Bloodlist

Rating:
Summary: Introducing Jack Fleming, a different kind of vampire
Review: Jack Fleming does not remember how he became a vampire let alone how he ended up dead, which lends an air of mystery to "Bloodlist," Book One in P. N. Elrod's Vampire Files series. Jack was (is?) a reporter, so he sets about to learn who wanted (wants?) him dead. Fortuantely, shortly after waking up on the beach a goon tries to run him down and tell Jack, after some encouragment, that he had some sort of list that is important enough for some gangster types to want him dead. Unfortunately, Jack remembers none of this. Allied with Charles Escott, an eccentric private investigator and former actor who is fascinated by Jack's current, ah, condition, our hero gets closer and closer to solving one of this two burning mysteries. Along the way he makes the acquaintance of Bobbi, a beautiful singer at one of the clubs and the current "girlfriend" of one of the bad guys. But even dead, Jack knows how to show a lady a good time. More importantly, eventually he gets to remember every excruciating detail of his "death."

"Bloodlist" certainly establishes the potential for this series, which as even Jack notices is more reminiscent of the Shadow than Dracula; the best parts of this book are when Jack uses his new powers to toy with the bad guys. Jack is a vampire, but since he feeds his blood lust at the Chicago Stockyards and is still trying to learn the ropes about being one of the undead he qualifies as being a "good" vampire. As a faithful sidekick, Escott is a unique combination of elements from a lot of literary ancestors, while Bobbi makes an interesting love interest for our hero simply because she does not bat an eye at Jack's unique approach to love making. Elrod is fleshing out her take on vampirism slowly, which is fine, but the noir aspects need to be developed more. Elrod does not display much of a feel for the setting of this first novel, which is supposed to be Chicago after Capone. However, The Vampire Files is clearly a series that is going to rest on the strength of the three main characters and she has certainly given herself something to build upon. Plus, there is that other mystery to solve as to how he ended up undead.

Rating:
Summary: Ace reporter, ladies' man and dead.
Review: Jack Fleming had a problem. He found himself washed up on the shore of Lake Michigan, in bloodstain clothes and very dead. Even before he can figure out what happened, somebody slams a car into him. What has he become and why can't he remember how he died?
Now the ace reporter must become a detective to solve his own murder before somebody figures out how to murder him again and make it stick!
Great characters and only the first book in the series. Warning; if you buy and read this book you will very likely have to buy and read them all!

Rating:
Summary: Ace reporter, ladies' man and dead.
Review: Jack Fleming had a problem. He found himself washed up on the shore of Lake Michigan, in bloodstain clothes and very dead. Even before he can figure out what happened, somebody slams a car into him. What has he become and why can't he remember how he died?
Now the ace reporter must become a detective to solve his own murder before somebody figures out how to murder him again and make it stick!
Great characters and only the first book in the series. Warning; if you buy and read this book you will very likely have to buy and read them all!

Rating:
Summary: A great detective story with a vampiric twist!
Review: Jack Fleming: Newsman, ladies man, vampire. From the first chapter Jack Fleming, a newly-born vampire, and his story takes you on a rollercoaster of events, each more interesting than the next. Bloodlist is a mystery/ detective novel with a twist, and is worth it's weight in gold.

Rating:
Summary: New Twist on an old favorite!
Review: Meet Jack Flemming, ace reporter for a New York newspaper. At the beginning of our story, Mr. Flemming has just woken up to find out a number of interesting things about himself. First off, he's dead. Actually, to be more precise, he's UNdead: apparently the woman he had been dating who said she was a vampire wasn't kidding!! Jack Flemming is now a member of the Creatures of the Night Club, with all the rights and responsibilities that entails.

Having had an idea that something like this just might happen to him (there is no guarantee that being bitten by a vampire would transform you into one), Jack is surprisingly cool about his new transition. What is bothering him more is WHY is he dead in the first place, and what is he doing in Chicago? Some nasty-looking bullet holes are rapidly healing on his chest, which gives him the sinking suspicion he didn't die from food poisoning. Unfortunately, dying has affected his memory and he can't remember why he's dead or what he's supposed to be doing in Chicago. Still, as the jacket says, "there are definite advantages to being a vampire. For starters, you can track down your own murderer."

A good deal of "Bloodlist" involves Jack getting familiar with his new body and all the new restrictions and expansions on his new "life" (no pun intended). He is, of course, suddenly restricted to a liquid diet and daylight hours are right out. On the other hand, he has gained tremendous strength, agility, heightened senses and a handy ability to disappear at will (a skill he uses to hilarious effect in his efforts to track down his own killer and determine why he was bumped off).

Ms. Elrod has created a very likable fellow in a heretofore-unexplored genre: hardboiled vampire detective. In the tradition of such classics as "The Maltese Falcon", Flemming explores the underbelly of Chicago in the years after Capone was imprisoned, but the crime bosses still ran the city. It's got that gritty, seedy flavor to it that detective and mystery aficionados will love, and with the introduction of a main character that is a vampire, the book takes the reader into a new and exciting direction.

Flemming himself is a fine fellow and unlike the bloodthirsty, virgin-enchanting monsters of most vamp stories who would just as soon rip your heart out as say hello. Unlike most other vamp stories where the vampires have a seething contempt of humankind, Flemming tries to keep his humanity about him as much as possible and put his new talents to good use by avenging his own death. He visits the stockyards to feed and even sends money to his mother in rural New York. He is, in short, the sort of guy you'd actually like to have as a friend, though he won't be much fun as a dinner date.

This is the first in Vampire Files series, and though you don't need to read them in order, you'll find that you WANT to because they're so good. I myself am not into vamp or Goth culture, but I do very much enjoy a good read. If you're looking for ancient, power-mad monsters who mercilessly feast on the living blood of the innocent, you'll probably be disappointed. If you're looking for a new detective story with a talented man still grappling with issues of his humanity (all the while trading wisecracks and one-liners with himself and other characters) and his search for the guilty, you've found it right here. The whole series is highly recommended!!

Rating:
Summary: New Twist on an old favorite!
Review: Meet Jack Flemming, ace reporter for a New York newspaper. At the beginning of our story, Mr. Flemming has just woken up to find out a number of interesting things about himself. First off, he's dead. Actually, to be more precise, he's UNdead: apparently the woman he had been dating who said she was a vampire wasn't kidding!! Jack Flemming is now a member of the Creatures of the Night Club, with all the rights and responsibilities that entails.

Having had an idea that something like this just might happen to him (there is no guarantee that being bitten by a vampire would transform you into one), Jack is surprisingly cool about his new transition. What is bothering him more is WHY is he dead in the first place, and what is he doing in Chicago? Some nasty-looking bullet holes are rapidly healing on his chest, which gives him the sinking suspicion he didn't die from food poisoning. Unfortunately, dying has affected his memory and he can't remember why he's dead or what he's supposed to be doing in Chicago. Still, as the jacket says, "there are definite advantages to being a vampire. For starters, you can track down your own murderer."

A good deal of "Bloodlist" involves Jack getting familiar with his new body and all the new restrictions and expansions on his new "life" (no pun intended). He is, of course, suddenly restricted to a liquid diet and daylight hours are right out. On the other hand, he has gained tremendous strength, agility, heightened senses and a handy ability to disappear at will (a skill he uses to hilarious effect in his efforts to track down his own killer and determine why he was bumped off).

Ms. Elrod has created a very likable fellow in a heretofore-unexplored genre: hardboiled vampire detective. In the tradition of such classics as "The Maltese Falcon", Flemming explores the underbelly of Chicago in the years after Capone was imprisoned, but the crime bosses still ran the city. It's got that gritty, seedy flavor to it that detective and mystery aficionados will love, and with the introduction of a main character that is a vampire, the book takes the reader into a new and exciting direction.

Flemming himself is a fine fellow and unlike the bloodthirsty, virgin-enchanting monsters of most vamp stories who would just as soon rip your heart out as say hello. Unlike most other vamp stories where the vampires have a seething contempt of humankind, Flemming tries to keep his humanity about him as much as possible and put his new talents to good use by avenging his own death. He visits the stockyards to feed and even sends money to his mother in rural New York. He is, in short, the sort of guy you'd actually like to have as a friend, though he won't be much fun as a dinner date.

This is the first in Vampire Files series, and though you don't need to read them in order, you'll find that you WANT to because they're so good. I myself am not into vamp or Goth culture, but I do very much enjoy a good read. If you're looking for ancient, power-mad monsters who mercilessly feast on the living blood of the innocent, you'll probably be disappointed. If you're looking for a new detective story with a talented man still grappling with issues of his humanity (all the while trading wisecracks and one-liners with himself and other characters) and his search for the guilty, you've found it right here. The whole series is highly recommended!!

Rating:
Summary: 10 times better than "Dracula"
Review: P.N. Elrod has created a vampire tradition that I wouldn't mind living with. He creates a type of vampire with its own advantages and disadvantages, much more realistic than Bram Stoker's but still in keeping with some of the nosferatu legends and lore. The Vampire Files compare very favorably with Saberhagen's vampire series. I read Bloodlist shortly after it came out and really enjoyed it. The reader learns, along with Jack and his detective pal, what it means to be a vampire and what changes a newborn vampire has to deal with. I can't get enough of Elrod's books.

Rating:
Summary: On of the best vampire books out there today
Review: P.N. Elrod takes the vampire myth into a totally new direction.
Jack Flemming showes the dificulties of adjusting to his new life in 1930s Chicago.
A must read for anyone who enjoys the vampire myths.


Rating:
Summary: I was doubtful, but it turned out excellent
Review: The hokey titles and cover art had made me pass over this series for quite a while, even though I was very much into vampires. I judge books very much by their covers, and before I buy book, I will think, Do I want to be seen reading this book? Finally, I checked out the book and decided only to read it at home. To my surprise, it was very good.

Meet Jack Fleming, a man waking up on the side of the road to discover that he is a vampire. His character is very well drawn, and he seems very believable. His struggle to avenge his attempted murder is touchingly human, along with his somewhat inability to cope with the sudden change into vampirism.

I have read up to book three, and I am currently waiting for the library to recieve the fourth book. Try to ignore the cover art, this is actually a very good book.

Rating:
Summary: How often does someone investigate their own murder?
Review: This is a vampire novel. Those who already know that they like vampire novels, anything at all that features a vampire, can skip this review, and likewise, those who hate the whole idea of vampires can skip it. But for those trying to decide whether or not to read more of this genre, or whether the one vampire novel you've already read was a fluke, it may help to have some ways to categorize these novels. Thus: BunRab's Standard Vampire Classification Guide. First, most authors of vampire novels approach from one of the main genres of genre fiction; thus their background may be primarily in romance, or in science fiction/fantasy, or in murder mysteries, or in horror. Second, many vampire novels come in series; knowing whether this is one of a series, and where in the series it falls, may be helpful. Then we have some particular characteristics: - Is the vampire character (or characters) a "good guy" or a "bad guy"? Or are there some of each? - Are there continuing characters besides the vampire, through the series? - Are there other types of supernatural beings besides vampires? - Can the vampire stand daylight under some circumstances, or not stand daylight at all? - Does the vampire have a few other supernatural characteristics, many other supernatural characteristics, or none other than just being a vampire? (E.g., super strength, change into an animal, turn invisible) - Does the vampire have a regular job and place in society, or is being a vampire his or her entire raison d'etre? - Does the vampire literally drink blood, or is there some other (perhaps metaphorical) method of feeding? - Is sex a major plot element, a minor plot element, or nonexistent? - Is the entire vampire feeding act a metaphor for sex, part of a standard sex act, or unrelated to sex? - Is the story set in one historical period, more than one historical period, or entirely in the present day? - Does the story have elements of humor, or is it strictly serious? - Is the writing style good, or is the writing just there to manage to hold together the plot and characters?

P.N. Elrod's series about Jack Fleming is in the hard-boiled detective genre. Fleming is a good guy (although with worries about his own ethics). Fleming is a former journalist (before he died), now working as a sidekick to a private investigator. The series takes place in the Chicago of the '30s, after Al Capone is locked up, but before the Depression ends. Criminal gangs are still a big force in Chicago. Besides Jack and his boss, various criminal mobs, and police both honest and corrupt, are recurring characters in the series. So is Jack's girlfriend, Bobbi, a nightclub singer. Jack drinks blood, but it doesn't have to be human- he uses cows at the Stockyards usually, and likes horses as a treat. He does, however, also drink a little from his girlfriend during sex. Sex is discreet and not too frequent in the series- no explicit details; this is a detective series, not a romance. Jack has a few supernatural powers associated with being a vampire: the usual ones of being stronger and faster than humans, and he also can turn invisible and float through walls. He must sleep during the day, on his native earth - but garlic and crosses don't bother him. There aren't any other kinds of supernatural characters in the series. As befits the detective genre, there is a certain amount of wisecracking in the dialogue; Jack can be a smart-ass sometimes, and the criminals can be inadvertently funny. Overall, the series is a well-done version of the genre, each book being easy to read and most of the characters being well-described and thought out.

The first book in the series has Jack solving a very important crime: his own murder. When he wakes up to the vampire life, he has to get used to it. A very alert private investigator notices something odd about Jack, and arranges quite ingeniously to meet him. Together, they encounter members of several different gangs. Jack meets Bobbi, a singer at the Nightcrawler Club; it's love at first site, and she doesn't mind the bite. We are left at the end of the book with one mystery resolved, but several others still hanging that let us know there will be another in the series.