Eye of Heaven

October 30, 2006
Once again, Liu has managed a brilliant blend of fantasy, action and romance in her latest Dirk & Steele novel, which follows the members of a paranormal detective agency. When electrokinetically gifted agency detective Blue Perrineau is blackmailed by his father, dying billionaire Felix Perrineau, he's forced to track down Felix's other son, Daniel—the brother Blue never knew he had. His search for Daniel takes him to a small Las Vegas circus that features Iris McGillis, a slinky shape-shifter with a lion act and a global fan base. After Blue saves Iris from an ecoterrorist sniper, they form an instant attachment, but he runs into trouble when he finds Daniel and, later, a dangerous flesh peddler—both of whom also have plans for the hypnotically sexy Iris. Liu brings her skewed universe to life with skill and conviction, grounding the comic-book plot with fully realized personalities and the workaday details of circus life. Though a bit drawn out, this entry will undoubtedly please fans of the series and should provide a fresh thrill for anyone in the market for an extraordinary romance.

November 15, 2006
Dirk & Steele agent Blue's hunt for a black-market organ harvester is interrupted by news of his father's death, news that is greatly exaggerated. His father has faked his death as a ruse to lure Blue back home, blackmailing him to turn his attention to finding a half brother he never knew existed. In the Vegas heat Blue finds his brother, as well as the intriguing Iris, and a tightening web of secrets and betrayals that threaten whatever future he may have with both. Liu dispenses more hints to her universe in this latest installment in the Dirk & Steele series (" Tiger Eye," 2005;" The Red Heart of Jade," 2006). Mutant humans dealing with acceptance and self-confidence are not new, but they've never had it so good. Liu is masterful in merging espionage, romance, and the supernatural into fiction that goes far beyond the boundaries of action-adventure romance or romantic suspense.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2006, American Library Association.)