Book seven in the Chicagoland Vampire series is based on this premise: Two rogues vanishing without a trace. Someone is targeting Chicago’s vampires, and anyone could be next. With their house in peril, Merit and her Master, the centuries-old Ethan Sullivan, must race to stop the disappearances. But as they untangle a web of secret alliances and ancient evils, they realize their foe is more familiar, and more powerful, than they could have ever imagined.
Once again, there is a villain to hunt down and I feel like we’re treading water here. The start of the book covers familiar ground, recapping the previous books – seriously if you’ve read the first books this is just filler. Quite honestly, the series has gone downhill for me, the magic and humour and sexy tension are missing that were there at the start of it. Ethan continues to bug in this book, not going so far as breaking up with Merit this time, as just being strangely clueless for a 400 year old vampire. There’s a return of a former flame, Lacey, to stir up trouble between the two of them – more drama that should have been put to rest before. And yet by the end of the book she forgives him again, she’s a sucker for this on again/off again relationship.
Other than that, it follows the usual formula, nothing new or truly interesting. Lots of vampire politics, which is kind of dull; lots of Merit doing detecting work and not getting anywhere too fast; mixed with some last minute action. At this point, I don’t know how Ms Neill can drag the series out to 13 books. I’m done with it.