Moon Called by Patricia Briggs

Mercy Thompson isn't your run of the mill female protagonist; not only does she own and run her own car repair shop, she is what is known as a "walker"--she can shift shape into the form of a coyote at will. In her small town in the Pacific Northwest, she's one of a kind among witches, vampires, and werewolves. Comfortable in her own skin, Mercy's content with the way her life is until a young man shows up unexpectedly at her shop, looking for work, and Mercy, her animal instincts kicking in, recognizes him for a new werewolf in need of guidance. Unfortunately, the young man's not around long enough for her to make much difference in his life and when he turns up dead on her doorstep, a chain of events has been kicked off that will pull Mercy back into the world of werewolves that she thought she'd left behind years before.


With lots of plot twists and paranormal characters, Patricia Briggs's Moon Called is a terrific introduction into the series that finds a world of fey and other underground creatures existing just outside human knowledge. Mercy's ability to walk the line between the different creatures is her best asset, and her hard headedness holds her in good stead as she tracks down the killers of her new friend. Added into the mix is an old boyfriend to whom she must turn for help, and the local leader of the werewolf pack who seems to have some feelings for Mercy.


Ms. Briggs has an accessible, easy writing style that captured me very early in the book. Having previously set aside two different books that weren't engaging me, this one was a welcome surprise as I found myself intrigued by Mercy the tough girl from the first page. The story itself is interesting, piled high with pack politics and odd vampires with ulterior motives. I admit it; I'm hooked and I'll be looking for the next in the series as soon as possible.

~taminator40