Stoker Rules

by Dan Perez

The old vampire rules don't apply.

Vigilante vampire. Government investigator. Houston's unlikely vampire-hunting team.

Meet Alex Stoica, a vampire who only feeds on the wicked and lives quietly among Houston's hidden Collective. These aren't your grandmother's vampires—crosses, garlic, and sunlight? Useless. But they still need blood, and Alex has found the perfect solution.

When an ancient rogue vampire goes on a killing spree across Houston, threatening to expose the Collective's secrets, Alex's quiet existence shatters. Enter Emelia Cord, a scientist-investigator for the government's Combined Departments of Paranormal Research, who's been tracking those mysterious bloodless bodies nationwide.

Now Alex and Emelia must team up to hunt the merciless Titus Seneca through Houston's glass-and-steel landscape before he destroys everything they're trying to protect.

But what they don't know is that Titus has been planning this for centuries—and they may already be too late.

Will cutting-edge technology and vampire abilities be enough to stop an ancient evil?

A breakneck-paced mix of vampire thriller, paranormal romance, and Houston noir.

Fans of True Blood and The Vampire Diaries will devour this fresh take on vampire lore set in the heart of Texas.

What reviewers are saying about STOKER RULES:

★★★★★ "It's a fast-paced thriller with a hot vampire who teams up with a strong and spunky scientist on a hunt for a truly vile villain. Can't wait to see where Perez takes this terrific twosome next. I'm ready for the next book in what I hope will become a long series - and my next obsession!" - Amazon reviewer

★★★★★ "I loved the characters, the story - everything! Perez has crafted a captivating, believable world in this book! I am looking forward to the next book in the series (I am hoping that there is one!). Perfect for an airplane ride or a rainy Sunday afternoon!" - Amazon reviewer

★★★★★ "Perez did a fantastic job bringing the supernatural to the real world of Houston. The character development, storyline, and attention to detail will captivate you. I couldn't put it down. Overall, a great read and I hope there's more to come from Perez in this series." - Amazon reviewer

Find out why these vampires don't follow the rules in STOKER RULES!

314 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 18, 2025

About the author

Dan Perez – writer, hypnotist, sculptor and performer, has written a number of nationallly published short stories, as well as novels and self-help books. He co-authored GUM, a thriller set in the desert Southwest with Richard Nongard. His fiction usually falls within the genres of horror, thriller, and science fiction.

Dan is an active member of Horror Writers Association (HWA) and was the founder of two influential workshops for fiction writers: The Gulf Coast Writer’s Workshop and The Tale Spinners.

Dan lives in Houston, Texas with his dog Thor and some colorful tropical fish. The metro Houston area is the setting for Stoker Rules and some of his short stories.

Reviews

[Jesstastic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stoker Rules was such a great read! It truly has it all: humor, adorable dogs you just want to cuddle, terrifying vampires, romance, and plenty of suspense. I HAD to know what happened next! I also loved that it’s set in Houston; hearing familiar mentions of neighborhoods and that infamous Texas weather made me smile! 😊

[Zoe Leitch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve just finished Stoker Rules and it was such a brilliant read. As someone who loves a good vampire story, I really enjoyed how Dan flipped the “rules” we’ve all grown up with. What we think we know about vampires , might not actually be true, and that twist kept me turning the pages.

Beyond the clever take on vampire lore, the story has that irresistible pull of danger mixed with a thread of love, which gave it real depth and heart. The characters felt layered, the pacing kept me hooked, and it left me with the sense that this could easily grow into a fantastic series.

Dan has created something fresh and exciting here—part thriller, part romance, and wholly captivating. If you think you know the rules, think again. Stoker Rules is a five-star read for anyone who loves supernatural stories with a twist

[R Frueh · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, good read. I've read other horror fiction from Dan Perez over the years, and enjoyed it. This is the first novel of his that I've read, and it's very entertaining.

It is well-written, and I really like this take on vampires. Though cinnamon imperials are a favorite treat, and that's going to be problematic from now on.

I liked the vampire society, drifting away from the Vampire: the Masquerade/Lestat style political milieu.

I received an advance copy of this book, and I am voluntarily leaving this honest review.

[Jordan Sprague · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will start by saying I’m not typically a fan of stories of the supernatural. Dan Perez has changed my mind on that. Perez did a fantastic job bringing the supernatural to the real world of Houston. The character development, storyline, and attention to detail will captivate you. I couldn’t put it down. Overall, a great read and I hope there’s more to come from Perez in this series.

I was provided an advance copy of this book, and I am voluntarily leaving this honest review.

[Delilah Snyder · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book it has great plot and character development and the writing style is great over all good read

I received an advance copy of this book, and I am voluntarily leaving this honest review