Sol

by DiVitto Kelly

It’s spring 1979, and retired deli owner Sol Hirsch, formerly of Queens, New York, has traded in his life of corned beef and kosher pickles for the relaxing, sunny climate of Miami Beach. But after a recent trip with his wife, Myrna, to visit her ailing mother in Romania, Sol’s life now teeters on the realm of the undead, courtesy of a vampire bat that noshed on his neck.

Upon returning home to the Sunshine State (definitely not an ideal place for vampires), the New York Mets diehard develops a thirst for human blood. As things worsen, Sol’s life-or-death situation will boil down to a spring training baseball game involving New York Yankee slugger, Reggie Jackson.

261 pages, Hardcover

Published January 12, 2026

Reviews

[Michael Godwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sol by DiVitto Kelly is an entertaining and highly unusual blend of vampire fiction, dark humor, Jewish cultural identity, family life, and baseball nostalgia. Set in 1979, the story follows Sol Hirsch, a retired deli owner from Queens who has settled into the sunny atmosphere of Miami Beach with his wife, Myrna, only to find his peaceful retirement disrupted by an unexpected encounter with a vampire bat.

What makes the premise particularly distinctive is the contrast between Sol's ordinary life and his extraordinary transformation. His background as a New York deli owner, his devotion to the New York Mets, and his connection to his wife's family in Romania create a character-driven foundation for a story that gradually moves into much stranger territory.

The combination of vampire mythology, Jewish-American humor, Romanian connections, and baseball gives Sol a personality that sets it apart from conventional vampire stories. The central conflict becomes even more entertaining as Sol's new condition collides with his love of baseball and ultimately becomes connected to a spring training game involving Yankees slugger Reggie Jackson.

Readers who enjoy unconventional vampire fiction, dark comedy, historical settings, Jewish-American storytelling, and sports-related fiction should find Sol particularly appealing. Its unusual premise and distinctive combination of genres give it several avenues for connecting with different readerships while maintaining a strong central character in Sol.

[Toni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sol ran the family deli for years then retired. His wife Myrna decided they needed to move to Florida. They've been there a while but he misses the old haunt. They are preparing, along with best friends, to head to Romania where his mother in law still lives. They get there to find their rooms were overbooked. They get sent to a castle where they meet Lazlo and his boss. They start the touring of the town. They also make sure to visit Myrna's mother. She is a hoot! Then one time while walking Sol gets knocked down by a group of bats and one bites his neck.
Now dear readers this is where the real story starts. What does a man in his mid 60's who's Mets fan do? Read and be prepared for a lot of adventure of the dark kind.
I don't usually read books like this but I have got to say I thoroughly enjoyed it and even got a few chuckles out of it. It will make you laugh about how he lives and maybe think.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.