The third offering in Mike Omer’s very good Zoe Bentley series, Thicker Than Blood does not disappoint. In this novel, Zoe and her partner, FBI agent Tatum Gray, are back in Chicago following up leads on Rod Glover and find themselves assisting the local police solving a case that apparently deals with vampirism.

Mr. Omer’s novel is fast-paced, building tension throughout, and his writing-style makes the novels a pleasure to read. While the mystery itself is interesting, the best part of the book is Zoe herself. In Zoe Bentley, Mr. Omer has created a fully realized, complex character, who is learning to deal with unresolved childhood issues, panic/anxiety attacks, family matters, and her social inadequacies. Tatum Gray, while not as full realized as Zoe Bentley, is another well-developed character who nicely complements Zoe without appearing patronizing or condescending (a testament to Mr. Omer’s story telling abilities). The interactions between Tatum and his grandfather, Marvin, provide some much needed “comic” relief as this novel is chock full of tense and suspenseful moments. The supporting characters are well crafted; everyone from Detective O’Donnell to Albert Lamb to Rod Glover had a unique perspective and voice in the narrative that felt true to their nature and worked in the story. I appreciate an author who pays attention to the supporting characters, even if it is just a grieving father or meth addict; they help create a rich world and enhance the story telling.

I thoroughly enjoyed Thicker Than Blood and hopes that Mr. Omer brings us more Zoe Bentley stories sooner than later (though I understand he is taking a “break” from this series to work on another).