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Delilah Street, Paranormal Investigator #5
Virtual Virgin
She’s Like a Virgin . . . Simulated for the Very First Time
For a red-blooded male, Las Vegas offers a virtual smorgasbord of temptation: sexy showgirls, vampy vampires, zombie starlets, you name it. But paranormal investigator Delilah Street isn’t worried about losing her man to these vixens. Especially when the one woman with a soft spot for the guy also has a hard-shelled exterior. . . .
She’s a robot—or a CinSim, to be exact—a near-perfect simulation of the silver-metal robot Maria from the classic science fiction movie Metropolis. Part innocent teenage actress, part depraved sex goddess, the new Maria is hooked on Delilah’s partner, Ric, who raised her from the dead. She also happens to be the perfect secret weapon for a demonic drug lord. Which could be one hell of a problem. Delilah’s not the jealous type, but this tin-can temptress must be stopped—even if it forces Delilah to forge a dangerous alliance with her wicked mirror-twin, Lilith. If robo-girl goes ballistic, every player in Vegas loses. . . .
384 pages, Paperback
First published November 29, 2011
About the author
Carole Nelson Douglas
146 books554 followersCarole Nelson Douglas is the author of sixty-four award-winning novels in contemporary and historical mystery/suspense and romance, high and urban fantasy and science fiction genres. She is best known for two popular mystery series, the Irene Adler Sherlockian historical suspense series (she was the first woman to spin-off a series from the Holmes stories) and the multi-award-winning alphabetically titled Midnight Louie contemporary mystery series. From Cat in an Alphabet Soup #1 to Cat in an Alphabet Endgame #28.
Delilah Street, PI (Paranormal Investigator), headlines Carole's noir Urban Fantasy series: Dancing With Werewolves, Brimstone Kiss, Vampire Sunrise, Silver Zombie, and Virtual Virgin. Now Delilah has moved from her paranormal Vegas to Midnight Louie, feline PI's "Slightly surreal" Vegas to solve crimes in the first book of the new Cafe Noir series, Absinthe Without Leave. Next in 2020, Brandi Alexander on the Rocks.
Once Upon a Midnight Noir is out in eBook and trade paperback versions. This author-designed and illustrated collection of three mystery stories with a paranormal twist and a touch of romance features two award-winning stories featuring Midnight Louie, feline PI and Delilah Street, Paranormal Investigator in a supernatural-run Las Vegas. A third story completes the last unfinished story fragment of Edgar Allan Poe, as a Midnight Louie Past Life adventure set in 1790 Norland on a isolated island lighthouse. Louie is a soldier of fortune, a la Puss in Boots.
Next out are Midnight Louie's Cat in an Alphabet Endgame in hardcover, trade paperback and eBook Aug. 23, 2016.
All the Irene Adler novels, the first to feature a woman from the Sherlock Holmes Canon as a crime solver, are now available in eBook.
Carole was a college theater and English literature major. She was accepted for grad school in Theater at the University of Minnesota and Northwestern University, and could have worked as an editorial assistant at Vogue magazine (a la The Devil Wears Prada) but wanted a job closer to home. She worked as a newspaper reporter and then editor in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. During her time there, she discovered a long, expensive classified advertisement offering a black cat named Midnight Louey to the "right" home for one dollar and wrote a feature story on the plucky survival artist, putting it into the cat's point of view. The cat found a country home, but its name was revived for her feline PI mystery series many years later. Some of the Midnight Louie series entries include the dedication "For the real and original Midnight Louie. Nine lives were not enough." Midnight Louie has now had 32 novelistic lives and features in several short stories as well.
Hollywood and Broadway director, playwright, screenwriter and novelist Garson Kanin took Carole's first novel to his publisher on the basis of an interview/article she'd done with him five years earlier. "My friend Phil Silvers," he wrote, "would say he'd never won an interview yet, but he had never had the luck of you."
Carole is a "literary chameleon" who's had novels published in many genres, and often mixes such genre elements as mystery and suspense, fantasy and science fiction, romance with mainstream issues, especially the roles of women.
Delilah Street, PI (Paranormal Investigator), headlines Carole's noir Urban Fantasy series: Dancing With Werewolves, Brimstone Kiss, Vampire Sunrise, Silver Zombie, and Virtual Virgin. Now Delilah has moved from her paranormal Vegas to Midnight Louie, feline PI's "Slightly surreal" Vegas to solve crimes in the first book of the new Cafe Noir series, Absinthe Without Leave. Next in 2020, Brandi Alexander on the Rocks.
Once Upon a Midnight Noir is out in eBook and trade paperback versions. This author-designed and illustrated collection of three mystery stories with a paranormal twist and a touch of romance features two award-winning stories featuring Midnight Louie, feline PI and Delilah Street, Paranormal Investigator in a supernatural-run Las Vegas. A third story completes the last unfinished story fragment of Edgar Allan Poe, as a Midnight Louie Past Life adventure set in 1790 Norland on a isolated island lighthouse. Louie is a soldier of fortune, a la Puss in Boots.
Next out are Midnight Louie's Cat in an Alphabet Endgame in hardcover, trade paperback and eBook Aug. 23, 2016.
All the Irene Adler novels, the first to feature a woman from the Sherlock Holmes Canon as a crime solver, are now available in eBook.
Carole was a college theater and English literature major. She was accepted for grad school in Theater at the University of Minnesota and Northwestern University, and could have worked as an editorial assistant at Vogue magazine (a la The Devil Wears Prada) but wanted a job closer to home. She worked as a newspaper reporter and then editor in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. During her time there, she discovered a long, expensive classified advertisement offering a black cat named Midnight Louey to the "right" home for one dollar and wrote a feature story on the plucky survival artist, putting it into the cat's point of view. The cat found a country home, but its name was revived for her feline PI mystery series many years later. Some of the Midnight Louie series entries include the dedication "For the real and original Midnight Louie. Nine lives were not enough." Midnight Louie has now had 32 novelistic lives and features in several short stories as well.
Hollywood and Broadway director, playwright, screenwriter and novelist Garson Kanin took Carole's first novel to his publisher on the basis of an interview/article she'd done with him five years earlier. "My friend Phil Silvers," he wrote, "would say he'd never won an interview yet, but he had never had the luck of you."
Carole is a "literary chameleon" who's had novels published in many genres, and often mixes such genre elements as mystery and suspense, fantasy and science fiction, romance with mainstream issues, especially the roles of women.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
December 29, 2011
3.5 stars . Well, it was a lot better than the last book, that's for sure. But it was totally schizophrenic. I was happy that Delilah was back in Vegas, at least at the beginning of the story, I didn't really enjoy the road trip during the last book. But the author seemed to try to cram a mention of every character that Delilah ever met into this book and to continue every plot line. She had so many adventures and encounters that it got really frantic and just wild. Delilah got trapped in the mirror by the murdered girl from the first book and saw the magician and his fey assistants and she almost got killed, she and Ric got trapped in the nine circles of hell and they almost got killed, she saw her maybe-sister Lilith, they searched for their mom and almost got killed, she had a cool meeting with Sansouci in a dive bar in a booth shaped like a skull that floats over the bar for privacy and they almost got killed... And that isn't everything, and that's all before page 200! I like all of the stories except the one about the Immortality Mob, which unfortunately plays a big part later in the book, but it's just too much, the author needed to pick a few plots to focus on and let some of the stories go by the wayside for a few books. As much as I'm curious about most of the stories that were mentioned, it's frustrating to get just a tiny piece of each and not really have much advancement in any (except about her mom, that was good). It would be more satisfying to have one or two solid plots with maybe one or two tangents instead of this crazy hodge-podge. And I love the idea of Maria, the Silver Zombie from Metropolis, she has so much potential as a powerful and cool character, but I was kind of disappointed in the way that the author ended up using her, at least so far. I hope that she ends up being a better character in future books. But many people might like it, I just didn't like anything about that part of the book. Except Quicksilver, if course, I like everything about him.
In general, the tone of the book was also a bit too, well, serious. It felt like the author was trying to write a slightly more thoughtful book, which I appreciate, but it really didn't work well. Ideas about the nature of good as evil and virtual virgins didn't play well with me. Especially the virtual virgins. I guess I can go with Sansouci and Maria, but not Delilah. She isn't innocent or perfect, she's a real woman who's in a real relationship. It's getting kind of weird the way these three guys all worship her so much. Even though I can't help but like them. And I just miss the silly, flirty happy tone of the early books. Delilah still wears her cute clothes, and the great movie characters are still involved, and I do like very much that the CinSims have developed past the surface into real characters, don't get me wrong... I don't know. I think the author is still trying for humor, that's certainly what she's going for with Irma. But boy do I hate Irma. Someday she'd better turn out to be a real second personally or something, because now she's just a really annoying gimmick to make writing first person easier. Anyway, it's still fun, and it's not too serious or anything, but it does feel like she's trying too hard, I just liked the lighter earlier books better. I appreciate that Delilah is growing and learning and needs to think certain things out, but it's feeling awkward.
And the Black Irish thing, give it up already! How many times can you mention that she has no idea about her parentage and then say that she's Black Irish? Because no one else could have black hair, white skin and blue eyes? Sometimes she even mentions it in the same paragraph. Sansouci tells her his story and she declares "I knew you had Black Irish roots like me!" So it isn't just her coloring, she thinks she's Irish, how the heck would she know that if she's an orphan? The author has a serious mental block here, she decided the character is Black Irish and nothing can deter her from constantly announcing it even if it makes no sense.
OK, wrapping up this much too long and scattered review of this much too scattered book. There was a lot of good substance for fans. There were a lot of scenes that advanced stories that fans will appreciate. There were a lot of scenes that were just fun that fans will appreciate. There was one major plot like that I don't care for at all but that many people might well disagree with me about. And overall there was too much going on, but most of it was pretty fun.
In general, the tone of the book was also a bit too, well, serious. It felt like the author was trying to write a slightly more thoughtful book, which I appreciate, but it really didn't work well. Ideas about the nature of good as evil and virtual virgins didn't play well with me. Especially the virtual virgins. I guess I can go with Sansouci and Maria, but not Delilah. She isn't innocent or perfect, she's a real woman who's in a real relationship. It's getting kind of weird the way these three guys all worship her so much. Even though I can't help but like them. And I just miss the silly, flirty happy tone of the early books. Delilah still wears her cute clothes, and the great movie characters are still involved, and I do like very much that the CinSims have developed past the surface into real characters, don't get me wrong... I don't know. I think the author is still trying for humor, that's certainly what she's going for with Irma. But boy do I hate Irma. Someday she'd better turn out to be a real second personally or something, because now she's just a really annoying gimmick to make writing first person easier. Anyway, it's still fun, and it's not too serious or anything, but it does feel like she's trying too hard, I just liked the lighter earlier books better. I appreciate that Delilah is growing and learning and needs to think certain things out, but it's feeling awkward.
And the Black Irish thing, give it up already! How many times can you mention that she has no idea about her parentage and then say that she's Black Irish? Because no one else could have black hair, white skin and blue eyes? Sometimes she even mentions it in the same paragraph. Sansouci tells her his story and she declares "I knew you had Black Irish roots like me!" So it isn't just her coloring, she thinks she's Irish, how the heck would she know that if she's an orphan? The author has a serious mental block here, she decided the character is Black Irish and nothing can deter her from constantly announcing it even if it makes no sense.
OK, wrapping up this much too long and scattered review of this much too scattered book. There was a lot of good substance for fans. There were a lot of scenes that advanced stories that fans will appreciate. There were a lot of scenes that were just fun that fans will appreciate. There was one major plot like that I don't care for at all but that many people might well disagree with me about. And overall there was too much going on, but most of it was pretty fun.
February 8, 2012
Virtual Virgin by Carole Nelson Douglas
Paranormal investigator Delilah Street deals with a variety of paranormal critters such as demons, doppelgangers, vampires and zombies in a Las Vegas liberated by a paranormal revolution.
A wealth of paranormal or urban fantasy books has inundated the book market. I suppose the whole vampire craze may have triggered it but regardless of the trigger, the books are popping up everywhere.
This book suffers somewhat as Delilah has a back story that never gets a satisfactory explanation. The profusion of characters and their exotic nature is almost overwhelming. There is such a wealth of color and lights that you almost feel like you are in Vegas.
I was not able to get into this book in spite of all the whiz bang that populated it. I had assumed I would enjoy it and I did not. I suspect that if I had read the preceding Delilah Street books I might have felt more in touch with this one.
As with many sequels, I think the Delilah Street fans will be happy with the book.
Paranormal investigator Delilah Street deals with a variety of paranormal critters such as demons, doppelgangers, vampires and zombies in a Las Vegas liberated by a paranormal revolution.
A wealth of paranormal or urban fantasy books has inundated the book market. I suppose the whole vampire craze may have triggered it but regardless of the trigger, the books are popping up everywhere.
This book suffers somewhat as Delilah has a back story that never gets a satisfactory explanation. The profusion of characters and their exotic nature is almost overwhelming. There is such a wealth of color and lights that you almost feel like you are in Vegas.
I was not able to get into this book in spite of all the whiz bang that populated it. I had assumed I would enjoy it and I did not. I suspect that if I had read the preceding Delilah Street books I might have felt more in touch with this one.
As with many sequels, I think the Delilah Street fans will be happy with the book.
December 7, 2018
Fifth in the Delilah Street, Paranormal Investigator urban fantasy series set in Las Vegas and revolving around the excessively dramatic Delilah Street.
My Take
I had a hard time plowing through this. I think I even got up to do dishes… I really do like the premise of this story. If we could just get a different primary character. I really can't stand Delilah. She is such a major drama queen and a prick tease. Practically every sentence out of her mouth is melodramatic...I can almost see her raising an arm to put it to her brow and then swoon…gawd… It's an urban soap opera.
I do like that Douglas provides a synopsis of the series to date before you start the new story. But I do have to take issue with some of the "details". I still haven't figured out "why those post-concert kisses are so bloody irresistible" to Delilah so I guess it's a good thing that Douglas is telling us they are. I certainly don't understand her drama about her silver familiar. I'd be too happy about its aid to be complaining!
I'm going to assume that Ric's visit to the Lust Level at the Inferno is setting us up for the next book, otherwise it's simply superfluous even if it does introduce us to a perverse use of CinSims. Although Douglas does provides a more in-depth introduction to the regular cast of CinSims as well as this new group. We also learn Sansouci's background. And it is not what I expected.
Groogle??? Giggle? Whatever. It does manage to bring a face-to-face with Delilah's mother and a new method of travel for her.
Okay, another reason I don't like Delilah. She expects everyone around her to put out. She simply doesn't expect to have to return the favor. Or even be honest in her own turn. What's with that? In the real world, segues and consequences occur. In the Delilah world, piffle, just write a few words and gloss over anything.
Well, even as another door to the past closes, yet more doors are opening on the future in Delilah's world. It'll certainly be interesting to see where her paranoia takes her.
And someone needs to explain that "Louie XVI" is more properly "Louis"...unless this is the Vegas version of his name.
The Story
Every since Delilah trapped Loretta in the mirror world, she's been too worried to walk on in, but events require her to travel the fey ways through the mirror. And, oopsie, she definitely should have stayed out. It seems Loretta got free of her bonds and has a pair of new allies. Allies who will do anything to hurt Delilah. A hurt that indirectly may destroy Ric!
Meanwhile Ric is meeting with Snow over his raising of the Silver Zombie and the very precarious position it creates for Ric. Adding yet another organization gunning for him. Delilah, of course, has enough...um...people? coming after her and this new trick of Loretta's and some comments Sansouci has made do not bode well for the future.
A future that will be challenged by Delilah's furtive jaunt to Juarez tailing Ric and Tallgrass.
The Characters
Delilah Street is a vamp magnet, former news reporter, and now a paranormal investigator working the streets of Las Vegas with a silver familiar courtesy of Snow. We've also learned about the traumas of her past and have a better understanding of why she is such a control freak. Lilith Quince is her CSI double, but somehow her alter ego as well. Dolly is her Biarritz Caddie while Quicksilver is her something else wolfhound with the healing powers and a strong need to protect Delilah. Irma is her conscience-riding friend. Vida is Delilah's mother and her tale is a longevity shocker with all sorts of branching pathways.
Ricardo Montoya, a.k.a., the Cadaver Kid, is former FBI with a personal mission to eliminate the raising of zombies as laborers or CinSims with the help of his silver eye. He intends to right the wrongs of his youth. Leonard Tallgrass is Native American and a former FBI colleague of Ric's who has been invited on the new task force in Mexico.
Hector Nightwine is Delilah's landlord and one of the Vegas heavyweights for whom she consults. His butler, Godfrey, is a CinSim from My Man, Godfrey and takes excellent and somewhat fatherly care of Delilah.
Howard Hughes (billionaire-turned-vampire) is another of her clients; he seems to own a lot more of Vegas than anyone suspects. Shezmou (see Vampire Sunrise ) is both the Lord of the Slaughter and wine god in Egyptian mythology. He's opened his own wine and oils shop in Vegas with Delilah as his partner. Bez is his mini partner of sorts, the god of childbirth and a bit of a perve.
Cesar Cicereau is a werewolf mob boss who owns the Gehenna Hotel and hates Delilah. Loretta Cicereau is the ghost of the teen daughter her father had tortured and murdered. And she's back for vengeance. Sansouci is a daytime-walking vampire held hostage by and working for Cicereau. He keeps a stable of women from whom he "sips" although he claims he would give them all up for Delilah. Madrigal is a captive magician with his very unstable, jealous pair of fey helpers, Sylphia and Phasia.
Snow, a.k.a., Cocaine (of the rock band Seven Deadly Sins), a.k.a., Christophe (owner of the Inferno Hotel) has a creepy interest in Delilah and an even creepier offer for Ric. And some very interesting plans involving the vintage film Metropolis. Grizelle is Snow's shape-shifting security chief who turns into a white tiger. She hates Delilah.
El Demonio Torbellino, Ric's former "owner", is raising an army.
The Immortality Mob resurrects the dead and imprints black-and-white film screen actors onto the zombies. CinSims. A practice Ric wants to destroy.
The Cover and Title
Cool cover! It's Snow's Metropolis Tower in the background with a giant e-billboard featuring the Silver Zombie herself, but, not to worry, pirate Delilah is on the case with sword in hand. I'm not quite sure where the pirate costume comes in, but, then again, this is Delilah...
Per the story, there are three Virtual Virgins. Delilah, the Silver Zombie, and yet another new drink.
My Take
I had a hard time plowing through this. I think I even got up to do dishes… I really do like the premise of this story. If we could just get a different primary character. I really can't stand Delilah. She is such a major drama queen and a prick tease. Practically every sentence out of her mouth is melodramatic...I can almost see her raising an arm to put it to her brow and then swoon…gawd… It's an urban soap opera.
I do like that Douglas provides a synopsis of the series to date before you start the new story. But I do have to take issue with some of the "details". I still haven't figured out "why those post-concert kisses are so bloody irresistible" to Delilah so I guess it's a good thing that Douglas is telling us they are. I certainly don't understand her drama about her silver familiar. I'd be too happy about its aid to be complaining!
I'm going to assume that Ric's visit to the Lust Level at the Inferno is setting us up for the next book, otherwise it's simply superfluous even if it does introduce us to a perverse use of CinSims. Although Douglas does provides a more in-depth introduction to the regular cast of CinSims as well as this new group. We also learn Sansouci's background. And it is not what I expected.
Groogle??? Giggle? Whatever. It does manage to bring a face-to-face with Delilah's mother and a new method of travel for her.
Okay, another reason I don't like Delilah. She expects everyone around her to put out. She simply doesn't expect to have to return the favor. Or even be honest in her own turn. What's with that? In the real world, segues and consequences occur. In the Delilah world, piffle, just write a few words and gloss over anything.
Well, even as another door to the past closes, yet more doors are opening on the future in Delilah's world. It'll certainly be interesting to see where her paranoia takes her.
And someone needs to explain that "Louie XVI" is more properly "Louis"...unless this is the Vegas version of his name.
The Story
Every since Delilah trapped Loretta in the mirror world, she's been too worried to walk on in, but events require her to travel the fey ways through the mirror. And, oopsie, she definitely should have stayed out. It seems Loretta got free of her bonds and has a pair of new allies. Allies who will do anything to hurt Delilah. A hurt that indirectly may destroy Ric!
Meanwhile Ric is meeting with Snow over his raising of the Silver Zombie and the very precarious position it creates for Ric. Adding yet another organization gunning for him. Delilah, of course, has enough...um...people? coming after her and this new trick of Loretta's and some comments Sansouci has made do not bode well for the future.
A future that will be challenged by Delilah's furtive jaunt to Juarez tailing Ric and Tallgrass.
The Characters
Delilah Street is a vamp magnet, former news reporter, and now a paranormal investigator working the streets of Las Vegas with a silver familiar courtesy of Snow. We've also learned about the traumas of her past and have a better understanding of why she is such a control freak. Lilith Quince is her CSI double, but somehow her alter ego as well. Dolly is her Biarritz Caddie while Quicksilver is her something else wolfhound with the healing powers and a strong need to protect Delilah. Irma is her conscience-riding friend. Vida is Delilah's mother and her tale is a longevity shocker with all sorts of branching pathways.
Ricardo Montoya, a.k.a., the Cadaver Kid, is former FBI with a personal mission to eliminate the raising of zombies as laborers or CinSims with the help of his silver eye. He intends to right the wrongs of his youth. Leonard Tallgrass is Native American and a former FBI colleague of Ric's who has been invited on the new task force in Mexico.
Hector Nightwine is Delilah's landlord and one of the Vegas heavyweights for whom she consults. His butler, Godfrey, is a CinSim from My Man, Godfrey and takes excellent and somewhat fatherly care of Delilah.
Howard Hughes (billionaire-turned-vampire) is another of her clients; he seems to own a lot more of Vegas than anyone suspects. Shezmou (see Vampire Sunrise ) is both the Lord of the Slaughter and wine god in Egyptian mythology. He's opened his own wine and oils shop in Vegas with Delilah as his partner. Bez is his mini partner of sorts, the god of childbirth and a bit of a perve.
Cesar Cicereau is a werewolf mob boss who owns the Gehenna Hotel and hates Delilah. Loretta Cicereau is the ghost of the teen daughter her father had tortured and murdered. And she's back for vengeance. Sansouci is a daytime-walking vampire held hostage by and working for Cicereau. He keeps a stable of women from whom he "sips" although he claims he would give them all up for Delilah. Madrigal is a captive magician with his very unstable, jealous pair of fey helpers, Sylphia and Phasia.
Snow, a.k.a., Cocaine (of the rock band Seven Deadly Sins), a.k.a., Christophe (owner of the Inferno Hotel) has a creepy interest in Delilah and an even creepier offer for Ric. And some very interesting plans involving the vintage film Metropolis. Grizelle is Snow's shape-shifting security chief who turns into a white tiger. She hates Delilah.
El Demonio Torbellino, Ric's former "owner", is raising an army.
The Immortality Mob resurrects the dead and imprints black-and-white film screen actors onto the zombies. CinSims. A practice Ric wants to destroy.
The Cover and Title
Cool cover! It's Snow's Metropolis Tower in the background with a giant e-billboard featuring the Silver Zombie herself, but, not to worry, pirate Delilah is on the case with sword in hand. I'm not quite sure where the pirate costume comes in, but, then again, this is Delilah...
Per the story, there are three Virtual Virgins. Delilah, the Silver Zombie, and yet another new drink.
August 11, 2020
I was not sure that I wanted to read Virtual Virgin. I had some fairly severe problems with the previous book, Silver Zombie related to questionable therapy practices, horrifically stupid racial stereotypes and fairly grotesque plot twists though I still managed to find the book entertaining. (Your mileage may vary as to how severe the problems are. I am fairly sensitive when it comes to racial stereotypes.) I think it would be safe to say that I probably should have listened to my misgivings because this installment was a chore to read.
In Virtual Virgin Our Heroine continues her quest to discover more about her (and her mirror twin Lillith’s) parentage. What she finds out is that there is not going to be any tearful reunion of birth mother and adult daughter. Meanwhile, Delilah’s boyfriend Ric is trying to figure out the baseline ethics concerning the treatment of CinSims and how they might apply to the Maria robot he lifted from Metropolis and getting ready to find a way to take out the human trafficker who had used him to raise zombies. (He is also trying to cope with the way his powers have mutated thanks to Delilah’s influence.)
A great deal of the action in the story involves Ric and Delilah wandering around on their separate quests, meeting up when their paths occasionally intersect. We get some fairly random insight into the murder of Loretta Cicereau in which her and her boyfriend’s horrific murder by her father is compared to a funeral custom of the Kievan Rus that involves human sacrifice. (Douglas refers to it as an “energy transferal” ritual. It is actually a “grave goods” ritual. With this random tidbit of information, nothing makes sense in any way shape or form.)
Loretta’s ghost meanwhile is looking for vengeance in all the wrong places, and may have become involved with the Fairy Court. There is also a continuing effort on the part of Snow to involve himself with the relationship between Ric and Delilah.
We end with a confusing battle between Delilah, Ric, the Native American from an Unidentified Tribe FBI Agent and Ric’s nemesis. The battle is confusing mostly because Ric has an interesting variation of the Virgin/Whore complex. (Part of the final battle involves a vision of “Bad Maria” from Metropolis and an army of undead “femicides.” At least, that is what Delilah sees. Ric saw the Virgin of Guadelupe. We also get a flash back to Ric’s child hood and it turns out that Ric’s visions of the Virgin he had as a child were most likely the result of a female vampire.)
I did not care very much for this book. I might have liked this book more if there had been fewer stereotypes out on display. And if there were not so many plot elements from Douglas’ Sword and Circlet series lying around to be tripped over. If you are a fan of the series or Carole Nelson Douglas you might have a different opinion.
In Virtual Virgin Our Heroine continues her quest to discover more about her (and her mirror twin Lillith’s) parentage. What she finds out is that there is not going to be any tearful reunion of birth mother and adult daughter. Meanwhile, Delilah’s boyfriend Ric is trying to figure out the baseline ethics concerning the treatment of CinSims and how they might apply to the Maria robot he lifted from Metropolis and getting ready to find a way to take out the human trafficker who had used him to raise zombies. (He is also trying to cope with the way his powers have mutated thanks to Delilah’s influence.)
A great deal of the action in the story involves Ric and Delilah wandering around on their separate quests, meeting up when their paths occasionally intersect. We get some fairly random insight into the murder of Loretta Cicereau in which her and her boyfriend’s horrific murder by her father is compared to a funeral custom of the Kievan Rus that involves human sacrifice. (Douglas refers to it as an “energy transferal” ritual. It is actually a “grave goods” ritual. With this random tidbit of information, nothing makes sense in any way shape or form.)
Loretta’s ghost meanwhile is looking for vengeance in all the wrong places, and may have become involved with the Fairy Court. There is also a continuing effort on the part of Snow to involve himself with the relationship between Ric and Delilah.
We end with a confusing battle between Delilah, Ric, the Native American from an Unidentified Tribe FBI Agent and Ric’s nemesis. The battle is confusing mostly because Ric has an interesting variation of the Virgin/Whore complex. (Part of the final battle involves a vision of “Bad Maria” from Metropolis and an army of undead “femicides.” At least, that is what Delilah sees. Ric saw the Virgin of Guadelupe. We also get a flash back to Ric’s child hood and it turns out that Ric’s visions of the Virgin he had as a child were most likely the result of a female vampire.)
I did not care very much for this book. I might have liked this book more if there had been fewer stereotypes out on display. And if there were not so many plot elements from Douglas’ Sword and Circlet series lying around to be tripped over. If you are a fan of the series or Carole Nelson Douglas you might have a different opinion.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 26, 2012
“Virtual Virgin” by Carole Nelson Douglas is the fifth in her popular ‘Delilah Street: Paranormal Investigator’ series. Ricardo (Ric) Montoya, aka The Cadaver Kid, and Delilah Street are trying to find a way to deal with the CinSim who was drawn from the movie ‘Metropolis’. Unfortunately the robot-like being is fixated on the man who resurrected her, Ric, a fact which is of concern to both Delilah and Ric himself. The murky world of Vegas makes it difficult to determine who are allies and who have ulterior motives and Delilah, her trusty ‘dog’ Quicksilver, the mysterious silver familiar that morphs according to the situation and the voice in her head (Irma) set out on several quests for information. Delilah’s ability to use silver combined with the aftereffects of having shared the Brimstone Kiss lead her on a trip into the mirrors with her sister Lilith on a quest to find their mother but she ends up with more questions than answers. Ric must also face the responsibilities conferred by his powers and juggle the demands upon him even as he continues to refine his relationship with Delilah. Vampires, werewolves, mobsters, mysterious recluses, arcane magic and silver screen references abound in this complex dark paranormal tale.
This is a very complicated book that has a bewildering number of plotlines and characters for the uninitiated. The author has an impressive knowledge of a wide variety of facts related to the film personas as well as the actors themselves in multiple famous black and white movies and weaves them together with intriguing snippets about larger-than-life characters such as Howard Hughes and Las Vegas itself which has its own distinctive personality. Unfortunately I have not read the prior books in the series so I was floundering a bit trying to grasp the different implications of the CinSims, the various males interested in Delilah, the witches who aren’t seen (although I would love to have a wardrobe witch to conjure up the appropriate ensemble for a particular day), vampires who are trying to convert to an alternative drink, gods who don’t know they are on a different continent in a new era, etc. The author’s distinctive voice gives her inimitable flair to a unique tale that gives a different perspective to the denizens that populate Las Vegas and other areas but do yourself a favor and read the other books in the series first!
© Night Owl Reviews
December 18, 2011
Virtual Virgin is the fifth book in the Delilah Street: Paranormal Investigator series by Carole Nelson Douglas and an Urban Fantasy from Pocket Books.
Book Blurb:
She's Like a Virgin . . . Simulated for the Very First Time
For a red-blooded male, Las Vegas offers a virtual smorgasbord of temptation: sexy showgirls, vampy vampires, zombie starlets, you name it. But paranormal investigator Delilah Street isn't worried about losing her man to these vixens. Especially when the one woman with a soft spot for the guy also has a hard-shelled exterior. . . .
She's a robot - or a CinSim, to be exact - a near-perfect simulation of the silver-metal robot Maria from the classic science fiction movie Metropolis. Part innocent teenage actress, part depraved sex goddess, the new Maria is hooked on Delilah's partner, Ric, who raised her from the dead. She also happens to be the perfect secret weapon for a demonic drug lord. Which could be one hell of a problem. Delilah's not the jealous type, but this tin-can temptress must be stopped - even if it forces Delilah to forge a dangerous alliance with her wicked mirror-twin, Lilith. If robo-girl goes ballistic, every player in Vegas loses. . . .
My thoughts:
After seeing ‘herself’ on an episode of CSI, Delilah Street heads to Las Vegas in search of her doppleganger, Lilith Quince.
What she found was a completely different world - full of vampires, zombie’s, were’s and the charismatic CinSim’s - black and white simulations of long ago movie stars.
Now Delilah’s boyfriend, Ric, has the ability to pull a CinSim from the silver screen - and he has done just that with a robot/woman from the movie Metropolis.
Neither Delilah nor Ric are comfortable with the appearance of the robot Maria - especially when she mutters ‘master’ whenever she is in close proximity to Ric.
These two may not want her around - but there are plenty of others who would kill for possession of the robot...and that is not a good thing.
Virtual Virgin is a completely unique read. I have to give Ms. Douglas props for creating a world unlike any I have ever read. But it was not my cuppa tea...and Virtual Virgin was a DNF for me.
Product Details
Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Pocket Books (11-29-11)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1439167796
ISBN-13: 978-1439167793
Book Blurb:
She's Like a Virgin . . . Simulated for the Very First Time
For a red-blooded male, Las Vegas offers a virtual smorgasbord of temptation: sexy showgirls, vampy vampires, zombie starlets, you name it. But paranormal investigator Delilah Street isn't worried about losing her man to these vixens. Especially when the one woman with a soft spot for the guy also has a hard-shelled exterior. . . .
She's a robot - or a CinSim, to be exact - a near-perfect simulation of the silver-metal robot Maria from the classic science fiction movie Metropolis. Part innocent teenage actress, part depraved sex goddess, the new Maria is hooked on Delilah's partner, Ric, who raised her from the dead. She also happens to be the perfect secret weapon for a demonic drug lord. Which could be one hell of a problem. Delilah's not the jealous type, but this tin-can temptress must be stopped - even if it forces Delilah to forge a dangerous alliance with her wicked mirror-twin, Lilith. If robo-girl goes ballistic, every player in Vegas loses. . . .
My thoughts:
After seeing ‘herself’ on an episode of CSI, Delilah Street heads to Las Vegas in search of her doppleganger, Lilith Quince.
What she found was a completely different world - full of vampires, zombie’s, were’s and the charismatic CinSim’s - black and white simulations of long ago movie stars.
Now Delilah’s boyfriend, Ric, has the ability to pull a CinSim from the silver screen - and he has done just that with a robot/woman from the movie Metropolis.
Neither Delilah nor Ric are comfortable with the appearance of the robot Maria - especially when she mutters ‘master’ whenever she is in close proximity to Ric.
These two may not want her around - but there are plenty of others who would kill for possession of the robot...and that is not a good thing.
Virtual Virgin is a completely unique read. I have to give Ms. Douglas props for creating a world unlike any I have ever read. But it was not my cuppa tea...and Virtual Virgin was a DNF for me.
Product Details
Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Pocket Books (11-29-11)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1439167796
ISBN-13: 978-1439167793
December 14, 2011
Situated in Las Vegas, the reader can tell that this novel will have plenty of action and excitement. Delilah is the main character and a tough woman. Female readers will appreciate Delilah's strength and confidence throughout the book. She can be a little abrasive at times, but she can also be clever and brave.
The first words of this novel will have the reader hooked, " Everyone has family issues, but my issues are that I don't have any family." Delilah portrays herself as self-sufficient and the reader will be impresses, a fresh urban fantasy character to look forward to. Delilah is happy, she has a 24-hour partner and is a newly turned vampire. What she's worried about now? The evil machinelike woman who seems to be after Delilah's boyfriend. As Delilah attempts to discover who the woman is, she finds some hidden secrets and new worries as well.
The author's writing style will draw the reader into the novel. She writes with detail and an undertone of suspense. There is plenty of action to keep the reader occupied, the mystery aspect of the novel is unexpected and contains twists that will keep the reader on his/her toes. There is a chemistry between Delilah and her boyfriend that is very realistic, the reader will believe that they truly love each other. The antagonist keeps the characters running around and the plot moving. This novel is recommended to adult readers.
September 26, 2014
This is the book that the I have been waiting for from this series!
Unfortunately it is too little too late as it seems like there will not be a book 6:(
This series is about Delilah Street and how she comes to terms with powers she has in Las Vegas. In her world there are vampires and werewolves and other as yet unknown supernaturals. There are also silver screen legends walking around Vegas venues; the personalities transferred to zombie bodies.
In this book Delilah finally tries to figure out what she can and can not do with her affinity for silver and mirrors. She also finally makes an effort to figure out who her mother and father really are. I also enjoyed the chapters that were other characters POV, it was nice to walk around in Ric's head and see what he was thinking.
This book still has things that are very different from other books. There are a lot of one liners, mostly from Delilah, that leave you feeling you should be "fading to black" after they are delivered. There is a lot in this series that remind me of Bogart and Becall. In this book Delilah is finally in the center of what is going on instead of an observer so I felt more in tune with that was happening in the story. Then there is the big cliff hanger at the end of the book! I will just have to live in hope that at some point Ms. Douglas will be able to give us another book or maybe short stories that help to wrap things up.
Unfortunately it is too little too late as it seems like there will not be a book 6:(
This series is about Delilah Street and how she comes to terms with powers she has in Las Vegas. In her world there are vampires and werewolves and other as yet unknown supernaturals. There are also silver screen legends walking around Vegas venues; the personalities transferred to zombie bodies.
In this book Delilah finally tries to figure out what she can and can not do with her affinity for silver and mirrors. She also finally makes an effort to figure out who her mother and father really are. I also enjoyed the chapters that were other characters POV, it was nice to walk around in Ric's head and see what he was thinking.
This book still has things that are very different from other books. There are a lot of one liners, mostly from Delilah, that leave you feeling you should be "fading to black" after they are delivered. There is a lot in this series that remind me of Bogart and Becall. In this book Delilah is finally in the center of what is going on instead of an observer so I felt more in tune with that was happening in the story. Then there is the big cliff hanger at the end of the book! I will just have to live in hope that at some point Ms. Douglas will be able to give us another book or maybe short stories that help to wrap things up.
December 13, 2011
Um...not happy with all the innuendos in the ending. This makes cliffhangers gasp. I love Delilah and can see how she would grasp onto any help to discover WHO she is by tracking the identical girl featured in a live autopsy. She has the answer to that question, so now she seeks the mother that gave her and her sister/mirror self up at birth. And that leads to more questions...WHO'S "Daddy"? Now she finds that her love/boyfriend is no longer human because of a "kiss" she gave him that brought him back to life. And she can't give blood because of a lifetime running from vampires, so what now? The man who's not human because of her, the Rocker who needs her that she can't love, but can't stay away from or the Vampire who wants her that she goes to for information. Frankly I say pack up your car and RUN! We'll see what comes up next.
October 12, 2012
Being the 5th book in the Delilah Street, Paranormal Investigator series, I had high hopes for the "Virtual Virgin."
I would love to be able to say that this was a 5 star book, but in all honesty, I can't.
Although it had some moments of brillance (snappy language, sexual angst, etc), it just wasn't spectacular.
Don't get me wrong, it was a fairly decent read, but I wanted just a little bit more that what was delivered.
For me, the one bright spot was learning the identity of Delilah and Lilith's Birth Mother.
Hopefully #6 will make up for what was missed with this latest installment.
Giving this one 3 stars.
I would love to be able to say that this was a 5 star book, but in all honesty, I can't.
Although it had some moments of brillance (snappy language, sexual angst, etc), it just wasn't spectacular.
Don't get me wrong, it was a fairly decent read, but I wanted just a little bit more that what was delivered.
For me, the one bright spot was learning the identity of Delilah and Lilith's Birth Mother.
Hopefully #6 will make up for what was missed with this latest installment.
Giving this one 3 stars.
January 20, 2012
Yet again, another great read, gripping plot with ramped up sexual tension between the three main alphas.I'm desperately hoping Del will have to be involved with Snow , Sansouci and Ric to bind the sups together, so they can face down the evil ones.I feel this path should not be simple and be set with the unusual challenges as previous plots( keeping you on the edge of your seat).
Maybe Grizelle ( love the play on words with her being a tiger shifter and all )could do some moon lighting at Chez Shez there could be a lot of humour in that friendship, not alone Snows possible reaction or lack of it. That story could run in it's own direction.
Maybe Grizelle ( love the play on words with her being a tiger shifter and all )could do some moon lighting at Chez Shez there could be a lot of humour in that friendship, not alone Snows possible reaction or lack of it. That story could run in it's own direction.
March 27, 2012
Wish there was more Snow and Santoochi (yeah, I butchered his name). Like the many answers given to different issues too. She finds out who her mom is so if you've been reading you'll need this book. Lots remains unanswered and new problems arise. Didn't care for the way the problems listed on the back of the book were left unresolved. Made the book feel like filler (useful), but filler. I plan to continue the series.
December 24, 2011
Delilah has no family, is self-reliant and happy, but when a robot tries to take away her boyfriend, things get serious. With plenty of action throughout the book, Delilah and Ric are on a mission to stop the immortal mob and drug lords before they take over Las Vegas. And keep the CinSim from getting her man...
February 15, 2012
Yet another good book in the Delilah Street series. More is being revealed about the characters, yet there are still plenty of areas to be explored, and many, many loose threads. I know it will all come together at some point, but sometimes the loose threads make me crazy!
And no, I haven't tried any of the drink recipes yet.
And no, I haven't tried any of the drink recipes yet.
July 9, 2012
I like the story and the characters, but I really get lost sometimes with all the mirror travel. And I am trying to figure out all the retro outfits.... LOL, I'm not a girly girl by any means so the clothing, shoes and accessories are kind of out there for me. I like the fact that we are still guessing with Snow and his motives. Overall a fun read!
January 28, 2012
Finally I read this entire series in order- in less than a week. Talk about being completely immersed in this world. I hated it when this book ended because right now there's no more books in the series, this was the newest one.
Now I have to wait....and wait....and hope another book comes out.
Now I have to wait....and wait....and hope another book comes out.
April 16, 2012
I picked this up thinking I recognized the series, and after I read pages, I realized, "oh, yeah...it's a series I didn't like."
I really want to find more in this genre to like, but lately it seems like there's a glut on the market of so-so reads, and the gems are harder to find.
I really want to find more in this genre to like, but lately it seems like there's a glut on the market of so-so reads, and the gems are harder to find.
December 7, 2011
This series keeps me on my toes. I'm not sure who I'm rooting for anymore.
January 29, 2012
This series was interesting at first, but has quickly gotten very strange and hasn't advanced much in the last two titles.
March 2, 2012
#23of2012
March 1, 2012
I loved this series until this book. It went in so many weird directions that I couldn't finish it.
February 4, 2012
i loved the first 3 books in this series. book 4 was "eh"....
this book is annoying enough that i'm not going to force myself to finish reading it.
this book is annoying enough that i'm not going to force myself to finish reading it.
March 5, 2012
a bit on the rambling side, she had a lot of story lines going, still, I enjoyed it. Will definitely be waiting for the next book to come out. :-)
May 31, 2012
Another fun romp with Quicksilver, Delilah, and Ric.
May 21, 2013
my question is this the end of this series.. needed to close some stories up if it is.
March 30, 2015
I want more !!!!!!
April 15, 2015
This series started out strong, but started flagging around the middle. I didn't hate this book, but I didn't love it either. I don't think I'd read any more though.
June 17, 2015
Darn. More mysteries - we learn who Delilah's mother is, but now who is her father? When will the next book come out? Will we ever learn what Snow is?
January 24, 2012
Found the end a bit confusing and unsatisfying.
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