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Blood Street
For those who prefer vampires that don't sparkle. Blood Street is True Blood meets the Sopranos set in the streets of Philadelphia.
When vampires tangle with the Philadelphia mafia, one thing is certain - all hell is going to break loose.
Alexei chose the wrong neighborhood to claim his latest victim, a member of Enzo Salerno's crime syndicate. Now Philadelphia mob boss Enzo Salerno is determined to hunt down the man who killed his associate in such gruesome fashion in his South Philly row home and serve his own brand of old fashioned Italian style vengeance.
Perplexed by this unnatural murder, Salerno uncovers clues that lead him to believe that this was not a mob hit, and that a vampire was responsible for this death. Magnus, the leader of Alexei's brood, must use all of his resources to save them from both the mafia and the FBI, sparking a bloody war that plays out in the streets of Philadelphia. Who will survive on Blood Street?
Kindle Edition
First published November 24, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
August 20, 2025
A blood feud starts between the Philadelphia mob faction and a brood of blood sucking vampires in this pretty decent book. There are no new rules to follow with either side. The mafia guys are greasy hoods, and the vamps can die by stake and can't come out in the light, except the real old ones. Everybody pretty much stays in their lanes. Was hoping for a more over the top ride, but it was well done, none the less.
November 4, 2015
3.5 stars
The story has a lot of promise, and the plotting helps.
Synopsis: a rogue vampire is causing a lot of problems in Philadelphia, with both the established vamp brood, the Mob, and the law. What to do?
I like the shifting alliances, and that all 3 main groups have both (semi)admirable characters and loathsome ones. The Mob contingent was especially effective this way.
Unfortunately, none of the characters really came to life themselves; they had their basic character descriptions, and then reacted more according to the needs of the plot than with internal motivations. I think Alves tried to bring more life to them- certainly his Mob boss is somewhat more complex than is usual for criminal kingpins- as is his second-in-command, Sophie.
...And that brings me to the main women, who are 100% physically gorgeous. Some are smarter than others- a decent differentiation- but they all start out as 10+++ on the looks scale. AND, what's more- even the most capable and intelligent ones are 100% willing to throw things over for Their Man (or Vamp, as the case may be). The secondary women can be shrewish, but are generally also well-nigh-perfect physically. What- no old women? None who have put on weight from all that Italian cooking they're doing?
Back to the men: I don't really see Enzo, the Mob boss, having a lot of patience with the mess his subordinates seem to make fairly regularly. He went into the Mob vs legit biz because he couldn't stand the rules... and yet, as the Mob boss, he has no choice but to put up with pretty sketchy "soldiers", which he can't even effectively fire. We see less of management challenges with the law, but similar seems to happen there.
And the vamps? It simply does not make sense that Magnus, the Head Vamp, would put up with so much crap from the rogue, especially when the rogue is directly challenging his leadership. Family? OK, maybe, at first. But if Magnus was half as good a leader as he is described as being, he would not let the rogue be the reason that half or more of his brood died. Especially considering the challenging.
So there's a lot of it that is not great. I'll also add the copy-editing, or the lack thereof; lines are "toed" not "towed", unless you are shipboard, for example, and that's only one of many- the funniest was when Alves clearly meant "wine and dine", but instead it was printed as "whine and dine"- rather different!
The language is often raw, but I'd expect that of gangsters. There is also much gore.
In short: the premise and the shifting and morphing alliances are solid and fascinating. The characterization- especially combined with meeting the needs of the plot- and the writing, could both use work. It would help if behavior did not often seem so arbitrary.
I received this book in exchange for writing an honest review.
The story has a lot of promise, and the plotting helps.
Synopsis: a rogue vampire is causing a lot of problems in Philadelphia, with both the established vamp brood, the Mob, and the law. What to do?
I like the shifting alliances, and that all 3 main groups have both (semi)admirable characters and loathsome ones. The Mob contingent was especially effective this way.
Unfortunately, none of the characters really came to life themselves; they had their basic character descriptions, and then reacted more according to the needs of the plot than with internal motivations. I think Alves tried to bring more life to them- certainly his Mob boss is somewhat more complex than is usual for criminal kingpins- as is his second-in-command, Sophie.
...And that brings me to the main women, who are 100% physically gorgeous. Some are smarter than others- a decent differentiation- but they all start out as 10+++ on the looks scale. AND, what's more- even the most capable and intelligent ones are 100% willing to throw things over for Their Man (or Vamp, as the case may be). The secondary women can be shrewish, but are generally also well-nigh-perfect physically. What- no old women? None who have put on weight from all that Italian cooking they're doing?
Back to the men: I don't really see Enzo, the Mob boss, having a lot of patience with the mess his subordinates seem to make fairly regularly. He went into the Mob vs legit biz because he couldn't stand the rules... and yet, as the Mob boss, he has no choice but to put up with pretty sketchy "soldiers", which he can't even effectively fire. We see less of management challenges with the law, but similar seems to happen there.
And the vamps? It simply does not make sense that Magnus, the Head Vamp, would put up with so much crap from the rogue, especially when the rogue is directly challenging his leadership. Family? OK, maybe, at first. But if Magnus was half as good a leader as he is described as being, he would not let the rogue be the reason that half or more of his brood died. Especially considering the challenging.
So there's a lot of it that is not great. I'll also add the copy-editing, or the lack thereof; lines are "toed" not "towed", unless you are shipboard, for example, and that's only one of many- the funniest was when Alves clearly meant "wine and dine", but instead it was printed as "whine and dine"- rather different!
The language is often raw, but I'd expect that of gangsters. There is also much gore.
In short: the premise and the shifting and morphing alliances are solid and fascinating. The characterization- especially combined with meeting the needs of the plot- and the writing, could both use work. It would help if behavior did not often seem so arbitrary.
I received this book in exchange for writing an honest review.
June 8, 2016
My original Blood Street audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.
What happens when vampires cross into the path of a mob boss? Blood flows freely on both sides!
Alexei, a centuries old vampire loves to spend time in the limelight and with beautiful people. He selects his victims with care much like a serial killer. He selects the wrong victim early on and madness ensues. Enzo Salerno’s man is viciously murdered and now he wants the man responsible to pay with his own life. Salerno runs his business in the style of the old-fashioned Italians – with a vengeance! At first suspecting a retaliating mob hit, Salerno sends his scores of men to the street to find who the responsible party is and exact revenge. Then he discovers there really are vampires!
Magnus, the leader of the brood of vampires and Alexei, finds he must try to negotiate with the mob boss and the FBI in order to protect his brood. Alexei’s growing paranoia along with jealousy pushes things further and escalates the deadly encounter. Salerno successfully strikes fear in the heart of the vampires. Both sides retaliate with a ferociousness that is mind-boggling!
This is not your predictable tale of man vs vampires; it is full of twists and turns leaving you stunned at the ending. Carl Alves takes a common theme (man vs vampire) and makes it fresh and unique. My expectations were that this book was going to be like so many other vampire books but instead I found so much more! Alves takes the story beyond the norm but keeps it realistically grounded through the human characters.
I found this book to be highly intriguing in many different ways. Alves builds the story around the conversion to vampirism method, the personality and mentality of Alexei and the characters dancing around one another exacting revenge and delivering messages in a vile and vicious manner. This is a good book, one that I would listen to again and highly recommend to anyone who enjoys the darker side of vampires and humankind as well as anyone who loves action! It well written and thought out, there are no holes or issues.
Steve Williams did an exceptional job of narrating; the different accents were spot on and difficult – Philly brogue and Old Russian. He never messed up or became confused. I thought he did a wonderful job. He used his voice to infect the listeners with excitement, fear and danger. He also inflected confidence and weakness when appropriate. Williams pronounced the words properly and clearly.
Anyone who loves action and adventure as well as vampires, this is your book!
Production quality of the audiobook was very good, there were no issues or concerns.
Audiobook was provided for review by the author.
What happens when vampires cross into the path of a mob boss? Blood flows freely on both sides!
Alexei, a centuries old vampire loves to spend time in the limelight and with beautiful people. He selects his victims with care much like a serial killer. He selects the wrong victim early on and madness ensues. Enzo Salerno’s man is viciously murdered and now he wants the man responsible to pay with his own life. Salerno runs his business in the style of the old-fashioned Italians – with a vengeance! At first suspecting a retaliating mob hit, Salerno sends his scores of men to the street to find who the responsible party is and exact revenge. Then he discovers there really are vampires!
Magnus, the leader of the brood of vampires and Alexei, finds he must try to negotiate with the mob boss and the FBI in order to protect his brood. Alexei’s growing paranoia along with jealousy pushes things further and escalates the deadly encounter. Salerno successfully strikes fear in the heart of the vampires. Both sides retaliate with a ferociousness that is mind-boggling!
This is not your predictable tale of man vs vampires; it is full of twists and turns leaving you stunned at the ending. Carl Alves takes a common theme (man vs vampire) and makes it fresh and unique. My expectations were that this book was going to be like so many other vampire books but instead I found so much more! Alves takes the story beyond the norm but keeps it realistically grounded through the human characters.
I found this book to be highly intriguing in many different ways. Alves builds the story around the conversion to vampirism method, the personality and mentality of Alexei and the characters dancing around one another exacting revenge and delivering messages in a vile and vicious manner. This is a good book, one that I would listen to again and highly recommend to anyone who enjoys the darker side of vampires and humankind as well as anyone who loves action! It well written and thought out, there are no holes or issues.
Steve Williams did an exceptional job of narrating; the different accents were spot on and difficult – Philly brogue and Old Russian. He never messed up or became confused. I thought he did a wonderful job. He used his voice to infect the listeners with excitement, fear and danger. He also inflected confidence and weakness when appropriate. Williams pronounced the words properly and clearly.
Anyone who loves action and adventure as well as vampires, this is your book!
Production quality of the audiobook was very good, there were no issues or concerns.
Audiobook was provided for review by the author.
August 18, 2017
http://fallenoverbookreviews.blogspot...
I received this book to give an honest review.
So this book has been on my list to read for a while. I started it then ended up putting it down because it was not holding my attention. Then I finally decided to man up and give it another try and see if it will hold my attention again.
Well I was right, I ended up enjoying the story a bit more than when I first started it.
The story was decent. You have vampires, FBI and the mafia coming together but not in a good way. The mafia likes to serve their own justice when one of them or their family is affected by something, so when one of Enzo's man gets attacked he will stop at nothing to find the person behind it. When a witness informs Enzo it was the work of a vampire that surely can't be right, because well vampires do not exist.
We see how two groups will come together to stop the killings, many lives will be lost and some will actually take on the side of the vampires.
We do get a bit of back history on how one of the main vampires was turned and I really like that. I think when certain paranormal creatures are written in a book they have to have some back story to them.
If you like killings, vampires, action and crime then give this book a try.
I received this book to give an honest review.
So this book has been on my list to read for a while. I started it then ended up putting it down because it was not holding my attention. Then I finally decided to man up and give it another try and see if it will hold my attention again.
Well I was right, I ended up enjoying the story a bit more than when I first started it.
The story was decent. You have vampires, FBI and the mafia coming together but not in a good way. The mafia likes to serve their own justice when one of them or their family is affected by something, so when one of Enzo's man gets attacked he will stop at nothing to find the person behind it. When a witness informs Enzo it was the work of a vampire that surely can't be right, because well vampires do not exist.
We see how two groups will come together to stop the killings, many lives will be lost and some will actually take on the side of the vampires.
We do get a bit of back history on how one of the main vampires was turned and I really like that. I think when certain paranormal creatures are written in a book they have to have some back story to them.
If you like killings, vampires, action and crime then give this book a try.
August 23, 2015
Blood Street is at its best when it focuses on vampires. They're just about my favorite monster, and I always enjoy stories about them. When this novel focuses on mobsters, it comes across as bad mafia fan fiction. Many of the human characters seem--to me, at least--to be mobster stereotypes. There's a particularly unpleasant mafioso named Big Fat Paulie (Family Guy fans should recognize that name). Then again, I'm hardly an expert on the mob, so Alves' portrayal may be accurate, but it just doesn't seem like it.
But it's not just the mobsters I have trouble buying into. Gabriella is wildly inconsistent in her actions. The author includes a scene in which she punishes a wife-beater, adding she enjoys bringing scumbags to justice. Yet she continually ignores the murderers in her own family. I feel this scene is unnecessary and only confuses the plot.
Fortunately, as I said, the vampire parts (Gabriella notwithstanding) are quite good. I enjoyed seeing them fight the mob to see who was the lesser of two evils, and there are some good fight scenes and a satisfying conclusion.
All in all, Blood Street's a mixed bag. There are good and bad parts, though I think the good outweighs the bad.
But it's not just the mobsters I have trouble buying into. Gabriella is wildly inconsistent in her actions. The author includes a scene in which she punishes a wife-beater, adding she enjoys bringing scumbags to justice. Yet she continually ignores the murderers in her own family. I feel this scene is unnecessary and only confuses the plot.
Fortunately, as I said, the vampire parts (Gabriella notwithstanding) are quite good. I enjoyed seeing them fight the mob to see who was the lesser of two evils, and there are some good fight scenes and a satisfying conclusion.
All in all, Blood Street's a mixed bag. There are good and bad parts, though I think the good outweighs the bad.
June 8, 2015
An Interesting Combination of Good Guys and Bad Guys
The Mafia and a Vampire Brood cross paths when a strong, ancient vampire goes rouge. Even the FBI has to pick a side. Did you ever think Federal Agents would join forces with organized crime? I guess it depends on the common enemy. Believable history of the undead land good characterization. Loyalties change as bloody battles erupt with plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing. Well-written and fast-paced. Where will your loyalties end up? Definitely worth the read!
The Mafia and a Vampire Brood cross paths when a strong, ancient vampire goes rouge. Even the FBI has to pick a side. Did you ever think Federal Agents would join forces with organized crime? I guess it depends on the common enemy. Believable history of the undead land good characterization. Loyalties change as bloody battles erupt with plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing. Well-written and fast-paced. Where will your loyalties end up? Definitely worth the read!
February 22, 2014
I was given this book in exchange for an honest review.
I have never read a book that has both vampires and the mob, wasn't sure if I was going to like it. I was right I didn't like it, I was amazed by the story. I like the authors style and I found myself unable to put my Kindle down. It is a fast-paced action story that will leave you on the edge of your seat wondering what is going to happen next. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
I have never read a book that has both vampires and the mob, wasn't sure if I was going to like it. I was right I didn't like it, I was amazed by the story. I like the authors style and I found myself unable to put my Kindle down. It is a fast-paced action story that will leave you on the edge of your seat wondering what is going to happen next. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
September 13, 2013
loved the book
January 22, 2026
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. The uneasy team-up between the FBI leader and the mob boss made for an interesting dynamic. The vampires were well characterized as well.
I have no idea why this book was called Blood Street, and the cover has absolutely nothing to do this the story other than there being a mob looking guy there.
-Spoilers after this point-
A few issues I had with the book were that I really did not see enough evidence of the familial bond that the vampire group had with Alexei that made it worth it to keep him around despite the highly publicized murders he committed. Even if they did not want to fully kill him, they should have at least just kicked him out.
Magnus had knowledge about things going on around town with the only explanation being that he "has eyes everywhere." And at one point he gets a table at an exclusive restaurant because he is friends with the owner. Yet, he is described as an introverted homebody who rarely leaves the house and barely knew the city he had been living in for six months. So how did this guy manage to have so many connections? It's not even hand-waved as him having used vampire powers or something.
What was the deal with Sophie? It was set up that Magnus was manipulating her to orchestrate a truce. But he thinks highly of her and wants her to be a vampire? And he claims that her feelings are genuine and her own? And why did she want to be a vampire after they decimated her community? Is she brainwashed or not? The state of Nora seems to show that brainwashing doesn't wear off just because someone turns into a vampire. But what did Magnus get out of turning her into a vampire? And why did she think Enzo would ever want to be a vampire and go off and be with her. Like I feel like the author was pushing her getting this "reward" for being so smart and beautiful, but she actually seemed kind of pathetic to me.
I have no idea why this book was called Blood Street, and the cover has absolutely nothing to do this the story other than there being a mob looking guy there.
-Spoilers after this point-
A few issues I had with the book were that I really did not see enough evidence of the familial bond that the vampire group had with Alexei that made it worth it to keep him around despite the highly publicized murders he committed. Even if they did not want to fully kill him, they should have at least just kicked him out.
Magnus had knowledge about things going on around town with the only explanation being that he "has eyes everywhere." And at one point he gets a table at an exclusive restaurant because he is friends with the owner. Yet, he is described as an introverted homebody who rarely leaves the house and barely knew the city he had been living in for six months. So how did this guy manage to have so many connections? It's not even hand-waved as him having used vampire powers or something.
What was the deal with Sophie? It was set up that Magnus was manipulating her to orchestrate a truce. But he thinks highly of her and wants her to be a vampire? And he claims that her feelings are genuine and her own? And why did she want to be a vampire after they decimated her community? Is she brainwashed or not? The state of Nora seems to show that brainwashing doesn't wear off just because someone turns into a vampire. But what did Magnus get out of turning her into a vampire? And why did she think Enzo would ever want to be a vampire and go off and be with her. Like I feel like the author was pushing her getting this "reward" for being so smart and beautiful, but she actually seemed kind of pathetic to me.
January 1, 2026
3.5 Stars
A lesson in how bad things can go when you don't do the logical thing and "take car of business".
When you're dealing with two groups that expect retribution for wrongs against them a bloodbath will ensue. Throw in the FBI and you have a party.
A lesson in how bad things can go when you don't do the logical thing and "take car of business".
When you're dealing with two groups that expect retribution for wrongs against them a bloodbath will ensue. Throw in the FBI and you have a party.
September 8, 2025
Impressive
The plot is what makes this book worth the read. I have read a lot of vampire novels, and been disappointed by the majority of them. This appears to be a standalone, so no worries about an unfinished ending. The characters are good; but I wished they were more fully developed. As in most of what I read, the scene settings could have been better. Enjoy!
The plot is what makes this book worth the read. I have read a lot of vampire novels, and been disappointed by the majority of them. This appears to be a standalone, so no worries about an unfinished ending. The characters are good; but I wished they were more fully developed. As in most of what I read, the scene settings could have been better. Enjoy!
November 26, 2025
This is a good introduction to this series. A nice example of the style of writing of this author, I liked the vampire dystopian adventure, good levels of action & so far good ideas! I will look for the next book in this series.
August 24, 2020
Two of my favorite genres, vampires and mobsters. I didn’t know who to root for. Great book!
October 15, 2025
Awesome read
I wasn’t sure about this novel at first, but when I started it I couldn’t put it down til finished. Please read this you will not regret it. GREAT READ MUST READ
I wasn’t sure about this novel at first, but when I started it I couldn’t put it down til finished. Please read this you will not regret it. GREAT READ MUST READ
June 5, 2015
A month or so ago, I received the book Blood Street by Carl Alves in exchange for an honest review. As soon as I received the book, I began reading it, excited to see two of my favorite subjects combined - vampires and the law. However, I found myself reading the book less and less, and eventually it began feeling like a chore to read it. That said, when I finally did finish it, I was pleasantly surprised at the ubiquitous ending, that is to say was there really a 'right' side to be cheering for? But I'm getting ahead of myself.
Blood Street by Carl Alves is a story about vampires, mobsters, and federal agents who all team up together to try and take out the unruly vampire, Alexei, who is killing people with the stamina and velocity of twenty vampires. After the gruesome murder of an associate of the Philadelphia mob, the entire organization is sent into a frenzy and out for blood (pun #1) to avenge their fallen friend. So with all the blood and guts painting the town red, literally, the FBI becomes involved, and the detective assigned to the case, Mark Andrews, sees it as the perfect opportunity to take out the largest crime syndicate Philadelphia has ever seen. And with the body count growing and the killer remaining at large, all of the humans are beginning to question their innate sense of what is real, i.e. can fictional vampires really exist?
I really wanted to like this book. I truly did, but there were several things that kept me from getting sucked into it (pun #2):
1) The grammar and misspellings. As an English scholar and a writer, I know that mistakes happen. However (and I blame the publishing company more so than the author for this) if you want to professionally publish your works, please take the time to hire an editor, or at the very least pay off some reading friends with pizza and beer and have them do a peer-edit for you.
2) The choppy story line. Again, this is something that a good editor can help with, but the main reason I found myself getting distracted and sidetracked from reading is because the characters were constantly changing and the transitions from one character to the next were not fully developed.
3) The rough language. One of the first things I learned in my Intro Creative Writing class is that language is art. It will be interpreted in various ways: some audiences will see it as beautiful and some will see it as ugly. My professor told us that the key to perfecting your art, in this case your language usage, is that you need to find balance. You also need to write for more general audiences, particularly if you want to be successful. This book has an overwhelming vulgarity to it that is extremely difficult to overlook, unless of course you are a sailor...or a non-sparkling vampire.
So in summary, if you like dark, action loaded books that have a "Macbeth meets Dracula meets The Sopranos" sort of style to them, then this book is definitely for you! But, if you prefer your vampires sparkly or with the temperament of a golden retriever, then I would suggest you look elsewhere.
Happy Reading!
Blood Street by Carl Alves is a story about vampires, mobsters, and federal agents who all team up together to try and take out the unruly vampire, Alexei, who is killing people with the stamina and velocity of twenty vampires. After the gruesome murder of an associate of the Philadelphia mob, the entire organization is sent into a frenzy and out for blood (pun #1) to avenge their fallen friend. So with all the blood and guts painting the town red, literally, the FBI becomes involved, and the detective assigned to the case, Mark Andrews, sees it as the perfect opportunity to take out the largest crime syndicate Philadelphia has ever seen. And with the body count growing and the killer remaining at large, all of the humans are beginning to question their innate sense of what is real, i.e. can fictional vampires really exist?
I really wanted to like this book. I truly did, but there were several things that kept me from getting sucked into it (pun #2):
1) The grammar and misspellings. As an English scholar and a writer, I know that mistakes happen. However (and I blame the publishing company more so than the author for this) if you want to professionally publish your works, please take the time to hire an editor, or at the very least pay off some reading friends with pizza and beer and have them do a peer-edit for you.
2) The choppy story line. Again, this is something that a good editor can help with, but the main reason I found myself getting distracted and sidetracked from reading is because the characters were constantly changing and the transitions from one character to the next were not fully developed.
3) The rough language. One of the first things I learned in my Intro Creative Writing class is that language is art. It will be interpreted in various ways: some audiences will see it as beautiful and some will see it as ugly. My professor told us that the key to perfecting your art, in this case your language usage, is that you need to find balance. You also need to write for more general audiences, particularly if you want to be successful. This book has an overwhelming vulgarity to it that is extremely difficult to overlook, unless of course you are a sailor...or a non-sparkling vampire.
So in summary, if you like dark, action loaded books that have a "Macbeth meets Dracula meets The Sopranos" sort of style to them, then this book is definitely for you! But, if you prefer your vampires sparkly or with the temperament of a golden retriever, then I would suggest you look elsewhere.
Happy Reading!
April 30, 2015
This was truly like nothing I have read before. The description is spot on: True Blood meets The Sopranos. It was kind of amazing to see the mesh between the vampire underworld and the mafia.
Let's talk about the plot:
This plot was completely believable. It starts with the gruesome murder of one of Enzo Salerno's associates. Before long, this mob boss is swept up in getting vengeance for his friend. Until more people are murdered and the FBI is brought in. FBI Agent Mark Andrews and Enzo have to put aside their differences if they want to catch this serial killer and make him pay for his crimes.
The murders are so horrific, they're in the news as being done by "The Vampire Killer." Only, no one actually believes it could be by a real vampire. Because, you know, vampires aren't real, right? This book is super action-packed, full of all types of fighting. And crazy weird vampire lore.
Let's talk about the characters:
Alexei is the main "villain" of the book. He is a vampire who is over a thousand years old (talk about ancient). He is the "Vampire Killer." He has a penchant for consuming human organs, even though it is taboo. And he has a strong dislike for his brood leader, Magnus. Alexei is a slightly predictable character. He always wants blood and never cares about being discreet to hide his kind.
Magnus is the brood leader of the vampires in Philadelphia. He is about as old as Alexei. But he hates Alexei. Magnus is a more complex character. It was hard to know what he would do from moment to moment. He kept his thoughts hidden well.
Enzo Salerno is Philly's mob boss. He operates off loyalty. He doesn't want to believe vampires are real, but when he finally faces the facts, he has to accept the truth. And he nearly gets himself killed from his vendetta against all vampires.
Mark Andrews is an FBI agent assigned to investigate Salerno's alleged illegal activities. When the "Vampire Killer" strikes again and again, he decides he has to put old grudges aside and ask for help in the least likely place.
So what did I think?
Overall Alves did a great job creating the dark and dangerous setting of South Philly. And the mafia and vampire world combined together was very interesting. Completely recommended to anyone into paranormal, fantasy, or horror.
Note: I received a copy of this for in exchange for an honest review.
Let's talk about the plot:
This plot was completely believable. It starts with the gruesome murder of one of Enzo Salerno's associates. Before long, this mob boss is swept up in getting vengeance for his friend. Until more people are murdered and the FBI is brought in. FBI Agent Mark Andrews and Enzo have to put aside their differences if they want to catch this serial killer and make him pay for his crimes.
The murders are so horrific, they're in the news as being done by "The Vampire Killer." Only, no one actually believes it could be by a real vampire. Because, you know, vampires aren't real, right? This book is super action-packed, full of all types of fighting. And crazy weird vampire lore.
Let's talk about the characters:
Alexei is the main "villain" of the book. He is a vampire who is over a thousand years old (talk about ancient). He is the "Vampire Killer." He has a penchant for consuming human organs, even though it is taboo. And he has a strong dislike for his brood leader, Magnus. Alexei is a slightly predictable character. He always wants blood and never cares about being discreet to hide his kind.
Magnus is the brood leader of the vampires in Philadelphia. He is about as old as Alexei. But he hates Alexei. Magnus is a more complex character. It was hard to know what he would do from moment to moment. He kept his thoughts hidden well.
Enzo Salerno is Philly's mob boss. He operates off loyalty. He doesn't want to believe vampires are real, but when he finally faces the facts, he has to accept the truth. And he nearly gets himself killed from his vendetta against all vampires.
Mark Andrews is an FBI agent assigned to investigate Salerno's alleged illegal activities. When the "Vampire Killer" strikes again and again, he decides he has to put old grudges aside and ask for help in the least likely place.
So what did I think?
Overall Alves did a great job creating the dark and dangerous setting of South Philly. And the mafia and vampire world combined together was very interesting. Completely recommended to anyone into paranormal, fantasy, or horror.
Note: I received a copy of this for in exchange for an honest review.
May 9, 2016
Disclaimer: I received a free paperback copy from the author in exchange for nothing more than an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
When Carl first contacted me and asked me if I'd like to review Blood Street I read the synopsis and I was genuinely intrigued with how a story with vampires and the mafia would play out, so I said yes to reviewing it. I was definitely not disappointed!
It has taken me a while to read Blood Street but thats only because life dictated that I couldn't spend as much time reading as I wanted to. That said it hasn't taken away from the reading experience, it actual fact I've now read Blood Street twice!
I think the description given by Carl hits the nail right on the head and fits the book perfectly: "True Blood meets The Sopranos".
Enzo Salerno is the Mob boss and when one his associates winds up dead; grusomely murdered, Enzo sets his sights on finding the killer and getting vengence. But as more bodies turn up killed in the same way the FBI is drafted in. It is at this point when an unexpected allience is formed. FBI Agent Mark Andrews; who has been trying to find a way to take down the Mob boss for a while; winds up working with Enzo in the hopes of catching this grusome serial killer. As with all serial killers it's not long before the press get a hold of the story and nickname the murderer "The Vampire Killer".
But it couldn't be a vampire, because they don't really exsist, do they??
Blood Street is action packed from start to finish. There's blood, gore, unexpected and shaky alliences and vampire lore too. It is a dark and dangerous read. I found Blood Street a great book to read as it portrays a vampire who is a ruthless blood thirsty killer!!
Carl Alves has done an awesome job of creating a realistic world and plot in which as reader I became lost in. I'm glad Carl approached me with a review request. I'm certainly going to be keeping my eyes open for more of his work.
If you like paranormal, horror or fantasy and aren't scared by blood and gore I'd defintely recommend giving Blood Street a chance.
When Carl first contacted me and asked me if I'd like to review Blood Street I read the synopsis and I was genuinely intrigued with how a story with vampires and the mafia would play out, so I said yes to reviewing it. I was definitely not disappointed!
It has taken me a while to read Blood Street but thats only because life dictated that I couldn't spend as much time reading as I wanted to. That said it hasn't taken away from the reading experience, it actual fact I've now read Blood Street twice!
I think the description given by Carl hits the nail right on the head and fits the book perfectly: "True Blood meets The Sopranos".
Enzo Salerno is the Mob boss and when one his associates winds up dead; grusomely murdered, Enzo sets his sights on finding the killer and getting vengence. But as more bodies turn up killed in the same way the FBI is drafted in. It is at this point when an unexpected allience is formed. FBI Agent Mark Andrews; who has been trying to find a way to take down the Mob boss for a while; winds up working with Enzo in the hopes of catching this grusome serial killer. As with all serial killers it's not long before the press get a hold of the story and nickname the murderer "The Vampire Killer".
But it couldn't be a vampire, because they don't really exsist, do they??
Blood Street is action packed from start to finish. There's blood, gore, unexpected and shaky alliences and vampire lore too. It is a dark and dangerous read. I found Blood Street a great book to read as it portrays a vampire who is a ruthless blood thirsty killer!!
Carl Alves has done an awesome job of creating a realistic world and plot in which as reader I became lost in. I'm glad Carl approached me with a review request. I'm certainly going to be keeping my eyes open for more of his work.
If you like paranormal, horror or fantasy and aren't scared by blood and gore I'd defintely recommend giving Blood Street a chance.
September 6, 2013
This review MAY or may not contain spoilers, so read at your own risk :P
I feel like I was very lucky to be among the winners of this giveaway. Very lucky!
When one of Philadelphia's mafia men and his girlfriend are murdered in a gruesome manner, Salerno, the mafia leader, is forced to work with the FBI to uncover the identity of the murderer. While the investigation is on, a series of similar murders takes place, which leads them to more clues as to who - or what - the murderer is.
On the other perspective of the story, the murderer himself is an ancient vampire. Through his reckless actions, he landed his brood in a situation where their existence as vampires is endangered. Magnus, the brood's leader, has to make the right decision to ensure the survival of his species.
Vampires, the mafia and and the FBI - all in 308 pages.
Here's a list of my favourite things about this book:
- The vampires. Yes, the vampires. They are the authentic, blood-thirsty, non-sparkly vampires.
- The different perspectives. We're able to see through both sides' perspectives; the humans' side (the police and the mafia) and the vampires' perspective (Magnus, Alexei, and the rest of the brood).
- The ACTION. Oh my goodness, so much action in such a small book!
- The pace. It was one of the most pleasantly fast-paced books I've ever read. There wasn't a page or a whole chapter that slightly bored me or anything, no! So here's my warning: once you start, you can't stop! You just go on and on until you finally realize that you're on the last page of the book, and you'll wish that there was more.
- The characters. I loved almost all of them, both the vampires and humans. Magnus, Enzo Salerno, and Mark Andrews, to name a few.
Okay, so my review doesn't do the book justice, but trust me, this book - THIS BOOK was amazing. Un-put-down-able. It was a very fast-paced, action-packed book. I say this with all honesty: I have never enjoyed a book so much in a LONG time. Thank you, Carl Alves, for writing this book! I sure hope there's a sequel. I really do.
I feel like I was very lucky to be among the winners of this giveaway. Very lucky!
When one of Philadelphia's mafia men and his girlfriend are murdered in a gruesome manner, Salerno, the mafia leader, is forced to work with the FBI to uncover the identity of the murderer. While the investigation is on, a series of similar murders takes place, which leads them to more clues as to who - or what - the murderer is.
On the other perspective of the story, the murderer himself is an ancient vampire. Through his reckless actions, he landed his brood in a situation where their existence as vampires is endangered. Magnus, the brood's leader, has to make the right decision to ensure the survival of his species.
Vampires, the mafia and and the FBI - all in 308 pages.
Here's a list of my favourite things about this book:
- The vampires. Yes, the vampires. They are the authentic, blood-thirsty, non-sparkly vampires.
- The different perspectives. We're able to see through both sides' perspectives; the humans' side (the police and the mafia) and the vampires' perspective (Magnus, Alexei, and the rest of the brood).
- The ACTION. Oh my goodness, so much action in such a small book!
- The pace. It was one of the most pleasantly fast-paced books I've ever read. There wasn't a page or a whole chapter that slightly bored me or anything, no! So here's my warning: once you start, you can't stop! You just go on and on until you finally realize that you're on the last page of the book, and you'll wish that there was more.
- The characters. I loved almost all of them, both the vampires and humans. Magnus, Enzo Salerno, and Mark Andrews, to name a few.
Okay, so my review doesn't do the book justice, but trust me, this book - THIS BOOK was amazing. Un-put-down-able. It was a very fast-paced, action-packed book. I say this with all honesty: I have never enjoyed a book so much in a LONG time. Thank you, Carl Alves, for writing this book! I sure hope there's a sequel. I really do.
May 23, 2015
I received Blood Street in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I’ve been introduced to a couple of new authors lately. I don’t take every review request I receive, but when the description of one piques my interest, I can’t turn it down. That’s what happened when I received the request for Blood Street. It wasn’t because it was a book like all the others I had been reading lately. It was more because it wasn’t.
Vampires are one of my favorite entities when it comes to supernatural beings, but most of the vampire books I read are PNR. There was nothing romantic about Blood Street… at least not much. The story was basically about a mob boss and the FBI agent whose soul agenda is to catch him teaming up to fight against a ruthless group of vampires. It was full of blood, gore, broken loyalty and shaky alliances. Not a light read by any stretch of the imagination, but a good read nonetheless.
Blood Street was also a book that pushed me into a totally different perspective. Not that the vampires I usually read about are less ruthless than Carl Alves’ version. It’s just that I usually find myself picking a side and forming a connection with one group or character. There were characters that I liked in Blood Street, but none that I really loved. Each one had moments that I sympathized with them, but they also had moments when they made me see the darker side of them and totally understand why they were the villain. For the record, I liked having my perspective shaken a little.
It’s kind of hard to say whether or not good won out over evil by the end of Blood Street. It was definitely a stand alone book, but there was enough left open at the end to make way for the story to continue. Enough that I think I’ll probably be checking out more of Carl Alves’ books just so I don’t lose track of what else he may have in store.
I’ve been introduced to a couple of new authors lately. I don’t take every review request I receive, but when the description of one piques my interest, I can’t turn it down. That’s what happened when I received the request for Blood Street. It wasn’t because it was a book like all the others I had been reading lately. It was more because it wasn’t.
Vampires are one of my favorite entities when it comes to supernatural beings, but most of the vampire books I read are PNR. There was nothing romantic about Blood Street… at least not much. The story was basically about a mob boss and the FBI agent whose soul agenda is to catch him teaming up to fight against a ruthless group of vampires. It was full of blood, gore, broken loyalty and shaky alliances. Not a light read by any stretch of the imagination, but a good read nonetheless.
Blood Street was also a book that pushed me into a totally different perspective. Not that the vampires I usually read about are less ruthless than Carl Alves’ version. It’s just that I usually find myself picking a side and forming a connection with one group or character. There were characters that I liked in Blood Street, but none that I really loved. Each one had moments that I sympathized with them, but they also had moments when they made me see the darker side of them and totally understand why they were the villain. For the record, I liked having my perspective shaken a little.
It’s kind of hard to say whether or not good won out over evil by the end of Blood Street. It was definitely a stand alone book, but there was enough left open at the end to make way for the story to continue. Enough that I think I’ll probably be checking out more of Carl Alves’ books just so I don’t lose track of what else he may have in store.
May 11, 2015
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
What an unexpected treat! When you read the description of this book it appears to have a rather odd combination of mob crime drama, FBI detective mystery, and vampire romance. I was interested in the vampire part, but wasn't completely sold on how these two things would mix. Lucky for me, it really ended up becoming a quickly addictive story.
The book begins with an introduction to the mafia. Enzo is the head of this city's organized crime and he gets drawn into the paranormal element after a rather gruesome murder of one of his men. A vampire "brood" is living right under Enzo's nose and he didn't even know it. Alexei is the troublemaker in that vampire house who no longer feels like he should hide from the humans. While the rest of his vampire family seems to be at least a little bit law abiding, no one can hold back Alexei.
Obviously, an escalation in killings in an organized crime area is bound to attract the attention of the FBI. Somehow, the FBI ends up in an uneasy alliance with Enzo to stop these murders. The dynamic in the story was compelling enough to rope in even the most skeptical reader. Everyone in the story ends up learning and changing in the most unexpected ways and it really keeps you on your toes. If you are interested in reading a strongly written vampire story that will take you to some new and exciting places, this book is definitely worth a read.
What an unexpected treat! When you read the description of this book it appears to have a rather odd combination of mob crime drama, FBI detective mystery, and vampire romance. I was interested in the vampire part, but wasn't completely sold on how these two things would mix. Lucky for me, it really ended up becoming a quickly addictive story.
The book begins with an introduction to the mafia. Enzo is the head of this city's organized crime and he gets drawn into the paranormal element after a rather gruesome murder of one of his men. A vampire "brood" is living right under Enzo's nose and he didn't even know it. Alexei is the troublemaker in that vampire house who no longer feels like he should hide from the humans. While the rest of his vampire family seems to be at least a little bit law abiding, no one can hold back Alexei.
Obviously, an escalation in killings in an organized crime area is bound to attract the attention of the FBI. Somehow, the FBI ends up in an uneasy alliance with Enzo to stop these murders. The dynamic in the story was compelling enough to rope in even the most skeptical reader. Everyone in the story ends up learning and changing in the most unexpected ways and it really keeps you on your toes. If you are interested in reading a strongly written vampire story that will take you to some new and exciting places, this book is definitely worth a read.
September 11, 2013
BLOOD STREET by Carl Alves is a great example of mashing genres. One part Godfather, one part Lestat. I loved learning the inner workings of the Philadelphia mob, the members, and their ranks. The vampires to me, were a little less intriguing, Eastern European, their good looks, their wealth, etc. I'll admit, I'm not a huge vampire fan these days, but the addition of the gangsters here kept me hooked. The story begins when "one of Philadelphia's own" becomes a casualty of one vampire's bloodlust, launching a mobster network, citywide manhunt. With the help of an FBI agent also hellbent on finding the vicious killer who is now responsible for several gruesome deaths of young, beautiful women, the two opposite sides join forces and attack. The vampires then counter attack, causing the two camps to come to a head that forces them to make deals. The end was what I'd expected, but overall, it was a very enjoyable, fast paced read.
February 3, 2013
I received this book in a Goodreads giveaway. All opinion expressed are my own under no influence.
The premise of the story is that a vampire kills a mafia henchman and his girlfriend. The mafia boss is not happy about this and retribution is his main focus. The FBI are looking for the killer as well and are appalled by the goriness of the murder, although they have no idea that vampires even exist. The murderous vampire is challenging the leader of the vampires, Magnus', authority regarding the human-vampire war. So, which family will you choose?
The book is very well written with well developed characters causing the reader to empathize with them even though they are not the "best" of people or undead. It's fast paced and keeps you on a roller coaster ride the whole way through. 5 stars all the way!!!!
The premise of the story is that a vampire kills a mafia henchman and his girlfriend. The mafia boss is not happy about this and retribution is his main focus. The FBI are looking for the killer as well and are appalled by the goriness of the murder, although they have no idea that vampires even exist. The murderous vampire is challenging the leader of the vampires, Magnus', authority regarding the human-vampire war. So, which family will you choose?
The book is very well written with well developed characters causing the reader to empathize with them even though they are not the "best" of people or undead. It's fast paced and keeps you on a roller coaster ride the whole way through. 5 stars all the way!!!!
May 20, 2013
If you ever wondered what it would look like if True Blood mixed with Goodfellas, you’ll get the answer in the new novel from Carl Alves, Blood Street.
With an interesting take on vampire origins and world-building as well as giving some of his mob characters a face lift from the usual stereotypes,
Blood Street makes for an entertaining page-turner. The mob and the FBI, sworn enemies, may have to become unlikely allies when they realize there are vampires at play in South Philadelphia, and the ending sets up a satisfying conclusion that leaves things open for a sequel. If you've always wanted a story that puts vampires and the mafia together, you've got a great one with Blood Street.
To read my full review, click here.
With an interesting take on vampire origins and world-building as well as giving some of his mob characters a face lift from the usual stereotypes,
Blood Street makes for an entertaining page-turner. The mob and the FBI, sworn enemies, may have to become unlikely allies when they realize there are vampires at play in South Philadelphia, and the ending sets up a satisfying conclusion that leaves things open for a sequel. If you've always wanted a story that puts vampires and the mafia together, you've got a great one with Blood Street.
To read my full review, click here.
January 2, 2015
Alves does a good job blending mob and vampire, and thankfully none of them sparkle or giggle. If you prefer your vampire novels dark and gritty and lacking lace sparkles and love interests then you'll enjoy this one. The only negative aspect would be some editing issues that need taken care of. Certain misspellings pull the reader out of the book while editing and transition issues make for a jerky feel to the read. Overall this is an enjoyable fantasy read. I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influenced my opinion. All gifted copies are donated to our local library.
May 31, 2014
The mix of vampires and mobsters is really interesting and shows all the sides of the story. I only found one misspelled word that made me giggle imagining vampires "whining and dining". The only thing I would change about it is making the transition between point of views a bit smoother. All in all it's a pretty good horror novel if you like mobsters, vampires, vendettas, and one very psychotic vampire.
*I received this book from a goodreads giveaway*
*I received this book from a goodreads giveaway*
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