2024 movie #68. 1948. The story of a range war pitting tow old friends, played by Preston and Mitchum, against each other. Considered a Western noir due to it's themes of betrayal and shady dealings. Directed by Robert Wise. Good story. Also with Barbara Del Geddes. ( )

Gabrielle Hearn is a Guardian who monitors preternatural beings in NY. She also runs a shop called Hecate’s Wheel with her friend Tabitha, a shapeshifting cat.

Lietenant Sheppard (Shep) Germaine is a cop and a shapeshifting wolf who ignores his preternatural side. He would rather solve murders the old fashioned way, with his badge.

A killer dubbed the Ritual Killer has murdered five people in seventeen days and the cops are far from solving the case. Gabrielle thinks it could be a lycanthrope murdering the people but Shep refuses to go to her for help. Shep thinks he can do it on his own but when he gets stuck, he has no other alternative but to ask Gabrielle for help. Being in the same room together is torture for both and full of sexual tension. Both want the other but are too stubborn to admit it to themselves let alone each other.

Blood of the Moon by Kelly O’Donnell is full of sexual tension and torment. Gabrielle secretly is in lust with Shep. Her friends can see it but she can’t. Shep doesn’t want to use the paranormal side of himself and uses that to keep Gabrielle at arm’s length. I was surprised that the pages didn’t go up in flames while reading this book. The storyline was great because there wasn’t a dull moment but action from the first to last page.

Bitten by Books for AReCafe ( )