Bennett, Nigel & Elrod, P.N. His father's son.

Baen. 398p. c2001. 0-7434-3531-1. $6.99. A

A sequel to Keeper of the King (1997), this novel opens with a steamy lovemaking scene between Richard d'Orleans and his female lover. It is the Middle Ages and d'Orleans, we find, is really Sir Lancelot. But this is only [he beginning. The major plot and work of this nove] takes place in the present. In fact, it is said to be a de-in to TV's long-ago cancelled Forever Knight, in which Bennett played an evil but wise vampire foil to the major good-guy vamp. He has turned his skills to writing and happily collaborates with P.N. Elrod, which may help to explain the high level of writing in this book. The authors make you see and feel, smell and taste everything that comes the way of the characters--including sex, and there's lots of it.

In the present, Richard d'Orleans is a security specialist in Canada and receives an urgent e-mail from a former lover. It seems her husband got mixed up with his brother's drug dealings but then had misgivings and turned state's evidence. This is a no-no where drug cartels are concerned. Richard helped to relocate the family in but now the drug troubles seem to have resurfaced. Richard flies to the rescue once more but finds he is too late--his former lover is dead, along with her two daughters. Her son Miguel escaped and is found by Richard, who vows to find the killers and take care of Miguel.

The plot has more twists and turns and surprises than a reader may expect. It swings back and forth between the present and the past, mixes Arthurian legend into the plot and is quite entertaining. It is definitely a good read and a good addition to vampire collections. Be advised that there is lots of sex and it isn't tame. Joseph R. DeMarco, Libn., St. Joseph's Prep. Sch., Philadelphia, PA