Published: 5 November 2020
Series: The Firebrand Series #3
Pages: 227
Warnings: Language
Source: Kindle Unlimited

Supernatural Squad might be small, but we’re growing in power. The vampires and werewolves of London are beginning to respect me more and I feel like I know what I’m doing – even if I don’t yet understand what I truly am.
Unfortunately, there might be a few snags to deal with. I’m trying to avoid Lord Horvath, the black-eyed vampire leader who seems intent on a more intimate relationship. There’s also Devereau Webb, who runs a small criminal syndicate and has offered me a mysterious gift that I’m certain I don’t want. And across the span of one single day, supernatural hell breaks loose across the city of London.
A suicidal vampire has climbed up the London Eye.
Three werewolves have hijacked a tourist bus.
This might prove to be the longest day of my life.
Midnight Smoke is the third book in the thrilling Firebrand urban fantasy series.

Book links: Amazon | Goodreads

Emma Bellamy is back with her Supe Squad, in the 3rd installment of The Firebrand series, Midnight Smoke, by Helen Harper. And yet again, I’m loving Helen’s work!
Midnight Smoke picks up the story with Emma finding herself dealing with a series of odd supernatural crimes that are keeping her on her toes.
Along with the crimes, she’s also attempting to deal with her burgeoning relationship with Lukas Horvath, lord of the vampires. He isn’t hiding that he wants more between them, but she’s torn and her past is causing insecurities.
Emma is a very interesting character. Helen Harper is always excellent at creating characters with amusing personality traits and Emma is no exception.
Emma is very serious about what she does, but that doesn’t stop her from being entertaining too. Her mental descriptions can be very unexpected. My favorite was “He was about as much use as a one-legged man in an arse-kicking contest.”
I also loved watching Emma really coming into her own as a detective, too. Her confidence is really kicking in by now and we can see her learning and growing into her role.
Lukas is also a great character. He’s walking a tightrope of trying to do what’s best for his vampire community, while at the same time do his darnedest to be whatever Emma needs him to be. And I really enjoyed that he had more time in the spotlight in this book. We got to see a lot more of him than in book 2 of The Firebrand series, Infernal Enchantment (click here to see my review) and I’m liking him more and more as we go along. (I like him and Emma together, too.)
But my very favourite thing about Lukas in this book? His fashion sense. Who doesn’t love a man confident enough to wear a shirt with blood-red frills that is open to the waist?!
While the romance in most books that I read is far more ‘in your face’ that it is in this series, there’s nothing wrong with a bit of suspense and build up sometimes too. I’m loving the path of these two so far.
The secondary characters in this series are fantastic, too. They are all really well rounded, with their own personality quirks, which I find makes them so enjoyable.
I totally loved this book and it’s probably my favourite in the series so far. Best bit? There’s more in the series to come!



After teaching English literature in the UK, Japan and Malaysia, Helen Harper left behind the world of education following the worldwide success of her Blood Destiny series of books. She is a professional member of the Alliance of Independent Authors and writes full time, thanking her lucky stars every day that’s she lucky enough to do so!
Helen has always been a book lover, devouring science fiction and fantasy tales when she was a child growing up in Scotland.
She currently lives in Edinburgh in the UK with far too many cats – not to mention the dragons, fairies, demons, wizards and vampires that seem to keep appearing from nowhere.
Follow the author: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Amazon | Bookbub | Goodreads |

Comment on “Midnight Smoke by Helen Harper – Book Review”