The Devil in No Man's Land: 1917

The Department 19 Files #1

by Will Hill

A short story from the world of Department 19.

In 1891, Abraham Van Helsing and a group of friends faced Dracula, the world’s first vampire – and won. The survivors of that battle founded Department 19, and have been secretly saving the world ever since. A highly classified archive exists recording every act of bravery in that time.

That archive is now open. These are the Department 19 files.

Belgium, 1917.

Quincey Harker and his hand-picked Special Reconnaissance Team are behind enemy lines, scouting ahead of the big push that everyone knows is imminent. They think they are prepared for the worst case scenario; a village full of German soldiers, armed and waiting for them. But they're about to discover that there is something far worse in the darkness of no man's land, something beyond their understanding. Something with glowing red eyes, and gleaming white fangs…

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy

29 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 28, 2013

About the author

Before quitting his job in publishing to write full time, Will Hill worked as a bartender, a bookseller and a door-to-door charity worker. He grew up in the north-east of England, is scared of spiders, and lives in east London with his girlfriend. He is a big fan of cats.

Reviews

[Jaiveer Nalwa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this is a pretty good tie-in to the Department 19 series, It starts it's own spin-off off stories set in the same universe but in the early 90s. It was quick read and fits in with the plot of the main series. I recommend to anyone who likes Department 19 or just like sci-fi horror

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vampire hunters! Yay!

[Midu Hadi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thoughts about the Book

Belgium, 1917, during WWI, Quincey Harker and his Special Reconnaissance Team are out scouting a German-occupied village. But what they encounter is an enemy of a different kind. One with glowing red eyes and gleaming white fangs. This is Quincey’s first exposure to the vamp world.

Thoughts on this Series

Part of the series, The Department 19, by Will Hill, these novella are files from the department. Most of them fill us in on the background, like how the department came into being, who founded it, etc. Some are character studies and backstories. The department itself is a secret law enforcement agency keeping the human world safe from supernatural threats, formed by the OGs who fought Dracula way back when.

Review of Book 3 here

Also reviewed at WP

[Alex Folkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story will leave you wanting more. I read the first Department 19 File which I think should Have been the fourth. On Goodreads it says that The Secret History of a Teenage Vampire is the first D.19.F but I think you should read it last because D.19.F 2-4 are all about Captain HArker. This was an excellent book and I can't wait to read the next one.

[Kirsty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

absolutely brilliant