Shadows in the Darkness by Elaine Cunningham

This novel straddles the line between Urban Fantasy and Mystery. The heroine, Gwen Gelman, is now a PI having left the police department under a (undeserved) cloud. Her current case involves a missing 14 year old girl and is quite gritty. Actually the entire novel/story has a grittiness to it that moves it toward the dark fantasy end of the spectrum. But this just makes the story more solid and effective.

The fantasy comes in first when the reader finds out that Gwen has visions and ‘intuition’ on her side in solving cases/mysteries. The fantasy is deepened by questions about who Gwen actually is and the introduction of an ‘Elder Race’.

The writing is polished and smooth. The characters are characters and interesting people. The story/mystery is multilayered. This novel is a compelling read. I look forward to getting my hands on the second book about Gwen (Shadows in the Starlight) and the opportunity to learn more of her heritage and the ‘Elder Races’.