The Vampire Files, Volume Three: 3 by P. N. Elrod

Vampire Files #7-8

by P.N. Elrod

Chicago is a rough town, even for the undead. But someone has to clean up the dirty burg, and Jack Flemming is just the vampire for the job. The Vampire Files, Volume Three includes two adventures featuring Chicago’s very own vampire P.I. as he cleans up the streets, one crook at a A Chill in the Blood and The Dark Sleep.

Genres: Mystery, Vampires, Fantasy, Horror, Fiction, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy

Paperback

First published January 4, 2011

About the author

Patricia Nead Elrod is an American fantasy writer specializing in novels about vampires. Her work falls into areas of fantasy and (in some cases) mystery or historical fiction, but normally not horror, since her vampires are the heroes. -Wikipedia

Reviews

[Sarah Downing · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do love this series.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

In all honesty, I really got tired of the ongoing story (carried over from the two preceeding books in the series). Every time I thought some resolution might happen, yet another person gets beat up or somebody gets shot or there's more running and hiding. I just wanted the plot to actually move forward; it really wasn't that all complex once you got through the violence and posturing. It also got frustrating how the hero just kept taking damage. Part of what I've liked about this series is the idea that the vampire isn't all powerful, but I didn't need to see him come this close to the edge quite so many times in such a short period of time. I actually ended up skimming a good part of this installment.

The second story in the compilation was a good return to what I enjoy about the series. Good mystery, good use of the characters, and a nice, tight, resolution.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had only read short stories featuring Fleming; and I am pleased that a full length novel held up.

Fleming makes reading about vampires fun again - yes, he does have the aversion to killing humans that is so common in literature anymore (but PN Elrod has been doing this for awhile now), but he has a solid flair that fits in nicely as a club owner in the the slightly-shady sides of depression-era Chicago.

This volume opens up after he has been viciously tortured by a gangster, and he finds himself both struggling to maintain control of his own violent tendencies and a mob - which he has temporarily inherited until the mob leader gets back on his feet. Fleming is not exactly happy to realize how easily he slips into the role of mob boss, either.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first book in the volume--A Chill in the Blood--as usual I thoroughly enjoyed. It broaches the subject of the corruption of the law enforcement authorities of the '30s and explains the rock and the hard place ordinary honest citizens (and vampire detectives) find themselves between. The second (and last) book in The Vampire Files, Volume Three, by P. N. Elrod, is The Dark Sleep which is one of those stories that I found myself mourning the fact that I'd finished it. It started rather slowly, but the characters were very interesting, so I didn't mind. But it definitely built by the end and I was unable to put it down.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love all of the Vampire Files books that I have read so far. They are sort of the hard-boiled detective in the 30s tale, except the detective is a vampire. This gives him a lot of abilities to help his friends and him self in sticky situations. He still gets the hell beaten out of him regularly.

I suck these books down like candy and can't wait for more. For fun, gangs, and nightclubs, these cannot be beat!

[Kerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would have been better if books 6 & 7 had been packaged together since they constitute a single long story. But book 6 was in Volume 2 and this was still a good read.

[Anika · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well its more than just ok but not quite "really liked" but very interesting so I give it 3.5 stars.

[Erika · Rating 4 out of 5]

More Jack Fleming fun.