Kitty Raises Hell by Carrie Vaughn

Kitty Norville, just back from her Vegas Wedding to Lawyer and fellow Werewolf Ben O'Farrell, must deal with a bit of leftover baggage from her Vegas trip, a fire creature set on her trail by the villains of the last book.

This fire demon is set to take Vengeance on Kitty and Ben, and it proceeds to do so, attacking one of the pack when they go running in the state park. It is invisible, but can burn just about anything. Kitty and Ben keep the pack safe, but they aren't happy about what might be hunting them.

But when Kitty learns that the cast of a ghost and paranormal show called Paradox P.I. are coming to Denver, she decides to go out and see them, hoping to interview them on her show and get their help with her little problem. She also hopes to tag along on one of their investigations and see how they do it.

Kitty and the Paradox Team: Gary, Tina and Jules, investigate a house filled with Ghosts that has supposedly killed the last investigator to try and figure out why the house has a reputation for killing people. Kitty simulcasts the show on "The Midnight Hour" as the Paradox P.I. team tapes the episode, but something definitely happens as they study the inside of the House: they hear a sound like something being dragged down the stairs, and it gets louder and louder, so loud it shakes the Van. Kitty suggests pulling out the speaker wires to see if they can hear it without the speakers, but as she does so, the entire Van is blown on its side.

Afterwards, she invites the team back to the pack's restaurant, The New Moon, to discuss what went on, when the restaurant is attacked by the fire creature and nearly destroyed. As Kitty watches her dreams go up in smoke, the fire department arrives and puts out the fire.

With that act of vengeance, Kitty knows it isn't just coming for her anymore, it's coming for anything she loves and holds dear. As she desperately scrambles for help to find out what the creature is and defeat it, a vampire named Roman claims that he knows how to defeat it, and will help her, if Rick will allow him free passage through the city. But Rick denies him, knowing that Roman is much more powerful than he is and that Roman will quickly plot against him and take his place if he gives Roman what he wants.

But can Kitty deal with the Demon who is not only taking its revenge on her, but on her pack and her city as well? Roman approaches her separately, saying that he will help her if she gives him one thing: her loyalty. Kitty doesn't like that bargain, as he can ask her to do literally anything and she would have to agree. But is there another way to take care of the demon without involving Roman? Or will Kitty be forced to see everything she loves go up in smoke?

I love Kitty, and while many of the other books involving her were about threats to her, personally. this book expanded that by broading the threat not only to her and Ben and to her pack, but to the entire city of Denver. It's not just her own life on the line any more, and she can no longer afford to be reckless when it comes to her own safety, or forget to tell her husband where she is and where she is going.

Another group gets involved as well, the researchers of Paradox P.I., one of them who has a secret they has kept from the group, but which they reveal in order to help Kitty. But will this ability actually help, or will it just make things worse? That's the question plaguing Kitty as she fights against the fire-creature. And the trail will eventually lead back to Vegas to finally put to rest the creature and the one who sicced it on her in the first place.

This book exudes a real sense of menace from the fire thing, even if Kitty can't understand it or what it wants, she must deal with it to keep everyone she loves safe. It was nice to see Kitty growing up yet again, from an adult to a kind of parent as she struggles to keep her pack safe. As Kitty continues to change and grow, so does the series, and this is one I will keep reading every installment, as long as it lasts. I can't help it, I'm hooked.