I received this book for free from the library in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Source: the library
Kitty and the Midnight Hour
by
Carrie Vaughn
It is part of the Kitty Norville #10 series and is a urban fantasy in Paperback edition that was published by Grand Central Publishing on November 1, 2005 and has 259 pages.
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Other books by this author which I have reviewed include Dark and Stormy Knights, Kitty Goes to Washington, "Kitty Meets the Band", Hex Appeal, Kitty and the Silver Bullet, Kitty and the Dead Man’s Hand, Kitty Raises Hell, Kitty's House of Horrors, Kitty Goes to War, Kitty's Big Trouble, Kitty's Greatest Hits, Kitty Steals the Show, Kitty Rocks the House, Kitty in the Underworld
First in the Kitty Norville urban fantasy series revolving around a radio talk show host who discusses the supernatural in Denver.
My Take
I enjoyed this! Vaughn took the usual cultural treatment of vampires and werewolves and gave it a twist. Kitty is a forcibly changed werewolf and the lowest in the pack until she slips up on her midnight radio show. A show that’s supposed to be about music, but quickly escalates away from it. It’s a delicate balancing act as the head vamp demands secrecy and her alpha wants to maintain the status quo with the vampires. And Kitty does not want to give up her show.
Interesting point about Milton’s Paradise Lost that Satan’s greatest mistake was believing that God would not forgive him if he asked. Not pride, but self-pity was the real issue. Vaughn goes on to make some interesting points based on this. The idea of General Sherman being a werewolf…yeah, it does make sense.
Kitty’s found something that makes her happy, that’s all hers. And she’ll do what it takes to hold onto it. It certainly is a kick reading the questions and concerns about which Kitty’s callers want advice. From the realistic to the totally off the wall. Just like real life.
I certainly don’t think much of Carl as an alpha…T.J. should just take him out.
The Story
It was just supposed to be a music show playing music produced before 1990. Instead, it turned into a talk show on supernaturals. And it became too hard to keep track of personal and professional life.
Nor are the supernatural leaders happy with the exposure…until Kitty reminds Carl that half of her syndication earnings are his. And Kitty realizes some basic truths when it comes down to it.
Nor is this the only issue Kitty must cope with, someone has paid an assassin to take her out and whoever wants her dead just keeps going and going and…
It’s Estelle’s dilemma that really catches Arturo’s attention and changes at least half of Kitty’s existence.
The Characters
Kitty Norville was involuntarily changed one night when the guy she was out with dumped her on the side of the road. She’s doing her best to cope. She hasn’t told her parents, but then they do find out through her sister Cheryl.
Ozzie is the station manager for KNOB where Kitty works, barely making subsistence wages. Matt is her sound engineer.
Cormac is a human assassin who takes down supernaturals. A nasty surprise when Kitty finds out who’s paying his freight! Detective Jessi Hardin becomes Kitty’s go-to cop from start to finish. Including hunting down the serial killer.
The Study of Paranatural Biology is…
…part of the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Flemming is part of the formation of the center.
Kitty’s new pack
Carl is the alpha for Kitty’s pack; the vicious Meg is his mate. Zan is the out-of-control jerk who turned Kitty. T.J. is the second in the pack and Kitty’s friend. He watches out for her.
The vampires in Denver are…
…led by Arturo, the Master of the local vampire Family, and he is not happy with Kitty’s “taking his authority away from him” nor with the exposure. Rick is another powerful vampire and part of Arturo’s family, but he rather likes Kitty.
Elijah Smith is a faith healer promising to cure vampires and werewolves. A promise that Estelle tries out. Not of interest to our rogue werewolf, however. He’s part of a nasty, little takeover.
The Cover and Title
It’s a beautiful nightlit scene that blends into a daytime sky with clouds creating the background for a ghostly looking wolf brushing up against a cocky Kitty in her cropped lace-up top and her low-cut jeans exposing the tattoo on her back. Her blonde hair in a braid, Kitty is poised with a microphone.
It’s that radio show of Kitty’s — Kitty and the Midnight Hour. And here she thought no one would notice at that hour of the nigh…
