Come the Night

by Susan Krinard

Book Overview

The Great War has ended And Gillian Maitland is to marry a werewolf of her father's choosing--ensuring the purity of their noble bloodline. Still, she can't forget Ross Kavanaugh, the American whose forbidden touch unleashed a passion she'd never known. And when Ross returns unexpectedly to England, he's no longer the man she remembers, but a hard-boiled ex-cop who harbors a dark secret. The discovery that they have a son makes Ross even more determined...

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0373773153
• ISBN13: 9780373773152
• Release Date: September 2008
• Publisher: Hqn
• Length: 464 Pages
• Weight: 0.48 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 4.2" x 6.6"

Customer Reviews

fun cross Atlantic paranormal romantic historical suspense

In 1927 Ethan Warbrick comes from England to New York City to warn fired and disgraced former NYPD cop Ross Kavanaugh of a visitor he will soon receive. During the war, Ross met and fell in love with English werewolf Gillian Maitland, but though she reciprocated her prejudicial dictatorial father declared him unfit as only a purebred was acceptable. Fearing her abusive dad would harm or kill her beloved Yank, Gillian ended their relationship and she became Mrs. Delvaux to insure the family line remained purebred. However, she was too late and now her son Tobias who assumes Ross is his sire is coming to meet him. Gillian, whose husband died in the war, follows her offspring to New York to bring him back to Cambria before his paternal grandfather does something despicable to them; which means mother and son must be home to attend the upcoming werewolf convocation. When his preadolescent son followed by Gilliam arrives, Ross, a quarter-werewolf, knows he wants both of them as his beloved family. He follows them to England in time for a serial killer to begin a murderous campaign that leaves the ex American cop as the prime suspect. This cross Atlantic paranormal romantic historical suspense works on all levels because the audience will believe that in 1927 Anglo-America the werewolf hierarchy is based on racism depending on the amount of "impurities" in one's blood. The story line is fast-paced from the moment Ross has the visitor followed by his police pal calling him to tell him an eleven year old English lad claims him as his father. The tale never slows down from there even as the lead trio (and readers) crosses the ocean. Susan Krinard provides a strong paranormal private investigative 1920s thriller.

4.5 stars - Classic Krinard - Great werewolf detective leading man makes this the best of her 1920's

Accused of a murder, suspended NYPD detective Ross Kavanaugh is at the lowest point in his life when a souvenir of his 'doughboy' soldier days turns up - the son Ross didn't know he had. A mixed-blood werewolf, Ross hasn't forgotten the passion he shared with pureblood Gillian or her devastating rejection upon discovering that Ross was too human to `shift'. When Gillian turns up with her brother to retrieve her errant son, Ross is not sure of his feelings toward the controlled woman who was once his uninhibited lover. Gillian had never planned to face the man she once spurned, though she's never gotten over the attraction to Ross, Gillian has bowed to her destiny to be mated to a pedigreed shifter and produce pureblood cubs in order to ensure the survival of the loupe-garou race. The machinations of Gillian's son and brother, bring Ross to England and open Ross' eyes to the reality of Gillian's situation. But with Gillian's father holding a werewolf `summit' there is a whole `pack' of troubles to overcome if the plan to give Gillian a chance at happiness by inserting Ross into Gillian's life going to work. And if a fanatic father and a houseful of purebloods isn't enough of an obstacle, death has followed Ross back to England and Gillian and his son are in danger. In the forward to Come the Night, Krinard says she loves the detective archetype and you can tell. Even without his wolfishness amping it up a notch werewolf police detective on the outs Ross - once he has a purpose again - is truly a perfect specimen, honorable, observant, and intelligent, and his human blood doesn't stop him from being plenty alpha enough to hold his own against a bunch of arrogant purebloods. I could absolutely understand why Gillian found him so impossible to resist. Gillian is great as the beleaguered and put upon dutiful daughter, who has learned that she will never be good enough in her father's eyes and accepts the abominable treatment he dishes out except where it bled over to her son. And even though as a human she's cowered in the omega wolf role to her father's disdainful Alpha, it is clear that her wolf doesn't belong at the bottom of the pack and when the opportunities arise her true abilities and leadership shine through. All of the posturing and wolf politics provide a nice backdrop for Gillian and Ross' relationship dance, adding flavor to the story and providing them opportunities to butt heads and with obstacles to overcome. The only weakness in the story is the murder thread, it really isn't woven in very well, other than giving Ross a reason to be free to follow Gillian back to England it doesn't really play that significant a role in the bulk of story - it's ignored through most of the book and just pops back up near the end to punch up the finish. That nit aside, I still thoroughly enjoyed Come the Night, it was the best of Krinard's roaring 20's paranormal trilogy, far superior the disappointing Dark of the Moon and even better