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Nathaniel Cade #3
Red, White, and Blood
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Horror (2012)“This is not a man. In almost a hundred years, I have seen it shot, stabbed, drowned, burned, decapitated, dismembered, and buried. And in almost a hundred years, there’s only one thing that’s ever been able to kill it…Me.” The campaign trail, 2012: A political operative of the incumbent president and a party volunteer are brutally murdered while in a compromising position. A message has been written in their blood… “IT'S GOOD TO BE BACK” A centuries-old horror has returned to taunt Nathaniel Cade, the President's Vampire. Under constant threat of exposure—and with enemies old and new at every turn—he and his handler Zach must stop the one monster Cade has never been able to completely destroy. And they must do it before the creature known as the Boogeyman adds another victim to his long and bloody the President of the United States.
398 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2012
91 people are currently reading
2088 people want to read
About the author
Christopher Farnsworth
22 books1,232 followersChristopher Farnsworth is the author of FLASHMOB (one of Publishers Weekly's Best Books of 2017), KILLFILE, THE ETERNAL WORLD, and the PRESIDENT'S VAMPIRE series. A screenwriter and journalist, he lives in Los Angeles.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 418 reviews
March 6, 2019
Vampire super-agent Nathaniel Cade vs a supernatural serial killer with a 'luck,' effect.
The question is, who is the greater threat, a supernatural serial killer who's always lucky, or a secret cabal within the US Intelligence Services with the goal of bringing on the Apocalypse.
Will Vampire agent, Nathaniel Cade, be enough to stop these threats?
This book will suit those who enjoy a good, solid conspiracy, some supernatural elements, and thriller and suspense style action.
The question is, who is the greater threat, a supernatural serial killer who's always lucky, or a secret cabal within the US Intelligence Services with the goal of bringing on the Apocalypse.
Will Vampire agent, Nathaniel Cade, be enough to stop these threats?
This book will suit those who enjoy a good, solid conspiracy, some supernatural elements, and thriller and suspense style action.
January 7, 2012
I don't usually read in this genre, but Farnsworth has hooked me in with his ingenious premise and rich, fast-paced storytelling. In this installment, vampire Nathaniel Cade and his human handler, Zach Barrows, chase a legendary supernatural creature bent on overthrow of the presidential election, and in the hunt to discover the monster's origins and motives uncover a complex conspiracy involving the highest reaches of government.
While the book succeeds with intricate plotting and scenes of terrifying intensity, what I love most about this series is its attention to detail. The author creates a believable world around his unbelievable creatures, deftly mixing fact and fiction with historical tidbits and supposed snippets from newspapers and classified documents, and his army of election groupies--journalists, bloggers, handlers--is bang up-to-date. With each release in the series, new layers are added to the relationship between Cade and Barrows, and the psychology of an inhuman being struggling with the very human problem of how to lead a moral life. Read in one sitting.
While the book succeeds with intricate plotting and scenes of terrifying intensity, what I love most about this series is its attention to detail. The author creates a believable world around his unbelievable creatures, deftly mixing fact and fiction with historical tidbits and supposed snippets from newspapers and classified documents, and his army of election groupies--journalists, bloggers, handlers--is bang up-to-date. With each release in the series, new layers are added to the relationship between Cade and Barrows, and the psychology of an inhuman being struggling with the very human problem of how to lead a moral life. Read in one sitting.
June 10, 2012
I loved this book and while blood oath will forever be my favorite in the series, I feel that this book more than lived up to the level of bloody mystery and action that we've all come to expect from Mr. Farnsworth.
June 14, 2020
2.5 stars actually.
This is still a quick read and the plot moves swiftly, but I'm getting tired with the lack of normal women in this series. They are all portrayed either as sluts, or as royal b%$#s, or psychopaths. Or objects for men to use and abuse... or be fridged for the sake of the male protagonist development. I'm getting tired of this.
Also, some of those so called Secret Service agents are portrayed as very unprofessional. Going against protocol and leaving the President alone after he was nearly killed several times, really? Who hired you for this job?
And it seems that for all his supposed powers and intelligence, Cade is several steps behind and pretty much useless most of this book. And Zack needs to stop thinking with his dick for once. No character development whatsoever there.
I guess I shouldn't expect too much from light entertainment, should I? I still had mostly fun reading it.
This is still a quick read and the plot moves swiftly, but I'm getting tired with the lack of normal women in this series. They are all portrayed either as sluts, or as royal b%$#s, or psychopaths. Or objects for men to use and abuse... or be fridged for the sake of the male protagonist development. I'm getting tired of this.
Also, some of those so called Secret Service agents are portrayed as very unprofessional. Going against protocol and leaving the President alone after he was nearly killed several times, really? Who hired you for this job?
And it seems that for all his supposed powers and intelligence, Cade is several steps behind and pretty much useless most of this book. And Zack needs to stop thinking with his dick for once. No character development whatsoever there.
I guess I shouldn't expect too much from light entertainment, should I? I still had mostly fun reading it.
May 24, 2012
Another Cade book read, another fantastic read by Christopher Farnsworth! I DID NOT see the ending coming at all and was totally surprised & shocked!
these books continue to get better and better and I find myself only setting them down because my eyes refuse to stay open any longer!!
these books continue to get better and better and I find myself only setting them down because my eyes refuse to stay open any longer!!
May 14, 2012
This could be the quote of the century. Who said fiction can't mirror real life, even a book about vampires!?
“Take any one of these dipshits in their easy-fit pants and triple-XL T-shirts. Ask them what we should do about the Middle East, or health care, or abortion, and they’ve got all the answers. Half of the voters can’t find Iraq on a map, but they know just what to do about the War on Terror. Sixty percent of them are on some kind of government handout, but they can’t stand freeloaders. And ninety percent of them don’t know what the Fed does, but they’re ready to abolish it. Meanwhile, they’re bouncing paychecks to firefighters and teachers and their kids are all watching double-anal penetration on the Internet. I’ve got an idea: let’s see if they can build something other than a shopping mall for a change. I would dearly love to see a single one of these bastions of homegrown wisdom show us all how it’s done. Manufacture something again. Invent something. Create a few jobs that don’t require a fucking name tag. Hell, I’d be impressed if just one of these crusaders refused to cash their Social Security check. They pull that off, then they can give us their deep thoughts on how to save America. Until then: fuck them.”
Farnsworth, Christopher (2012-04-26). Red, White, and Blood (pp. 134-135). Penguin Group. Kindle Edition.
“Take any one of these dipshits in their easy-fit pants and triple-XL T-shirts. Ask them what we should do about the Middle East, or health care, or abortion, and they’ve got all the answers. Half of the voters can’t find Iraq on a map, but they know just what to do about the War on Terror. Sixty percent of them are on some kind of government handout, but they can’t stand freeloaders. And ninety percent of them don’t know what the Fed does, but they’re ready to abolish it. Meanwhile, they’re bouncing paychecks to firefighters and teachers and their kids are all watching double-anal penetration on the Internet. I’ve got an idea: let’s see if they can build something other than a shopping mall for a change. I would dearly love to see a single one of these bastions of homegrown wisdom show us all how it’s done. Manufacture something again. Invent something. Create a few jobs that don’t require a fucking name tag. Hell, I’d be impressed if just one of these crusaders refused to cash their Social Security check. They pull that off, then they can give us their deep thoughts on how to save America. Until then: fuck them.”
Farnsworth, Christopher (2012-04-26). Red, White, and Blood (pp. 134-135). Penguin Group. Kindle Edition.
January 14, 2013
You know what this book is like? It’s like watching a season of “24” but instead of a very human Jack Bauer we have the preternatural Nathaniel Cade, a vampire bound by oath to the President of the United States. And just as for Jack Bauer, things for Cade go from one bad situation to the next and the bad guys just keep upping the ante. The body count is high and just when you feel like you’ve caught your breath the plot sends you hurtling towards the next insanely impossible situation.
Told in third person from multiple points of view the story raced by even though it topped out at 466 pages (paperback format). I just kept turning pages. I read this book realizing only after I started that it’s actually the third book in the series but it worked extremely well as a standalone. I will be picking up the first two books, Blood Oathand The President's Vampire, but, as I said, it’s not necessary to the enjoyment of this book. Though the ending left me extremely frustrated considering everything that the characters had endured, it definitely left me needing to see what comes next.
Told in third person from multiple points of view the story raced by even though it topped out at 466 pages (paperback format). I just kept turning pages. I read this book realizing only after I started that it’s actually the third book in the series but it worked extremely well as a standalone. I will be picking up the first two books, Blood Oathand The President's Vampire, but, as I said, it’s not necessary to the enjoyment of this book. Though the ending left me extremely frustrated considering everything that the characters had endured, it definitely left me needing to see what comes next.
February 29, 2012
Oh man, I LOVE these books.
Full disclose: the author is a friend (but I would MAKE the author my friend if he wasn't already, so that may be a bit moot).
Mad action, fun and complex characters who evolve over the course of the books, solid research into Secret Service, US gov't protocol, and monster lore...it's edge-of-seat stuff for people who like many genres of fiction. Definitely start at the beginning of thus-far trilogy for max enjoyment. I bought these books for my Uncle T for Christmas and now he's roped in as well.
Full disclose: the author is a friend (but I would MAKE the author my friend if he wasn't already, so that may be a bit moot).
Mad action, fun and complex characters who evolve over the course of the books, solid research into Secret Service, US gov't protocol, and monster lore...it's edge-of-seat stuff for people who like many genres of fiction. Definitely start at the beginning of thus-far trilogy for max enjoyment. I bought these books for my Uncle T for Christmas and now he's roped in as well.
June 8, 2012
This series just gets better and better. In this one Cade may have finally met his match in the Boogeyman. Zach and Cade make a great team. I love the interplay between them. While it is not totally necessary to have read the first two books in the series they really should be read in order. As if you haven't already read the first two...
April 17, 2013
Read the Original Review: http://thefoundingfields.com/2013/04/....
“A thrilling ride that proves Farnsworth is a very awesome writer. For those of you who are not on board with this series yet, all you need to know is that a Political Thriller with added vampires and other supernatural creatures make this book one hell of a read.” ~The Founding Fields
I love a good thriller novel, and when it comes with added supernatural element, the better. Christopher Farnsworth’s Blood Oath introduced us to the Vampire Nathaniel Cade, the Secret Agent working for the President of the United States and Zach Barrows, Cade’s ally. Whilst I completley missed the chance to read The President’s Vampire, the follow up, I was relieved to see that there was no cliffhanger ending for that book and Red White and Blood poses as a great returning point for readers who perhaps tried out the first book but didn’t get the second for whatever reason. That also applies to readers who are yet to read any of Nathaniel Cade’s adventures – what the hell are you waiting for? This is some seriously awesome stuff and Christopher Farnsworth is a really strong writer, having two books under his belt already and has ended Book three with a fantastic cliffhanger that really sets the stage for Book Four.
"A political operative and a volunteer are brutally murdered. Written in their blood on the wall of the crime scene: IT’S GOOD TO BE BACK.
In 145 years, Nathaniel Cade, the President’s vampire, has fought one particular evil over and over again: the source of urban legends and nightmares across the country. It has gone by many names and guises, but is best known by the one that all children instinctively fear: the Boogeyman. No matter how Cade kills him, the Boogeyman always comes back. When the killer begins targeting the president’s people on the campaign trail, Cade and his human handler, Zach Barrows, are tasked with cleaning up the mess before it spills over into the upcoming election. Cade and Zach must stop the one monster Cade has never been able to defeat completely. And they must do it before the Boogeyman adds another victim to his long and bloody list: the President of the United States himself."
As expected from a thriller/horror blend, the book itself is very gory, bloody and doesn’t let up throughout the book. There are deaths right the way through the book and all the victims of the Boogeyman are dying in gruesome ways. Cade is really tested to his limit in this book and Farnsworth has managed to make the book unpredictable, making it a very entertaining ride particularly as Cade and Zach are as strong characters as ever.
Farnsworth sets the book against the backdrop of an election campaign and it’s very interesting to see the political plotting of both sides and the lengths that they will do to control the White House. The political thriller aspect of Red White and Blood is very strong as well, and I would have enjoyed this book on its own if it was just a human serial killer being traced by an agent of the FBI in this political setting. But it’s more than that, the supernatural side of the book that Farnsworth brings to it manages to make it doubly entertaining, especially as vampires actually behave like monsters. There’s no Twilight nonsense here, and fans of the series will already be aware of what Cade is like as a vampire.
The book itself, much like the first one, has a very cinematic feel and at times you feel like you’re reading an action movie. This book fits right in with the books that you’ll find on display in airport shelves but it still remains a welcome addition to any horror or political thriller fan’s library, and that comes at a cost. There’s little room for character development, which is probably the only thing that I disliked about the book, as the characters are in some cases one dimensional and difficult to attach to as it feels like you’re reading a novelisation of a script. However, the premise is enough to draw you in – a vampire secret agent hunting a supernatural serial killer, complete with shadowy government conspiracies and an intense, thrilling read, you’ll soon find yourself not caring about the characters.
The book manages to be gripping, page-turning and very awesome. If, like I said above, horror and/or political thrillers are your thing, then you’ll want in on this book regardless of whether you’ve read Books One and Two. Superb stuff.
VERDICT: 4/5
“A thrilling ride that proves Farnsworth is a very awesome writer. For those of you who are not on board with this series yet, all you need to know is that a Political Thriller with added vampires and other supernatural creatures make this book one hell of a read.” ~The Founding Fields
I love a good thriller novel, and when it comes with added supernatural element, the better. Christopher Farnsworth’s Blood Oath introduced us to the Vampire Nathaniel Cade, the Secret Agent working for the President of the United States and Zach Barrows, Cade’s ally. Whilst I completley missed the chance to read The President’s Vampire, the follow up, I was relieved to see that there was no cliffhanger ending for that book and Red White and Blood poses as a great returning point for readers who perhaps tried out the first book but didn’t get the second for whatever reason. That also applies to readers who are yet to read any of Nathaniel Cade’s adventures – what the hell are you waiting for? This is some seriously awesome stuff and Christopher Farnsworth is a really strong writer, having two books under his belt already and has ended Book three with a fantastic cliffhanger that really sets the stage for Book Four.
"A political operative and a volunteer are brutally murdered. Written in their blood on the wall of the crime scene: IT’S GOOD TO BE BACK.
In 145 years, Nathaniel Cade, the President’s vampire, has fought one particular evil over and over again: the source of urban legends and nightmares across the country. It has gone by many names and guises, but is best known by the one that all children instinctively fear: the Boogeyman. No matter how Cade kills him, the Boogeyman always comes back. When the killer begins targeting the president’s people on the campaign trail, Cade and his human handler, Zach Barrows, are tasked with cleaning up the mess before it spills over into the upcoming election. Cade and Zach must stop the one monster Cade has never been able to defeat completely. And they must do it before the Boogeyman adds another victim to his long and bloody list: the President of the United States himself."
As expected from a thriller/horror blend, the book itself is very gory, bloody and doesn’t let up throughout the book. There are deaths right the way through the book and all the victims of the Boogeyman are dying in gruesome ways. Cade is really tested to his limit in this book and Farnsworth has managed to make the book unpredictable, making it a very entertaining ride particularly as Cade and Zach are as strong characters as ever.
Farnsworth sets the book against the backdrop of an election campaign and it’s very interesting to see the political plotting of both sides and the lengths that they will do to control the White House. The political thriller aspect of Red White and Blood is very strong as well, and I would have enjoyed this book on its own if it was just a human serial killer being traced by an agent of the FBI in this political setting. But it’s more than that, the supernatural side of the book that Farnsworth brings to it manages to make it doubly entertaining, especially as vampires actually behave like monsters. There’s no Twilight nonsense here, and fans of the series will already be aware of what Cade is like as a vampire.
The book itself, much like the first one, has a very cinematic feel and at times you feel like you’re reading an action movie. This book fits right in with the books that you’ll find on display in airport shelves but it still remains a welcome addition to any horror or political thriller fan’s library, and that comes at a cost. There’s little room for character development, which is probably the only thing that I disliked about the book, as the characters are in some cases one dimensional and difficult to attach to as it feels like you’re reading a novelisation of a script. However, the premise is enough to draw you in – a vampire secret agent hunting a supernatural serial killer, complete with shadowy government conspiracies and an intense, thrilling read, you’ll soon find yourself not caring about the characters.
The book manages to be gripping, page-turning and very awesome. If, like I said above, horror and/or political thrillers are your thing, then you’ll want in on this book regardless of whether you’ve read Books One and Two. Superb stuff.
VERDICT: 4/5
May 25, 2012
Christopher Farnsworth’s third book in the Nathaniel Cade series, Red, White and Blood, isn’t that great. I’m not too surprised because even though I enjoyed the first book enormously, the second book is so-so and this one is just plain silly. An old foe of Cade’s called the Boogeyman (yes, really) is back and killing people. With the help of another enemy of Cade’s, the Boogeyman decides to kill President Curtis while he is campaigning in the 2012 election. Vampire Nathaniel Cade and his helper Zach Barrows are given the responsibility of protecting the president, stopping the killings and finding the Boogeyman.
I don’t like anything about this book. The writing seems awkward and boring and scenes don’t flow, especially the fighting/killing scenes. The witty, funny dialogue between Zach and Cade is completely gone and replaced by lame jokes. In fact, what made much of the first book so enjoyable is the not-quite-friendly relationship between Cade and Zach and that is practically non-existent in this book (as it is in the second book, The President’s Vampire, but for different reasons). As for the other relationships, Zach and Candace and Zach and his father, I wasn’t interested. I didn’t care for any of the characters and so was less than concerned about their safety. They are mostly one dimensional and represent either future Boogeyman victims or the Good Guys.
The biggest cause of my disinterest is the silly plot. The fact that the bad guy is called the Boogeyman just made me laugh. Really? This would have worked if Boogeyman is even remotely scary or creepy. Nope, he/it isn’t. Mostly he just seems like a spoiled, overgrown child pissed off about never getting his way and he takes his revenge by killing people. And not just any people—people having sex. If he can’t have sex, no one can have sex! So he sneaks up on a nice couple (well, almost always cheating spouses) and axes them in half. It gets boringly repetitive. I know as soon as a chapter begins with two newly introduced characters that: a) they are going to have sex and b) Boogeyman is going to show up and axe them before they can even enjoy a happy ending. I started skipping those scenes because it was yawn-worthy. Boogeyman is a very underdeveloped bad guy and he lacks the mad genius of the villains from the earlier books. He seems dumb and boring even though he is supposed to be some kind of soul-sucking demon from the Other Side. Yawn.
The Boogeyman plot takes place during the 2012 election in which incumbent President Curtis is struggling to keep ahead of his competitor, a Governor Seabrook. The political details are exhausting and annoying. We are just now entering what promises to be an ugly and annoying campaign in reality so the last thing I want to do is read about a fake one in this book. It’s not interesting and I don’t care. As a fan of Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart, I don’t appreciate the author including excerpts from their shows (fake excerpts, obviously). They are way more funny, smart, and witty than anything Farnsworth can write. He got close to capturing Colbert’s snarky tone, but totally bombed with Jon. Farnsworth, please let these two men handle their own material, okay?
Another aspect of the novel I think is overplayed is how scary and intimidating Cade supposedly is. There are a few scenes in which he intimidates people merely by showing his fangs. That’s it, fangs? Big whoop. Today’s culture is so inundated with vampires and werewolves that if someone tried to intimidate me by baring his fangs my first thought would be: who’s your dentist and how much did that cost? And if he proved to me beyond all doubts that he is a vampire, then I would probably be excited and ask if he watched True Blood and did he love Vampire Eric as much as I did? It really takes a lot to scare us these days and even though Farnsworth describes people feeling uneasy around Cade, as if they can sense something is off about him, I didn’t (at least in this book) get the impression that he is all that scary.
Overall, I found this book poorly written, boring and very disappointing. Even though the book ended with a bit of a cliff-hanger, I don’t care to read the next one. I’ve completely lost interest and there are too many other good books out there to read.
I don’t like anything about this book. The writing seems awkward and boring and scenes don’t flow, especially the fighting/killing scenes. The witty, funny dialogue between Zach and Cade is completely gone and replaced by lame jokes. In fact, what made much of the first book so enjoyable is the not-quite-friendly relationship between Cade and Zach and that is practically non-existent in this book (as it is in the second book, The President’s Vampire, but for different reasons). As for the other relationships, Zach and Candace and Zach and his father, I wasn’t interested. I didn’t care for any of the characters and so was less than concerned about their safety. They are mostly one dimensional and represent either future Boogeyman victims or the Good Guys.
The biggest cause of my disinterest is the silly plot. The fact that the bad guy is called the Boogeyman just made me laugh. Really? This would have worked if Boogeyman is even remotely scary or creepy. Nope, he/it isn’t. Mostly he just seems like a spoiled, overgrown child pissed off about never getting his way and he takes his revenge by killing people. And not just any people—people having sex. If he can’t have sex, no one can have sex! So he sneaks up on a nice couple (well, almost always cheating spouses) and axes them in half. It gets boringly repetitive. I know as soon as a chapter begins with two newly introduced characters that: a) they are going to have sex and b) Boogeyman is going to show up and axe them before they can even enjoy a happy ending. I started skipping those scenes because it was yawn-worthy. Boogeyman is a very underdeveloped bad guy and he lacks the mad genius of the villains from the earlier books. He seems dumb and boring even though he is supposed to be some kind of soul-sucking demon from the Other Side. Yawn.
The Boogeyman plot takes place during the 2012 election in which incumbent President Curtis is struggling to keep ahead of his competitor, a Governor Seabrook. The political details are exhausting and annoying. We are just now entering what promises to be an ugly and annoying campaign in reality so the last thing I want to do is read about a fake one in this book. It’s not interesting and I don’t care. As a fan of Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart, I don’t appreciate the author including excerpts from their shows (fake excerpts, obviously). They are way more funny, smart, and witty than anything Farnsworth can write. He got close to capturing Colbert’s snarky tone, but totally bombed with Jon. Farnsworth, please let these two men handle their own material, okay?
Another aspect of the novel I think is overplayed is how scary and intimidating Cade supposedly is. There are a few scenes in which he intimidates people merely by showing his fangs. That’s it, fangs? Big whoop. Today’s culture is so inundated with vampires and werewolves that if someone tried to intimidate me by baring his fangs my first thought would be: who’s your dentist and how much did that cost? And if he proved to me beyond all doubts that he is a vampire, then I would probably be excited and ask if he watched True Blood and did he love Vampire Eric as much as I did? It really takes a lot to scare us these days and even though Farnsworth describes people feeling uneasy around Cade, as if they can sense something is off about him, I didn’t (at least in this book) get the impression that he is all that scary.
Overall, I found this book poorly written, boring and very disappointing. Even though the book ended with a bit of a cliff-hanger, I don’t care to read the next one. I’ve completely lost interest and there are too many other good books out there to read.
May 9, 2012
Though I read and loved the first two books in this series, I was in no way prepared for just how amazing this book was going to be. Farnsworth has found his winning formula and it just keeps getting better and better. This is definitely my favorite of the three books in this series. The only downside is that we have to wait for the next one.
Though it could be compared to a lot of things, I think this series of books is not like anything else out there right now. Though the anti-hero is an often used concept, it has never been taken to this level. Nathaniel Cade, a vampire bound by blood to protect the President of the United States, is one of the most terrifying heroes ever conceived. Cade is quite simply one of the best characters I have ever read and the twisted buddy cop relationship with Zach is hilarious and brilliant on so many levels. The universe that Farnsworth has constructed is a masterwork. The concept of what Cade is and what he does is truly original. You can tell that the author has done his homework because the universe is built around so many concepts from actual historical events to shout outs to other fiction. Searching for these easter eggs is one of the most fun parts of reading these books.
The formula is basically Cade protecting the President by killing some really cool evil things. However that synopsis does no justice to the books because each book has been so unique. Each story stands on its own, completely different from the others. Though it basically boils down to Cade killing the bad guy, the twists and turns they take to get there are masterful and in my opinion, this one was the best. This plot was full of Mystery, Suspense, Political Intrigue, Action, Adventure, of course no small amount of horror, and in any one of these aspects this author can go toe to toe with the masters of the respective genres. This author’s interpretation of The Boogeyman is truly terrifying. I mean, this book basically boils down to vampire versus the patron saint of serial killers. What is more awesome and terrifying than that?
Candace frowned. “You’re pretty scary, Cade, but I seem to be doing okay so far.”
“No,” Cade said. “You’re not. I’m on your side. I’m leashed. And you’re still terrified of me. You literally cannot imagine living in a world where the things like me—the ones that do not have to obey and protect you—are part of your everyday life. You try, in your movies and your stories. You rehearse the Apocalypse over and over. And all of those efforts are too small. Too human to grasp what any of it would mean. Those stories still have heroes and hope. You cannot fathom what it would do to you, to actually live in that world. Could you kill your six-year-old child when she woke with blood on her lips? What would you do when you found the place in the cellar where your husband stored human flesh? Could you do what it takes?”
There are so many more great things I can say about this book but I will let you read it for yourself. I can say that this was one of the best books I have read in a while. I am officially a hardcore Christopher Farnsworth fan who will be counting the days until the next book comes out.
Though it could be compared to a lot of things, I think this series of books is not like anything else out there right now. Though the anti-hero is an often used concept, it has never been taken to this level. Nathaniel Cade, a vampire bound by blood to protect the President of the United States, is one of the most terrifying heroes ever conceived. Cade is quite simply one of the best characters I have ever read and the twisted buddy cop relationship with Zach is hilarious and brilliant on so many levels. The universe that Farnsworth has constructed is a masterwork. The concept of what Cade is and what he does is truly original. You can tell that the author has done his homework because the universe is built around so many concepts from actual historical events to shout outs to other fiction. Searching for these easter eggs is one of the most fun parts of reading these books.
The formula is basically Cade protecting the President by killing some really cool evil things. However that synopsis does no justice to the books because each book has been so unique. Each story stands on its own, completely different from the others. Though it basically boils down to Cade killing the bad guy, the twists and turns they take to get there are masterful and in my opinion, this one was the best. This plot was full of Mystery, Suspense, Political Intrigue, Action, Adventure, of course no small amount of horror, and in any one of these aspects this author can go toe to toe with the masters of the respective genres. This author’s interpretation of The Boogeyman is truly terrifying. I mean, this book basically boils down to vampire versus the patron saint of serial killers. What is more awesome and terrifying than that?
Candace frowned. “You’re pretty scary, Cade, but I seem to be doing okay so far.”
“No,” Cade said. “You’re not. I’m on your side. I’m leashed. And you’re still terrified of me. You literally cannot imagine living in a world where the things like me—the ones that do not have to obey and protect you—are part of your everyday life. You try, in your movies and your stories. You rehearse the Apocalypse over and over. And all of those efforts are too small. Too human to grasp what any of it would mean. Those stories still have heroes and hope. You cannot fathom what it would do to you, to actually live in that world. Could you kill your six-year-old child when she woke with blood on her lips? What would you do when you found the place in the cellar where your husband stored human flesh? Could you do what it takes?”
There are so many more great things I can say about this book but I will let you read it for yourself. I can say that this was one of the best books I have read in a while. I am officially a hardcore Christopher Farnsworth fan who will be counting the days until the next book comes out.
May 28, 2012
Every president of the United States for the past 140 years has had Nathaniel Cade at their service; a true and loyal patriot, hard worker, devout Christian and, did I mention, vampire? Nathaniel Cade, the indestructable monster that he is, swore an oath to protect the president, no matter what his party affiliation, no matter the personal consequences to himself, until the day he dies. And he's doing a pretty damn good job. The guy kicks ass.
Over the past century-and-a-half, Cade has conquered terrifiying creatures threatening the various presidents with bodily harm, except one. The Boogeyman. Every society has it's urban legend revolving around the boogeyman: he attacks unsuspecting paramours, he mutilates without conscience, he disappears without a trace, he's the godfather of all serial killers. And now, during an election year, in the middle of a grueling campaign, the Boogeyman has set his sights on the President of the United States.
In this third book of the series, Cade is not only battling the Boogeyman, he must endure that most punishing test of all: the campaign trial. Despite the loud objections from his "handler", Zach Barrows, Cade insists on traveling with the president in order to protect him. But, how do you hide a vampire in plain sight from the constituents and the rabid pack of journalists following the president? Given Cade's stoic disposition and glacial facial expressions, put him in a dark suit with sunglasses and a fake tan to hide his pallor and, voila, the perfect secret service agent. I loved it.
Surrounding the story with all the intrigue ubiquitous to a presidential campaign, the author has made Red, White and Blood an exciting political thriller with monsters. He brings back a couple of characters from earlier books. And we learn more about Cade's beginniings as the president's vampire. It's a fun book and I always enjoy the give and take between Barrows and Cade. The ending had a huge twist that I did not see coming but will make for a very interesting fourth book.
SPOILER
**********************************************************************************
Not to be a nit picker, but the Boogeyman's ability to disrupt car engines, telephones, electricality, etc would definitely affect that airplane engine at the end of the book. But, I loved the book and I won't let that detail bug me.
Over the past century-and-a-half, Cade has conquered terrifiying creatures threatening the various presidents with bodily harm, except one. The Boogeyman. Every society has it's urban legend revolving around the boogeyman: he attacks unsuspecting paramours, he mutilates without conscience, he disappears without a trace, he's the godfather of all serial killers. And now, during an election year, in the middle of a grueling campaign, the Boogeyman has set his sights on the President of the United States.
In this third book of the series, Cade is not only battling the Boogeyman, he must endure that most punishing test of all: the campaign trial. Despite the loud objections from his "handler", Zach Barrows, Cade insists on traveling with the president in order to protect him. But, how do you hide a vampire in plain sight from the constituents and the rabid pack of journalists following the president? Given Cade's stoic disposition and glacial facial expressions, put him in a dark suit with sunglasses and a fake tan to hide his pallor and, voila, the perfect secret service agent. I loved it.
Surrounding the story with all the intrigue ubiquitous to a presidential campaign, the author has made Red, White and Blood an exciting political thriller with monsters. He brings back a couple of characters from earlier books. And we learn more about Cade's beginniings as the president's vampire. It's a fun book and I always enjoy the give and take between Barrows and Cade. The ending had a huge twist that I did not see coming but will make for a very interesting fourth book.
SPOILER
**********************************************************************************
Not to be a nit picker, but the Boogeyman's ability to disrupt car engines, telephones, electricality, etc would definitely affect that airplane engine at the end of the book. But, I loved the book and I won't let that detail bug me.
May 31, 2012
Another FANTASTIC one in this very delicious series !!!! "Red, White, and Blood" is, so far, my favorite of the President's Vampire series. So much fun! Lots of scary action, lots of wit, a nice bit of sympathetic backstory for the main characters...just great! Excellent choice of bad guy this time, too...really nice touch...really tapped into that fear we all have from childhood, which might be why this one resonated with me a little more. Love how Farnsworth works in all these bits of history and faux history (I assume?) to back up his story. Totally got me with the ending....didn't see that one coming...great setup for the next one. AWESOME ! Also, kudos to Bronson Pinchot for another great job on the audiobook.
Ok...maybe one little request...would it kill you to throw a little more sex in Cade's direction? I mean, I love it the way it is, so I kind of don't want to mess with perfection, but.....
Ok...maybe one little request...would it kill you to throw a little more sex in Cade's direction? I mean, I love it the way it is, so I kind of don't want to mess with perfection, but.....
June 17, 2012
Great read - fast-paced, action-packed, fun in the right ways that only a horror/action thriller can and should be. Cade and Zach continue to be the most interesting dynamic duo in awhile, battling the forces of evil for the sake of the nation while balancing their senses of duty against the moral compromises necessary to carry out their roles. Farnworth's setting this story on the 2012 campaign trail (a very slightly veiled connection to the current race!!) where the villains are not always the ones considered "supernatural" was amusing and daring. Even better, he throws in a twist that shocked me and really excites me for the next chapter. Granted, stories where a vampire is bound to the White House and must protect the office from whatever evil comes it way may not be for everyone, but they work for me!
April 23, 2018
Mini-Review:
This book had me on a see-saw about Cade for about half the book. I kept wondering if the story was going to go in a bizarre direction. Instead, events fell into place to setup a whole different story and made me admire the way Farnsworth yanked on my emotional chain for the characters.
Where is book four!?!?! No way there won't be a ton of uncomfortable things happening in the next story. I foresee hellish politics for Zack and Cade.
This book had me on a see-saw about Cade for about half the book. I kept wondering if the story was going to go in a bizarre direction. Instead, events fell into place to setup a whole different story and made me admire the way Farnsworth yanked on my emotional chain for the characters.
Where is book four!?!?! No way there won't be a ton of uncomfortable things happening in the next story. I foresee hellish politics for Zack and Cade.
June 5, 2012
This was the best one yet. I've loved the series so far, but this one really left me asking when we can expect the next one. The action was non-stop and the setting within the 2012 Presidential campaign made it really feel current. If you like political thrillers combined with vampires and boogeymen, this is the book for you!
May 9, 2025
If this book comes out in next year it will be a great gift for finishing graduate school.
February 22, 2018
4.5 Stars
May 28, 2012
First off let it be known I am a Christopher Farnsworth fan. I love the Nathaniel Cade series. The first two in the series were simply great. This third installment, Red, White, and Blood - not so much. RWB just doesnt have the same excitement and pace the earlier stories had.
To start with, we read the series because of Cade, everyone else is in a supporting role. Way too much time was spent building the back story of Cade's young handler Zach. For the longest time the primary character of Cade is relegated to the background,to the point of almost being in consequential.
And, I'm sure the release of the book was timed purposely to sync up with the current presidentail elections. And with that the book suffers from guilt by association. I'm already sick of hearing the stupidity that goes along with a national election. I dont need to relive it again - I read books like this to escape the daily stupidity, not to be hammered by in a different medium.
Then there's the antagonist. In the prior books of the series these characters were scary in part because at some level they could have been lifted from this crazy world we live in - mad doctors, spies gone rogue, etc. In this case the scary guy is.... the Boogeyman. A character we learned to dismiss and laugh at as children.
With the past stories the author built Cade up as a tormented, souless James Bond trying to hang on to a bit of his distant humanity. With RWB the author reminds us Cade is above all things a monster. But he does it in such a way that its campy. He'll suck the blood of a souless, self serving paparazzi, but he draws the line at licking up spilt blood of a dead agent when he needs it to strenghthen himself in order to fulfill his mission of protecting the First Family.
Reading the fist two installments was like watching the 1950's Commando Cody tv serial. RWB doesnt continue that vein. It's like Mr. Farnsworth worked overtime to lose that rhythm this time. The profanity is kicked up a notch without adding any real value.
And once again what's not any where to be found is... Tanya, Cade's vampiric love insterest and protector. Come on, give us more action with Tanya already. Wouldnt Tanya have revelled in Cade's failure to hang onto his committment not to touch human blood? Or would she? Perhaps she would feel a sense of loss of hope once having observed that even Cade could fall victim to the ultimate weakness.
Don't get me wrong... I was really looking forward to this installment and I did enjoy it. It just wasnt up to the first two in the series.
The best part of the book - the ground it lays for the fourth installment. Just make sure Tanys gets some real estate this time.
To start with, we read the series because of Cade, everyone else is in a supporting role. Way too much time was spent building the back story of Cade's young handler Zach. For the longest time the primary character of Cade is relegated to the background,to the point of almost being in consequential.
And, I'm sure the release of the book was timed purposely to sync up with the current presidentail elections. And with that the book suffers from guilt by association. I'm already sick of hearing the stupidity that goes along with a national election. I dont need to relive it again - I read books like this to escape the daily stupidity, not to be hammered by in a different medium.
Then there's the antagonist. In the prior books of the series these characters were scary in part because at some level they could have been lifted from this crazy world we live in - mad doctors, spies gone rogue, etc. In this case the scary guy is.... the Boogeyman. A character we learned to dismiss and laugh at as children.
With the past stories the author built Cade up as a tormented, souless James Bond trying to hang on to a bit of his distant humanity. With RWB the author reminds us Cade is above all things a monster. But he does it in such a way that its campy. He'll suck the blood of a souless, self serving paparazzi, but he draws the line at licking up spilt blood of a dead agent when he needs it to strenghthen himself in order to fulfill his mission of protecting the First Family.
Reading the fist two installments was like watching the 1950's Commando Cody tv serial. RWB doesnt continue that vein. It's like Mr. Farnsworth worked overtime to lose that rhythm this time. The profanity is kicked up a notch without adding any real value.
And once again what's not any where to be found is... Tanya, Cade's vampiric love insterest and protector. Come on, give us more action with Tanya already. Wouldnt Tanya have revelled in Cade's failure to hang onto his committment not to touch human blood? Or would she? Perhaps she would feel a sense of loss of hope once having observed that even Cade could fall victim to the ultimate weakness.
Don't get me wrong... I was really looking forward to this installment and I did enjoy it. It just wasnt up to the first two in the series.
The best part of the book - the ground it lays for the fourth installment. Just make sure Tanys gets some real estate this time.
May 28, 2012
The third installment in the Nathaniel Cade series, Red, White and Blood is, in my opinion, the best of the first three. Granted the first one pulled me in, the second one was really good but this one continues to develop many of the characters introduced in the first two as well as some new ones seen first in this book. We continue to learn about Cade's life prior to present day, how he came to be who he is today. Zach Barrows also continues to develop, he really is the perfect counterpart to play against Nathaniel Cade. They play off of each other so well, it is very well written, the dialog is at times funny, serious, touching, all across the gamut of emotions. Yes, for some the premise may be absurd but frankly it's much more fun than some of the idiotic conspiracy theories that float about, plus Cade gives all these fantastical events something no one else has been able to do, believability. Christopher Farnsworth continues to improve, not that he needed to, and perfect his writing style, again, the characters are more complex and more intricately developed as well as the story line, it's written using present day events and you know it's well written because it's believable. It's not so outrageous that you couldn't actually see it happening, that, IMO is the sign of a well written fiction/fantasy novel. He knows his facts and inserts historical fact into the story line. It really is cool. Of course, our friend Cade, who is really just a brilliant character, is a vampire at heart. I won't say more so as not to spoil the fun for those who haven't read it. I just wished there were another 100 pages of story when i got to the end, but then I wished the same thing the when I finished the first two books.
June 5, 2012
Even Nathaniel Cade is worried this time.
The President is on the campaign trail when he receives a threat from the Boogeyman - the only being Cade has killed that refuses to stay dead. So what will our hero do, what will he do when the Commander in Chief insists on continuing his campaign for the White House - through all hours of night and day? With bodies piling up at each stop, Zach and Nathaniel have to move before the Boogeyman strikes again!
One of the first things Farnsworth got asked at his appearance at Murder by the Book was, “When will the next one be out?” His responded that he had just finished writing a stand alone novel and he was in the process of outlining the next Cade book. At the time, that answer seemed perfectly acceptable, but now I want to chain him to a desk until he’s finished writing the next book.
The last 10 pages of this book totally blew my mind!!!!!!
Come on, Christopher Farnsworth! You don’t really need to eat, sleep or spend time with you family do you???? WRITE MY BOOK!!!!!!!!
The President is on the campaign trail when he receives a threat from the Boogeyman - the only being Cade has killed that refuses to stay dead. So what will our hero do, what will he do when the Commander in Chief insists on continuing his campaign for the White House - through all hours of night and day? With bodies piling up at each stop, Zach and Nathaniel have to move before the Boogeyman strikes again!
One of the first things Farnsworth got asked at his appearance at Murder by the Book was, “When will the next one be out?” His responded that he had just finished writing a stand alone novel and he was in the process of outlining the next Cade book. At the time, that answer seemed perfectly acceptable, but now I want to chain him to a desk until he’s finished writing the next book.
The last 10 pages of this book totally blew my mind!!!!!!
Come on, Christopher Farnsworth! You don’t really need to eat, sleep or spend time with you family do you???? WRITE MY BOOK!!!!!!!!
September 22, 2019
This is the third book in the series and not my favorite. I think I just couldn't get past the fact that the main creature they were up against throughout the story was called the Boogeyman. (So many better name choices out there...just saying). I still really enjoy the main premise of this series which is that Cade is the President's Vampire. He and his handler Zack make a great team and the action in this book did not disappoint. Even though this was not my favorite, I will still continue with the series if another book is forthcoming. There are so many more adventures that these two could have together. It ended with a little unfinished business, so hope it goes on.
March 30, 2018
I really enjoyed this series, and I hope there will be more.
I listened to the audiobook for this one. Bronson Pinchot does an excellent job.
I listened to the audiobook for this one. Bronson Pinchot does an excellent job.
March 2, 2019
I liked it. I would have liked it more if the point of view of the politics was less central DNC. Im pretty sure that Samuel Curtis is like a non Muslim Obama. Also that hand waving of "people can't handle the supernatural" was supremely annoying. Yes, people could. Everything balances, and if the was horror, there would be amazement.
May 21, 2023
The previous book was more political history. This was dives more into the other kind of Darkness with serial killers and murders both fictional and real. Really enjoyed it.
May 29, 2012
This review is also posted at The Bawdy Book Blog
I don’t know about you, but I look at life and I laugh…a LOT. I snort in derision at the news, I find the things others do comical and as you may have guessed, I have a very sarcastic nature. I also like politics, but I’m wary of politicians….and I TOTALLY DIG VAMPIRES. When an author can hit all those sweet spots, they’ve won a fan in me. Christopher Farnsworth has managed to do that through not one, or even two, but THREE novels in his Nathaniel Cade series, and I’d place bets that his fourth will follow right behind (Chris, can you hurry up and write it already?!). It’s as if these books were made for me.
Red, White and Blood chronicles the third year Zach Barrows and Nathaniel Cade have been working together in above top-secret capacity to rid the United States (and sometimes the world) of paranormal threats against humanity. Cade, being the oath-bound vampire he is, is sworn to protect the President and his country – and all that entails. Zach, even though he’s in his third year on the job, still catches himself in a state of disbelief – that, you know, his life is THIS F*CKING SH*T. Gone is the simpering, egotistical staffer and in his place is a guy who would just like to get laid once in awhile…
Red, White and Blood is just so LOL funny. I mean that literally! The repartee between Zach and Cade is simply unmatched in any other book I’ve read. The best movie duo I can compare it to is Agents J and K in Men In Black. Zach is still as witty and sarcastic as ever and Cade….well I just love Cade. If Zach is in your face funny, Cade’s humor is subtle and understated, so much so that he might be funnier, without even trying. These two men – I’m sorry, scratch that – this man and this vampire are such a dynamic duo, that one is simply less without the other.
Now there is a killer stalking President Curtis’ 2012 campaign trail, someone something Cade not-so-lovingly refers to as The Boogeyman. The Boogeyman is such a great character. He is evil for the sake of being evil, and sometimes we just need a Good vs. Evil fight to the death (or….in this case Undeath?) to know what’s right in the world.
Farnsworth deftly introduces more characters in Red, White and Blood, while resurrecting a few oldies but goodies (not telling!) who would like to see their vengence fulfilled. He also continues to include the mini-prologues at the beginning of each chapter, something I absolutely love. There is one in particular – rally signs for a political campaign – that had me in such stitches, I had to read them to my stepmother over the phone. I love how Farnsworth can take current events (and even our history) and twist it with his imagination and still make it seem so real. The flashback scenes are so well done that it never disrupts the flow of the book and only aids in the telling of Cade’s story and the plot.
If Christopher Farnsworth quit writing books tomorrow, he could take up political journalism. His – for lack of a better word - mockery of American politics is stupendous, and all the while, he’s tossed in supernatural elements and it made the rallies and the campaign serious and funny all at the same time. I can’t begin to describe how much I loved the scenes on the campaign tour buses, or at the events, and all the while, I was nodding along, thinking, “This is absolutely perfect.” It never becomes a political novel, though, so don’t worry if you are someone who avoids things like that. Farnsworth simply uses politics as a means to an end in Red, White and Blood.
So now we’ve had:
Piecemeal Veteran zombies (Blood Oath)
Snake-head virus (The President’s Vampire)
The Boogeyman (Red, White and Blood)
What supernatural disaster will the author think up next? I impatiently await!
The ending…left me speechless. As it will you. Well played, Chris, well played.
I don’t know about you, but I look at life and I laugh…a LOT. I snort in derision at the news, I find the things others do comical and as you may have guessed, I have a very sarcastic nature. I also like politics, but I’m wary of politicians….and I TOTALLY DIG VAMPIRES. When an author can hit all those sweet spots, they’ve won a fan in me. Christopher Farnsworth has managed to do that through not one, or even two, but THREE novels in his Nathaniel Cade series, and I’d place bets that his fourth will follow right behind (Chris, can you hurry up and write it already?!). It’s as if these books were made for me.
Red, White and Blood chronicles the third year Zach Barrows and Nathaniel Cade have been working together in above top-secret capacity to rid the United States (and sometimes the world) of paranormal threats against humanity. Cade, being the oath-bound vampire he is, is sworn to protect the President and his country – and all that entails. Zach, even though he’s in his third year on the job, still catches himself in a state of disbelief – that, you know, his life is THIS F*CKING SH*T. Gone is the simpering, egotistical staffer and in his place is a guy who would just like to get laid once in awhile…
Red, White and Blood is just so LOL funny. I mean that literally! The repartee between Zach and Cade is simply unmatched in any other book I’ve read. The best movie duo I can compare it to is Agents J and K in Men In Black. Zach is still as witty and sarcastic as ever and Cade….well I just love Cade. If Zach is in your face funny, Cade’s humor is subtle and understated, so much so that he might be funnier, without even trying. These two men – I’m sorry, scratch that – this man and this vampire are such a dynamic duo, that one is simply less without the other.
Now there is a killer stalking President Curtis’ 2012 campaign trail, someone something Cade not-so-lovingly refers to as The Boogeyman. The Boogeyman is such a great character. He is evil for the sake of being evil, and sometimes we just need a Good vs. Evil fight to the death (or….in this case Undeath?) to know what’s right in the world.
Farnsworth deftly introduces more characters in Red, White and Blood, while resurrecting a few oldies but goodies (not telling!) who would like to see their vengence fulfilled. He also continues to include the mini-prologues at the beginning of each chapter, something I absolutely love. There is one in particular – rally signs for a political campaign – that had me in such stitches, I had to read them to my stepmother over the phone. I love how Farnsworth can take current events (and even our history) and twist it with his imagination and still make it seem so real. The flashback scenes are so well done that it never disrupts the flow of the book and only aids in the telling of Cade’s story and the plot.
If Christopher Farnsworth quit writing books tomorrow, he could take up political journalism. His – for lack of a better word - mockery of American politics is stupendous, and all the while, he’s tossed in supernatural elements and it made the rallies and the campaign serious and funny all at the same time. I can’t begin to describe how much I loved the scenes on the campaign tour buses, or at the events, and all the while, I was nodding along, thinking, “This is absolutely perfect.” It never becomes a political novel, though, so don’t worry if you are someone who avoids things like that. Farnsworth simply uses politics as a means to an end in Red, White and Blood.
So now we’ve had:
Piecemeal Veteran zombies (Blood Oath)
Snake-head virus (The President’s Vampire)
The Boogeyman (Red, White and Blood)
What supernatural disaster will the author think up next? I impatiently await!
The ending…left me speechless. As it will you. Well played, Chris, well played.
May 29, 2017
This has become one of those series where I could read fifty more. This was my favorite of the series. Sadly, there have been no more since 2012 when this one was published. The ending of this book left me with a "WTH" feeling. It was such a cliffhanger. I did not see it coming. What I liked the most about this book is Cade really seems to come to some kind of understanding that he is evil and always will be evil , but that is his role to play. He and only he can do do it. This was another audiobook and like with the other two Bronson Pinchot does a great job.
June 8, 2012
Red White and Blood by Christopher Farnsworth is another thrilling Nathaniel Cade thriller. Farnsworth has coined a new type of Vampire novel. His is a bold, bloody and historical murder story -both a thriller and detective story with our bad monster killing the even worse monster before they can threaten the United States. In Farnsworth's latest, Cade must go against an ancient demon who possesses a human host and turns him into a serial killing monster, who preys on women and men and kills them in violent sick ways.
As we know from the earlier books in this series, Nathaniel Cade is an apex predator, a Vampire, who has forsaken human blood, and has sworn a blood oath to protect the President from monsters and other supernatural threats against the United States. Since the 1840s he has lived below the White House and served the President secretly, with only a few people in the know.
Now the current president, Sam Curtis, is in the midst of a tough re-election fight and wants to go out on the road and campaign with his daughter Candace. The Boogeyman, as he is called, is on the hunt again with his blade and for some reason, which will be revealed in the novel, seems to be targeting the Curtis campaign, and its up to Cade and his handler, Zach Barrows, to find the evil monster and kill it before it can get to the President or his family. Cade and Barrows must clue in the Secret Service about Cade's otherworldly specialness and about the Boogeyman.
As Cade faces off against the Boogeyman, other characters from the series also make their appearances. There is Helen Hunt, the ex CIA agent, who had joined forces with the Boogeyman, to help it in killing Cade and the President. There is Les Wyman, the traitorous Vice President, who will stop at nothing to become President.
Cade must use all his wits and power to protect the President and his family and the Boogeyman will stop at nothing to kill. Its a fight between two monsters. Cade must make evil choices as well as to who will survive this showdown and he is never afraid to let a few humans die in pursuit of his goals.
The whirlwind plot sucks you in and propels you to the climatic battle aboard Air Force One, where the President's family is all alone except for Cade.
The final scenes of the novel are furiously paced, and the clever ending means there will be new thrills in the next Cade bloodfest.
These books are not to be missed by thriller or supernatural fans.
Farnswoth's Cade is a vampire killing monster who is going places.
As we know from the earlier books in this series, Nathaniel Cade is an apex predator, a Vampire, who has forsaken human blood, and has sworn a blood oath to protect the President from monsters and other supernatural threats against the United States. Since the 1840s he has lived below the White House and served the President secretly, with only a few people in the know.
Now the current president, Sam Curtis, is in the midst of a tough re-election fight and wants to go out on the road and campaign with his daughter Candace. The Boogeyman, as he is called, is on the hunt again with his blade and for some reason, which will be revealed in the novel, seems to be targeting the Curtis campaign, and its up to Cade and his handler, Zach Barrows, to find the evil monster and kill it before it can get to the President or his family. Cade and Barrows must clue in the Secret Service about Cade's otherworldly specialness and about the Boogeyman.
As Cade faces off against the Boogeyman, other characters from the series also make their appearances. There is Helen Hunt, the ex CIA agent, who had joined forces with the Boogeyman, to help it in killing Cade and the President. There is Les Wyman, the traitorous Vice President, who will stop at nothing to become President.
Cade must use all his wits and power to protect the President and his family and the Boogeyman will stop at nothing to kill. Its a fight between two monsters. Cade must make evil choices as well as to who will survive this showdown and he is never afraid to let a few humans die in pursuit of his goals.
The whirlwind plot sucks you in and propels you to the climatic battle aboard Air Force One, where the President's family is all alone except for Cade.
The final scenes of the novel are furiously paced, and the clever ending means there will be new thrills in the next Cade bloodfest.
These books are not to be missed by thriller or supernatural fans.
Farnswoth's Cade is a vampire killing monster who is going places.
September 19, 2017
If I could rate just the ending of this book, I would give it 4 stars. But for the first 3/4 if not 7/8, I was not very impressed. I loved the idea of the Boogeyman and how Farnsworth portrayed how he kept coming to life. That was amazing. If it hadn't been, I might be giving this book a 2 star or even 1 star rating.
The problems are two-fold:
One, everyone in this book (except Cade I guess) is having sex. Zach is getting some, the Secret Service guys are getting some, other people on Curtis' campaign are getting some, even . The Boogeyman goes around killing people doing it because 'sex = life' or whatever. Fine. That makes sense. But I don't need the backstory on the people fooling around before the Boogeyman kills them. Tell me how they're involved with the presidential campaign, not why they're cheating on their spouses. I don't care and I don't really want to know. Don't spend 2 pages giving this person's life story when in the next sentence they're going to get chopped in half! If you spend that much time on a character, they need more screen time! Also, way too many people were having affairs with each other/cheating on spouses. I am beyond sick of that.
Second, I didn't give a shit about anybody. Not even Zach in this one. Especially not Zach actually. Cade, meh. He didn't actually get a lot of page time in this one. We do get more of a struggle of his faith against his vampirism, and that was cool. But everyone else was predictable and lame. There were no surprises in this book. I saw 3 of the twists coming from a mile away, and that level of predictability really made me disinterested. It got to the point where I was like Yep, of course. Cuz why not? at almost everything I read. Everyone was making bad decisions and I spent more time reading about the crap (i.e sex) I didn't care about than the conflict that the book is supposed to focus on.
And yet somehow the ending made me want to pick up the fourth book, if there ever is one. I don't know how you do it Farnsworth. I don't even know what kept me reading to the end other than the fact that I paid for the book. If the whole thing had been written like the ending this book would have been amazeballs.
The problems are two-fold:
One, everyone in this book (except Cade I guess) is having sex. Zach is getting some, the Secret Service guys are getting some, other people on Curtis' campaign are getting some, even . The Boogeyman goes around killing people doing it because 'sex = life' or whatever. Fine. That makes sense. But I don't need the backstory on the people fooling around before the Boogeyman kills them. Tell me how they're involved with the presidential campaign, not why they're cheating on their spouses. I don't care and I don't really want to know. Don't spend 2 pages giving this person's life story when in the next sentence they're going to get chopped in half! If you spend that much time on a character, they need more screen time! Also, way too many people were having affairs with each other/cheating on spouses. I am beyond sick of that.
Second, I didn't give a shit about anybody. Not even Zach in this one. Especially not Zach actually. Cade, meh. He didn't actually get a lot of page time in this one. We do get more of a struggle of his faith against his vampirism, and that was cool. But everyone else was predictable and lame. There were no surprises in this book. I saw 3 of the twists coming from a mile away, and that level of predictability really made me disinterested. It got to the point where I was like Yep, of course. Cuz why not? at almost everything I read. Everyone was making bad decisions and I spent more time reading about the crap (i.e sex) I didn't care about than the conflict that the book is supposed to focus on.
And yet somehow the ending made me want to pick up the fourth book, if there ever is one. I don't know how you do it Farnsworth. I don't even know what kept me reading to the end other than the fact that I paid for the book. If the whole thing had been written like the ending this book would have been amazeballs.
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