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The Vampires of York Tower
"They're not just tenants, they're prey..."High above Manhattan's gilded streets, York Tower rises as the ultimate address for New York's wealthy elite. But with its elderly residents dying at an alarming rate, cracks appear in the building's glossy facade.
Behind designer doors and million-dollar views, an ancient evil stalks the halls—one that's perfected its hunt across centuries.
And in a building where everyone has something to hide and nothing is as it seems, the residents begin to learn that some questions are best left unanswered.
The Vampires of York Tower is a gothic horror thriller where ancient vampire mythology collides with Manhattan's glittering elite.
Gothic horror and suspense fans will be captivated by this gripping tale. Ideal for readers who love The Historian or Interview with the Vampire, this is an absolute must-read.
Behind designer doors and million-dollar views, an ancient evil stalks the halls—one that's perfected its hunt across centuries.
And in a building where everyone has something to hide and nothing is as it seems, the residents begin to learn that some questions are best left unanswered.
The Vampires of York Tower is a gothic horror thriller where ancient vampire mythology collides with Manhattan's glittering elite.
Gothic horror and suspense fans will be captivated by this gripping tale. Ideal for readers who love The Historian or Interview with the Vampire, this is an absolute must-read.
- GenresParanormal
280 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 23, 2025
About the author
Kirsten McKenzie
18 books283 followersKirsten McKenzie fought international crime for fourteen years as a Customs Officer in both England and New Zealand, before leaving to work in the family antique store. Now a full time author, she lives in New Zealand with her family and alternates between writing time travel trilogies and polishing her next thriller. Her spare time is spent organising author events and appearing on literary panels at festivals around the world.
Her work has appeared in anthologies in New Zealand and the United Kingdom, including the NHS fundraiser - Noir From The Bar. She has had non-fiction pieces appear in The Spinoff, and in other New Zealand publications.
In 2024, her short story "The Watchman," part of the anthology Remains To Be Told: Dark Tales of Aotearoa, was shortlisted for the 2024 Sir Julius Vogel Award for Best Short Story. Remains To Be Told: Dark Tales of Aotearoa won the 2024 Sir Julius Vogel Award for Best Collected Work. Kirsten’s time travel novel, Ithaca Bound, was shortlisted for the 2023 Sir Julius Vogel Award for Best Novel. In 2021, her historical thriller, The Forger and the Thief, was longlisted for the Sir Julius Vogel Award for Best Novel. Her short story "Paperwork," part of the anthology Noir From The Bar, was also longlisted that same year for the Sir Julius Vogel Award for Best Short Story. Her paranormal thriller, Painted, was longlisted for the 2018 Sir Julius Vogel Award for Best Novel.
Kirsten’s current project is a collaboration with best selling time travel author Shawn Inmon, where she is writing time travel stories in his Middle Falls world, but shifting the story over the pond to Northumberland, to the fictional town of Cheviot Hills. The first book in the series is The Deadly Life of Diana Penn. The second book in the collaboration, The Helpful Lives of Gris Morley, came out in February 2026. The 3rd book is underway.
You can sign up for her sporadic newsletter at: https://www.kirstenmckenzie.com/newsl...
You can also find her on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and TikTok.
Her work has appeared in anthologies in New Zealand and the United Kingdom, including the NHS fundraiser - Noir From The Bar. She has had non-fiction pieces appear in The Spinoff, and in other New Zealand publications.
In 2024, her short story "The Watchman," part of the anthology Remains To Be Told: Dark Tales of Aotearoa, was shortlisted for the 2024 Sir Julius Vogel Award for Best Short Story. Remains To Be Told: Dark Tales of Aotearoa won the 2024 Sir Julius Vogel Award for Best Collected Work. Kirsten’s time travel novel, Ithaca Bound, was shortlisted for the 2023 Sir Julius Vogel Award for Best Novel. In 2021, her historical thriller, The Forger and the Thief, was longlisted for the Sir Julius Vogel Award for Best Novel. Her short story "Paperwork," part of the anthology Noir From The Bar, was also longlisted that same year for the Sir Julius Vogel Award for Best Short Story. Her paranormal thriller, Painted, was longlisted for the 2018 Sir Julius Vogel Award for Best Novel.
Kirsten’s current project is a collaboration with best selling time travel author Shawn Inmon, where she is writing time travel stories in his Middle Falls world, but shifting the story over the pond to Northumberland, to the fictional town of Cheviot Hills. The first book in the series is The Deadly Life of Diana Penn. The second book in the collaboration, The Helpful Lives of Gris Morley, came out in February 2026. The 3rd book is underway.
You can sign up for her sporadic newsletter at: https://www.kirstenmckenzie.com/newsl...
You can also find her on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and TikTok.
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 16, 2025
THE VAMPIRES OF YORK TOWER, by Kirsten McKenzie, tackles the tale of the vampire in a modern day setting. What happens as time goes by, technology makes leaping advances, and medical knowledge of how a person died is readily available?
Vampires learn to adapt.
However this book has more to it than just that. Centuries of "bad blood" between two patriarchs, each with a very different approach to their own existence, makes this novel one where you never know what will come and who--if anyone--can be trusted.
The first half--following the prologue--sets the stage and introduces characters. My only complaint here was that most of the characters centered on didn't capture my attention enough to warrant further study. Of course, the ones I was desperate to know more about were the most elusive. The second half changed that, with a much faster pacing, and second guessing every person's motive along the way.
I found the ending satisfying, but still wanted more information on the families and their dynamics over the centuries past.
Overall, a unique read with a more sophisticated type of vampire than I'm used to, and many lines/mysteries to unravel at the end.
Recommended.
Vampires learn to adapt.
However this book has more to it than just that. Centuries of "bad blood" between two patriarchs, each with a very different approach to their own existence, makes this novel one where you never know what will come and who--if anyone--can be trusted.
The first half--following the prologue--sets the stage and introduces characters. My only complaint here was that most of the characters centered on didn't capture my attention enough to warrant further study. Of course, the ones I was desperate to know more about were the most elusive. The second half changed that, with a much faster pacing, and second guessing every person's motive along the way.
I found the ending satisfying, but still wanted more information on the families and their dynamics over the centuries past.
Overall, a unique read with a more sophisticated type of vampire than I'm used to, and many lines/mysteries to unravel at the end.
Recommended.
May 12, 2025
The story starts slowly introducing the characters before building. A very good read.
April 26, 2025
There are many things I love about vampire lore and I was excited to find them in a fresh format with Kirsten McKenzie’s The Vampires of York Tower:
*sire bonds! (First learned about these from Vampire Diaries! Ha!)
*the human fighting to cling to their humanity when the change is coming on
*good vamps trying to stay under the radar while managing their appetites.
*the transformation process and the way humans resist the possibility of the supernatural even though the evidence is stacked against them!
I found myself quickly invested in the lives of the residents of York Tower. I loved the friendship between the security guards and seeing how they coped with the ‘strange occurrences’ in the apartment complex. It definitely reminded me of Only Murders In The Building! I appreciated that McKenzie has a ‘no mercy’ approach to her characters. While there are some victories in the highly gripping conclusion, there is no Disney ending! This is a great read and will appeal to fans of multiple POV, fast paced yet character led horror.
*sire bonds! (First learned about these from Vampire Diaries! Ha!)
*the human fighting to cling to their humanity when the change is coming on
*good vamps trying to stay under the radar while managing their appetites.
*the transformation process and the way humans resist the possibility of the supernatural even though the evidence is stacked against them!
I found myself quickly invested in the lives of the residents of York Tower. I loved the friendship between the security guards and seeing how they coped with the ‘strange occurrences’ in the apartment complex. It definitely reminded me of Only Murders In The Building! I appreciated that McKenzie has a ‘no mercy’ approach to her characters. While there are some victories in the highly gripping conclusion, there is no Disney ending! This is a great read and will appeal to fans of multiple POV, fast paced yet character led horror.
February 15, 2025
Truly, neighbours from Hell.
York Tower, at first sight the perfect place to live. In an affluent, respectable neighbourhood. Concierge services day and night. Tasteful decor. Everything you could ever want in fashionable, apartment living. Except for one thing! The residents are dying like flies and some of them aren’t even that old. In fact, compared to the developer, owner of York Towers they are positively spring chickens. But is he and his family entirely responsible for the strange happenings. Kirsten McKenzie’s latest book is a joy to read. Perhaps not as spooky as her previous horror novels but certainly scary enough to make you want to check in the dark corners of your home before retreating to bed. And certainly scary enough to make you look at the local raven/crow population with added suspicion. Kirsten’s attention to detail keeps the reader captivated to the end.
York Tower, at first sight the perfect place to live. In an affluent, respectable neighbourhood. Concierge services day and night. Tasteful decor. Everything you could ever want in fashionable, apartment living. Except for one thing! The residents are dying like flies and some of them aren’t even that old. In fact, compared to the developer, owner of York Towers they are positively spring chickens. But is he and his family entirely responsible for the strange happenings. Kirsten McKenzie’s latest book is a joy to read. Perhaps not as spooky as her previous horror novels but certainly scary enough to make you want to check in the dark corners of your home before retreating to bed. And certainly scary enough to make you look at the local raven/crow population with added suspicion. Kirsten’s attention to detail keeps the reader captivated to the end.
June 16, 2025
I was fortunate to read the basic manuscript of this book as a Beta Reader (and loved it)
The Vampires of York Tower, by Kirsten McKenzie is a no-nonsense Vampire story which will have the reader sitting on the edge of their seat reading on way past what should have been their bedtime. The characters and setting are so well written, that they can be pictured easily in the mind and descriptions are such that the reader can almost see, smell and hear what is happening throughout the story. A story which flows well and is fast paced. The ending is such that it lends itself easily to a sequel, however could just as easily be a stand-alone.
Highly recommended
The Vampires of York Tower, by Kirsten McKenzie is a no-nonsense Vampire story which will have the reader sitting on the edge of their seat reading on way past what should have been their bedtime. The characters and setting are so well written, that they can be pictured easily in the mind and descriptions are such that the reader can almost see, smell and hear what is happening throughout the story. A story which flows well and is fast paced. The ending is such that it lends itself easily to a sequel, however could just as easily be a stand-alone.
Highly recommended
March 25, 2025
This book didn't really hold my interest. Too many people, too many references that seemed to be inserted to shadow what was going to happen. I gave up at 21%. There are too many other books I would rather spend time reading.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews