A number of Sylvie's problems have come home to roost in this latest in the Shadow Inquiries books. A previously- rescued client is still having the annoying tendency of chaning into another creature every full moon, Erinya, the former Fury made god is apt to show up at the first whiff of Thai food describing her latest smiting in lurid detail and the ISI (Internal Surveillance and Investigation) is still sniffing too closely at Sylvie's heels.

Before she can resolve any of these issues, representatives of the Magicus Mundi, creatures of myth and legend, begin targeting and destroying cells of the ISI, including the Chicago headquarters where Sylvie's lover is stationed. As the magical mayhem grows it becomes clear that the tendency of humans to ignore what does not fit into their tidy world has the force of a deeply worked spell behind it. With their reality continually challenged at every turn, those who witness the events find their memories altered, at the expense of their minds, and in the elderly and stroke- prone at the expense of their lives as well. Alex, Sylvie's biggest weapon in fact gathering and research is especially hindered. Each session at her computer leaves her mind shattered a bit more.

Sylvie's attempts to save those she loves as well as innocent bystanders wars with the dire need to stop what is happening before the world is irrevocably altered.

LIES & OMENS, fourth in the series has all the noirish charm of the previous books. Intense action, the snarky Lilith voice within Sylvie and the flat out brilliant plotting keeps you turning pages and occasionally sharing especially pithy bits aloud with those who will appreciate them. My best advice is to read the books in order, but read them any way you can. Benedict is writing some of the best urban fantasy published today.