Special delivery: DEAD LETTER DAY by Eileen Rendahl

DEAD LETTER DAY (Messenger #3) by Eileen Rendahl

Urban Fantasy

304 pages, paperback

Available now (February 2013)

Publisher: Ace

Review copy provided by publisher

Melina Markowitz, messenger for the underworld, delivers the goods for the supernatural beings in our midst—no questions asked. It’s more than a job; it’s a mission. Safety be damned.

Melina’s missing friend, Paul, could just be taking a little werewolf “me time,” but her investigation yields something more sinister. Suspicions first fall on Paul’s wolf-pack rival. But that wouldn’t explain the sudden windstorms rattling Melina’s nerves—or the ominous, shrieking crows that keep appearing.

The clues lead Melina to a mermaid, a damaged and possibly deranged police officer and patterns for Norwegian doilies—finally bringing her to the realization that she may be dealing with the most powerful enemy she has ever faced.

Werewolf Paul is gone and no one, except Melina, seems too concerned about it. Paul's her bud and, even though the alpha doesn't want her nosing around, Melina's determined to stick her nose into pack business and, quite frankly, where it doesn't belong. 

Melina is one of those characters who barrels headlong into situations without thinking of the consequences. Despite this being her third book, she's still dangerously naive about the world she's now a part of. As a Messenger, her job is to deliver whatever package winds up on her doorstep to the proper owner. If she doesn't do this, increasingly bad things happen to her. All in all, it's a pretty simple job. Get package, deliver package. Done. But Melina likes to get "involved". Quite frankly, she's a Nosy Nellie. 

In previous installations, we had the humorous sidekick to keep things moving along. Sadly, Alex's presence, when he visited, was blunted by his new love, Norah. Seriously, he needs to break up with this chick, right quick. She's a damper on Alex and every scene she's in. We're also missing the connection between Melina and her love, Ted. Oh, he's still around but their chemistry seemed duller than before, lacking in some way. I want the fun back!

One intriguing twist (and I'm going to say it because we find out rather early on in the story, though it is a bit spoilery in its own way) is that Melina's pregnant. Huh. I didn't see that one coming, though I should have I guess because she's like the third or fourth UF heroine who's been knocked up this year (year of the UF baby!). I really don't know how this is going to play out in future stories, however. She's got to start thinking ahead, rather than just leaping before she leaps. Having a kid changes the game completely. How's this going to work? *ponders*

A somewhat baffling third installment in what has been a fun series so far, DEAD LETTER DAY sets its characters up for some serious life changes, conflicts featuring some interesting bad guys and several choices to make for the future.

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