Bone Crossed

This is #4 in the "Mercy Thompson" series by Patricia Briggs. If you have been reading my earlier blog posts (Moon Called, Blood Bound, Iron Kissed) , you are probably tired of hearing how much I like these books and how difficult it is to put them down at night...they are the chief reason I stay up way past my bedtime these days.
     The title has to do with a magically charged skull and crossbones that has been painted on the door of Mercy's auto repair shop. It is an indicator to all magical creatures that Mercy has been labelled a traitor--specifically to the Vampires--and it means open season on hunting her. Marsilia, Queen of the local seethe, has found out that Mercy killed Andre, her 3rd in command, and wants more than ever to kill Mercy. She has kidnapped, starved and tortured Mercy's vampire friend, Stefan, and dropped him in Mercy's living room, hoping he will be so overcome with hunger that he will kill Mercy. But Stefan's will is strong and Mercy is surrounded by werewolves, so the plot fails. Still it seems prudent that Mercy accept an unexpected invitation from an old college roommate, Amber, to come to Spokane and help rid the house of ghosts. There's only one very powerful vampire in Spokane and surely Mercy can stay out of his way for a few days. But the haunting in friend Amber's house is no ordinary ghost, and Amber's husband turns out to be said vampire's attorney, so Mercy runs head on into Blackwood. When Mercy calls on Stefan to come help her with the malevolent ghost, he advises Mercy to head home asap. It appears Blackwood has already fed on Mercy without her knowledge while she was staying in Spokane. Mercy  agrees to a blood exchange with Stefan in a desperate effort to keep Blackwood from being able to enslave her. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the werewolves and vampires have agreed to a negotiation meeting and everyone learns just how cruel and calculating Marsilia has been in her dealings with Stefan.
     Things are continuing to heat up with Adam, and with the pack, because Adam made Mercy a member of the pack without asking for the pack's approval first. Many are very unhappy about a coyote being a pack member and Mercy is struggling with rejection as well as the continuing panic attacks and flashbacks following her rape (see Iron Kissed). Then Mercy is kidnapped by Amber's husband, who has come under Blackwood's thrall; Blackwood is holding their son Chad prisoner and threatens to kill him if Mercy is not brought to him. Now Mercy is about to learn why Blackwood wants her. If he drinks her blood, he gains her powers. That is how he has managed to function during the day and to kill with a touch. Mercy partners with one of Blackwood's other prisoners, a fae called OakMan, to bring down Blackwood and his minions.
     The really great thing about these books is the impressive level of detail and thought that Briggs has put into creating the politics and protocols of the supernatural creatures' worlds. Highly recommended as always.