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The Department 19 Files #2
Undead in the Eternal City: 1918
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.
Rome, 1918.
The Great War is over, but the world is in the grip of a Spanish Influenza pandemic, and people are dying in their millions. Quincey Harker and his Special Reconnaissance Squad recuperating in Rome, trying their hardest to drink away their memories. But they are not the only visitors to the Eternal City: Valeri Rusmanov, the oldest and most powerful vampire on earth, and his wife are roaming the dark streets on a ghastly holiday, delighting in the death that surrounds them, soaking in the sounds of the sick, feasting on innocent blood… and about to cross paths with Quincey and his men.
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.
Rome, 1918.
The Great War is over, but the world is in the grip of a Spanish Influenza pandemic, and people are dying in their millions. Quincey Harker and his Special Reconnaissance Squad recuperating in Rome, trying their hardest to drink away their memories. But they are not the only visitors to the Eternal City: Valeri Rusmanov, the oldest and most powerful vampire on earth, and his wife are roaming the dark streets on a ghastly holiday, delighting in the death that surrounds them, soaking in the sounds of the sick, feasting on innocent blood… and about to cross paths with Quincey and his men.
26 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 7, 2013
6 people are currently reading
418 people want to read
About the author
Will Hill
53 books577 followersBefore 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.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 18, 2026
Thoughts about the Book
In 1918, Rome is playing host to the Spanish Influenza pandemic. Quincey Harker’s squad is also there, recovering from the trauma of the WWI. And that’s also when Valeri Rusmanov decides to take a holiday!
With so many deaths already, who’d look into a few more that the vampire would leave behind. Our exhausted soldiers, that’s who!
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 4 here
Also reviewed at WP
In 1918, Rome is playing host to the Spanish Influenza pandemic. Quincey Harker’s squad is also there, recovering from the trauma of the WWI. And that’s also when Valeri Rusmanov decides to take a holiday!
With so many deaths already, who’d look into a few more that the vampire would leave behind. Our exhausted soldiers, that’s who!
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 4 here
Also reviewed at WP
January 27, 2015
Enjoyed this short story immensely.
March 26, 2015
This continues the series of Department 19 tie-ins and starts to explore more of the past. It works as a prequel to the main series. It's pretty good but the first one was better
July 24, 2014
One of the best File I read. Much better than the last Quincy Harper Novella. More intense and action-packed. Can't wait for the third installment.
November 17, 2016
these books just keep getting better and better. i love them.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews