Night Blood

Rating:
Summary: A Diagnostician's Delight
Review: As I think I've mentioned earlier, I'm not particularly fond of medical vampire tales. I like my vampires spooky, occult, and demonic. So things did not start out well when the vampire in this novel explains that he is the result of a mutation of Erythropoietic Uroporphyria mixed with a virus and that he was very particular about his choice of victims because he was afraid of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. But, technical elaboration aside, it turns out that the vampire in question certainly is spooky and demonic.

The tale is told in layers. The primary story is a third person narrative of the efforts of a team of Houston doctors and police to solve a wave of killings that leave bloodless, tattered victims. The other layer is a first person narrative by the killer himself. He is a man who was first infected in 1820 in the woods of Maine, and who has survived for the last 200 years by living very carefully. He is not a willing hunter, but has become increasingly enslaved to his violent hunger and is desperately seeking a cure. Whether or not he is a real 'vampire' is for you to decide. He meets all the basic requirements. While he can't fly and turn into a bat, stakes through the heart have no effect, nor do various religious items.

The team hunting the killer is composed of emergency room physician Matt Carter, pathologists Sheldon Silver and Samantha Scott, Detectives Shooter Kowolski, Sherry Landry and Chief Damon Clark. This high-powered crew starts out thinking they are chasing a serial killer. One who has plagued the Houston area for years, and only gradually do they realize that this killer is much more than they expected. The forensic part of the investigation is well told and believable. And the characters themselves are sympathetic. The book has a rare balance between characterization and action.

The vampire is a bit too much, however. Not that he isn't horrific or compelling. But his powers rest on a series of biological and genetic coincidences, which all occur together in Transylvania, and, honestly, stretch one's belief a bit. The medical facts play well in the story, but I'm not sure a classical vampire would have been any harder to believe. As it is, he is much harder to kill, and it is only by sheer luck that the team is even able to hold up until the end. His may seem to have some grim morals, but he has no interest in dying and manages to pull several fast ones on his opponents and the reader.

This is a high sex and gore story, so it will not be for all tastes. While not completely successful as either a medical thriller or a horror story, it comes very close. For a first novel it's very well done. Certainly this is the best effort I've seen at this kind of genre mix, and I hope to see more of Dr. Thompson.

Rating:
Summary: A Diagnostician's Delight
Review: As I think I've mentioned earlier, I'm not particularly fond of medical vampire tales. I like my vampires spooky, occult, and demonic. So things did not start out well when the vampire in this novel explains that he is the result of a mutation of Erythropoietic Uroporphyria mixed with a virus and that he was very particular about his choice of victims because he was afraid of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. But, technical elaboration aside, it turns out that the vampire in question certainly is spooky and demonic.

The tale is told in layers. The primary story is a third person narrative of the efforts of a team of Houston doctors and police to solve a wave of killings that leave bloodless, tattered victims. The other layer is a first person narrative by the killer himself. He is a man who was first infected in 1820 in the woods of Maine, and who has survived for the last 200 years by living very carefully. He is not a willing hunter, but has become increasingly enslaved to his violent hunger and is desperately seeking a cure. Whether or not he is a real 'vampire' is for you to decide. He meets all the basic requirements. While he can't fly and turn into a bat, stakes through the heart have no effect, nor do various religious items.

The team hunting the killer is composed of emergency room physician Matt Carter, pathologists Sheldon Silver and Samantha Scott, Detectives Shooter Kowolski, Sherry Landry and Chief Damon Clark. This high-powered crew starts out thinking they are chasing a serial killer. One who has plagued the Houston area for years, and only gradually do they realize that this killer is much more than they expected. The forensic part of the investigation is well told and believable. And the characters themselves are sympathetic. The book has a rare balance between characterization and action.

The vampire is a bit too much, however. Not that he isn't horrific or compelling. But his powers rest on a series of biological and genetic coincidences, which all occur together in Transylvania, and, honestly, stretch one's belief a bit. The medical facts play well in the story, but I'm not sure a classical vampire would have been any harder to believe. As it is, he is much harder to kill, and it is only by sheer luck that the team is even able to hold up until the end. His may seem to have some grim morals, but he has no interest in dying and manages to pull several fast ones on his opponents and the reader.

This is a high sex and gore story, so it will not be for all tastes. While not completely successful as either a medical thriller or a horror story, it comes very close. For a first novel it's very well done. Certainly this is the best effort I've seen at this kind of genre mix, and I hope to see more of Dr. Thompson.

Rating:
Summary: Great Trilogy
Review: Since the romance writers discovered the Vampire, it is difficult to get a real rock 'em sock 'em blood drenched vampire book with lots of action and steamy sex. Look No Further

Night Blood is the first in a trilogy of "Blood" Books. The other two, Dark Blood & Immortal Blood MUST be read in sequence
and tell the story of the presence of vampires among us.

The Story moves geographically from Houston to New Orleans and ends in Banff, Canada.

The only weakness in the books is the author's attempt to "update" those attempting to read the books out of sequence or as a stand alone. The plot has lots of twists and turns.
The eventual ending is predictable, but the series are a very enjoyable read.

There could even be a FOURTH Blood Book.