Bloodhound: Beka Cooper, Book 2 (by Tamora Pierce)

BLOODHOUND finds young policewoman -- aka "Dog" -- Beka Cooper taking on her first big case as an official Guardswoman. With an increasing number of forged coins (called "coles") appearing on the streets of Corus and rumors of a bad grain harvest starting to circulate, the country's entire economy could be in trouble. Accompanied by a grumpy pigeon and an enthusiastic scent hound named Achoo, Beka and her partner follow the coles' trail to Port Caynn, where they meet a whole cast of new characters -- and encounter plenty of new trouble.

Like its predecessor, Terrier, Bloodhound is much more of a crime procedural than a traditional fantasy novel. While magic certainly has a role in the story (Beka can talk to ghosts carried by pigeons, as well as pick up snippets of conversation from small whirlwinds), it's far less central than in Pierce's other books. Some fans may miss that aspect, but it's a nice change of pace to see characters relying on "regular" resources -- and taking "regular" risks as they do so. Beka's achievements are all the more satisfying because she achieves them almost entirely on her own merits.

Also like Terrier, the book is told through first-person journal entries. It's a very intimate writing style, and it helps cement Beka's status as a likeable, relatable heroine -- one of many in Pierce's repertoire. In addition to creating strong female characters, Pierce has always done an excellent job of telling engrossing, well-paced stories, and Bloodhound is no exception.