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.