Lady Crymsyn (Vampire Files) by P. N. Elrod

Vampire Files #9

by P.N. Elrod

Vampire detective Jack Fleming made a good bit of money cleaning up the streets of post-prohibition Chicago--enough to realize his dream of owning a nightclub. During renovations, workmen discover the remains of a woman, clad in a distinctive red dress. Vampire or not, Jack won't rest until he finds out who killed the lady in red--even if it means resurrecting secrets the mob would kill to keep buried.

Genres: Vampires, Mystery, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Fiction, Paranormal, Historical Fiction

Hardcover

First published October 1, 2000

About the author

Patricia 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

Reviews

[Gwyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is probably my favorite Jack Fleming novel yet. It also probably the most disturbing and macabre--and not just because a woman was walled up alive; we see some of the darker side of Fleming's nature, both human and vampiric. My greatest complaint about the series is how easily and conveniently Fleming gets what he wants by hypnotizing people. While this improbability continues in Crymsyn, it is somewhat offset by a number of times when hypnosis just can't get the job done. All in all, a great reward for sticking with the series this far.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A construction crew renovating an old building finds a false wall in the basement. Behind the brick barrier is a skeleton of a woman, still clad in the remnants of a red dress and chained to the wall. Jack Fleming, the new owner of the building, realizes that means the woman was still alive when she was entombed ...

Oh, my! What to say? P.N. Elrod has outdone herself with this ninth installment of The Vampire Files featuring ex-reporter, now vampire and Chicago nightclub owner, Jack Fleming. I thought I had figured out a significant clue to who-done-it fairly early in the narrative, but it turned out to be a complete red herring, and the identity of the murderer surprised me, as did the ending. A totally satisfactory read!

[Krystyna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was the hardest to find out of the series so far - neither libraries or book depository could provide so I tracked it down on eBay and I'm so glad I did!! Definitely the most gruesome of the series so far, but, just like the rest, a real page turner! Oh what I'd give to be a part of the world that Pat has created! Do yourself a favour and find this series and this book!

[Kenneth Flusche · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Little Bit of Vampire and a Little Bit Ghost a Whole Lot Chicago Gangsters 1930.s

[Helene Falkinburg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book!

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best in the series so far

[Jon]

Jack has, with Gordy's help, managed to launder the money he appropriated a couple of books back, from Frank Paco's embezzlement from the mob, and is finally realizing his dream of opening up his own night club, where Bobbi can headline until she gets noticed enough to head to Hollywood and be a movie star. As the story begins, he is just days away from opening up Lady Crymsyn, which will be a very high class joint - without the usual mob-run and protected casino, only the legal vices allowed.

A snag develops when the workers remodeling the basement of the building find a corpse, walled up to die alone - a woman in a bright red gown. Ever the white knight, Jack decides it's his responsibility to find out who she was and who was responsible for her murder, and to bring them to justice, if possible. All of this in his spare time while trying to hire staff, oversee construction, and get his club open on time.

The early trail leads to the usual suspects, the gangsters and their molls - or frails - who had something to do with the building under previous ownership. The old owner of the club was killed in a grenade attack, and the perpetrators were never caught, either, so perhaps Fleming can kill two birds with one stone here. This one has some fantastic twists towards the end, and takes us along on an unexpected narrative journey.

The only problem I have with the series at this point is that I would think that Jack would have figured out by now not to turn his back on henchmen carrying weapons, especially wooden ones that can actually knock him down and out for a significant time period. His squeamishness about not beating up or killing thugs is a huge handicap - he needs to just get over it.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a re-read for me, having last read it when it was first published. A good story with a decent mystery, but this time the way Jack interacted with other female characters hit a lot differently Basically, it hit me wrong when he straddled the line on cheating to get information, even though he was clearly devoted to Bobbi .

[Travis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jack Flemming used to be a reporter, now he's a private detective in 30's Chicago. He's also a vampire.
A decent twisty, turny mystery involving mobsters, possibly a ghost and a dead woman.
I like the cast and setting, Jack is a nice guy and the rules of this version of vampires are cool, his relationship with his girlfriend is very sweet and drama free.

This book is bigger than most of the other ones in this series and while it does seem to need it, as it is telling a slightly bigger story, but it also seems to run out of steam at the 3/4 mark and the solution becomes pretty obvious.
The other story arc, dealing with Jack opening his own night club is pretty good and I think the new setting could help keep the series going.

One of the least annoying vampire series of the past decade.
Very little angst, a good sense of humor and a nice blend of the vampire and noir PI genres.

[Gabriel · Rating 3 out of 5]

So jumping into this series at book 9 isn't such a bad idea. The plot thickens quickly and we get moving into the midst of a mobworld flowing with smoke, booze and ladies. For those of you who see the word "Vampire" in the title, though, calm down. This is, first and foremost, a detective novel. Ms. Elrod uses vampirism more as a way to get the lead character out of some very sticky situations and set him up for finding lots of interesting facts he may not have found otherwise ... but it's really not about a vampire. It's about a murder with an interesting resolution; one that doesn't feel cheap if only because there ARE clues in the beginning if you look for them. Maybe even more if I had read earlier books.

Entertaining, but nothing spectacular.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jack is back and pursues his dream to open a nightclub, named ... Lady Crymsyn. While getting the nightclub ready a skeleton is discovered walled up in the basement.

I have always enjoyed Jack with his power to hypnotize he makes a great PI. Just don't get him drunk or he'll be no help.

Things are heating up between Jack and his girlfriend ... or maybe cooling down, Jack seems to be heading towards making her a vampire as well.

[K · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oops...read #9 before #8, but in this case, it didn't spoil the plot. Elrod typically starts up one book immediately following the last events of the previous, so don't try to read these out of order. It's a solid, enjoyable series that I'll continue to read. They're good enough that when the library didn't carry one of the series, I went ahead & ordered a used copy just so I didn't miss one of the stories.

[Raye · Rating 3 out of 5]

A hard book to quantify. It's a shortish book with a larger font, which made me think it was YA, but the content is fairly gory and the sex is explicit, so adults only. Mostly it's a mystery - and a pretty good one - set after Prohibition, so it feels hard-boiled. But it also has an element of fantasy thrown in as our detective is a vampire. It's a later book in a series, but I had no trouble following along from scratch. Recommended mostly for mystery fans.

[Alexis Masters · Rating 3 out of 5]

Skipping review for now since I accidentally read this one out of order. :( I will go back, read book 8, and then come back and do a proper review.

In the meantime, know that this was a solid addition to the Vampire Files series and shed some interesting light on Jack having to deal with the darker parts of himself (both vampiric and human in nature).

[Ann C. Arnold · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another volume in the noir series about our favorite vampire detective, Jack Fleming. In this book Jack is preparing to open his own club. During renovations, a body is found behind a basement wall. Off goes Jack to find the victim's identity and murderer. This series continues to please.

[Melodie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was actually a decent story, but it took me FOREVER to get thru it. Just did not hold my interest.

[Kathy Davie · Rating 5 out of 5]

1930s noir and a vampire with a heart who interacts with the mob.

P. N. Elrod is amazing in her depiction of the time period. You can see, smell, feel, and hear it as you read.

[Helen Fleischer · Rating 5 out of 5]

rich with character and imagery

[Aaron Anderson]

This series got even worse once he started his nightclub. Ugh.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm really liking this series. It's a book about a vampire, but it isn't the main plot of the tale. Well written with twists that I don't predict. Gotta love that.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun and inventive series (The Vampire Files) with Jack Fleming as the vampire detective along with his tall British partner set during the 1930's in a very noire style. I enjoyed every minute of it.

[colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

read 02.10.07