Sink your teeth into "Blood Ties"

When you think about Lifetime, you don’t generally think cool supernatural drama.

But that’s exactly what you get with “Blood Ties,” the new series based on Tanya Huff’s “Blood Books” novels.

Christina Cox is Vicki Nelson, a private investigator who was a top detective until her eye sight forced her to quit. After she witnesses a bizarre murder, she’s hired by the victim’s girlfriend to determine if he was killed by a vampire.

While investigating the case, Vicki crosses swords with the lead detective, Mike Celluci (Dylan Neal), her former partner and boyfriend who still carries a torch for her. Mike tries to keep her from nosing into the case, but her friendship with the coroner and other key people within the department keep that from happening.

Also interested in the investigation is Henry Fitzroy (Kyle Schmid), a vampire who masquerades as a graphic novelist. Soon, Henry discovers that a great evil may be about to reveal itself.

What none of them know (but we do) is that the person behind this is a seemingly normal individual trying to change his life in all the wrong ways.

There really is no other way to describe this show than to say it’s really cool. Cox is perfectly cast as Vicki and Schmid has that whole “Interview with a Vampire” thing going for him. You discover just enough about the characters to care about them, but enough is unsaid to leave you wanting more—especially about Henry.

The special effects are not completely solid, but the cool look of the show masks any of the imperfections. In other words, it’s all so pretty you don’t really care.

Plus, there’s that sexy vibe that oozes throughout.

I kept thinking to myself that the show seemed so un-Lifetime. Granted, the idea of a strong female investigator is very Lifetime. But watching vampires fly around in the darkened streets? Not so much.

But if this is some new direction the network is taking, I support it wholeheartedly.

“Blood Ties” premieres with a two-hour episode Sunday, March 11th at 9 p.m. on Lifetime…