Bloodhound: Beka Cooper, Book 2

The book's world is matter-of-factly brutal, with frequent murders, beatings, and other incidents. Beka and the other Dogs are frequently involved in fights (even riots) and confrontations, and they use various weapons -- though they prefer heavy batons to swords, since they'd rather catch criminals than kill them. There are some bloody deaths (human and animal) and serious injuries. Nothing is described in particularly graphic terms, but the violence is pretty pervasive. At one point in the story, Beka saves children from kidnappers (who presumably have dark intentions).

Sex and sexuality are treated very matter of factly. Unmarried characters (including Beka) sleep together, and there's a good amount of flirting and kissing as well. Things don't get too graphic, but Beka does refer to her "peaches" and the way that a young man kissing/touching her makes her feel. Two men kiss; their same-sex relationship isn't portrayed as a big deal -- nor is anyone else's sexuality.

Plenty of slang and swearing, but it's all in words that are specific to the world of the book (there's a glossary in the back for translation). None of it includes words that are considered "bad" to us, but they're clear stand-ins for curses we all know.

Beka rarely drinks (she perfers to keep her head clear), but many of her friends and colleagues do, generally in social situations.

Parents need to know that this fantasy/crime story takes place in a medieval-esque world in which violence is commonplace, sex is sometimes casual, and bribery and poverty go hand in hand. While there's nothing especially graphic, overall the story has a more mature tone than the first book in the series, with the heroine taking on bigger responsibilities and dallying with a young man. There are some deaths and many injuries, characters drink and flirt (and sometimes more), and a same-sex relationship is treated matter-of-factly.