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The Vampire and... #1
The Vampire and the P.I.: The Vampire and, Book 1
Sean Martin, a private detective living in the shadow of a false rape charge, gets a shot at vindication when he is hired by Master Vampire Rafael Barrantes to solve the murder of a young male escort.
Meeting the stunning Arturo Menendez, Rafael’s private secretary is the beginning of a whole new life and sexual experience for Sean. Together, they try to untangle a vicious web of lies and deceit that might, even while he is protected by Arturo’s vampire powers, lead Sean to a grisly death.
Meeting the stunning Arturo Menendez, Rafael’s private secretary is the beginning of a whole new life and sexual experience for Sean. Together, they try to untangle a vicious web of lies and deceit that might, even while he is protected by Arturo’s vampire powers, lead Sean to a grisly death.
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First published June 3, 2015
23 people are currently reading
127 people want to read
About the author
J.P. Bowie
136 books232 followersJ.P. Bowie was born and raised in Aberdeen, Scotland. He wrote his first (unpublished) novel – a science fiction tale of brawny men and brawnier women that made him a little suspect in the eyes of his family for a while.
Leaving home at age eighteen for the bright lights of London, he found himself in the midst of a “diverse and creative crowd” that eventually led him to the performing arts. For the next twelve years he sang, danced and acted his way around the theatres of London and the provinces, appearing in shows with many famous British singers, actors and comedians.
After immigrating to the US and living for many years in Las Vegas where he worked for that incomparable duo, Siegfried and Roy, J.P. found himself entranced by the fair city of San Diego where he currently lives with his partner, Phil.
J.P. loves to hear from his readers and can be contacted at jpbowie@cox.net
Leaving home at age eighteen for the bright lights of London, he found himself in the midst of a “diverse and creative crowd” that eventually led him to the performing arts. For the next twelve years he sang, danced and acted his way around the theatres of London and the provinces, appearing in shows with many famous British singers, actors and comedians.
After immigrating to the US and living for many years in Las Vegas where he worked for that incomparable duo, Siegfried and Roy, J.P. found himself entranced by the fair city of San Diego where he currently lives with his partner, Phil.
J.P. loves to hear from his readers and can be contacted at jpbowie@cox.net
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
July 27, 2016
4.5 star review by The Blogger Girls.
What a fun story this was! I picked it up when I saw the sequel, The Vampire and the G.I., was coming out, and boy was I glad I had them both ready to go. If you were a fan of the older paranormal stories, such as the Argeneau series from Lyndsay Sands, or the Night Huntress series by Jeaniene Frost, you will surely enjoy this one. It had that feel to it, with the added bonus of m/m and some really hot sex scenes.
It is the story of Sean, now a private investigator after he was set up and forced out of his job as a police detective. Sean is a super nice guy, even after all he’s been through and is just trying to get his life back on track when Master Vampire Rafael hires him to solve a murder mystery.
It is about 20 or so years in the future and vampires have been outed to the public and are struggling for rights much in the same way gay people are today. Sean hasn’t had much contact with them up to this point, but when he meets Rafael’s secretary, Arturo, he gets a quick lesson in the benefits of having a vampire lover. The vampires are all gorgeous, sophisticated, sexy, powerful, yet humble. They generally don’t flaunt any of it. They don’t really have to and it made them quite interesting.
While there is some seriousness surrounding the story, the characters all have a very comfortable feel to them and were a joy to read about. There is little angst involved, even as Sean adjusts to life with a Vampire. Arturo is super sweet and I really loved watching him and Sean fall for each other. Their chemistry is off the charts and things even get a little kinky now and then. There is a good mix of case solving to go with the relationship and smexy times.
This story was very well written and was so much fun to read that I finished it in a day and couldn’t wait to jump right into the next one, which was just as good as this, btw. I highly recommend them both. This was my first story by this author, and I will definitely be looking for more in the future. I’m really hoping there will be another one in this world.
October 22, 2015
This is a terrific book. Well-written, fast-paced, sexy and exciting. I had the pleasure of hearing the author JP Bowie do a reading from the book at GRL 2015 in San Diego and I was so impressed I went right out and bought the book. Glad I did. If vampires and cops and private investigators are your thing, give this story a try. You won't be disappointed. Love the cover too. From Wilde City Press.
August 13, 2016
Imagine we're back in the 80s...
Sean is a former cop, down on his luck. He is working as a P.I. after a shooting incident left him with a bad hip and a sour attitude.
But this is not all, OH NO, Sean is also living in a world where there is vampires (stupid CIA-dude, letting that slip to the press). AND Sean's former colleague -Jon Balfour- HATED him with a passion, and made sure he was accused of rape of a minor (it was kept out of the press because the father of the minor was someone influential), but Sean was smacked with a restraining order (so he couldn't clear his name) and almost all of his old friends have now forgotten him...
BUT THEN Rafael (the vampire Lord) makes his entrance and hires Sean for a case, that the police have forgotten to investigate. The murder of Rafael's lover Julian!
And guess who was investigating before the case was ruled a suicide?!
Even though Rafael is a vampire and puts his 'MOVES' on Sean, they do not end up together. No no, when Sean meets Arturo -Rafael's secretary- stars are aligning, birds are singing and the wind is blowing a gentle breeze.
After this follows a hunt for the killer of Julian and Sean attempting to clear his name. The reason I'm calling this an 80s-read is the plot AND the language. Ayayay!
It was clumsy and stiff in some places. I get that Arturo was from Catalonia AND like 300 years old, but it was so choppy to get through. JUST like watching an 80s movie where the dialogue wasn't on point.
And the plot! I've read this plot before, and it wasn't bad, but when you have that choppy dialogue, sex scenes where there are suddenly legs and chest where there shouldn't be, (check your positions people, you can google that stuff) an evil guy , and chemistry I thought was going somewhere else, it doesn't make it a 4-star read for me.
All that said, I didn't hate this book! It kept me entertained, and I loved that Arturo and Sean took their time with the L-word but this is a vampire novel, so some things are allowed in relation to RELATIONS (heh) -IMO.
This was actually one of the better books I've read in a while, because it was entertaining. Yes, there are issues, and no I did not read everything word-word-for-word, but I will read the second one. Just to find out how everything turns out for Rafael...
BTW this book might taste of the 80s BUT it takes place in the future and WHAT THE FUCK IS IT WITH THE DISAPPEARING CLOTHES???
Sean is a former cop, down on his luck. He is working as a P.I. after a shooting incident left him with a bad hip and a sour attitude.
But this is not all, OH NO, Sean is also living in a world where there is vampires (stupid CIA-dude, letting that slip to the press). AND Sean's former colleague -Jon Balfour- HATED him with a passion, and made sure he was accused of rape of a minor (it was kept out of the press because the father of the minor was someone influential), but Sean was smacked with a restraining order (so he couldn't clear his name) and almost all of his old friends have now forgotten him...
BUT THEN Rafael (the vampire Lord) makes his entrance and hires Sean for a case, that the police have forgotten to investigate. The murder of Rafael's lover Julian!
And guess who was investigating before the case was ruled a suicide?!
Even though Rafael is a vampire and puts his 'MOVES' on Sean, they do not end up together. No no, when Sean meets Arturo -Rafael's secretary- stars are aligning, birds are singing and the wind is blowing a gentle breeze.
After this follows a hunt for the killer of Julian and Sean attempting to clear his name. The reason I'm calling this an 80s-read is the plot AND the language. Ayayay!
It was clumsy and stiff in some places. I get that Arturo was from Catalonia AND like 300 years old, but it was so choppy to get through. JUST like watching an 80s movie where the dialogue wasn't on point.
And the plot! I've read this plot before, and it wasn't bad, but when you have that choppy dialogue, sex scenes where there are suddenly legs and chest where there shouldn't be, (check your positions people, you can google that stuff) an evil guy , and chemistry I thought was going somewhere else, it doesn't make it a 4-star read for me.
All that said, I didn't hate this book! It kept me entertained, and I loved that Arturo and Sean took their time with the L-word but this is a vampire novel, so some things are allowed in relation to RELATIONS (heh) -IMO.
This was actually one of the better books I've read in a while, because it was entertaining. Yes, there are issues, and no I did not read everything word-word-for-word, but I will read the second one. Just to find out how everything turns out for Rafael...
BTW this book might taste of the 80s BUT it takes place in the future and WHAT THE FUCK IS IT WITH THE DISAPPEARING CLOTHES???
July 6, 2017
Well this was just fun! I was in the mood for a vampire romance (so much of what I read is wolf/bear/etc. shifter, which I LOVE but c'mon, let's give more love to some gay vampires!) and this fit the bill perfectly.
I enjoyed the romance, I enjoyed the mystery and plot going on, and I liked the characters. I really enjoyed the seriousness of Sean the human with the light-hearted, joking vibrancy of Arturo the vampire. I thought it was well-written, had a great pace to it, and I'm looking forward to picking up the next book in the series.
I enjoyed the romance, I enjoyed the mystery and plot going on, and I liked the characters. I really enjoyed the seriousness of Sean the human with the light-hearted, joking vibrancy of Arturo the vampire. I thought it was well-written, had a great pace to it, and I'm looking forward to picking up the next book in the series.
November 10, 2015
J.P. Bowie offers up a fresh take on the vampire genre, and an interesting murder mystery. I liked his character Sean Martin a good deal, and sympathized with the unhappy position in which he finds himself – betrayed by a former colleague in a way that shames and nearly breaks him. Lonely and down on his luck, Sean needs a break.
Set in Los Angeles a generation in the future, Sean is approached by a powerful vampire named Rafael Barrantes. While Barrantes, all aloof politesse and brooding good looks, never becomes much more than an aristocratic straight man (as it were), his secretary and longtime friend Arturo Menendez sweeps into the picture like a 1940s diva and steals the scene. The two-hundred year old Catalan vampire becomes Sean’s instant lover and sometime sidekick. I liked the way Bowie contrasts the relationship between Arturo and Rafael with Arturo’s impulsive romance with Sean. The modern take on vampiric powers and weakness (sunlight bad, but they can fly, drink wine and read minds) is entertaining, but I yearned for a little more about the vampire place in society. Clearly in this future world, vampires have replaced gay folk as the number one target of bigots and fundamentalists. Bowie gives us some of this, but I would have loved to have more. Strangely, there is virtually no cool new technology in 2034 (when I’ll be 81!), which was a minor let-down. If you’re going to the trouble to set your story in the future, there really ought to be a few good gadgets.
I enjoyed the book thoroughly, but I was never charmed by the writing, and was actually a little put off by all the sex, which was, for me, redundant and clumsily described. Of course Arturo and Sean’s passion for each other is important, as is Sean’s awakening to the possibilities of a real romance with this charming undead lothario from centuries ago. But Bowie’s sexual descriptions slip into bodice-ripper clichés, and while the sex is described as emotionally intense, it never actually felt emotionally intense as I read it.
Three stars is a good rating from me. I really liked the vampire as reimagined by J.P. Bowie, and appreciated both the plot and the characters. Sean and Arturo deserve more page time, and perhaps we’ll see a sequel.
Set in Los Angeles a generation in the future, Sean is approached by a powerful vampire named Rafael Barrantes. While Barrantes, all aloof politesse and brooding good looks, never becomes much more than an aristocratic straight man (as it were), his secretary and longtime friend Arturo Menendez sweeps into the picture like a 1940s diva and steals the scene. The two-hundred year old Catalan vampire becomes Sean’s instant lover and sometime sidekick. I liked the way Bowie contrasts the relationship between Arturo and Rafael with Arturo’s impulsive romance with Sean. The modern take on vampiric powers and weakness (sunlight bad, but they can fly, drink wine and read minds) is entertaining, but I yearned for a little more about the vampire place in society. Clearly in this future world, vampires have replaced gay folk as the number one target of bigots and fundamentalists. Bowie gives us some of this, but I would have loved to have more. Strangely, there is virtually no cool new technology in 2034 (when I’ll be 81!), which was a minor let-down. If you’re going to the trouble to set your story in the future, there really ought to be a few good gadgets.
I enjoyed the book thoroughly, but I was never charmed by the writing, and was actually a little put off by all the sex, which was, for me, redundant and clumsily described. Of course Arturo and Sean’s passion for each other is important, as is Sean’s awakening to the possibilities of a real romance with this charming undead lothario from centuries ago. But Bowie’s sexual descriptions slip into bodice-ripper clichés, and while the sex is described as emotionally intense, it never actually felt emotionally intense as I read it.
Three stars is a good rating from me. I really liked the vampire as reimagined by J.P. Bowie, and appreciated both the plot and the characters. Sean and Arturo deserve more page time, and perhaps we’ll see a sequel.
April 27, 2017
The Vampire and the P.I. by J.P. Bowie is a nicely done story about adjusting attitudes and realigning your inaccurate perceptions about a different race; in this case, a paranormal race.
After being falsely accused of and unjustly maligned over an empty charge of under age rape, Sean Martin has found that the private investigation business he started after being wounded in the line of duty is at a standstill. With no other clients in sight, he is forced to take a job from one of the head vampires in the area, and track down the reasons why his human lover seemingly committed suicide. As Sean learns more, he begins to discover that there have been some very clever maneuvers made by a cop he has not trusted in quite a long time; in fact, the same cop who was responsible for spreading the false charges against him.
Now, with the help of another vampire, Sean is in a race against time to track down who or what killed his client’s lover. What he doesn’t count on is the incredible attraction he feels for Arturo, and while he can’t discount that it may just be a glamour effect that vampires are known to use on humans, he knows deep in his heart that he is falling for a creature he never would have suspected to be so attractive to him.
It’s funny how sometimes novels written prior to this political climate can be so very timely even today. Beyond the fact that this novel could substitute just about any marginalized group, from LGBT to a minority race, in lieu of the vampires stands as a testament to this author’s ability to write a timeless setting for his paranormal story. But even beyond its commenting on how easy it is for any of us to find racial motivations to hate another person, it also allows for the idea that a person can discover that fact about themselves and begin to change. For Sean, he works against the tide on many issues, not only as a gay former police detective but also as someone who never thought he would be attracted to a member of the vampire community. It is nice to watch his perceptions change and to hear him admit to himself that he was wrong about the vampires, on many levels.
Beyond the social or political overtones in this novel, there is a very good mystery at its heart. The pacing is swift, the action is dangerous and slow building, and the characters draw us into their story right away. While I must admit I’m not always a fan of a lot of sex in a story, this one was fairly well balanced, and the interactions that occurred between Arturo and Sean helped to move the plot along, in many cases. A surprising side benefit of experiencing their growing attraction was the fact that J.P. Bowie opted not to focus mostly on the paranormal aspects of the vampire community, but instead, highlighted the intimate interactions between his two main characters. As a result, we weren’t offered just another run-of-the-mill vampire story, but rather, the opportunity to watch the building of a relationship, and that made this novel more interesting in the long run.
The flaws in this story were minor and yet, one cannot overlook the fact that so much of Arturo’s back-story was quickly brushed over, making him rather one-dimensional at times. Sean was a much more interesting character, especially when it came to his run-ins with his archenemy, a fellow detective still on the force. Perhaps it was intentional on the author’s part to have Arturo remain so emotionally aloof, in terms of his history, but I felt in the end it made the story suffer a bit.
The re-release of The Vampire and the P.l. reminds readers that love can come upon us when we are most unaware and often not looking for it, and that our perceptions of people are often false when we only look skin deep. It is a cautionary tale in some ways that gently chides us for forgetting to look beyond the surface, for it is often beneath that where real love is experienced.
Reviewed by Sammy for The Novel Approach
After being falsely accused of and unjustly maligned over an empty charge of under age rape, Sean Martin has found that the private investigation business he started after being wounded in the line of duty is at a standstill. With no other clients in sight, he is forced to take a job from one of the head vampires in the area, and track down the reasons why his human lover seemingly committed suicide. As Sean learns more, he begins to discover that there have been some very clever maneuvers made by a cop he has not trusted in quite a long time; in fact, the same cop who was responsible for spreading the false charges against him.
Now, with the help of another vampire, Sean is in a race against time to track down who or what killed his client’s lover. What he doesn’t count on is the incredible attraction he feels for Arturo, and while he can’t discount that it may just be a glamour effect that vampires are known to use on humans, he knows deep in his heart that he is falling for a creature he never would have suspected to be so attractive to him.
It’s funny how sometimes novels written prior to this political climate can be so very timely even today. Beyond the fact that this novel could substitute just about any marginalized group, from LGBT to a minority race, in lieu of the vampires stands as a testament to this author’s ability to write a timeless setting for his paranormal story. But even beyond its commenting on how easy it is for any of us to find racial motivations to hate another person, it also allows for the idea that a person can discover that fact about themselves and begin to change. For Sean, he works against the tide on many issues, not only as a gay former police detective but also as someone who never thought he would be attracted to a member of the vampire community. It is nice to watch his perceptions change and to hear him admit to himself that he was wrong about the vampires, on many levels.
Beyond the social or political overtones in this novel, there is a very good mystery at its heart. The pacing is swift, the action is dangerous and slow building, and the characters draw us into their story right away. While I must admit I’m not always a fan of a lot of sex in a story, this one was fairly well balanced, and the interactions that occurred between Arturo and Sean helped to move the plot along, in many cases. A surprising side benefit of experiencing their growing attraction was the fact that J.P. Bowie opted not to focus mostly on the paranormal aspects of the vampire community, but instead, highlighted the intimate interactions between his two main characters. As a result, we weren’t offered just another run-of-the-mill vampire story, but rather, the opportunity to watch the building of a relationship, and that made this novel more interesting in the long run.
The flaws in this story were minor and yet, one cannot overlook the fact that so much of Arturo’s back-story was quickly brushed over, making him rather one-dimensional at times. Sean was a much more interesting character, especially when it came to his run-ins with his archenemy, a fellow detective still on the force. Perhaps it was intentional on the author’s part to have Arturo remain so emotionally aloof, in terms of his history, but I felt in the end it made the story suffer a bit.
The re-release of The Vampire and the P.l. reminds readers that love can come upon us when we are most unaware and often not looking for it, and that our perceptions of people are often false when we only look skin deep. It is a cautionary tale in some ways that gently chides us for forgetting to look beyond the surface, for it is often beneath that where real love is experienced.
Reviewed by Sammy for The Novel Approach
August 14, 2019
A new author to me and a vampire story to boot.
Hired by a vampire to investigate his friends death, Sean meets Arturo.What follows is alot of sex with a mystery and investigation in between.
A nice start to the series and I will definitely bee reading more.
Hired by a vampire to investigate his friends death, Sean meets Arturo.What follows is alot of sex with a mystery and investigation in between.
A nice start to the series and I will definitely bee reading more.
July 23, 2015
5 Heart Review by Kimberley
I absolutely adore this author’s vampire books. When it comes to vampires, this author to me, is the Anne Rice of the M/M genre. His vampire characters are these gorgeous, charismatic, wealthy, sophisticated, powerful, loving and dangerous creatures with their equally beautiful partners. These vamps are powerful yet vulnerable where their lovers are concerned. I fell in love with the series with the first page of the first book up until this one. Although this book is not wholly part of the Vampire and I series, it’s a part of that world as it mentions the characters from the other books in the series. They also can be read as standalone in any order but it’s best to read them in sequential order to keep track of the many wonderful characters.
This book gives us Sean, a former cop who left the force after being badly wounded while in the line of duty. He was able to still keep his finger on the pulse of law enforcement with a successful private investigations business. He was happy and content, his new career was taking off until a nasty rumor and false allegations of sexual misconduct with the minor son of a congressman derailed it. He damn near lost it all until the sexy, sophisticated, wealthy and charismatic master vamp Rafael Barrantes enters his office and hires him to uncover the truth behind the death of his human lover, Julian. He’s not crazy about working for the vampire but he figures what the hell, he’s broke and he has nothing else to lose.
The ensuing investigation reveals a cover up and with it puts Sean in a lot of danger but he has a partner of sorts, in the form of another vamp. Arturo is Rafael’s sexy and seductive personal assistant. I loved these two together. Sean never thought about being with a vampire before. He didn’t dislike them, he just never gave them much thought before. He was a little leery of them, sure but he never really interacted with one until he started working for Rafael.
Poor Sean catches a whole lot of hell while uncovering the truth behind Julian’s murder. A lot. I loved the fact that Arturo and Sean worked as a team. These two men are perfect for each other. Arturo is sexual dynamite and Sean is right there with him although Arturo overwhelmed him a bit initially. This book, as with all of this author’s books are really well written. You will absolutely become addicted with these sexy sophisticated vamps. If you’re looking for a well written murder mystery mixed in with suspense, hot and sexy vampires, then I would definitely recommend this book and this series.
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
I absolutely adore this author’s vampire books. When it comes to vampires, this author to me, is the Anne Rice of the M/M genre. His vampire characters are these gorgeous, charismatic, wealthy, sophisticated, powerful, loving and dangerous creatures with their equally beautiful partners. These vamps are powerful yet vulnerable where their lovers are concerned. I fell in love with the series with the first page of the first book up until this one. Although this book is not wholly part of the Vampire and I series, it’s a part of that world as it mentions the characters from the other books in the series. They also can be read as standalone in any order but it’s best to read them in sequential order to keep track of the many wonderful characters.
This book gives us Sean, a former cop who left the force after being badly wounded while in the line of duty. He was able to still keep his finger on the pulse of law enforcement with a successful private investigations business. He was happy and content, his new career was taking off until a nasty rumor and false allegations of sexual misconduct with the minor son of a congressman derailed it. He damn near lost it all until the sexy, sophisticated, wealthy and charismatic master vamp Rafael Barrantes enters his office and hires him to uncover the truth behind the death of his human lover, Julian. He’s not crazy about working for the vampire but he figures what the hell, he’s broke and he has nothing else to lose.
The ensuing investigation reveals a cover up and with it puts Sean in a lot of danger but he has a partner of sorts, in the form of another vamp. Arturo is Rafael’s sexy and seductive personal assistant. I loved these two together. Sean never thought about being with a vampire before. He didn’t dislike them, he just never gave them much thought before. He was a little leery of them, sure but he never really interacted with one until he started working for Rafael.
Poor Sean catches a whole lot of hell while uncovering the truth behind Julian’s murder. A lot. I loved the fact that Arturo and Sean worked as a team. These two men are perfect for each other. Arturo is sexual dynamite and Sean is right there with him although Arturo overwhelmed him a bit initially. This book, as with all of this author’s books are really well written. You will absolutely become addicted with these sexy sophisticated vamps. If you’re looking for a well written murder mystery mixed in with suspense, hot and sexy vampires, then I would definitely recommend this book and this series.
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
October 28, 2015
Reviewed for Rainbow Gold Reviews 9/10 pots of gold. A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.
This is the first book I ever read from this author, and I’ll start by saying I definitely want to read more. I have become a big fan of mystery in the m/m romance and gay fiction genres. I enjoy trying to figure out whodunnit along with the detectives and watch how they uncover the details of the crime. This story had a bonus of being paranormal in nature as well. It takes place in a modern day setting in what would seem like our world, only vampires are known to exist. They live side by side with humans, and are faced with prejudices against them because of what they are; which makes them very relatable in a world already filled with discrimination against people of different races, genders, and sexuality.
Sean is the type of character I really enjoy reading about. Someone who’s down on their luck just waiting for things to take a turn for the better. After being honorably discharged from the police department and starting his career as a private investigator, he is framed for statutory rape and disgraced among his former police officers. It leads to loss of respect and business. He is struggling to keep his home when Rafael comes to him with a case.
Though Rafael isn’t an mc in the romantic aspect, he is a big part of the story. Even as a wealthy and powerful vampire, he is looked down and even suspected of killing his lover Julian. Julian isn’t an innocent in this story. He sleeps around with rich men looking for his meal ticket, but keeps all emotions at bay. Rafael loves Julian and can see some details of the human’s death but not everything so he needs someone who knows how to delve deep into a murder investigation. He seems to kill two birds by hiring Sean. Finding out who murdered Julian and also matchmaking the detective with his vampire assistant who has been living without love for a long time.
Arturo’s role in the story is not just to help Sean, but he is this very lively and sexy addition to the story. Sean isn’t prejudiced against vampires but he is wary. He has no desire to be with one sexually and definitely wants no part of being bit. But the chemistry he has with Sean is strong and quick. He can’t resist the seduction that occurs almost immediately after meeting the vampire. It is enjoyable to watch as respect and friendship develop between them and then love.
The main part of the story is filled with corruption among the wealthy who won’t let their secrets get exposed at any cost, and a corrupt officer with a personal dislike of Sean and a desire to collect from the rich men in exchange for cleaning up their messes. It was a suspenseful story that kept me on the edge of my seat hoping they not only find the murderer but also prove they did it. And in the process, they might be able to clear Sean of the accusations against him. I quite enjoyed the ending of the book and and was left wanting only one thing: for Rafael to get a book, too.
This is the first book I ever read from this author, and I’ll start by saying I definitely want to read more. I have become a big fan of mystery in the m/m romance and gay fiction genres. I enjoy trying to figure out whodunnit along with the detectives and watch how they uncover the details of the crime. This story had a bonus of being paranormal in nature as well. It takes place in a modern day setting in what would seem like our world, only vampires are known to exist. They live side by side with humans, and are faced with prejudices against them because of what they are; which makes them very relatable in a world already filled with discrimination against people of different races, genders, and sexuality.
Sean is the type of character I really enjoy reading about. Someone who’s down on their luck just waiting for things to take a turn for the better. After being honorably discharged from the police department and starting his career as a private investigator, he is framed for statutory rape and disgraced among his former police officers. It leads to loss of respect and business. He is struggling to keep his home when Rafael comes to him with a case.
Though Rafael isn’t an mc in the romantic aspect, he is a big part of the story. Even as a wealthy and powerful vampire, he is looked down and even suspected of killing his lover Julian. Julian isn’t an innocent in this story. He sleeps around with rich men looking for his meal ticket, but keeps all emotions at bay. Rafael loves Julian and can see some details of the human’s death but not everything so he needs someone who knows how to delve deep into a murder investigation. He seems to kill two birds by hiring Sean. Finding out who murdered Julian and also matchmaking the detective with his vampire assistant who has been living without love for a long time.
Arturo’s role in the story is not just to help Sean, but he is this very lively and sexy addition to the story. Sean isn’t prejudiced against vampires but he is wary. He has no desire to be with one sexually and definitely wants no part of being bit. But the chemistry he has with Sean is strong and quick. He can’t resist the seduction that occurs almost immediately after meeting the vampire. It is enjoyable to watch as respect and friendship develop between them and then love.
The main part of the story is filled with corruption among the wealthy who won’t let their secrets get exposed at any cost, and a corrupt officer with a personal dislike of Sean and a desire to collect from the rich men in exchange for cleaning up their messes. It was a suspenseful story that kept me on the edge of my seat hoping they not only find the murderer but also prove they did it. And in the process, they might be able to clear Sean of the accusations against him. I quite enjoyed the ending of the book and and was left wanting only one thing: for Rafael to get a book, too.
September 9, 2016
A Joyfully Jay review.
3.5 stars
This is a vampire book, but I’ll classify it as vampire light. Most of the vampires we meet are the good guys and there is nothing new offered here that hasn’t already been seen many times over.
This book is set in the not so distant future, approximately 15 years ahead. Vampires are known in the contemporary world and they co-exist with humans. Sean never had much interest in vampires until he is intrigued by Rafael and then overcome by Arturo. The set-up here at first was intriguing as Sean first meets Rafael, but then began to falter. When Sean meets Arturo, his being a vampire is completely alluring to Sean. They hook up immediately and then constantly throughout the entire book and that is the core of their relationship. They only briefly talk about their relationship, so when they take it further into becoming bonded and merging their lives, it was a life changing step for Sean, yet it lacked depth for what it all meant.
The world building as far as being set in the future is non-existent. While the book isn’t set that far into the future, there are no advancements of any kind shown, and at one point it seemed that something as simple as caller id wasn’t even being used. The vampires themselves have the same skills that have been seen many times, such as being able to fly and read minds and I was looking for some more creativity or originality. Sean’s investigative skills became questionable when he knowingly puts himself in a position to be harmed and the storyline around the murder investigation was not compelling enough to carry the entire book. The second storyline involving an underage teen being raped was then not handled in a way that this type of storyline demands and much of the book read as superficial.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
3.5 stars
This is a vampire book, but I’ll classify it as vampire light. Most of the vampires we meet are the good guys and there is nothing new offered here that hasn’t already been seen many times over.
This book is set in the not so distant future, approximately 15 years ahead. Vampires are known in the contemporary world and they co-exist with humans. Sean never had much interest in vampires until he is intrigued by Rafael and then overcome by Arturo. The set-up here at first was intriguing as Sean first meets Rafael, but then began to falter. When Sean meets Arturo, his being a vampire is completely alluring to Sean. They hook up immediately and then constantly throughout the entire book and that is the core of their relationship. They only briefly talk about their relationship, so when they take it further into becoming bonded and merging their lives, it was a life changing step for Sean, yet it lacked depth for what it all meant.
The world building as far as being set in the future is non-existent. While the book isn’t set that far into the future, there are no advancements of any kind shown, and at one point it seemed that something as simple as caller id wasn’t even being used. The vampires themselves have the same skills that have been seen many times, such as being able to fly and read minds and I was looking for some more creativity or originality. Sean’s investigative skills became questionable when he knowingly puts himself in a position to be harmed and the storyline around the murder investigation was not compelling enough to carry the entire book. The second storyline involving an underage teen being raped was then not handled in a way that this type of storyline demands and much of the book read as superficial.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
August 24, 2015
I received this book as a prize, and wow am I grateful! I would most probably have missed this book otherwise. Now I'm trying to catch up on JP's other vampire work. I adore vampire stories and also Detective whether police department or PI. So this hit the buttons and as a bonus, it was Hot! I look forward to more.
December 29, 2015
This is a really good mystery story with a hot vampire-human romance. Lots of steamy sex with a side of mystery. Very enjoyable.
August 10, 2016
Really enjoyed this one
November 26, 2017
Writing a decent vampire romance has never been easy. From excessive or bland sentimentality to historical retconning of a preposterous type resulting in vastly clunky word-building or outlandish universes, the pitfalls are many, while the canons of the vampiric lore, no matter what twists one gives them, tend most often than not to be stifling. The formulaic element, if allowed to loom very large for the security it provides unsecure would-be authors, gives a boring quality to the story; on the other hand of the spectrum, too much in the way of unbridled creativity clutters the portrayal of the characters and fills the world building with irrationality, the end result being likely to be wildly tasteless, extravagant and fake (thing of the egregious vampires and shifters in Twilight). Mr Bowie is an accomplished writer; The Vampire and the P.I. accordingly succeeds, mostly because of its moderate level of innovation rooted in impressively pellucid prose and deployed in a familiar yet refreshingly tame manner. The human sleuth Sean, Spanish vampire lord Rafael, his vampire underling Arturo (from Catalania, which was a pleasing surprise !), and most of the secondary cast, are likeable, hard to resist even, and at the very least bidimensional, with a cleverly achieved inversion of literary expectations: decency, warmth and depth of character belong to the vampires plus Sean and his secretary, whereas most of the remaining humans are vapid or crooked or murderously hateful. It helps signally that no turning of the human hero ever happens, not even when he lies on the verge of dying; that his banter with Arturo never veers into saccharine territory; and that both mates have quirks, vulnerabilities and hidden depths that are lightly treaded on instead of being hammered away like so many queens of vampire MM romances tend to do through sheer laziness of literary incompetence. Even the plot exhibits rather strong qualities - lest I am mistaken, intrigue is one of Mr Bowie's strong suits, after all - on top of its sheer relevance as the introductory vehicle to the vampiric society. It develops sleekly and nicely with a tolerable, if not out of the ordinary, combination of suspense, heat, world building and decent sleuthing. Of course, the motivations of the villain could have been made deeper and less contrived, as, the way they can be parsed together, much too much irrationality attaches to them; yet ill-explained hatred of a social peer or colleague happens so often in real life that the literary use of this pattern does not lessen one's appreciation of the present book. Full marks also go to Mr Bowie for his shrew picturing of vampire abilities and his reasonable take on vampire sexuality; the former never go over the top à la Charlie Richards, and the latter are fluid in a plausible way, thus sparing the reader with too-rigid application of the top versus bottom divide when it comes to vampires and their mates (no bloodsuckers governed by their fangs and hormons here). Four fully deserved stars.
November 4, 2023
I was introduced to a new author, JP Bowie, and as a devoted fan of MM books, I was eagerly anticipating a captivating story with the perfect amount of intensity. I found myself absolutely engrossed in BOOK 1 of the series titled "The Vampire and the P.I" (Private Investigator).
This narrative revolves around Sean, our intrepid PI protagonist, who finds himself teetering on the brink of closing down his business. Just when it seems like all hope is lost, a mysterious Vampire approaches him, seeking his investigative skills to unravel the intricacies of a murder. In this world, where Vampires and humans coexist, I was completely enamored.
Auturo, the young secretary, is not just an attractive man; he's also a Vampire who captures Sean's attention, setting off a series of sparks that ignite a passionate connection. Sean, who has long steered clear of serious relationships in favor of one-night encounters, and Auturo, who has sworn off love after the tragic loss of his previous lover due to the discrimination against Vampires, find their lives intertwining in unexpected ways.
What truly resonated with me in this story was the author's meticulous character development. Each character came to life through audio, making me feel deeply connected to their individual journeys. Duncan Prescot, the narrator who was also new to me, skillfully brought this narrative to life through his outstanding solo narration. His ability to master various accents allowed me to effortlessly distinguish between characters during the audiobook experience.
I'm eagerly anticipating BOOK 2 and can't wait to share my thoughts on it. For this first installment, I'd rate the book a solid 4 stars, and Duncan Prescot's narration deserves a resounding 5-star accolade. On the whole, I'd give this book an impressive 4.5 stars.
This narrative revolves around Sean, our intrepid PI protagonist, who finds himself teetering on the brink of closing down his business. Just when it seems like all hope is lost, a mysterious Vampire approaches him, seeking his investigative skills to unravel the intricacies of a murder. In this world, where Vampires and humans coexist, I was completely enamored.
Auturo, the young secretary, is not just an attractive man; he's also a Vampire who captures Sean's attention, setting off a series of sparks that ignite a passionate connection. Sean, who has long steered clear of serious relationships in favor of one-night encounters, and Auturo, who has sworn off love after the tragic loss of his previous lover due to the discrimination against Vampires, find their lives intertwining in unexpected ways.
What truly resonated with me in this story was the author's meticulous character development. Each character came to life through audio, making me feel deeply connected to their individual journeys. Duncan Prescot, the narrator who was also new to me, skillfully brought this narrative to life through his outstanding solo narration. His ability to master various accents allowed me to effortlessly distinguish between characters during the audiobook experience.
I'm eagerly anticipating BOOK 2 and can't wait to share my thoughts on it. For this first installment, I'd rate the book a solid 4 stars, and Duncan Prescot's narration deserves a resounding 5-star accolade. On the whole, I'd give this book an impressive 4.5 stars.
June 3, 2023
🎧Audiobook Review🎧
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Performance: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I really liked the story about the private detective and the vampire.
Sean Martin liked being a cop. But due to an unsightly incident, he had to leave the police station and his job there. He is trying to prove his innocence, but his start as a PI is also made difficult.
That only changes when he gets an assignment from a powerful vampire. His human lover has been murdered, but the police have dismissed it as a suicide. Sean spends some time with the vampire's private secretary, Arturo, during his investigation and the two become closer.
I liked the world, the vampires with their abilities, the protagonists and the criminal cases to solve.
It was a pleasure to follow Sean as he investigated. I liked him, especially because of his backstory. Arturo, on the other hand, was much more mysterious, but no less interesting.
The writing style was great and I found the story very entertaining and with the investigations and the entanglements also very exciting. As a result, the story hooked me very quickly.
The audiobook was narrated by Duncan Prescott, a new narrator for me. His narration was great. He had the appropriate voices for each of the protagonists and conveyed the emotions well, bringing the book to life.
I am looking forward to more books in this series.
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Performance: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I really liked the story about the private detective and the vampire.
Sean Martin liked being a cop. But due to an unsightly incident, he had to leave the police station and his job there. He is trying to prove his innocence, but his start as a PI is also made difficult.
That only changes when he gets an assignment from a powerful vampire. His human lover has been murdered, but the police have dismissed it as a suicide. Sean spends some time with the vampire's private secretary, Arturo, during his investigation and the two become closer.
I liked the world, the vampires with their abilities, the protagonists and the criminal cases to solve.
It was a pleasure to follow Sean as he investigated. I liked him, especially because of his backstory. Arturo, on the other hand, was much more mysterious, but no less interesting.
The writing style was great and I found the story very entertaining and with the investigations and the entanglements also very exciting. As a result, the story hooked me very quickly.
The audiobook was narrated by Duncan Prescott, a new narrator for me. His narration was great. He had the appropriate voices for each of the protagonists and conveyed the emotions well, bringing the book to life.
I am looking forward to more books in this series.
February 12, 2023
🎧 Beautifully Narrated by Duncan Prescott
A new narrator for me with this vocal which I loved, and different voices and accents used for the characters bringing them to life. 🎧 5 stars for vocals from Mr Prescott.
📕 4.5 stars for the story. A great start, and when the characters first meet, tension runs between them.
Sean 32 years (former police and Detective), was now a P.I. after being injured on the force, with nasty accusations against him which weren't suitable for his business, without clients, he'd have to close his agency.
Rafael wants the murder of his friend solved and goes to Sean for help.
Hot 🔥sexy scenes included switching & bondage scenes between Sean and Arturo, Rafael's secretary.
I loved the mind-reading between the characters and Arturo's cheeky personality at the start with Sean.
This book is a different kinda vampire story from the familiar themes of vampire traits which I loved.
Dangers around them with mysteries that need to be solved, but new questions keep coming up. Who keeps helping the baddies in this?
The Vampire and The P.I. is a captivating story and narrative I loved. A HEA ending. I recommend to audio of this story.
*also reviewed on mmbookwormreviews.com
A new narrator for me with this vocal which I loved, and different voices and accents used for the characters bringing them to life. 🎧 5 stars for vocals from Mr Prescott.
📕 4.5 stars for the story. A great start, and when the characters first meet, tension runs between them.
Sean 32 years (former police and Detective), was now a P.I. after being injured on the force, with nasty accusations against him which weren't suitable for his business, without clients, he'd have to close his agency.
Rafael wants the murder of his friend solved and goes to Sean for help.
Hot 🔥sexy scenes included switching & bondage scenes between Sean and Arturo, Rafael's secretary.
I loved the mind-reading between the characters and Arturo's cheeky personality at the start with Sean.
This book is a different kinda vampire story from the familiar themes of vampire traits which I loved.
Dangers around them with mysteries that need to be solved, but new questions keep coming up. Who keeps helping the baddies in this?
The Vampire and The P.I. is a captivating story and narrative I loved. A HEA ending. I recommend to audio of this story.
*also reviewed on mmbookwormreviews.com
March 23, 2023
A young man is dead, suicide is the unduly rapid conclusion by the police. The young man's vampire lover suspects a cover up, and wants the killer found. The PI he employs is an ex detective, injured whilst on duty, and with few friends left after an accusation of child rape made by a former colleague. The money for the case will save his failing business, and he can't pass it up. But the important and high ranking vampire has an attractive vampire secretary who hits on the PI immediately, and the two are caught up in an intense affair. This is a society which harbours suspicions and bigotry towards vampires and condemns those who break the taboo on interracial relationships. With information hard to get, hidden away to protect guilty secrets, the secretary and PI embark on a hunt for friends, enemies, former customers of the victim, and how the killers got into a top floor apartment with locked doors and controlled entry. The threats and violence accelerate, the information trail is convoluted, deadly enemies appear, but vampires have skills and abilities beyond human reach, and the duo are determined to find the truth.
May 26, 2023
Hugely enjoyable! PI Sean Martin has a lot to be angry about. He had to leave to police force after being shot in the line of duty and a corrupt ex-colleague has irreparably smeared his name. Now his police buddies don’t want to know him and the PI jobs have dried up. Things start to improve when a powerful vampire hires him to investigate the suspicious death of his human lover after the police have ruled it a suicide. Sean gets to spend a lot of time with vampire Arturo Menendez and the sparks fly. I liked this romantic murder investigation A LOT! Sean was a really well fleshed-out character with a solid backstory. Arturo was more mysterious and his powers and history were slowly revealed over time. The world building happened naturally in stages so it was easy to absorb, and Sean’s investigations were interesting and gripping and made sense. I enjoyed the writing and Sean was such a great character, I’m glad he’ll make an appearance in the next book. Duncan Prescott did a great job narrating the audiobook, I absolutely loved his performance.
—————-
I received a free copy of the audiobook from the author in exchange for an honest review.
—————-
I received a free copy of the audiobook from the author in exchange for an honest review.
March 28, 2023
I’m reviewing the audio edition. This is not my normal type story to read/listen to but the blurb drew me in and I really enjoyed it. This story makes the vampire into a savior. It is so much fun.
Sean has been a private investigator since he was forced out of his job as a police detective. He is thrown in more unfamiliar situations as he tries to investigate murder and at the same time trying to prove himself innocent. He hasn’t interacted much with the vampires before but now he is spending time with Arturo, Rafael’s secretary. Actually, Arturo and Sean have this attraction but it is all so new and learning about each other is cute. Arturo watches over Sean as he goes about finding out who the murderer is. This is a good thing since Sean can really use the backup.
This story has a consistent flow to it and both mc’s are very likable. The narration by Duncan Prescott made the story so easy to enjoy. He represented the characters perfectly.
Sean has been a private investigator since he was forced out of his job as a police detective. He is thrown in more unfamiliar situations as he tries to investigate murder and at the same time trying to prove himself innocent. He hasn’t interacted much with the vampires before but now he is spending time with Arturo, Rafael’s secretary. Actually, Arturo and Sean have this attraction but it is all so new and learning about each other is cute. Arturo watches over Sean as he goes about finding out who the murderer is. This is a good thing since Sean can really use the backup.
This story has a consistent flow to it and both mc’s are very likable. The narration by Duncan Prescott made the story so easy to enjoy. He represented the characters perfectly.
October 23, 2025
This is a very good Vampire story.
I loved the Vampire world and how humans know of Vampires and they exist together. I loved how both men's backgrounds are slowly revealed and how they become friends. It's sort of a boss/ client story as Arturo is secretary to Rafael the vampire that hired Sean.
Sean is dealing with a chance of losing his license due to allegations that are revealed in the story.
There's a mystery as Sean trying to find who killed Rafael's lover Julian.
I can't wait to listen to the rest of these books.
The narration I feel took the story to a new level once you got use to the vampires accents it gave the story an old world feel. Also on occasion they speak thier native language and if that's in the book trying to read those phrases would've slowed down my reading experience but having it spoken enhances it.
If you are looking for a good vampire book for spooky season grab this!
I loved the Vampire world and how humans know of Vampires and they exist together. I loved how both men's backgrounds are slowly revealed and how they become friends. It's sort of a boss/ client story as Arturo is secretary to Rafael the vampire that hired Sean.
Sean is dealing with a chance of losing his license due to allegations that are revealed in the story.
There's a mystery as Sean trying to find who killed Rafael's lover Julian.
I can't wait to listen to the rest of these books.
The narration I feel took the story to a new level once you got use to the vampires accents it gave the story an old world feel. Also on occasion they speak thier native language and if that's in the book trying to read those phrases would've slowed down my reading experience but having it spoken enhances it.
If you are looking for a good vampire book for spooky season grab this!
December 18, 2023
I received this audiobook as a prize, and I am glad I did. I appreciate the nontraditional take on vampires, J.P. Bowie, took with this book (audio). The storyline was developed, as were the characters.
Sean Martin was falsely accused of a crime, losing his job and friends. On the verge of closing his business, Rafael, a vampire hires Sean to solve the murder of his blood bonded.
Sean becomes involved with Arturo, Rafael's assistant. Their relationship starts spicy and continues to grow throughout the book.
Duncan Prescott's narration was on point, I am looking forward to listening to more of him.
The book kept me guessing as to “who dunit it” until the end. This is a good book. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys detective stories and vampires.
Sean Martin was falsely accused of a crime, losing his job and friends. On the verge of closing his business, Rafael, a vampire hires Sean to solve the murder of his blood bonded.
Sean becomes involved with Arturo, Rafael's assistant. Their relationship starts spicy and continues to grow throughout the book.
Duncan Prescott's narration was on point, I am looking forward to listening to more of him.
The book kept me guessing as to “who dunit it” until the end. This is a good book. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys detective stories and vampires.
January 4, 2024
AUDIOBOOK
Sean Martin hasn’t had an easy time after having to leave his job as a detective he started as a P.I. but now he’s been framed for sexual assaulting a minor and now his licence is under review. He’s not getting many client’s and then Rafael Barrantes asks him to look into the death of his friend Julian who’s death was confirmed as suicide which Rafael knows wasn’t the truth. Sean finds himself in heaps of trouble the closer he gets to finding out who killed Julian and he doesn’t expect to meet another Vampire Arturo Menendez who he finds attractive from the start . I would definitely listen to more of the series and I enjoyed Duncan Prescotts narration .
Sean Martin hasn’t had an easy time after having to leave his job as a detective he started as a P.I. but now he’s been framed for sexual assaulting a minor and now his licence is under review. He’s not getting many client’s and then Rafael Barrantes asks him to look into the death of his friend Julian who’s death was confirmed as suicide which Rafael knows wasn’t the truth. Sean finds himself in heaps of trouble the closer he gets to finding out who killed Julian and he doesn’t expect to meet another Vampire Arturo Menendez who he finds attractive from the start . I would definitely listen to more of the series and I enjoyed Duncan Prescotts narration .
May 27, 2023
I love paranormal romance, it's my favorite genre and I really like books where the world is aware that vampires exist. Add to the mix a crime mystery and you get an awesome book. I enjoyed Sean's story very much, I loved the romance and I liked trying to solve the murder with him. I had a great time listening and I thought that the narrator did a fantastic job voicing the characters.
November 21, 2023
Here we get another great story from this author, a good, meaty plot, continued action, not filled with long, boring, unnecessary conversations, what I call filler, to pad the tale. I'm a tad late getting to this story, it's been out a few years, but it's still a good vampire tale with lots of action and a great read.
January 3, 2021
I love vampire stories. I seem to think I had read this one years ago, but I can’t remember for sure. It was a good, nothing over the top but nothing bad kind of book. I enjoyed it - fast moving plot, low angst and good characters. All in all, a good easy short read.
February 23, 2018
Enjoyable read
I enjoyed this book. A nice mix of suspense romance and sex. The two main characters were endearing and I am looking forward to the next book.
I enjoyed this book. A nice mix of suspense romance and sex. The two main characters were endearing and I am looking forward to the next book.
July 27, 2018
Good book. The thing was the vampires flying w/o changing form was a little different than the usual PNR.
September 11, 2018
4.5✨ I look forward to reading book 2!
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