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When the Night Falls
Rocky Zukas lives with the ghosts of what happens when you fall in love with a monster. Lucky to be alive, Rocky roams his beachside hometown living on autopilot, waiting for life to start again.
November Riley has never been far from the boy that stole her heart. She watches from the shadows, knowing she can never make things right between them, but never giving up on the chance they could try one more time.
A new documentary is bringing Gabriel Riley, the Beach Night Killer, back to national consciousness. The dead serial killer has a trio of new fans that are ready to make Old Orchard Beach, Maine their home for the end of the summer season.
When the new strangers in town discover Rocky’s relationship to the past of one of their own, he becomes their number one target. Can November protect him, or will these other vampires prove too strong?
When the night falls, blood will spill, and death will reign.
November Riley has never been far from the boy that stole her heart. She watches from the shadows, knowing she can never make things right between them, but never giving up on the chance they could try one more time.
A new documentary is bringing Gabriel Riley, the Beach Night Killer, back to national consciousness. The dead serial killer has a trio of new fans that are ready to make Old Orchard Beach, Maine their home for the end of the summer season.
When the new strangers in town discover Rocky’s relationship to the past of one of their own, he becomes their number one target. Can November protect him, or will these other vampires prove too strong?
When the night falls, blood will spill, and death will reign.
240 pages, Paperback
Published June 11, 2024
9 people are currently reading
4041 people want to read
About the author
Glenn Rolfe
69 books619 followersGlenn Rolfe is a singer, songwriter, and author of over eighteen books. He has studied Creative Writing at Southern New Hampshire University, toured in a minivan with his punk rock friends, played the Hard Rock Cafe in Denver, hosted a radio show at Bates College, and dreams of surfing in the Pacific Ocean one day with his future pet goat.
He loves the books of Stephen King, Brian Keene, Ronald Malfi, Jack Ketchum, and Richard Laymon, the music of Bruce Springsteen, Oasis, Pre-Reputation Taylor Swift, Kiss, and Billy Joel, and soaking in the sun and eating pier fries at Old Orchard Beach.
His kids love him despite his weirdness, so who could ask for more?
He is hard at work on many more books and songs.
Stay tuned!
He is the author of When the Night Falls, Until Summer Comes Around, August's Eyes, Blood and Rain, The Window, and more. Stay tuned for his next thrilling Maine horror novel, The Siren of Groves Peak (2026)
Richard Chizmar, New York Times and USA Today Best Selling-Author of Gwendy’s Button Box, says of Rolfe’s Blood and Rain: “A wonderful throwback to the fun and bloody days of paperback horror glory!”
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
June 19, 2024
What a bloody good book! If you have not read a book by Glenn Rolfe, what are you waiting for? Seriously, what are you waiting for????? When the Night Falls is a sequel to Until Summer Comes Around and takes place ten years after the events in that book. This book worked brilliantly as a stand-alone book for me as I have not read Until Summer Comes Around. Rolfe provided enough backstory that I did not feel as if I were missing out on key material from the first book.
Old Orchard Beach, Maine
Who doesn’t enjoy being by the beach? The sound of the waves, the ocean air, the sun, and the vampires! Wait, what? Yes, vampires have come to Old Orchard Beach looking for Rocky Zukas. He was the final guy who survived the Beach Night Killer and the events in the first book. He did not come out unscathed, but he has endured and survived. He still thinks of November, a girl he had a relationship with in the first book in the series.
November keeps her distance, but she too, thinks of Rocky all the time. She keeps an eye on him, always watching...
Now the media and documentary makers want to hear/tell his story once again. He would rather have a beer and figure out his life now that he has quit his job in the fire department. I thought Rolfe did a great job showing Rocky as a man still coping with the traumatic events of the past, not wanting to talk about it, while at the same time not being able to escape it. He just wants to be left alone, but life and vampires are about to get in his way.
This book had a little bit of everything that I love in books. There is tension, mounting danger, love, atmosphere, nostalgia, and a sense of something being not quite right. The book oozes with unease, the lust for blood, the desire to survive, and the need for connection with others. Rolfe has created vampires that are not immortal, can go out anytime day or night, and walk amongst the townspeople and tourists undetected.
Who will be safe? Who will survive? You will have to read this to find out!
This book might not be your regular beach read, but you will want to take a bite out of this one! I loved the writing, the setting, the pacing, the nostalgic 90's references, the danger, and the bloody good scenes which may have some covering their eyes!
I love a good vampire book and Glenn Rolfe delivered with When the Night Falls!
Thank you to Glenn Rolfe who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
4.5 stars
Old Orchard Beach, Maine
Who doesn’t enjoy being by the beach? The sound of the waves, the ocean air, the sun, and the vampires! Wait, what? Yes, vampires have come to Old Orchard Beach looking for Rocky Zukas. He was the final guy who survived the Beach Night Killer and the events in the first book. He did not come out unscathed, but he has endured and survived. He still thinks of November, a girl he had a relationship with in the first book in the series.
November keeps her distance, but she too, thinks of Rocky all the time. She keeps an eye on him, always watching...
Now the media and documentary makers want to hear/tell his story once again. He would rather have a beer and figure out his life now that he has quit his job in the fire department. I thought Rolfe did a great job showing Rocky as a man still coping with the traumatic events of the past, not wanting to talk about it, while at the same time not being able to escape it. He just wants to be left alone, but life and vampires are about to get in his way.
This book had a little bit of everything that I love in books. There is tension, mounting danger, love, atmosphere, nostalgia, and a sense of something being not quite right. The book oozes with unease, the lust for blood, the desire to survive, and the need for connection with others. Rolfe has created vampires that are not immortal, can go out anytime day or night, and walk amongst the townspeople and tourists undetected.
Who will be safe? Who will survive? You will have to read this to find out!
This book might not be your regular beach read, but you will want to take a bite out of this one! I loved the writing, the setting, the pacing, the nostalgic 90's references, the danger, and the bloody good scenes which may have some covering their eyes!
I love a good vampire book and Glenn Rolfe delivered with When the Night Falls!
Thank you to Glenn Rolfe who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
4.5 stars
September 15, 2024
This was a bloody good time! 4/4.5 stars
When the Night Falls is the sequel to Until Summer Comes Around and I really enjoyed this one!
Going back to Old Orchard Beach (OOB) but set in the 90’s was a fun reading experience. It confirms why I like books set during this time period due to nostalgia.
I was in high school and then college in the 90s. I’m showing my age! 👀🤣
I think you could read this as a stand alone but you’ll miss some of the character dynamics and history of Rocky and November by not reading Until Summer Comes Around first.
I like how this sequel introduces us to new vampire baddies while showing the danger they are to OOB.
As people start going missing AGAIN, Rocky struggles to grasp what's going on, why it's happening, plus being pissed off about a new documentary of the Beach Night Killer.
The documentary goes back to the summer of 1985. While Rocky and November are falling in love, they are also battling a blood thirsty and ruthless killer.
Does OOB now have a copycat on their hands?!
I wanted a bit more of Rocky and November in the first half of the book but I still enjoyed how Glenn Rolfe ramps up the danger to the community in that first half.
This sequel is even more bloody, deadly and darker than the first one. I really enjoyed Rolfe ramping up the gore and chaos with this sequel!
And that ending? Loved it and glad he went this way with it!
If you are a fan of vampire tales, give this sequel and the prequel a try. I think you'll have a fun experience with both books!
When the Night Falls is the sequel to Until Summer Comes Around and I really enjoyed this one!
Going back to Old Orchard Beach (OOB) but set in the 90’s was a fun reading experience. It confirms why I like books set during this time period due to nostalgia.
I was in high school and then college in the 90s. I’m showing my age! 👀🤣
I think you could read this as a stand alone but you’ll miss some of the character dynamics and history of Rocky and November by not reading Until Summer Comes Around first.
I like how this sequel introduces us to new vampire baddies while showing the danger they are to OOB.
As people start going missing AGAIN, Rocky struggles to grasp what's going on, why it's happening, plus being pissed off about a new documentary of the Beach Night Killer.
The documentary goes back to the summer of 1985. While Rocky and November are falling in love, they are also battling a blood thirsty and ruthless killer.
Does OOB now have a copycat on their hands?!
I wanted a bit more of Rocky and November in the first half of the book but I still enjoyed how Glenn Rolfe ramps up the danger to the community in that first half.
This sequel is even more bloody, deadly and darker than the first one. I really enjoyed Rolfe ramping up the gore and chaos with this sequel!
And that ending? Loved it and glad he went this way with it!
If you are a fan of vampire tales, give this sequel and the prequel a try. I think you'll have a fun experience with both books!
September 17, 2024
Small Town Vamp Horror!
Small backstory:
Orchard Beach, Maine is finally getting back to some kind of normal after the murders that happened there ten years before. Though it has been ten years Rocky Zukas still has that memory of what happened to him and the summer love he had as well with the girl, November.
Now the town is being invaded by news people who want to do a documentary about the murders and all the old evils are slamming back into the town of what took place there. That is not the only thing invading his beloved town as vampires are back as well and they are not done with Rocky at all nor are they done with the town!
That is about all I can hand out with a small backstory without giving away spoilers so if you want to know more then go read this book!
Thoughts:
This was a great sequel to the book Until Summer Comes Around as it took me back into the midst of the town, the characters and the drive down memory lane with 80's and 90's cultural mentions. This story also pulls on the heart strings as well besides having quite a bit of blood gushing through the story.
The pacing was perfect as it slowly pulls you back into the world of these characters and the town. There was tension, mystery, suspense, and lots of blood that kept me glued to my seat and to my kindle! Giving this book five "Lethal Vampire" stars!
Small backstory:
Orchard Beach, Maine is finally getting back to some kind of normal after the murders that happened there ten years before. Though it has been ten years Rocky Zukas still has that memory of what happened to him and the summer love he had as well with the girl, November.
Now the town is being invaded by news people who want to do a documentary about the murders and all the old evils are slamming back into the town of what took place there. That is not the only thing invading his beloved town as vampires are back as well and they are not done with Rocky at all nor are they done with the town!
That is about all I can hand out with a small backstory without giving away spoilers so if you want to know more then go read this book!
Thoughts:
This was a great sequel to the book Until Summer Comes Around as it took me back into the midst of the town, the characters and the drive down memory lane with 80's and 90's cultural mentions. This story also pulls on the heart strings as well besides having quite a bit of blood gushing through the story.
The pacing was perfect as it slowly pulls you back into the world of these characters and the town. There was tension, mystery, suspense, and lots of blood that kept me glued to my seat and to my kindle! Giving this book five "Lethal Vampire" stars!
April 27, 2025
I have yet to read a Glenn Rolfe book and not have a great time doing so. And this book is no exception for me! When I read Until Summer Comes Around, it was my favorite of 2020, and I still think about it today. When I found out a sequel was coming out this year, I was definitely in for it. The setting for these books in the 80’s and 90’s hits the nostalgia sweet spot for me and really adds to my enjoyment. Lots of overt references and even some not so obvious ones as well making it fun. I enjoyed the characters, the story itself and the somewhat unique take on vampires. For me, I’m rating it 4.5/5.0 stars and can’t recommend it enough for vampire fans or horror fans in general. I do recommend reading Until Summer Comes Around first but really, you could get away without doing that if you really wanted.
May 10, 2024
This highly anticipated sequel to Until Summer Comes Around takes place ten years after the most momentous summer of Rocky's life.
Things have settled down in Old Orchard Beach in the years since the murders. The tourists are back as usual, and Rocky lives a mostly quiet life, dealing as best he can with the knowledge that monsters are real, and that the first and only girl he ever loved was one of them.
Now, ten years later, a documentary about the murders brings back that pain and a slew of pests that want to interview Rocky as the survivor of the massacre that rocked the town. Rumors and speculation that the killer may have been a vampire and might not have been alone have caught the eye of more than just reporters. Now people are going missing and Rocky may face a fight for his life again.
The vampires Glenn Rolfe has created are not immortal, nor are they confined to the darkness. They are a fresh original take on what we all think we know from movies. They don't kill just for survival but for the sheer thrill and enjoyment of it, and they walk among us in the sun. You may even spot one on the beach this summer waiting in line at the concession stand, but you'll only know once you feel the bite. When The Night Falls is the perfect summer read. It's brutal, deadly, and sexy in all the right ways with the perfect 90s vibe.
5 out of 5 stars
My thanks to the author for the advance copy.
Things have settled down in Old Orchard Beach in the years since the murders. The tourists are back as usual, and Rocky lives a mostly quiet life, dealing as best he can with the knowledge that monsters are real, and that the first and only girl he ever loved was one of them.
Now, ten years later, a documentary about the murders brings back that pain and a slew of pests that want to interview Rocky as the survivor of the massacre that rocked the town. Rumors and speculation that the killer may have been a vampire and might not have been alone have caught the eye of more than just reporters. Now people are going missing and Rocky may face a fight for his life again.
The vampires Glenn Rolfe has created are not immortal, nor are they confined to the darkness. They are a fresh original take on what we all think we know from movies. They don't kill just for survival but for the sheer thrill and enjoyment of it, and they walk among us in the sun. You may even spot one on the beach this summer waiting in line at the concession stand, but you'll only know once you feel the bite. When The Night Falls is the perfect summer read. It's brutal, deadly, and sexy in all the right ways with the perfect 90s vibe.
5 out of 5 stars
My thanks to the author for the advance copy.
September 17, 2024
Four paws 🐾 for this wonderful vampire novel ฅ՞•ﻌ•՞ฅ !
If you were born prior to the 90's, prepare for some major nostalgia with this one. ʕっ•ᴥ•ʔっ This is a bloody, engaging, vampiric, time-capsule!
If you were born prior to the 90's, prepare for some major nostalgia with this one. ʕっ•ᴥ•ʔっ This is a bloody, engaging, vampiric, time-capsule!
June 7, 2024
A sequel to Rolfe's Until Summer Comes Around, When the Night Falls picks up ten years later, giving the first installment room to breathe, room to grow off the page, and this story is stronger for it. Old Orchard Beach lives, breathes, and wants for blood under Rolfe's expert building, as he pans the reader around the town in a manner reminiscent of Salem's Lot. With the author's trademark blood, guts, and sex, complicit with a fair amount to say about true crime and the past, When the Night Falls is a worthy sequel to a fan-favorite 2020 novel.
June 17, 2024
Ten years on from 'Until Summer Comes Around' Rocky is still in his hometown trying to live a life as normal as he can, even though he knows monsters and vampires are real. November Riley can only watch on, hoping that one day they can start again and have trust. The TV have decided they want to do a documentary on the Beach Night Killer, and everything that has happened and how things are now in the town. They want to interview Rocky when they find out that he was part of what went on, but will Rocky want to rake everything back up? Will this make him safe and will November be able to protect him? I found this book easy to read, even though it was a bit dark in places. If you love vampires and horrors this is a book for you.
July 18, 2024
Having read and loved Until Summer Comes Around, I could not wait to pick this one up. I do love a modern vampire tale. In this case, modern being the nineties. I couldn’t wait to see what my favourite characters had been up to since we left them. This book is a fast-paced thrill ride. Rolfe doesn’t waste any time getting into the action and the body count in this one is insane. Great storytelling, with some great characters, and Rolfe being the fan of Richard Laymon that he clearly is, he even slipped in a few rumps. Great book. Highly recommended, but read book 1 first.
Read
July 2, 2024A different kind of vampire
This was a decent read. The storyline regarding the vampires was different and made the whole novel more interesting. There is a lot of bloodshed and lots of twists so keep you entertained. The characters are great and you learn about all of them. Well written, easy to read and exciting. Recommended
This was a decent read. The storyline regarding the vampires was different and made the whole novel more interesting. There is a lot of bloodshed and lots of twists so keep you entertained. The characters are great and you learn about all of them. Well written, easy to read and exciting. Recommended
June 9, 2024
A group of vampires descend upon a beach town after a documentary airs about the killings that took place there years ago. These vampires seem set on getting to Rocky, and leave a large body count in their wake. When the Night Falls is the sequel to the beach town vampire story Until Summer Comes Around. This time the story is a little bit darker and a little bit bloodier. It takes place in the 1990s with plenty of fun nods to the decade to set time and place. I would highly recommend this series to fans of vampire stories. These are fast fun reads for summer.
I received a copy for review through NetGalley.
I received a copy for review through NetGalley.
July 21, 2024
I give When The Night Falls a good score of 4⭐ a raw nostalgic horror ride that will leave you guessing. I enjoyed the build up nearly as much as the main event, a strong piece of writing from Glenn Rolfe and I will definitely look for more and you could say I’m hooked.
July 29, 2024
I did not even know this was a sequel when i started readinng it, but that did not keep me from enjoying the story. I did feel like i was missing a couple thigns but the story mostly wotked as a stand alone too! Loved how bloody and ruthless all of the vampires were. No one was safe and bodies were being slung left and right
March 14, 2025
A great sequel to Until summer comes around! Somewhat sad outcome, but man, this makes me hunger for the next sequel! Let's hope we won't have to wait too long. And: this could be an more than excellent summer flick!
April 21, 2024
Very rarely do I give a book 5 stars, and very rarely do I like a sequel as much as the first one. This book absolutely blew me away. It was great to meet up with Rocky again. A little older just kind of existing in life with November always at the edge of his mind. The murders start again after a documentary airs about Gabriel Riley, the infamous serial killer that started it all. There were so many moments in this book that I was like "No Glenn didn't!" But yes, yes, he did! I don't know too many authors who could pull off what he did in this book, but he did it flawlessly. And that ending, though! Definitely a must-read to see if Rocky can save November or if they can save each other.
June 24, 2024
This was a fun and great read and a reminder of how vampire stories should be like!!
We're in the 90s and Rocky is trying to survive a love story that cost him more than he could have ever imagined and that left a trail of dead bodies at the hand of the Beach Night Killer.
With a resurgence in interest for the serial killer story due to a documentary, his little town suddenly has a déjà vu and again Rocky finds himself in the middle of something bigger than him.
Are there bad or good vampires? This is the conundrum I was left with after reading this book and that left me wanting for more of Rocky's story, especially after that ending.
The vampires in this book are bloody, thirsty and power hungry and not even daylight is safe. And that's how I like them.
This is a read I'd recommend for those still remembering The Lost Boys with nostalgia and that love a light but good vampire story!
Thanks to the author, Flame Tree Press and Random Things Tours for a copy and this is my honest opinion.
We're in the 90s and Rocky is trying to survive a love story that cost him more than he could have ever imagined and that left a trail of dead bodies at the hand of the Beach Night Killer.
With a resurgence in interest for the serial killer story due to a documentary, his little town suddenly has a déjà vu and again Rocky finds himself in the middle of something bigger than him.
Are there bad or good vampires? This is the conundrum I was left with after reading this book and that left me wanting for more of Rocky's story, especially after that ending.
The vampires in this book are bloody, thirsty and power hungry and not even daylight is safe. And that's how I like them.
This is a read I'd recommend for those still remembering The Lost Boys with nostalgia and that love a light but good vampire story!
Thanks to the author, Flame Tree Press and Random Things Tours for a copy and this is my honest opinion.
October 9, 2024
3.5 rounded up.
May 13, 2024
*Huge thanks to Netgalley & Flame Tree Press for the digital ARC!*
Ahhhhh… sequels.
The seemingly expected follow up to every novel.
At least it seems that way. That every author writes a novel and then must write a sequel, especially when readers love that first book to pieces. It’s a position every author who has written something finds themselves in and sometimes there’s more. Sometimes there’s not. And sometimes an idea isn’t there until it is.
Back in 2020, Glenn released his novel ‘Until Summer Comes Around,’ which was a fantastic riff on 80’s nostalgia and vampire fiction. We had Rocky, a teenaged main character who we instantly all clicked with and we had the emergence of bodies being found and sinister forces at work.
Glenn himself said that he thought that was going to be a singular release… until it wasn’t. And when the new idea clicked and things fell into place, voila, the sequel arrived.
Now, can Glenn follow up that fantastic story with a new entry?
I was excited to find out.
What I liked: Ten years after the events of book one, Rocky is just trying to live as normal as a life as he can. Gone is the back brace and now, he’s working as a firefighter. Until he isn’t. One day he’s there, the next gone, wanting to switch up his life and figure out where to go next. That is, until word comes that a TV station is planning on doing a ten-year anniversary special about the killings, even after Rocky refused to be involved and threatened them with a lawsuit if they went ahead with it.
The set up is great, and knowing the way Glenn crafts his stories, we see the weight of the events sitting heavy on Rocky. He still loves November, even if it is complicated, and he compares every new woman in his life to her. Is it a case of teenage love remembered through foggy glasses? Could be. But Rolfe does a great job of playing those emotions off each other well. November is still there, still lurking and still has feelings for Rocky.
The town is as vibrant as ever and its that familiarity that sets us readers at ease, even as Rolfe starts to spray the blood and sully the streets. Action comes fast and furious and we go from a coming-of-age remembrance piece to a full on Blade movie level of carnage quick.
One aspect that I think works really well, is that Glenn’s vampires can move about during the day and are not immortal. Those two aspects tend to fully shape and guide most vampire stories, but these adjustments work so very well to ramp up the tensions and not let anyone have a moment to relax.
The ending of this one is emotionally spot on. Don’t get me wrong, Glenn plays with our emotions throughout – perfectly I might add – but the ending works to close several chapters, answer questions and ultimately wrap things up. Does this mean there will be more? Never say never, but if this is where we end Rocky’s story, it’s a mighty find ending.
What I didn’t like: I think, personally, the 80’s nostalgia worked very well in book one, but the 90s aspects didn’t shine through as much as I thought they would in comparison. It could’ve been a way for Glenn to make this try to be timeless, or it could’ve been a case of me reading a bunch of books lately all set around that time period, but it didn’t highlight the story like the 80’s did in book one.
Why you should buy this: If you’re a fan of Glenn’s you’ll be all over this. If you loved book one, you’ll be all over this. If you love vampire fiction you’ll be all over this. Can this be read as a stand alone? Yes-ish, though reading book one and book two back to back would be a really great way to dive into this story. Overall, Glenn has once again created a vibrant place, with vibrant people and then ripped them to shreds. And really, that’s exactly what we’ve come to expect from Glenn.
Ahhhhh… sequels.
The seemingly expected follow up to every novel.
At least it seems that way. That every author writes a novel and then must write a sequel, especially when readers love that first book to pieces. It’s a position every author who has written something finds themselves in and sometimes there’s more. Sometimes there’s not. And sometimes an idea isn’t there until it is.
Back in 2020, Glenn released his novel ‘Until Summer Comes Around,’ which was a fantastic riff on 80’s nostalgia and vampire fiction. We had Rocky, a teenaged main character who we instantly all clicked with and we had the emergence of bodies being found and sinister forces at work.
Glenn himself said that he thought that was going to be a singular release… until it wasn’t. And when the new idea clicked and things fell into place, voila, the sequel arrived.
Now, can Glenn follow up that fantastic story with a new entry?
I was excited to find out.
What I liked: Ten years after the events of book one, Rocky is just trying to live as normal as a life as he can. Gone is the back brace and now, he’s working as a firefighter. Until he isn’t. One day he’s there, the next gone, wanting to switch up his life and figure out where to go next. That is, until word comes that a TV station is planning on doing a ten-year anniversary special about the killings, even after Rocky refused to be involved and threatened them with a lawsuit if they went ahead with it.
The set up is great, and knowing the way Glenn crafts his stories, we see the weight of the events sitting heavy on Rocky. He still loves November, even if it is complicated, and he compares every new woman in his life to her. Is it a case of teenage love remembered through foggy glasses? Could be. But Rolfe does a great job of playing those emotions off each other well. November is still there, still lurking and still has feelings for Rocky.
The town is as vibrant as ever and its that familiarity that sets us readers at ease, even as Rolfe starts to spray the blood and sully the streets. Action comes fast and furious and we go from a coming-of-age remembrance piece to a full on Blade movie level of carnage quick.
One aspect that I think works really well, is that Glenn’s vampires can move about during the day and are not immortal. Those two aspects tend to fully shape and guide most vampire stories, but these adjustments work so very well to ramp up the tensions and not let anyone have a moment to relax.
The ending of this one is emotionally spot on. Don’t get me wrong, Glenn plays with our emotions throughout – perfectly I might add – but the ending works to close several chapters, answer questions and ultimately wrap things up. Does this mean there will be more? Never say never, but if this is where we end Rocky’s story, it’s a mighty find ending.
What I didn’t like: I think, personally, the 80’s nostalgia worked very well in book one, but the 90s aspects didn’t shine through as much as I thought they would in comparison. It could’ve been a way for Glenn to make this try to be timeless, or it could’ve been a case of me reading a bunch of books lately all set around that time period, but it didn’t highlight the story like the 80’s did in book one.
Why you should buy this: If you’re a fan of Glenn’s you’ll be all over this. If you loved book one, you’ll be all over this. If you love vampire fiction you’ll be all over this. Can this be read as a stand alone? Yes-ish, though reading book one and book two back to back would be a really great way to dive into this story. Overall, Glenn has once again created a vibrant place, with vibrant people and then ripped them to shreds. And really, that’s exactly what we’ve come to expect from Glenn.
April 20, 2024
This is now my #1 Vampire book series....knocked 'Salem's Lot' out of number 1 for me.
*PLEASE NOTE*
With this being a sequel to the authors 2020 coming of age horror book 'Until Summer Comes Along', and though I will NOT be giving away spoilers, I would NOT read this if you have not read the first book. Now onto my review.
I was one of the lucky ones to have gotten an ARC of this book sent to me from Glenn, and this
in NO WAY influences this review. All of my book reviews either here or on my BookTube Channel on Youtube; Nightmares, Anyone? are honest and how I felt about the book being reviewed.
It is now 10 years after the summer of 1986 when 15 year old Rocky Zukas first met a mysterious and very beautifully strange girl by the name of November. Now a young adult and working on the Old Orchard Beach fire department, he can tell someone new is in town. He also can tell that someone he knew when he was 15 is also back in town....he feels and knows November is back.
With a new television night time News Documentary about the Beach Night Killer; Gabriel Riley coming out, the town is all busy with people obsessed with the serial killer and his victims. And there are 3 very dark and creepy strangers among them. Their names are Vincent, Fiona, and Kat and they are not your normal tourists. They are vampires.
Rocky still misses and thinks of November all the time, but when he meets Kat she suddenly becomes his new summer obsession. Is there something about her mysterious personality or is Rocky starting another horror and blood filled Summer when he will have to become a vampire killer again? This book was actually better than it's predecessor, and once again this characters story made me tear up once more. Though 25 is NOT the same as when we were 15, however we were still easily taken by someone that we thought was both beautiful and creepy and strangely different. The town of Old Orchard Beach Maine, could easily be any town, and that is what makes these two books SO great! The scenes of bleeding, and turning in this novel is a lot more graphic this time around....but the part that I think I loved the most is how Glenn Rolfe makes them travel. I will not give anything away; but be ready it is so uniquely done, and almost elegantly arousing in a weird way. Is Rocky able to pick up where he and November left off? Who will be the survivors, if any, this time around?
With the story taking place in the 90's it was so cool to go back to owning a Sony Disc Man, and the tunes of Erasure, Depeche Mode and the Motels. And Rolfe takes you back there so easily, that you are never going to forget Rocky, Vincent, Kat, Fiona and especially November. Phenomenal read(s) about those creatures we all fear inside, and I know I am so grateful that they are NOT real. Or ARE vampires real?
Thanks again so much to Glenn Rolfe for letting me pre read this before it's June 11th, 2024 release date. If you can, pick them both up and read them back to back....that is the way to do it! Get ready for some gory ass blood letting. And welcome to Old Orchard Beach; Maine.
Highly recommended for that horror lover who is not afraid of BLOOD and bodily horror. I loved this book!.
5 🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸
*PLEASE NOTE*
With this being a sequel to the authors 2020 coming of age horror book 'Until Summer Comes Along', and though I will NOT be giving away spoilers, I would NOT read this if you have not read the first book. Now onto my review.
I was one of the lucky ones to have gotten an ARC of this book sent to me from Glenn, and this
in NO WAY influences this review. All of my book reviews either here or on my BookTube Channel on Youtube; Nightmares, Anyone? are honest and how I felt about the book being reviewed.
It is now 10 years after the summer of 1986 when 15 year old Rocky Zukas first met a mysterious and very beautifully strange girl by the name of November. Now a young adult and working on the Old Orchard Beach fire department, he can tell someone new is in town. He also can tell that someone he knew when he was 15 is also back in town....he feels and knows November is back.
With a new television night time News Documentary about the Beach Night Killer; Gabriel Riley coming out, the town is all busy with people obsessed with the serial killer and his victims. And there are 3 very dark and creepy strangers among them. Their names are Vincent, Fiona, and Kat and they are not your normal tourists. They are vampires.
Rocky still misses and thinks of November all the time, but when he meets Kat she suddenly becomes his new summer obsession. Is there something about her mysterious personality or is Rocky starting another horror and blood filled Summer when he will have to become a vampire killer again? This book was actually better than it's predecessor, and once again this characters story made me tear up once more. Though 25 is NOT the same as when we were 15, however we were still easily taken by someone that we thought was both beautiful and creepy and strangely different. The town of Old Orchard Beach Maine, could easily be any town, and that is what makes these two books SO great! The scenes of bleeding, and turning in this novel is a lot more graphic this time around....but the part that I think I loved the most is how Glenn Rolfe makes them travel. I will not give anything away; but be ready it is so uniquely done, and almost elegantly arousing in a weird way. Is Rocky able to pick up where he and November left off? Who will be the survivors, if any, this time around?
With the story taking place in the 90's it was so cool to go back to owning a Sony Disc Man, and the tunes of Erasure, Depeche Mode and the Motels. And Rolfe takes you back there so easily, that you are never going to forget Rocky, Vincent, Kat, Fiona and especially November. Phenomenal read(s) about those creatures we all fear inside, and I know I am so grateful that they are NOT real. Or ARE vampires real?
Thanks again so much to Glenn Rolfe for letting me pre read this before it's June 11th, 2024 release date. If you can, pick them both up and read them back to back....that is the way to do it! Get ready for some gory ass blood letting. And welcome to Old Orchard Beach; Maine.
Highly recommended for that horror lover who is not afraid of BLOOD and bodily horror. I loved this book!.
5 🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸
May 28, 2024
🧛♀️🌙 𝙒𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙉𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙁𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙨
It’s safe to say that I won’t ever pass up any Glenn Rolfe book that I can get my hands on…this is the follow up to 𝘜𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭 𝘚𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘳 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘈𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥. If you’ve read that one, you KNOW that a follow up has a LOT to live up to, and this one certainly did it!!!
I was so excited to get back to Old Orchard Beach, where the vampires roam and where Rocky “lives with the ghosts of what happens when you fall in love with a monster”. Things have settled a bit from the summer that almost took Rocky’s life…the summer he gave his heart to November Riley. Gabriel Riley, her brother, is at the heart of a new documentary about the Beach Night Killer, and new “fans” have flocked to the area to see just what this story is all about. Now, there’s a new danger afoot for Rocky; he has become the number one target of the new strangers in town. Now it’s up to November to protect him…but can she? Or are these new vampires in town too strong for her to defeat?
I absolutely wholeheartedly dig the 90s vibes, and the vampires that aren’t like any you’ve read about or seen…they can inhabit more than just the dark shadows of nightfall, and they aren’t immortal beings. Andddd they have personality…you want to hate them, I mean, you really do, but you just can’t. These new bloodsuckers don’t have much compassion left in their bones, but somehow, you just still connect to them. It’s takes a very strong writer to make you like the characters that are supposed to be unlikeable.
I don’t know how Rolfe does it, but this installment may be better than the first. 🫣 Seriously…this book is a coming of age story, but also a superbly written horror. Glenn Rolfe is one writer not to sleep on. I REALLY don’t want to give away too much of the story, so I tried to stay somewhat vague, but yeahhh, pick this up!!! And if you haven’t read the first one, grab it first. 😉 You’ll thank me later!
🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤/5
It’s safe to say that I won’t ever pass up any Glenn Rolfe book that I can get my hands on…this is the follow up to 𝘜𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭 𝘚𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘳 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘈𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥. If you’ve read that one, you KNOW that a follow up has a LOT to live up to, and this one certainly did it!!!
I was so excited to get back to Old Orchard Beach, where the vampires roam and where Rocky “lives with the ghosts of what happens when you fall in love with a monster”. Things have settled a bit from the summer that almost took Rocky’s life…the summer he gave his heart to November Riley. Gabriel Riley, her brother, is at the heart of a new documentary about the Beach Night Killer, and new “fans” have flocked to the area to see just what this story is all about. Now, there’s a new danger afoot for Rocky; he has become the number one target of the new strangers in town. Now it’s up to November to protect him…but can she? Or are these new vampires in town too strong for her to defeat?
I absolutely wholeheartedly dig the 90s vibes, and the vampires that aren’t like any you’ve read about or seen…they can inhabit more than just the dark shadows of nightfall, and they aren’t immortal beings. Andddd they have personality…you want to hate them, I mean, you really do, but you just can’t. These new bloodsuckers don’t have much compassion left in their bones, but somehow, you just still connect to them. It’s takes a very strong writer to make you like the characters that are supposed to be unlikeable.
I don’t know how Rolfe does it, but this installment may be better than the first. 🫣 Seriously…this book is a coming of age story, but also a superbly written horror. Glenn Rolfe is one writer not to sleep on. I REALLY don’t want to give away too much of the story, so I tried to stay somewhat vague, but yeahhh, pick this up!!! And if you haven’t read the first one, grab it first. 😉 You’ll thank me later!
🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤/5
June 13, 2024
Here is my review for When The Night Falls by Glen Rolfe
I got into this great book straight from the start and just loved it. It’s a proper vampire story with all the blood and the gore but it’s written properly just like how horror writers used to write and this has a really good story to go with it. I was enthralled by the story and found that I couldn’t put the book down as I just wanted to carry on reading. The writing is excellent and the plotting is superb. The storyline is great too. Really keeps you hooked and reading the book. I haven’t heard of this author before but I will be reading his books again especially if they are horror.
Blurb :
Rocky Zukas lives with the ghosts of what happens when you fall in love with a monster. Lucky to be alive, Rocky roams his beachside hometown living on autopilot, waiting for life to start again.
November Riley has never been far from the boy that stole her heart. She watches from the shadows, knowing she can never make things right between them, but never giving up on the chance they could try one more time.
A new documentary is bringing Gabriel Riley, the Beach Night Killer, back to national consciousness. The dead serial killer has a trio of new fans that are ready to make Old Orchard Beach, Maine their home for the end of the summer season.
When the new strangers in town discover Rocky’s relationship to the past of one of their own, he becomes their number one target. Can November protect him, or will these other vampires prove too strong?
When the night falls, blood will spill, and death will reign.
I got into this great book straight from the start and just loved it. It’s a proper vampire story with all the blood and the gore but it’s written properly just like how horror writers used to write and this has a really good story to go with it. I was enthralled by the story and found that I couldn’t put the book down as I just wanted to carry on reading. The writing is excellent and the plotting is superb. The storyline is great too. Really keeps you hooked and reading the book. I haven’t heard of this author before but I will be reading his books again especially if they are horror.
Blurb :
Rocky Zukas lives with the ghosts of what happens when you fall in love with a monster. Lucky to be alive, Rocky roams his beachside hometown living on autopilot, waiting for life to start again.
November Riley has never been far from the boy that stole her heart. She watches from the shadows, knowing she can never make things right between them, but never giving up on the chance they could try one more time.
A new documentary is bringing Gabriel Riley, the Beach Night Killer, back to national consciousness. The dead serial killer has a trio of new fans that are ready to make Old Orchard Beach, Maine their home for the end of the summer season.
When the new strangers in town discover Rocky’s relationship to the past of one of their own, he becomes their number one target. Can November protect him, or will these other vampires prove too strong?
When the night falls, blood will spill, and death will reign.
February 17, 2025
Yes, I wrote this book. Yes, I give it 5 stars. I love it. :)
This is the sequel to Until Summer Comes Around. When I finished writing that book, I never thought I'd come back to these characters. BUT I'm so glad that I did. Readers had asked me a bunch of times if there was going to be a sequel and I always said, "I don't think so." Then, one night at work I thought what if Netflix did a documentary series about Gabriel Riley (the Beach Night Killer) and the killings that took place during the first book? And that doc brought attention to my little beach town. And what if some monsters saw that doc and wanted to travel to Old Orchard Beach to find out if there was any truth about "vampire" rumors connected to Gabriel Riley?
I started outlining the book and within two work shifts, I had the story. Funny thing though, I had to change it to an NBC special doc series, because it takes place in 1996 and there was no Netflix yet.
This one is a little bloodier and a lot darker than the first book, but it still has just as much heart. I loved getting to hang out with Rocky and November again, and the other characters that showed up in here are awesome, too.
Sequels are tricky, and there is room for more adventures in this world should the right idea hit me. Does that mean we'll be back? Never say never.
This is the sequel to Until Summer Comes Around. When I finished writing that book, I never thought I'd come back to these characters. BUT I'm so glad that I did. Readers had asked me a bunch of times if there was going to be a sequel and I always said, "I don't think so." Then, one night at work I thought what if Netflix did a documentary series about Gabriel Riley (the Beach Night Killer) and the killings that took place during the first book? And that doc brought attention to my little beach town. And what if some monsters saw that doc and wanted to travel to Old Orchard Beach to find out if there was any truth about "vampire" rumors connected to Gabriel Riley?
I started outlining the book and within two work shifts, I had the story. Funny thing though, I had to change it to an NBC special doc series, because it takes place in 1996 and there was no Netflix yet.
This one is a little bloodier and a lot darker than the first book, but it still has just as much heart. I loved getting to hang out with Rocky and November again, and the other characters that showed up in here are awesome, too.
Sequels are tricky, and there is room for more adventures in this world should the right idea hit me. Does that mean we'll be back? Never say never.
June 20, 2024
Glenn Rolfe delivers a snappy, pulp-paperback inspired vampire story full of blood, sex and gore.
The story follows Rocky Zukas, one-time vampire slayer and the sole survivor of a series of killings years earlier, who finds his past cast back into the spotlight following the release of a new documentary.
Worse still, it coincides with a new trail of bodies after a trio of new vampires move into town and start the horror show afresh.
Much like a solid B-grade horror film, it's an enjoyable if disposable romp that seeks to entertain first and foremost.
The characters are fairly well drawn and the action zips along nicely. It's the type of novel that's easy to digest in a sitting or two - one you may forget most of when you are done but that's OK because the ride was fun.
The story follows Rocky Zukas, one-time vampire slayer and the sole survivor of a series of killings years earlier, who finds his past cast back into the spotlight following the release of a new documentary.
Worse still, it coincides with a new trail of bodies after a trio of new vampires move into town and start the horror show afresh.
Much like a solid B-grade horror film, it's an enjoyable if disposable romp that seeks to entertain first and foremost.
The characters are fairly well drawn and the action zips along nicely. It's the type of novel that's easy to digest in a sitting or two - one you may forget most of when you are done but that's OK because the ride was fun.
May 22, 2024
When the Night Falls is the best type of sequel. Similar to each new season of Dexter, reading this book reacquaints you with old friends, people that feel real and who you've longed to see again. This time, Rocky from Until Summer Comes Around is older but still haunted by his experiences with November, a vampire who he fell in love with.
There are other vampires in town. I enjoyed the relationship between the three main vampires, Vincent, Fiona, and Kat. Unlike November, these vampires are scarier, less kind vampires. Yet even they get stories that make you care about the characters, even if they aren't people you'd like to meet in real life. Again, like Dexter.
This story is one of Rolfe's better works. It's highly recommended.
There are other vampires in town. I enjoyed the relationship between the three main vampires, Vincent, Fiona, and Kat. Unlike November, these vampires are scarier, less kind vampires. Yet even they get stories that make you care about the characters, even if they aren't people you'd like to meet in real life. Again, like Dexter.
This story is one of Rolfe's better works. It's highly recommended.
June 20, 2024
This author is a new read for me but I've now got quite a collection of books from this publisher who have reintroduced the horror genre that I loved when I was younger, to my shelves.
This book is actually a sequel to Until Summer Comes Around, which I've sadly not read - but to be quite honest, I think that this read ok still as a standalone.
When I say this, obviously it would be far better to read them in order - where I feel I'd have had a much better grasp on the character development and definitely the original events and relationship between Rocky and November.
But in general the documentary did help full in some of the gaps from the past murders.
The characters still managed to entice and it was easy to really feel for Rocky.
I especially loved this new take on the Vampire community.
We have all seen/read so much vampire fiction that all tend to have a similar mould - but here Rolfe has them stand out in the open, living among us night or day.
I really enjoyed seeing this which made for a refreshing change.
The writing was engaging and I was totally hooked throughout.
Not my usual spine chilling thriller, but a good dose of gruesome events, blood and darkness.
It wasn't a small book, but I raced through this at speed and will definitely have to go back and read the first book too.
This book is actually a sequel to Until Summer Comes Around, which I've sadly not read - but to be quite honest, I think that this read ok still as a standalone.
When I say this, obviously it would be far better to read them in order - where I feel I'd have had a much better grasp on the character development and definitely the original events and relationship between Rocky and November.
But in general the documentary did help full in some of the gaps from the past murders.
The characters still managed to entice and it was easy to really feel for Rocky.
I especially loved this new take on the Vampire community.
We have all seen/read so much vampire fiction that all tend to have a similar mould - but here Rolfe has them stand out in the open, living among us night or day.
I really enjoyed seeing this which made for a refreshing change.
The writing was engaging and I was totally hooked throughout.
Not my usual spine chilling thriller, but a good dose of gruesome events, blood and darkness.
It wasn't a small book, but I raced through this at speed and will definitely have to go back and read the first book too.
June 18, 2024
Turns out, this is a sequel to Until Summer Comes Around – which I hadn’t read but decided to read now that I’m reading this one. And I’m glad I did, because it makes so much sense when you have read the first book too.
If you love horror, then this most definitely is a book duo that is worth looking at.
It is weird, it is gory, it is action-packed, and it is a fast-paced page-turner of blood everywhere.
If you love horror, then this most definitely is a book duo that is worth looking at.
It is weird, it is gory, it is action-packed, and it is a fast-paced page-turner of blood everywhere.
June 30, 2024
All that needs to be said is that it is a vampire novel by Glenn Rolfe. Just read it.
For a full review, please go to https://areviewerdarkly.blogspot.com/... and follow me on X @josenher
For a full review, please go to https://areviewerdarkly.blogspot.com/... and follow me on X @josenher
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