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Vampire Files #11
A Song in the Dark
P. N. Elrod's novels of The Vampire Files blend the seductive shadows of classic noir into a sanctuary for a most unusual private investigator-vampire Jack Fleming. In Elrod's newest novel, Jack is under the gun when the New York mafia wants his hide, and the love of his life is wanted for murder.
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First published January 1, 2005
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About the author
P.N. Elrod
92 books590 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
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
September 14, 2009
An entertaining trip to 1930's Chicago with Jack Fleming, the vampire nightclub owner, part-time private investigator and reluctant mafia boss stand-in. Fleming struggles with mafia politics while trying to piece himself back together in the aftermath of a horrific experience with a sadistic gangster.
These books have a nice historical setting with just a touch of the paranormal. Fleming has very traditional vampire strengths and weaknesses, but his supernatural nature flavors the stories without dominating them. While I'm lukewarm on his romance with a nightclub singer, I very much enjoy his friendship with his British private investigator partner Charles Escott.
These books have a nice historical setting with just a touch of the paranormal. Fleming has very traditional vampire strengths and weaknesses, but his supernatural nature flavors the stories without dominating them. While I'm lukewarm on his romance with a nightclub singer, I very much enjoy his friendship with his British private investigator partner Charles Escott.
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November 22, 2020Jack has been suffering some serious ill effects from his torture by Hog Bristow, blinding headaches when he attempts to hypnotize someone, panic attacks, and other PTSD-type symptoms. He's also lost control of his feeding a couple of times (fortunately only on cattle) and has become aware of his nearly overwhelming desire to enjoy the pleasures of taking human blood instead of animals'. Charles, his best friend, and Bobbi, his girlfriend, are walking on eggshells around him, trying to help him when he won't even admit that he's got problems.
Into this situation, throw the additional complication of Gordy getting shot, and having to hide out while he recovers, putting Jack in charge of his criminal enterprise temporarily. New York has sent Whitey Kroun to Chicago to investigate the death of Hog Bristow at Jack's hands, and everyone is certain that Kroun will simply decide that Jack must "pay" for his transgression. But Jack forces himself nearly to the brink of disaster by using his hypnotic powers to convince Kroun to leave him in charge until Gordy gets well, that Hog got only what he had coming, and that he and Whitey are good friends.
The unexpected side effect of this is that Jack gains a sidekick, or so it seems, when Whitey hangs around and spends his time hanging out with Jack at his nightclub, Lady Crymsyn. Some of Gordy's henchmen aren't too thrilled with Jack's takeover, and when he steps in to stop the beating of a singer with big gambling debts, Alan Caine, he earns the enmity of the thug involved, Hoyle. Hoyle and his buddies retaliate against Jack, kidnapping him and taking him to the woods for a beating, but Jack turns the tables, and delivers his own style of beatdown, due to his vampire strength. Unfortunately, his squeamishness when it comes to killing causes him to leave the boys alive, and they continue to plague him throughout the rest of the book.
When Caine's strangled body turns up in his dressing room soon after, Jack and Whitey team up to keep the cops out of things, and to try to find out who really killed the man, who was not as popular with all the folks he owed money to as he was with the ladies, except for his ex-wife, who is on the short list of suspects, owing her many months of back-alimony.
Jack's fight against his demons, inner and outer, makes an interesting tale with a very surprising twist at the end.
Into this situation, throw the additional complication of Gordy getting shot, and having to hide out while he recovers, putting Jack in charge of his criminal enterprise temporarily. New York has sent Whitey Kroun to Chicago to investigate the death of Hog Bristow at Jack's hands, and everyone is certain that Kroun will simply decide that Jack must "pay" for his transgression. But Jack forces himself nearly to the brink of disaster by using his hypnotic powers to convince Kroun to leave him in charge until Gordy gets well, that Hog got only what he had coming, and that he and Whitey are good friends.
The unexpected side effect of this is that Jack gains a sidekick, or so it seems, when Whitey hangs around and spends his time hanging out with Jack at his nightclub, Lady Crymsyn. Some of Gordy's henchmen aren't too thrilled with Jack's takeover, and when he steps in to stop the beating of a singer with big gambling debts, Alan Caine, he earns the enmity of the thug involved, Hoyle. Hoyle and his buddies retaliate against Jack, kidnapping him and taking him to the woods for a beating, but Jack turns the tables, and delivers his own style of beatdown, due to his vampire strength. Unfortunately, his squeamishness when it comes to killing causes him to leave the boys alive, and they continue to plague him throughout the rest of the book.
When Caine's strangled body turns up in his dressing room soon after, Jack and Whitey team up to keep the cops out of things, and to try to find out who really killed the man, who was not as popular with all the folks he owed money to as he was with the ladies, except for his ex-wife, who is on the short list of suspects, owing her many months of back-alimony.
Jack's fight against his demons, inner and outer, makes an interesting tale with a very surprising twist at the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 11, 2017
I loved this book. Though I admit that my favorite book in the world is the one I am reading now (or just finished reading), I think this one was the best one yet. It came closer than any other book I remember in this series as being really suspenseful. I could not put it down. Loved the surprise at the end.
January 20, 2020
This series keeps getting better. This was my favorite so far.
June 3, 2025
Exciting episode in the series. Jack has to stand up as Gordy replacement while dealing with the aftermath of the events of the previous book.
June 26, 2012
This series is always a fun exploration of the past. This volume does not disappoint. However, the tone is a bit darker, after his torture at the hands of a New York mob enforcer, vampire Jack Fleming is having a bit of trouble with shell-shock, or what you & I call PTSD. While that's bad enough for a regular guy, for a vampire it can be dangerous, not only for him but for his friends too.
Exciting and fun, this novel has everything, including a bit of soul-searching. The period detail is a nice flavor to what could have been a rather run of the mill "ooo, a vampire story" book. Now Elrod's skill at storytelling is still phenomenal and she does a good job here, but today's book market is flooded with vampire stuff, and it can be hard to tell the good from the bad. This is one of the good ones.
July 30, 2013
This book blew me away. After surviving a particularly gruesome experience at the end of the last book, Jack is now reeling from what happened and what he did to survive. His mind is fractured and he's terrified of himself and of staying close to anyone, not knowing what he might do. Charles and Bobbi, the two people most important to Jack, work extra hard to help Jack work through his trauma, but the strain is higher than ever. On top of that, Jack's other friend Gordy is still out of commission and Jack is running Gordy's mob until further notice - yet another stresser put on Jack, and Jack's relationship with Bobbi.
Things Jack has come to take for granted ever since waking up as a vampire are twisted and broken... and with Jack feeling more cornered and horrified than ever, there's no bigger threat than leaving him alone. Some damage can't be undone, even for a vampire...
Things Jack has come to take for granted ever since waking up as a vampire are twisted and broken... and with Jack feeling more cornered and horrified than ever, there's no bigger threat than leaving him alone. Some damage can't be undone, even for a vampire...
September 30, 2009
Jack Fleming, gentleman vampire, nightclub owner and temporary head mobster, is trying to juggle all of his new duties while dealing with the aftermath of his own torture at the hands of a sadistic maniac. The New York bosses have sent Whitey Kroun to Chicago to discipline Jack which may result in a reorganization of the entire Chicago gang that Jack is trying to run as a favor for the injured Gordy. Jack is experiencing physical as well as psychological problems as a result of his ordeal and dealing with rebellion among the ranks from those who don't think he should be running the gang. Tensions rise and dead bodies start littering the scene and Jack has to face the possibility that he may soon be permanently deceased. Another imaginative look at Chicago of the 1930's
August 14, 2010
Decided to go ahead and read this one next as it's a direct sequel to Cold Streets and wraps up the action from that one. Good stuff, though I had already tagged the major plot "twist" in the last book.
January 18, 2011
It's funny how a series can grow on you...I red the first novel and like it, but didn't think much of the next one so didn't pursue it any further, but somehow got hooked into the series again later and have very much enjoyed the later books.
I really like the period aspects of the story..
I really like the period aspects of the story..
May 4, 2013
Aww gad .. My mom buy this for me but I didn't read the whole series it's just this but I want to read it I dunno jack fleming got me hook even though this is the 11 book in the series I enjoyed this very much .
December 15, 2015
A little darker than the others; this book opens up new plot possibilities. I can't wait to see where Elrod takes Flemming & Escott. Definitely a good read.
March 31, 2011
excellent, funny how I can cope with this violence & not other
April 1, 2012
This was probably the best book in the series... until the end. It just ended, not even a cliffhanger. Just... end.
August 27, 2013
The surprise reveal that another character is a vampire was pretty ridiculous given that Fleming was constantly aware of blood flowing through everyone else in the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews