Review: Deep Dark Secret by Sierra Dean

Deep Dark Secret by Sierra Dean (Secret McQueen #3)

bought


Synopsis from Goodreads
The only good Secret is a buried Secret.


Secret McQueen has hunted vampires, werewolves, and every conceivable supernatural menace-to-society. Seen it all? Not even close. When the queen of the were-ocelots comes to her for help finding a missing girl, the half-vampire/half-werewolf soon realizes how much she has to learn about the things that go bump in the night.
The case of the missing cat is one thing. Pile it up with her new duties as a Tribunal Leader, her tenuous position as mate to the king of the Eastern werewolves, and a slew of new (and unwelcome) supernatural abilities, and Secret is once again in familiar territory. Way over her head. But for this multitasking half-breed, it's business as "un"usual.
What knocks her for a loop, though, isn't her lover's intoxicating kiss. It's the missing memories rushing at her from out of nowhere, signaling a rapidly approaching fork in her destiny. Her choice will affect not only her life, but her love.
Warning: Contains a werewolf king with wandering hands, a creepy English professor with nefarious plans, and one hell of an unexpected gala evening at Columbia.


Amazon kindle US/UK 

8.5/10

* * * 

It's not for the first time I find myself between books, not knowing what to read next, and Secret McQueen's adventures provides this mind-numbing, snarky and noir-ish entertainment that leaves me strangely perky and refreshed.

I've said that already, - Secret is a blond, perky, miniature... She plays on her blondness, and enjoys it immensely. Snark is coming off of her in spades. She also has a very messy love life, and "trouble" as a middle name.


If in book#1 she confronted an evil werewolf, and in book#2 an evil vampire, book#3 is completely out of her comfort zone. Secret is asked to find Lucy, missing niece of were-ocelots Queen, and accidentally at the same time, her ex-boyfriend Gabriel asks for her help to prove he is not guilty of murder of a college girl.

The investigation reveals not your average villain, but something much more sinister and alien, and as usual, Secret ends up fighting for her life and the lives of those she love for all it's worth.

At the same time, Lucas, the asshat King of Werewolves, whom I really dislike, continues to trick Secret into strengthening their soul-bond while she struggles to maintain her relationships with his lieutenant, Desmond.

See, I don't get that. I don't get Lucas and Secret. She doesn't particularly feel for him, and that link between them is nothing more than forced metaphysical bullshit. I would dearly love it gone. I hope that if he pushes her hard enough she will snap out of it. Desmond on the other hand, another part of the soul-bond, is someone you feel for and root for. He is lovely and genuine.

Holden, Secret's vampire mentor, makes a cameo appearance as well. I like Holden, ladies. He is a keeper as well. Devious and cheeky, dead sharp and sexy. There are sparks between him and our blondie, and I hope there will be some sort of development between them without slipping into Anita Blake territory.

Overall, fast, straightforward and very enjoyable urban fantasy. All three books are very much recommended.

* * *

Вот ведь читается же Сьерра Дин всегда с удовольствием. Ещё один независимый автор в мою коллекцию. Душевно, с хорошей долей сарказма, прямолинейный быстрый сюжет и куча экшна.

К тому же, главная героиня - блондинка, и на своей блондинистости хорошенько играет. В этот раз Сикрет МакКвин сталкивается с демоном, который может принять внешность любой из своих жертв и убивает студенток в местном колледже.

Расследование убийств побуждает её взять на себя просьба бывшего бойфренда, которого полиция подозревает в преступлениях. К тому же в  том же колледже пропала племянница Женевьевы, королевы оборотней-кошек, и та просит Сикрет девушку найти.

Как обычно, Сикрет придётся использовать каждую крупицу своих растущих возможностей, чтобы выжить в противостоянии с главным злодеем.

Помимо детективной работы Сикрет пытается разобраться в своих запутанных отношениях с Люкасом, королём местных оборотней-волков и его летейнантом, Дезмондом. Если Дезмонда она любит, то  её связь с Люкасом навязана метафизической связью между их душами, и он постоянно на неё давит в целях укрепления своей стаи. Люкаса я терпеть не могу и жутко хочу чтобы он исчез - нам не нужно ведь повторение Аниты Блэйк и Ричарда? Это ведь был просто сплошной садо-мазохизм.

В общем, городское фэнтэзи, которое прекрасно читается, если застряли между книгами - бездумная, смешная развлекаловка со специями, которая вернёт вам ваш аппетит.