Hunter's Moon

Bad-to-the-bone radical separatist witches are out to kill England's prime minister in Devereux's satirical, scary and weirdly funny debut, already on its third U.K. printing. When Jack, an agent of the Service's Special Branch, learns that the magic-wielding Enlightened Sisterhood has joined forces with the all-male anarchist group Eleven-Eleven, he sends his partner, Annie Hargreaves, to infiltrate the coven. Shortly after her initiation into the inner circle, Annie vanishes along with nine key Sisterhood members. Jack swings into action to save her and deal with the dangerous nutters. Self-proclaimed former exorcist Devereux doesn't flinch when it comes to odd magic rituals, gory violence, kinky sex or hilarious spy escapades, and Jack's brash narration is disarmingly addictive despite his quaint descriptions of “the dumbass Yank” and “Goddess-worshipping, man-hating, we-know-everything-because-we're-women” feminists. (May)