Grave Danger

James packs her delightful second Lavington Windsor novel (after Grave Secrets) with mysteries, relationship issues, and vampires. Brit Toni Windsor has it all: a gorgeous vampire boyfriend named Oscar, a decent job as an estate agent, and a knack for necromancy which she uses to assist her police officer brother in tricky cases. The latest case involves 12-year-old Bella Hornby, found dead at Toni’s old school. With very few suspects on the list, Toni sets out to investigate, while also slogging through the winter slow spell in sales and reckoning with the realization that her beloved Oscar isn’t quite the catch she thought he was. Indeed he comes with several strings attached: the worst is Benedict, the leader of the vampire Assemblage who has his own nefarious agenda. Then there’s caring, handsome doctor, Peter, who’s also in a relationship with Oscar and leaves Toni confused about where she stands. Characters leap off the page with witty dialogue and clear, sharp, very British voices. Toni’s relationship experiences, including some mention of domestic violence, especially strike a chord. Both a lighthearted paranormal romance and a thrilling supernatural mystery, this will have readers hooked. Agent: Laura Bennett, Liverpool Literary. (May)