Rating: Summary: The Gangster, the Psychotic, and the Vampire Review: Pat Elrod has been writing about vampire Jack Flemings adventures for longer than most vampires survive. Killed, thrown in Lake Michigan, and resurrected - we have followed Jack from helpless fledgling to assistant to a detective and nocturnal owner of the Lady Crymsyn nightclub. Jack has a knack of making shady friends (and girlfriends) from Chicago's underworld, a penchant for heroism, and, unfortunately, is non-living proof that becoming a vampire does not increase one's intelligence.In this episode Jack starts out by breaking up a kidnapping for his friend Escott. One of the kidnappers turns out to be both psychotic and resistance to Jack's trips. The worst happens, Jack is spotted sipping his favorite cow, and now faces blackmail and exposure at the hands of a ne'er-do-well society member will the morals of a snail. The counterplot involves Jack's old friend Gordy - crime boss and fellow nightclub owner. A New York gangster shows up wanting to take over the territory. Yes another psychotic, with a tendency to get drunk and nasty. The ensuing crisis catapults Jack into temporary leadership of the local crime ring with results that would be comic if they weren't so horrific. Elrod isn't one to deviate from a hitherto successful formula, so Jack does what he does best - make a mess of things. One would think that, after eight novels in which he is perpetually being shot up, knocked unconscious by wooden chairs, and otherwise embarrassed in the pursuit of goodness , that Jack would have figured out that vampires should also stay away from places where angels fear to tread. But such is not to be the case. Hapless vampires to not necessarily make great protagonists. What is cute, or funny loses interest when the same thing happens time after time. If I was a vampire with Jack's luck, I would willingly ride off into the sunrise - and kiss my horse every night. What saves the book is what always does - Elrod's writing ability, which makes a mundane plot sparkle enough to keep up one's interest. But even that time is coming to an end. This will probably be the last in this series for me - while it remains an enjoyable confection.
Rating: Summary: The Gangster, the Psychotic, and the Vampire Review: Pat Elrod has been writing about vampire Jack Flemings adventures for longer than most vampires survive. Killed, thrown in Lake Michigan, and resurrected - we have followed Jack from helpless fledgling to assistant to a detective and nocturnal owner of the Lady Crymsyn nightclub. Jack has a knack of making shady friends (and girlfriends) from Chicago's underworld, a penchant for heroism, and, unfortunately, is non-living proof that becoming a vampire does not increase one's intelligence. In this episode Jack starts out by breaking up a kidnapping for his friend Escott. One of the kidnappers turns out to be both psychotic and resistance to Jack's trips. The worst happens, Jack is spotted sipping his favorite cow, and now faces blackmail and exposure at the hands of a ne'er-do-well society member will the morals of a snail. The counterplot involves Jack's old friend Gordy - crime boss and fellow nightclub owner. A New York gangster shows up wanting to take over the territory. Yes another psychotic, with a tendency to get drunk and nasty. The ensuing crisis catapults Jack into temporary leadership of the local crime ring with results that would be comic if they weren't so horrific. Elrod isn't one to deviate from a hitherto successful formula, so Jack does what he does best - make a mess of things. One would think that, after eight novels in which he is perpetually being shot up, knocked unconscious by wooden chairs, and otherwise embarrassed in the pursuit of goodness , that Jack would have figured out that vampires should also stay away from places where angels fear to tread. But such is not to be the case. Hapless vampires to not necessarily make great protagonists. What is cute, or funny loses interest when the same thing happens time after time. If I was a vampire with Jack's luck, I would willingly ride off into the sunrise - and kiss my horse every night. What saves the book is what always does - Elrod's writing ability, which makes a mundane plot sparkle enough to keep up one's interest. But even that time is coming to an end. This will probably be the last in this series for me - while it remains an enjoyable confection.
Rating: Summary: Cold Streets, just another GREAT reason to LOVE miss Elrod! Review: This book like all her other books are wonderful. I dont have to tell you the plot cause everyone else has done that for me,but I can tell you that each book gets better, and each character gets more development! My only 2 dissapointing things I see are ,I thought Gordy getting shot, and put OUT so easy, was a let down........BUT I understand it had to be that way for the PLOT. Also, I hated that it ended so abrupt with Jack freaking out, and the bad guys STILL on the loose, and Gordy's state of complete health just left hanging! ARRGGHHHH! Miss Elrod, I hate cliffhangers! I will buy everything you put out, but PLEASE dont do this anymore......(in my best Italian Mob voice!)....you'z iz killin me heea! But with all that said, I wouldnt trade my reading adventures with Jack Fleming for anything else! I am also proud to have heard about the next book in this great ride called "song in the heart"!!!!! I hope it finishes all that has been left hanging! And I cannot WAIT to review it as well!
Rating: Summary: Just when Jack thought things were going well........ Review: This is the 11th book in the Vampire files series, and it is still immensely readable with great characters that are like old friends by now. This book starts with Jack and Escott finishing a nasty kidnap case, that turns out to have unexpected consequences for them all. Jack's club "lady Crymysn" has turned into the neutral zone of the Chicago ganglands - however that doesn't stop gang trouble landing on Jack's doorstep at a very inconvenient time. This is a well told story with twists and turns throughout that keep your attention riveted, though at times you do feel sorry for Jack given the sheer amount of times the poor man has been shot, tortured and staked at various points throughout these books. While this novel can be read as a stand alone, to get the most out of it you should read all the series in order. This is an evolving series, where the characters change and the events in one novel can have consequences in another. I'm already looking forward to the next book in this series as it's such great fun following the adventures of Jack Fleming and his friends.
Rating: Summary: Fine action and drama make for an excellent mystery Review: This latest adventure of vampire-turned-P.I. Jake requires no familiarity with its predecessors in order to prove immediately riveting and involving. Winter in Chicago brings no slow-down in action for Jake, who finds his swank new nightclub the focal point for an embroiled series of conflicts. Fine action and drama make for an excellent, different mystery.
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