With a terrifyingly powerful Gray Lord named Dana Shea (from the Daoine Sidhe) to referee the negotiations, and powerful wolves like Jean Chastel (the maneating Beast of Gevaudan) anxious to cause as much trouble and bloodshed as possible, Charles and Anna have their work cut out for them. Fully healed from his trying silver injuries in “Alpha and Omega” and Cry Wolf, Charles is sent to Seattle on his father’s behalf, bringing his new wife and mate, Anna – who also happens to be an extremely rare Omega wolf. At least, that’s what Charles, Bran’s son and second in command, tells his father. But, put a bunch of dominant Alpha wolves in a room together, and it’s a recipe for disaster. Thus, Bran calls a preliminary conference of the most powerful, important werewolves in the world to meet in Seattle, so that he can allay their concerns and fears, for revealing the existence of werewolves in North America means they will be “outed” everywhere. Bran, the Marrok, has decided that it is time to formally reveal their existence to the world just as the fae have done before them, but he wants to maintain more control over the situation than the Gray Lords managed. The stage is set, and the werewolves of North America are ready to come out of the supernatural closet. Now Anna and Charles must combine their talents to hunt down the real killer – or Charles will take the fall. Charles’s reputation makes him the prime suspect, and the penalty for the crime is execution. Mated to werewolf Charles Cornick, the son – and enforcer – of the leader of the North American werewolves, Anna Latham now knows how dangerous being a werewolf is, especially when a werewolf opposes Charles and his father is struck down. And last year, I read and loved Cry Wolf, got to interview the lovely Patty Briggs in person, and…well, do you really need any more? Long story short, I was chomping at the bit to get my paws on Hunting Ground. Then, I discovered her new Urban Fantasy series about a coyote shapeshifter VW mechanic named Mercy, and I was hooked. I’m a huge fan girl and have been since discovering her fantasy novels in middle school. Why did I read this book: It’s no surprise I adore Patricia Briggs. Stand alone or series: The second full length novel in the Alpha & Omega series, following last year’s release of Cry Wolf, though it’s really the third entry in the series proper (the first story is a novella titled “Alpha and Omega” in the On the Prowl anthology). Publication Date: August 2009 (US)/October 2009 (UK)

On the prowl patricia briggs