Under Wraps (The Underworld Detection Agency Chronicles) [Mass Market Paperback]

Hannah Jayne (Author)

Book Description

Release date: March 1, 2011 | Series: The Underworld Detection Agency Chronicles

As a human immune to magic, Sophie Lawson can help everyone from banshee to zombie transition into normal, everyday San Francisco life. With a handsome werewolf as her UDA boss and a fashionista vampire for a roommate, Sophie knows everything there is to know about the undead, the unseen, and the uncanny. Until a rash of gruesome murders has demons and mortals running for cover, and Sophie finds herself playing sidekick to detective Parker Hayes. Dodging ranging bloodsuckers, bad-tempered faires, and love-struck trolls is one thing. But when Sophie discovers parker isn't what he seems, she's only got one chance to figure out whom to trust. Because an evil hiding in plain sight is closing in...and about to make one wisecracking human it means to ultimate power.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Jayne weaves a sexy, funny, and suspenseful tale in this charming debut. Administrative assistant Sophie Lawson is the only human employed at the Underworld Detection Agency, which helps San Francisco's supernatural entities navigate mysteries and negotiate with humans. When a series of supernatural murders rocks the Bay Area and Sophie's employer, a kindly werewolf, goes missing, Sophie is plunged headlong into a deadly mystery that includes a smoldering attraction to a mysterious police detective who may not be telling her everything that he knows. After a slow and vague beginning in which characters casually toss around stereotypes and epithets based on (supernatural) race, Jayne gains control of her various plot threads and brings most of them to a satisfying, exciting conclusion with plenty of intrigue set up for a sequel. (Mar.)
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Kensington (March 1, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0758258925
• ISBN-13: 978-0758258922
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 1.1 x 6.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (49 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #407,096 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Hannah Jayne lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. In addition to The Underworld Detection Agency series and Rebound Guy, Jayne writes cozy mysteries, young adult fiction, chick lit, and grocery lists that she never seems to remember to bring to the grocery store.

When she's not battling the demons of the Underworld, Jayne shares a house with two neurotic, feet-attacking cats and, like her character Sophie Lawson, has a Kryptonite-like weakness for donuts.

You can find her at www.hannahjschwartz.com or at Hannah Jayne on Facebook.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 39 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Don't judge this one by its cover - it's a light chicklity paranormal with a touch of humor, not a gritty action packed UF March 11, 2011

By melindeeloo TOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

If you are judging Under Wraps by its cover, resplendent in leather and holding a sword, magic immune leading lady Sophie - who works for the Underword Detection Agency - looks like shes ready to kick fanny and take names. This is not the case, instead, the Underworld Detection Agency is really much more like Social Services for the supernatural (Fill that out in triplicate. Next.) And Sophie - who is far more likely to be found in twin sets, pencil skirts and sensible shoes - is executive assistant to the director of the agency. Considering her job description, it is really odd that Sophie ends up helping hunky police detective Parker Hayes with a murder investigation that appears to have a supernatural perpetrator.

Okay, so this was not at all what I expected but Under Wraps doesn't take itself seriously. The tone of the story is light, and takes a really long time to get rolling but Sophie's troll stalker, and Sophie's unique use of firearms do provide a few humorous moments. The only bit of edginess to be found in Under Wraps is that the murders are suitably yucky (Sophie finds them vomit-worthy.)

Sophie is pleasant enough as the first person heroine, and there are some interesting characters around her - her fashionista vamp roomie and the roomie's 'teen' nephew 'Vlad' are sort of fun. But nobody besides Sophie feels especially fleshed out. And even though Parker is always 'on the make' with Sophie and Sophie has lusty thoughts, the sensuality level is way more mild than wild - way way more.

So, bottom-line? Under Wraps ended up being ok and it is possible that I'd have enjoyed this more if I'd come into the book expecting something a bit closer to what it actually was. The cover art and marketing blurb mean that this book is ending up in the hands of the wrong audience. What was really needed was a cartoony cover like How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf or The Werewolf Upstairs because the audience for this book is someone looking for a clean light paranormal read with a touch of humor. Under Wraps is the first in the Underworld Detection Agency Chronicles with the next book Underground out in November 2011 - although Sophie apparently gets some surprising info about her heritage at the end of the book, I honestly can't say that I have any idea of what's next for Sophie and the Underworld Detection Agency.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars reminded me of a supernatural Janet Evanovich novel: a light & funny paranormal mystery with zany characters, March 2, 2011

By Abigail TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Mass Market Paperback

The cover art for UNDER WRAPS is completely gorgeous. It's also completely wrong for this story. Just by looking at it, you would expect a dark, gritty urban fantasy featuring a tough and sexy protagonist, right? Wrong. UNDER WRAPS has a decidedly more playful, chick lit tone with a hapless heroine who is almost the polar opposite of the fierce looking model on the cover. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it does give the wrong impression.

Now that we've set the record straight, UNDER WRAPS is a fun book. There's a wide and wacky cast of creatures in this story ranging from a two foot tall troll who reminded me of Joe Jr. in While You Where Sleeping, a 100+ year old vampire who is stuck with the maturity--and body--of a sixteen year old boy: surly and hormonal forever, and an assortment of centaurs, zombies, pixies, werewolves, and just about every supernatural creature you can imagine.

Sophie is a likeable lead as well. She's working a desk job at the Underworld Detection Agency (which is a lot like the DMV) when she gets paired up with a dreamy detective to solve a supernatural crime in the unsuspecting `normal' world. She ends up battling her hormones as much as any actual foes, and while she gets a kick out of `playing CSI,' she's in way over her head most of the time and squeaks by on dumb luck more often than not. Still, she's an endearing, if overly guy crazy character who injected every scene with levity and kept the plot from ever dragging.

Overall, UNDER WRAPS reminded me of a supernatural Janet Evanovich novel: a light and funny mystery with zany characters, a couple of gorgeous guys, and a heroine with heart but severely lacking in the skills department. If you always wondered what a Stephanie Plum novel would be like if Ranger was a werewolf and the population was largely paranormal, you'll probably love this book. Just don't expect it to be the next Rachel Morgan series. The next installment in the Underworld Detection Agency will be published on November 1st 2011 by Kensington

Sexual Content:
Kissing. Lots of sexual innuendo.

18 of 21 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Chick-lit March 5, 2011

By HHK VINE™ VOICE

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Beware- the cover of this book is totally deceptive. Leather clad woman looking fierce and holding a sword.
In reality this is a chick-lit type funny paranormal.
Sophie is an Administrative Assistant at the Underworld Detective Agency. She helps a hunky detective track down a serial killer and find her missing boss.

There are some funny moments but overall this book was mediocre.
I will not be purchasing the sequel.