BLACKOUT - Rob Thurman
Cal Leandros , Book 6
Roc
ISBN: 978-0-451-46386-9
March 2011
Urban Fantasy

South Carolina and New York - Present Day

Who is a person without memories?  That's what Cal was thinking when he woke up on a beach with a gun in his hand, dead monster spider bodies around him, and no memory of who he is.  He took his name based on the variation of multiple aliases he found in his wallet, but feels no connection to it or to the brother and 'friend' who show up to claim him a few days later.  Cal knows he is a killer.  He figured that out immediately based on the ease with which he held his weapons.  But is he a good guy?

The journey to finding yourself is never an easy one, and throwing in amnesia and a soul-sucking goddess doesn't help matters much.  Cal 's brother, Niko, has lots to say about their background and work, but it doesn't quite get to the true essence of who Cal was or is as a man.  Can he figure things out before the bad monsters kill them all?

BLACKOUT is a snarky and entertaining page-turner.  Cal Leandros is an engaging hero who draws you into his story from the moment he awakens.  Whether you've read previous books in the series or not, you'll be compelled to travel with Cal as he tries to recall his past while potentially mapping out a different future path.  The fact that he's a bit trigger happy when it comes to monsters is concerning considering the number of friendly ones supposedly in his life.  Re-learning who the good and bad guys are turns out to be an intriguing and humorous part of the tale as knee-jerk reactions continuously get Cal into trouble. 

Funny, adventurous, and appealingly irreverent—the semi-dead cats got me every time—BLACKOUT is one for the to-be-read pile.  Pick up your copy today.

Kathy