This is a great urban fantasy story of spies, terrorists and secret agents, along with a generous dollop of magic and the supernatural. The Red Room is a secret agency that for centuries has protected humanity from discovering that supernaturals exist, but when a zombie creating bioweapon threatens the world, Agent Derek Hawthorne is put on the case. Derek is smart, sarcastic, a little jaded, trusts no one but his twin sister Penny (who is a powerful witch) and is good at his job. With a megalomaniacal villain bent on taking over the world and a power hungry ex-wife who is not only a suspect but also the CEO of a large, powerful corporation, Derek needs all the help he can get. He has hints of James Bond about him but with magic as well as gadgets, and his integrity and insecurities add to his appeal as a character. I loved the interplay and chemistry between him and his new partner Shannon O’Reilly. She is a fabulous, kick-ass character who has a great sense of humour and appears to be on the same page as him but there is that niggling hint of a doubt and you always wonder what her true agenda is. The narrator, Jeffrey Kafer, does an excellent job of bringing the story to life and giving the characters voices that fit them well. I especially loved the accent he gave Shannon and his intonation really showed the seductress side of her nature. This story moves along quickly and it definitely keeps your attention. There is plenty of action, intrigue, fights, deception, a bit of steam and some humour in this story, as well as strong characters with unique supernatural abilities, complicated family dynamics and an entertaining plot.