Wake of the Bloody Angel
Alex Bledsoe
Tor, Jul 3 2012, $14.99
ISBN: 9780765327451

Tavern owner Angelina hires her room renter private investigator Eddie Lacrosse at 25 gold pieces per day to find her lover. Two decades ago sailor Edward Tew and barmaid Angelina met and had one hell of a month before he left for his first love the sea though before he departed he promised her he will come back to her. Edward became the pirate Captain Black Edward but never returned to Angelina.

LaCrosse learns that Black Edward’s ship the Bloody Angel allegedly sunk after they stole a humongous horde from King Clovis’ treasure ship. One crew member Marteen survived while Tew supposedly went down with his ship. However, LaCrosse also hears another rumor in which Tew not only lives, but lives as ruler of a pirate kingdom. Finally a third tale is that the dead Black Edward sails the sea forever. Needing help he asks Jane Argo to join his mission.

The latest Eddie LaCrosse paranormal investigation is a delightful thriller that grips the audience from start to finish although more a swashbuckler than the usual detective fantasy of the previous entries (see Dark Jenny). Muscular tall Jane is an interesting sidekick who ties males in knots just ask her spouse. Fans will enjoy the amusing search for the real Black Edward Tew; not the legend.

Harriet Klausner