Introduction
Kitty and the Midnight Hour (Kitty Norville #1)
by Carrie Vaughn
There are now 14 books in this series, so I don’t consider it a spoiler that Kitty survives the first book! Also, I’m still reading the series, so I obviously love it. Kitty and the Midnight Hour is the debut novel in the long-running series. Even though I’m now reading book 13, I’m going to go back in time and review the previous books while trying to keep the series as a whole separate from each book. The Kitty Norville series is an unusual take on the urban fantasy genre.
Genre
Urban Fantasy
Narration
First-person past tense narration from the main character Kitty Norville.
Characters
Kitty Norville -- DJ at the midnight shift of KNOB, reluctant werewolf, and accidental paranormal expert.
T.J. -- second, enforcer, and Kitty's only friend in the local pack
Cormac -- a human bounty hunter who kills supernaturals
Detective Jessi Hardin -- a cop hunting down a serial killer (a rogue werewolf)
Dr. Flemming -- self-proclaimed expert in “paranatural biology”
Carl -- alpha of the local pack
Meg -- Carl's mate and alpha female
Zan -- the werewolf who turned Kitty
Arturo -- Master of the local vampire Family
Rick -- a powerful vampire in Arturo's Family
Ben O’Farrell -- a lawyer and Cormac’s cousin
Setting
Denver, current times
Theme
A major theme of the first book is Kitty’s struggle with her werewolf self and finding her place in the pack verses her human life.
Intended audience
Fans of urban fantasy. It is an adult story with violence, but no explicit sex.
Plot
When the story opens, Kitty's place is at the very bottom of the pack, and she is deeply in the closet, not having told even her family that she is a werewolf. Werewolves are not known to the general public.
Kitty is a DJ at a local radio station, where she runs the midnight hour. One night she gets bored with playing music on request and starts talking on the air and taking calls. She gets a call from an apparent wacko talking about vampires and asks people to call in with anything ‘weird.’ The switchboard lights up in no time, “Kitty and the Midnight Hour” is accidentally created, and the show takes off quickly.
Kitty’s show gets her unwanted attention from the local vampire master, who isn't pleased with a talk show devoted to the supernatural even if, as Kitty insists, no one really believes it.
Problems keep piling on. A bounty hunter has his sights on Kitty, the vampires are unhappy with her public profile, Dr Paul Fleming from the CDC claims to be an expert in “paranatural biology”, and the police ask Kitty to consult on a murder case.
It all comes to a head in a stunning conclusion that leaves Kitty’s life changed forever.
About the Author
Carrie Vaughn is a prolific author with fourteen Kitty Norville books (including a spin off for Cormac), and two other series. She also has several stand alone novels that are well worth reading.
Find out more at
Or Carrie's website: http://www.carrievaughn.com
My Opinion
Book 1 will always be my favorite, for many reasons. I give it an enthusiastic five stars as an urban fantasy must-read. First and foremost is Kitty herself. She isn't the typical kick-ass heroine so popular in today’s urban fantasies. She isn't a cop, a private eye, or a bounty hunter. She is an ordinary woman brutally attacked by a werewolf and turned into one, leaving her no choice but to join the local pack.
Kitty and the Midnight hour provides non-stop tension and suspense. Kitty spends much of her time talking to people, often on air, so I can't say non-stop action -- but Carrie Vaughn is excellent at ramping up the drama even when there’s only dialog.
There are loose ends by the end of Kitty and the Midnight Hour, making me all the more eager for the next book. Where will Kitty go next?
I recommend this book to all fans of urban fantasy. Five out of five stars.