Author: Melissa F. Olson
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Published on: September 2, 2014 by 47North
Actions have consequences--a lesson Scarlett Bernard is learning the hard way. As a "null," Scarlett has always been able to negate the powers of the supernatural beings that surround her. But now her reckless decision to permanently change Eli from a werewolf to a human has left the Los Angeles werewolf pack in shambles, and upset the balance of power among the city's supernatural factions. To make matters worse, Scarlett's employers discover that a newly changed werewolf is running amok in the city. To catch the rogue werewolf, Scarlett will need help from both Eli and Detective Jesse Cruz of the LAPD...a situation that will force her to finally choose between them.
However, Scarlett and her friends aren't the only ones on the hunt--someone else is chasing the wolf. Someone with no reservations about collateral damage. Now Scarlett and her allies must stop both the rogue wolf and the deadly hunter before the full moon rises and all hell breaks loose.
Filled with the same suspense and wit readers loved in Dead Spots and Trail of Dead, this may be Scarlett Bernard's most harrowing adventure yet....
Here is the latest book in Melissa F. Olson’s Scarlett Bernard trilogy. The previous one ended with a doozy of a cliffhanger, so Hunter’s Trail picks up almost right afterward. Scarlett, the protagonist, is a “null”, a human capable of negating magic within a radius around her. She lives in a fictional LA where other supernatural beings live in relative peace. The three factions (witches, vampires, and werewolves) rule with equal power. Scarlett uses her ability to erase magical traces from crime scenes, keeping the Old World secret from humans.
Scarlett Bernard has solved two major Old World-related cases so far. She was injured in the last one, after a showdown with the main villain. There were major casualties in the struggle. Some of them were because of Eli—the beta werewolf of LA’s pack and a love interest of Scarlett’s. Eli fell under the influence of wolfberry, a plant that causes werewolves to go berserk. He ended up killing people before Scarlett showed up to handle the situation. The experience leaves Eli angry with himself. Scarlett, who wasn’t thinking clearly after so much stress, made a reckless decision. She turned Eli back into a human, thinking it would make his life easier.
Things didn’t turn out the way Scarlett wished. She learns that the beta is a crucial position in a werewolf pack. Without Eli, the LA pack has become unstable. The alpha, Will Carling, has been trying to keep things under control. He’s not angry with Scarlett, though. Will understands that she meant well. As for Eli, he’s been in hiding. Will doesn’t want anyone else in the pack to know that Scarlett can turn them human again. It would put Scarlett in great danger. She’s also needed medical care both times after using her special power.
Scarlett is soon called to help with a “disaster”. She’s worked for the Old World long enough to know what the word means. Sure enough, Scarlett and Molly (her vampire friend/roommate) find just what the former was expecting when they get to Will’s house. Scarlett quickly secures the crime scene. There are signs of werewolf involvement, though. Will assured Scarlett none of his wolves are responsible for the crime. While cleaning up the scene with Molly’s help, some of the LA pack members ambush Scarlett. One of them heard rumors that Scarlett has a “cure” for werewolf magic and wants use of it.
When Dashiell (the cardinal vampire of LA) hears about what happened at Will’s house, he summons one of his allies. That ally is Jesse Cruz, a human police detective. He learned about the Old World when Scarlett was working a high-profile vampire murder case. Dashiell allowed Jesse to live knowing he would be useful. Now Dashiell wants Jesse to investigate the new werewolf attack. There was evidence to suggest it’s not going to stop. Jesse is reluctant to be Dashiell’s lackey again, but the latter uses his vampire power to compel him into it. This is the first time Dashiell has used his status to intimidate someone...and boy did it work.
Once again, Jesse and Scarlett join forces to solve a high-stakes Old World case. This time it involves werewolves. I like how things have been different in each Scarlett Bernard book. The first entry dealt with a vampire-related case, and the second one had a witch-related case. Now it’s the werewolves’ turn. After another scene at Will’s house, he realizes what they are truly dealing with. To make matters worse, a new enemy arrives in LA soon afterward. This new player is the kind who strikes fear even among alpha wolves and cardinal vampires.
I thought this was the best Scarlett Bernard novel so far. The stakes and danger level have never been this high. Scarlett’s injured leg also adds to the difficulty. She must contend with it throughout the book. In Hunter’s Trail, Scarlett also faces an important decision. She must pick one of her love interests from the previous books. Will Scarlett choose Jesse, or Eli? I thought they would be about equally good for her. They both love Scarlett and are willing to risk anything for her. Molly seemed to get a smaller role this time, though. She’s a compelling character, so I’m hoping to see more of her. Other than that, there’s little not to like about Hunter’s Trail. It’s a definite must-read for urban fantasy fans.
My rating: ★★★★ 1/2
4.5 stars - A fantastic page-turner!
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