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Serial Investigations #4
Blood Sucker
A dead body posted on social media. A vampire stalking the streets of London?
Will and Ram’s private detective partnership seems to be unravelling. After they ended up sleeping together, the tension between them is at an all-time high – and the unsolved Simon Shystone case is haunting them and their police contacts.
DI Alex Heath normally wants their help, but when a murderer posts images of his victim on social media, the chase is on to trace his digital footprint. With his superiors breathing down his neck, he might not be able to bring Serial Investigations London in on one of the biggest cases of their career.
They should be focusing on the artist who seems to have disappeared without a trace from his home studio. Could his latest commission have something to do with it? And will they be able to handle finding another client turned up dead?
Things are spiralling out of control for Will and Ram – and this time, they might not have each other to rely on.
Will and Ram’s private detective partnership seems to be unravelling. After they ended up sleeping together, the tension between them is at an all-time high – and the unsolved Simon Shystone case is haunting them and their police contacts.
DI Alex Heath normally wants their help, but when a murderer posts images of his victim on social media, the chase is on to trace his digital footprint. With his superiors breathing down his neck, he might not be able to bring Serial Investigations London in on one of the biggest cases of their career.
They should be focusing on the artist who seems to have disappeared without a trace from his home studio. Could his latest commission have something to do with it? And will they be able to handle finding another client turned up dead?
Things are spiralling out of control for Will and Ram – and this time, they might not have each other to rely on.
232 pages, ebook
First published March 28, 2020
2 people are currently reading
21 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 16, 2020
This was a very hard one for me in this series. If you’ve kept up with the series, you know I’ve had a hard time with Ram. If you have read this series, you really need to. But to those who can’t handle gore, be careful, because it doesn’t pull punches. But as much as I’ve had a hard time with Ram, in this one, he’s really trying and for once, I’m disappointed in Will. And that leaves me feeling off.
Ram has fallen off the wagon once or twice, but has found a good sponsor through AA and is really trying hard to stick to it. While going to meetings and having time to reflect, and then catching Will drunk one night, he’s finally realized what he’s done to people now. How he’s hurt them and who knows how many. And he wants to make it right. But how does he start? He wants to start with Will, but Will is pulling away from him and hiding things. Plus Ram is having a hard time dealing with his ex one night stand, Harry, and Will being friends or possibly something more, when Ram has finally realized, he wants to be the one for Will. But he can’t be the one for Will until he’s right with himself. And these cases are pulling them in different directions where more secrets are and where they may not make it past these. The people behind the scenes are determined to destroy Will and Ram, and at the rate it’s going, this time they may succeed.
I really have to hand it to Ram. He really is trying. It’s so hard and he wants to drink so bad, but he’s doing the right thing in calling his sponsor. If he has to meet someone in a pub, he drinks a soda or lemonade. He’s doing all the right things. He doesn’t share in meetings yet, because he’s not ready. He’s barely coming to terms with things himself, much less with others. But he is trying. It’s Will that has me upset this time. He’s let himself go so bad in his problem, he can barely pick up a slim laptop. And I love that Ram is trying to help him, but it’s hard when Will is hiding stuff from him or that Ram is coming to the wrong conclusion. I’m also disappointed in Will in this one because it’s always been him and Ram, and he set a dig that he shouldn’t have set and is now doing things behind Ram’s back. And I’m so disappointed that he would stoop so low and go so far. I love these two. Just when I think they are finally going to get it together, it all goes awry again. And just the way some parties want it.
I just hope they can finally get past it all to fix what is trying to hurt them. I’m anxious to see where the next book is going to lead them. It’s been one heck of a series and I love it.
http://lovebytesreviews.com/
Ram has fallen off the wagon once or twice, but has found a good sponsor through AA and is really trying hard to stick to it. While going to meetings and having time to reflect, and then catching Will drunk one night, he’s finally realized what he’s done to people now. How he’s hurt them and who knows how many. And he wants to make it right. But how does he start? He wants to start with Will, but Will is pulling away from him and hiding things. Plus Ram is having a hard time dealing with his ex one night stand, Harry, and Will being friends or possibly something more, when Ram has finally realized, he wants to be the one for Will. But he can’t be the one for Will until he’s right with himself. And these cases are pulling them in different directions where more secrets are and where they may not make it past these. The people behind the scenes are determined to destroy Will and Ram, and at the rate it’s going, this time they may succeed.
I really have to hand it to Ram. He really is trying. It’s so hard and he wants to drink so bad, but he’s doing the right thing in calling his sponsor. If he has to meet someone in a pub, he drinks a soda or lemonade. He’s doing all the right things. He doesn’t share in meetings yet, because he’s not ready. He’s barely coming to terms with things himself, much less with others. But he is trying. It’s Will that has me upset this time. He’s let himself go so bad in his problem, he can barely pick up a slim laptop. And I love that Ram is trying to help him, but it’s hard when Will is hiding stuff from him or that Ram is coming to the wrong conclusion. I’m also disappointed in Will in this one because it’s always been him and Ram, and he set a dig that he shouldn’t have set and is now doing things behind Ram’s back. And I’m so disappointed that he would stoop so low and go so far. I love these two. Just when I think they are finally going to get it together, it all goes awry again. And just the way some parties want it.
I just hope they can finally get past it all to fix what is trying to hurt them. I’m anxious to see where the next book is going to lead them. It’s been one heck of a series and I love it.
http://lovebytesreviews.com/
March 19, 2023
Whereas in the previous three books I've liked the mysteries better than the MCs in part 4 this was the other way around. Ram is finally trying to begin a fight against his alcoholism. Will on the other hand...The mysteries in this part were a bit disappointing, not so much of a puzzle to be solved.
March 11, 2023
So while I'm still giving this one 3 stars, I actually liked it more than the previous books. This story held my interest more than the others did.
I received an ARC and this is my unbiased opinion
I received an ARC and this is my unbiased opinion
July 4, 2020
Will and Ram's friendship is going through a crisis, they are drifting further and further away from each other and the number of conversation topics they avoid is constantly growing. Although Ram finally decided to seek help, his relationship with his friend is still tense and work seems to be the only thing that still unites them. While they are working on another missing person case, the police have their hands full when a killer posts some photos on social media. This time the cooperation between Serial Investigations London and the police is not so certain and even without another big case, Will and Ram's one is starting to get much more complicated.
San Francisco was just the beginning. An incident that strained Will and Ram's friendship. The first trial they had to face. Since then, the men have been struggling with increasingly difficult challenges because of which they started drifting further and further away from each other. In "Blood Sucker," their friendship is like a ship that has already gone through so many storms that the next one seems to be the last, the one that will be able to sink the ship. Will and Ram are like a crew tired of constant struggle with the elements. Trying to save their lives and transported cargo over and over again, they don't have much strength left to try to save the ship itself. In this volume, the author perfectly showed this battered, slowly sinking friendship, which the characters seemed to take for granted to such an extent that they did not care about it, for a long time allowed it to wither and now it is only up to them whether they will fight for it, or let adversities destroy it.
I think that one of the most interesting thread in this volume is the fact that the murderer is using social media to show people his "work". I have no doubt that this motif draws the readers' attention to several important issues. One of them is the role the Internet and various types of portals play in our lives, the enormity of possibilities that are at our fingertips. Another one is the unstoppable flow of information, which means that an ordinary person can learn about something before the emergency services, which is both good and bad. We focus also on the growing problem of social callousness, which in this case means that the images that in the past were considered disturbing, now can be associated with art and don't arouse suspicion. The combination of crime and the Internet really gave the author the opportunity to spread her wings. What's more, the fragments of social media posts and information headers undoubtedly added some authenticity to the whole case, thanks to which "Blood Sucker" is even better.
The fourth volume in "Serial Investigations" series also gives us a much greater than before insight into Ram's psyche. Until now, it has been quite limited, but the AA treatment is the reason Ram must face many of his thoughts and feelings instead of running away from them and drinking. What's more, we also see how Ram's intelligence and strength make it difficult for him to seek and receive help, as it is harder for a strong person to accept their weaknesses. However, I have to mention that the way the addiction treatment was presented in "Blood Sucker" gives this novel even more depth. Apart from difficult attempts to resist temptation, the author also focused on the problem of influence of people and environment on a person who fights the addiction, while emphasizing the fact that the lack of active help from loved ones means that a person is left alone with their problem and struggle they face every day, every hour, minute. I really liked the way Rhiannon D'Averc approached the subject, even if Ram didn't have an easy life because of it.
In "Blood Sucker" equally interesting and a bit surprising for me was the juxtaposition of a fall and getting back up. Until now, Ram has been the fallen one, and Will, although struggling with his no less serious problems, has seemed to be the more reasonable of the two. In this volume, however, the roles are reversed. Ram struggles with himself to get up, get back on his feet, live a normal life again. Meanwhile, Will starts to fall and there is no one who could catch him, because he fiercely rejects the help of a person who until now has been closest to him. It is surprising, because at the beginning of this series I really had the impression that if only Ram got a grip and decided to seek help, his relationship with Will would be much better, because both men would be able to take care for each other. In later volumes, the author also showed us their problem of lack of communication, which they still face. All of this shows how well the author builds her characters and their relationship, or rather their fall. Anyway, it's all thought out, planned, sad, but really well presented.
To sum up, "Blood Sucker" is another really good volume in "Serial Investigations". The author goes deeper and deeper into the characters' psyche, shows the escalation of problems they face and their consequences. The crime mystery Will and Ram are about to solve is the icing on the cake. Believe me, this novel is a page turner, so you won't be able to stop reading it.
_______________________________
Między Willem i Ramem nie układa się najlepiej, odsuwają się od siebie coraz bardziej, zaś liczba tematów, których unikają ciągle rośnie. Chociaż Ram w końcu zdecydował się na terapię, która ma mu pomóc, jego relacje z przyjacielem są nadal napięte i praca wydaje się jedynym, co jeszcze ich łączy. Podczas gdy oni pracują nad kolejną sprawą zaginięcia, policja ma pełne ręce roboty, gdy w mediach społecznościowych pojawiają się zdjęcia opublikowane przez morderce. Tym razem współpraca między Serial Investigations London, a policją nie jest niczym pewnym, a i bez tego sprawa, którą zajmują się Will i Ram zaczyna się komplikować.
San Francisco było dopiero początkiem. Wydarzeniem, które zachwiało przyjaźnią Willa i Rama. Pierwszą próbą, którą musieli przejść. Od tamtego czasu mężczyźni zmagają się z coraz trudniejszymi wyzwaniami, które sprawiają, że odsuwają się od siebie coraz bardziej. W „Blood Sucker” ich przyjaźń jest jak statek, który przeszedł już przez tak wiele sztormów, że kolejny wydaje się być tym ostatnim, tym, który zdoła go zatopić. Z kolei Will i Ram są zmęczoną ciągłą walką z żywiołem załogą. Bezustannie od nowa starającą się uratować życie i przewożony ładunek, przez co na próbę ratowania samego statku zostaje im niewiele sił. W tym tomie autorka naprawdę dobrze oddała obraz wyniszczonej, powoli tonącej przyjaźni, którą bohaterowie wydawali się uważać za pewnik do tego stopnia, że nie troszczyli się o nią, od dłuższego czas pozwalali jej więdnąć i teraz tylko od nich zależy, czy o nią zawalczą, czy też pozwolą aby przeciwności ją zniszczyły.
Uważam, że bardzo ciekawym wątkiem tego tomu było wykorzystanie mediów społecznościowych w dokonywanych przez mordercę zbrodniach. Niewątpliwie zwróciło to uwagę czytelników na kilka istotnych spraw. Jedną z nich jest rola jaką w naszym życiu odgrywa internet oraz różnego rodzaju portale, ogrom możliwości które znajdują się na wyciągnięcie ręki. Kolejną jest niepowstrzymany przepływ informacji, który sprawia, że zwykły człowiek może dowiedzieć się o czymś przed odpowiednimi służbami, co jest rzeczą dobrą i złą zarazem. Naszą uwagę przyciąga również rosnący problem społecznej znieczulicy, która sprawia, że obrazy, które dawniej wywoływały niepokój teraz mogą kojarzyć się ze sztuką i przez długi czas nie wzbudzać podejrzeń. Połączenie zbrodni oraz internetu naprawdę dał autorce możliwość rozwinięcia skrzydeł. Co więcej, fragmenty wpisów na stronach społecznościowych oraz nagłówki informacyjne bez wątpienia dodały całej sprawie pewnej autentyczności, dzięki czemu „Blood Sucker” zyskało jeszcze więcej.
Czwarty tom „Serial Investigations” daje nam również o wiele większy niż dotychczas wgląd w psychikę Rama. Do tej pory był on ograniczony, jednak terapia AA, której podjął się Ram sprawia, że mężczyzna musi stawić czoła wielu swoim myślom i uczuciom, zamiast uciekać przed nimi w alkohol. Co więcej, widzimy także jak inteligencja i siła Rama w pewnym stopniu utrudniają mu szukanie pomocy oraz jej przyjmowanie, jako że osobie silnej trudniej jest zaakceptować swoje słabości. Muszę jednak wspomnieć, że ukazanie w „Blood Sucker” terapii uzależnień nadaje tej powieści jeszcze większej głębi, gdyż poza samą niełatwą próbą oparcia się pokusie autorka skupiła się również na problemie jakim jest wpływ ludzi i otoczenia na osobę walczącą z uzależnieniem, podkreślając fakt, iż brak aktywnej pomocy najbliższych sprawia, że człowiek zostaje sam ze swoim problemem oraz walką, jaką toczy każdego dnia, każdej godziny, minuty. Naprawdę spodobało mi się to, w jaki sposób Rhiannon D'Averc podeszła do tego tematu, nawet jeśli Ram nie ma przez to łatwego życia.
Równie ciekawym i trochę zaskakującym dla mnie motywem wykorzystanym w „Blood Sucker” jest zestawienie ze sobą upadku i próby podniesienia się z niego. Do tej pory Ram był tym upadłym, zaś Will chociaż zmagał się ze swoimi nie mniej poważnymi problemami wydawał się tym rozsądniejszym z tej dwójki. W tym tomie role się jednak odwracają. Ram walczy z samym sobą aby się podnieść, stanąć na nogi, znowu żyć normalnie. Tymczasem Will zaczyna upadać i tak naprawdę nie ma obok siebie nikogo, kto mógłby go złapać, ponieważ coraz zacieklej odrzuca pomoc osoby, która dotąd była mu najbliższa. Jest to o tyle zaskakujące, że na początku tej serii naprawdę miałam wrażenie, że jeśli tylko Ram weźmie się w garść i postanowi leczyć, między nim, a Willem zacznie się układać, ponieważ wtedy obaj mężczyźni będą w stanie zatroszczyć się o siebie nawzajem. Z czasem pojawił się jednak problem braku komunikacji, który wciąż jest aktualny. To pokazuje, jak dobrze autorka buduje bohaterów oraz ich relacje, czy raczej ich upadek. Tak czy inaczej, wszystko to jest przemyślane, zaplanowane, smutne, ale naprawdę świetnie przedstawione.
Podsumowując, „Blood Sucker” to kolejny naprawdę dobry tom „Serial Investigations”. Autorka wchodzi coraz głębiej w psychikę bohaterów, ukazuje eskalację problemów, z jakimi się zmagają oraz ich konsekwencje. Zagadka kryminalna, jaką Will i Ram mają rozwiązać jest zaś wisienką na torcie. Od tej powieści nie będziecie w stanie się oderwać, zapewniam.
San Francisco was just the beginning. An incident that strained Will and Ram's friendship. The first trial they had to face. Since then, the men have been struggling with increasingly difficult challenges because of which they started drifting further and further away from each other. In "Blood Sucker," their friendship is like a ship that has already gone through so many storms that the next one seems to be the last, the one that will be able to sink the ship. Will and Ram are like a crew tired of constant struggle with the elements. Trying to save their lives and transported cargo over and over again, they don't have much strength left to try to save the ship itself. In this volume, the author perfectly showed this battered, slowly sinking friendship, which the characters seemed to take for granted to such an extent that they did not care about it, for a long time allowed it to wither and now it is only up to them whether they will fight for it, or let adversities destroy it.
I think that one of the most interesting thread in this volume is the fact that the murderer is using social media to show people his "work". I have no doubt that this motif draws the readers' attention to several important issues. One of them is the role the Internet and various types of portals play in our lives, the enormity of possibilities that are at our fingertips. Another one is the unstoppable flow of information, which means that an ordinary person can learn about something before the emergency services, which is both good and bad. We focus also on the growing problem of social callousness, which in this case means that the images that in the past were considered disturbing, now can be associated with art and don't arouse suspicion. The combination of crime and the Internet really gave the author the opportunity to spread her wings. What's more, the fragments of social media posts and information headers undoubtedly added some authenticity to the whole case, thanks to which "Blood Sucker" is even better.
The fourth volume in "Serial Investigations" series also gives us a much greater than before insight into Ram's psyche. Until now, it has been quite limited, but the AA treatment is the reason Ram must face many of his thoughts and feelings instead of running away from them and drinking. What's more, we also see how Ram's intelligence and strength make it difficult for him to seek and receive help, as it is harder for a strong person to accept their weaknesses. However, I have to mention that the way the addiction treatment was presented in "Blood Sucker" gives this novel even more depth. Apart from difficult attempts to resist temptation, the author also focused on the problem of influence of people and environment on a person who fights the addiction, while emphasizing the fact that the lack of active help from loved ones means that a person is left alone with their problem and struggle they face every day, every hour, minute. I really liked the way Rhiannon D'Averc approached the subject, even if Ram didn't have an easy life because of it.
In "Blood Sucker" equally interesting and a bit surprising for me was the juxtaposition of a fall and getting back up. Until now, Ram has been the fallen one, and Will, although struggling with his no less serious problems, has seemed to be the more reasonable of the two. In this volume, however, the roles are reversed. Ram struggles with himself to get up, get back on his feet, live a normal life again. Meanwhile, Will starts to fall and there is no one who could catch him, because he fiercely rejects the help of a person who until now has been closest to him. It is surprising, because at the beginning of this series I really had the impression that if only Ram got a grip and decided to seek help, his relationship with Will would be much better, because both men would be able to take care for each other. In later volumes, the author also showed us their problem of lack of communication, which they still face. All of this shows how well the author builds her characters and their relationship, or rather their fall. Anyway, it's all thought out, planned, sad, but really well presented.
To sum up, "Blood Sucker" is another really good volume in "Serial Investigations". The author goes deeper and deeper into the characters' psyche, shows the escalation of problems they face and their consequences. The crime mystery Will and Ram are about to solve is the icing on the cake. Believe me, this novel is a page turner, so you won't be able to stop reading it.
_______________________________
Między Willem i Ramem nie układa się najlepiej, odsuwają się od siebie coraz bardziej, zaś liczba tematów, których unikają ciągle rośnie. Chociaż Ram w końcu zdecydował się na terapię, która ma mu pomóc, jego relacje z przyjacielem są nadal napięte i praca wydaje się jedynym, co jeszcze ich łączy. Podczas gdy oni pracują nad kolejną sprawą zaginięcia, policja ma pełne ręce roboty, gdy w mediach społecznościowych pojawiają się zdjęcia opublikowane przez morderce. Tym razem współpraca między Serial Investigations London, a policją nie jest niczym pewnym, a i bez tego sprawa, którą zajmują się Will i Ram zaczyna się komplikować.
San Francisco było dopiero początkiem. Wydarzeniem, które zachwiało przyjaźnią Willa i Rama. Pierwszą próbą, którą musieli przejść. Od tamtego czasu mężczyźni zmagają się z coraz trudniejszymi wyzwaniami, które sprawiają, że odsuwają się od siebie coraz bardziej. W „Blood Sucker” ich przyjaźń jest jak statek, który przeszedł już przez tak wiele sztormów, że kolejny wydaje się być tym ostatnim, tym, który zdoła go zatopić. Z kolei Will i Ram są zmęczoną ciągłą walką z żywiołem załogą. Bezustannie od nowa starającą się uratować życie i przewożony ładunek, przez co na próbę ratowania samego statku zostaje im niewiele sił. W tym tomie autorka naprawdę dobrze oddała obraz wyniszczonej, powoli tonącej przyjaźni, którą bohaterowie wydawali się uważać za pewnik do tego stopnia, że nie troszczyli się o nią, od dłuższego czas pozwalali jej więdnąć i teraz tylko od nich zależy, czy o nią zawalczą, czy też pozwolą aby przeciwności ją zniszczyły.
Uważam, że bardzo ciekawym wątkiem tego tomu było wykorzystanie mediów społecznościowych w dokonywanych przez mordercę zbrodniach. Niewątpliwie zwróciło to uwagę czytelników na kilka istotnych spraw. Jedną z nich jest rola jaką w naszym życiu odgrywa internet oraz różnego rodzaju portale, ogrom możliwości które znajdują się na wyciągnięcie ręki. Kolejną jest niepowstrzymany przepływ informacji, który sprawia, że zwykły człowiek może dowiedzieć się o czymś przed odpowiednimi służbami, co jest rzeczą dobrą i złą zarazem. Naszą uwagę przyciąga również rosnący problem społecznej znieczulicy, która sprawia, że obrazy, które dawniej wywoływały niepokój teraz mogą kojarzyć się ze sztuką i przez długi czas nie wzbudzać podejrzeń. Połączenie zbrodni oraz internetu naprawdę dał autorce możliwość rozwinięcia skrzydeł. Co więcej, fragmenty wpisów na stronach społecznościowych oraz nagłówki informacyjne bez wątpienia dodały całej sprawie pewnej autentyczności, dzięki czemu „Blood Sucker” zyskało jeszcze więcej.
Czwarty tom „Serial Investigations” daje nam również o wiele większy niż dotychczas wgląd w psychikę Rama. Do tej pory był on ograniczony, jednak terapia AA, której podjął się Ram sprawia, że mężczyzna musi stawić czoła wielu swoim myślom i uczuciom, zamiast uciekać przed nimi w alkohol. Co więcej, widzimy także jak inteligencja i siła Rama w pewnym stopniu utrudniają mu szukanie pomocy oraz jej przyjmowanie, jako że osobie silnej trudniej jest zaakceptować swoje słabości. Muszę jednak wspomnieć, że ukazanie w „Blood Sucker” terapii uzależnień nadaje tej powieści jeszcze większej głębi, gdyż poza samą niełatwą próbą oparcia się pokusie autorka skupiła się również na problemie jakim jest wpływ ludzi i otoczenia na osobę walczącą z uzależnieniem, podkreślając fakt, iż brak aktywnej pomocy najbliższych sprawia, że człowiek zostaje sam ze swoim problemem oraz walką, jaką toczy każdego dnia, każdej godziny, minuty. Naprawdę spodobało mi się to, w jaki sposób Rhiannon D'Averc podeszła do tego tematu, nawet jeśli Ram nie ma przez to łatwego życia.
Równie ciekawym i trochę zaskakującym dla mnie motywem wykorzystanym w „Blood Sucker” jest zestawienie ze sobą upadku i próby podniesienia się z niego. Do tej pory Ram był tym upadłym, zaś Will chociaż zmagał się ze swoimi nie mniej poważnymi problemami wydawał się tym rozsądniejszym z tej dwójki. W tym tomie role się jednak odwracają. Ram walczy z samym sobą aby się podnieść, stanąć na nogi, znowu żyć normalnie. Tymczasem Will zaczyna upadać i tak naprawdę nie ma obok siebie nikogo, kto mógłby go złapać, ponieważ coraz zacieklej odrzuca pomoc osoby, która dotąd była mu najbliższa. Jest to o tyle zaskakujące, że na początku tej serii naprawdę miałam wrażenie, że jeśli tylko Ram weźmie się w garść i postanowi leczyć, między nim, a Willem zacznie się układać, ponieważ wtedy obaj mężczyźni będą w stanie zatroszczyć się o siebie nawzajem. Z czasem pojawił się jednak problem braku komunikacji, który wciąż jest aktualny. To pokazuje, jak dobrze autorka buduje bohaterów oraz ich relacje, czy raczej ich upadek. Tak czy inaczej, wszystko to jest przemyślane, zaplanowane, smutne, ale naprawdę świetnie przedstawione.
Podsumowując, „Blood Sucker” to kolejny naprawdę dobry tom „Serial Investigations”. Autorka wchodzi coraz głębiej w psychikę bohaterów, ukazuje eskalację problemów, z jakimi się zmagają oraz ich konsekwencje. Zagadka kryminalna, jaką Will i Ram mają rozwiązać jest zaś wisienką na torcie. Od tej powieści nie będziecie w stanie się oderwać, zapewniam.
June 26, 2020
Before I get started on the review of Blood Sucker I want to be honest with you all. I wasn’t expecting much when I started reading book four of the Serial Investigators series. The first three books didn’t really blow me away. I wouldn’t say they were awful, they just weren’t my cup of tea. Lots of other readers were giving all three books five stars while I was giving them two or three. Perhaps it’s just me? Maybe I have higher expectations because I’ve read some pretty amazing crime-related novels? Who knows? What I will say is I was pleasantly surprised to find I liked Blood Sucker far more than previous books in the series.
Blood Sucker starts about a month after the end of Blood Alcohol. Things are a little awkward between Will and Ram because they’re unsure of how to approach the topic of their hookup. Instead, they pretty much act as if it didn’t happen, going about their business as usual. Serial Investigations London is hired to find Jack Motterhead, the missing brother of military man Ben Motterhead. They are also drawn in by the London Vampire investigation in which a man posted about a murder on social media.
As if things aren’t confusing enough between Will and Ram, toss in the fact that Ram is going to AA meetings for his alcoholism while Will’s eating disorder is getting worse. Add in Harry putting Will in some uncomfortable situations based on Will’s personality and we have some interesting plot developments. Ram is struggling to stay sober. That’s not easy because there is so much going on in his head regarding Will. Meanwhile, Will is trying to keep himself distanced from Ram. He thinks his friend only wants a one and done concerning their hookup. He doesn’t know Ram is in love with him.
We have a lot going on in this book. There’s a missing person, a murderer claiming to be a serial killer, unexpressed emotions and feelings between the MCs, Will stepping out of his comfort zone, Ram working hard to better himself, and a great AA sponsor in Ram’s corner. Now, let's top that with a psychologically manipulative mastermind orchestrating the drama and death happening around them. This Coda person is driving a wedge between Will and Ram by secretly tampering with things in their lives. Things go missing, fights ensue, there are lies, hurtful messages are sent, awful things are said that can’t be taken back, and things go sideways.
This was the first book in the series that made me feel for the characters. Things wind up pretty awful between Will and Ram which leads to the book ending with things up in the air. My heart broke more than once for Ram. He’s dealing with so many demons and Will is making things harder. I hated seeing Ram suffer, but I was so glad at the same time because I really connected with him. That’s saying a lot for me as I haven’t really connected with any of the characters throughout the series until Blood Sucker, and now I can’t wait to see what happens next.
Both the missing person investigation and serial killer investigation are a bit blah. I don’t understand the thought process behind Jack Motterhead’s decisions. That part of the plot seemed a little strange. But then, people are strange. As for the London Vampire pieces of the plot, I was a bit disappointed. With the title being Blood Sucker I thought that there would be more of a focus on the supposed serial killer and the world of vampirism among everyday humans. I was genuinely curious as to where that part of the plot was going, but it didn’t go anywhere interesting.
So, in conclusion, this book was better than the previous books. If you’ve read Ms. D’Averc’s other Serial Investigator novels and enjoyed them, I’m sure you’ll like this one as well. I’m not sure how long this series is going to continue or where it’s going to go from here, but I’m interested to see where this series arc is going to go. Are Will and Ram going to fix things? Will they come together as a couple? Is there the possibility of them facing their feelings and emotions like adults? Is Harry really a good guy? I suppose I’ll have to keep reading to find out.
Blood Sucker starts about a month after the end of Blood Alcohol. Things are a little awkward between Will and Ram because they’re unsure of how to approach the topic of their hookup. Instead, they pretty much act as if it didn’t happen, going about their business as usual. Serial Investigations London is hired to find Jack Motterhead, the missing brother of military man Ben Motterhead. They are also drawn in by the London Vampire investigation in which a man posted about a murder on social media.
As if things aren’t confusing enough between Will and Ram, toss in the fact that Ram is going to AA meetings for his alcoholism while Will’s eating disorder is getting worse. Add in Harry putting Will in some uncomfortable situations based on Will’s personality and we have some interesting plot developments. Ram is struggling to stay sober. That’s not easy because there is so much going on in his head regarding Will. Meanwhile, Will is trying to keep himself distanced from Ram. He thinks his friend only wants a one and done concerning their hookup. He doesn’t know Ram is in love with him.
We have a lot going on in this book. There’s a missing person, a murderer claiming to be a serial killer, unexpressed emotions and feelings between the MCs, Will stepping out of his comfort zone, Ram working hard to better himself, and a great AA sponsor in Ram’s corner. Now, let's top that with a psychologically manipulative mastermind orchestrating the drama and death happening around them. This Coda person is driving a wedge between Will and Ram by secretly tampering with things in their lives. Things go missing, fights ensue, there are lies, hurtful messages are sent, awful things are said that can’t be taken back, and things go sideways.
This was the first book in the series that made me feel for the characters. Things wind up pretty awful between Will and Ram which leads to the book ending with things up in the air. My heart broke more than once for Ram. He’s dealing with so many demons and Will is making things harder. I hated seeing Ram suffer, but I was so glad at the same time because I really connected with him. That’s saying a lot for me as I haven’t really connected with any of the characters throughout the series until Blood Sucker, and now I can’t wait to see what happens next.
Both the missing person investigation and serial killer investigation are a bit blah. I don’t understand the thought process behind Jack Motterhead’s decisions. That part of the plot seemed a little strange. But then, people are strange. As for the London Vampire pieces of the plot, I was a bit disappointed. With the title being Blood Sucker I thought that there would be more of a focus on the supposed serial killer and the world of vampirism among everyday humans. I was genuinely curious as to where that part of the plot was going, but it didn’t go anywhere interesting.
So, in conclusion, this book was better than the previous books. If you’ve read Ms. D’Averc’s other Serial Investigator novels and enjoyed them, I’m sure you’ll like this one as well. I’m not sure how long this series is going to continue or where it’s going to go from here, but I’m interested to see where this series arc is going to go. Are Will and Ram going to fix things? Will they come together as a couple? Is there the possibility of them facing their feelings and emotions like adults? Is Harry really a good guy? I suppose I’ll have to keep reading to find out.
June 30, 2020
*I received a copy of this novel for free in exchange for an honest review*
Will and Ram have another missing persons case to solve when local artist and recluse Jack Motterhead goes missing. His older brother Ben hires them to look for him and they are both hoping for a better outcome than their last missing person’s case. There is also the possibility that the so-called London Vampire is another serial killer when he posts about his murder online. Frustratingly Will and Ram find themselves shut out of this investigation, however it still manages to distract them from their original case.
Ram is finally getting some help with his drinking and is doing really well, despite one or two setbacks. Will’s eating disorder is getting worse as things between him and Ram continue to deteriorate. Both of them are filled with conflict over their night that they spent together and instead of talking about it, they just push each other away at a time when they need each other the most.
Book 4 definitely has a darker tone than the previous book in the series. Will’s problems are getting much worse and I really felt for what he was going through. He truly believes that he is worthless and has convinced himself that Ram couldn’t possibly love him, which is so sad as it is obvious just how much Ram cares for him. Ram in comparison is getting better, but he’s convinced himself that Will isn’t interested in him romantically. Several incidents occur which drive them further apart and by the end of the novel it looks as though they are going their separate ways for good.
The main case itself was not as bleak as the ones that they’ve undertaken in previous books which was a nice change and even though their relationship was in tatters Will and Ram still came together to solve it.
It looks like Coda is now ready to reveal his true plans for them and I cannot wait to read book 5 to find out who he is, what is going to happen and if Will and Ram can reunite after everything that has happened.
Will and Ram have another missing persons case to solve when local artist and recluse Jack Motterhead goes missing. His older brother Ben hires them to look for him and they are both hoping for a better outcome than their last missing person’s case. There is also the possibility that the so-called London Vampire is another serial killer when he posts about his murder online. Frustratingly Will and Ram find themselves shut out of this investigation, however it still manages to distract them from their original case.
Ram is finally getting some help with his drinking and is doing really well, despite one or two setbacks. Will’s eating disorder is getting worse as things between him and Ram continue to deteriorate. Both of them are filled with conflict over their night that they spent together and instead of talking about it, they just push each other away at a time when they need each other the most.
Book 4 definitely has a darker tone than the previous book in the series. Will’s problems are getting much worse and I really felt for what he was going through. He truly believes that he is worthless and has convinced himself that Ram couldn’t possibly love him, which is so sad as it is obvious just how much Ram cares for him. Ram in comparison is getting better, but he’s convinced himself that Will isn’t interested in him romantically. Several incidents occur which drive them further apart and by the end of the novel it looks as though they are going their separate ways for good.
The main case itself was not as bleak as the ones that they’ve undertaken in previous books which was a nice change and even though their relationship was in tatters Will and Ram still came together to solve it.
It looks like Coda is now ready to reveal his true plans for them and I cannot wait to read book 5 to find out who he is, what is going to happen and if Will and Ram can reunite after everything that has happened.
June 29, 2020
Ram is trying to quit drinking. Will STILL isn’t eating and he’s failing day by day to get any better. Their cases this time around aren’t as compelling as a couple of others. Maybe that’s what caused their complete fallout.
This is the fourth book in the series. Ram and Will haven’t evolved as better people. At best they are the same as always, at worst they are turning into caricatures of themselves. I’m not really sure how they even function most days.
The person behind their issues is finally becoming noticeable.
I surely have a love/hate relationship with this series. The writing is good and the characters definitely provoke feelings in me. Guess that is what a book is supposed to do.
Review Copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads.
This is the fourth book in the series. Ram and Will haven’t evolved as better people. At best they are the same as always, at worst they are turning into caricatures of themselves. I’m not really sure how they even function most days.
The person behind their issues is finally becoming noticeable.
I surely have a love/hate relationship with this series. The writing is good and the characters definitely provoke feelings in me. Guess that is what a book is supposed to do.
Review Copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads.
July 9, 2020
good story.. i dont understand why the characters dont grow more.. but the storyline is interesting and it keeps me on the edge of my seat curious to know what will happen next.. also we are finding out a few things so thats interesting as well..
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