Life as we know it shifted on its axis when the Others made their existence known to humanity following 9/11. Beings of the underworld have since been not only tolerably accepted but also became rather popular among humans. Laws have been passed for the protection of both humans and non-humans, and fears of death at the hands of a beast or lynching party have been pretty much put to rest. As famous icons, lawmakers and powerful individuals stepped out of the closet, so to speak, the equilibrium between humans and Others really found its footing. However, the clans of Others govern themselves in a manner similar to the mafia of old. Private detective Shiarra Waynest's fears will soon be realized when she is Hunted by the Others.

For snooping after a small figurine in the possession of the ancient vampire Alec Royce, a powerful order of mages known as the Circle offer Shiarra enough funding to dig herself out of the financial hole she’s been stuck in. Going against her usual business tenet of not taking Other cases, Shiarra agrees to snoop but not hunt. Regardless, she has crossed a line that may have final consequences. Good thing she’s armed with tools from the Circle’s secret vaults to give her amazing advantages against any foe.

The simple snooping case she's agreed to becomes a death sentence with the possibility of a life of servitude if Shiarra and her few allies can’t outwit, outmuscle and evade the owner of the figurine. Their minds like putty in the hands of the controller, powerful clan leaders and their clans are like robots, killing victims selected by the figurine’s owner. A plea for help aimed at Shiarra can't be ignored, nor can the mounting number of high-profile murders at the hands of mind-controlled Others. One lone human against all the Others adds up to impossible odds, but with the powers and wisdom of a geeky mage, smarts and aid from her best friend, and the reappearance of a love who’s also an Other clan alpha, Shiarra might stand a chance in the fight for her life — and the lives of many Others.

The underworld has a new hunter in town, and author Jess Haines is working hard to secure her place on the shelves next to genre greats like Jeanine Frost and Keri Arthur. Less action-packed than most novels in this genre, Hunted by the Others focuses more on strategy-building and character development in the face of threats and fears plaguing the hunted versus bouts of conflict leading up to the grand finale. Any sexual, graphic, or violence-related references are, for the most part, rather docile but still effectively illustrate the different scenarios. Great humor and the perfect mix of light and dark subject matter.