What do you think?
Rate this book
Vampire Files #4-6
Vampire Files, Volume Two
Being a vampire can have its drawbacks. Just ask Jack Fleming, former journalist turned itinerant gumshoe. Then again, being able to instantly vanish and reappear elsewhere in mob-controlled 1930's Chicago is handy in a jam. But when the local gang boss is more out for blood than even the local vampire, something's definitely coming to a head. Still, even the Undead need to make a living. So here are three more cases from The Vampire Files of Jack Fleming.
Art in the Blood: Rubbing elbows with Chicago's art elite isn't exactly Jack's idea of a good time, until his girlfriend Bobbi persuades him to attend a formal gala thrown by artist Leighton Brett. But something about Brett's finely-honed paintings strikes Jack as just a little too perfect, much like the man himself. Soon Jack's knee-deep in high-stakes art theft, mob-controlled forgery, and oh, yes - murder. For it'll take a vampire's aversion to mirrors - plus all his regular nosferatu skills - to see the truth behind the mask, and follow the trail of deceptions to catch a murderer before anyone else gets killed...particularly him!
Fire in the Blood: Usually the colors red, white and platinum only brought Jack's stunning Bobbi to mind - not some pricey ruby-and-diamond bracelet stolen from a wealthy client's daughter. But what starts out as a simple shakedown of the suspected thief quickly turns deadly, causing Jack to run afoul of the cruelest mobster in all Chicago. And this time not even his vampire powers can help him.
Blood on the Water: Jack still hopes to find that elusive bracelet (if only to clear his name), but his latest gangster nemesis is also in hot pursuit...of him. Plus there's a daughter of a dead mobster determined to run things herself - and who kills without blinking and tosses grenades around like party favors. The more Jack sees of her, the less he likes. But the more he tries to use his powers to elude his captors, the more those powers start to elude him!
Art in the Blood: Rubbing elbows with Chicago's art elite isn't exactly Jack's idea of a good time, until his girlfriend Bobbi persuades him to attend a formal gala thrown by artist Leighton Brett. But something about Brett's finely-honed paintings strikes Jack as just a little too perfect, much like the man himself. Soon Jack's knee-deep in high-stakes art theft, mob-controlled forgery, and oh, yes - murder. For it'll take a vampire's aversion to mirrors - plus all his regular nosferatu skills - to see the truth behind the mask, and follow the trail of deceptions to catch a murderer before anyone else gets killed...particularly him!
Fire in the Blood: Usually the colors red, white and platinum only brought Jack's stunning Bobbi to mind - not some pricey ruby-and-diamond bracelet stolen from a wealthy client's daughter. But what starts out as a simple shakedown of the suspected thief quickly turns deadly, causing Jack to run afoul of the cruelest mobster in all Chicago. And this time not even his vampire powers can help him.
Blood on the Water: Jack still hopes to find that elusive bracelet (if only to clear his name), but his latest gangster nemesis is also in hot pursuit...of him. Plus there's a daughter of a dead mobster determined to run things herself - and who kills without blinking and tosses grenades around like party favors. The more Jack sees of her, the less he likes. But the more he tries to use his powers to elude his captors, the more those powers start to elude him!
482 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2006
5 people are currently reading
222 people want to read
About the author
P.N. Elrod
92 books589 followersPatricia Nead Elrod is an American fantasy writer specializing in novels about vampires. Her work falls into areas of fantasy and (in some cases) mystery or historical fiction, but normally not horror, since her vampires are the heroes. -Wikipedia
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
July 23, 2008
I'm currently rereading this series. I originally read it when it was new. It really was ahead of it's time. Now you can't enter a bookstore without books with supernatural protagonist, with elements of mystery, written by female authors falling on you head. (NOT necessarily a bad thing9- but a lot of them ARE drek- just like most any genre.) At time, though it was a novel combination of genres. the gangster era Chicago setting means that it still stands out from the more recent novels. These three novels are not as good as the first three (found reprinted in The Vampire Files I) but they are still engaging.
December 9, 2023
Another great read about the adventures of our friendly, vampire Jack Fleming.
PN Elrod doesn't disappoint.
PN Elrod doesn't disappoint.
May 6, 2012
The first book in this trilogy is Art in the Blood: The only vampire in this book is Jack and, in the other books, the only supernatural characters I've met so far have been related to his making as a vampire. Most stories so far have only that one sup... Jack was a reporter but now has a friend who is a detective and who he works with. Jack has two talents that help him as a detective--his ability to get around locked doors and his powers of hypnosis. Though it is difficult to hurt him permanently, it is not hard to hurt him temporarily and this can be bad for the humans he is protecting. So, suspense exists.
The stories are set in the late 30's Chicago, so gangsters show up in most of the stories as does the "noir" atmosphere of the era. This one centers on the art world and was quite enjoyable (a true mystery that the reader is able to solve along with Jack.) Fun.
In the second book, Fire in the Blood, Jack and Escott are hired to find an expensive bracelet which leads them into 30's Chicago gangsterland (again.) Now, for the first time, Jack encounters the dark side of his nature and is completely frightened by it... Pretty good book.
The third book, Blood in the Water, starts directly where Fire in the Blood ends with gangster problems. And at it's finish, the action is not completely resolved. The next book will start midstream. This book was pretty much entirely about Jack trying to protect his friends from the gangsters who are after him. This is made more complicated by Jack's avoidance of killing anyone (even a gangster who is trying to kill him.) Because Jack is not invulnerable (he can be hurt, he can get knocked out, and it is possible to kill him), these problems are not as easily solved as one would think.
These books were great fun.
The stories are set in the late 30's Chicago, so gangsters show up in most of the stories as does the "noir" atmosphere of the era. This one centers on the art world and was quite enjoyable (a true mystery that the reader is able to solve along with Jack.) Fun.
In the second book, Fire in the Blood, Jack and Escott are hired to find an expensive bracelet which leads them into 30's Chicago gangsterland (again.) Now, for the first time, Jack encounters the dark side of his nature and is completely frightened by it... Pretty good book.
The third book, Blood in the Water, starts directly where Fire in the Blood ends with gangster problems. And at it's finish, the action is not completely resolved. The next book will start midstream. This book was pretty much entirely about Jack trying to protect his friends from the gangsters who are after him. This is made more complicated by Jack's avoidance of killing anyone (even a gangster who is trying to kill him.) Because Jack is not invulnerable (he can be hurt, he can get knocked out, and it is possible to kill him), these problems are not as easily solved as one would think.
These books were great fun.
July 25, 2008
I had already read the first story in the volume-Art in the Blood. This time around I got the 2nd-Fire in the Blood, and 3rd-Blood on the Water, read. I like these stories for there uniqueness, they aren't like the other vampire stories-not much romance in them, they are more focused on the detective
side. And I had actually thought that PN Elrod was a dude writer, until I looked up the website and saw that no-it's a gal. Just surprised me because of the way the stories are written and the way the characters are portrayed.
5 outta 5, great mystery and action stories
*BIO*
side. And I had actually thought that PN Elrod was a dude writer, until I looked up the website and saw that no-it's a gal. Just surprised me because of the way the stories are written and the way the characters are portrayed.
5 outta 5, great mystery and action stories
*BIO*
May 18, 2011
I'm glad these three were available together. I was a little lost with the first book in here as it had been a few years since I'd read the previous collection, but it was easy to get up to speed. And the first story led well into the second, which ended on a cliffhanger. Happily, the third book began right where the second one left off, so the anticipation was immediately rewarded.
Also glad this doesn't support an all-powerful vampire mythology; the main character has flaws (some pretty drastic ones) that make it much more interesting.
Also glad this doesn't support an all-powerful vampire mythology; the main character has flaws (some pretty drastic ones) that make it much more interesting.
September 10, 2010
Loved it just as much as Volume 1. The stories in this one had unexpected turns and twists. I especially enjoyed "Art in the Blood". The characters developed and you really got immersed into the story. My only complaint would be not much of Bobbi in "Blood on the Water". I love her kick butt character and would have liked to have seen a bit more of her.
All in all a fun read, just wonderful for anyone who enjoys vampire/detective/mystery/gangster type books!
All in all a fun read, just wonderful for anyone who enjoys vampire/detective/mystery/gangster type books!
May 11, 2011
I cannot explain just that every story has its twist, it is intense sometimes, very interesting could not put the last story down until i finished it. You wonder how Jack gonna save everybody. I wonder how long Jack's secret of being a vampire will remain that way...
May 30, 2014
Worthwhile Read
A worthy follow-up to the first volume; but the spelling errors were very distracting. I've come to believe that the spelling is only a problem with the digital copies, because the spelling in volume 1 of the author's series was flawless.
A worthy follow-up to the first volume; but the spelling errors were very distracting. I've come to believe that the spelling is only a problem with the digital copies, because the spelling in volume 1 of the author's series was flawless.
September 14, 2007
this book was a fun interesting read.
Although it is a vampire novel, it reads more as a gangster, detective novel.
Although it is a vampire novel, it reads more as a gangster, detective novel.
June 25, 2009
So far so good. I am on the second novel, aka book 4, within the book. Entertaining.
December 15, 2015
The Vampire Files by Elrod are an enjoyable quick read. I'll continue to pick these up as long as she continues to write them.
January 20, 2013
Glad it's an omnibus because of the cliffhangers.
June 12, 2013
Again, a little dark for a vampire story, but well written.
August 31, 2016
Review to follow
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews