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The Inglewood Chronicles, #1
The Cactus Killer: Inglewood Chronicles, Book 1
When a serial killer begins targeting the supernatural community, vampires and werewolves are forced to come together to stop him. At the forefront, Victor Inglewood and Elizabeth Swansea are tasked with bringing an end to these brutal crimes - but at what cost?
Damnation befalls anyone who tries to go after the Cactus Killer!
Damnation befalls anyone who tries to go after the Cactus Killer!
- GenresUrban FantasyParanormal
Audible Audio
First published August 26, 2014
26 people are currently reading
281 people want to read
About the author
Jeremy Croston
59 books56 followersI live in Orlando, FL with my wife, son, and dog. Writing has always been a passion of mine and I am happy to bring my crazy visions life. Check out Ragnarok on Ice (Norse adventures trilogy), The Inglewood Chronicles (a supernatural mystery series), and The Negative Man (a superhero action series) at your convenience!
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
September 16, 2015
Except for my busy life getting in the way, I wanted to complete "The Cactus Killer" in one read because the yarn and the fascinating characters that inhabited the dusty New Mexico town of Full Moon were so darn compelling. There are layers of complexity to this book, but due to the author's skill it reads as breathlessly as a modern day Western. Yes, there are the good guys and the sassy girls, and those that should know better are downright evil, and those that convention insist are destined to be evil turn out to be amazingly cool.
This is achieved by Mr. Croston's fresh take on a community of werewolves, and their vampire allies, and their contact with frail humans. He saves us from the typical ghoulish tropes of bitten necks, glistening fangs and teenage angst. In short, these vampires don't suck. As for the werewolves, the author builds cleverly on the bonds of family and loyalty to the wolf pack. And that is the beauty of this engaging book; it's totally entertainment, but strangely it was those mythic creatures of the author's imagination that gave a greater sense of what it means to be human, flaws and all. I for one would like to see these words on the printed page spring to life in a television show...it was that enjoyable. A rollicking fun read with plenty of thrills and other worldly intrigue.
This is achieved by Mr. Croston's fresh take on a community of werewolves, and their vampire allies, and their contact with frail humans. He saves us from the typical ghoulish tropes of bitten necks, glistening fangs and teenage angst. In short, these vampires don't suck. As for the werewolves, the author builds cleverly on the bonds of family and loyalty to the wolf pack. And that is the beauty of this engaging book; it's totally entertainment, but strangely it was those mythic creatures of the author's imagination that gave a greater sense of what it means to be human, flaws and all. I for one would like to see these words on the printed page spring to life in a television show...it was that enjoyable. A rollicking fun read with plenty of thrills and other worldly intrigue.
April 2, 2015
This is a pretty cool book. It's set in a small town in New Mexico named Full Moon. So, I have to assume there's a big billboard welcome sign at the city border, with a huge bare ass image that says "Welcome to Full Moon, the Bare Ass city!"
But no, it probably has more to do with all the werewolves that live there. And vampires. Because for some reason, those two always go hand in hand. But at least in this story, they're not fighting each other. They're actually allies, working together to stop a madman from killing off both their species.
This book is about a war between good and evil. But it's really hard to tell who the evil ones are. Because it's not the vampires. They're super cool. And it's not the werewolves. They're even cooler. I mean, the wolf packs are always throwing parties with pizza and beer. They're like frat boys or something.
Vic, the local sheriff, teams up with Liz, a very old vampire to find out who's running amok and killing off vampires. They think it has to be some psycho human. Probably a white dude. Because white guys are fucking crazy. Especially religious ones.
So of course Vic and the sexy Liz go off to investigate the church. Because if there's evil anywhere, it's at the church, right? I mean, come on... Those religious weirdos are bat-shit crazy. And sure enough, they find a monster hanging out at the church, picking up on altar boys.
No, it's not the priest. I mean, sure, most priests are monsters. But this was a real monster. Put together like fucking Frankenstein. All green and shit, like the motherfucking Hulk. Apparently he was the product of some crazy experiment. Mixing werewolf and vampire blood to create some kind of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde monster.
A battle ensues, and it turns out that Mr. Hyde is also part Wolverine. Because Vic shoots that fucker right in the face, and the monster just grows back a new one. Damn. Seriously? Sick 'em, she bitch! So Liz goes all bloodlust crazy, and tears the monster to shreds. Because you don't fuck with a vampire on the rag.
I liked this book because it was fun and lighthearted. It also had a nice cast of vibrant characters to work with. The story wasn't even as predictable as I first thought. There were many surprises in the end, which is always nice. But come on, man. Not even one sex scene? No doggie/vampire sex? I am slightly disappointed.
But no, it probably has more to do with all the werewolves that live there. And vampires. Because for some reason, those two always go hand in hand. But at least in this story, they're not fighting each other. They're actually allies, working together to stop a madman from killing off both their species.
This book is about a war between good and evil. But it's really hard to tell who the evil ones are. Because it's not the vampires. They're super cool. And it's not the werewolves. They're even cooler. I mean, the wolf packs are always throwing parties with pizza and beer. They're like frat boys or something.
Vic, the local sheriff, teams up with Liz, a very old vampire to find out who's running amok and killing off vampires. They think it has to be some psycho human. Probably a white dude. Because white guys are fucking crazy. Especially religious ones.
So of course Vic and the sexy Liz go off to investigate the church. Because if there's evil anywhere, it's at the church, right? I mean, come on... Those religious weirdos are bat-shit crazy. And sure enough, they find a monster hanging out at the church, picking up on altar boys.
No, it's not the priest. I mean, sure, most priests are monsters. But this was a real monster. Put together like fucking Frankenstein. All green and shit, like the motherfucking Hulk. Apparently he was the product of some crazy experiment. Mixing werewolf and vampire blood to create some kind of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde monster.
A battle ensues, and it turns out that Mr. Hyde is also part Wolverine. Because Vic shoots that fucker right in the face, and the monster just grows back a new one. Damn. Seriously? Sick 'em, she bitch! So Liz goes all bloodlust crazy, and tears the monster to shreds. Because you don't fuck with a vampire on the rag.
I liked this book because it was fun and lighthearted. It also had a nice cast of vibrant characters to work with. The story wasn't even as predictable as I first thought. There were many surprises in the end, which is always nice. But come on, man. Not even one sex scene? No doggie/vampire sex? I am slightly disappointed.
September 19, 2014
Werewolves, vampires and blood, what is there not to love about this book. It's not you typical werewolf meets man, meets vampires scenario either. What ever you do, don't get lost in New Mexico. or you may find yourself in the town of 'Full Moon'.
From the beginning of 'The Cactus Killer" (great name by the way) the story grips you, with its descriptive tone and imaginative outlined scenery. I can actually see this novel turned in to a movie because the characters and subtle back drops throughout is so decidedly captivating. The town itself, is a quaint werewolf community where everyone at a certain age, turns into (you guessed it) Werewolves.... Everyone that is, except for Victor. No one knows why he didn't turn. Now fully grown, he keeps the whole town in order.
What a great concept...
One vampire scene I enjoyed was this part - "Attacking him was as useless as attacking a piece of steel. I fired off two bullets, but they didn't even penetrate the skin.The guy was built like a linebacker and charged me. His speed wasn't great, and I was able to get out of the way. As he went by, Bernard and dad pounced. Digging their claws in to his back worked for a moment or two, but once he got a hand on them, they were tossed aside like puppies."
Well written, an excellent use of words and with a powerful storyline. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
From the beginning of 'The Cactus Killer" (great name by the way) the story grips you, with its descriptive tone and imaginative outlined scenery. I can actually see this novel turned in to a movie because the characters and subtle back drops throughout is so decidedly captivating. The town itself, is a quaint werewolf community where everyone at a certain age, turns into (you guessed it) Werewolves.... Everyone that is, except for Victor. No one knows why he didn't turn. Now fully grown, he keeps the whole town in order.
What a great concept...
One vampire scene I enjoyed was this part - "Attacking him was as useless as attacking a piece of steel. I fired off two bullets, but they didn't even penetrate the skin.The guy was built like a linebacker and charged me. His speed wasn't great, and I was able to get out of the way. As he went by, Bernard and dad pounced. Digging their claws in to his back worked for a moment or two, but once he got a hand on them, they were tossed aside like puppies."
Well written, an excellent use of words and with a powerful storyline. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
April 15, 2021
This novel was an easy, fun read. I especially liked the setting, not the usual dark, dingy interiors I have come across a lot. I have always loved the vampire/werewolf horror genre, (Underworld etc), and therefore enjoyed the plot, but was able to guess what was coming. Occasionally it felt as if I was reading a western; it was great. The author's narrative voice is uncomplicated and light, and the characters easy to visualise. I would have preferred if the cliche ending had been a chapter earlier or used to surprise the reader in Book 2.
I recommend this book.
I recommend this book.
January 29, 2017
The Cactus Killer ended answering a lot of questions of the prequel and setting the scene for the second book in the series. The characters are ones that are well developed and grow on the reader. The storyline is engaging and just enough of a great mix to hold my attention. I don't want to say much about what happens as I don't want to spoil it for anyone that might read it. it is worth the read!!!!
December 2, 2019
Great book even if it does have vampires and werewolves. This is the third book I have read in as many days with a great story involving vampires that I do not particularly like. But, again, this story is compelling to me because I do like stories involving serial killers and this one is really great. The characters are well developed and the story well-written so I loved it!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 29, 2017
Not a bad book Werewolves and Vampires working to together.
April 10, 2015
The author does a remarkably good job with laying down the rules of how his unique paranormal fantasy world involving werewolves and vampires works inside of the opening chapter. In that same restricted space, he managed to get me to like his hero, the town sheriff, who displays a dry wit and a keen mind, and he got me quite intrigued about this hybrid genre that is part crime/detective story, part vampire/werewolf story. It’s not the first of its kind I’ve stumbled across, but it is the best. And while I didn’t know that for sure by the end of the first chapter, I was already starting to suspect it was going to turn out that way just off of the strength of the writing. I was delighted to find out I was right.
The world building continues throughout, with the author spoon feeding the reader what he needs to know when he needs to know it to avoid confusion and to eliminate any chance of overwhelming the reader. The relationship between the extremely powerful, thousand-year-old vampire and our detective hero develops organically; their romance adds more than a bit of titillation to the novel, and makes for a great B-story reprieve from all the intense, violent, knuckle-biting werewolf and vampire battle scenes.
I read this book about as closely as someone could because I got excited enough to think of writing a tale along these lines myself within just a few chapters. So I was looking for any excuse to pick the story apart, if only to find another angle on this sub-genre, a takeoff point for my own novel. But honestly, there’s plenty here to emulate, but not much to find fault with. Fans of this sub-genre are likely to find this series every bit as addictive as I did.
The world building continues throughout, with the author spoon feeding the reader what he needs to know when he needs to know it to avoid confusion and to eliminate any chance of overwhelming the reader. The relationship between the extremely powerful, thousand-year-old vampire and our detective hero develops organically; their romance adds more than a bit of titillation to the novel, and makes for a great B-story reprieve from all the intense, violent, knuckle-biting werewolf and vampire battle scenes.
I read this book about as closely as someone could because I got excited enough to think of writing a tale along these lines myself within just a few chapters. So I was looking for any excuse to pick the story apart, if only to find another angle on this sub-genre, a takeoff point for my own novel. But honestly, there’s plenty here to emulate, but not much to find fault with. Fans of this sub-genre are likely to find this series every bit as addictive as I did.
January 31, 2015
What a fresh presentation of vampires, werewolves, and what can best be described as Frankenstein monsters!
This story begins in a secluded portion of the southwest where a number of werewolf packs live in harmony. Unfortunately, a "daemon-hating" killer has surfaced. After killing a number of vampires, the killer turns his attention to the werewolf clans. Liz, an extremely old vampire, and Vic, the rustic sheriff of the area, have to work together to catch the killer before too many of their kinds are destroyed and bled dry.
I love the characters Croston created. They are extremely likeable, despite their paranormal forms. As a twist, you find yourself cheering for the vampires and werewolves, rather than the humans, though I'd say they are infused with many human characteristics / customs. The characters are well-developed and should serve Croston well in future editions of the story.
When I started the book, I expected more of a who-dunnit mystery, and this doesn't quite fit the bill. I'd put this in the category of action / adventure with a race against the clock to prevent more murders. I know that's a little vague, but I don't want to ruin the story.
The one thing that disrupted the flow of the story for me was the limited use of contractions. While I think it fits the vampires' dialogue, it just felt out of place with the rest of the story. Overall, it didn't detract from the story, but I did notice it.
I will definitely read another story from Croston. I love his imagination and the well-crafted novel. Plus, I'm rather attached to Vic by this point.
This story begins in a secluded portion of the southwest where a number of werewolf packs live in harmony. Unfortunately, a "daemon-hating" killer has surfaced. After killing a number of vampires, the killer turns his attention to the werewolf clans. Liz, an extremely old vampire, and Vic, the rustic sheriff of the area, have to work together to catch the killer before too many of their kinds are destroyed and bled dry.
I love the characters Croston created. They are extremely likeable, despite their paranormal forms. As a twist, you find yourself cheering for the vampires and werewolves, rather than the humans, though I'd say they are infused with many human characteristics / customs. The characters are well-developed and should serve Croston well in future editions of the story.
When I started the book, I expected more of a who-dunnit mystery, and this doesn't quite fit the bill. I'd put this in the category of action / adventure with a race against the clock to prevent more murders. I know that's a little vague, but I don't want to ruin the story.
The one thing that disrupted the flow of the story for me was the limited use of contractions. While I think it fits the vampires' dialogue, it just felt out of place with the rest of the story. Overall, it didn't detract from the story, but I did notice it.
I will definitely read another story from Croston. I love his imagination and the well-crafted novel. Plus, I'm rather attached to Vic by this point.
March 7, 2015
Don’t Cross a Vampire, Especially When a Werewolf Has Her Back
The Cactus Killer is a modern day, triangular version of The God Father but with werewolves and vampires. In this case, there are three warring factions/families - vampires, werewolves and a mysterious serial killer and his minions.
The story begins with Elizabeth Swansea, highly placed member of the vampire society, seeking help from Victor Inglewood, Sheriff of a small town, who also happens to be a werewolf. Elizabeth is desperate because someone has been mysteriously killing off vampires. Each time the killer strikes, s/he leaves his mark by shoving cactus in the victim’s face. No sooner does she approach Vic for help, when the killer ups his ante. He sets his sights on wiping out werewolves as well, forging the relationship between Liz and Vic.
Jeremy Croston clearly establishes the rules and worlds of his characters in such a way that the reader forgets that they are not human. He infuses tiny specks of humanity into each character to give us colorful, driven characters that we can love or hate, as we choose. He gives Liz and Vic weaknesses that endear them to us, make us love them, yet we know in our hearts they, themselves, kill when needed.
That ability to make us love the characters and lose ourselves in the story makes this a book worth reading.
The Cactus Killer is a modern day, triangular version of The God Father but with werewolves and vampires. In this case, there are three warring factions/families - vampires, werewolves and a mysterious serial killer and his minions.
The story begins with Elizabeth Swansea, highly placed member of the vampire society, seeking help from Victor Inglewood, Sheriff of a small town, who also happens to be a werewolf. Elizabeth is desperate because someone has been mysteriously killing off vampires. Each time the killer strikes, s/he leaves his mark by shoving cactus in the victim’s face. No sooner does she approach Vic for help, when the killer ups his ante. He sets his sights on wiping out werewolves as well, forging the relationship between Liz and Vic.
Jeremy Croston clearly establishes the rules and worlds of his characters in such a way that the reader forgets that they are not human. He infuses tiny specks of humanity into each character to give us colorful, driven characters that we can love or hate, as we choose. He gives Liz and Vic weaknesses that endear them to us, make us love them, yet we know in our hearts they, themselves, kill when needed.
That ability to make us love the characters and lose ourselves in the story makes this a book worth reading.
May 18, 2015
Whoa, this book is way different than Jeremy's Ragnarok on Ice series that I've read before. Instead of Norse Gods running around, we've got werewolves, vampires, and crazy @ss preachers. We first meet Victor Inglewood, who can't change. What he can do is use his amazing senses to help him solve crimes, hence why he is the law man of Full Moon, NM. That and the other wolves trust him because his dad Callum was a bad@ss back in the day.
His life changes for the better/worse when he meets Elizabeth. She's the vampire of the story and she's an enigma. She's like a wolf in sheep wool. One minute you think she's not all that tough and then BOOM she drops the hammer like no other. Together, these two make a very formiable pairing.
But the best character in the book is old Warren Tucker. Man, this guy is messed up. When he's not killing vampires and werewolves, he's experimenting on his followers. I tell ya, I've read some pretty intense books with a villain that makes your skin crawl, but old Warren would give them all a run for their money.
This book was really cool. The Wrath of Pan is out and sometime thi ssummer I'm goin gto dive right into that. Killer book with an ending that makes you go WTF?!
His life changes for the better/worse when he meets Elizabeth. She's the vampire of the story and she's an enigma. She's like a wolf in sheep wool. One minute you think she's not all that tough and then BOOM she drops the hammer like no other. Together, these two make a very formiable pairing.
But the best character in the book is old Warren Tucker. Man, this guy is messed up. When he's not killing vampires and werewolves, he's experimenting on his followers. I tell ya, I've read some pretty intense books with a villain that makes your skin crawl, but old Warren would give them all a run for their money.
This book was really cool. The Wrath of Pan is out and sometime thi ssummer I'm goin gto dive right into that. Killer book with an ending that makes you go WTF?!
February 25, 2015
I received this book for free through a Goodreads First Reads giveaway.
I thought this book had a lot of potential so I rounded it up to a 3. The premise was interesting...a werewolf who can't transform working with an ancient vampire to find a serial killer and protect the werewolf community from others. I really liked the descriptions of the werewolf community and their interactions. I also liked the vampires, their stories and the interactions between the two species. However, I would have liked to have had more development of some of the characters (i.e. Billy) and some of the story points. My enjoyment of the story was slightly diminished by errors in grammar and punctuation. There were times that I had to reread a sentence a time or two because of a missing word or a grammar issues. There were also times when I couldn't decipher who was speaking in a section of dialogue. With some more editing and fleshing out some parts of the story and characters, I think this could be the start of a fun series.
I thought this book had a lot of potential so I rounded it up to a 3. The premise was interesting...a werewolf who can't transform working with an ancient vampire to find a serial killer and protect the werewolf community from others. I really liked the descriptions of the werewolf community and their interactions. I also liked the vampires, their stories and the interactions between the two species. However, I would have liked to have had more development of some of the characters (i.e. Billy) and some of the story points. My enjoyment of the story was slightly diminished by errors in grammar and punctuation. There were times that I had to reread a sentence a time or two because of a missing word or a grammar issues. There were also times when I couldn't decipher who was speaking in a section of dialogue. With some more editing and fleshing out some parts of the story and characters, I think this could be the start of a fun series.
February 6, 2015
Who doesn't love vampires and werewolves. I love the imagination of the author. Just when you think the story is going one way, he sends you in a different direction. I have read all his books and highly recommend them.
August 6, 2015
awesome. I love this book. thumbs up Jeremy
March 17, 2016
I liked the plot and the characters. This set could use a good proofreader.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews