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Flynn Knight is the only (and frankly, impossible) child of the leader of the vampires in Los Angeles. He's also a bit of a scatterbrain, a thirty-something manchild, and a private investigator. When one of his mother's political frenemies gets killed and she asks him to investigate, he's put between a rock—her—and a hard place—the fact that not a single vampire in the city will believe the answers he finds without impressive proof to back him up.

Combine that with an eighty-thousand-dollar bill he has no idea how he's going to pay, a hit and run that has landed him a victim of the cat distribution system, and his mother trying to foist a new business partner off on him, and his life is way more complicated than he likes.

At least his new partner is nice to look at, even if he's the weirdest vampire ever, who doesn't seem to follow any of the usual vampire rules.

Also, why won't this kitten stop eating?

Smokescreen is set in the Fantastic Fluke universe, starring never before seen characters and a new setting. It begins to explore Flynn Knight’s relationships, and while it contains a complete story, it does not reach the slow burn romance plot, and the main overarching plot will continue in book two, Façade.

259 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 4, 2025

128 people are currently reading
216 people want to read

About the author

Sam Burns

103 books973 followers

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5 stars
412 (64%)
4 stars
174 (27%)
3 stars
45 (7%)
2 stars
3 (<1%)
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1 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
Profile Image for Ariana  (mostly offline).
1,682 reviews96 followers
October 26, 2025
4,5 stars

What a fabulous start to the series!
I loved the ‘Fantastic Fluke’ series, and this is just as good.

And here is why I really loved this:

.) Two really captivating MCs:
One, the son of a vampire, who’s human, but can speak to animals.
The other, a vampire who eats normal food and has no issues with sunlight.

.) The ‘bestest’ and most amusing kitten who’s so much more! LOL. How could you not adore Plot Twist?!

.) Flynn's voice was so much fun! I chuckled quietly, I grinned and laughed out loud, but mostly I really rooted for him. While he’s maybe definitely not read ‘101 Adulting’ (to put it mildly), his kind heart, his consideration for others, his dry humour made me love him anyway.
Even if he has a knack of not seeing certain things right in front of him.

.) Davin has a very calm, settling presence to all of Flynn’s chaos (at times he felt a little like a child minder). I really liked him from the start, but kept wondering why Flynn’s mum set him up with Flynn. He seems to know more about Flynn than the man himself. And Davin clearly has his own secrets, none of which are touched upon in this first book.

.) Tbh, the whole book is teeming with secrets and raises questions and more questions, I needed answered! Well, one is, and it's a major one. It's dropped like a bombshell in the last line of the book. But after what happens in the last chapter this wasn’t exactly a surprise.

To be short …
I was totally invested right from the beginning to the end, even if …
and here comes the niggle,

there is only the slightest of sprinklings of ‘romance’ in book 1. A touch of attraction and ‘liking’, but no more than that. I could definitely feel that something might develop between Flynn and Davin (but then, with them being the MCs, that’s not exactly a surprising assumption).

Book 2 seems to promise more on the romance front, so I’m looking forward to that. And how some of the secrets and the major plot arc will turn out.

Great fun and excellent writing!
Profile Image for Dan.
1,733 reviews50 followers
September 16, 2025
I adored the Fluke books, and I'm excited to get more books in the same universe. This one feels up to par with Fluke. I really adored it. And I was left itching for more
Profile Image for Janet Hunt.
3,538 reviews46 followers
September 14, 2025
Smokescreen is the first book in the Knight & Daywalker series and is simply put, a fantastic read! Flynn is the offspring of a vampire and being human makes this a unique read! Davin is a vampire and becomes his partner. He has a PI license and they try to figure out who murdered an old vampire. Sassy and snarky, perfect for The Fantastic Fluke Universe!!

Greg Boudreaux did an amazing job with the narration!

I’m voluntarily reviewing from an advanced copy that I received. My review is solely based on my thoughts and opinions.
Profile Image for Cynthia M Brow.
1,302 reviews17 followers
September 14, 2025
Smokescreen is the first book in the Knight & Daywalker series. This is the story of Flynn and Davin and Twist the void kitty. Flynn is the son of a vampire but he is human and a PI. Davin is a vampire and becomes his partner. I couldn't put this book down once I started it. This was the perfect start for the series which is set in the Fantastic Fluke universe. This is a slow burn romance but I loved it. I loved the characters and world building that went into this book. I really enjoyed the story and can't wait for the next book in the series to have more of my questions answered. If you get the audio narration, Greg Tremblay does a wonderful job of narrating this series. He makes the the book come to life. I would definitely recommend this book.
Profile Image for travis.
225 reviews31 followers
October 11, 2025
Felt more vibes based than plot based tbh, but something about it compelled me all the same. I think it was because I found the MC charming and endearing. I'm looking forward to see where the series will go
Profile Image for Joyfully Jay.
9,076 reviews517 followers
September 4, 2025
A Joyfully Jay review.

4.5 stars


Smokescreen is the first book in Sam Burns’ new Knight & Daywalker series and wow did I enjoy this one! This story hits a sweet spot for me in Burns’ writing and I just loved the style and tone here. I didn’t realize it at first, but the story is set in the same world as one of my favorite Burns’ series, Fantastic Fluke. I noticed right away that the tones are similar and so I think fans of that series are going to love this one as well, just as I did. However, while the books share a world and there is a passing reference to an event from the earlier series, the characters and location are totally different and this one stands alone completely.

This story really caught my interest right from the start and I enjoyed it so much. The tone here just hit my sweet spot and I am super excited to see where things go next, particularly with all the revelations that come at the end of the story. I can definitely recommend this one to folks who like contemporary paranormals, and particularly to Fantastic Fluke fans.

Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
Profile Image for Teresa.
3,940 reviews41 followers
September 16, 2025
I think this is my my favourite book by Sam Burns, so far! Funny, mysterious, and full of action with a few plot twists thrown in. While this has no romance yet, the potential is there and I can’t wait to see how it plays out. Flynn is a great character to see the world through. He is somewhat lackadaisical, but also kind and optimistic.

“What are you, some kind of non-sentient animal? A sea cucumber? A worm? Survival is all that matters? No. Survival without joy is a waste. It’s pointless.” I had to work not to cringe at my own words, because of course survival mattered, but I didn’t know how he could comprehend that part without also knowing that there was good in the world. There was happiness. There was hope. Survival mattered because it was hope. Because tomorrow might be better than today, and if you didn’t keep trying you’d never know.

But my favourite character was “That Which Stalks the Darkest of Nights, Shatterer of Peace. Haunter of Nightmares. She Whose Name Shall Never Be Spoken”

I can’t wait for the next book!!!
Profile Image for JustJen "Miss Conduct".
2,385 reviews156 followers
September 16, 2025

4.25 stars - I love finding a new world to submerge myself into and this one did just that. I really wasn’t too sure what to think going into this, other than hoping it was not going to disappoint. Thankfully, it did not. We slowly learn about this world through the eyes of Flynn, a young man who’s mom is the Senator of all the area vampires. She is rich and powerful and basically supportive and protective of Flynn, who we believe is a mere human. But, we quickly learn that there is a bit more to him than that, as he can actually speak with animals, some of which are amazing characters themselves. Suzy the watch-sloth, and of course, Plot Twist, the special ravenous kitty who basically claims Flynn as her own.

We learn little details about the various beings as Flynn is tasked by his mom to solve the murder of one of her vampire frenemies. She has also installed Davin, another vampire, to be his business partner. Davin handles security issues and is clearly not the average vamp, as he can eat and go out during the day. He has not been treated well by other vampires, although we really don’t get to the bottom of all things Davin in this installment. Needless to say, he and Flynn make a great team as their relationship grows. Seemingly there to keep an eye on Flynn and help keep him on track, Davin sees how much more there is to Flynn as they grow closer.

I admit I kept waiting to see if their relationship would blossom into something more, or if there was someone else in store for each of them. It never really did, although their bond clearly grew as they solved the mystery. I ended up just enjoying the story without the actual romance and found myself eating up the morsels of details we were given. While there were some answers, there are quite a few questions still lingering. There is a bit of a bomb dropped at the end about Flynn that felt like a bit of a cliffy, although the story itself was wrapped up rather nicely. Needless to say, I was not ready for this to end, and certainly not where it did. I sure hope we don’t have to wait too long to continue this series. I can’t wait to find out more about these characters and to delve deeper into this world. It was my first read by Sam Burns, but I am eager to check out more.

Review written for Love Bytes Reviews.
39 reviews
November 26, 2025
Rating: 4.5🌈

Set in the same universe as the marvelous Fantastic Fluke series, Sam Burns has a new fantastic paranormal series out, Knight and Daywalker.

The first book, Smokescreen, which ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, is an excellent read and start up.

It’s got murder mysteries, a paranormal universe with magical characters, including two main characters who are somewhat enigmatic in their precise nature and history as well as a black kitten with a bottomless appetite. It’s also just as intriguing as the other main characters.

Flynn Knight, has a very scary ,Morticia coded in looks, mother who rules the vampires of their city. Is Flynn a vampire? No, he talks to animals. That’s one of the puzzles in the story. What is Flynn? Other than absolutely engaging.

Then there’s Davin, the Irish vampire who, courtesy of Flynn’s mother, ends up being Flynn’s business partner. But the idea of another agenda seems possible. He’s got his own troubles and backstory to revealed.

The pace is quick. We meet many new and exciting characters. All incredible and with their own stories to explore.

And Smokescreen finishes with a startling dramatic flourish and cliffhanger. Which I’m not unhappy about.

I’m excited about the next story, even if it’s months away from release.

Sam Burns is an auto buy for this very reason. Definitely recommend this book.
235 reviews3 followers
September 23, 2025
Self-control? What's that?

I was going to wait to read this until at least one more book is out, but. That didn't last long. Fantastic Fluke remains one of my favorite series, and you can't put a Greg Tremblay/Boudreaux audiobook in front of me and expect me to resist for long.

I really enjoyed it. Kind of gave me San Amaro Investigations vibes at times, though they're quite different. I was unsure about Flynn at first, but it seems like his issues are mostly... ADHD? That's what it seemed like to me? I warmed up to him fast. Loved Twist. Really enjoyed getting bits and pieces of Davin, as I'm sure his story is intriguing.

The reveal at the end was somewhat predictable, but the clues were kinda obvious if you were watching for them. I'm excited to see how the plot of this series progresses.

PS--there's another review about the cover being AI, but that's not true. The cover artist is credited as Natasha Snow, and the artist's website contains a disclaimer that they do not use AI in any form. Additionally, Sam Burns includes a disclaimer on the copyright page that no AI was used in creating any part of the book.
Profile Image for N Ras.
118 reviews4 followers
September 5, 2025
Not me sitting here like a deer in headlights by the end while saying “now what in the hell did I just read?” And no not in a bad way, in a seriously surprising way!

If you read the little short story sent via email a bit ago with Fluke finding a sloth while on vacation, you should already know who Flynn is and maybe have an idea of what he is too. I’ll admit I was a little bummed that Fluke is not mentioned in the story. I hoped it would sort of continue from where the short story ended but in the end that didn’t matter. If you haven’t read the short story you do not have to but I do recommend it. If you’re a fantastic fluke fan.

I really enjoyed the P.I. aspect and the mystery. I especially love Twist and how she calls Flynn “father” 😆 I’m liking all these characters too! Davin, Arthur, Amelia, Grady, Fiona, Cain… I can’t wait to see what happens next and which guy will be the love interest. It’s not exactly obvious in this book who it will be!
Profile Image for MyDoRyS.
1,043 reviews4 followers
September 11, 2025
My reviews are my own. If you liked this book, I’m glad you enjoyed it. If not, I respect your opinion.  This is merely my opinion, so let's keep it courteous.

The intro says the MC has a scattered brain, but he is just lazy, unprofessional, and immature. If you are bad at remembering things, set a reminder. Also, while people were answering/explaining things to him, he wasn't paying attention, which means he is also disrespectful and thinks his time is more important than others' time. He is also stupid or something; he goes through a drive-through to get food instead of saving money, which he needs, by going to the supermarket.  I did not like him, sorry. The onther MC is flat and has no perosnality. So both of the characters failed for me.

That said, the story was entertaining, predictable, but fun. And I LOVED Twist! So I will give it a shot at the next book.

On to my next adventure, Happy Readings!!!
Profile Image for Demetra Roussakis.
1,513 reviews14 followers
August 20, 2025
Holy Toledo I read this book in one sitting as I couldn’t put it down. This book is told in Flynn’s point of view. Flynn is the son of a vampire but human. He is over 30 and has gotten his PI license to help solve crimes. One night he goes over to his mom’s house and told him that the building she bought him, he would need to start paying the taxes. With not much money, he is trying to think of ways to raise it. Also, she introduced him to his new partner who specializes in alarm systems. As he starts getting to know Davin, one of the old vampires was murdered. With the help of Davin and a new kitten he saved, they try to figure out who did it. This is a great start to a new series and I cannot wait to see what happens next.
Profile Image for Dawn Siemer.
1,313 reviews6 followers
September 7, 2025
Paranormal murder mystery

I have it on some authority that this is a slow burn romance. There is little evidence of that in this book. There is one POV character, Flynn. He's a private detective, somehow the son of a vampire, and he can talk to animals. When one of his mother's friends is murdered, she asks him to investigate. She also pushes a new vampire on him as a partner.

Flynn has the advantage of knowing everyone in the vampire community, and having the sort of status they can't ignore. Eventually, he figures out who did it.

There is a cat that isn't a cat, a vampire that isn't a vampire, and Flynn is attracted to several guys.

I really enjoyed the story and look forward to the next one.
Profile Image for Levi Rivas Pratt.
195 reviews
January 1, 2026
Smokescreen opens Knight & Daywalker with sharp supernatural intrigue, dry humor, and a case that immediately entangles personal history with professional danger. Burns excels at slow, deliberate relationship building, letting trust form through shared investigation rather than forced proximity or easy chemistry. The mystery unfolds with steady pressure, balancing action and deduction while revealing a world that feels lived-in without drowning the reader in lore. The emotional core is quiet but deliberate, grounded in restraint, longing, and the tension of two people circling what they can’t yet claim. It’s a confident, character-driven start that promises a series built on patience, payoff, and smart supernatural stakes.
Profile Image for Raven and Chris.
3,285 reviews30 followers
August 28, 2025
Another awesome book by Sam Burns! I loved Flynn and Davin, and of course Twist! Twist is a good void kitty. This story absolutely rocked and I can’t wait to see what happens next. This was a great set up for a new series. I also love a good slow burn. I am also very curious as to Davin’s story, but I am sure we will know more as the series continues. This kept me on the edge of my seat and I didn’t even realize I was finishing the story. It was that good. I also like the community Flynn is setting up around his building and the side characters that he is drawing in. This looks like it is going to be a rollicking good series.
Profile Image for isthisakink.
1,208 reviews23 followers
September 8, 2025
4.25/5. I’m interested. This was a really good series starter. Just enough to hook you and make you want the second installment to get more everything.

But can we talk about the use of an AI cover? Because ick. I’d rather see just a plain background and some text from old school MS Paint than an AI image any day. All the bitching about AI being used in creatives’ spaces to replace actual creatives’ jobs folx do, and they go and use it? Not exactly fighting the good fight, and for sure a heaping dose of hypocrisy. Nigel and I both agree that the dude on the cover is absolutely fucking terrifying. 0/10, would for sure run if confronted by him on the street. Not sorry.
Profile Image for Scatteredashes.
439 reviews5 followers
September 13, 2025
This was a lot of fun to read. Flynn is a human born from a vampire. While he had a cushy upbringing, he's kind of just skating by in life. Davin is different from the other vampires and as such is kind of lonely. Flynn's mother wants to see her son exceed and if that means helping someone else out along the way....well that's just a bonus. I loved how these two get thrown together but you can see how they compliment each other. This is perfect for those who love urban fantasy and the story telling is fantastic. We've got reluctant heroes, an eldritch kitty, and some interesting/fun talking animals. I can't wait to see what's next in this series!
Profile Image for Becky A.
2,014 reviews
October 25, 2025
“Smokescreen" received FOUR stars.

So good!! Can’t wait until the next one.

The novel gained *stars* for these items:

* gained for: "The book caught my interest in the first five pages."

* gained for: "I thought about the book when I was forced to set it down and re-enter society."

* gained for: "There were no info dumps, poor writing, or copy edit mistakes that jerked me out of the story."

* gained for: "I was sad when the book ended. I wanted more!"

The novel failed to gain stars for this item:

NO STAR gained for: "That's it. I'm hooked on this author. I will automatically try anything she/he/they writes."
Profile Image for Kelly Diener.
39 reviews1 follower
September 8, 2025
Smokescreen has quickly become one of my favorite books that Sam Burns had a hand in (Where Foxes Say Goodnight is still my absolute favorite though). The slow burn between Flynn and Davin is just the right amount. Plot Twist's... plot twist is great. And finding out more about Flynn near the end of the book was not what I was expecting. In other words Sam kept me guessing through the whole book and I loved it! I absolutely cannot wait for book 2!

I received an ARC of this book, and this is my honest review.
83 reviews1 follower
September 9, 2025
A fun supernatural mystery.

The author promised that this would be a comfort read in their monthly newsletter. It's an intriguing murder mystery, with a kitten that eats 3 times its bodyweight several times a day. ( You will find out why before the end.) Unlike many books these days, there are no unnecessary lengthy descriptions of violence and gore. No overly manipulative backstabbing relationships or endless torture. Its a fun light read and a nice escape from today's world.
9 reviews1 follower
September 29, 2025
Novella?

This was a good story, sufficient character development to know the characters on a very surface level. It felt like a slightly longer novella, there should have been much more background and scene set up. I feel like I was dropped into the middle of a story where I was supposed to already know much more about the characters. It was just enough for it to be fun but not enough for me to care. This was the outline of a story instead of the final draft with the good bits like history, tension, scene setting etc. Shaky foundation for a series.
Profile Image for She Who Shall Remain Nameless .
285 reviews
October 31, 2025
Intriguing start to the series!

This book absolutely pulls you in to it, introducing the world and its inhabitants in a seamless way. It’s okay if you haven’t read the Fluke series. (I did, but my middle aged brain doesn’t remember it lol!) You will have no difficulty understanding what’s going on in this world. Fair warning, an LOT happens in the final 2-3 chapters, so be sure to pay attention. Overall, I enjoyed this book, especially Twist’s real name lol! I can’t wait for the next one.
Profile Image for Belinda Zamora.
2,697 reviews8 followers
September 7, 2025
Great start

Flynn is an anomaly and he seems to have bestowed with a cute kitten who's also an anomaly.
Davin is a potential new work partner foisted upon him by his mother.
There's snarky banter, some animosity and the beginnings of great chemistry between them.
The case they're investigating has them embroiled in vampire politics and behind the scenes machinations that could lead to something very dangerous.
I can't wait to see the resolution in the next book.
Profile Image for Lee Hall.
1,212 reviews7 followers
September 27, 2025
Oh My Gawd!

This was a fantastic story! I’m so glad that this is going to be a series.
Flynn is a human with a vampire mother. He talks to animals and is trying to be a detective for the vampire world he is part of. His mother runs part of California with an iron fist.
I was blown away by the ending and am now eagerly waiting for the next book in this series. Highly Recommended
Profile Image for Megz.
266 reviews
September 10, 2025
Very good

I went into this with no expectations and was very pleasantly surprised with how quickly I got invested in the characters and I also really enjoyed the pacing. The ending is WOAH. Where is the next book? IMMEDIATELY. It ends abruptly so be prepared for that, but otherwise it was well done.
Profile Image for Sharon Beattie.
181 reviews
October 10, 2025
One of the best starts to a series I have read! Love it so much, I haven't read many of Burns' books but I will definitely have to look for more! The characters showed themselves well without too much bumf about it, and while they grew they grew in character! Love Plot Twist most of course! Will be rereading and will recommend!
20 reviews3 followers
August 4, 2025
This first book in a new series is not fast moving, and yet kept my interest going with interesting, likeable, characters that, particularly with the revelation at the very end, have me wishing the rest of the series was already here. And that Arthur's chocolate shop was opening next to me!
4 reviews2 followers
September 6, 2025
excellent

New book woes: next book not available yet. I liked it. I liked the kitten as foreshadowing. I liked the pace and the characters and will be looking forward to the next one.
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