Rating: 4 1/2 stars (Spotlight Review)

For Boston druid Connor Grey life is never easy. Ejected from the Fae Guild for an incident that caused the loss of the majority of his druidic abilities and left a "dark mass" in his brain Connor is forced to subsist on consultation fees from the Boston PD. In the aftermath of his last case, which left a magical taint hanging over Boston, Connor is hauled before the Guild, and faery under-queen Cerridwen, to explain the taint, even though he has no clear memory of what happened or how he stopped it.

At the same time, it becomes clear that the veil between worlds is dropping with the approach of Samhain, something that hasn't happened in over 100 years. What this bodes for both the worlds of faery and human is anything but good.

While Connor is defending himself to the Guild, a new homicide case emerges in the Weird, Boston's fey-ghetto. A druid is killing humans but the Guild isn't interested, leaving it to the Boston PD to solve. As things play out, it becomes apparent that the murders are connected to the rapidly thinning veils. As the veils thin, and the taint spreads, the dark mass in Connor's head continues to grow but its nature remains a mystery. Unless Connor can solve the case before Samhain, the world will be inundated with the return of the dead, a potential army that could change everything once again.

In this third installment of his Connor Grey series, Mark Del Franco ups the ante once again. Connor is an engaging character with a real heart and a sense of humour that humanizes him to the reader. The world that he lives in is well-constructed and easy to sink into. I also find it incredibly refreshing to read a male protagonist, when so much paranormal fiction is dominated by female protagonists. Del Franco has created the perfect hero for the modern age.
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Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Ace (January 27, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0441016898
ISBN-13: 978-0441016891