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Drawing Dead
The average mobster dies as they live. Faolan O'Connor, however, finds new life after he dies.
Faolan O’Connor spent his life killing for men like Legs Diamond and Lucky Luciano, and now it’s his turn to face the music. But when vampire Darcy Killian offers him immortality, Faolan enters a world of violence, wealth, and power beyond anything he’s ever imagined.
Driven by ambition and guilt, Faolan fights his way up the ranks in a battle to justify his sins with success. He’s learned the hard way that relationships are vulnerabilities and friends are just enemies in disguise, but he also knows that he can’t conquer a city alone.
Aided by an emotionally-crippled genius and a warm-hearted call girl, Faolan builds a loyal crew with which to challenge the tyrannical Killian’s rule. However, will this re-awakened humanity prove a fatal flaw or his ace in the hole? With his life and the future of the city he loves at stake, can Faolan play his cards right or is he drawing dead?
Faolan O’Connor spent his life killing for men like Legs Diamond and Lucky Luciano, and now it’s his turn to face the music. But when vampire Darcy Killian offers him immortality, Faolan enters a world of violence, wealth, and power beyond anything he’s ever imagined.
Driven by ambition and guilt, Faolan fights his way up the ranks in a battle to justify his sins with success. He’s learned the hard way that relationships are vulnerabilities and friends are just enemies in disguise, but he also knows that he can’t conquer a city alone.
Aided by an emotionally-crippled genius and a warm-hearted call girl, Faolan builds a loyal crew with which to challenge the tyrannical Killian’s rule. However, will this re-awakened humanity prove a fatal flaw or his ace in the hole? With his life and the future of the city he loves at stake, can Faolan play his cards right or is he drawing dead?
336 pages, ebook
First published October 15, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 9, 2015
If vampires weren't evil enough, we now have a new type of vampire: the gangster vampire. Faolan was a cruel gangster. As a vampire, he will now be able to take violence to the extreme. But for some unknown reason, his conscience kicks in. His new friends also teach him to deal with people differently. Was he becoming human? Along with his friends, they attempt to destroy the cruel vampire, Villian. Will he go back to his old ways or deal with it in a humane way? So many possibilities. I love a book that makes you think. Enjoy.
April 30, 2024
Faolan O'Connor. Beautifully flawed, loyal to a fault, and sentimental despite his harsh exterior. His conscience is a mainstay but does not get in the way of his ambitions; that's what guilt is for. Quick on his feet under pressure, he calculates the odds, weighing all outcomes before he acts.
If this is the first book that showcases Faolan O'Connor, I eagerly anticipate the next installment.
If this is the first book that showcases Faolan O'Connor, I eagerly anticipate the next installment.
January 28, 2018
I'm not a vampire person, but I thoroughly enjoyed Brian McKinley's "Drawing Dead." A superb mashup of 1930s New York gangsters and bloodthirsty vampires, "Drawing Dead" takes an otherwise well-worn horror trope in a refreshing new direction. A risky bet, to be sure, but McKinley goes all in and delivers a big payout.
The novel follows vampire goodfella Faolan O'Connor as he rises through the ranks of New York's crime network toward his ultimate goal of ruling the Big Apple and her vast vampire empire. O'Connor makes allies and enemies along the way and encounters vivid figures, both imagined and historical.
Of particular note is McKinley's treatment of real-life New York mobster, Arnold Rothstein. His version is so well-developed and three dimensional that visions of Michael Stuhlbarg's portrayal of Rothstein in "Boardwalk Empire" continually come to mind.
McKinley's novel is a refreshing, engrossing read that should be enjoyed like a strong drink--best taken straight, in a private nightclub, with your most trusted mugs at your table. I drained "Drawing Dead" to the dregs and with definitely be back for more.
The novel follows vampire goodfella Faolan O'Connor as he rises through the ranks of New York's crime network toward his ultimate goal of ruling the Big Apple and her vast vampire empire. O'Connor makes allies and enemies along the way and encounters vivid figures, both imagined and historical.
Of particular note is McKinley's treatment of real-life New York mobster, Arnold Rothstein. His version is so well-developed and three dimensional that visions of Michael Stuhlbarg's portrayal of Rothstein in "Boardwalk Empire" continually come to mind.
McKinley's novel is a refreshing, engrossing read that should be enjoyed like a strong drink--best taken straight, in a private nightclub, with your most trusted mugs at your table. I drained "Drawing Dead" to the dregs and with definitely be back for more.
February 26, 2017
Drawing Dead by Brian McKinley was a good read. When Faolan O'Connor dies, he finds out that there is life after death. Faolan is a mobster who finds out that vampire's do exist after he died. I enjoyed reading this unique take on vampire stories.
May 4, 2017
Faolan O’Connor grew up in New York City and joined the mob at an early age. He worked as a hired killer in order to get power, respect, and money, but little by little it destroyed his family and everything he loved. One fateful night in 1935 he goes out to perform his last hit, hoping to die in the process. What he gets instead is immortality from a vampire and the boss of New York, Darcy Killian. Faolan’s whole world changes but not how you think it would.
Faolan already led a life of violence and destruction, but as a vampire, his feelings start to change. He wants power but he wants to help his city too. The only way he can do that is by taking down the boss of New York, Killian. He may have a lot of enemies but he makes a lot of friends on the way, if he plays his cards right he may get redemption and the power he desires.
Drawing Dead by Brian McKinley is a novel about vampire mobsters set during The Great Depression in New York City. Just the way this novel feels when you start reading, hooked me right away. The Way Brian describes the surroundings and the characters showed that he really did his homework on what life was like in organized crime and in the Depression. When you read this book you feel like you are right there with the characters and you know them personally.
It’s hard to pick out my favorite scenes in this book since there were so many. The one I loved was after Faolan wins a promotion from his boss, he decides to return to his mother’s home because he feels the need to reconcile with all of the evil and destruction he has caused in the past. When he gets there he finds that his mother has passed and there are squatters living in his boyhood home. At this point, he has to decide to let his vampire instincts kick in and kill the family or have mercy on them. What he does is a total surprise and shows how Faolan is evolving as a character. Another part that really stands out is a scene where a vampire named Frank shows that he is not the evil monster that we think he is, but if you find out his secret, it could be the last secret you ever find out.
There is also a great scene where Killian shows Faolan what he has planned for the 1939 New York World’s Fair. Killian’s vision sounds like it’s a step in the direction of what America is like in the present day with small businesses becoming a thing of the past and corporations running everything. As Faolan is hearing this, he is thinking that he doesn’t like this New York of the future and loves his city the way it is. While reading this I found myself wondering how Faolan would change as a character when he reaches the present day. Since he is a vampire he would still be around.
Drawing Dead could be considered a masterpiece, It’s a tale of redemption that works as a horror novel, a crime novel and it fits nicely into the historical fiction category. Though what really makes this novel great is how complex the characters are. Each of them has good and bad points, even the main villain doesn’t come across as pure evil. This was a novel that for me was hard to put down and you don’t have to be a vampire or organized crime fan to love it, my favorite parts were all the references to the 1930’s. Brian McKinley is an author to watch in the future and there will be more books to come in this series.
Faolan already led a life of violence and destruction, but as a vampire, his feelings start to change. He wants power but he wants to help his city too. The only way he can do that is by taking down the boss of New York, Killian. He may have a lot of enemies but he makes a lot of friends on the way, if he plays his cards right he may get redemption and the power he desires.
Drawing Dead by Brian McKinley is a novel about vampire mobsters set during The Great Depression in New York City. Just the way this novel feels when you start reading, hooked me right away. The Way Brian describes the surroundings and the characters showed that he really did his homework on what life was like in organized crime and in the Depression. When you read this book you feel like you are right there with the characters and you know them personally.
It’s hard to pick out my favorite scenes in this book since there were so many. The one I loved was after Faolan wins a promotion from his boss, he decides to return to his mother’s home because he feels the need to reconcile with all of the evil and destruction he has caused in the past. When he gets there he finds that his mother has passed and there are squatters living in his boyhood home. At this point, he has to decide to let his vampire instincts kick in and kill the family or have mercy on them. What he does is a total surprise and shows how Faolan is evolving as a character. Another part that really stands out is a scene where a vampire named Frank shows that he is not the evil monster that we think he is, but if you find out his secret, it could be the last secret you ever find out.
There is also a great scene where Killian shows Faolan what he has planned for the 1939 New York World’s Fair. Killian’s vision sounds like it’s a step in the direction of what America is like in the present day with small businesses becoming a thing of the past and corporations running everything. As Faolan is hearing this, he is thinking that he doesn’t like this New York of the future and loves his city the way it is. While reading this I found myself wondering how Faolan would change as a character when he reaches the present day. Since he is a vampire he would still be around.
Drawing Dead could be considered a masterpiece, It’s a tale of redemption that works as a horror novel, a crime novel and it fits nicely into the historical fiction category. Though what really makes this novel great is how complex the characters are. Each of them has good and bad points, even the main villain doesn’t come across as pure evil. This was a novel that for me was hard to put down and you don’t have to be a vampire or organized crime fan to love it, my favorite parts were all the references to the 1930’s. Brian McKinley is an author to watch in the future and there will be more books to come in this series.
June 18, 2018
Drawing Dead, by Brian McKinley, is set in 1930s New York, a time when the Mafia ruled supreme in the area. We first meet Faolan O’Connor, a hitman known as ‘the Wolf’, as he is preparing to go out on a job to take out Dutch Schultz. Faolan himself is also marked for death this night, and he knows it. He happens to have been one of those responsible for Charlie Luciano’s brush with death that earned him the name ‘Lucky’, and Luciano is ready to repay the favour.
But Faolan has a secret. He’s far more than he appears to be. He’s wily, and wary. ‘Fox’ might have been a better nickname than ‘Wolf’. And he isn’t quite human anymore… The Vampyr, as they are known, exist as an underworld beneath the criminal underworld, controlling things from the deepest shadows, and those of New York are currently at war with Vampyr of other cities. It is a part of this world that Faolan now belongs thanks to Darcy Killian. Question is- can Faolan survive this far more brutal arena, and protect the city he calls home?
This era in history, this time and place, fascinates me. I have a particular interest in these Mafia men of New York, especially Charlie 'Lucky' Luciano. In fact, I have an entire shelf of books devoted to this man who, in many ways, 'civilised’ a brutal subculture. While most of these people were mentioned only briefly, they and the historical era are what drew me to the book in the first place. While you don’t get to see many of the historical Mafia players of the time, Arnold Rothstein, Lucky’s mentor, plays a very big role.
Now… I’m not a big vampire fan. I feel it’s been overused, especially after the fiasco that is Twilight. Sorry… vampires are not supposed to sparkle… McKinley has chosen a rarer variation on the vampire theme. They aren’t technically dead. They do need blood to survive, and don’t really need to eat. They are stronger, faster, more resilient. Short of the head or heart being taken out, they can heal just about anything, and quickly too.
Drawing Dead is a wonderfully weird blend of urban fantasy and the 'mafia/mobster’ novel subset of hist fic. Paranormal Mafia? How could I resist? It’s a gritty action story, but it contains layers of psychological growth and transformation. I loved how Faolan himself grew and changed, learning to trust, however grudgingly. As someone with trust issues, I found it easy to sympathise. Well-written and researched, with an engaging pace, it was easy to slip into the story and walk with Faolan.
If you enjoy the shows and books of the worlds of X-Files, Grimm, and Supernatural, or if you, like me, have a love of this particular time in America, take a peek at McKinley’s Drawing Dead.
***This book was first read for Reader’s Favourite in 2016, and reread for the Love Books Tour. Many thanks to Reader’s Favourite/ Love Books Tours, and the author for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
But Faolan has a secret. He’s far more than he appears to be. He’s wily, and wary. ‘Fox’ might have been a better nickname than ‘Wolf’. And he isn’t quite human anymore… The Vampyr, as they are known, exist as an underworld beneath the criminal underworld, controlling things from the deepest shadows, and those of New York are currently at war with Vampyr of other cities. It is a part of this world that Faolan now belongs thanks to Darcy Killian. Question is- can Faolan survive this far more brutal arena, and protect the city he calls home?
This era in history, this time and place, fascinates me. I have a particular interest in these Mafia men of New York, especially Charlie 'Lucky' Luciano. In fact, I have an entire shelf of books devoted to this man who, in many ways, 'civilised’ a brutal subculture. While most of these people were mentioned only briefly, they and the historical era are what drew me to the book in the first place. While you don’t get to see many of the historical Mafia players of the time, Arnold Rothstein, Lucky’s mentor, plays a very big role.
Now… I’m not a big vampire fan. I feel it’s been overused, especially after the fiasco that is Twilight. Sorry… vampires are not supposed to sparkle… McKinley has chosen a rarer variation on the vampire theme. They aren’t technically dead. They do need blood to survive, and don’t really need to eat. They are stronger, faster, more resilient. Short of the head or heart being taken out, they can heal just about anything, and quickly too.
Drawing Dead is a wonderfully weird blend of urban fantasy and the 'mafia/mobster’ novel subset of hist fic. Paranormal Mafia? How could I resist? It’s a gritty action story, but it contains layers of psychological growth and transformation. I loved how Faolan himself grew and changed, learning to trust, however grudgingly. As someone with trust issues, I found it easy to sympathise. Well-written and researched, with an engaging pace, it was easy to slip into the story and walk with Faolan.
If you enjoy the shows and books of the worlds of X-Files, Grimm, and Supernatural, or if you, like me, have a love of this particular time in America, take a peek at McKinley’s Drawing Dead.
***This book was first read for Reader’s Favourite in 2016, and reread for the Love Books Tour. Many thanks to Reader’s Favourite/ Love Books Tours, and the author for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
December 23, 2024
First and foremost, I want to point out that this book is completely unlike the stories I usually choose to read; vampires and gangsters aren’t really my jam. So even though the book’s blurb made it clear from the outset that those were key elements in author Brian McKinley’s novel, I didn’t know what to expect.
None of that mattered. Drawing Dead bit into me almost immediately, and I was hooked. The main character, Faolan O’Connor, sucked me in completely. His charm won me over even as his shenanigans surprised, entertained, and captivated me. I couldn’t wait to see what he would do next, or whether his plans would succeed or fail. In a world where failure usually carried a death sentence, I was rooting for him at every turn.
The author’s storytelling is well-spun. Its complex and multi-layered intrigues, all the back-stabbing, plotting, and scheming kept me fully engaged. I will admit I had a bit of trouble keeping up with who was trying to target whom, but as long as I kept my eye on Faolan, I was able to track the story. With all that happens on these pages, it’s a pretty non-stop adventure, violent and dark in many places, but with a ray of hope and light—not sunlight though; vampires, remember?—that runs throughout the story. I loved every minute.
Because the story takes place in 1930s New York, there are threads that, at first glance, might seem racist, sexist, classist; but I understand McKinley’s purpose in including these details. They were, after all, part of that era in the real world, so readers should go into this story with that in mind. The thing that made those characteristics bearable, in my opinion, was the fact that they were found in the antagonists—yet another reason to boo them. Faolan did not embody any of those traits himself, and in fact despised them. He is not racist, not sexist, not classist. He is who he is, a New York Irishman who loves his city and its people, all flavors, colors, and stripes. He champions them in most instances, which raised him even higher in my estimation.
I even loved the “About the Author” page, and the description of “Brian McKinley” himself. You have to read it to see what I mean, but don’t do it before you read the book. Do it after. That’s when it will have more meaning. Trust me on this.
The only thing I could find to critique is that the book could have used a bit more proofreading. Still, even those little “glitches” faded as I read, and I stopped noticing them at all. The story was that good.
I thoroughly enjoyed Drawing Dead, and hope McKinley will write more of Faolan’s story at some point. Most highly recommended.
None of that mattered. Drawing Dead bit into me almost immediately, and I was hooked. The main character, Faolan O’Connor, sucked me in completely. His charm won me over even as his shenanigans surprised, entertained, and captivated me. I couldn’t wait to see what he would do next, or whether his plans would succeed or fail. In a world where failure usually carried a death sentence, I was rooting for him at every turn.
The author’s storytelling is well-spun. Its complex and multi-layered intrigues, all the back-stabbing, plotting, and scheming kept me fully engaged. I will admit I had a bit of trouble keeping up with who was trying to target whom, but as long as I kept my eye on Faolan, I was able to track the story. With all that happens on these pages, it’s a pretty non-stop adventure, violent and dark in many places, but with a ray of hope and light—not sunlight though; vampires, remember?—that runs throughout the story. I loved every minute.
Because the story takes place in 1930s New York, there are threads that, at first glance, might seem racist, sexist, classist; but I understand McKinley’s purpose in including these details. They were, after all, part of that era in the real world, so readers should go into this story with that in mind. The thing that made those characteristics bearable, in my opinion, was the fact that they were found in the antagonists—yet another reason to boo them. Faolan did not embody any of those traits himself, and in fact despised them. He is not racist, not sexist, not classist. He is who he is, a New York Irishman who loves his city and its people, all flavors, colors, and stripes. He champions them in most instances, which raised him even higher in my estimation.
I even loved the “About the Author” page, and the description of “Brian McKinley” himself. You have to read it to see what I mean, but don’t do it before you read the book. Do it after. That’s when it will have more meaning. Trust me on this.
The only thing I could find to critique is that the book could have used a bit more proofreading. Still, even those little “glitches” faded as I read, and I stopped noticing them at all. The story was that good.
I thoroughly enjoyed Drawing Dead, and hope McKinley will write more of Faolan’s story at some point. Most highly recommended.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 16, 2017
** Review of Audio Format **
For Love of New York
Faolan O’Connor knows how to kill. When he is offered immortality by Killian he doesn’t know that he will kill more as a vampire than he ever did as a mobster. Although, Faolan is known for killing his own bosses when there is a need, it is quickly established that he has a real love of his hometown and a deep seated need to find loyal companions who will love him for who he is and not for what he can do for him. This awakening to his emotions sets Faolan up to play a long poker game where the stakes are high and losing most likely means death.
I enjoyed this listen and thought the narration was great. Faolan is a complicated man and an even more complicated vampire. The voice Brian Rollins used belied this complexity because he used a Bronx or Queens accent and this made him sound not that bright at times but once you get a glimpse into his inner thoughts you know he is a bright light in Killian’s army. I listened on 1:5 speed.
I received this audiobook for free through Audiobook Boom! in exchange for an honest review.
For Love of New York
Faolan O’Connor knows how to kill. When he is offered immortality by Killian he doesn’t know that he will kill more as a vampire than he ever did as a mobster. Although, Faolan is known for killing his own bosses when there is a need, it is quickly established that he has a real love of his hometown and a deep seated need to find loyal companions who will love him for who he is and not for what he can do for him. This awakening to his emotions sets Faolan up to play a long poker game where the stakes are high and losing most likely means death.
I enjoyed this listen and thought the narration was great. Faolan is a complicated man and an even more complicated vampire. The voice Brian Rollins used belied this complexity because he used a Bronx or Queens accent and this made him sound not that bright at times but once you get a glimpse into his inner thoughts you know he is a bright light in Killian’s army. I listened on 1:5 speed.
I received this audiobook for free through Audiobook Boom! in exchange for an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews