tropes laced with erotic undertones—a genre Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake series helped establish almost 10 years ago. In the first of the Changeling trilogy, Cunningham (Windwalker
) delivers urban fantasy with a straight face (C.S.I.
via Tolkien?), employing the quicksilver pacing typical of such suspense authors as Vachs, Gardner and Koontz. Gwen "GiGi" Gellman, however, is not a vampire slayer; she's a freelance PI based in Providence on the brink of discovering her DNA is not human. Cunningham's fey orphan has spent 10 years in law enforcement when an undercover assignment ends with her reputation blown to bits along with two cops. At 34, Gwen must deal with her growing psychic powers and a second case involving a missing 14-year-old (the first turns up a corpse, unsavory memories and readers asking "Did I miss something?"). Gwen goes undercover into the world of underage erotic dancers at Underhill, a "gentleman's club," and meets the mysterious owner, Ian Forest, whose assistance creates more puzzles. This is an auspicious debut for a cool crime-solver who could teach Anita a thing or two. Agent, Frank Weimann. (Oct. 1)
FYI:
Cunningham is also the author of the best-selling paperback
Star Wars—The New Jedi Order: Dark Journey.
