The Scene (Dylan Hart Odyssey of The Occult, #1)

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The Scene (Dylan Hart Odyssey of The Occult #1)

by R.M. Gilmore (Goodreads Author)

4.39 of 5 stars 4.39 · rating details · 61 ratings · 29 reviews

"It did seem a little ridiculous that two female reporters were headed off to solve
a crime that no detective could. The entire thing began to sound like a cheesy
made for TV movie, where good defeats evil, and all is well.
I still wasn't one-hundred percent sure what the evil was in this story.
If I am supposed to be the good, how the hell am I supposed to defeat the evil?...more

Paperback, Second Edition , 352 pages

Published April 30th 2013 by R. M. Gilmore (first published February 11th 2012)

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Jan 16, 2013 Jessy (BookEnd 2 BookEnd) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Dylan hart. The latest funny character I've come across. I love when I find a mystery vampire hunting book that can take serious to a funny level. Some of these one liners had me busting my gut! I highlighted so many freaking hilarious moments on my kindle and had a blast going back to read them. Lol great job to the author. Comedy in a book is hard. Mix it with drama and mystery triple hard. Yet, RM Gilmore didn't have a problem. *applause*
We get wander the streets and highways of LA on a que...more Dylan hart. The latest funny character I've come across. I love when I find a mystery vampire hunting book that can take serious to a funny level. Some of these one liners had me busting my gut! I highlighted so many freaking hilarious moments on my kindle and had a blast going back to read them. Lol great job to the author. Comedy in a book is hard. Mix it with drama and mystery triple hard. Yet, RM Gilmore didn't have a problem. *applause*
We get wander the streets and highways of LA on a quest to discover these mysterious "vampire" killings with Dylan. All she wants is to write a best selling book on this until her investigating gets her in deeper. Does she mind? A little bit. Does it stop her? No. Hahaha with her trusty BFF Tatum and cop ex boyfriend she has the confidence to saunter around grilling bad guys, interrogating a hot model who shows interest, and chasing leads into some pretty jacked up places. Clubs where your red flags shoot up in alarm, but Dylan walks right in with her smart tongue and wit.
Dylan was the funniest character in here. Her banter with anyone else made it quite a read. Her in your face attitude to the way she really feels is spot on! Tatum was your BFF that doesn't mind getting dirty with you. The perfect wingman. Is she withholding things from Dylan? Then we have hot underwear model Cyrus. Lots of weird vibes from this one. Totally your creepy hot guy that makes you melt in his presence with a single compliment. My guy though I choose. Mike. History there. I want more. He's the protective police man that feeds Dylan info and he does it because she's a great journalist, but also because I think he still loves her. Get all these folks together and you got yourself a roller coaster ride filled with twists that put suspense in the ride. Bumps that leave you laughing out loud. And a speed that makes you want to ride again! I can't wait for sequel coming out soon! I need more smiles on my face! Great writing author. Never got dull. Never had a lame ass joke that made you question the humor. Just pages of fun. If you want a seriously, funny, mystery with some wannabe vampires roaming the cities of California and you want to solve a mystery of who dun it, then this book is for you! I give this book my thumbs up.

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Mar 21, 2012 Allison Levine added it

I really enjoyed it, it moved so fast I couldn't put it down...

The Scene—The Dylan Hart-Odyssey of the Occult by R. M. Gilmore was a fun face paced rollercoaster ride. Suspense, intrigue, anticipation around every turn. Not to mention sexual tension you can cut with a knife, perhaps an illegal butterfly knife at that. I love R. M.’s voice, she speaks as if I was speaking to my best friend, there were times in which I thought I was in that story.
Dylan Hart is a snarky, sarcastic, foul-mouthed rep...more

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Mar 15, 2012 Jan rated it 5 of 5 stars

In her search to discover whether or not vampires are real, we find Dylan Hart in Los Angeles, trying to make her way as a journalist, pay off her student debt and get her front door open. She has body issues, money trouble and two men she doesn't know what to do with.

Dylan's decision to write a book, and cash-in on the blood-drained bodies of prostitutes, begins her on her Odyssey. Slicing her way through the absurd, the ethereal and the deadly serious, of the underground vampire community, wi...more

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Apr 02, 2012 Nora aka Diva rated it 4 of 5 stars

A well written, page turner. The main characters were likeable enough, well I should say the main character, her best friend on the other hand I wouldn't have been disappointed had she turned up dead. The storyline kept you guessing til the end. A fun and exciting read.

My daughter insisted I add this to my review.. it's a true story and sorry to those with weak tummies...

So I was eating an ice cream cone and reading this book, I went to lick said ice cream cone and it felt spongy and warm. Yeah...more

3 likes · like · see review

Jan 25, 2013 Tlani Knuth rated it 5 of 5 stars

REVIEW :

FUNNIEST OCCULT BOOK I'VE EVER READ !

Gilmore has some serious wit and charm that she puts right into the heart of her books , I almost peed myself laughing through most of this one and the rest well I was on tenterhooks !

Not at all what you would expect when you think vampires .. I wasn't sure what to think when I picked this book up but I am pleasantly surprised to say the least . I closed this 1st installment in the series with some favorite sayings that will stick with me for a long...more

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Sep 11, 2012 Bobbye Sloan rated it 3 of 5 stars

I was a little concerned when I first read The Scene. The story is hurried in places where it could have been fleshed out a bit more. the dialogue gets sticky and confusing at points where transitions are needed. I'm guessing R.M. Gilmore struck lightening with her idea and flew with it. What i really liked about the writing was how it smoothed out and began to flow in its pacing. She was able to really harness her writerly gifts towards the middle and end.

I decided to re-read the story because...more

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Mar 23, 2012 Mallory Anne-Marie Forbes rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Paranormal, Urban Fantasy

Recommended to Mallory Anne-Marie by: Making Connections

Shelves: march-2012-reads

Perky journalist Dylan Hart thinks the murders of women-some strippers, some ladies of the night, total currently at seven-will make a great, or at least a decently-selling true crime book. So she sets off to learn what she can, put her ear to the ground, listen to the pulse of the community, and generally pick up all and any available information. Her pet detective won’t give it up, the vamp wannabes are so no help, so Dylan has to call in BFF Tatum to help her scout out the club scene and hope...more

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Jan 09, 2013 Romina rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I was quickly drawn into this story from the beginning. Vampires, Murders…Perfect combination for me.
We meet Dylan Hart a Journalist of 4 years. 5 feet 4 inches tall, big boobs & big ass. That’s basically all the description we get of her. She mentions her big ass a lot! I would have loved to be able to picture her better while reading.
I found I learned more about unlocking her front door than her.
She has a best friend, Tatum. An ex-boyfriend, Mike and a potential love interest, Cyrus. These...more

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May 08, 2013 Juliamills rated it 5 of 5 stars

Dylan Hart is a real woman with all the issues we all have whether we are ready to admit it or not and these are definitely NOT your daughter's vampires. If you are bored with a lot of what the vampire genre has to offer today and feel as though one more sparkly teenager or depressed 3000 year old dude looking for a soul mate is going to drive you to drink or drink more than Ms. Gilmore's book is exactly what you are looking for.

I absolutely fell in love with the main character Dylan. She is sar...more

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May 08, 2012 Scott rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: blog-reviews, signed-copy

When I was first contacted by R.M. to review her book, The Scene, I was a bit wary. A vampire novel with some reviews talking about a possible romantic angle? That could go horribly wrong for my taste. Luckily I gave the book a shot and read the sample. This story is nothing like I expected, it would actually be hard to get further from what I thought would happen.

First off the characters, Dylan is a woman who is not what normally appears in books (at least the ones I have read). She is a prett...more When I was first contacted by R.M. to review her book, The Scene, I was a bit wary. A vampire novel with some reviews talking about a possible romantic angle? That could go horribly wrong for my taste. Luckily I gave the book a shot and read the sample. This story is nothing like I expected, it would actually be hard to get further from what I thought would happen.

First off the characters, Dylan is a woman who is not what normally appears in books (at least the ones I have read). She is a pretty strong female character that has times of doubt, but manages to do so without becoming whiny and needy. That would have been a signal for me to stop reading that I never received. The self confidence she has seems totally realistic, there are some situations where she is totally in control, but when she is out of her comfort zone she is not afraid to lean on people around her to get the job done. Tatum is Dylan's best friend and sounding board. They are also a comic duo that works pretty well to keep things interesting as the story progresses. Cyrus is the male underwear model that seems to be a little too interested in Dylan for her own comfort and Mike is her over protective, still hasn't let go ex-boyfriend. Out of that cast of characters Mike is the only one that is pretty much what you would expect. He is over protective, jealous, and a bit predictable in his role.

Second the story. Honestly this is a very difficult thing to discuss without giving things away. I'll say that Dylan and Tatum team up to investigate some strange killings that have been happening. The victims, all women, have been found totally drained of blood with their bodies dumped. Dylan is thinking that with the current vampire craze she can write a book based around the events and make a mint so she leans on Mike who is a detective on the case. After an epic fail while attempting to meet someone who can give her some insight to the vampire sub-culture in L.A. she enlists Tatum's aid in finding a good club where she may get some decent info. Enter Cyrus into the story. When the amazingly gorgeous man turns out to be the figure from the underwear billboard near her place Dylan can't believe that he is actually talking to her and for the most part ignoring Tatum. When he offers to get them into an exclusive club that caters to the vampire lifestyle she couldn't have turned him down if she wanted to. That begins a whole lot of strange discoveries and plot twists that had me guessing for the length of the book.

The only real downside I found was there were a few parts towards the middle where the mystery became less fun and more annoying. Again I can't go into details without spoiling anything, but I will say that by the end I was totally involved again and I am 100% going to be looking into the second book when it becomes available.

If you are looking for a book that will keep you guessing with excellent characters and a good amount of humor be sure to check this one out.
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Apr 15, 2013 Dawn rated it 4 of 5 stars

When I started reading The Scene, my first impression was that it was going to take me a while to get through it. I’m not into the glorification of vampires and the writing was a little awkward. Boy, was I wrong! After the first chapter or so, RM Gilmore got into her groove and it was easy to read and well-written. I like the unique way she shares Dylan’s thoughts. And, thankfully, it is definitely not your typical vampire novel.

Dylan Hart may be cynical but she is also hilarious. She tends to g...more

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Aug 01, 2012 Shona Lawrence rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Where to begin?
I really struggled to stay focused in the first few chapters but once i settled into a good reading pace I was hooked.

In the beginning I remember thinking "this chick spends too much time dissing herself" and then I realised "this chick's real". Dylan Hart is not your usual heroine, she is not super confident, oozing sex appeal and she doesn't have super human powers. She is sassy with a filthy mouth, prone to sarcasm and has the funniest lines. I actually laughed out loud several...more

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Aug 27, 2012 A.N. Busch rated it 5 of 5 stars

Just another vampire book? NO WAY!! The Scene was action packed and kept me guessing the whole time. Just when I thought I knew who-dun-it another twist was added. Great charcters with a great dynamic between them. Though I must admit I was not sure how I felt about Tatum until the very end. I have not had time to read much as of late, but this one brought me back around and made me remember some of the many reasons that I love reading! This is a MUST READ for Vampire lovers and Mystery lovers a...more

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Jul 13, 2012 Bex 'n' Books rated it 5 of 5 stars

In The Scene, we are introduced to the memorable character Dylan Hart. ‘Memorable, why’s that?’ do I hear you ask? Is it because she has superpowers, or she is remarkably charming or even is it because she is the epitome of all that is physically beautiful in a woman? Well no!

What we have with Dylan is a remarkable young woman who is so unbelievably funny and most definitely human, with human doubts about her image and her life, as well as a foul-mouth to boot! I loved Dylan’s character. She is...more

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Aug 22, 2012 Sabrina rated it 5 of 5 stars

I was drawn to this by the cover from one line “They’re not your daughter’s vampires” that alone had me picking this book up and staying up late into the night to finish it even though I kept telling myself just one more chapter then I am going to bed. Well that one more chapter lead me to finish the book in one sitting and I am so glad I did.

We start off meeting Dylan Hart who I just love. She is a reporter who wants to write a book centered on the vampire killings in Los Angeles. She sets off...more I was drawn to this by the cover from one line “They’re not your daughter’s vampires” that alone had me picking this book up and staying up late into the night to finish it even though I kept telling myself just one more chapter then I am going to bed. Well that one more chapter lead me to finish the book in one sitting and I am so glad I did.

We start off meeting Dylan Hart who I just love. She is a reporter who wants to write a book centered on the vampire killings in Los Angeles. She sets off to the latest crime scene where she can talk to the lead detective Mike who she has a strange relationship with but is explained later on in the book. Getting nowhere with the cops she goes to a Goth bar to interview what she believes are kids playing at being vampires. She is annoyed with the first kid she interviews so she calls her best friend Tatum to go to a different bar. While at this bar they meet Cyrus who is not what he seems to be. He takes Dylan and Tatum to yet another exclusive member’s only club where things start turning weird for Dylan after her drink is drugged and she can’t remember anything from the nights but bits and pieces. Dylan is furious when she wakes up and demands Cyrus tell her everything but that proves a little difficult when he can’t remember either. So he sets up a meeting with his boss Malcolm. After this meeting things start to get crazy for Dylan and the book she is trying to write turns into her fighting for her life. Dylan is forced into re thinking everything she thought and trying to figure who she can trust.

I loved this book so much. Dylan is one of my favorite characters I have ever read. We are a lot a like in our personalities. She is funny, sarcastic, and smart mouthed. I kept finding myself laughing out loud while reading the things she was saying. Her relationship with her best friend Tatum is a lot like most of us have. Cyrus is sexy and mysterious. He’s the kind of guy you can’t figure out if he’s the villain or hero and right along with Dylan being confused about him so was I. It wasn’t until close to the end of the book that I stared figuring things out.

If you want a book filled with characters you can love and feel like you know, murder, betrayal, vampires, have you laughing out loud, and leave you guessing at every turn then I highly recommend The Scene by R.M. Gilmore. 5/5 bats
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Dec 02, 2012 Lynxie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: smirk-worthy, 3-star-review, indie-review-copies

The Scene started off with a lot of promise, I thought it'd steer clear of the current fanatical vampirism that has cropped up of late with all the vampire books (sparkly or not). I was a little disappointed to find out that it didn't steer clear of it entirely as I'd so hoped. That being said, there were some interesting insights into the world that is vampirism throughout the story.

Alas, at times the very causal and somewhat unfiltered rambling that was the dialogue of the story irked me so mu...more

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Apr 11, 2013 Stacey rated it 4 of 5 stars

Well I started the book with no preconceptions
I found the first few chapters hard reading
But once the penny dropped I couldn't get enough of Dylan
Mike Cyrus and her BFF
The story s different to a vampire book it has lots of twist leading you in lots of different direction
So much so I was sure I had it pegged to find out I was wrong .
Can't tell you more as I hate spoilers
But enjoy
I'm waiting to read the next

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Oct 02, 2012 Katherine Rochholz rated it 5 of 5 stars

I bought this book from the author before ever reading it, I wanted it in paperback and after hearing how good it was I couldn't wait! I wasn't disappointed! The author does take a bit of time to get to the 'juicy' parts, for a lack of a better word, but it is totally worth the time to read this book from start to finish! Dylan is a character you can relate to! There is so much that is great about this book! But I don't want to spoiler anything! But I will say this: If you have been disappointed...more

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Mar 16, 2013 Ellie Potts rated it 4 of 5 stars

Dylan is awesome. This was a great "paranormal" read. I love the characters and the world we are smashed in. We see vampires on TV but what about the real "vampires"? RM Gilmore caught me easy in her writing and made me not want to put the book down. I look forward to reading the next book and see what Dylan gets into. I am kinda curious about Cyrus and I reeeeaaaallllyyy hope he is back.

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Apr 29, 2013 Cindy Barton rated it 5 of 5 stars

I love having a character I can relate to. Dylan Hart is the type of person I would actually invite into my home. There is a lot of humor running through the story and after reading it a second time I picked up on more. I love a good mystery and RM Gilmore kept me guessing "Who Done it?" right up to the end. I haven't made up my mind on how I feel about Tatum, Dylan's bestie. I started out really liking her, at the end...not so much. I am not saying she is a bad person by any means, she would ha...more

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May 17, 2013 Jamie Turner-norton rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviews, amazeballs

Holy Shit! I was pointing fingers at EVERYONE except for Dylan of course.. She cracks me the hell up. love her attitude. R.M. Gilmore definitely gave me whiplash with the twists! The descriptions are awesome. This DEFINITELY needs to be a movie!!!!!

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Jul 10, 2012 Jannah rated it 4 of 5 stars

A new paranormal series. I laughed out loud at the main character, who seemed to have a smart ass comment for every occasion. The ending could have been fleshed out a bit, but I will definitely check out book #2 when it releases.

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Mar 04, 2012 Jennifee rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I loved this book! This is not your usual vampire story...it's funny, suspenseful and full of mystery! I'm totally hooked and cannot wait for the next book!

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Nov 15, 2012 Angus rated it 4 of 5 stars

It is a modern day crime novel set in LA and the inciting incident(s) of vampire like murders. The protagonist, Dylan Hart, is a journalist looking to break into writing crime novels to help pay down her student loan when she finds herself caught up in the steamy vampire club sub-culture. Some escapades with her best friend, ex-lover and a piece of beefcake who 'annoys' her lead to plot twists that make sense in the end.
I enjoyed reading this book.

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Apr 04, 2013 Heaven rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book was a great read and very funny! I recommend it to anyone and everyone! Trust me you will not regret it ^-^

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Feb 21, 2012 Siobhan rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Great indie author, with an amazing breakout book. Can't wait to read entire series. Fantastic book with lots of twists and turns. I love a book that keeps you guessing. I couldn't put it down. I can't recommend this book enough!

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Apr 15, 2012 Stephanie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Smart,witty, keeps a reader in suspense. Very good.

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Apr 23, 2012 Jennifer rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

I won The Scene from First reads and it was a nice break from traditional vampire stories. The main character, Dylan, is the type of person I would be friends with in real life which made me enjoy the story all the more especially her inner thoughts. I would have enjoyed learning more about her relationship with Mike, but maybe that will come up in future books. There were a few typos that affected the flow of the story, but it was still enjoyable.

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May 18, 2013 Isabel Vazquez marked it as to-read

May 16, 2013 Lori marked it as to-read

Shelves: purchased-to-read

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Q&A with R.M....: Dylan Hart Odyssey of The Occult Series	6	11	Mar 17, 2012 11:31pm

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About R.M. Gilmore

Raised in Central California, bred from two very young parents, I have fought hard to get where I am today. Which isn't saying much since I haven't come very far. But, I do my best. I married my best friend October of 2011 and published my first novel in 2012, not too shabby I guess.

I started writing almost four years ago. Dylan Hart was my first character and I fell in love with her immediately....more

More about R.M. Gilmore...

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