Flashes of dark humor glint above a pulse-pounding search for an horrific murderer in this first in the new Ritual Crime Unit series. E. E. Richardson's urban fantssy police procedural sweeps you into the world of Claire Pierce, 54-year-old DCI in charge of the northern Ritual Crimes Unit as she uses her time-honed skills to track the suspect despite a mysterious government agency getting in her way.

With the novella length (99 pages) the fast pace is a necessity but unlike other novellas I've read, the story does not seem rushed, but exhilarating. I loved the main character, Claire. She is a middle-aged slightly overweight woman whose skills are those of a determined and experienced career cop. She and her silver hand cuffs face off against powerful magic-using criminals with little more than her sharp mind and the refusal to give up.

The other members of her team have little page room but large impact, as Richardson has the enviable talent to sketch in a memorable character with a few broad strokes. There's a lot of possibility for further books in the series, which is all to the good as my taste has been whetted for more of DCI Pierce. The delicious last-minute twist woke me from the satisfaction of the story's conclusion and has me panting for the book two.

E. E. Richardson has written eight young adult horror novels. UNDER THE SKIN is her first story aimed at adults. I'd say her aim is dead on.