The Red Line

by M.N. Cox

It's 1997, and Vampires live alongside humans.
Sarina is conflicted. Being undead has its pluses, yet apart from her sister, her family can no longer relate to her. She has a supportive human boyfriend-but will that ever really work out?
Thankfully, Sarina can throw herself into work as a detective in the After Dark Department. With her partner, Donny, who is as annoying as he is good-looking, she upholds government regulations related to vamps.
But when something criminal goes down in little old Standfort, Sarina risks everything to solve the mystery. Even her darkest secret may be revealed.
There will be losses.

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

ebook

Published October 10, 2024

About the author

Morgan Cox, as M. N. Cox, writes paranormal mysteries where the supernatural lives among us and ordinary people stumble into darkness. Her stories feature flawed, resilient protagonists navigating violence, moral grey areas, and the occasional demon or vampire — all told in first person, because she likes getting inside complicated heads.

Shortlisted in Queensland Writers Centre's 15th Publishable program for her novel The Red Line, Morgan is also the author of The Strange Brew. She was born, bred, and proudly sets her fiction in Queensland, Australia.

When not writing, she's reading, plotting, or being supervised by fluffy oddballs while powered by endless cups of tea.

Reviews

[Ga.selle (Semi-hiatus) Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The first time I killed a vampire, it changed me. It's so powerful to take away such a commanding creature who would otherwise live forever. But finding and taking out vamps was my job, and I had grown well-accustomed to the feeling of it. I made my peace with it."

"Look, I was a vampire. Immortal. All I had was time, sure. But I couldn't have a family and raise children, so what else did I have to spend my time on? I threw myself into my job, and in my spare time, I had my little project to help keep the homes and streets of Standfort safe. It keeps me looking forward."

⚠️⚠️⚠️
Sarina Massey is a modern day vampire in Australia and works at Queensland After Dark Department. A big part of her job is catching and disposing of criminal vamps - esp those who turn humans into vampires illegally.
The Redline - is actually a brothel and their vamp menu includes humans and not just sex.
A light, humorous and quirky read - not much in the horror dept but more on thriller, mystery, suspense and a lil bit of romance thrown in. If you're stuck in the 90s like I am, you'll most probably appreciate the setting and song tracks mentioned. (For one-Alanis Morisette's 'You Oughta Know'- all the pent-up aggression and angst -iykyn)
I find the ending not that satisfying though? Guess there's going to be a sequel since the ending was too open ended. I need to know what happens to Donny and Will. 🤔


3.45 🌠
🌶️/5


Thanks to Netgalley and Victory Editing Netgalley Co-op for the arc 🖤

[Capucine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book review || The red line by M. N. Cox
Edition : ARC
Rating : 3.5/5⭐️
⚠️Spoiler free review⚠️

Key words : vampires, Australia, mystery, secrets

Thank you to M. N. Cox, the long hot spell and netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.
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In 1997, vampires live openly with humans in Australia. Sarina, a newly turned vampire, enjoys some perks of being undead, but her family—aside from her sister—can no longer relate to her. She has a supportive human boyfriend, but can that really last?
As a detective in the After Dark Department, Sarina works alongside her irritatingly handsome partner, Donny, enforcing vampire regulations. But when a crime shakes the quiet town of Standfort, Sarina risks everything to solve it, even if it means exposing her darkest secret. Losses are inevitable.
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The first few pages really drew me in and until the halfway point I couldn’t stop, then the story hit a somewhat boring point and it was very slow with the whole who is really in charge and how to get them. I skimmed through some chapters because I just wanted to know the names so that the story could resolve.
However I really liked the setting and the world building with everything regarding to vampire laws etc

[BookishBirb Mar · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ ARC review ✨
The Red Line by M.N. Cox

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🚫🌶️

Being a 90s kid I had to read this book. Vampires, murder, detectives… it was amazing.

The complexities of navigating the human & vampire world, politics, keeping to one’s own morals… it all gets very complicated when too many emotions come into play.
Sarina is a kick ass, strong FMC. A detective working for a special branch of the police, dealing with everything vampire. With a very good looking partner and a quasi-boyfriend she can’t seem to step back from.

The writing is fast paced and the characters lovable, as well as interesting. Keeping me enraptured till the very last page.
Some pages made me laugh, some had the hairs on my neck standing on end and overall I was at the edge of my seat.

I also really enjoyed M.N. Cox’s take on vampire/human society. With that, there is hopefully a lot more to come. I can’t wait to read more of Sarina, especially after that surprise at the very end.

[Lozzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you netgalley for the copy of this arc in exchange for an honest review.

So, you get to be a Vampire AND a detective? sign. me. up.

Listen. there was SO much to love about The Red Line. It was witty, somewhat suspenseful and had that 'uncertainty of who the killer was' kinda vibe that I really liked. Sarina is everything you want from a not-long-been-turned-a-vampire detective, at times she is incredibly human despite her vampire transition and that was something I really enjoyed about her. That self awareness, that made her very conscious of who she'd become was actually quite fascinating to me. She wasn't the most reliable narrator at times, and that's what made me warm up to her as a character. She's also a kiss ass member of a very special branch of police that mostly investigates rogue vampire incidents and she has an irritating yet hate-to-love relationship with her partnered colleague, she's also caught up in a romance with her long term school sweetheart who is still, well, very very human.

There is only one POV in this book, so you will experience everything from Sarina's POV. I thought this was a really well done mystery novel, and it was nice that this book was the one I got to read in order to dip my toe back into the mystery genre. I thought taking the vampire theme, and actually making a vampire central to the investigation and a part of WHAT keeps the town safe was a really nice touch. Also, it was set in Australia! and I've not read many vampire themes set in oz!

I have to admit though, I was left wanting more at the end - the finally chapter of the book just felt too open ended to me so I wish this was actually the start in a series overall! that twist at the end?! like pleaaaase tell me there is gonna be more!

[Megan Magee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sarina and Donny are partners in crime at the Queensland After Dark department. One of their main career expectations is to dispose of criminal vampires. Sarina is recently turned herself- but honestly, I often forgot that fact. She seemed to self aware of her own humanity, despite the glaring hilarity that she's a "monster" who has none. The Red Line is a brothel of sorts where humans AND vamps are on the menu- it's very reminiscent of True Blood in that aspect, I thought, which I love. I enjoyed this one on a small scale, honestly- I am assuming it just wasn't for me. Things I loved include the location, the 90's references and vibes, and the partnership relationship. There was a good amount of delightful humor and camaraderie that I enjoyed. The callbacks to other vamp pop culture- such as True Blood- was also fun. I didn't enjoy how slowly I felt the plot moved, and that this felt more detective and crime thriller noir than creep out gross fest. Again- I think I am such a mood reader that I put expectations on this to be something it wasn't.
Thank you so much to the author and publisher for the advance eARC!

[Tiffany (areyoutellingstories) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A vampire detective? Yes, please! I was all in from the beginning! Sarina is a vampire turned against her will. She is a detective for the After Dark Department, a branch is the government that keeps the criminal activities of vampires in check. Though some dark themes, this was a fun and quirky read. Sarina is still struggling with being turned and still very much human, which makes her a likeable character. That plot twist at the end will have me waiting on edge for a sequel!

[Jess Cullinan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this!! I love Vampires and I love police/detective books so this was like my perfect read. I think that Sarina and Donnys characters were really well written. Sometimes I was giggling at the one liners and other times I was gasping! I really had no idea how it was all going to come together but that ending!!! I can't wait to read more of the series 🙌🏼

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmmm interesting storyline - humans and vampires, detective agency. I couldn’t quite get connected to the world building nor the blood sucking elements. Thank you to the author. Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.

[Books_inthe_Batcave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the Australian setting & the nostalgic 90s vibes. Ahh the call back to Dolly magazine, such a staple in my teens.