The Undead Kama Sutra    by Mario Acevedo Order:  USA  Can Eos, 2008 (2008) Softcover, e-Book      Reviewed by Martina Bexte With his last dying breaths, Gilbert Odin (an alien masquerading as a human who was first introduced in The Nymphos of Rocky Flats) begs vampire PI Felix Gomez to 'find my killer and save the Earth women'. Unfortunately, before Felix is able to pry more information from Odin's lips, the alien's counterfeit human shell begins dissolving and he turns back to his true form. Complications are compounded when a messenger from the vampire Araneum (the Global organization that oversees and protects vampire interests) delivers an urgent missive that, as usual, leaves Felix more puzzled than enlightened ... 'the vampire underworld has a new threat, the extraterrestrials. Because of your experience with the aliens, we have chosen you to investigate this threat. Under no circumstances are you to allow yourself or any other vampire to be compromised by these extraterrestrials'. Armed with this stingy information, Felix sets out to dig up answers and soon finds himself on a small island in the Florida Keys, a guest at a frolic-filled vampire resort hidden away under the swaying palms. Here he meets researcher Carmen Arellano who's been diligently deciphering the secrets of the Undead Kama Sutra, an ancient text that supposedly enlightens vampires on ways to increase their psychic and healing abilities through energetic and imaginative sex. While Carmen's research touches on another case Felix is working on, both must temporarily set aside the text's titillating mysteries to flush out a shady hit man who's leaving a trail of dead bodies all over the country. It doesn't take long for Felix to figure out that the mysterious deaths are a clever cover for a fiendish alien conspiracy aimed at kidnapping Earth women - and that the US military is working hand-in-hand with the alien crooks who cooked up the whole heinous scam. Now it's up to Felix and Carmen to stop the aliens as well as their own traitorous compatriots before more unsuspecting Earth women are whisked away to galaxies unknown. Acevedo is once again in fine form in this third instalment of his quirky vampire series. He's cooked up another convoluted military/alien conspiracy, a host of oddball characters and nice dashes of titillation as well as continuing to expand his unique vampire mythos. Felix's droll first person point of view is the highlight of this series, however. His sometimes-scathing commentary on the human condition (one he used to be part of not so long ago) is often right on the money. The Undead Kama Sutra is another sure bet for readers eager to take a walk on the weird side. Be warned though - a clever cliffhanger will leave you gnashing your blunted teeth, hoping that Felix's next adventure will reveal more secrets. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Fantasy books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews