Badge of Horror

In "Badge of Horror," Kevin B. DiBacco crafts an atmospheric supernatural thriller set in the shadowy streets of New Orleans. NOPD detective Angelo Dubois harbors a centuries-old secret-he's a vampire, turned by the ruthless Sapphira LeCroix during the aftermath of a historical battle. Using a magical lapis lazuli ring that allows him limited daylight tolerance, Angelo maintains his human facade while solving crimes that cross between the mortal and supernatural worlds. The story begins with Angelo investigating a series of brutal murders bearing vampiric markings. When the killing of a young woman leads him to a remote cabin, he confronts the perpetrator only to discover the crimes are connected to his maker, Sapphira, who has returned to New Orleans with deadly intentions. The murders are part of a larger pattern that threatens both supernatural and human communities. Angelo's investigation leads him to Andrea Deveraux, a gifted witch running a flower shop in the French Quarter. Their initial wariness-born from centuries of vampire-witch animosity-gives way to respect and eventually deep attraction as they realize they share a commitment to protecting innocents.