Verse of the Vampyre : A Poetic Death Mystery (Poetic Death Mysteries)

Rating:
Summary: I love this series!
Review: Diana Killian hooked me on Grace and Peter in HIGH RHYMES AND MISDEMEANORS. I could hardly wait to read the next in the series, but feared it might not live up to the excellent first entry. Wrong! VERSE OF THE VAMPYRE is just as delightful a read as Ms. Killian's previous book. For me, the strength of the book is in the charming characters and the humor plus the beautiful locale. Not that Ms. Killian can't plot, because she most certainly can, and what's so lovely is that her plots are refreshing and original. I just happen to enjoy the push/pull of Grace and Peter's relationship. I highly recommend this book, and will definitely buy SONNET OF THE SPHINX when it's released.

Rating:
Summary: A Cozy Crime for Dracula Buffs
Review: Diana Killian's latest novel featuring schoolteacher and literary scholar Grace Hollister takes on vampires and little theater, and has a wonderful time with both. Her thoroughly intriguing mystery and wonderfully diverse characters turn what could be just another cozy into a complex yet painless study of human nature.

That Grace Hollister is relatively free of the galloping neuroses and/or quaint hobbies that seem to be required of mysteries these days is an added pleasure. Yes, she has problems, but they never intrude on the main story enough to become irritating, which can't be said about some others in the genre.

So, if you haven't met Grace, this is a fine introduction. If you have, you already know why it's worth picking up a copy of her new adventure.

Rating:
Summary: A literate, funny, and entertaining read
Review: Grace Hollister is a respected American schoolteacher on sabbatical in England researching a doctoral dissertation on Romantic poets as well as a book on Lord Byron. So why is she in the middle of a cemetary spying on her not-quite-but-possible love interest Peter Fox? That's a question that Grace keeps asking herself, as she's already occupied as a technical consultant for the local theater group's production of "The Vampyre" that is plagued by accidents and appearances by a cloaked figure resembling the toothy main character. There's also a rash of robberies going around, and when a security guard is murdered Grace knows that the police are going to be focusing on Peter, an ex-master thief who is definitely hiding his share of secrets. Another murder, the reappearance of Grace's ex-boyfriend, and gunfire at the local foxhunt has Grace acting like a gothic heroine as she follows Peter, hides in a castle, and engages in a final showdown with swords, guns, and a dangerous gang.

What is so enjoyable about this series is the banter between Peter and Grace, which is completely believable and immensely witty. Grace's inner dialogue is dry, sardonic, and totally aware that she is acting less than sensibly. Readers who so enjoyed the first in this literate series, HIGH RHYMES AND MISDIMEANORS, won't be disappointed with its sequel, which features appearances by characters from the first mystery. Grace and Peter appear to have a successful future together no matter how much they irritate each other and entertain the reader. Be on the lookout for SONNET OF THE SPHINX, the third in the Poetic Death Mystery series, which can't come out soon enough.


Rating:
Summary: Verse of the Vampyre is a fun read
Review: Grace is on sabbatical in the Lake District, working on her book about Lord Byron and working on her relationship with the enigmatic Peter Fox, ex-jewel thief. She is asked to be an advisor on a local production of The Vampyre, funded by the caped Lord Ruthven and his seductive wife Catriona. When a rash of jewel thefts occur and the wife of the local MFH, Lady Ives, is murdered, Peter is targeted by local police and Grace's troubles have only just begun.

What I enjoyed most was Grace's sometimes hilarious internal dialogue as she tries to cope with Peter's undisclosed past and her own uncertainty about her place in his life. Grace is determined to trust Peter and doesn't believe the accusations against him. She also isn't convinced that a vampire is on the loose in Innisdale, despite the presence of puncture wounds on the neck of the murdered Lady Ives. Grace isn't afraid to pursue the truth even if it means chasing Peter through Scotland, ex-boyfriend in tow, and taking a crash course in picking locks and scaling walls. This is a fun book, and I look forward to watching the relationship between Grace and Peter develop.


Rating:
Summary: Suitable for hanging in the Rogue's Gallery
Review: How much trouble can an American schoolteacher get into while on sabbatical in the Lake District of England? When the schoolteacher in question is Grace Hollister, and when ex-jewel thief Peter Fox is involved, the result may be disaster.

This rousing second installment in the cozy mystery series by Diana Killian is a combination of bucolic scenery, compelling intrigue, and a protagonist who feels like an old friend.

VERSE OF THE VAMPYRE opens with Grace Hollister hiding in a graveyard, late at night, waiting for-well, spying on-Peter Fox, who's to meet with a mysterious woman. Grace has been anxious to know why Peter has distanced himself from her, at the same time a series of robberies have occurred in the vicinity of Innisdale. Is Peter up to his old pursuits? And if so, which? Women or jewels?

Grace is on sabbatical in England, writing a book about romantic poet Lord Byron. She spends her days working in Peter's shop, Rogue's Gallery Antiques and Books, and her evenings consulting on a local production of The Vampyre, a play written by Lord Byron's physician. For most of us this would be a rather tame undertaking.

But the local constable thinks Peter's gone back to his old ways, and may now be a killer. Meanwhile, Grace wonders if the other woman in Peter's life is Catriona, the beauty now married to eccentric, cape-clad Lord Ruthven, who's directing the play. Lord Ruthven happens to go by the same name as the vampire in the play, and as far as Grace can tell he's never been seen in daylight. A man killed during one of the robberies is rumored to have been drained of blood, with unexplained bite marks on his neck. Does this quiet little Lake District town now have its very own vampire?

Grace sets out to assure herself Peter is innocent of the thefts and murder, and to learn what's going on between him and Catriona. It would be a lot easier if Peter would stay in one place, if the local woman rumored to be a witch wasn't following Grace everywhere, and if Chaz, Grace's old boyfriend from the States, would give up and leave her alone. When another death occurs, Grace is off and running, straight into trouble.

Diana Killian knows how to combine action and suspense with lighthearted fun and intelligent writing. She tosses in bits of zany humor, while retaining a sense of elegance and charm. She paints scenes that carry the reader to a graveyard beside a forest at midnight, a creaky old theater, fox hunts, a Hunt Ball, and-well, I find myself willing to follow these characters anywhere. The action-packed conclusion encloses this jaunt through the English landscape in a frame suitable for hanging in the Rogue's Gallery, so no one need fear that each book in this series doesn't stand on its own. I still want to read them all.

This is the kind of story I set out to savor, then find myself reading quickly. I finish too soon and want more. I already miss Grace and Peter, and look forward to the next cozy in the series.

Rating:
Summary: A witty & engrossing read
Review: I stumbled upon this book without realizing either the genre or that it is second in a series. I rarely read mysteries, but thoroughly enjoyed this one. Although the background from the first book would have been helpful, readers can enjoy this entry without that knowledge. But, romantic that I am, I'd love to see more of Grace and Peter's relationship.

Killian is a terrific writer, making dialogue (including internal dialogue) sparkle and presenting the English setting with crisp, evocative description. The characters are intriguing, and the mystery remains taut. In fact, the mystery lingers in preparation for the next book--one I'll definitely read, after I catch up on the first one.

Rating:
Summary: A page turner to the end.
Review: I'm not going to waste words describing this book's plot as that has been ably done by earlier reviewers.
The story grabbed me from the beginning. Grace is a likeable protagonist. The descriptions of the Lake District, fox hunting, the beleaguered play, are all fine and funny. Something new kept happening that kept me reading far into the night.
But then, about 2/3rds of the way through the book, when Grace is asked to meet one of the suspects in the deserted theater, she tells herself that it's "not only dumb, it's cliched." Nevertheless, from that point on, she behaves like a stupid school girl rather than a literary scholar, and walks into danger repeatedly. (Amateur female detectives who do this are a constant irritation to me and many other mystery lovers of my acquaintance).
The story's ending was a disappointment. It's never made clear why Peter hied off to the thieves' lair. But he's a mysterious man who never explained anything so that might be overlooked. However, while no one got away with murder, one villain did seem to be depicted as special and did, unfortunately, escape justice.
I gave this story five stars because, in spite of my dislike of the ending, it has great readability and there was no point at which I even considered not finishing it.

Rating:
Summary: AN ENTERTAINING FAST PACED COZY CAPER
Review: Once again, we find American schoolteacher and literary scholar, Grace Hollister, in a beautiful picturesque village in the English Lake District. She has extended her stay and is on sabbatical leave to write a doctoral dissertation-turned book on Lord Byron.

That's what she is supposed to be doing, but Grace finds herself pulled into mysterious happenings when she acts as an advisor to a local theatrical production of "The Vampyre" a play written by Lord Byron's doctor.

Dangerous accidents are plaguing the cast in the theater itself, as well as outside the theater. The same member of the cast who almost fell through a stage trap door also has a spill when her saddle comes lose while riding in Grace's first ever fox hunt. Some think that incident could just be an accident or possibly saboteurs of the hunt, but Grace isn't so sure, especially since the trap door incident had already occurred.

Grace, herself, feels danger lurking too close for comfort as she is stalked by a local "witch" who makes it all too clear she doesn't like the fox hunts.

As if this wasn't enough on Grace's plate, robberies seem to be happening in frequency among some of the wealthiest residents of the quaint small English village of Innisdale. Grace doesn't like to think it, but wonders if her inscrutable love interest ex- jewel thief, Peter Fox, could be involved.

Grace works along side Peter in his posh antique store, The Rogue's Gallery, but he's been acting oddly distant and behaving more than a little suspiciously since the robberies began. Why was he lurking in a graveyard late at night? Now some folks have been killed, as well.

Rumor has it that a guard killed during one of the robberies had puncture wounds like a vampire mark on his neck and now another member of the production has been found with vampire like puncture wounds on her neck, murdered at a masquerade ball Peter and Grace are attending. A robbery has occurred at the same ball around the time Peter mysteriously disappeared with cast member, Catriona, a married woman who has no love for Grace and appears to have more than a passing interest in Peter, or so Grace thinks.

Grace sets out to ease her mind that handsome urbane Peter isn't involved in the village looting. She finds herself reluctantly sleuthing with ex boy friend Chaz, who has come for an unwelcomed, uninvited and unexpected visit. Chaz is totally the opposite of dashing adventurous Peter and reminds Grace of her more practical days-days when Grace wouldn't have dreamed of getting involved in sleuthing and murder.

Those who enjoyed the first book in the series, High Rhymes and Misdemeanors, will find this book just as entertaining and enjoyable-a fast paced romp.

Once again Diana Killian offers skillful and vivid descriptions of the English countryside which is complete with castles and secret passageways.

Included in this book is a preview of "Sonnet of the Sphinx" which is the third book in the series. I eagerly await its publication to see what adventure Grace and Peter are up to now.

Rating:
Summary: Gotta love a book with a biker librarian...
Review: This was the first book that I've read by Killian, a writer that I 'know' a little, since we belong to a few of the same internet discussion groups. The Verse of the Vampyre is well written and entertaining. The characters are nicely drawn and -- being an educator and a librarian myself -- I especially appreciated the depiction of Grace as an adventurous, intellectual woman and the depiction of Roy Blade as a scholarly biker/librarian.

Yet there was something missing for me here... that indefinable quality that makes a book worth five stars instead of four and keeps the story lingering in your head for days afterwards. Perhaps it is that the bare bones of the story -- academic heroine pursues her ex-thief love who has disappeared with another woman, fearing that they may be up to no good; an old lover of the heroine's from home shows up to complicate things further -- could be descriptions of books from another mystery series that I love. Perhaps it is simply that I do not know Peter well enough. In any case, I do definitely recommend the book and will gladly read the others in the series. An enjoyable read, but not an irresistable one.

Rating:
Summary: A Halloween Review - 5 skeletons
Review: VERSE OF THE VAMPYRE (Diana Killian; Pocket). I loved HIGH RHYMES AND MISDEMEANORS, so I expected Killian's new book to live up to the standard of her first volume in the Poetic Death Mysteries. It did not; it exceeded it. The writing is both lovely and lively, the characters are engaging, and the mystery has several layers to keep the reader guessing, even when I thought I had the main thread figured out. The literary allusions are an English major's dream but somehow never distancing (reminding me just how much I had to unlearn to write fiction; Grace Hollister must similarly unlearn her American ways to adjust to life in England's Lake District). Why has a group preparing a play based on a play based on a character created by Lord Byron, the subject of Grace's erstwhile doctoral dissertation, involved the American in their production? Why are expensive items disappearing from the best area homes? What has her friend, employer, and heartthrob, Peter, to do with any of this? Has his interest in Grace cooled?

I wouldn't let myself look at the teaser for SONNET OF THE SPHINX - waiting for the next Poetic Death is already too difficult. This one absolutely will appear on my Agatha nominating ballot.

Karl Fieldhouse