Oscar Wilde and the Vampire Murders: A Mystery

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Oscar Wilde and the Vampire Murders: A Mystery (The Oscar Wilde Murder Mysteries #4)

3.54 of 5 stars 3.54 · rating details · 320 ratings · 69 reviews

"Oscar Wilde and the Vampire Murders "opens in 1890, at a glamorous party hosted by the Duke and Duchess of Albemarle. All of London's high society--including the Prince of Wales--are in attendance at what promises to be the event of the season. Yet Oscar Wilde is more interested in another party guest, Rex LaSalle, a young actor who claims to be a vampire. But the enterta...more

Hardcover, 400 pages

Published May 3rd 2011 by Touchstone (first published 2010)

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Feb 26, 2013 Travis rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: history, mystery

Fun series that has to coast a bit on Oscar's charm, as the actual mysteries are hit or miss.

He was such a fascinating person that he do get carried away by him and Brandreth has really captured his style and personality as well as bringing in so many other interesting historical figures.
He really has created a little world that has just enough real stuff that wouldn't be surprised to find out Oscar had been a detective.

There are several cute in-jokes, referencing both Oscar's and Conan-Doyle's...more

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Nov 19, 2012 Bubbles rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Oscar Wilde fans

If I could choose one word to describe this book, it would be wicked. I love the Oscar Wilde murder mysteries. If it helps put this in perspective, I did my thesis on Oscar Wilde and the representation of sexuality in his plays, specifically "A Woman of No Importance," "Lady Windermere's Fan," and "The Importance of Being Earnest." This is one of those historical novels I can approach with an understanding of the characters and time period involved.

The book opens with Sherard visiting Oscar in P...more If I could choose one word to describe this book, it would be wicked. I love the Oscar Wilde murder mysteries. If it helps put this in perspective, I did my thesis on Oscar Wilde and the representation of sexuality in his plays, specifically "A Woman of No Importance," "Lady Windermere's Fan," and "The Importance of Being Earnest." This is one of those historical novels I can approach with an understanding of the characters and time period involved.

The book opens with Sherard visiting Oscar in Paris after Oscar has been released from prison. They talk about the vampire murders, and how Sherard thinks publishing the story will help Oscar get back on his feet. What follows is a bunch of telegrams, letters, and journal entries from the principal parties involved at the time of the scandal. So, what does the opening have to do with the rest of the novel? Everything. If you have read up on Oscar Wilde, or even if you decide to do some reading after this book, you will soon learn the story of Bosie Douglas, the blinding infatuation that led Oscar to prison. Sidenote: I had a fish named Bosie. Lasted nearly four years, driving back and forth to college for every break. He was the best fish anyone could have asked for until he died tragically my junior year of college. I don't know if the fish's death had anything to do with my fated path towards a Wilde thesis, but it might have. At any rate, the story of Bosie Douglas is well known, so there's really no need to write a fictional account of it. However, the story of the fictional Rex LaSalle, that one you don't know. View it as a precursor to the Bosie Douglas, if you will, that same sort of infatuation with an admittedly dangerous relationship.

While it may seem at first like the novel is hopping on the recent vampire trend, it is actually a lovely satire of said trend. Much of the subject matter deals with Bram Stoker's Dracula, which of course, started the original vampire trend. The vampire, is a symbol of freed sexuality, so I fully expect the vampire trend to continue every so many years or so. For some reason, it seems to be the human tendency to sexually repress itself. On the vampire trend, I have seen several complaints about the format of the book, the whole newspaper clipping and various journal entries. The style is clearly chosen to emulate the original Dracula, and is decidedly brilliant.

I never know how much to talk about the plot when I review mysteries, because I never want to give too much away. I will say this: you will not be disappointed. To the astute reader, the murderer will give himself away fairly early, although the motivation will be hazy until the end. What truly is fascinating is watching these men perceived by history as brilliant being utterly blindsided by what they want to believe to be true.

This book is definitely a bubble bath read. (less)

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Aug 24, 2011 gayatri rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

So I found this title on the library's new book shelf. I hadn't heard of the series before and it's nice that you can read them as standalones. The concept is intriguing and I think it works because the author does a ton of research and gets the historical stuff right. Even so, it took me awhile to get into it. The oscar wilde quotes scattered throughout kept me going until I wanted to finish it to figure out the mystery.

my fav quotes:

". . .more's the pity-- for a dreamer is one who can find his...more

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May 30, 2012 Marialyce rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: may-2012

This was the second "Oscar Wilde" mystery book I have read and I enjoyed it as it is just plain fun to read. Incorporating the many witticisms that Wilde was famous for, the author has created a fun mystery which has you semi guessing what or who has committed the murders. It is an easy read incorporating the famous of the past, such as Arthur Conan Doyle and the Prince of Wales, w following the mystery to its conclusion knowing full well that Oscar had it figured out from the get go.

Sometimes o...more

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Jun 13, 2011 Bev Hankins rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-mystery, mystery

In the interview at the back of Oscar Wilde & the Vampire Murders Gyles Brandreth says that one of the the things he wants most as a writer is "to write what the Victorians would have called 'a rattling good yarn'...I want to leave the reader satisfied." I would say that Brandreth does just that in all of his Oscar Wilde mystery stories--of which the Vampire Murders is the fourth.

Having read the first three, I was very ready to snatch this one up when it appeared on the library's New Arrival...more In the interview at the back of Oscar Wilde & the Vampire Murders Gyles Brandreth says that one of the the things he wants most as a writer is "to write what the Victorians would have called 'a rattling good yarn'...I want to leave the reader satisfied." I would say that Brandreth does just that in all of his Oscar Wilde mystery stories--of which the Vampire Murders is the fourth.

Having read the first three, I was very ready to snatch this one up when it appeared on the library's New Arrivals shelf. And I wasn't disappointed. I'm not much for the latest vampire craze--no Twilight for me, sorry--but Brandreth uses the vampire legend to good effect and as good cover for his murderer. He employs diary entries, newspaper clippings, telegrams, letters and straight narrative to tell his story. In other hands the switch from medium to medium might have distracted, but the varied approach seemed to suit the story.

The story itself begins with a reception held at the home of the Duke and Duchess of Albemarle. Oscar Wilde and his right-hand man Robert Sherard have been invited as well as the Prince of Wales and his son Prince Albert Victor; Dr. Arthur Conan Doyle; and Lord Yarborough, a physician and nerve specialist. In the course of the evening, Wilde becomes enchanted with a young man by the name of Rex LaSalle who claims to be a vampire. It will remain to be seen how long the enchantment lasts when the Duchess is found dead--brutally wounded on the chest and with two deep puncture wounds on her neck. Is this murder or has some romantic interlude gone too far? The Prince of Wales himself requests that Oscar look discreetly into the matter and soon the witty author and playwright finds that there are deeper matters on hand than may first appear. A visit to the Vampire Club, a hurried journey to Paris and two more deaths will be necessary before Wilde can put all the clues together to unmask the culprit. Is it a true vampire? Is it a unscrupulous physician looking for bodies for his research? Or perhaps a royal son who truly is mad and has resorted to murder? Or...someone the reader will least suspect?

I love these stories. Brandreth absolutely gets his research right. You can tell he knows his Wilde and his Victoriana--but the research does not weigh down the story. If anything I would call these stories brain candy. Not because they are so light-weight and fluffy, but because they are addictive and fun to consume--like popping M&Ms. The characters and settings feel authentic and the action is fast-paced and enjoyable. Wilde fans will enjoy the way that Brandreth sprinkles all those famous aphorisms throughout the dialogue...and he does it without it seeming forced. Delightful! (less)

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Jun 02, 2012 Jeannie and Louis Rigod rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This episode is the mysteries of fictional sleuth, but historical figure, Oscar Wilde surrounds the mysterious death of the Duchess of Albemarle.

The book which is filled with biographical and historical actual events, takes a studied look at one of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's medical fascinations...Hysteria. Long thought to be a physical ailment peculiar to women, Dr. Doyle is interested in the current (1890's) medical approach of hypnosis to cure or treat this ailment.

Mr. Brandreth cleverly weaves...more

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Aug 02, 2011 Irenic rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I see I'm not alone in rating this historical fiction between 3 and 4 stars. In this story, which takes place at the end of the 19th century, the flamboyant Oscar Wilde is invited to solve the murder of the duchess at who's home he attended a party the night she was killed. The prince, who also attended the duke & duchess' party, asks Mr. Wilde to investigate, since getting the police involved would not be politically opportune. Oscar recruits his friends and fellow society gentlemen Dr. Art...more

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Aug 15, 2011 Särah Nour rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

It’s easily discernible by its title that Oscar Wilde and the Vampire Murders provides mere cheap entertainment and little substance. Gyles Brandreth has written a whole series centered on Oscar Wilde solving mysteries, and judging from this one, the series has little to offer besides the fun of characterized famous figures.

The novel opens in 1890, where the Duke and Duchess of Albemarle are hosting a glamorous party. Among the guests are Oscar Wilde and journalist Robert Sherard, and they encou...more It’s easily discernible by its title that Oscar Wilde and the Vampire Murders provides mere cheap entertainment and little substance. Gyles Brandreth has written a whole series centered on Oscar Wilde solving mysteries, and judging from this one, the series has little to offer besides the fun of characterized famous figures.

The novel opens in 1890, where the Duke and Duchess of Albemarle are hosting a glamorous party. Among the guests are Oscar Wilde and journalist Robert Sherard, and they encounter Rex LaSalle, a man claiming to be a vampire. He openly declares he will kill the Duchess, yet later, when the Duchess is found dead with puncture marks on her throat, somehow it doesn’t occur to them that Rex is the culprit. Wilde and Sherard enlist the help of Sherlock Holmes creator Arthur Conan Doyle and Dracula author Bram Stoker in their convoluted journey to solve the case—yet they never even consider the glaringly obvious truths standing right in front of them. I spent a majority of the book wondering how these allegedly brilliant men can be so oblivious.

The prologue starts off intriguing enough, when Wilde, having just been released from prison (he was jailed for homosexual acts), sits down for an interview with his old friend Sherard and begins to tell the story of the vampire murders; and so begins the flashback to the party where the murder of the Duchess took place. However, this frame story does not pick up at the novel’s end, and we are left with no conclusion to the post-prison meeting between the two men. Furthermore, had Wilde’s imprisonment had something to do with the vampire murders—indeed, he was seduced by the charming Rex LaSalle—the prologue would have served some purpose to the story. As is, I found this beginning to be quite pointless, as it is not incorporated within the main plot.

The story is told through telegrams, letters, newspaper clippings and—oddly—diary entries. Apparently keeping diaries was the “it” thing in that time and place, since almost every major character keeps one and writes with painstaking detail and verbatim dialogue. Speaking of which, Wilde’s dialogue is as contrived as the action sequences of Walker, Texas Ranger. Brandreth basically put in a bunch of his famous quotes and called it dialogue. Wilde himself is characterized as so painfully cartoonish that I could barely take him seriously.

Basically, you take some historical figures—royalty, famous writers, classic stage actors here and there—add a few grisly murders, some plot holes, a handsome vampire and you’ve got Oscar Wilde and the Vampire Murders in a nutshell. If you were to read it, don’t set your standards too high. I’d recommend it for a light read at most.(less)

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Mar 11, 2013 Marley rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

What a whizbang, intelligent fun read! I adore Oscar Wilde in any form, but I had missed this series of mysteries by Gyles Brandreth until a week ago when I found "the Vampire Murders" on sale at Barnes & Noble. Oscar Wilde, Conan Doyle, Robert Sherard, Bram Stoker, Prince Eddy, The Duke of Wales, Lillie Langtrry and Jane Avril all in one place is about more than I can take. I'd think anyone with an interest in late 19th century British literary culture would enjoy the book. And I love the i...more

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Jul 06, 2011 Shell rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Oscar Wilde and the Vampire Murders is a fun, fast summer read. Take it to the beach, the park, your local coffee haunt, and just enjoy the show.

The author takes well known figures from literary and political history, and builds a murder mystery for them to solve. The plot is fluid and believable, but it is the characters who make the book. I am curious about the accuracy of the characters' personalities. The author does not shy away from Mr. Wilde's well documented bon vivant lifestyle, adding...more

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Aug 14, 2011 Jack rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Discovered this by accident at the bookstore. Apparently it is number 4 in a series. The author states they do not have to be read in order. It is an historical novel series... main charadters in addition to Oscar Wilde are Bram Stoker, Arthur Conan Doyle, the Prince of Wales and others. At first I was not sure I was going to like the way it was written. The story is told totally through "documents" after the first chapter setup. Letters, telegrams, police reports, journal entries are used to te...more

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Sep 10, 2011 Karen rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011, historical, mystery

I was vaguely aware that Gyles Brandreth had written novels involving Oscar Wilde so when I saw the bright orange cover on the library bookshelf I thought I would give it a go. It is an easy read, I finished the book in a weekend. In general I was pleasantly surprised although I did get a little bored at times. The plot was so so, but what kept me reading was the use of real characters of the time. I am quite interested in history but can never remember who belongs in what era so this was helpfu...more

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Jun 16, 2011 Roger Kean rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Brandreth has opted in this, the 4th in the Oscar Wilde series, to construct the story entirely through the notes, telegrams, diary entries, postcards, and reports of the main protagonists: Arthur Conan Doyle, Robert Sherard, Bram Stoker, and the would-be vampire Rex LaSalle. In many cases this kind of structure distances the reader from the narrative, but Brandreth pulls it off in fine style, and it has the advantage of giving the reader intriguingly different views of the same events. Not fini...more

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Jul 06, 2011 Susan rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-mystery, mystery-england

Her doctor insists that the beautiful young Duchess of Albemarle died of a sudden heart attack. But the Prince of Wales, a close friend of the Duchess's, is worried. He asks Oscar Wilde, the brilliant wit, and the young doctor Arthur Conan Doyle, to determine exactly what happened to the Duchess while avoiding any trace of scandal. Also concerned are Prince Eddy, heir apparent to the throne after his father, a handsome young man who insists he's a vampire, and Wilde's old friend, Bram Stoker, wh...more

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May 01, 2011 the golden witch. rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arc-galley, 2011, first-reads-early-reviewers, galley-grab-and-pulse-it, history, vampires

To all of those who ever wondered what would happen if you were to lock Arthur Conan Doyle and Oscar Wilde in a room, well, now we have one of several hilarious answers.

That said, this was a really fun read – mixing some of my favourite genres (and authors – I LOVE me some Wilde and Doyle – my IRL bookshelf has both omnibuses of their work). And you know what? It all worked, and worked well. There have been some mashups with similar uses of authors (the Austen genre is a huge example of this) wi...more To all of those who ever wondered what would happen if you were to lock Arthur Conan Doyle and Oscar Wilde in a room, well, now we have one of several hilarious answers.

That said, this was a really fun read – mixing some of my favourite genres (and authors – I LOVE me some Wilde and Doyle – my IRL bookshelf has both omnibuses of their work). And you know what? It all worked, and worked well. There have been some mashups with similar uses of authors (the Austen genre is a huge example of this) with not-so-great (or downright awful) results.

I have to give it to Brandreth – and I think this is because of not only the fact he can write in the Victorian genre well, but because his style of using letters, articles, and diary entries really fits everyone within the novel. You feel as if you’re really there, smack in the middle of getting these letters, reading these articles, or writing these diary entries. This technique has been used by other authors in other genres, and more times than not it brings an immediacy to the audience that can’t be matched by any other way. A great example of another genre book using this technique is Mira Grant’s “Feed” – this one uses both POV AND blog posts, and I literally could NOT put that one down, either.

I also must applaud that he kept true to Oscar Wilde’s notorious character of not being able to keep it in his pants – whether or not his target was male or female. This really endeared me to the author because he stayed true to history, and to what we know of Wilde thanks to “De Profundis” and his other diary/letter writings from when he was in jail. Some authors would have shied away from the fact that Wilde was blatantly pansexual. But because we have this accurate history used, we feel as if we are right there with Wilde and Doyle and the rest of their friends (and enemies) during their adventures.

And then there’s the paranormal aspect – Brandreth makes it seem completely plausible that there were vampires conspiring against the aristocracy/royal circle during that time period. And his vampires aren’t stereotypical (though I couldn’t stop laughing when he brought in Bram Stoker, not yet published yet an expert in vampires), though they do have many of the usual traits that later appear in Stoker’s “Dracula”. Brandreth hinting that this (fictional) case was the one to help finish and publish “Dracula” was very slyly slipped in, only realized very late in the book.

All around, maybe not the deepest of books, but definitely one of the better genre mashups I’ve read in a long time. Want a fun, literary geek-filled break from life? Pick up this book. You’ll be believing that vampires are chasing after the Queen Mum to this very day.

(crossposted to librarything, shelfari, and witchoftheatregoing.wordpress.com)(less)

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May 31, 2011 Karen rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Oscar Wilde and the Vampire Murders was my first Gyles Brandreth book, but it sure won't be my last. I was a little afraid of this one, as I am not a fan of some of the mashups that have been so popular. I thought Brandreth's story was fun and entertaining! His characters, both historical (Wilde, Arthur Conan Doyle, The Prince of Wales. Bram Stoker) and fictional have depth and a certain smartness and wit that I enjoyed.

Coming after the Jack the Ripper murders, but still in the "Victorian" era,...more

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Apr 07, 2011 Maria rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: own

Quando organizam uma recepção que conta com as mais altas individualidades da sociedade londrina, os diques de Albermarle nem sequer imaginam que essa noite vai terminar de forma trágica. Presentes na festa estão o príncipe de Gales, Oscar Wilde, Arthur Conan Doyle e um jovem actor, Rex LaSalle, que se auto-denomina vampiro, e que confessa a Oscar que nessa mesma noite vai matar a duquesa.

O certo é que na manhã seguinte, o príncipe de Gales chama Oscar Wilde e Arthur Conan Doyle para a investiga...more Quando organizam uma recepção que conta com as mais altas individualidades da sociedade londrina, os diques de Albermarle nem sequer imaginam que essa noite vai terminar de forma trágica. Presentes na festa estão o príncipe de Gales, Oscar Wilde, Arthur Conan Doyle e um jovem actor, Rex LaSalle, que se auto-denomina vampiro, e que confessa a Oscar que nessa mesma noite vai matar a duquesa.

O certo é que na manhã seguinte, o príncipe de Gales chama Oscar Wilde e Arthur Conan Doyle para a investigação de um crime que ocorrera no dia anterior numa festa na residência dos duques de Albermarle da qual viria resultar na morte da anfitriã, Helen Lascelles, de 30 anos.

A informação oficial, e que passara nos meios de comunicação social, foi que a duquesa morrera de causas naturais, de ataque de coração, mas Wilde e Doyle suspeitam de umas estranham marcas que a duquesa tem no pescoço e que poderão ser as causadoras da sua morte. No decorrer das investigações, os dois detectives vão descobrindo estranhas relações do próprio duque, do médico que acompanhava a duquesa, do gosto da duquesa pelo sexo, e que o próprio marido não quer ver passar para a praça pública, muito menos o príncipe de Gales, que também parece ter algo a esconder.

Mais tarde, outra morte ensombra o círculo de amigos de Wilde. Desta feita uma jovem dançarina conhecida do príncipe de Gales como Lulu e que eles conheceram no Teatro de Variedades Empire Leicester Square, em Londres. Nessa mesma noite, e na companhia deles, ela aparece morta. Junto ao pescoço estão duas marcas, exactamente iguais às que tinha a duquesa de Albermarle.

Um livro bastante interessante porque é todo ele escrito através de missivas tanto de Connan Doyle, como de Oscar Wilde, Bram Stocker, assim como das demais personagens. De realçar as cartas que os três escritores escrevem às suas mulheres e os diferentes relacionamentos que estes têm com as mesmas. O relacionamento frio de Wilde com a esposa, denota claramente a sua homossexualidade e o seu casamento apenas de conveniência. Wilde prefere a companhia do jovem Rex à da esposa e filhos. Em comparação, o imenso amor que Doyle tinha para com a sua “Touie” é enternecedor.

Uma leitura leve e bastante agradável de ler até porque o autor coloca Wilde como o investigador principal, qual Sherlock Holmes dos livros de Connan Doyle. Fiquei bastante curiosa em ler mais livros desta colecção.(less)

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Apr 21, 2011 Sofia Teixeira rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

'Oscar Wilde e os Crimes do Vampiro' é um romance policial que trouxe uma lufada de ar fresco às minhas leituras. Gyles Brandreth consegue presentear-nos com uma obra cheia de mistério, ao mesmo tempo divertida e ainda muito incaracterística devido ao leque de personagens que reúne.

Temos então Oscar Wilde, Arthur Conna Doyle (autor dos famosos policiais de Sherlock Holmes), Bram Stoker (autor do clássico 'Drácula'), o Dr. Watson do Oscar Wilde - Robert Sherard e o misterioso e sedutor Rex LaSall...more

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May 17, 2011 Julie Smith (Knitting and Sundries) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: galley, galley-grab, reviewed

This review first appeared on my blog: http://www.knittingandsundries.com/20...

This novel is "Drawn from previously unpublished memoirs of Robert Sherard, Oscar Wilde's friend and biographer".

Call me a sucker for Sherlockian mysteries, but I really enjoyed this book. We get to meet not only Oscar Wilde and his friend Robert Sherard; there's Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Bram Stoker, as well as a cameo appearance by Dvorak as well!

With inserts of letters from Doyle and Stoker to their wives, noteboo...more

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Apr 10, 2012 Gina rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: brandreth

Oscar Wilde and the Nest of Vipers from Gyles Brandreth has a sobering start reminding readers of the sad fate of Oscar Wilde; I think this is important to keep in the back of our minds and be thankful that society has progressed somewhat from those intolerant days.

This story has an interesting take on vampires especially as we seem to be going through a period of books and movies, where vampires are perceived as pale lacklustre creatures who are all boring!

It is great to have Arthur Conan Doyl...more

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Aug 22, 2011 Amy Cockram rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

For a full review, please see my blog:
http://cornishamy.blogspot.com/2011/0...

This is the 4th in Gyles Brandreth's series of Oscar Wilde mysteries (American title: Oscar Wilde and the Vampire Murders). In this 4th entry, the Prince of Wales asks Oscar to look into the mysterious death of a friend, whose body has been discovered half naked and with two wounds in her neck. Oscar is accompanied, again, by Robert Sherard, Conan Doyle and Bram Stoker.

The Oscar Wilde mysteries are good fun, steeped i...more

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Jun 15, 2011 Diane S. rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Apparently there are other books in this series so now I have more books to had to my hope to get to it pile, because I really enjoyed this mystery. Series of letters,invitations and journal entries make this story interesting as does Oscar Wilde (who is his reputedly witty self) Arthur Conan Doyle, Bram Stocker, Lily Langtry and the scandal ridden Prince of Wales. Also like the historical note at the back of the book.

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Oct 09, 2012 Craig rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: supernatural, crime-mystery

I want to dislike these Wilde mysteries but they are very entertaining. The titles are funny and there is something inherently wrong with putting a huge, bloody spear on an iconic photograph. But they are good. Brandreth clearly does his homework and writes Wilde very well. The only complaint I have is that these stories tend to run a bit longer than they should but they are a lot of fun.

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Jul 27, 2011 Kathleen rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This was a fun historical mystery with Oscar Wilde as a Sherlock Holmes-style sleuth. The writing was quite good and the setting seemed quite authentic. Other characters include Arthur Conon Doyle, Bram Stoker, Lillie Langtry, and members of the royal family. It's the perfect kind of book for those of us who have loved the mash-ups of the Pride and Prejudice and Zombies craze!

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Aug 19, 2011 Nina rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I really liked the premise of this book and the writing style. What fun to have Oscar Wilde out there solving mysteries1 That said, I felt like the writing got a little repetitive at times. The book is written in multiple points of view, and I felt like I was getting the same information over and over again from different characters.

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Oct 11, 2011 Geri Makris rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I enjoyed the book, although, as one would expect from a novel set during the Victorian period, the women characters were one dimensional. The wives were like stick people and the only interesting female character was the victim and she was a "whore". Oscar's witticisms became tedious after a while. The story was interesting, but the conclusion was a let down. While the book was OK, I do not intend to read further in this series.

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Jun 21, 2011 Suburbangardener rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

What I most enjoyed about this book was getting to see the narrator of the previous books in the series through other characters' eyes, and getting the other characters' viewpoints. I'd enjoy reading one of these mysteries entirely from Conan Doyle's perspective.

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Aug 19, 2012 Rozonda rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Good, but not so good as the previous ones in the series-maybe it is because it tries to convey the progressive sense of sadness, disenchantment and danger that was invading Wilde's life as his downfall approached. Anyway, it could have been done better.

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Jun 09, 2012 Autumn rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

After my experience with the Sherlock book, I wasn't holding out much hope. I was more than pleasantly surprised.

The author earned the four stars based on his writing, research and telling an intriguing tale. I am tempted to give him an extra star for managing to do all of that while basically writing a genre of fan fiction called RPF- 'real person fic', but that would give him five stars and I just can't do that.

I will be reading more of this series and I recommend it for anyone interested in...more

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Sep 08, 2012 Susan B rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The format of the book was different, once I got used to it I found it quite enjoyable getting all the different people's perspective as to what happened while finding the actual killer. can't wait ti read the next one in the series.

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About Gyles Brandreth

Full name: Gyles Daubeney Brandreth.
A former Oxford Scholar, President of the Oxford Union and MP for the City of Chester, Gyles Brandreth’s career has ranged from being a Whip and Lord Commissioner of the Treasury in John Major’s government to starring in his own award-winning musical revue in London’s West End. A prolific broadcaster (in programmes ranging from Just a Minute to Have I Got News f...more Full name: Gyles Daubeney Brandreth.
A former Oxford Scholar, President of the Oxford Union and MP for the City of Chester, Gyles Brandreth’s career has ranged from being a Whip and Lord Commissioner of the Treasury in John Major’s government to starring in his own award-winning musical revue in London’s West End. A prolific broadcaster (in programmes ranging from Just a Minute to Have I Got News for You), an acclaimed interviewer (principally for the Sunday Telegraph), a novelist, children’s author and biographer, his best-selling diary, Breaking the Code, was described as ‘By far the best political diary of recent years, far more perceptive and revealing than Alan Clark’s’ (The Times) and ‘Searingly honest, wildly indiscreet, and incredibly funny’ (Daily Mail). He is the author of two acclaimed royal biographies: Philip Elizabeth: Portrait of a Marriage and Charles Camilla: Portrait of a Love Affair. In 2007/2008, John Murray in the UK and Simon & Schuster in the US began publishing The Oscar Wilde Murder Mysteries, his series of Victorian murder mysteries featuring Oscar Wilde as the detective.

As a performer, Gyles Brandreth has been seen most recently in ZIPP! ONE HUNDRED MUSICALS FOR LESS THAN THE PRICE OF ONE at the Duchess Theatre and on tour throughout the UK, and as Malvolio and the Sea Captain in TWELFTH NIGHT THE MUSICAL at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Gyles Brandreth is one of Britain’s busiest after-dinner speakers and award ceremony hosts. He has won awards himself, and been nominated for awards, as a public speaker, novelist, children’s writer, broadcaster (Sony), political diarist (Channel Four), journalist (British Press Awards), theatre producer (Olivier), and businessman (British Tourist Authority Come to Britain Trophy).

He is married to writer and publisher Michèle Brown, with whom he co-curated the exhibition of twentieth century children’s authors at the National Portrait Gallery and founded the award-winning Teddy Bear Museum now based at the Polka Theatre in Wimbledon. He is a trustee of the British Forces Foundation, and a former chairman and now vice-president of the National Playing Fields Association.

Gyles Brandreth’s forebears include George R. Sims (the highest-paid journalist of his day, who wrote the ballad Christmas Day in the Workhouse) and Jeremiah Brandreth (the last man in England to be beheaded for treason). His great-great-grandfather, Benjamin Brandreth, promoted ‘Brandreth’s Pills’ (a medicine that cured everything!) and was a pioneer of modern advertising and a New York state senator. Today, Gyles Brandreth has family living in New York, Maryland, South Carolina and California. He has been London correspondent for “Up to the Minute” on CBS News and his books published in the United States include the New York Times best-seller, The Joy of Lex and, most recently, Philip Elizabeth: Portrait of a Royal Marriage.(less)

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Books by Gyles Brandreth

Oscar Wilde and a Death of No Importance: A Mystery

Oscar Wilde and the Vatican Murders (The Oscar Wilde Murder Mysteries #5)

Oscar Wilde and the Murders at Reading Gaol

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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9282043-oscar-wilde-and-the-vampire-murders?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348041769l/9282043.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9282043-oscar-wilde-and-the-vampire-murders?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Oscar Wilde and the Vampire Murders: A Mystery by Gyles Brandreth[/url]

Oscar Wilde and the Vampire Murders: A Mystery (The Oscar Wilde Murder Mysteries #4)

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