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Book Review: Vampyres of Hollywood by Adrienne Barbeau and Michael Scott

Vampyres of Hollywood by Adrienne Barbeau and Michael Scott

St. Martin’s Griffin, 2009

ISBN: 0312565771

Available: Hardcover, Kindle ebook

A serial killer is murdering Hollywood’s celebrities, and Detective Peter King is on the case. King links the crimes to the Scream Queen, and her producer, Ovsanna Moore. Moore has a hideous motive for murder…the dead celebrities were all vampyres, and each had been sired by her.

Barbeau and Scott have produced an inventive take on the vampire mythos, linking it to classic Hollywood filmdom, and using actress Barbeau’s behind-the-scenes knowledge to add rich texture to the narrative. The chapters alternate between the viewpoints of King and Moore as the mystery unfolds in noir-like fashion.

Vampyres of Hollywood is adequately written, and fast-paced, with plenty of action and humor, but it is not for the squeamish or fainthearted. The violence is brutal and sometimes over-the-top, and there is plenty of adult-only content. That said, it’s a fast and enjoyable read for mature audiences. Recommended.

Contains: sexual content, graphic gore and violence.

Reviewed by Bob Freeman

Posted on November 14, 2014 by , Reply

Book Review: Vampires Don’t Sparkle! edited by Michael West


Vampires Don’t Sparkle! edited by Michael West

Seventh Star Press, 2013

ISBN: 1937929604

Available: New, used and ebook

 

Vampires Don’t Sparkle! is an anthology of vampire tales, both modern and historical.  From fun to splattery, and with a smattering of regional specialties, Michael West has assembled a collection of stories designed to leave prissy, playboy bloodsuckers in their condos and compounds. In his selections, monsters run the streets again.

Standout stories include Joel A. Sutherland’s “Skraeling”, “Dreams of Winter” by Bob Freeman, and Jerry Gordon’s “Vampire Nation”, though with so much great fiction inside it’s hard to pick out just a few. Definitely recommended for public and private horror collections.

 

Contains: violence, gore, sex, language

Reviewed by Michele Lee

 

Posted on November 10, 2014 by , Reply

Book Review: Water Vamps by G.L. Giles

     Water Vamps by G. L. Giles

BlackWyrm Publishing, June 2013 (Second Printing)

ISBN-13: 978-1-61318-147-8

Available: Paperback, Kindle

 

Psychic vampire Setiana and her partner, a shape-shifter, stop at an inn for a good day’s sleep. While there, Setiana enters a dream state, and visits a young girl, Robyn, in Charleston, South Carolina.  It is Robyn’s 11th birthday, and her life will never be the same. Setiana welcomes the girl into a new life. Robyn meets a new companion, a boy named Marion, who discovers he is a shape-shifter. Setiana and her partner help Robyn and Marion understand what their lives will be like in their new forms. There are many types of vampires in the story– some good, some evil. They must all beware of the Water Vampires.

I had real trouble following the story in this work. The overarching problem was the overuse of descriptive elements. This really muddied up the storyline. I give the author kudos for having a unique style, and based on other reviews, I know it works for others. At any rate, the theme of love came through clearly in the story. Ages 12 and up.

 

Contains: Homosexuality

Reviewed by Aaron Fletcher

 

Posted on November 3, 2014 by , Reply
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