This first book in a new supernatural series features shapechanger and Volkswagen mechanic Mercy Thompson. Although Mercy is a shapechanger, a walker, she isn't a werewolf. Mercy has the ability to take coyote form when necessity or longing demands it. Raised by the most powerful werewolf pack in North America, Mercy knows the drill when it comes to the pack and their rules and regulations. So when a freshly made wolf stumbles into her shop, she knows she should alert the Tri-Cities Alpha. But instinct tells Mercy to wait.

When disaster strikes and the Alpha, Adam, steps in, it's already too late. Mercy is in up to her eyeballs in a situation that quickly goes from bad to worse. The new wolf and Adam are attacked in the same night, and Adam's young human daughter, Jesse, is kidnapped. Not sure who's responsible for the attack, Mercy hesitates to notify his pack while Adam is at his weakest and vulnerable to the other dominant males. Mercy throws Adam into a borrowed van and heads for home -- home to the pack she can trust without question.

But home is also the place where she comes face-to-face with old pain, rejection, politics and enemies. And home is where Samuel is -- Samuel, whom Mercy adored as a child and loved as young woman, Samuel whom she betrayed and abandoned. Adam's accelerated healing powers have him back on his feet in no time, and pursuing the men and wolves who have Jesse. Adam heads back to the Tri-Cities with Mercy and Samuel in tow. The three of them are often at each other's throats, sometimes literally. The trio square off against witches, local vampires and the pack before they find Jesse's kidnappers and the "brains" behind a power play so twisted it almost destroys them before they even realize they're all part of the plan.

MOON CALLED is Patricia Briggs' first fantasy set in a contemporary, albeit alternate, universe. I wasn't surprised to find that she handled the urban setting just as deftly as her more traditional fantasy novels. I've never been disappointed by one of her books and this one is no exception. Mercy's world is an alternate universe much like Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake books (but with much less sex, weapons and descriptions of what she's wearing and much more plot) or the Buffyverse or more recently the Kim Harrison books. Mercy is tough and independent. A woman used to being on her own but with a strong network of family and friends. It will be interesting to see how her relationships with both Adam and Samuel develop in future books. The plot twists and turns, you won't figure it out, but that won't bother you in the least. MOON CALLED ends on a high note and leaves you wanting more. Like a good book should.

(Note: With STEAL THE DRAGON and WHEN DEMONS WALK both finally back in print, the only one of Briggs' books still out of print is MASQUES. I've heard that it will be available again in 2006 with a sequel soon to follow. I hope the rumors are true.)