“She saw enough of the werewolf for me to see clearly. The wolf wore a black wool hat. It was Oriscoe.” Erik Henry Vick's Claw & Warder continues with Episode 3: Mitzvah. In New York, a body is found in an alley and Leery Oriscoe and his partner Dru Nogan are on the case. It looks to be another day in the office for them until the witness's memory shows Leery as the prime suspect. It's a piece of jarring evidence for the coffee-loving werewolf and his colleagues but Dru believes her partner and they are both determined to find the truth. The investigation reveals more of the individuals in Leery's past and an enemy that won't back down. Yet, they are nothing compared to one particular event that Leery isn’t prepared for; meeting Dru's parents.

Erik Henry Vick's Mitzvah maintains the dark, funny, and fast-paced plot of the series, blending good detective work with the intricately chaotic world of the supernatural. Meeting Dru's parents is quite a huge step forward in the warder's partnership with the werewolf, albeit the purpose is nothing to do with love. Episode 3 demands to be read in one held breath as its tide bears down on all in the final fight scene that is epic in its own right. The ghostly Judge Sewall becomes my latest favorite character as he has the last say in the court against the antagonist. As always, Erik Henry Vick delivers the satisfaction of seeing a problem resolved while overtly indicating that future troubles are ahead; this means more fun, crazy, and murderous supernatural cases for Leery and Dru.

A werewolf is murdering residents in the streets of New York City, but the witness's description of the killer fits one of NYC's finest in the breathtaking urban fantasy, Mitzvah (Claw and Warder Episode 3) by Erik Henry Vick. Detectives Leery and Dru are called to the murder scene of a victim so traumatized she can't speak beyond the grave. Luckily, a mundane witness bumped into the murderer on her way home from the store. An unexpected complication arises when her description of the killer is a perfect match for Leery in his wolf form. Not only that, but there is also arcane dark magic adhered to the victim's wound that none of them can decipher. Dru and Leery go to Hell and back to get answers. Can they catch the killer before he strikes again? Or will Leery be the next victim?

Mitzvah (Claw and Warder Episode 3) by Erik Henry Vick is a phenomenal fantasy with extraordinary characters. Not only are there zombies, vampires, ghosts, and werewolves but Van Helsing's daughter, Edgar Cayce, and the queen of Hell also play significant roles in the novel. Magic, murder, and good old fashioned sleuthing are combined to create a dramatic and breathtaking plot. Although it is an exciting story with thrilling scenes, it is the third one in a series and it is not a standalone. I recommend reading the first two episodes first to fully grasp the fantastical urban concepts and origins, and the characters' histories. Other than that, it is an action-packed story complete with enough blood and gore to thrill those who are Van Helsing fans and love urban fantasy.