Decorated to Death (Simon Kirby-Jones Mysteries)

Rating:
Summary: upbeat British cozy with a vampire twist
Review: Simon Kirby-Jones joins his vampire lover in eternity, but creatures of the night are fickle. When Trevor breaks up with Simon, he gives him Laurel Cottage in the English Village of Snupperton Mumsley and Simon moves to the other side of the Atlantic. He fits in well with the other residents thanks to the small white pills he takes that allows him to go out in sunlight and kills the need for human blood. He writes novels and non-fiction under pseudonyms while his assistant Sir Giles Blitherington wants more than a business relationship with the attractive vampire.

The village is agog that Zeke Harwood, host of a home decorating TV show, comes to Blithering Hall to redecorate one of the rooms. Zeke goes out of his arrogant way to be unpleasant to everyone including his host and hostess, his television producer, his personal assistant, his lover and even his sister. When someone murders the man Simon doesn't want his assistant or his mother considered as viable suspects. In the tradition of Poirot, he investigates using resources the police don't have, to figure out who killed a man that everyone hated.

Anyone who likes an upbeat British cozy with a vampire twist will love DECORATED TO DEATH. Dean James has created a charming series that readers sink their teeth into without getting bloody since the protagonist never drinks any blood so the vampiric elements are somewhat limited. The hero is a suave and debonair cozy type figure who can charm the birds out of the trees and he uses that sophistication to worm information out of various suspects. This mystery manages to be charming and endearing, a one of a kind series.

Harriet Klausner