Lee Allen's Blog, page 17
April 23, 2022
Bram Stoker's The Lady of the Shroud - Review

My rating: 3 of 5 stars
A gothic tale of mystery and adventure, horror and romance, sci-fi and politics.
Unexpectedly coming into a huge inheritance, Rupert Sent Leger finally decides to settle from his life of adventure, moving to an expansive property nestled in the Land of the Blue Mountains, an independent country in the heart of the Balkans.
During the night, Rupert is visited by a mysterious and beautiful lady, one whom he comes to believe is undead. As these nighttime encounters continue, Rupert finds himself enamoured with her, and can think of little else.
As tensions escalate throughout the land and Rupert comes closer to solving the mystery that entrances his heart, we witness the birth of a new power in the political landscape of Europe.
'The Lady of the Shroud' is a gothic novel by Bram Stoker, who returns somewhat to the theme of vampirism following his masterpiece, 'Dracula'. Written in the style of journals, letters, articles and legal documents, we follow the fate and fortunes of central character Rupert. The opening chapter concerns a last will and testament and the expectations of inheritance and attitudes within a British upper class family, forming what is truly an extensive prologue to the main events.
The core narrative kicks in with Rupert's emigration to the Land of the Blue Mountains. Stoker captures the beauty of this fictional land, a civilisation hidden within a wilderness, the isolation of its natives, and the architecture of Rupert's new home. The novel's strengths are undoubtedly the scenes of supernatural suspense and the blossoming romance between Rupert and the mysterious lady who visits his bedroom in the depths of the night, dressed in only her shroud, a beauty who appears to have risen from the dead. The gothic imagery of these scenes is sublime, Rupert becoming enraptured by this strange and almost ethereal woman, the connotations of unease and seduction bubbling beneath the surface.
The novel was written against the backdrop of European Imperialism, when the great powers of Europe sought territories and colonies in the expansion of their empires. The fictional Land of the Blue Mountains is independent and a much sought after region. We witness them defend against the prelude to an invasion by Turkey, which was then part of the Ottoman Empire. Whether Stoker's portrayal of the invaders as the villains was a criticism of imperialism in general is open to interpretation. While, at the time, people held much pride in their empires, over a century later and following two world wars, our modern perspective differs; we can empathise all too well with the perils faced by this small and independent nation having to defend itself against those in pursuit of power.
It is worth noting that the novel was written and published several years before the Balkan Wars and subsequently the First World War took place. What is perhaps less apparent on reading during the 21st century is that the novel also includes elements that may have been deemed science-fiction on its publication in 1909. At this time, there were no air forces, though several countries were on the cusp of recognising the potential of military aircraft. Rupert's foresight to build a 'navy of the air' may have appeared fantastical to many readers. The First World War (1914-18) saw the first uses of such aircraft in warfare. In Great Britain, there were air arms to both the Army and Navy during this period, with the separate Air Force formed towards the end of the war - the first independent air force on the planet.
Despite its place in history and being ahead of its time with certain concepts, the latter half of the novel is pretty dry and loses its gothic atmosphere. With the mystery, adventure and suspense resolved, it reads more like an extended epilogue. Perhaps Stoker was interpreting tensions across Europe while writing this novel and, thus, it became a different story. Much of this was excised from many subsequent publications of the novel, perhaps in an effort to retain its promise as a story of gothic horror and romance.
It is unfortunate too, and perhaps somewhat unfair, that we struggle to judge 'The Lady of the Shroud' solely on its own merits, as it will forever be compared to Stoker's masterpiece, perhaps more so than any of this other work due to its re-visitation to the vampire theme. It isn't in the same league as the gothic beauty of 'Dracula' (yet no doubt Stoker had no intentions of this being another 'Dracula', instead with a female villain). With the horror and romance becoming somewhat overshadowed by the politics, there are moments when its feels as if you have been reading two different books. Had the novel consisted of chapters two through to five, it would have instead been a vastly superior novella of gothic horror and romance, all the more enjoyable for that alone.
View all my reviews
Visit me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on Instagram
Published on April 23, 2022 03:51
•
Tags:
bram-stoker, gothic, gothic-horror, gothic-romance, victorian-edwardian
April 20, 2022
Gill D. Anderson's Primed for Vengeance - Review

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A psychological thriller of hidden torment and a plot for revenge.
Butch has been let down down multiple times throughout his short life, left feeling abandoned and heartbroken.
Sarah, leading a team of youth workers, is determined to help improve the lives of the young people under her care.
But, when Sarah leaves the care unit, it is one more loss that Butch cannot bear. As his obsessive thirst for revenge dominates his life, it threatens to explode into carnage and leave a series of victims in his wake.
'Primed for Vengence' is a standalone thriller by Gill D. Anderson that grips from the very beginning, opening with a chilling insight into Butch's psyche, before flashbacks begin to reveal the events that led to this point. The key characters are well-developed, their thoughts and emotions guiding the plot throughout and offering different perspectives as the story develops.
The novel also explores the inner workings of the residential care system. While procedurally it may no longer represent the system in its native Australia, it nonetheless demonstrates how the way in which institutions deal with troubled individuals, across the education, social care and justice systems, has a major impact and can lead to potentially damaging results when a system with such a high duty of care is under increasing pressure.
Building to an intense climax, we witness the profile in action of a disturbed, vulnerable and volatile young man whose mental health issues, history of neglect, abuse and trauma, and his past and current circumstances, have contributed to him becoming an unstable and dangerous criminal who seeks to harm others in response to his own suffering.
Emotionally-driven and fast-paced, 'Primed for Vengeance' is an engrossing story of tragedy, delusion and violence.
View all my reviews
Visit me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on Instagram
Published on April 20, 2022 06:02
•
Tags:
gill-d-anderson, psychological-thriller, thriller
April 17, 2022
L.B. Stimson's The Haunting of Noyo Bay - Review

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A gothic ghost story layered with romance and suspense.
An unknown little boy plays in the cemetery in the seaside village of Keesbury. Yet no one appears to have ever seen him.
Charlotte Goolsby finds herself avoiding the cemetery and the presence of the little boy, unable to fully explain how unsettling she finds his presence. She confides her fears in Rees Pendleton, with whom an attraction is blooming.
As their bond deepens, Charlotte and Rees strive to solve the mystery of the little boy, uncovering the tragedy that hides beneath the town's surface.
'The Haunting of Noyo Bay' is the fourth of L.B. Stimson's books I've read and once again she delivers a tale packed with gothic imagery, suspense and buried secrets. In a story driven by the romance of two sweethearts on the cusp of adulthood, the ghostly, haunting scenes are juxtaposed with the sweet innocence of youth and first love.
Also blending elements of historical fiction and young adult fiction throughout, Stimson develops an authentic and character-driven drama that ensures the supernatural horror elements remain chillingly realistic, wrapped in the fraught emotion of several characters.
Well-plotted and fast-paced, the multiple plot threads are neatly resolved, ultimately culminating in a fantastically creepy final chapter. As always, I finished this book in eager anticipation of the next tale that L.B. delivers.
Both haunting and romantic, 'The Haunting of Noyo Bay' will have you questioning if the dead ever truly rest.
View all my reviews
Visit me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on Instagram
Published on April 17, 2022 12:32
•
Tags:
ghost-story, gothic, gothic-horror, gothic-romance, l-b-stimson
April 8, 2022
Caroline Kepnes' You Love Me - Review

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Joe Goldberg returns once again with a new object of overwhelming obsession.
Having recently moved to the small community of Bainbridge, Joe is ready to begin his new life, starting with a new job at the local library. He immediately finds himself attracted to fellow librarian, Mary Kay, friendship soon blossoming between the two.
Joe is determined to behave – he’s learnt his lesson and wants to get to know Mary Kay the old-fashioned way. Yet try as he might, he must soon accept that you can escape neither the sins of the past nor the essence of your own nature.
As he becomes more entrenched in Mary Kay’s life and into the orbit of her family and friends, Joe tries desperately to navigate the peaks and troughs of this newfound relationship while attempting to keep his secrets buried deep and out of reach.
‘You Love Me’ is the third in Caroline Kepnes’ ‘You’ series, which follows the life and criminal escapades of Joe Goldberg, a serial stalker and murderer who might just be the most romantic and committed individual you could hope to meet (perspective is everything, after all) – he will do whatever it takes and never give up on you. Once again told from Joe’s point of view, he is, of course, the epitome of an unreliable narrator – at his most delusional and over-analysing brilliance, while his superficial charm, quick wit and glibness are in full evidence, making for both an hilarious and dangerous mix that threatens to explode at any given moment. Following the events of ‘Hidden Bodies’, Joe is attempting to move on from his past and build a new life, while continuing to stalk the woman with whom he was involved most recently on social media.
Meanwhile, he has found a new object of desire, in local librarian Mary Kary. Joe truly believes she may be the one, and hopes to build a new life with her and her daughter, but their relationship is far from the fantasy love story he hopes for. Hurtling from page to page, all the time following the escalating narrative within Joe’s psyche, we navigate every twist and turn, exploring themes of abuse and trauma, with brutal bursts of violence, culminating in a twist which turns the final chapters on their head, leaving Joe powerless to prevent a disastrous outcome. The main events of the novel form their own self-contained narrative, but, as with the last in the series, just as Joe believes he has been able to move on, the past comes back to haunt him. If you’ve not yet read the first two in the series, I would recommend reading them in order, though it won’t be paramount to your enjoyment if you choose to start here.
I particularly liked how the novel ended, bringing the series full circle and also demonstrating a realistic view of how a serial stalker may think and operate following another ‘heartbreak’ at the hands of a victim, with the promise of much more of Joe and his exploits to come. Caroline Kepnes has confirmed that ‘You 4’ is coming soon, with rumours that a fifth in the series is also in the works. The series continues to expand in its screen version too – though I’ve yet to watch the Netflix series adapted from the books (I know, I’m incredibly behind), which has run to three seasons so far, with a fourth currently in production, I believe it has since taken a different course to the novels, with the third book and third season presenting independent narratives. There is much exposure of Joe’s addictive personality to succumb to and more to come!
Compulsive and fast-paced, ‘You Love Me’ is a gripping, entertaining entry in a saga delving into the mind of a disturbed and dangerous man.
View all my reviews
Visit me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on Instagram
Published on April 08, 2022 07:50
•
Tags:
caroline-kepnes, psychological-thriller, stalker, you
March 30, 2022
March Story Spotlight - A Deathly Shade of Pale
"My hand reaches to touch her face, but she is gone, disintegrating into mist..."
Next in the spotlight is my paranormal short story "A Deathly Shade of Pale", from the original short story collection, a haunting, gothic tale of mystery and introspection which opens the omnibus.
Behind the Story
'A Deathly Shade of Pale' was the first short story I plotted as part of the original conception of 'Whispers from the Dead of Night' as an omnibus of novellas featuring three bonus short stories, under the working title 'A Deathly Pale Glow'. When I turned to writing a full short story collection, 'A Deathly Shade of Pale', having gained its new title, was the third story I wrote.
I was halfway through writing when my grandfather was unexpectedly taken ill and within three weeks he was gone. Though the story was plotted and already in progress, it took on the mantle of a story of grief - with its gothic and emotional themes - and will always hold a special place in my heart. This is also the first of two stories which explore mental health issues, bookending the original collection.
I released 'A Deathly Shade of Pale' on Hallowe'en, when the veil is at its thinnest and we can almost reach out and connect with those who have departed. At times a dramatic and fantastical tale, featuring elements of adventure entwined with its core of gothic horror and paranormal mystery, some inspiration taken from classical mythology, we fight for survival and search for answers with a lost and lonely man.
So snuggle up with a warm drink and prepare to embark on a journey through fog and darkness, destination unknown...
___
Waking on a boat in a sea of mist and water, with no memory of how I got here, I find myself pursued by fragments of dreams and memories.
A beautiful woman haunts me, while whomever ferries the boat remains silent.
As I find my way to land, the mystery threatens to unravel in a devastating revelation.
"Fog has filled my head, obscuring the last shards of my splintered mind."
Preview the opening scene.
Available free to download in ebook, or as part of the original "Whispers from the Dead of Night" short story collection in ebook and paperback and the deluxe collection in ebook, paperback and hardcover.
Order "A Deathly Shade of Pale"
Order "Whispers from the Dead of Night"
Order "Whispers from the Dead of Night - The Deluxe Collection"
Visit me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on Instagram
Next in the spotlight is my paranormal short story "A Deathly Shade of Pale", from the original short story collection, a haunting, gothic tale of mystery and introspection which opens the omnibus.
Behind the Story
'A Deathly Shade of Pale' was the first short story I plotted as part of the original conception of 'Whispers from the Dead of Night' as an omnibus of novellas featuring three bonus short stories, under the working title 'A Deathly Pale Glow'. When I turned to writing a full short story collection, 'A Deathly Shade of Pale', having gained its new title, was the third story I wrote.
I was halfway through writing when my grandfather was unexpectedly taken ill and within three weeks he was gone. Though the story was plotted and already in progress, it took on the mantle of a story of grief - with its gothic and emotional themes - and will always hold a special place in my heart. This is also the first of two stories which explore mental health issues, bookending the original collection.
I released 'A Deathly Shade of Pale' on Hallowe'en, when the veil is at its thinnest and we can almost reach out and connect with those who have departed. At times a dramatic and fantastical tale, featuring elements of adventure entwined with its core of gothic horror and paranormal mystery, some inspiration taken from classical mythology, we fight for survival and search for answers with a lost and lonely man.
So snuggle up with a warm drink and prepare to embark on a journey through fog and darkness, destination unknown...
___
Waking on a boat in a sea of mist and water, with no memory of how I got here, I find myself pursued by fragments of dreams and memories.
A beautiful woman haunts me, while whomever ferries the boat remains silent.
As I find my way to land, the mystery threatens to unravel in a devastating revelation.
"Fog has filled my head, obscuring the last shards of my splintered mind."
Preview the opening scene.
Available free to download in ebook, or as part of the original "Whispers from the Dead of Night" short story collection in ebook and paperback and the deluxe collection in ebook, paperback and hardcover.
Order "A Deathly Shade of Pale"
Order "Whispers from the Dead of Night"
Order "Whispers from the Dead of Night - The Deluxe Collection"
Visit me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on Instagram
Published on March 30, 2022 11:56
•
Tags:
gothic, horror, mystery, paranormal, short-story, story-spotlight, whispers-from-the-dead-of-night
March 26, 2022
Savvy Rose's Tangled Garden - Review

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A taut, gripping tale of erotic suspense.
Cyn is coasting through life, unhappy in a marriage to a man while in denial about her sexuality, dabbling in substance misuse just to get through her days and ignore the reason for her misery.
Dev, haunted by her demons, unexpectedly comes into Cyn's life, their attraction instant and impossible to ignore. Beginning a passionate affair, theirs is a romance that threatens to spill over into obsession.
To the other, each is an addiction impossible to satiate, a danger that threatens to escalate to a tragic and irrevocable climax.
'Tangled Garden' is the first in Savvy Rose's 'Beautifully Broken' series. A novella in two parts; the first, 'Wilted Petals', explores the beginnings and the fallout of an extramarital affair, reminiscent of a sapphic 'Fatal Attraction'; while the second, 'Chaotic Delusions', is a psychological drama, a character study in trauma revealing more twists and turns to this tale of two troubled women.
It took a while for me to warm to Cyn; while you can sympathise with the turmoil triggered by her denial and living a lie, it's a struggle to see past both her behaviour towards her husband and her dishonesty with her lover about her marriage, which triggers the catastrophic events that follow. Despite her issues and, at times, alarming behaviour, I found Dev a more sympathetic character. With the novella's second part told from her perspective, we learn more about her history; a psychological autopsy of a traumatised young woman who simply wants to be loved.
Not only erotic fantasy, this is a well-written, character-driven drama; a story realistically told and brimming with romantic suspense. Exploring themes of mental health issues and infidelity, the fantasy doesn't detract from the damage inflicted upon the characters by both the events of their pasts and also their present actions. I look forward to the next in the series and also reading more of Savvy Rose's work.
Gripping and sensual, 'Tangled Garden' is an erotically-charged quickie read that will leave you simultaneously satisfied and eager for more.
View all my reviews
Visit me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on Instagram
Published on March 26, 2022 10:20
•
Tags:
erotica, savvy-rose
March 13, 2022
Val McDermid's 1979 - Review

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The first in a brand new thriller series featuring journalist Allie Burns.
Rookie reporter Allie finds herself relegated to writing insignificant pieces and 'women's stories' at the Daily Clarion. But her budding friendship with fellow reporter Danny also promises a blossoming working relationship as they work together to expose crime and corruption.
Uncovering a tax evasion scheme, Danny is convinced it may finally put him on the road to realising his dream of becoming an investigative reporter. He enlists Allie to assist with the story, while struggling with the implications that exposing the crimes will have on his family.
Meanwhile, Allie stumbles across the beginnings of a terrorist plot that she becomes determined to pursue and prevent, while simultaneously enabling her to tell the story which will prove her worth. But undercover journalism is uncharted territory for both Allie and Danny, posing a danger that threatens to spiral out of control for them both.
'1979' is the first in Val McDermid's series featuring Allie Burns, who has recently joined a local newspaper after returning to her Scottish homeland. I immediately warmed to Allie's character - she is passionate, morally driven, friendly and endearing, and perhaps a little naive. This is her story and it drives the multiple plotlines, juggling and intertwining personal and professional narratives as the novel evolves.
This isn't just a crime thriller that happens to be set in 1979, but also a distinct historical thriller with its social and political backdrop of 1970s Scotland and the wider UK, with elements of political thriller moulded throughout. We witness the beginnings of the devolution and independence movements, something that will no doubt feature more heavily as we move through the decades as the series continues.
McDermid's conception of the series was almost an antidote to the changing world in response to the challenges and tragedy of the global pandemic. By going back in time, we escape that world, we as readers travelling back along with its author. The series is set to continue with '1989', and culminate, presumably, with a fifth book set in 2019.
There are moments throughout reminiscent of Lynda La Plante's 'Tennison' series, both in the way it transports us back to the 70s, instilling nostalgia for a time before I was even born, and in its portrayal of a woman in a man's world, fighting the sexism and having to work even harder to prove she is both capable and worthy of her profession. Already this series feels like it will do for journalism what 'Prime Suspect' did for the police service.
A thrilling exposé of time and place, '1979' is a gripping and immersive first chapter; I eagerly anticipate meeting Allie once again a decade on.
View all my reviews
Visit me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on Instagram
Published on March 13, 2022 11:43
•
Tags:
allie-burns, historical-thriller, political-thriller, terrorism, thriller, val-mcdermid
March 4, 2022
Bitter Chills: Holiday Edition - Review

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A delightfully devilish collection of short fiction from the pens of indie horror writers.
Each Bonfire Night, a group of teenagers are haunted by a boy whom they left to burn...
Driving home, a man is stranded by a relentless snowstorm...
A bedtime story of the culmination of the Wild Hunt on the night of the Winter Solstice...
A grieving father is determined to keep a promise to his dead son which he failed to while he lived...
The mystery behind the disappearance of a teenage girl begins to unravel...
The tale of a killer snowman...
Christmas dinner takes an unexpected turn...
A lonely woman grants shelter to her ex and his new partner one snowy Christmas Eve...
A man is hunted by a mythological monster...
A fight for survival in a collapsed and frozen world...
A fossilised larynx unleashes the stuff of nightmares...
'Bitter Chills' is the first of several anthologies from indie publisher Blood Rites Horror, curated and edited by author Jay Alexander. Featuring tales of psychological horror, supernatural horror, environmental and natural horror, dystopia and a touch of black comedy, the collection covers a breadth of horror tropes and sub-genres with something to appeal to all tastes; these quality tales representing the indie horror community at large.
The Holiday Edition also includes a raft of bonus material, including artwork, poems and new stories, some being sequels to previous stories, making this volume a luxury celebration of the work of the featured authors.
My personal favourites were:
'The Burning Boy' by Denver Grenell - feeling like a nostalgic throwback to young adult horror, the sort of tale that introduces you to the genre, with karma reaching out its hand from beyond the grave;
'My White Star' by Carla Eliot - a mystery and ghost story combined into a tale of retribution, the main character haunted by the presence of his missing friend, a horrifying truth unraveling before his eyes;
'The Christmas Eve' by Carmilla Yugov - a sublime tale of psychological horror, with its premise of revisiting an emotional trauma, building to bloodshed and terror; a thrilling story of horror and suspense;
'The Violent Snow' by Patrick Whitehurst - with its archaeological theme, claustrophobic suspense, but nevertheless the fun of adventure, this natural horror story evolving into full-blown creature-feature has a cinematic feel and a neat conclusion, as well as an equally satisfying sequel. Would love to read a part three!
A feast of horrors from the depths of winter, 'Bitter Chills: Holiday Edition' is perfect for filling the Hallowe'en-sized hole in your reading list long after the jack o'lantern has ceased to flicker.
View all my reviews
Visit me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on Instagram
Published on March 04, 2022 14:07
•
Tags:
anthology, ghost-story, horror, natural-horror, short-story, supernatural
February 28, 2022
February Story Spotlight - Bitten
"Centuries teach you patience. To wait quietly in the shadows, biding one's time."
First in the spotlight from "Whispers from the Dead of Night - The Deluxe Collection" is my erotic horror thriller novel "Bitten", which concludes the omnibus.
A criminal investigation...
an erotic obsession...
and the undead...
This Valentine's Day, join Holleigh as she comes face to face with the Valentine Vampire...
Behind the Story
I first wrote the basic plot outline for "Bitten" in 2015, shortly after completing the first draft of "The Jack O'Lantern Men". Inspired by a short story I had written in school, entitled "Clueless", about a US police detective investigating a suspected serial killer (we were tasked with writing a romance, so I wrote an erotic thriller), there were two other key themes that I added to the mix: first being the seasonal theme of Valentine's Day. I planned "Bitten" to be the third of my seasonal novellas, following the previous two exploring Christmas and Hallowe'en respectively.
The second key theme was that of vampirism. I have loved vampires from a very young age - my first encounter being an abridged version of Bram Stoker's "Dracula". Since then I got to know the Count and his fellow undead creatures through novels and films, and fascinating explorations into their history and folklore.
So, "Bitten" was born. The more I worked on it, the more it expanded. In the end, it became a full-length novel - the characters having far too much to say to cram into a novella.
Another fictional love of mine is erotic thrillers. From the first time I saw "Basic Instinct" I thought it a masterpiece. Its blueprint has inspired many themes of erotic thrillers since - the twisting mystery, the passion that clouds the judgement, the dangerous cat-and-mouse game.
We've seen vampires become ever more romanticised in recent years. As we've seen erotic fiction become ever more romanticised. One of my goals with this novel was to strip both of those back, to let some of their raw darkness resurface - a horror thriller, rather than a paranormal romance; a murder investigation into suspected serial murders, each of which took place on Valentine's Day.
Of course, authentically dealing with such themes in conjunction comes with many other themes and plot points to be illustrated and explored, some of which may be triggering - misogyny, sexism, sexual violence, paraphiliae, and trauma. As difficult as these may be to explore, I think it is vitally important that we do not shy away from these issues. To allow fantasy to dominate over very real and tragically everyday experiences can sometimes aid in silencing victims and empowering offenders. In fiction, as in life, fantasy and reality both have their place. Exploring them side by side is sometimes necessary and right for the story you want to tell.
I could have never imagined how topical the issues of misogyny, sexual violence and murder, within the context of the police service, would have been in the year when I finally published "Bitten". It remains vitally important that we don't lose awareness that such crimes are happening in reality every day. Crime and horror writers have often been accused of glorifying violence and disrespecting victims. We do not do that - it is those who live in denial of these experiences that do so, relegating such offenders to monsters in the dark and forcing their victims into silence. We should never stop having these conversations and fiction is as valid a platform as any other from which to consider, discuss, debate, and, most importantly of all, remember and spread awareness.
In order to tell this story, it needed a strong central character. While she remained nameless for several months while I tried various names, PC Holleigh Ryder was always that character. Throughout "Bitten", we explore her progression in her career, her introverted but compassionate heart, her strength and vulnerability, and an insight into her desires and her pansexuality. She is perhaps one of my favourite characters whom I've created.
And what of the other characters? The mysterious Valentine Vampire? There will be no more spoilers from me. You'll just have to crawl under the covers and open the book for more nighttime exploration into this tale of murder, fear and desire...
___
A serial murder investigation draws near its conclusion. For seven years the killer has evaded capture, but the police finally have their prime suspect in custody – a man who claims to be a vampire over three hundred years old.
PC Holleigh Ryder is tasked with the most unsettling and challenging assignment of her career. All she wants is to get to the truth and achieve justice for the murdered women, but this has been no ordinary case and it is far from over.
The vampire has his own endgame in mind, one that may leave the police praying they had left the damned undisturbed in their graves.
*Note to Readers*
Contains descriptions of an explicit sexual and violent nature.
"You have the heart of a vampire. Your soul is as damned in your body as mine."
Preview the opening scene.
Available standalone ebook and paperback, or as part of the omnibus in ebook, paperback and hardcover. Grab your copy now!
Order "Bitten"
Order "Whispers from the Dead of Night - The Deluxe Collection"
First in the spotlight from "Whispers from the Dead of Night - The Deluxe Collection" is my erotic horror thriller novel "Bitten", which concludes the omnibus.
A criminal investigation...
an erotic obsession...
and the undead...
This Valentine's Day, join Holleigh as she comes face to face with the Valentine Vampire...
Behind the Story
I first wrote the basic plot outline for "Bitten" in 2015, shortly after completing the first draft of "The Jack O'Lantern Men". Inspired by a short story I had written in school, entitled "Clueless", about a US police detective investigating a suspected serial killer (we were tasked with writing a romance, so I wrote an erotic thriller), there were two other key themes that I added to the mix: first being the seasonal theme of Valentine's Day. I planned "Bitten" to be the third of my seasonal novellas, following the previous two exploring Christmas and Hallowe'en respectively.
The second key theme was that of vampirism. I have loved vampires from a very young age - my first encounter being an abridged version of Bram Stoker's "Dracula". Since then I got to know the Count and his fellow undead creatures through novels and films, and fascinating explorations into their history and folklore.
So, "Bitten" was born. The more I worked on it, the more it expanded. In the end, it became a full-length novel - the characters having far too much to say to cram into a novella.
Another fictional love of mine is erotic thrillers. From the first time I saw "Basic Instinct" I thought it a masterpiece. Its blueprint has inspired many themes of erotic thrillers since - the twisting mystery, the passion that clouds the judgement, the dangerous cat-and-mouse game.
We've seen vampires become ever more romanticised in recent years. As we've seen erotic fiction become ever more romanticised. One of my goals with this novel was to strip both of those back, to let some of their raw darkness resurface - a horror thriller, rather than a paranormal romance; a murder investigation into suspected serial murders, each of which took place on Valentine's Day.
Of course, authentically dealing with such themes in conjunction comes with many other themes and plot points to be illustrated and explored, some of which may be triggering - misogyny, sexism, sexual violence, paraphiliae, and trauma. As difficult as these may be to explore, I think it is vitally important that we do not shy away from these issues. To allow fantasy to dominate over very real and tragically everyday experiences can sometimes aid in silencing victims and empowering offenders. In fiction, as in life, fantasy and reality both have their place. Exploring them side by side is sometimes necessary and right for the story you want to tell.
I could have never imagined how topical the issues of misogyny, sexual violence and murder, within the context of the police service, would have been in the year when I finally published "Bitten". It remains vitally important that we don't lose awareness that such crimes are happening in reality every day. Crime and horror writers have often been accused of glorifying violence and disrespecting victims. We do not do that - it is those who live in denial of these experiences that do so, relegating such offenders to monsters in the dark and forcing their victims into silence. We should never stop having these conversations and fiction is as valid a platform as any other from which to consider, discuss, debate, and, most importantly of all, remember and spread awareness.
In order to tell this story, it needed a strong central character. While she remained nameless for several months while I tried various names, PC Holleigh Ryder was always that character. Throughout "Bitten", we explore her progression in her career, her introverted but compassionate heart, her strength and vulnerability, and an insight into her desires and her pansexuality. She is perhaps one of my favourite characters whom I've created.
And what of the other characters? The mysterious Valentine Vampire? There will be no more spoilers from me. You'll just have to crawl under the covers and open the book for more nighttime exploration into this tale of murder, fear and desire...
___
A serial murder investigation draws near its conclusion. For seven years the killer has evaded capture, but the police finally have their prime suspect in custody – a man who claims to be a vampire over three hundred years old.
PC Holleigh Ryder is tasked with the most unsettling and challenging assignment of her career. All she wants is to get to the truth and achieve justice for the murdered women, but this has been no ordinary case and it is far from over.
The vampire has his own endgame in mind, one that may leave the police praying they had left the damned undisturbed in their graves.
*Note to Readers*
Contains descriptions of an explicit sexual and violent nature.
"You have the heart of a vampire. Your soul is as damned in your body as mine."
Preview the opening scene.
Available standalone ebook and paperback, or as part of the omnibus in ebook, paperback and hardcover. Grab your copy now!
Order "Bitten"
Order "Whispers from the Dead of Night - The Deluxe Collection"
Published on February 28, 2022 07:39
•
Tags:
bitten, erotic-thriller, erotica, horror, police-procedural, story-spotlight, thriller, vampires, whispers-from-the-dead-of-night
February 20, 2022
Peter James' Dead Tomorrow - Review

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Roy Grace investigates a sinister case of human organ trafficking.
A body is dredged from the depths of the English Channel, missing some of its vital organs, the removals surgical and more akin to a medical setting than would be expected. This is only the first body, launching a complex inquiry for Detective Superintendent Roy Grace and his team.
Meanwhile, in Romania, young, homeless teenagers find themselves in the sights of a group of organised criminals in the guise of good Samaritans. No one misses them; no one searches for them when they go missing - making them the perfect victims for human trafficking in all its forms.
Back in the UK, a teenage girl fights for her life as her liver disease takes its final turn for the worse, urgently requiring a transplant. Her mother becomes increasingly desperate as it becomes evermore unlikely her daughter's life can be saved. But when a lifeline is offered, she realises she is willing to do whatever it takes to save the life of her daughter.
'Dead Tomorrow' is the fifth novel in the Roy Grace series and it may just be my favourite so far. A complex crime thriller structured with interwoven narratives from the perspectives of the police, victims and criminals, it masterfully builds a portrait of the true horror of its core subject matter, making for an engrossing and fulfilling novel from the tantalising and traumatic opening chapters to a dramatic and truly emotional conclusion.
Taking place a matter of weeks after 'Dead Man's Footsteps', we are launched immediately back into Roy's life, both personal and professional. I particularly enjoy the ongoing narrative presented by the series - while each novel presents a different investigation, the characters' personal lives and the aftermath of recent investigations continue into the successive novels; a certain significant sub-plot continues to be seeded, as well as reference to a cold case which may prove significant in the next novel. The core characters of Roy, his friend and sergeant Glenn, and new girlfriend and mortuary technician Cleo, are now well-established and their ongoing stories as thrilling as the investigation itself.
The novel unflinchingly tackles its difficult themes, forcing the reader to challenge themselves with the same dilemmas as the characters as the story progresses. Aside from the main characters, the other key characters are also developed superbly - this could as equally be a standalone thriller as an entry in a series. Perhaps the most endearing and sympathetic of the characters was Caitlin, the incredibly brave and unwell teenage girl who puts many adults to shame through her courage and moral integrity despite all that she faces.
With each new entry, Peter James continues to build a police procedural series of the highest quality. With intricate attention to detail in police procedure and forensics, these novels are well-researched and psychologically authentic, as well as being riveting, entertaining thrillers with a dark edge. Along with the previous two books, this novel has been adapted for the upcoming second season of TV series 'Grace', starring John Simm; I'm eager to see how the talented team will have achieved the seemingly impossible task of adapting this story into a one-hundred minute film.
Gripping, moving, and deeply engrossing, 'Dead Tomorrow' is a superlative thriller that will stay with you long after the final pages.
View all my reviews
Visit me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on Instagram
Published on February 20, 2022 14:32
•
Tags:
organised-crime, peter-james, police-procedural, roy-grace, thriller