South Austin Vampire: A Blue-eyed Indian Mystery

In Hall's entertaining if less than credible second Blue-eyed Indian mystery (after June 2010's Bones of the Rain), Owen Peasey, the owner of the Devil's Due, "an Austin live music spot," hires PI Travis Treegrow to find out what's troubling his star singer and songwriter, Lola Pillaccherosi. Trav is soon investigating a murder after Lola turns up with her body drained of blood and two puncture marks in her neck. With help from his former girlfriend, Cassie, a Texas Hill Country peace officer, Trav uncovers some answers that may have less to do with the supernatural than with greed and chicanery. Questions about vampire cult leader Levi Damocles and others connected to drug and human trafficking intensify the fear factor. Hall skillfully captures Austin's music scene through the rueful eyes of his laid-back sleuth, but could have done a better job with his vampire twist. (Oct.)