Witches, Weres, and Vamps, Oh MY! discussion
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Vampire Files by P.N. Elrod
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I was introduced to Jack Fleming in a novella from Many Bloody Returns. There are many more novella's, some can be found in: My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding, My Big Fat Supernatural Honeymoon, The Magic Shop, etc.Jack Fleming is an undead dectective running around 1930's Chicago. He has a live partner (who works days), and a girlfriend.
I liked the novella enough, I ordered used copies of the Omnibus volumes to get me the first 6 novels.
The Vol 1 Omnibus description: Bloodlist introduces Jack Fleming, an investigative journalist in Prohibition-era Chicago who got bitten by a vampire. In Lifeblood and Bloodcircle Jack hunted for the men who killed him, and for his long-lost love, Maureen. Now, the original vampire-noir cult classics by P.N. Elrod are together for the first time in one volume-easier for fans to sink their teeth into.
The Vampire Files, Volume Two includes three adventures featuring Jack Fleming, Vampire P.I. in prohibition-era Chicago, walking the line between both sides of the law-as well as the line between human and inhuman.
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I'm anxious to read the first full length novel. The short story with the main character from the series in it was very good. Glad I could help you find something else to read. :) Just checked the library, and they don't have the Joe Pitt books. (Love that their card catalog is available online.) If you start this series, you'll have to tell me what you think of it. I ordered the two volume omnibus's today via amazon.com's used marketplace so waiting for those to arrive.
I decided to get another series by P.N. Elrod - Jonathan Barrett, Gentleman Vampire. 
I found an omnibus (Jonathan Barrett, Gentleman Vampire) with all 4 books in it for only $2 at amazon.com's used marketplace plus $3.99 shipping. I figure that's pretty good getting 4 novels in a series for $6.
I read the first 4 Vampire Files books some years ago and liked them then. I came across LADY CRYMSYN in The Pile late last year and read it in January. Either my taste has changed or the writing style did as it took me forever to finish and didn't hold my interest. I liked the Joe Pitt books by Charlie Huston. They are quite dark and violent. I read the Jonathan Barrett books some years back also and thought they were good reads.
It might have made a difference both in the time between when you read the first books and when you read the 9th, or perhaps skipping all the books in the middle made a difference? I'm sure after he solves his own murder and brings the killers to justice, and starts being the undead PI will change the books a bit. I've got the first 6 books coming in the two volume omnibus editions, so that'll give me quite a few to get through. If I still like them after that, then I'll have to go looking for the individual books as there are no more omnibus's for it and the library has nothing by this author.I've got the omnibus for Jonathan Barrett, Gentleman Vampire coming as well, for all four novels in that series. Not sure exactly what they'll be like but the description didn't sound too bad.
I've read the whole series and enjoyed them. I would recommend reading them in order since the storyline continues from one book to another. If you skip a batch of books in between you will miss out on a lot of what has happened. The Joe Pitt books were also good but darker and more violent than the Vampire Files.
Thanks Sandy. I've got the first 6 novels in the series coming in the two volume omnibus editions. It's finding the books after that, in order, that will be interesting. There currently are not any available on paperbackswap.
I've read and enjoyed the first ten of the Vampire Files aways back and enjoyed them and I think the first three of the Jonathan Barrett, Gentleman Vampire series as well.So thanks for this, I've got some P.N. Elrod to find!
Your welcome Julia. My Volune One of the Vampire Files (first 3 novels) just arrived in the mail so I'm looking forward to starting it.
I love these books. I have an omnibus that I have not read yet. Oh, now I need to dig that out and get started.
I got two volumes of omnibus editions for the first 6 books but havn't started them yet. I'm reading through the Dresden Files first by Jim Butcher, then I'll switch and read these.
Mod
I don't want to compare either, so figured I was better off finishing one before starting the other. I've got only the first 6 Vampire Files books in the two omnibus editions because from book 7 on, they seem to be incredibly difficult to find used and they seem to be out of print.
Shanon wrote: "That's my plan as well Briansgirl. I'm reading my way through the Dresden files too and am afraid they might be too similar and I'll compare them to each other - which is never a good thing."No similarities at all between these 2 series, other than they're set in Chicago, with the Vampire Files during the Depression for the most part and the Dresden Files in present day Chicago.
You might not see similiarites Melodie but I do. Both have supernatural detectives in Chicago, solving mysteries/crimes. I also get a rather noir feel to them, Vampire Files more so than Dresden Files but enough to set them apart. I'd rather finish one series before starting the other.
Briansgirl "Master Book Sale Huntress" wrote: "You might not see similiarites Melodie but I do. Both have supernatural detectives in Chicago, solving mysteries/crimes. I also get a rather noir feel to them, Vampire Files more so than Dresden Fi..."Guess we all look at things differently, huh? But then I read 2 UF or 2 cozy mysteries, which I would consider similar, concurrently all the time and don't have any trouble with that. I can see where a person wouldn't want to read 2 of what felt like the same thing to them at the same time. One of these days I should go back and read some of the Vampire Files books I skipped.
If it was only one or two books, it wouldn't be as big a deal. But the Dresden Files has 12 books in it, and the Vampire Files has 11 or so, but I can only find the first 6. I didn't want to switch back and forth and read one of each and keep swapping back and forth. Just seemed less confusing to read one through then switch to the other.
Mod
I make a conscious choice to vary my reading genres now. Last year I read several YA PNR set in high schools, or among teenagers back to back. I ended up hating them all, when I might not have had I varied my reading.It's been a long time since I read and of The Vampire Files series, but I don't feel like it's similar to Dresden. Jack Fleming isn't very dark at all, while Harry Dresden & Remy Chandler carry the weight of the world on their shoulders.
I've only read one Jack Fleming short story so far. Had a very noir feel to it. As much as I love The Dresden Files, it's a heavy enough read I need a break after it and can't read them back-to-back.
I love the Noir feel to the series which is quite fun.
Witches, Weres, and Vamps, Oh MY!
Books mentioned in this topic
Bloodlist (other topics)Lifeblood (other topics)
Bloodcircle (other topics)
Art in the Blood (other topics)
Fire in the Blood (other topics)
More...
Has anyone read this series?
Series in order:
Bloodlist
Lifeblood
Bloodcircle
Art in the Blood
Fire in the Blood
Blood on the Water
A Chill in the Blood
The Dark SleepLady CrymsynCold Streets
Song in the Dark
Dark Road Rising
The Vampire Files, Volume 1 (Books 1-3)
The Vampire Files, Volume 2 (Books 4-6)
Description of Bloodlist: Jack Fleming, ace reporter, always had a weak spot for strange ladies. And he certainly should have listened to the one who said she was a vampire! Because when a thug blasts several bullets through Jack's back, he does not die--and discovers that he is a vampire as well! First in an exciting new vampire adventure series.