I didn't think I was going to like it as much as the actual series. I was really hesitant to get this one to listen to (I've listened to all of the NH series while at work and LOVE them all). In any event I look forward to the next installment of this series! I don't know if that contributed to why I didn't care for Denise or the other way around. The narrator does an excellent job, and I especially enjoy her accents with the exception of one: Denise which she does with a slight southern drawl, for some reason it just didn't work for me. For me personally, I shy away from stories w/ demons in them (I find them morally disturbing), the demon indeed was a nasty fellow, but he was actually a shapeshifter not Lucifer's minion (or if he was, that wasn't brought up in the book). Now with all that said, there was alot that WAS interesting about Spade's back story, thier circumstances, and the conclusion of story. Spade was Bones with a bit more polish, and thier relationship develops in much the same way as Bones and Cat's did: our heroine resisting the 'nasty' vampire, but eventually falls for his irrestable charm. Although she does display traits of strength and bravery, she waivers between those traits and being, well, just down right whinny and irritating at times.

As with her other books, the author does a great job with charater, story and plot development, however I wasn't especially fond of the main charater, Denise.

Although this book is about Spade and Denise, Bones and Cat do make a siginifcant appearance in the last 3rd of the book, just as their lives were at the end of book 4 of the Night Huntress novels. Unfortunatly only 'One Foot in the Grave' is availble in audio format, all the books are excellent. This is a 'spin-off' but there are spoilers for the other books. I HIGHLY recommend reading all of the 'Night Huntress' novels BEFORE this novel.

First drop of crimson by jeaniene frost