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kimberlymichelle's review against another edition
mysterious
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
wdkilpackiii's review against another edition
4.0
This takes the vampire story and crosses over into the gumshoe detective genre. Might sound strange, but it works. While reading, I often imagined it as an old black-and-white movie. It was a very refreshing twist on the vampire story. There are some aspects to the writing that I think need more detail, but that improves with later books in the series. Recommended!
doubleace2423's review against another edition
3.0
You ever eat a meal and it’s not bad but ultimately forgettable? This book feels that way. Next year I’ll have to look at my notes to remember what this book was even about. Hitting similar points and has the overall feeling of a Dresden Files knock off. A vampire detective noir sounds amazing, but unfortunately it’s just ok. The plot can feel lost at times, like the author has good ideas but ultimately doesn’t know how to get there organically, making certain elements drag a bit. It’s not a bad story. It can just feel bland at times. I guess if you’re done with The Dresden Files and are itching for a similar feel pick this up. I’m going to read the second one and see if it gets more engaging.
hashtag_alison's review against another edition
4.0
This book is the perfect beach read for someone who is obsessed with urban fiction and also Agatha Christie. So, like, me. It's fast-paced, fun, suspenseful, and thrilling.
There's not much focus on the main character's transformation and following angst, which gets the story going really quickly and gets you right into the meat of things. In supernatural fiction first books can try to frontload with worldbuilding, which can be a deterrent for newcomers into the genre and can be a little boring even for the more seasoned. Elrod clears the way straight into action and it works. I can't wait to read more of them and learn what I didn't in the first volume.
The feel of the book is very noir and it's pulled off well. I was imagining all the characters talking like old gangster movies. I don't have a lot of experience with the genre, but I thoroughly enjoyed this taste of it and am willing to seek it out more if it's like this.
Jack, the main character, deals with his pain and trauma by ignoring it until he literally passes out and I can really get behind that. It's a nice bit of character work that makes him stand out from the typical broody vampire and lets Elrod skip to the good stuff, as previously discussed. And honestly as a coping mechanism - SAME. Makes way more sense to me personally than going into an immediate hundred-year pout.
Would recommend to anyone.
There's not much focus on the main character's transformation and following angst, which gets the story going really quickly and gets you right into the meat of things. In supernatural fiction first books can try to frontload with worldbuilding, which can be a deterrent for newcomers into the genre and can be a little boring even for the more seasoned. Elrod clears the way straight into action and it works. I can't wait to read more of them and learn what I didn't in the first volume.
The feel of the book is very noir and it's pulled off well. I was imagining all the characters talking like old gangster movies. I don't have a lot of experience with the genre, but I thoroughly enjoyed this taste of it and am willing to seek it out more if it's like this.
Jack, the main character, deals with his pain and trauma by ignoring it until he literally passes out and I can really get behind that. It's a nice bit of character work that makes him stand out from the typical broody vampire and lets Elrod skip to the good stuff, as previously discussed. And honestly as a coping mechanism - SAME. Makes way more sense to me personally than going into an immediate hundred-year pout.
Would recommend to anyone.
redhickory's review against another edition
2.0
2.5
Here we are introduced to Jack Fleming, journalist, who becomes a vampire. He spends the book finding out how and why he died. It is a little dark and violent for me, a bit too noir or hardboiled. This instalment sets up a lover and working partner for him (British P.I., Escott) and the relationship between Fleming and Escott could be interesting to watch develop.
Some different vampire rules/abilities here are interesting. I am always fascinated by how authors construct their worlds. The story was fairly bland though, so although I will read book 2, unless it is something special I probably won’t read any more.
Here we are introduced to Jack Fleming, journalist, who becomes a vampire. He spends the book finding out how and why he died. It is a little dark and violent for me, a bit too noir or hardboiled. This instalment sets up a lover and working partner for him (British P.I., Escott) and the relationship between Fleming and Escott could be interesting to watch develop.
Some different vampire rules/abilities here are interesting. I am always fascinated by how authors construct their worlds. The story was fairly bland though, so although I will read book 2, unless it is something special I probably won’t read any more.
calliek_reads's review against another edition
2.0
I really wanted to like this one, but it just didn't do it for me. The writing was ok, the characters were boring, and the storyline didn't reel me in. All of it.
Sad, because I'm having trouble finding some good vampire novels to read!
Sad, because I'm having trouble finding some good vampire novels to read!
funsizelibrarian's review against another edition
5.0
Full review on my blog: http://myfun-sizelife.blogspot.com/2013/07/comfort-readingwith-fangs.html
Partial review (the part that gets to the point):
This semi-noir detective novel is fairly short at about 200 pages. It’s well-written with decent character development – not spectacular but good enough to pull you in and make you care. There’s humor, a bit of romance, and lots of 1930’s mobster action along with much of the standard vampire fare and some not-so-standard vampire tricks. The author does a great job of putting supernatural flare into the era, and it’s a book I highly recommend.
Partial review (the part that gets to the point):
This semi-noir detective novel is fairly short at about 200 pages. It’s well-written with decent character development – not spectacular but good enough to pull you in and make you care. There’s humor, a bit of romance, and lots of 1930’s mobster action along with much of the standard vampire fare and some not-so-standard vampire tricks. The author does a great job of putting supernatural flare into the era, and it’s a book I highly recommend.
innae's review against another edition
5.0
Can't remember when I started reading this series, and I am a little behind. I really enjoyed the first one...a bit of hard boiled detective mixed with a vampire story. Nice.
vailynst's review against another edition
3.0
Notes:
Currently on Audible Plus
I enjoyed the first half more than the last half. It was a different take on vampires and becoming one. While the last half had more action, I wasn't a fan of Jack being a passive & reactive character.
Currently on Audible Plus
I enjoyed the first half more than the last half. It was a different take on vampires and becoming one. While the last half had more action, I wasn't a fan of Jack being a passive & reactive character.
see_sadie_read's review against another edition
3.0
Well, that was something I listened to. I can't say I loved it, not that it was actually bad. I was just rather bored with it, having expected more. The vampire aspect was totally pointless, Jack could have just been any prohibition-era gumshoe. (And I say that as someone who loves a good vampire novel.)
I did appreciate that he wasn't an alpha-asshole. He admitted to fear, cried and cared about his friends. It humanized him.
The book does suffer from the classic lack of female characters though. There is only one female character at all and she, of course, is the sexpot hooker-with-a heart. Cliched beyond mention!
Whitener did a fine job with the narration.
I did appreciate that he wasn't an alpha-asshole. He admitted to fear, cried and cared about his friends. It humanized him.
The book does suffer from the classic lack of female characters though. There is only one female character at all and she, of course, is the sexpot hooker-with-a heart. Cliched beyond mention!
Whitener did a fine job with the narration.