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Be Still My Unbeating Heart
Not yet published
Expected 4 Aug 26A cozy vampire vacation mystery set in a seaside Italian village, featuring a reformed vampire, his magical talking cat, and a handsome, brooding detective.
Bastian may be a vampire, but he doesn’t bite.
. . . Not anymore, at least.
These days, Bastian just wants to live his best undead visit charming Italian villages, maybe dance in the square with a cute boy, all with Whitby, his best friend (and magical talking cat) by his side. What he doesn’t want? To stumble across a dead body on the beach, a girl who appears to have been killed by a vampire.
It wasn’t Bastian. He swears—on his own grave.
But the local police chief doesn’t trust Bastian, or any vampire, for that matter, so he assigns detective Nico De Luca to keep an eye on him until his trial. And while Bastian normally wouldn’t complain about having a gorgeous, mysterious man by his side, he has more important things to worry about, because the police chief has called the Vampire Council, and if the real killer is still at large when they arrive, the whole town could be in danger. As more bodies begin to pile up, Bastian, Whitby, and De Luca must get to the bottom of who in Vernazza is framing vampires, before it’s too late.
Charming, twisty, and laugh-out-loud funny, Be Still My Unbeating Heart by Josh Winning is a delightful romp through a swoon-worthy magical murder mystery.
Bastian may be a vampire, but he doesn’t bite.
. . . Not anymore, at least.
These days, Bastian just wants to live his best undead visit charming Italian villages, maybe dance in the square with a cute boy, all with Whitby, his best friend (and magical talking cat) by his side. What he doesn’t want? To stumble across a dead body on the beach, a girl who appears to have been killed by a vampire.
It wasn’t Bastian. He swears—on his own grave.
But the local police chief doesn’t trust Bastian, or any vampire, for that matter, so he assigns detective Nico De Luca to keep an eye on him until his trial. And while Bastian normally wouldn’t complain about having a gorgeous, mysterious man by his side, he has more important things to worry about, because the police chief has called the Vampire Council, and if the real killer is still at large when they arrive, the whole town could be in danger. As more bodies begin to pile up, Bastian, Whitby, and De Luca must get to the bottom of who in Vernazza is framing vampires, before it’s too late.
Charming, twisty, and laugh-out-loud funny, Be Still My Unbeating Heart by Josh Winning is a delightful romp through a swoon-worthy magical murder mystery.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication August 4, 2026
6 people are currently reading
595 people want to read
About the author
Josh Winning
5 books325 followersJosh Winning writes popcorn fantasy and horror novels that are full of heart, hope and humour, with a love for 80s movie puppets, 90s slasher flicks and gay Final Girls. He identifies as queer, and believes in the power of positive representation. After growing up in a small Suffolk town and struggling to find LGBTQIA+ characters to relate to, he now writes books filled with queer joy.
Josh has worked as a film journalist for Radio Times and Total Film, interviewing the likes of Miss Piggy and Goldie Hawn, and he is co-host of the Charmed Chat podcast. His books include The Shadow Glass, Burn the Negative (which was long-listed for a Bram Stoker Award), Heads Will Roll, and Be Still My Unbeating Heart. He lives in East Anglia with his partner and their talking cat Penny.
Josh has worked as a film journalist for Radio Times and Total Film, interviewing the likes of Miss Piggy and Goldie Hawn, and he is co-host of the Charmed Chat podcast. His books include The Shadow Glass, Burn the Negative (which was long-listed for a Bram Stoker Award), Heads Will Roll, and Be Still My Unbeating Heart. He lives in East Anglia with his partner and their talking cat Penny.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
January 31, 2026
I had a great time! It's cozy, it's funny, and it's a great balance of murder mystery and romance, set in a cute Italian small town.
The characters are colourful, and what's not to love about a vegetarian vampire and his talking cat?
It felt like a vacation.
Thank you Putnam for this ARC!
The characters are colourful, and what's not to love about a vegetarian vampire and his talking cat?
It felt like a vacation.
Thank you Putnam for this ARC!
November 20, 2025
I'm really, really proud of this book. I'm giving it 5 stars because it brought me a lot of joy, and I hope it does the same for you.
December 29, 2025
how do I explain that this entire book kinda felt like when Captain Holt praised oatmeal as an analogy for love in Brooklyn 99 without sounding like I've lost my damn mind 🫠 like. it was good? but it was a tad bland? and there was potential? but it always just fell a tad short of reaching it? love Whitby though, talking cats for the win 👌
November 6, 2025
Really enjoyed this one! Felt like a really fun and charming episode of Buffy, except even queerer. The characters and world building were nicely done, as was the Italian setting. In many of the horror/mystery/romance mashups I’ve read in the past, usually I feel like none of the genres shine - but here it was a true mystery, a charming romance, and a horror(lite) vampire saga (with some truly unique world building elements) so truly each genre got to shine. My only nitpicky criticism are some of the interesting bits (the Obliterati) didn’t feel explore to their full potential - but hey here’s hoping for a sequel to dive deeper (in the meantime added the author’s back catalogue to my TBR)!
Thanks to NetGalley and Putnam for the very early ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to NetGalley and Putnam for the very early ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 2, 2026
I wish i could say i enjoyed this, but I did not :( normally i love me some silly gay vampires but this was too silly, even for me. I found myself annoyed instead of endeared. This never took itself seriously, at any point, and although ill allow my books to be silly, i do need them to eventually say something more than just "haha funny". So yeah, not my vibe, im glad to be done with this.
Thanks to Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review
Thanks to Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review
Want to read
July 14, 2025The way I’m hoping this is an upcoming release 😍🤞
January 28, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Be Still My Unbeating Heart by Josh Winning was the perfect, slightly spooky murder mystery novel set with the lovely backdrop of Vernazza. One of the best parts of this novel was the talking cat, Whitby, who was the sassiest and most entertaining wanna be witch cat. If you were debating whether there was a need for a talking cat, rest assured, there were many needs for this feline throughout the novel. Another strong element of the novel was the chemistry between Bastian and Nico, as their tension and headbutting were inevitable and entertaining. From the sassy, sharp lines from Bastian to the quick, blunt comebacks from Nico. I was almost constantly laughing at the thought of their conversations in real life. My only negative for the novel was that the murder mystery at times was hard to follow, as it felt impossible to solve in some aspects, and the last twenty percent of the novel felt like a wrong accusation after a wrong accusation. However, the novel kept me entertained by the witty banter and the beauty of the Italian village and its nosy neighbors. Overall, 3.5/5 stars rounded up due to the lovely MM romance and a delightful murder mystery, and I would highly recommend it to anyone in need of more sassy cats in their books.
Be Still My Unbeating Heart by Josh Winning was the perfect, slightly spooky murder mystery novel set with the lovely backdrop of Vernazza. One of the best parts of this novel was the talking cat, Whitby, who was the sassiest and most entertaining wanna be witch cat. If you were debating whether there was a need for a talking cat, rest assured, there were many needs for this feline throughout the novel. Another strong element of the novel was the chemistry between Bastian and Nico, as their tension and headbutting were inevitable and entertaining. From the sassy, sharp lines from Bastian to the quick, blunt comebacks from Nico. I was almost constantly laughing at the thought of their conversations in real life. My only negative for the novel was that the murder mystery at times was hard to follow, as it felt impossible to solve in some aspects, and the last twenty percent of the novel felt like a wrong accusation after a wrong accusation. However, the novel kept me entertained by the witty banter and the beauty of the Italian village and its nosy neighbors. Overall, 3.5/5 stars rounded up due to the lovely MM romance and a delightful murder mystery, and I would highly recommend it to anyone in need of more sassy cats in their books.
November 15, 2025
A MM vampire/human- cozy-sleuth- romance that conquered my heart since page one. Set in the beautiful Vernazza -Cinque Terre - Italy ( please, go to Google images and check the place, it is beautiful), our undead hero, Bastian, and his magical, smart-ass speaking cat, Whitby, decide to spend their well-deserved vacation in the paradisiacal place.
However, things get a little complicated when a body is found on the beach and Bastian is seen as the main suspect. Our friend does not feed on human blood, as he went through a painful "detox," and he needs to prove his innocence before the Vampire league arrives and he is met with his true death.
He meets the handsome Italian police officer, Nico, and things go from bad to worse as they slowly and (Nico reluctantly) fall in love with each other. The vampire theme is nothing new, but the author managed to bring something fresh to the story. The reference to 80s pop music is a constant (from Bronski Beat - Small town boy to Kate Bush and a lot of great icons in between), and it will make you run to Spotify and listen to them as you read.
Whitby is a scene-stealer, as she delivers the comic relief to this roller-coaster of adventure. The perfect summer read for the Brazilian hot days :)
However, things get a little complicated when a body is found on the beach and Bastian is seen as the main suspect. Our friend does not feed on human blood, as he went through a painful "detox," and he needs to prove his innocence before the Vampire league arrives and he is met with his true death.
He meets the handsome Italian police officer, Nico, and things go from bad to worse as they slowly and (Nico reluctantly) fall in love with each other. The vampire theme is nothing new, but the author managed to bring something fresh to the story. The reference to 80s pop music is a constant (from Bronski Beat - Small town boy to Kate Bush and a lot of great icons in between), and it will make you run to Spotify and listen to them as you read.
Whitby is a scene-stealer, as she delivers the comic relief to this roller-coaster of adventure. The perfect summer read for the Brazilian hot days :)
February 1, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book.
Be Still My Unbeating Heart by Josh Winning is an enjoyable spooky mystery with some supernatural flair and elements of horror. Bastian, a vegetarian vampire, and his talking feline companion, Whitby, are on vacation in Italy, but Bastian’s plans for a relaxing getaway are soon destroyed when he is accused of murder. Will Bastian be able to prove his innocence with help from Whitby and the enigmatic Inspector de Luca, or will he pay the ultimate price for a crime he did not commit? Read it to find out!
Be Still My Unbeating Heart by Josh Winning is an enjoyable spooky mystery with some supernatural flair and elements of horror. Bastian, a vegetarian vampire, and his talking feline companion, Whitby, are on vacation in Italy, but Bastian’s plans for a relaxing getaway are soon destroyed when he is accused of murder. Will Bastian be able to prove his innocence with help from Whitby and the enigmatic Inspector de Luca, or will he pay the ultimate price for a crime he did not commit? Read it to find out!
January 29, 2026
thank you to NetGalley and Josh Winning for the ARC of this book!
Are you looking for a cozy mystery, mm romance, with a little bit of vampire fun and set in Vernazza Italy? if so, then this is the book for you! the adventures and of course the cat, were so much fun and definitely full of whimsy!
Are you looking for a cozy mystery, mm romance, with a little bit of vampire fun and set in Vernazza Italy? if so, then this is the book for you! the adventures and of course the cat, were so much fun and definitely full of whimsy!
November 9, 2025
I had such a good time with this! Great for fans of Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but make it a cosy gay mystery romance. Fun, fun, fun!
November 18, 2025
When flamboyant vampire Bastian decides to celebrate 5 years of being human-blood-sober by visiting a small coastal Italian village, the last thing he expects is to be accused of murder on the very first day. Lucky for him, the keys to the cell in the comissaría are missing, so Bastian is sentenced to house arrest with the broodingly handsome police officer Nico De Luca. But leaving things to Nico's boss (aka the bigoted chief of police) isn’t an option, especially when the man has called the murderous Vampire Council. Bastian and Whitby (his talking/magical cat bestie) convince De Luca to let them investigate to clear Bastian’s name. Then a second murder happens and it becomes clear Bastian is being framed…
This vampire vacation murder mystery keeps you hooked on Bastian’s personality, Whitby’s hilariously failed incantations, and an investigation that keeps you guessing until the very last moment.
I really enjoyed the
A thoroughly enjoyable mystery with lighthearted and heartfelt moments, yet I wouldn’t call this a 100% cozy due to some gruesome descriptions and the horrific vampire council transformations.
This vampire vacation murder mystery keeps you hooked on Bastian’s personality, Whitby’s hilariously failed incantations, and an investigation that keeps you guessing until the very last moment.
I really enjoyed the
A thoroughly enjoyable mystery with lighthearted and heartfelt moments, yet I wouldn’t call this a 100% cozy due to some gruesome descriptions and the horrific vampire council transformations.
January 4, 2026
Listen. Does this book publish in eight months? Yes. Did I feel even a little bit like waiting that long to read it? Absolutely not.
An insouciant gay vampire on vacation with his best friend, a talking cat named Whitby, on the southern coast of Italy? Has there ever been a more Crystal-coded concept? No. And I loved it.
Bastian and Whitby are celebrating Bastian finally kicking the human blood habit. Well, Bastian is celebrating. Whitby is warning him of all the things that could go wrong. And will ya look at that? They’ve just stumbled over a dead body on the beach- one that appears to have had its throat torn open by a vampire. Shiiiit.
Bastian is immediately taken into custody by a very prejudiced police chief who has also summoned the legendary vampire council. What the police chief doesn’t understand is why the council is so legendary. Now Bastian has to not only save himself but a whole town.
He’s in luck though! Detective Nico De Luca has been placed in charge of him. It only takes a tiny banana print robe and some logical thinking to get De Luca on his side.
As these three investigate the first murder, Bastian and De Luca find they have a lot in common and of course, sexy feelings begin to develop. They don’t have much time to figure things out including who the real murderer is. We’re along with them for the fast-paced adventure and longing looks.
Highly recommended for fans of British new wave music, magical talking cats, heated tension with a vampire and human, and a trip through small town Italy. I found this book and especially Bastian and Whitby’s relationship absolutely delightful.
I received this eARC via @netgalley and @putnambooks. All thoughts are mine alone.
contemporary romance | gay romance | novels | books | reading | bookstagram | Josh Winning | Be Still My Unbeating Heart | book recs | recommendations | book reviews
An insouciant gay vampire on vacation with his best friend, a talking cat named Whitby, on the southern coast of Italy? Has there ever been a more Crystal-coded concept? No. And I loved it.
Bastian and Whitby are celebrating Bastian finally kicking the human blood habit. Well, Bastian is celebrating. Whitby is warning him of all the things that could go wrong. And will ya look at that? They’ve just stumbled over a dead body on the beach- one that appears to have had its throat torn open by a vampire. Shiiiit.
Bastian is immediately taken into custody by a very prejudiced police chief who has also summoned the legendary vampire council. What the police chief doesn’t understand is why the council is so legendary. Now Bastian has to not only save himself but a whole town.
He’s in luck though! Detective Nico De Luca has been placed in charge of him. It only takes a tiny banana print robe and some logical thinking to get De Luca on his side.
As these three investigate the first murder, Bastian and De Luca find they have a lot in common and of course, sexy feelings begin to develop. They don’t have much time to figure things out including who the real murderer is. We’re along with them for the fast-paced adventure and longing looks.
Highly recommended for fans of British new wave music, magical talking cats, heated tension with a vampire and human, and a trip through small town Italy. I found this book and especially Bastian and Whitby’s relationship absolutely delightful.
I received this eARC via @netgalley and @putnambooks. All thoughts are mine alone.
contemporary romance | gay romance | novels | books | reading | bookstagram | Josh Winning | Be Still My Unbeating Heart | book recs | recommendations | book reviews
December 1, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley & Putnam Books for the ARC!
This whole project was a delight from start to finish, as I'm often used to vampires, murders, and mysteries being done in a....different....format. The charisma of Bastion mixed with the personalities of the rest of the characters made it an enjoyable read whether I was predicting the next set of events correctly or not. And to my surprise, I was not always predicting correctly!.
A total rating of 4.3 stars, I found some points a tad rougher to circle my head around or enjoy, but I would recommend for anybody who wants a fresh mystery with supernatural airs.
This whole project was a delight from start to finish, as I'm often used to vampires, murders, and mysteries being done in a....different....format. The charisma of Bastion mixed with the personalities of the rest of the characters made it an enjoyable read whether I was predicting the next set of events correctly or not. And to my surprise, I was not always predicting correctly!.
A total rating of 4.3 stars, I found some points a tad rougher to circle my head around or enjoy, but I would recommend for anybody who wants a fresh mystery with supernatural airs.
January 26, 2026
Thank you #NetGalley for the ARC.
5 stars for me means I loved it so much I want to read it over and over.
Bastian and his cat, Whitby, are in Italy on vacation and find a dead body. Since Bastian is a vampire, of course he's the prime suspect. Unfortunately, he always seems to be in the wrong place at the wrong time when another body is discovered.
I love that I only briefly considered the killer before dismissing the idea. I strongly suspected at least 2 others and was wrong. I hate when it's too obvious.
I loved Bastian's flamboyance and carefree attitude and how it compliments De Luca's serious demeanor.
Whitby is an amazing character herself. I love talking cats anyway, but one chanting Latin and trying to do spells all the time is endearing.
The cover art is incredible too.
5 stars for me means I loved it so much I want to read it over and over.
Bastian and his cat, Whitby, are in Italy on vacation and find a dead body. Since Bastian is a vampire, of course he's the prime suspect. Unfortunately, he always seems to be in the wrong place at the wrong time when another body is discovered.
I love that I only briefly considered the killer before dismissing the idea. I strongly suspected at least 2 others and was wrong. I hate when it's too obvious.
I loved Bastian's flamboyance and carefree attitude and how it compliments De Luca's serious demeanor.
Whitby is an amazing character herself. I love talking cats anyway, but one chanting Latin and trying to do spells all the time is endearing.
The cover art is incredible too.
November 30, 2025
What a fun read! I loved the setting in Italy and the entire cast of zany characters (thought Whitby was definitely my favorite.) De Luca & Bastian’s attempt to solve the case together is an interesting journey which I am hoping is the first of many (please make this a series!)
This is a fast paced, murder mystery, with a quirky vampire, his slightly cranky & incredibly witty cat side kick, & a very cute romance woven in between. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with it!
Thank you to NetGalley & Putnam Books for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
This is a fast paced, murder mystery, with a quirky vampire, his slightly cranky & incredibly witty cat side kick, & a very cute romance woven in between. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with it!
Thank you to NetGalley & Putnam Books for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
December 24, 2025
Be Still My Unbeating Heart by Josh Winning was fun, quick, and very entertaining. I really enjoyed how fast-paced it was and how easy it was to get through. There were a few moments that made me pause and wonder why certain choices were made, but they didn’t take away from the overall experience. Still a great, engaging read.
Thank you to the Author and Netgalley for this ARC.
Thank you to the Author and Netgalley for this ARC.
November 14, 2025
4.5 ⭐️ Oh, this was an absolute blast! It was engaging, mostly lighthearted, and character-focused. The setting was vibrant and packed with detail. The characters were delightful and had their own unique traits. Bastian and Whitby stood out as remarkable characters. Bastian radiated positivity but also had emotional complexity, while Whitby added a touch of dry humor and magic. Nico De Luca was also impressive, being open-minded and inquisitive. The mystery element of the story was not what I initially anticipated, but still enjoyable. I felt that some scenes could have been developed further or certain aspects could have more involved. However, I truly enjoyed this read and highly recommend it if you enjoy whimsy, sarcasm, and a fun experience. Thank you to NetGalley, Putnam, and G.P. Putnam's Sons for the ARC!
November 24, 2025
First and foremost I’d like to thank NetGalley and Putnam Publishing for the amazing opportunity of reading this book before its August of 2026 release date. I am forever thankful and my review is a honest reflection of my feelings towards this book.
What do you get when you get a ray of sunshine of vampire being accused of murder, a grumpy police officer and talking( may know how to do magic) cat? You get this murder mystery novel.
This book was a nice little palate cleanser of a book with its unique blend of coziness and murder mystery vibes.
I for sure adored the talking cat the most out of this story in its supporting role of throwing our sass and sarcasm.
The romance between Nico & Bastian was a cutesy little romance. Grumpy Vs Sunshine is for sure interesting when you thrown in vampirism.
The ending was kind of anticlimactic and left a little to be desired but was an overall solid book that had me giggling and rooting for this very unlikely couple.
4⭐️
What do you get when you get a ray of sunshine of vampire being accused of murder, a grumpy police officer and talking( may know how to do magic) cat? You get this murder mystery novel.
This book was a nice little palate cleanser of a book with its unique blend of coziness and murder mystery vibes.
I for sure adored the talking cat the most out of this story in its supporting role of throwing our sass and sarcasm.
The romance between Nico & Bastian was a cutesy little romance. Grumpy Vs Sunshine is for sure interesting when you thrown in vampirism.
The ending was kind of anticlimactic and left a little to be desired but was an overall solid book that had me giggling and rooting for this very unlikely couple.
4⭐️
January 23, 2026
I was so excited to get this arc!
The cover definitely got my attention.
This book was so cozy and queer.
To me it gave Sabrina the Teenage Witch vibes, but with a sassy vampire.
Loved the grumpys/ sunshine.
The cover definitely got my attention.
This book was so cozy and queer.
To me it gave Sabrina the Teenage Witch vibes, but with a sassy vampire.
Loved the grumpys/ sunshine.
December 29, 2025
This cozy vampire mystery was completely up my alley. Set in a charming seaside Italian village the story follows Bastian a reformed vampire who just wants to enjoy his undead life peacefully, travel, flirt a little, and spend time with his magical talking cat Whitby. Of course, peace doesn’t last long when a body turns up on the beach and all signs point to a vampire.What I loved most is how the book has the perfect amount of humor. Bastian is such an endearing protagonist gentle, self aware and brave. Whitby absolutely steals every scene with his cleverness and loyalty. When the suspicious (and handsome) Detective Nico De Luca is assigned to watch Bastian the tension and chemistry add an extra layer of fun without overpowering the mystery itself.The story is fast paced, charming, and twisty, with just the right amount of danger to keep things interesting while still feeling cozy and comforting. I genuinely could not put this book down and found myself smiling, laughing, and rooting for these characters the entire time.Josh Winning has completely won me over with this one I adore this author’s voice and storytelling style. Highly, highly recommend if you love cozy mysteries and vampires with magical companions.
January 9, 2026
Shoutout to NetGalley and Penguin for the eArc of this. No surprises, a vampire romance called out to me. Haha. I'm always here for a queer vamp novel, cause really, when you life for that long, you'd be hard pressed to convince me you aren't into everyone, if for no other reason than trying to keep things fresh and interesting. Most of my favs have been sapphic (shoutout to the OG Carmilla for setting that precedent, and Schwab for Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil more recently) or poly (props to my fav S.T. Gibson for those, like A Dowry of Blood)... But I'm veering away from the point, which is, I see less m/m vampire romance, but I love m/m in general, so here I am intrigued.
Ok, with a talking cat, a vacation-setting cozy murder mystery storyline, and a zest-for-life vampire narrator, the vibes of this book were all whimsical and silly. In the best way. Like, I have never read a vampire lead with this kind of happy-go-lucky mannerisms and speech quirks before, and I honestly kind of loved it? I was so unexpected and different. Let me be real, my love for vampires began and lives strong in the "moody-broody-bloodthirsy" aesthetic, but I loved the way this shook things up. (Shout out to Jenna Levine here, for the only other vampire like this that I can ever remember coming across, in My Vampire Plus-One). So all that to say, Bastian was so much fun to read. Especially in conjunction with his cat familiar, Whitby, who had all the snark and sarcasm of some of my favorite people in the world, and was also a cat (in my head, I sorta pictured a sassy female Binx, iykyk). Ridiculous and hilarious. And some of the "world-building" details, like the sun sickness being a sort of disconnection from reality and the threat of death from losing yourself in too much whimsical fluffy joy (as opposed to quickly burning to a crisp), add to that ridiculous vibe. These two balanced out the more closed-off/walls-up character of Nico De Luca, as Bastian's romantic interest. They were great foils for each other. And while the chemistry was, to me, solid but not spectacular, it was enough to buy in.
As far as the greater theme/message, the parallels between the way vampires are treated here and the way the queer community has historically been treated/used/existed were not subtle. But, they were well-drawn parallels nonetheless. And that aspect provided an important, if a bit heavy handed, commentary on the balance of joy and anger and the role they both play in resilience and the fight for change. Plot-wise, the murder mystery and mystery solving part was fun. It was engaging and kept me guessing, even if it wasn't super deep (though it did slot nicely into the overall messages the novel brought). A final thought: it's been awhile since I've read (or really, remember reading - that doesn't mean it hasn't happened) a single POV romance. And while it was a nice mix-up, for sure, I did find myself missing the other POV. I would have enjoyed hearing from De Luca himself.
Overall, a fun and light escapist m/m paranormal romance mystery with enough heart and message to hit just a little deeper, but never in a way that overwhelmed the fun.
Ok, with a talking cat, a vacation-setting cozy murder mystery storyline, and a zest-for-life vampire narrator, the vibes of this book were all whimsical and silly. In the best way. Like, I have never read a vampire lead with this kind of happy-go-lucky mannerisms and speech quirks before, and I honestly kind of loved it? I was so unexpected and different. Let me be real, my love for vampires began and lives strong in the "moody-broody-bloodthirsy" aesthetic, but I loved the way this shook things up. (Shout out to Jenna Levine here, for the only other vampire like this that I can ever remember coming across, in My Vampire Plus-One). So all that to say, Bastian was so much fun to read. Especially in conjunction with his cat familiar, Whitby, who had all the snark and sarcasm of some of my favorite people in the world, and was also a cat (in my head, I sorta pictured a sassy female Binx, iykyk). Ridiculous and hilarious. And some of the "world-building" details, like the sun sickness being a sort of disconnection from reality and the threat of death from losing yourself in too much whimsical fluffy joy (as opposed to quickly burning to a crisp), add to that ridiculous vibe. These two balanced out the more closed-off/walls-up character of Nico De Luca, as Bastian's romantic interest. They were great foils for each other. And while the chemistry was, to me, solid but not spectacular, it was enough to buy in.
As far as the greater theme/message, the parallels between the way vampires are treated here and the way the queer community has historically been treated/used/existed were not subtle. But, they were well-drawn parallels nonetheless. And that aspect provided an important, if a bit heavy handed, commentary on the balance of joy and anger and the role they both play in resilience and the fight for change. Plot-wise, the murder mystery and mystery solving part was fun. It was engaging and kept me guessing, even if it wasn't super deep (though it did slot nicely into the overall messages the novel brought). A final thought: it's been awhile since I've read (or really, remember reading - that doesn't mean it hasn't happened) a single POV romance. And while it was a nice mix-up, for sure, I did find myself missing the other POV. I would have enjoyed hearing from De Luca himself.
Overall, a fun and light escapist m/m paranormal romance mystery with enough heart and message to hit just a little deeper, but never in a way that overwhelmed the fun.
January 24, 2026
This book sits right in the middle for me. I could recommend it to someone who was looking for a vampire romance subplot with a murder mystery main plot and feel good about the chances it would be enjoyed. But I did have some hangups myself while reading.
First, I really enjoyed the characters. Bastion was so fun and felt so inviting despite being our accused vampire murderer. He’s all “darlings” and “loves” and makes you want to be his best friend. De Luca is quite the opposite, it was very hard to know him but I liked the strong moral code and determination of him.
Someone else noted that this was their first single POV in a while, and same. And it reminded me why having the POV of both MCs is important to me personally. I never felt very connected to the romance or felt the draw I usually do when being provided with both characters internal dialogue of wants and needs. De Luca often felt like a cardboard cutout of a person, and I didn’t find the attraction to be very.. moving maybe?
This brings me to my one major problem with this book, which was believability. Now, I am not one of those people who needs everything to be so realistic. I enjoy magic and whimsy and so on and so forth. But I do expect the plot to provide a level of believability with consideration to the world built by the author. The plot of this book was very fast paced in the beginning but was then followed by a series of events that felt.. less thought out than I would like. They are under house arrest bc one person lost ALL the keys to ALL the jail cells? Or one key? Which seems silly. They keep “vouching” for one another - we were at the apartment the whole time!” “We were together the whole time!” While very publicly going ALL over this tiny town. We’re getting gelato, we’re questioning all the towns people. We’re being chased by a mob who sees we aren’t together. I just think surely there would have been a better plot setup that would have provided more believability to the entire book. The house arrest thing just kept feeling like it didn’t lend itself to the rest of the book entirely while simultaneously feeling like a strange thing for the police to allow.
If I was able to throw those feelings to the side, I mostly enjoy the ride. I mean, talking cat familiar? Yes please! So again, i would recommend it, but I do wish the setup felt more aligned with the rest of the book if that makes sense.
Thank you so much to Putnam and Josh Winning for the eARC of this book! I so appreciate the opportunity!
First, I really enjoyed the characters. Bastion was so fun and felt so inviting despite being our accused vampire murderer. He’s all “darlings” and “loves” and makes you want to be his best friend. De Luca is quite the opposite, it was very hard to know him but I liked the strong moral code and determination of him.
Someone else noted that this was their first single POV in a while, and same. And it reminded me why having the POV of both MCs is important to me personally. I never felt very connected to the romance or felt the draw I usually do when being provided with both characters internal dialogue of wants and needs. De Luca often felt like a cardboard cutout of a person, and I didn’t find the attraction to be very.. moving maybe?
This brings me to my one major problem with this book, which was believability. Now, I am not one of those people who needs everything to be so realistic. I enjoy magic and whimsy and so on and so forth. But I do expect the plot to provide a level of believability with consideration to the world built by the author. The plot of this book was very fast paced in the beginning but was then followed by a series of events that felt.. less thought out than I would like. They are under house arrest bc one person lost ALL the keys to ALL the jail cells? Or one key? Which seems silly. They keep “vouching” for one another - we were at the apartment the whole time!” “We were together the whole time!” While very publicly going ALL over this tiny town. We’re getting gelato, we’re questioning all the towns people. We’re being chased by a mob who sees we aren’t together. I just think surely there would have been a better plot setup that would have provided more believability to the entire book. The house arrest thing just kept feeling like it didn’t lend itself to the rest of the book entirely while simultaneously feeling like a strange thing for the police to allow.
If I was able to throw those feelings to the side, I mostly enjoy the ride. I mean, talking cat familiar? Yes please! So again, i would recommend it, but I do wish the setup felt more aligned with the rest of the book if that makes sense.
Thank you so much to Putnam and Josh Winning for the eARC of this book! I so appreciate the opportunity!
January 25, 2026
I enjoyed the portrayal of Bastian as a
"vegetarian" vampire. It walked a nice line between “oh, I just stopped killing people, it’s all fine” hand waving and a more melodramatic take akin to Twilight. It felt more like a portrayal of something fighting an addiction - the way that it can rear up at unexpected times or the way that guilt over actions done while in active addiction is incredibly difficult to overcome. It was well done without being too silly.
The bond between Bastian and Whitby might be my favourite part of this entire book. Their banter is top notch, their care of each other apparent even below the sarcasm, and finding out how they came to be attached to one another was so heart rending. I loved so much that the moment Whitby speaks her forgiveness aloud is the moment her magic is freed as well, such a lovely little touch.
De Luca is a nicely complicated romantic interest, and the slow burn between them was lovely.
The author struck a really nice balance of not letting any one element overpower the others - there was mystery and drama and romance but all playing nicely together.
The mystery was maybe my one area of complaint. The number of twists and redirects and suspects who are then eliminated was maybe one too many for me. It felt like we went through seven rollercoaster loops when six would have been fine. And then when the real suspect is revealed, her motive is understandable but the mechanics are hazy - I still want to know how she was making her fiance better??
Some of the other hazy aspects, I wasn’t as upset about - we don’t really find out a lot about the mysterious vampire council, and I was glad the author didn’t feel the need to have any drawn out exposition there. The explanations for vampires being known by humans also hit just right and was thorough enough to not be confusing but not so in depth that it took us away from the story at hand.
Overall, an enjoyable romantic mystery with some really heartfelt moments sprinkled in.
Thanks to NetGalley and Putnam for this eARC!
"vegetarian" vampire. It walked a nice line between “oh, I just stopped killing people, it’s all fine” hand waving and a more melodramatic take akin to Twilight. It felt more like a portrayal of something fighting an addiction - the way that it can rear up at unexpected times or the way that guilt over actions done while in active addiction is incredibly difficult to overcome. It was well done without being too silly.
The bond between Bastian and Whitby might be my favourite part of this entire book. Their banter is top notch, their care of each other apparent even below the sarcasm, and finding out how they came to be attached to one another was so heart rending. I loved so much that the moment Whitby speaks her forgiveness aloud is the moment her magic is freed as well, such a lovely little touch.
De Luca is a nicely complicated romantic interest, and the slow burn between them was lovely.
The author struck a really nice balance of not letting any one element overpower the others - there was mystery and drama and romance but all playing nicely together.
The mystery was maybe my one area of complaint. The number of twists and redirects and suspects who are then eliminated was maybe one too many for me. It felt like we went through seven rollercoaster loops when six would have been fine. And then when the real suspect is revealed, her motive is understandable but the mechanics are hazy - I still want to know how she was making her fiance better??
Some of the other hazy aspects, I wasn’t as upset about - we don’t really find out a lot about the mysterious vampire council, and I was glad the author didn’t feel the need to have any drawn out exposition there. The explanations for vampires being known by humans also hit just right and was thorough enough to not be confusing but not so in depth that it took us away from the story at hand.
Overall, an enjoyable romantic mystery with some really heartfelt moments sprinkled in.
Thanks to NetGalley and Putnam for this eARC!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 15, 2025
A vampire and a cat walk into a small Italian town… sounds like the beginning of a joke but is actually the start of Be Still My Unbeating Heart, a story that tries its hand at balancing both murder and humor, with a very interesting outcome.
I immediately got attached to the said cat and vampire duo, Whitby and Bastian, whose interesting dynamic and love for one another shine despite everything that went on between them. With Nico de Luca, I had a bit of a hard time at first. He was interesting enough, but Bastian is such a bright and colorful character, it was almost like his personality overpowered some character traits that were shown by Nico.
While this book is great at keeping a humorous atmosphere throughout the whole plot, the crime-solving part is the one that didn't work as well. The suspicions kept on being thrown around without taking the time to actually eliminate their suspects from their suspicion list properly, so there was a constant circling around the same few people.
The final resolution was creative, so I would have wished for it to be set up a bit earlier.
Drawing out the ending a bit more would have really rounded up the story significantly more and would have let the aspect that lies at the heart of this story shine even more: the well-written characters.
If you are looking for a story with a vampire who is the opposite of the classic dark and brooding type and with a murder mystery that has its surprisingly funny moments? Then this summery book might be for you.
Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Books for providing me with this ARC in return for an honest review.
I immediately got attached to the said cat and vampire duo, Whitby and Bastian, whose interesting dynamic and love for one another shine despite everything that went on between them. With Nico de Luca, I had a bit of a hard time at first. He was interesting enough, but Bastian is such a bright and colorful character, it was almost like his personality overpowered some character traits that were shown by Nico.
While this book is great at keeping a humorous atmosphere throughout the whole plot, the crime-solving part is the one that didn't work as well. The suspicions kept on being thrown around without taking the time to actually eliminate their suspects from their suspicion list properly, so there was a constant circling around the same few people.
The final resolution was creative, so I would have wished for it to be set up a bit earlier.
Drawing out the ending a bit more would have really rounded up the story significantly more and would have let the aspect that lies at the heart of this story shine even more: the well-written characters.
If you are looking for a story with a vampire who is the opposite of the classic dark and brooding type and with a murder mystery that has its surprisingly funny moments? Then this summery book might be for you.
Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Books for providing me with this ARC in return for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I would like to thank Netgalley and Josh Winning for the ARC of this novel.
Oh where to start with this one except to say I loved it!
Be Still My Unbeating Heart follows vampire Bastian on vacation with his cat familiar Whitby in the beautiful, coastal Italian town of Vernazza and the unexpected danger, and romance, found there.
I love the characters! Bastian is a really fun vampire. I get very Magnus Bane vibes from him (if you are unfamiliar, I read a fantasy series as a teenager that had a warlock named Magnus Bane, google him if you must) and it's both amusing and endearing. He feels like a person who really lived his over-long life. Whitby is the charming sidekick everybody needs, but I do love the plot twist when it comes to her backstory, too. It gives depth that's needed to her and Bastian's relationship. And De Luca is very well written as an enigma: you want to trust him, you can't help like him, but there's just something about him that's still suspicious until the reveal.
I also enjoyed the red herrings left and right! It was really a well-rounded mystery with enough characters to leave you guessing, but not so many that it's made very obvious who isn't involved as you see in some mysteries. Everybody in this story had a good amount of suspicion against them, and that's the mark of a great whodunnit.
Look, I love nothing more than mysteries and queer romances, so when you combine them with vampires, my favorite horror movie monster, you're basically writing a book designed exactly for my taste.
I love this book and can't wait to check out more from this author!
Oh where to start with this one except to say I loved it!
Be Still My Unbeating Heart follows vampire Bastian on vacation with his cat familiar Whitby in the beautiful, coastal Italian town of Vernazza and the unexpected danger, and romance, found there.
I love the characters! Bastian is a really fun vampire. I get very Magnus Bane vibes from him (if you are unfamiliar, I read a fantasy series as a teenager that had a warlock named Magnus Bane, google him if you must) and it's both amusing and endearing. He feels like a person who really lived his over-long life. Whitby is the charming sidekick everybody needs, but I do love the plot twist when it comes to her backstory, too. It gives depth that's needed to her and Bastian's relationship. And De Luca is very well written as an enigma: you want to trust him, you can't help like him, but there's just something about him that's still suspicious until the reveal.
I also enjoyed the red herrings left and right! It was really a well-rounded mystery with enough characters to leave you guessing, but not so many that it's made very obvious who isn't involved as you see in some mysteries. Everybody in this story had a good amount of suspicion against them, and that's the mark of a great whodunnit.
Look, I love nothing more than mysteries and queer romances, so when you combine them with vampires, my favorite horror movie monster, you're basically writing a book designed exactly for my taste.
I love this book and can't wait to check out more from this author!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
2.5 rounded up
The 80s glam vampire Bastian, freshly weaned off a diet of human blood, wants a vacation. He and his best friend and talking cat Whitby, head out together for a week in the otherwise Vampire-free city of Vernazza in Cinque Terre. Unfortunately for Bastian, being the only vampire in town has its downsides when bodies start turning up with their throats slashed, and everyone assumes he did it. Bastian and Whitby team up with the handsome-but-reserved De Luca to try to find the true killer before either the citizens of Vernazza or the ominiously powerful Vampire Council decide Bastian is the culprit.
I wanted to read a playful and unserious book, and a vampire vacation romance seemed like just the thing I was looking for. But, unfortunately, this one fell a little flat. Somehow everything felt a little silted after the initial setup. De Luca had very little going on other than "other gay guy who is there", and Bastian's introspection and internal monologuing was often clumsy or corny. I think the effort to tackle wider themes here of acceptance and persecution were poorly done, and the book should have just stayed unserious and focused on the murder investigation. There ended up being several reveals here that were good red herrings, but the seeds of the actual solution weren't planted until so late in the book that the final reveal did seem to come from nowhere. More books should have talking cats, though. I love a talking cat.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
The 80s glam vampire Bastian, freshly weaned off a diet of human blood, wants a vacation. He and his best friend and talking cat Whitby, head out together for a week in the otherwise Vampire-free city of Vernazza in Cinque Terre. Unfortunately for Bastian, being the only vampire in town has its downsides when bodies start turning up with their throats slashed, and everyone assumes he did it. Bastian and Whitby team up with the handsome-but-reserved De Luca to try to find the true killer before either the citizens of Vernazza or the ominiously powerful Vampire Council decide Bastian is the culprit.
I wanted to read a playful and unserious book, and a vampire vacation romance seemed like just the thing I was looking for. But, unfortunately, this one fell a little flat. Somehow everything felt a little silted after the initial setup. De Luca had very little going on other than "other gay guy who is there", and Bastian's introspection and internal monologuing was often clumsy or corny. I think the effort to tackle wider themes here of acceptance and persecution were poorly done, and the book should have just stayed unserious and focused on the murder investigation. There ended up being several reveals here that were good red herrings, but the seeds of the actual solution weren't planted until so late in the book that the final reveal did seem to come from nowhere. More books should have talking cats, though. I love a talking cat.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
January 14, 2026
3.5 rounded to 4 for Goodreads :)
First, thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
This was a genuinely adorable LGBTQ+ murder mystery romance featuring a detective and a vampire set in Italy, and honestly… that sentence alone already won me over a bit. The cover is incredibly charming, and as a big fan of ’80s music, I really enjoyed the little nods sprinkled throughout the novel as well. What truly sealed the deal for me, though, was the cat content. If you know me, you know I’m an absolute sucker for books with cats.
This is very much a grumpy x sunshine romance and it hits all the familiar romance beats, which makes it a quick, light, and easy read. The spice level is low, so if you’re newer to LGBTQ+ romance or just looking for something cozy and accessible, this feels like a safe place to start. The Italian setting was fun, and the banter between the characters was one of the highlights for me.
That said, while I didn’t think the plot was bad, it did feel like it went in circles a bit more than necessary. Because of that, the ending felt a little rushed once everything finally came together. I just wanted a bit more breathing room there.
Overall, this was a sweet, charming read that entertained me, even if it didn’t fully knock it out of the park. I’d definitely be interested in reading more about these characters in the future if given the chance.
First, thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
This was a genuinely adorable LGBTQ+ murder mystery romance featuring a detective and a vampire set in Italy, and honestly… that sentence alone already won me over a bit. The cover is incredibly charming, and as a big fan of ’80s music, I really enjoyed the little nods sprinkled throughout the novel as well. What truly sealed the deal for me, though, was the cat content. If you know me, you know I’m an absolute sucker for books with cats.
This is very much a grumpy x sunshine romance and it hits all the familiar romance beats, which makes it a quick, light, and easy read. The spice level is low, so if you’re newer to LGBTQ+ romance or just looking for something cozy and accessible, this feels like a safe place to start. The Italian setting was fun, and the banter between the characters was one of the highlights for me.
That said, while I didn’t think the plot was bad, it did feel like it went in circles a bit more than necessary. Because of that, the ending felt a little rushed once everything finally came together. I just wanted a bit more breathing room there.
Overall, this was a sweet, charming read that entertained me, even if it didn’t fully knock it out of the park. I’d definitely be interested in reading more about these characters in the future if given the chance.
November 14, 2025
2.5 stars
This is my first book by Josh Winning and my first reaction after reading the synopsis was that it sounds campy but in a cute way. The mystery aspect was appealing to me, and I was interested in seeing how the two characters would work together and perhaps lead to a bit of a forced proximity, opposites attract situation. The characters were likable enough but I thought the fantasy, comedy, and mystery elements in the plot could've been balanced better. It was almost like a comedic mystery, which I think would've been fine but the mystery felt a little weak. The plot was a little bit cheesy to me and felt sort of deus ex machina in the sense that the pieces seemed to fall too easily with a lack of depth and suspension to the mystery. The mystery felt superficial with a larger focus on the characters instead, and I also didn't really connect to the characters either. I didn't sense the chemistry between the characters and the romance development felt lacking. Overall it was a fairly fast read with a more lighthearted atmosphere than I expected. I wish the plot and characters had a bit more depth and that the murder mystery aspect had higher stakes but it was an entertaining read overall.
This is my first book by Josh Winning and my first reaction after reading the synopsis was that it sounds campy but in a cute way. The mystery aspect was appealing to me, and I was interested in seeing how the two characters would work together and perhaps lead to a bit of a forced proximity, opposites attract situation. The characters were likable enough but I thought the fantasy, comedy, and mystery elements in the plot could've been balanced better. It was almost like a comedic mystery, which I think would've been fine but the mystery felt a little weak. The plot was a little bit cheesy to me and felt sort of deus ex machina in the sense that the pieces seemed to fall too easily with a lack of depth and suspension to the mystery. The mystery felt superficial with a larger focus on the characters instead, and I also didn't really connect to the characters either. I didn't sense the chemistry between the characters and the romance development felt lacking. Overall it was a fairly fast read with a more lighthearted atmosphere than I expected. I wish the plot and characters had a bit more depth and that the murder mystery aspect had higher stakes but it was an entertaining read overall.
November 18, 2025
Gay vampire stumbling across a murder whilst on holiday in Vernazza with his talking cat and falling for hot Italian detective? Yes please!
This book is as bright and beautiful as its Italian setting. The mystery is perfectly paced so the reader can enjoy the perfect view of flamboyant vampire, Bastian, and local detective, Nico de Luca, tiptoeing around their attraction to each other, blood pumping and lust mounting as they explore a mysterious “vampire” attack that Bastian stumbled across not long after his arrival. Coincidence? Or is someone trying to frame the vampire on vacation? Unluckily for Bastian, the Vampire Council are on their way to play judge, jury, and executioner.
This book is pineapple print fun, thought-proving, and bursting with heart- it should be on everyone’s summer reading list. Bastian is a vampire ICON, de Luca is brooding intensity, and Whitby the talking cat is a slinky little scene stealer.
Sequel please! Plus an invite to Bastian and de Luca’s moonlit engagement party (not a spoiler- they are my new OTP and are getting married in my fanfiction).
This book is as bright and beautiful as its Italian setting. The mystery is perfectly paced so the reader can enjoy the perfect view of flamboyant vampire, Bastian, and local detective, Nico de Luca, tiptoeing around their attraction to each other, blood pumping and lust mounting as they explore a mysterious “vampire” attack that Bastian stumbled across not long after his arrival. Coincidence? Or is someone trying to frame the vampire on vacation? Unluckily for Bastian, the Vampire Council are on their way to play judge, jury, and executioner.
This book is pineapple print fun, thought-proving, and bursting with heart- it should be on everyone’s summer reading list. Bastian is a vampire ICON, de Luca is brooding intensity, and Whitby the talking cat is a slinky little scene stealer.
Sequel please! Plus an invite to Bastian and de Luca’s moonlit engagement party (not a spoiler- they are my new OTP and are getting married in my fanfiction).
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