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Vincent DeVilbiss #1
The Book of Common Dread
Nobody in Princeton suspects Vincent DeVilbiss to be anything more harmful than a charlatan psychic with an exotic name - but technology has done a lot for the assimilation of the modern vampire. Tinted contacts hide amber eyes, sunscreen deflects harmful rays, and the anonymity of catalog shopping has made it possible to move beyond the traditional cape. Yet even with these modern devices, DeVilbiss is losing ground in his mission to retard the scientific and spiritual advancement of the human race. At Princeton University he faces the direst challenge of his five hundred years: He must destroy an ancient and heavily protected cuneiform scroll, being translated for the first time, before its apocalyptic powers are turned against him and all the overlords of the underworld.
Athwart his path is Simon Penn, a young rare-books curator, who is in love with the alluring and tragic woman DeVilbiss has targeted to help him get access to the manuscript. Piecing together DeVilbiss's identity, Simon must extinguish this seemingly unstoppable emissary of doom.
This is an extraordinary, thought-provoking novel, and a brilliantly successful entertainment.
Athwart his path is Simon Penn, a young rare-books curator, who is in love with the alluring and tragic woman DeVilbiss has targeted to help him get access to the manuscript. Piecing together DeVilbiss's identity, Simon must extinguish this seemingly unstoppable emissary of doom.
This is an extraordinary, thought-provoking novel, and a brilliantly successful entertainment.
329 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 1993
8 people are currently reading
345 people want to read
About the author
Brent Monahan
25 books33 followersBrent Monahan was born in Fukuoka, Kyushu, Japan in 1948, as a World War II occupation baby. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Rutgers University in Music and his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Indiana University, Bloomington. He has performed, stage directed and taught music and writing professionally. He has authored fourteen published novels and a number of short stories. Two of his novels have been made into motion pictures. Brent lives in Yardley, PA, with his wife, Bonnie.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
February 21, 2009
Ah, vampire stories, very popular nowadays. The Book of Common Dread is such a story, but it has a few things going for it: first, it was written in 1993, thus placing a safe 12-year barrier between it and the sparklecaust of '05. Second, the author wrote it with the specific intent to stay away from vampiric cliches, vowing instead to use new ideas and freshen up the dusty genre.
For a novel that proudly proclaims its vampiric nature, it actually plays subtly on this in the story itself, a show of the author's dedication to stay away from outlandish and cliched elements. He truly does a good job of reinventing the common idea of a vampire.
The Book of Common Dread centers around a pair of ancient scrolls that contain incredible knowledge of both the physical and supernatural world. Recently acquired by Princeton University, the scrolls are being translated into the modern language, an endeavor alarming to the dark forces at be. And so, these forces send in one of their men - or what was once a man - to destroy these scrolls: Vincent DeVilbiss, professional medium/herbalist and resident vampire.
However, Princeton's security proves a bit too much even for a centuries-old vampire to crack, and so enter the human elements: Frederika Vanderveen, a rich and elusive beauty desperate to get an answer that went to the grave with her father, and Simon Penn, who works within the library where the scrolls are kept and carries an infatuation with Frederika. Slowly the three lives begin to intertwine, and the nature of the scrolls is revealed in their translation. It's a battle to save the scrolls or destroy them, with the enlightenment of humanity at stake.
This book, as said before, does not rely heavily on the vampire theme, though it is an important element. Those who enjoy good action and mystery will like this book; people with a vampire fixation may not, as the book doesn't truly focus on this. The Book of Common Dread may not be a big contender in the vampire market, but it's by no means a weak read. This novel will keep you entertained and flipping pages until the very end. A very satisfying book.
For a novel that proudly proclaims its vampiric nature, it actually plays subtly on this in the story itself, a show of the author's dedication to stay away from outlandish and cliched elements. He truly does a good job of reinventing the common idea of a vampire.
The Book of Common Dread centers around a pair of ancient scrolls that contain incredible knowledge of both the physical and supernatural world. Recently acquired by Princeton University, the scrolls are being translated into the modern language, an endeavor alarming to the dark forces at be. And so, these forces send in one of their men - or what was once a man - to destroy these scrolls: Vincent DeVilbiss, professional medium/herbalist and resident vampire.
However, Princeton's security proves a bit too much even for a centuries-old vampire to crack, and so enter the human elements: Frederika Vanderveen, a rich and elusive beauty desperate to get an answer that went to the grave with her father, and Simon Penn, who works within the library where the scrolls are kept and carries an infatuation with Frederika. Slowly the three lives begin to intertwine, and the nature of the scrolls is revealed in their translation. It's a battle to save the scrolls or destroy them, with the enlightenment of humanity at stake.
This book, as said before, does not rely heavily on the vampire theme, though it is an important element. Those who enjoy good action and mystery will like this book; people with a vampire fixation may not, as the book doesn't truly focus on this. The Book of Common Dread may not be a big contender in the vampire market, but it's by no means a weak read. This novel will keep you entertained and flipping pages until the very end. A very satisfying book.
October 19, 2021
Had high hopes for this one based on a lot of reviews, but it was definitely dated, plus a bit misogynistic and trite. The former is likely a product of the era in which it was written, while the latter is probably because the genre (vampires) has moved on quite a bit since the early 1990s and what may have been a fresh take, then, is now rather boring. I was hoping for a good horror novel read in October, but so far, short stories have been far more rewarding.
July 15, 2015
I've been a fan of vampire fiction ever since I first read Bram Stoker's Dracula when I was a kid. Thus started a somewhat long period in my life when if I needed something good to read all I had to do was hunt down a book about vampires. Unfortunately the recent influx of poorly written asinine vampire fiction ended that illustrious period. Fed up with a lack of quality vampire fiction, and longing to feel the joys of my past, I purposely searched for a book I might have missed published before the start of the downward spiral of the vampire genre. After perusing many a dusty stack I found The Book of Common Dread. I started reading it full of hope, and finished firm in my conviction that, so far, any book about vampires worth reading was written before vampires sparkled. This book is witty, moody, well written, and portrays a interesting twist on the vampire myth. My only complaint would be how easy it was to kill... well, I'll stop before I spoil anything.
February 21, 2012
Yep, need that half star. The vampire in this book didn't seem like much of a threat. But on the other hand, the hero didn't seem very effective either. The ending hints at a sequel, that I'm not going to bother trying to find out if it exists or not.
July 29, 2016
My favorite quote from this book (which I still remember, 15 years later), is:
"Don't call someone an asshole; call them an earlobe. At least an asshole serves a purpose."
"Don't call someone an asshole; call them an earlobe. At least an asshole serves a purpose."
September 11, 2019
In my journal from 1997, I called this book "annoying" and said there was no character to like or identify with. Sorry, Brent Monahan!
December 24, 2021
First off you gotta give a hands up for a great title.
Now, I read this because I enjoyed it 30 years ago (and you think YOU'RE shocked at that!) I thought it would be fun to reread to see if it still felt the same. For the most part I did but with some caveats that you might want to be aware of before reading it yourself.
The concept for the book is good but the story and the writing, well you know... they don't create a masterpiece. But it does have a quirky set of characters and story that keeps you interested.
Honestly, I will share that I carried that essence of that first scene with me for many years. The emotion and mindset, visual and absolute horror embodied by this creature. Because true horror is often very quiet and still. And not about gushing blood or violence and gore.
The emotionless state of killing a man and putting him in the furnace with what seemed gentleness because he was so cold. Only to discover that it wasn't that at all. It was simply disposal. But then he has an afterthought.
Which displays the theme of the book, going from the light to the dark and trying to get back again.
But it doesn't go without an important note. There are some things that I didn't like the first time that bother me even more now. And they may bother you. So heads up.
In particular, the misogyny, racism, stalker behaviour (and not by the vampire) and a rape scene. Because yes there is a non-consensual sex scene. And don't call it indicative of the time because I was a teenage girl when I first read this and it wasn't ok then either.
Monahan's insinuation of cults and dark magic are a quiet underbelly of evil underlying the story similar to the peridot doll. Right in front of you the whole time but most just don't want to see it.
And one of the most bizarre things about this book is monaghan's writing style.
Parts of it keep a good pace but other parts are very one note. But the one thing that is consistently strange is how there will be a lot of writing about one particular subject that is basic and vapid. But suddenly punctuated by a $10 word.
Other parts of it are very much "dear readers I'm a legitimate author. Look here, I did all of my research. Let me describe every boring nook and cranny of this building that is irrelevant. Oh and by the way, homunculus"
Now here are some more boring, repetitive and extraneous details for half a chapter and blah blah mouth to sit down. Not just a car, mind you I'm going to tell you exactly what kind of car, the color the make and model of the tires...yawn. paragraphs.
But for all the shite, I still find it De Vilbiss an interesting character.
Imagine the boredom of living that long. It is not hard to imagine that the similitude of an such existence would create a haughty, egotistical creature who is very onenote. Because he has not expanded his experience, he is simply chasing power as he did in the beginning and that of course is his downfall.
Its your classic fall from grace but here it is into buffoonery. The man of likely wants Elegance in dress and affectation disintegrating into the antics of what likely could be a Jim Carrey movie.
Frederica, well she was written before anybody had any interest in developing female characters and so of course she is just your classic blonde bimbo play toy... but with a dark side (insert eye roll) But yet we all know she's supposed to be smarter and more interesting. But apparently not in this book.
And Simon Penn. good grief if ever there is wasted potential in a character. Are we having a midlife crisis at the age of 24 or whatever he is? Dude you have OCD that is out of control. You are a pathological liar, stalker and borderline with heroic delusions. Written I suppose to be De Vilbiss' alter ego. But geez dude, boundaries!
So you still want to read it? LOL
The one thing I will say is the sequel is actually better than this first book.
But this is worth a read anyhow simply for the novelty of a vampire that is more human than magical mystical sparkling creature.
Now, I read this because I enjoyed it 30 years ago (and you think YOU'RE shocked at that!) I thought it would be fun to reread to see if it still felt the same. For the most part I did but with some caveats that you might want to be aware of before reading it yourself.
The concept for the book is good but the story and the writing, well you know... they don't create a masterpiece. But it does have a quirky set of characters and story that keeps you interested.
Honestly, I will share that I carried that essence of that first scene with me for many years. The emotion and mindset, visual and absolute horror embodied by this creature. Because true horror is often very quiet and still. And not about gushing blood or violence and gore.
The emotionless state of killing a man and putting him in the furnace with what seemed gentleness because he was so cold. Only to discover that it wasn't that at all. It was simply disposal. But then he has an afterthought.
Which displays the theme of the book, going from the light to the dark and trying to get back again.
But it doesn't go without an important note. There are some things that I didn't like the first time that bother me even more now. And they may bother you. So heads up.
In particular, the misogyny, racism, stalker behaviour (and not by the vampire) and a rape scene. Because yes there is a non-consensual sex scene. And don't call it indicative of the time because I was a teenage girl when I first read this and it wasn't ok then either.
Monahan's insinuation of cults and dark magic are a quiet underbelly of evil underlying the story similar to the peridot doll. Right in front of you the whole time but most just don't want to see it.
And one of the most bizarre things about this book is monaghan's writing style.
Parts of it keep a good pace but other parts are very one note. But the one thing that is consistently strange is how there will be a lot of writing about one particular subject that is basic and vapid. But suddenly punctuated by a $10 word.
Other parts of it are very much "dear readers I'm a legitimate author. Look here, I did all of my research. Let me describe every boring nook and cranny of this building that is irrelevant. Oh and by the way, homunculus"
Now here are some more boring, repetitive and extraneous details for half a chapter and blah blah mouth to sit down. Not just a car, mind you I'm going to tell you exactly what kind of car, the color the make and model of the tires...yawn. paragraphs.
But for all the shite, I still find it De Vilbiss an interesting character.
Imagine the boredom of living that long. It is not hard to imagine that the similitude of an such existence would create a haughty, egotistical creature who is very onenote. Because he has not expanded his experience, he is simply chasing power as he did in the beginning and that of course is his downfall.
Its your classic fall from grace but here it is into buffoonery. The man of likely wants Elegance in dress and affectation disintegrating into the antics of what likely could be a Jim Carrey movie.
Frederica, well she was written before anybody had any interest in developing female characters and so of course she is just your classic blonde bimbo play toy... but with a dark side (insert eye roll) But yet we all know she's supposed to be smarter and more interesting. But apparently not in this book.
And Simon Penn. good grief if ever there is wasted potential in a character. Are we having a midlife crisis at the age of 24 or whatever he is? Dude you have OCD that is out of control. You are a pathological liar, stalker and borderline with heroic delusions. Written I suppose to be De Vilbiss' alter ego. But geez dude, boundaries!
So you still want to read it? LOL
The one thing I will say is the sequel is actually better than this first book.
But this is worth a read anyhow simply for the novelty of a vampire that is more human than magical mystical sparkling creature.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 30, 2024
Brent Monahan writes a story about a vampire who was only a half-step from human, augmented by an elixir that also required human blood to activate its chemistry. This made the story much more interesting than emo/tortured/sexy/moping teenage vampires or stories that don't stray from the settled "rules" about vampires. My review misses a 5-star rating only because of some typos which took me right out of the story, and the ending paragraphs that annoyed me intensely when they failed to give proper warning to an innocent person to stay out of the way of dangerous people following them.
Spoiler comments follow.
Spoiler comments follow.
February 26, 2022
Vampire comes to Princeton to destroy a recently discovered Assyrian scroll that if translated will reveal divine secrets that have been suppressed for Millenia. On the side of light are two librarians—a wealthy, man-eating daughter of a late philanthropist and a unambitious book-lover who turns amateur detective.
Lots of this book was fun. Lots of it was also cheesey. I think, in vampire stories, it's a trope to have to explain the vampires rules, and that the vampires rules are definitely not Bram Stoker's. Our vampires are not your typical vampires! which is actually typical.
There were a couple times I laughed out loud at the author's sudden interjection explaining Simon's a skill Simon was about to use unexpectedly. In college Simon mastered elevator hopping! So that's why he's going to be able to jump from one moving elevator to the next! In high school Simon mastered knife throwing, so he'll definitely hit this target.
Lots of this book was fun. Lots of it was also cheesey. I think, in vampire stories, it's a trope to have to explain the vampires rules, and that the vampires rules are definitely not Bram Stoker's. Our vampires are not your typical vampires! which is actually typical.
There were a couple times I laughed out loud at the author's sudden interjection explaining Simon's a skill Simon was about to use unexpectedly. In college Simon mastered elevator hopping! So that's why he's going to be able to jump from one moving elevator to the next! In high school Simon mastered knife throwing, so he'll definitely hit this target.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 24, 2018
Personally, I think that this book is pretty underrated. Is it one of the greatest Vampire novels ever written? No. But it defiantly is a page turner. I could hardly find myself putting it down. The detection that it takes on traditional Vampire lore is a welcome one, and sets up a much less cliche premise. The character's are engaging, most notably Devilbiss who was my absolute favorite.
The book started to lose its touch a bit towards the end, however. Everything was very well paced and then the end seemed to be rather forced/rushed.
Still a great read overall, and deserves more attention.
The book started to lose its touch a bit towards the end, however. Everything was very well paced and then the end seemed to be rather forced/rushed.
Still a great read overall, and deserves more attention.
May 29, 2019
It was fine, and I might have enjoyed it more if it didn't fall into the unfortunately common horror trope of, hey - there's a female side character in this. She should probably get raped at some point. Like, come on. I'm sick of reading that kind of thing. It doesn't scare me; it makes me wonder about the author. It wasn't as horrifyingly done as Bentley Little's stuff, but still. I was enjoying the book, and then oh. Here we go again. I also got a bit icked because I think it's intended to not be so bad because the character in question cares about the woman's pleasure? I don't know. It was gross.
And no, I don't consider this a spoiler. I figure it's more of a heads up.
And no, I don't consider this a spoiler. I figure it's more of a heads up.
February 8, 2025
I really enjoyed this book. It’s a different take on a vampire story for its time. The lore is well presented and original. The last 35 pages are tense and the characters are like-able. Some tropes don’t play well in our time. Some actions are skip worthy entirely. Vampires are, in general, amoral creatures. This one seems to be on a redemption arc yet commits the same rapish behavior he thwarts. The male lead is a bit obsessed. That lead me to a three star review over a four star review. Overall it was an entertaining read and I’ll read the second if I can find it.
June 5, 2021
It was...okay. The resolve was extremely anticlimactic and poorly written. I was along for the ride until it went in a confusing direction and fell apart. Also, Simon Penn is a creep - not the hero the writer made him out to be.
October 21, 2025
I first read this book thirty years ago and re-reading it I find it to still being an excellent story
March 23, 2009
I was browsing the library shelves looking for another book when the title caught my eye, and the jacket sounded interesting enough that I checked it out. It's been awhile since I picked something where I haven't heard of either the book itself or the author, or had it recommended to me, because my to-read list is already so long. This time I am very glad I did.
It's hard to figure out what genre this book actually is, since it pretty much hits the high points of several. It has vampires in it, but it's not horror; it has some romance, but it's not a love story; it deals with family dynamics but isn't a drama; it deals with issues of faith but isn't religious. What it is, is a GREAT BOOK. It is what The Da Vinci Code could have been, if it A) had been better written and B) had had vampires. Why this isn't on the best seller's list and why I never heard of it before I have no idea; maybe the main stream reviewers shied away from anything with a vampire in it, and wrote it off as only fitting that niche?
The writing is very good; there might have been some problems with POV changes in the middle of scenes, but the scenes themselves were so tightly written that I only noticed in retrospect. The characters were even better: the villain is not wholly evil but never quite becomes a redemptive character, the heroine is not a damsel in distress but is rather "her own dragon," as one character puts it, and Our Hero crosses a few lines himself. The secondary characters are equally well written; even people with only a few scenes had enough development to sell their parts and not merely be props to move the story along.
The only nit I really had with the book is something that isn't actually the author's fault. The book was written in 1993, which I had to check early on when I was confused by something that was happening in a scene. Internet and cell phones weren't readily available then, so the characters spend a lot of time researching things that today could be found in under a minute on google, and there are several plot points revolving around pay phones and missed calls that today, with cell phones, would be out of place. Everything else is so modern, though, that it's hard to remember that when someone's making a point of needing change for a pay phone.
There's another book after this that I will be making a point of getting as soon as I get back to the library, and it will be soon; can't waiting to see where this story goes.
It's hard to figure out what genre this book actually is, since it pretty much hits the high points of several. It has vampires in it, but it's not horror; it has some romance, but it's not a love story; it deals with family dynamics but isn't a drama; it deals with issues of faith but isn't religious. What it is, is a GREAT BOOK. It is what The Da Vinci Code could have been, if it A) had been better written and B) had had vampires. Why this isn't on the best seller's list and why I never heard of it before I have no idea; maybe the main stream reviewers shied away from anything with a vampire in it, and wrote it off as only fitting that niche?
The writing is very good; there might have been some problems with POV changes in the middle of scenes, but the scenes themselves were so tightly written that I only noticed in retrospect. The characters were even better: the villain is not wholly evil but never quite becomes a redemptive character, the heroine is not a damsel in distress but is rather "her own dragon," as one character puts it, and Our Hero crosses a few lines himself. The secondary characters are equally well written; even people with only a few scenes had enough development to sell their parts and not merely be props to move the story along.
The only nit I really had with the book is something that isn't actually the author's fault. The book was written in 1993, which I had to check early on when I was confused by something that was happening in a scene. Internet and cell phones weren't readily available then, so the characters spend a lot of time researching things that today could be found in under a minute on google, and there are several plot points revolving around pay phones and missed calls that today, with cell phones, would be out of place. Everything else is so modern, though, that it's hard to remember that when someone's making a point of needing change for a pay phone.
There's another book after this that I will be making a point of getting as soon as I get back to the library, and it will be soon; can't waiting to see where this story goes.
October 18, 2013
It's the time of the season to read spooky books about vampires and the like. The vampire in this book, Vincent DeVilbiss, is somewhat different from the ones we usually see in books. He is a true servant of the underworld but his daylight encounters have caused him to see humanity in a different light.
Simon Penn is a librarian at Princeton University but still has not found his life's work. After he breaks up with his materialistic girlfriend, he rents a room from a beautiful but mysterious coworker who falls under the vampire's spell when she tries to communicate with her dead father. Simon has to find a way to save her as well as a way to keep the vampire from destroying some very rare scrolls at the library.
Simon Penn is a librarian at Princeton University but still has not found his life's work. After he breaks up with his materialistic girlfriend, he rents a room from a beautiful but mysterious coworker who falls under the vampire's spell when she tries to communicate with her dead father. Simon has to find a way to save her as well as a way to keep the vampire from destroying some very rare scrolls at the library.
February 27, 2009
This is by far the best book I have read in the modern (post-HP Lovecraft) horror genre. The story is actually original, which is extremely hard to find in the vampire genre. The characters are all likable in their own very different ways and their interactions are well written. I would actually place this more in the "Mystery" genre, as there Monahan does an excellent job of introducing and building up the mystery behind those in charge of the vampire underworld. I've ended up reading Common Dread at least three times, all spaced out throughout different phases in my life, since about 1996. Highly recommended!
October 25, 2009
This was tough to get into. I persisted, and it was well worth the effort.
The library copy I was reading convinced me that I wasn't alone in thinking that some of the vocabulary was a little... well, unusual, I guess. Someone had underlined a fair number of words throughout the book. I knew what the words meant, but I wondered if the underliner was intrigued or struggling.
Definitely sits at the literature end of the scale. Dense, and somehow sparse as well. Thorough, rounded, complete.
I liked it a lot.
The library copy I was reading convinced me that I wasn't alone in thinking that some of the vocabulary was a little... well, unusual, I guess. Someone had underlined a fair number of words throughout the book. I knew what the words meant, but I wondered if the underliner was intrigued or struggling.
Definitely sits at the literature end of the scale. Dense, and somehow sparse as well. Thorough, rounded, complete.
I liked it a lot.
August 11, 2009
I enjoyed Monahan's unique interpretation of classic vampire lore, their strengths and weaknesses, and what gives them their superhuman abilities. I can sense a well-crafted mythology behind the glimpses given the reader in this particular tale. A nice change from Rice and Meyer. On the other hand, while I like a seductive vampire as much as the next girl, after a while all the sex got a bit unnecessary.
January 29, 2013
One of the most unique and enthralling twists on the vampire mythology I have ever read. Never have I seen a story that makes you assume it is about one small part of the mythological world then completely obliterates that assumption and opens up an enormous plot that you, not anyone else, could ever imagine. The fact than Monahan did imagne it baffles me and causes my mind to cower in the corner of my head, shivering in awe of the sheer creativity demonstrated in this book.
February 13, 2010
11 books/2010
Ug, why can't I read a better than ok book lately? I had fairly high hopes for this one. It was an interesting take on vampires, the characters were not cardboard cut-outs. But then the ending, with the doll, and the devil . . .bleck. I still feel lost. Lots of holes in the plot.
Ug, why can't I read a better than ok book lately? I had fairly high hopes for this one. It was an interesting take on vampires, the characters were not cardboard cut-outs. But then the ending, with the doll, and the devil . . .bleck. I still feel lost. Lots of holes in the plot.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 24, 2010
terrible. that is all.
Read
September 29, 2012Approximate date
March 11, 2024
Loved this book when I was younger. I want to re-read.
September 13, 2014
I found this terrible, & just couldn't get into it at all.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews