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Vampire Files #1-3
The Vampire Files, Volume 1
Bloodlist introduces Jack Fleming, an investigative journalist in Prohibition-era Chicago who got
bitten by a vampire.
In Lifeblood and Bloodcircle Jack hunted for the men who killed him, and for his long-lost love, Maureen.
Now, the original vampire-noir cult classics by P.N. Elrod are together for the first time in one volume-easier for fans to sink their teeth into.
bitten by a vampire.
In Lifeblood and Bloodcircle Jack hunted for the men who killed him, and for his long-lost love, Maureen.
Now, the original vampire-noir cult classics by P.N. Elrod are together for the first time in one volume-easier for fans to sink their teeth into.
464 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1991
28 people are currently reading
609 people want to read
About the author
P.N. Elrod
92 books589 followersPatricia 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
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
July 31, 2012
Here's the deal: P.N. Elrod outshines every author in the genre. Why? Because the woman can tell a story, that's why. And just in case you're wondering, that's exactly why I read books in the first place - for the story - and The Vampire Files delivers.
Don't believe me? Fine. This is my take on the series to date..
You're a reporter, see? You're cool, you're in love, you're abandoned and you wake up dead. That's right, d-e-a-d dead. You wanna know why, doncha? Of course ya do! Meet Jack Fleming. He gets to try to solve his own murder... and it won't be as easy as you think.
Now if that isn't a start with a bang, I don't know what is. After all, what more could you want? Did you just say "everything"? So did I. But that's okay. Like I said, The Vampire Files delivers.
You like to read about the past? It's set in the 1930's. You like the glam and glitz of classic Hollywood? It's got night life, night clubs and night style. You like that mob kinda feel? It's set in Chicago. You want a romantic lead? Enter the tangible yet elusive Jack Fleming. You want vampires? That would be Fleming, too. You want romance? Meet his girlfriend, Bobbi. She's a singer in a club and she's hotter than Harlow and cooler than a young Hepburn. You want a mystery? Like I said, try solving your own death. Yearn for a sidekick that's far more than a mere sidekick? That would be Charles Escott, eclectic and intriguing and ever so British, the private detective ready to solve the case.
Are you with me yet? Well, you should be because this series is The Shit.
We got murder, mayhem and mystery. We got old time radio, diners, boats and stockyards. We got real rules to this familiar but fantasized world Elrod seduces us into and the rules don't change when it's convenient. We got well-fleshed characters that maintain and sharpen their identities over time throughout the series. Real plots. Real action. Real people.
Why are you reading this? Start with book one, Bloodlist. I know how hungry you really are after all the crap you've read over the years in an effort to quench your thirst for entertainment without sacrificing substance. You'll devour your way to Dark Road Rising, book twelve, in nothing flat and, like me, you'll be hoping she's working on lucky number thirteen.
See you in Escott's office. ;)
Don't believe me? Fine. This is my take on the series to date..
You're a reporter, see? You're cool, you're in love, you're abandoned and you wake up dead. That's right, d-e-a-d dead. You wanna know why, doncha? Of course ya do! Meet Jack Fleming. He gets to try to solve his own murder... and it won't be as easy as you think.
Now if that isn't a start with a bang, I don't know what is. After all, what more could you want? Did you just say "everything"? So did I. But that's okay. Like I said, The Vampire Files delivers.
You like to read about the past? It's set in the 1930's. You like the glam and glitz of classic Hollywood? It's got night life, night clubs and night style. You like that mob kinda feel? It's set in Chicago. You want a romantic lead? Enter the tangible yet elusive Jack Fleming. You want vampires? That would be Fleming, too. You want romance? Meet his girlfriend, Bobbi. She's a singer in a club and she's hotter than Harlow and cooler than a young Hepburn. You want a mystery? Like I said, try solving your own death. Yearn for a sidekick that's far more than a mere sidekick? That would be Charles Escott, eclectic and intriguing and ever so British, the private detective ready to solve the case.
Are you with me yet? Well, you should be because this series is The Shit.
We got murder, mayhem and mystery. We got old time radio, diners, boats and stockyards. We got real rules to this familiar but fantasized world Elrod seduces us into and the rules don't change when it's convenient. We got well-fleshed characters that maintain and sharpen their identities over time throughout the series. Real plots. Real action. Real people.
Why are you reading this? Start with book one, Bloodlist. I know how hungry you really are after all the crap you've read over the years in an effort to quench your thirst for entertainment without sacrificing substance. You'll devour your way to Dark Road Rising, book twelve, in nothing flat and, like me, you'll be hoping she's working on lucky number thirteen.
See you in Escott's office. ;)
October 18, 2020
If you like Prohibition-era times and vampires, you will be in for a treat. An accidental vampire who was a jurnalist who knew too much becomes an investigator while figuring out what he can or cannot do in his new unlife.
Because he is just a freshman, he makes many mistakes as a vampire and investigator alike. Even with the help of a sidekick who can fool a lot of people with his theatre skills, he takes his time to get the hang of things. But that doesn't stop him from searching for his love who disappeared almost five years prior.
I liked the vibe of the story(ies) and how real the characters seemed to be with their mistakes though the villains, of course, seemed as overexaggerated as you'd expect from a black and white movie. Which seemed just fine, it all suited the style.
Because he is just a freshman, he makes many mistakes as a vampire and investigator alike. Even with the help of a sidekick who can fool a lot of people with his theatre skills, he takes his time to get the hang of things. But that doesn't stop him from searching for his love who disappeared almost five years prior.
I liked the vibe of the story(ies) and how real the characters seemed to be with their mistakes though the villains, of course, seemed as overexaggerated as you'd expect from a black and white movie. Which seemed just fine, it all suited the style.
June 10, 2017
Jack Fleming was a journalist, who’s just been killed by a Chicago crime boss who was looking for a list. A list of important people, and the bad things they’ve been doing. A list that Jack Fleming refused to divulge the location of, earning him a few days worth of beatings, and a watery grave at the bottom of a lake.
Except Jack’s not dead. Thanks to the actions of his former vampire lover, Maureen, Jack is now newly UNdead. And with a score to settle. Teaming up with ex-thespian-turned-detective Charles Escott, Jack first deals with a few of Chicago’s notorious mobsters, before turning his efforts to finding Maureen, who left under mysterious circumstances five years ago, and hasn’t been seen since. In between sleuthing and fighting, Jack works on figuring out what he is, as well as trying to get a handle on his new powers, and his new limitations.
“The Vampire Files” is a collection of the first three books of the Jack Fleming, Vampire P.I. series: Bloodlist, Lifeblood, and Bloodcircle. After reading the first three books, I’ll admit to being surprised that as of the date of this review, this collection has a 3.93 star average rating on Goodreads. The main reason being because Jack Fleming has got to be, hands down, one of THE MOST boring vampires ever dreamed into being.
In summarization:
1. As a vampire, Jack becomes virtually indestructible, acquires inhuman strength, incredible speed, the ability to mesmerize people, and the ability to move through solid objects as a sort of floating mist. The strength and speed rarely make an appearance. The ability to mesmerize initially freaks Jack out, so he refrains from using it until the third book where he gets a bit of mileage out of it. But for the majority of the three books, the only supernatural ability our vampire protagonist seems to want to exercise, is his ability to float around, and move through walls. Which he does an inordinately large, boring amount of. HOLD ONTO YOUR SEATS FOLKS, HE’S GOING INTO FOG MODE.
2. Jack Fleming’s character is the quintessential Joe Everyman. Other than, you know, being a vampire, he’s got literally nothing that sets him apart, that defines him as a specific person. His speech is bland, his mannerisms non-existent. He’s about as milquetoast and generic as you can be, and not be a cardboard cutout. He doesn’t display anything even approaching real anger, or passion, or sadness, really. Even Escott, his partner, has distinguishing speech rhythms and mannerisms. But good old Jack is like one of those photos that comes with the picture frames in the store. EXCEPT WHEN HE TURNS INTO A MIST OF COURSE. THEN EVERYONE KNOWS THAT JACK FLEMING IS IN TOWN. OR, YOU KNOW, THERE’S A LOT OF CONDENSATION IN THE AIR.
3. Why in the hell does Jack know next to nothing about being a vampire? He and Maureen did...something…while they were together, in the hopes that if he did die, he’d be able to rise again, a feat that only a very few people are able to accomplish. (The “something” they do is never described.) But after he rises, Jack’s intel on his new state of being is spotty at best. He knows he can’t cross running water without difficulty, and he knows that he needs dirt from his “home ground” in order to regain strength as he sleeps through the day. But other than that, he appears to be solidly in the dark. He has no idea how to control his ability to mesmerize people, or how often he has to drink blood, or even tips on how to navigate the outside world considering that he can’t be seen in any reflective surface, like a mirror. While this lack of understanding provides easy tension fodder for the story, from a realistic viewpoint, it makes very little sense. APPARENTLY TURNING INTO A MIST IS INHERENT KNOWLEDGE FOR SOME PEOPLE.
4. Speaking of drinking blood…I’ve never read a vampire story anywhere that treats this main tenant of vampirism with such casual indifference. Outside of a few twinges when he goes too long without feeding, and a scene where Escott gives some of his blood voluntarily so that Jack can heal, the drinking of blood is a non-event. Jack doesn’t even need to drink blood every night, but can go for 3-4 days before he starts getting any hunger pains. The only time we get within shouting distance of the passion / lust that blood seems to incite in every vampire in the literary world EXCEPT Jack, is when he and Bobbi are in bed together. But even then, the experience is treated with a sort of subdued intensity, and not with any urgent beating passion that could otherwise grip the reader. THAT JACK FLEMING, HE’S GOT AN ICY MIST IN HIS VEINS.
5. Similarly, Jack doesn’t seem to have any sort of innate warning system that lets him know when sunrise is coming, even though, again, every vampire in the literary landscape seems to have this survival trait. This, along with the lack of urgency around the blood-drinking, really diminish the character of Jack Fleming because it robs the story of any real tension that could otherwise be associated with these limitations. Instead of a blood-lusting vampire fighting his instinct to tear the throat out of an innocent bystander to sake his mad thirst, you have a mildly discomforted Jack, who idly reminds himself that perhaps he should make an effort to swing by the stockyards tomorrow evening for a nip, before that twinge in his belly becomes too urgent. IT’S OKAY JACK, MISTS DON’T HAVE BELLIES.
6. Can someone please explain to me what this is supposed to mean? ”He was looking down at the heels for all the dough he claimed to be holding and had the calm demeanor of a chain-smoker who’d just run out of cigs.” Now, I don’t know about you folks, but I’ve seen a chain-smoker run out of cigarettes, and there are a specific set of words I’d use to describe their demeanor. “Psychotic?” Yes. “Tense?” Definitely. “Fucko bazoo?” Indubitably. “Calm?” Not so much. There’s a slim handful of sentences like this scattered throughout the books, and their contradictory images make me wonder whether or not they’re typos. “HIS ANGER WAS AS DRY AS AN EVENING MIST.” OH MAN, THAT REALLY NAILS THE FEEL OF THIS SCENE.
7. Jack spends a lot of time NOT using his abilities, mostly when he’s in situations where using his abilities would not only be an act of common sense, but also a logical, and just an overall damn good idea. I don’t know how many times Jack could have taken care of business, but for whatever reason doesn’t, the end result being that he gets the shit beat out of him. Seriously. I’m hard pressed to name more than a couple NON-supernatural protagonists who take the number of beatings that Jack does. Again—why have your main character be a vampire if you’re not going to take advantage of all the perks that come with that particular being? EXCEPT THE ABILITY TO TURN INTO A MIST. YOU SIR, HAVE USED THE SHIT OUT OF THE VAMPIRIC ABILITY TO TURN INTO A MIST.
In short, I found “The Vampire Files” to be a bland, passionless read, with the most generic protagonist to ever sport the elongated canines. Also, in case I wasn’t obvious enough about it, the fact that the only ability Jack seems to want to exercise from his supernatural toolkit, IS THE ABILITY TO MIST THROUGH WALLS, bugs the almighty crap out of me, and I will not be reading any more books from this series.
Except Jack’s not dead. Thanks to the actions of his former vampire lover, Maureen, Jack is now newly UNdead. And with a score to settle. Teaming up with ex-thespian-turned-detective Charles Escott, Jack first deals with a few of Chicago’s notorious mobsters, before turning his efforts to finding Maureen, who left under mysterious circumstances five years ago, and hasn’t been seen since. In between sleuthing and fighting, Jack works on figuring out what he is, as well as trying to get a handle on his new powers, and his new limitations.
“The Vampire Files” is a collection of the first three books of the Jack Fleming, Vampire P.I. series: Bloodlist, Lifeblood, and Bloodcircle. After reading the first three books, I’ll admit to being surprised that as of the date of this review, this collection has a 3.93 star average rating on Goodreads. The main reason being because Jack Fleming has got to be, hands down, one of THE MOST boring vampires ever dreamed into being.
In summarization:
1. As a vampire, Jack becomes virtually indestructible, acquires inhuman strength, incredible speed, the ability to mesmerize people, and the ability to move through solid objects as a sort of floating mist. The strength and speed rarely make an appearance. The ability to mesmerize initially freaks Jack out, so he refrains from using it until the third book where he gets a bit of mileage out of it. But for the majority of the three books, the only supernatural ability our vampire protagonist seems to want to exercise, is his ability to float around, and move through walls. Which he does an inordinately large, boring amount of. HOLD ONTO YOUR SEATS FOLKS, HE’S GOING INTO FOG MODE.
2. Jack Fleming’s character is the quintessential Joe Everyman. Other than, you know, being a vampire, he’s got literally nothing that sets him apart, that defines him as a specific person. His speech is bland, his mannerisms non-existent. He’s about as milquetoast and generic as you can be, and not be a cardboard cutout. He doesn’t display anything even approaching real anger, or passion, or sadness, really. Even Escott, his partner, has distinguishing speech rhythms and mannerisms. But good old Jack is like one of those photos that comes with the picture frames in the store. EXCEPT WHEN HE TURNS INTO A MIST OF COURSE. THEN EVERYONE KNOWS THAT JACK FLEMING IS IN TOWN. OR, YOU KNOW, THERE’S A LOT OF CONDENSATION IN THE AIR.
3. Why in the hell does Jack know next to nothing about being a vampire? He and Maureen did...something…while they were together, in the hopes that if he did die, he’d be able to rise again, a feat that only a very few people are able to accomplish. (The “something” they do is never described.) But after he rises, Jack’s intel on his new state of being is spotty at best. He knows he can’t cross running water without difficulty, and he knows that he needs dirt from his “home ground” in order to regain strength as he sleeps through the day. But other than that, he appears to be solidly in the dark. He has no idea how to control his ability to mesmerize people, or how often he has to drink blood, or even tips on how to navigate the outside world considering that he can’t be seen in any reflective surface, like a mirror. While this lack of understanding provides easy tension fodder for the story, from a realistic viewpoint, it makes very little sense. APPARENTLY TURNING INTO A MIST IS INHERENT KNOWLEDGE FOR SOME PEOPLE.
4. Speaking of drinking blood…I’ve never read a vampire story anywhere that treats this main tenant of vampirism with such casual indifference. Outside of a few twinges when he goes too long without feeding, and a scene where Escott gives some of his blood voluntarily so that Jack can heal, the drinking of blood is a non-event. Jack doesn’t even need to drink blood every night, but can go for 3-4 days before he starts getting any hunger pains. The only time we get within shouting distance of the passion / lust that blood seems to incite in every vampire in the literary world EXCEPT Jack, is when he and Bobbi are in bed together. But even then, the experience is treated with a sort of subdued intensity, and not with any urgent beating passion that could otherwise grip the reader. THAT JACK FLEMING, HE’S GOT AN ICY MIST IN HIS VEINS.
5. Similarly, Jack doesn’t seem to have any sort of innate warning system that lets him know when sunrise is coming, even though, again, every vampire in the literary landscape seems to have this survival trait. This, along with the lack of urgency around the blood-drinking, really diminish the character of Jack Fleming because it robs the story of any real tension that could otherwise be associated with these limitations. Instead of a blood-lusting vampire fighting his instinct to tear the throat out of an innocent bystander to sake his mad thirst, you have a mildly discomforted Jack, who idly reminds himself that perhaps he should make an effort to swing by the stockyards tomorrow evening for a nip, before that twinge in his belly becomes too urgent. IT’S OKAY JACK, MISTS DON’T HAVE BELLIES.
6. Can someone please explain to me what this is supposed to mean? ”He was looking down at the heels for all the dough he claimed to be holding and had the calm demeanor of a chain-smoker who’d just run out of cigs.” Now, I don’t know about you folks, but I’ve seen a chain-smoker run out of cigarettes, and there are a specific set of words I’d use to describe their demeanor. “Psychotic?” Yes. “Tense?” Definitely. “Fucko bazoo?” Indubitably. “Calm?” Not so much. There’s a slim handful of sentences like this scattered throughout the books, and their contradictory images make me wonder whether or not they’re typos. “HIS ANGER WAS AS DRY AS AN EVENING MIST.” OH MAN, THAT REALLY NAILS THE FEEL OF THIS SCENE.
7. Jack spends a lot of time NOT using his abilities, mostly when he’s in situations where using his abilities would not only be an act of common sense, but also a logical, and just an overall damn good idea. I don’t know how many times Jack could have taken care of business, but for whatever reason doesn’t, the end result being that he gets the shit beat out of him. Seriously. I’m hard pressed to name more than a couple NON-supernatural protagonists who take the number of beatings that Jack does. Again—why have your main character be a vampire if you’re not going to take advantage of all the perks that come with that particular being? EXCEPT THE ABILITY TO TURN INTO A MIST. YOU SIR, HAVE USED THE SHIT OUT OF THE VAMPIRIC ABILITY TO TURN INTO A MIST.
In short, I found “The Vampire Files” to be a bland, passionless read, with the most generic protagonist to ever sport the elongated canines. Also, in case I wasn’t obvious enough about it, the fact that the only ability Jack seems to want to exercise from his supernatural toolkit, IS THE ABILITY TO MIST THROUGH WALLS, bugs the almighty crap out of me, and I will not be reading any more books from this series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 18, 2011
Volume 1 contains the first 3 books of the vampire files. The first is finding out who and why was Jack Fleming killed. He gets the help of Charles Escott a PI who is intriqued by Jack who is now a vampire. He's learning how to cope and trying to regain the memories back of what happened leading up to his death. He was head of over heels for Maureen the person who changed him but has been missing the pass five years. Jack was putting an ad in most of the papers trying to get touch with her to let her know he's there to help. But he meets Bobbi a singer how stirs his longings and they become lovers. Meaning while it looks like the people who had him killed are mob members and so the story begins.
Book 2 was part 2 men following him acting like vampire hunters trying to rid the world of his kind and Jack meets Maureen's sister to old in her 70's and comes looking for Jack when he stops running ads in the paper asking for Maureen to get in touch with him which also attracts the vampire hunters attention as well. So Maureen's sister Gaylen puts her own ad in to get Jack to come to her. Jack does and takes Escott with him. Escott is weary of her but takes info from her in order to see if they can come up with leads to were Maureen is. Meanwhile the vampire hunters are follwing Jack around, they themselves a pest to his parents and Bobbi. Gaylen gets Jacks's attention by taking Bobbi with some help because she wants him to turn her so she can be young again.....and so the action beings.
Book 3 takes both Escott and Jack to New york to follow Maureen's last know trail and they meet Maureen's sire Jonathan who lives with wealth mature lady who has young cousin who is in love with Jonathan. But Jonathan is in love with Emily the mature lady. You'll have to read the book to find out what happens....
I enjoyed all three stories. Jack manages to get himself almost killed in each one. The stories are very interesting, action and a touch of modest romance. The story/plot are good a must read in my opinion.
Book 2 was part 2 men following him acting like vampire hunters trying to rid the world of his kind and Jack meets Maureen's sister to old in her 70's and comes looking for Jack when he stops running ads in the paper asking for Maureen to get in touch with him which also attracts the vampire hunters attention as well. So Maureen's sister Gaylen puts her own ad in to get Jack to come to her. Jack does and takes Escott with him. Escott is weary of her but takes info from her in order to see if they can come up with leads to were Maureen is. Meanwhile the vampire hunters are follwing Jack around, they themselves a pest to his parents and Bobbi. Gaylen gets Jacks's attention by taking Bobbi with some help because she wants him to turn her so she can be young again.....and so the action beings.
Book 3 takes both Escott and Jack to New york to follow Maureen's last know trail and they meet Maureen's sire Jonathan who lives with wealth mature lady who has young cousin who is in love with Jonathan. But Jonathan is in love with Emily the mature lady. You'll have to read the book to find out what happens....
I enjoyed all three stories. Jack manages to get himself almost killed in each one. The stories are very interesting, action and a touch of modest romance. The story/plot are good a must read in my opinion.
July 31, 2013
This book is a much more enjoyable take on the vampire fiction motif than most. Jack Fleming awakens to find that after his death (which he can't remember) he has become a vampire. He knew it was possible.
Most of the first book deals with Fleming's attempt to find out who had killed him, and why. The book is set in post-repeal, post-Capone 1930s Chicago. The setting is well realized without becoming the center of attention. Fleming and the major secondary characters are fully fleshed out and believable.
I liked this book because it did not approach the vampire as the pinnacle of either lust or power. Fleming's status as newly undead also spares us the almost-always poorly done character of the centuries old bloodsucker. There are also several traditional downsides to the vampiric condition that are rarely seen in modern vampire fiction to which Fleming is subject.
Most of the first book deals with Fleming's attempt to find out who had killed him, and why. The book is set in post-repeal, post-Capone 1930s Chicago. The setting is well realized without becoming the center of attention. Fleming and the major secondary characters are fully fleshed out and believable.
I liked this book because it did not approach the vampire as the pinnacle of either lust or power. Fleming's status as newly undead also spares us the almost-always poorly done character of the centuries old bloodsucker. There are also several traditional downsides to the vampiric condition that are rarely seen in modern vampire fiction to which Fleming is subject.
June 24, 2010
A collection of the first three Jack Fleming books. Although a mix of supernatural (my local Borders put it in with horror) and mystery, it leans much more toward the latter than the former. Despite his new status as one of the Un-Dead, Jack Fleming is a pretty good guy, and makes a delightful main character. Along with a Escott, a private agent (*not* "investigator"), he sets out to solve his own murder... and then to find out what happened to the woman who made him what he is. Fans of noir and hard-boiled mysteries will like Jack Fleming, but vampire fans may not get quite so much enjoyment out of him. There's none of the confusion of sex, blood, and violence that characterizes many modern vampire novels, and what little angst can be found is handled in a very reserved and manly way.
June 15, 2016
2016-05-30
First book finished. I really enjoyed this detective noir story set in the 1930's. It was all I expected it to be -- adventure, twists, a femme fatale thrown in, lots of mobsters, and a few quirky figures to keep the story interesting. Thrown in the mix of the detective noir theme, was the main character, a journalist what was killed and woke up a vampire. His new skills and abilities sometimes help, sometimes hinder, his investigation into his own murder. I'm looking forward to reading book 2 in this volume.
[Review for 2nd to novels to follow]
First book finished. I really enjoyed this detective noir story set in the 1930's. It was all I expected it to be -- adventure, twists, a femme fatale thrown in, lots of mobsters, and a few quirky figures to keep the story interesting. Thrown in the mix of the detective noir theme, was the main character, a journalist what was killed and woke up a vampire. His new skills and abilities sometimes help, sometimes hinder, his investigation into his own murder. I'm looking forward to reading book 2 in this volume.
[Review for 2nd to novels to follow]
March 1, 2022
Read this obsessively… it was an interesting take on Noir having it also have vampires. Jack Fleming is a rather average guy which being a vampire didn’t change much. I did like to see a vampire character that was still unsure of himself and fearful like an average human when many novels and TV shows go more for vampires being superior.
Escott was a great character as a Shakespearean actor turned Private Agent, and reminded me of Sherlock, Jack as his vampire Watson.
The stories, although suspenseful, never truly reached read-again quality, and I think this may be because the books in this volume never held up to the premise of Jack actually being a Private Detective himself and solving cases, which I think would have made the stories shine. Instead the mysteries are solved by Jack’s friend Escott (the real Private Detective), and Jack simply assists- and all three mysteries focus on Jack’s rather unexceptional past rather than new clients.
The best part of this series however, is how often Jack, powerful vampire, is foiled by the villains and must be rescued by his friend Escott or even his girl Bobbi. He needs help almost more than he helps his friends, and this probably makes him the most relatable vampire character I’ve come across. However his character does perhaps fail in that he is too average, too relatable, and this sometimes kills tension in the story.
Escott was a great character as a Shakespearean actor turned Private Agent, and reminded me of Sherlock, Jack as his vampire Watson.
The stories, although suspenseful, never truly reached read-again quality, and I think this may be because the books in this volume never held up to the premise of Jack actually being a Private Detective himself and solving cases, which I think would have made the stories shine. Instead the mysteries are solved by Jack’s friend Escott (the real Private Detective), and Jack simply assists- and all three mysteries focus on Jack’s rather unexceptional past rather than new clients.
The best part of this series however, is how often Jack, powerful vampire, is foiled by the villains and must be rescued by his friend Escott or even his girl Bobbi. He needs help almost more than he helps his friends, and this probably makes him the most relatable vampire character I’ve come across. However his character does perhaps fail in that he is too average, too relatable, and this sometimes kills tension in the story.
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June 4, 2021
Author, could you please collect all the vampire files into one volume? I understand publishing rights are sometimes a murky mess, so if not that, how about a chrono listing somewhere, stating which stories go in what order? Leading up to my final, most heartfelt request. -- more Vampire Files! Love these stories!
August 2, 2024
Contains 3 books (Bloodlist, Lifeblood, and Bloodcircle). ABSOLUTELY phenomenal series with powerful characters and fun new twists on what vampires are capable of accomplishing. I am very hopeful for Barrett and Emily, and I do hope that they will be able to give Maureen some sort of a proper burial -- but that seems unlikely now.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 25, 2020
Really sucks (har har) you in!
Well written and entertaining. Love the time period and the fresh take on a vampiric personality. I'm picky about books that keep me engaged and this series delivers! Now to go find Vol. 2...
Well written and entertaining. Love the time period and the fresh take on a vampiric personality. I'm picky about books that keep me engaged and this series delivers! Now to go find Vol. 2...
October 4, 2021
I almost never give 5 stars, but this book (volume of 1-3) deserves it. The characters are complex and interesting, the story was well crafted with great pacing, and the humor had me laughing out loud and receiving weird looks from my children. I'm looking forward to reading the rest.
March 20, 2019
I enjoy the characters, Jack and Charles. This is a fun gumshoe mystery with vampires.
March 18, 2020
Hard-boiled detective novel mash-up with vampire tale. Vampire Detective story noire?
November 1, 2023
I've quickly become a fan of Jack Fleming, a new vampire in the big city of Chicago, and of the author PN Elrod.
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July 30, 2010Written in the 1st person, and decidedly masculine person – Jack Fleming – ex-newspaper writer – new vampire…. Setting is 1936, Chicago…
Bloodlist – book 1 – tells about how Jack became & adjusted to being a vampire, and wreaks vengeance on the gang who tortured and killed him…
Jack & Maureen were lovers – Maureen was a vampire… and she exchanged blood with Jack many times, with the hope that upon his death, he would live on as a vampire… Sexual pleasure came as much from the biting as from anything else… but 5 years ago, she leaves him a note saying it’s dangerous for her and she would contact him when it was safe… he weekly runs a personal ad in multiple newspapers with his phone number & asking her if it’s safe yet… but no response….
The story begins when he awakens on the beach, very disoriented, and as he goes to the road a car tries to run him over….he realizes that he must have died and that Maureen’s blood worked – he is a vampire. Little by little, throughout the story, he pieces together and begins to recall being taken in by 1930 gangsters, who were looking for a coded list that someone had given him – but he would not tell them where it was, and they beat him up badly until he was dead…
Along the way he meets up with Escott, an ex-stage actor, current private investigator… who observes Fleming at the train station (and his lack of mirrored reflection), follows him to the stock yard, and then confronts him… and they become good friends… each helping the other out, especially as Fleming adjusts to his new life…
Because he now looks younger, he can't go home, but he continues to call them and send money home...
Ultimately, he remembers the list – it is a blackmail list, and Escott is slowly contacting each and helping them regain control of the harmful information… Fleming punishes those that unreasonably killed him (the main guy, he ‘haunts’ for a few nights… quite humorous)… gathers some of his illgotten gains... and he and Bobbi (a singer at the gangster club, and gangster girlfriend) hook up… she also accepts who he is.
Lifeblood – book 2 – vs the vampire slayers…
2 vampire slayers (somewhat inept, but very persistent) are on the track of Jack… Braxton, the older vampire slayer, has a bookstore and has an interest in the occult… many years ago, he recognized Maureen as a vampire & Jack as her consort & future vampire…
We find out why Maureen left 5 years ago… her 60ish year old sister, Gaylen, had gone over the bend 20 years earlier when she found out what her sister had become and she envied her youthful body… Maureen had her committed to an asylum and had escaped with another inmate…
Bobbi & Jack are doing well… Bobbi is working on radio as a singer… Escott continues to help Jack explore what it means to be a vampire (oh, by the way, jack gets most of his blood from the cattle stockyard… and he finds out that horses make a better choice – less hair)…
Gaylen & her henchman kills Braxton, and kidnap Bobbi – and force Jack to share his blood with Gaylen… the stake Jack, and take off with Bobbi… Bobbi gets free, Escott saves Jack (giving him some of his own blood, and then ‘force’ feeding cow blood into his stomach through a tube…
They take care of the newly changed vampire Gaylen, and her henchman…
Bloodcircle – book 3… what did happen to Maureen…
Escott, as PI and Jack as assistant PI, head to New York to try & pick up Maureen’s trail, starting at the asylum… they track her to an estate outside Manhattan, and locate Barrett (the vampire who turned Maureen)… Barrett is living with a rich spinster & her niece… he is ‘priming’ the spinster to become a vampire & truly seems to love her… but the niece is vying for his attentions… he has the ‘perfect’ set of rooms protected in the basement… he truly believes that Maureen left without a word after one day, and he would like to know what happened to her…
It ends up that the niece is a jealous type… she killed Maureen (staked her during the day & dumped her body ), costumed up and called a cab to take her to a ferry 60 miles away so that Barrett will think she left (but made the error of tipping $5.00 – an unheard of amount)… and then, currently when Barrett agrees to marry the spinster, the niece gets pissed off, stakes Barrett & pushes her aunt down the stairs…
Escott agains saves Barrett, Jack hypnotizes the niece, gets the truth about what happened to Maureen, and gives her an overdose of sleeping pills… and the story ends with a saddened, serious Barrett who enters the den where the spinster is laid to rest when they hear a sound, and notice the rose on the ground….
Bloodlist – book 1 – tells about how Jack became & adjusted to being a vampire, and wreaks vengeance on the gang who tortured and killed him…
Jack & Maureen were lovers – Maureen was a vampire… and she exchanged blood with Jack many times, with the hope that upon his death, he would live on as a vampire… Sexual pleasure came as much from the biting as from anything else… but 5 years ago, she leaves him a note saying it’s dangerous for her and she would contact him when it was safe… he weekly runs a personal ad in multiple newspapers with his phone number & asking her if it’s safe yet… but no response….
The story begins when he awakens on the beach, very disoriented, and as he goes to the road a car tries to run him over….he realizes that he must have died and that Maureen’s blood worked – he is a vampire. Little by little, throughout the story, he pieces together and begins to recall being taken in by 1930 gangsters, who were looking for a coded list that someone had given him – but he would not tell them where it was, and they beat him up badly until he was dead…
Along the way he meets up with Escott, an ex-stage actor, current private investigator… who observes Fleming at the train station (and his lack of mirrored reflection), follows him to the stock yard, and then confronts him… and they become good friends… each helping the other out, especially as Fleming adjusts to his new life…
Because he now looks younger, he can't go home, but he continues to call them and send money home...
Ultimately, he remembers the list – it is a blackmail list, and Escott is slowly contacting each and helping them regain control of the harmful information… Fleming punishes those that unreasonably killed him (the main guy, he ‘haunts’ for a few nights… quite humorous)… gathers some of his illgotten gains... and he and Bobbi (a singer at the gangster club, and gangster girlfriend) hook up… she also accepts who he is.
Lifeblood – book 2 – vs the vampire slayers…
2 vampire slayers (somewhat inept, but very persistent) are on the track of Jack… Braxton, the older vampire slayer, has a bookstore and has an interest in the occult… many years ago, he recognized Maureen as a vampire & Jack as her consort & future vampire…
We find out why Maureen left 5 years ago… her 60ish year old sister, Gaylen, had gone over the bend 20 years earlier when she found out what her sister had become and she envied her youthful body… Maureen had her committed to an asylum and had escaped with another inmate…
Bobbi & Jack are doing well… Bobbi is working on radio as a singer… Escott continues to help Jack explore what it means to be a vampire (oh, by the way, jack gets most of his blood from the cattle stockyard… and he finds out that horses make a better choice – less hair)…
Gaylen & her henchman kills Braxton, and kidnap Bobbi – and force Jack to share his blood with Gaylen… the stake Jack, and take off with Bobbi… Bobbi gets free, Escott saves Jack (giving him some of his own blood, and then ‘force’ feeding cow blood into his stomach through a tube…
They take care of the newly changed vampire Gaylen, and her henchman…
Bloodcircle – book 3… what did happen to Maureen…
Escott, as PI and Jack as assistant PI, head to New York to try & pick up Maureen’s trail, starting at the asylum… they track her to an estate outside Manhattan, and locate Barrett (the vampire who turned Maureen)… Barrett is living with a rich spinster & her niece… he is ‘priming’ the spinster to become a vampire & truly seems to love her… but the niece is vying for his attentions… he has the ‘perfect’ set of rooms protected in the basement… he truly believes that Maureen left without a word after one day, and he would like to know what happened to her…
It ends up that the niece is a jealous type… she killed Maureen (staked her during the day & dumped her body ), costumed up and called a cab to take her to a ferry 60 miles away so that Barrett will think she left (but made the error of tipping $5.00 – an unheard of amount)… and then, currently when Barrett agrees to marry the spinster, the niece gets pissed off, stakes Barrett & pushes her aunt down the stairs…
Escott agains saves Barrett, Jack hypnotizes the niece, gets the truth about what happened to Maureen, and gives her an overdose of sleeping pills… and the story ends with a saddened, serious Barrett who enters the den where the spinster is laid to rest when they hear a sound, and notice the rose on the ground….
November 11, 2012
Set in the 1930s, these books are meant to be reminiscent of the mob, the private eye, etc. They are and that makes them fun, but they are also good mysteries or crime novels. Even though the main character, a former journalist turned vampire private eye, is shot or tortured several times every book, he has the advantage of being able to survive every time. Being a vampire has its advantages because you are already dead. Jack Fleming does end up being scarred emotionally and physically from some of the torture, but he keeps doing his best to protect his loved ones and his legitimate club (no gambling).
I like the characters Elrod creates. Jack Fleming, black and white mob bosses (Shoe and Gordy), the lovely singer/girlfriend Bobbie, and the ever-faithful companion and business partner, Charles Escott. Chicago nightclubs are the frequent settings, and the Stockyard provides sustenance.
I didn't expect to like these so much, but I do. After I finish one, I feel bereft until a new one comes my way. I guess I don't want them to end, which is pleasantly surprising.
I like the characters Elrod creates. Jack Fleming, black and white mob bosses (Shoe and Gordy), the lovely singer/girlfriend Bobbie, and the ever-faithful companion and business partner, Charles Escott. Chicago nightclubs are the frequent settings, and the Stockyard provides sustenance.
I didn't expect to like these so much, but I do. After I finish one, I feel bereft until a new one comes my way. I guess I don't want them to end, which is pleasantly surprising.
February 11, 2017
3.5 stars
July 21, 2009
I actually started by reading this series a few years ago with the later books. I liked them enough that I wanted to go back and start over. However, what niggled me back them became a big, whopping punch in the face. This book is simply too pat. How fortunate that a private detective can turn to mist and hide, control the minds of people so they don't remember seeing him and will tell him secrets, and has massive strength. Of course, he's upstanding, honest, and moral, which just makes him boring. It's all too... perfect. I want a character that struggles with himself, that has some flaws, that does not have powers that make his life a 100% easier. I wanted to love Jack, because I thought it was a brilliant premise, but I think the execution is flawed. Maybe I'll try again in the future, but this time around I couldn't bring myself to love it.
August 2, 2012
Am deep deep into weird paranormal urban noir mysteries. Started with Chatlie Huston, zigged over to jim butcher, then zagged to mike carey. Now have fetched up in the land of p.n. elrod. The woman writes a great story. Set in the 1930's this series features jack fleming, a vampire with a non beating heart of gold, and a slight (repetitive) death wish. He is more like his hero, the shadow, then like dracula. But he is plausible. Along with his english icy sidekick, charles escott (think david niven) he attempts to bring order to the gang ridden land of depression era chicago. His girlfriend could have been played by jean harlowe. All in all a fast moving treat. And for a series addict like me its comforting that there are so many volumes!
August 5, 2022
wow - grabs the reader and drags him in, and never lets go until the last page.
I actually read the entire series years and years (and years) ago on first printing (and still have the hard copy books, too), and I am VERY HAPPY to discover that I read them LONG ENOUGH ago that I did not remember the exact plot (I did remember who the good (sort of good) guys were, at least) and therefore I read this volume of the first three books with great delight, very much as a 'new reader' would have done.
Amazing. And why aren't the REST available on kindle yet? I am fully involved currently into book SEVEN and the lamp beside the bed is annoying my husband!
Oh VERY well done! Good story, great characters, wonderful dialogue and plenty of suspense to go around.
I actually read the entire series years and years (and years) ago on first printing (and still have the hard copy books, too), and I am VERY HAPPY to discover that I read them LONG ENOUGH ago that I did not remember the exact plot (I did remember who the good (sort of good) guys were, at least) and therefore I read this volume of the first three books with great delight, very much as a 'new reader' would have done.
Amazing. And why aren't the REST available on kindle yet? I am fully involved currently into book SEVEN and the lamp beside the bed is annoying my husband!
Oh VERY well done! Good story, great characters, wonderful dialogue and plenty of suspense to go around.
June 14, 2009
I love the era of this book. It reminds me of Bogart and the times of gangsters. It is also set in Chicago. The stories are first person told by the vampire. He is new to being a vampire so the first three books resolve the mystery of how it happened and what became of his sire. There is laugh out loud humor. The romance is thin, very thin but it really does not need it. It takes a really good writer to make you love a vampire that says 'ouch' when he gets shot. His sidekick is also fun. Paranormal romance fans may not get into it but mystery fans will love it.
December 15, 2015
It's 1936. Jack Flemming wakes up and is shocked to find that he's become a vampire. Only days ago, he was a journalist, recently moved from NY to Chicago. Unexpectedly thrown into a different life with a different set of rules, he goes about trying to uncover what happened to him sometime in the recent (and forgotten) past. A private investigator takes an interest & the two team up to the benefit of both.
This is a bundle of the first three stories. I thought they were a fun read & am checking out Vol 2 from the library. :)
This is a bundle of the first three stories. I thought they were a fun read & am checking out Vol 2 from the library. :)
October 30, 2013
I really like fleming and Escott's relationship although if this was a TV series I would want Escott to have his own spin-off series. It was hard not listening to the audio version every chance I got. The story was intriguing, suspenseful, at times funny and well told. My only issue was at the end trying to believe a vampire felt he wasnt strong enough or fast enough to save Escott especially when he easily put two people to sleep at once earlier in the story. Nonetheless, it was a fun book and I look forward to reading others in the series.
August 1, 2011
listened to this audiobook; amazed to enjoy it! Very 50s noir style. The "reader" is perfect, the writing style and characters are stereotypical but refreshing to emerse in this "era" with a supernatural twist. immediately listened to the volume 2, not sure if I would go right into volume 3 if it were available; probably had enuf of it for a while. would like to read some of her other character series.
January 23, 2024
Do you love vampires, but paranormal romance isn't for you?
Do you like mysteries, but wish they had a little extra something?
Do you like your heroes right on the edge of dark?
Do you enjoy the feel of noir movies?
If you answered yes to any of these, Vampire Files is for you.
Noir, gory, sarcastic, human, gritty, tragic, and full of unique characters, this book is among my favorite in the supernatural genre.
Do you like mysteries, but wish they had a little extra something?
Do you like your heroes right on the edge of dark?
Do you enjoy the feel of noir movies?
If you answered yes to any of these, Vampire Files is for you.
Noir, gory, sarcastic, human, gritty, tragic, and full of unique characters, this book is among my favorite in the supernatural genre.
June 24, 2020
I LOVE this series. It's a vampire in 1930's gangster (old school gangsters) and he's a detective. Jack is endearing and has morals, making him sympathetic and easy to love. His human friend Escott is great too...Helpful, smart, witty and a great sidekick(though technically he's really the detective).
My only complaint is how many people are finding out about Jack's condition...True a lot of them are dead now but still...:)
My only complaint is how many people are finding out about Jack's condition...True a lot of them are dead now but still...:)
February 6, 2008
Takes place in the 30's. Guy wakes up on a beach and finds out he's a vampire because of an old girlfriend. Not your typical gore fest because he does not feel any different than before, just can't eat normal food and can't go out during the day and the thought of feeding off of humans is just wrong to him. It was o.k.
February 12, 2010
Well, it's been a million years since I've been on Goodreads and this was the book I left on. I did finish it and I did like it. First it felt refreshing that the main character was a male (vampire). Second, ... I .. I don't remember much. I'll have to reread it. Especially since I have Volume 2 waiting.
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