Kitty & the Midnight Hour was really good for a first book. The pace was good, the characters -- particularly title character, werewolf and radio host Kitty Norville -- were interesting and the plot made you want to read on. Plus, author Carrie Vaughn has a good sense of humor that carries you through to the final pages.

In Kitty Goes to Washington, the second book in the Kitty Norville series, the existence of werewolves and vampires has become public knowledge. Kitty goes to Washington to testify before Congress in hopes of getting the conditions listed as diseases by federal agencies, thereby obtaining funds for research and aid for those who are afflicted with them.

What this volume lacks is the pop that makes you eagerly turn the pages. Vaughn introduces some interesting characters here, but the story doesn't really push you along like the first book did. Washington is good, just not in comparison to its predecessor.

Still, I have plans to read the next one in the optimistic spirit that Vaughn will be back to her original form.