Review: Sam Spade Gumshoe with a Elven Twist
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 12 22, 2012
The Gatekeeper by Heather Graham written in Phillip Marlow gumshoe style is well worth reading, even though it is a novella, a prologue to the Keeper series. You have the jaded detective who is keeping Las Vegas safe from evil doers. The beautiful dame involved works in a nightclub. There is a bad guy, a very bad guy. Did I mention that Saxon, the detective is Elven, or that the dame is part werewolf?Nope, Saxon is not dealing with werewolves who find every excuse to run around nude through the woods, but rather a blood thirsty type, who are taking a literal bite out of tourism.  There is a delicate balance between humans and non-humans living in the city. Any type of imbalance isn't good for anyone, especially the chewed up tourist. There's a trail to follow, and a definite bad guy. All Saxon has to do is connect the dots while managing to stay alive.Calleigh is on the trail of her sister, a beautiful songstress who mysteriously vanished. Taking a job as a dancer at an exclusive club she uses both her animal magnetism to lure the suspects in, and her Eleven side to confuse them. Everything is going well, make that relatively well, until Saxon walks into the place. She can tell immediately he sees through her act to the real her, and touches a heart she thought untouchable. Can she trust him? Instead of helping her find her sister, he warns her off because it is too dangerous.Calleigh and Saxon have definite chemistry from their very first meeting. They are both headstrong and determined, which causes sparks to fly.  Even though this is a short novella, these characters are still  well formed.  Heather Graham has the ability to make Elven detectives perfectly believable.The Gatekeeper is a fast, fun read. It is currently free on Kindle. It will whet your appetite for The Keepers series.