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Vampire Files #8
The Dark Sleep
Vampire detective Jack Fleming is seething with jealousy over the famous radio star who has promised to land his girlfriend on the airwaves. Reprint.
368 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 1, 1999
439 people want to read
About the author
P.N. Elrod
88 books591 followersPatricia Nead Elrod is an American fantasy writer specializing in novels about vampires. Her work falls into areas of fantasy and (in some cases) mystery or historical fiction, but normally not horror, since her vampires are the heroes. -Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
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November 22, 2020When it looks as if Jack's long time girlfriend, Bobbi, may get an opportunity to impress some folks with Hollywood connections, he has mixed feelings. He loves her and wants her to succeed, but can hardly bear the thought of losing her to tinseltown. When one of them, a radio show host named Archy Grant gives her an opportunity to appear on his show, but there are some sexual strings attached, his feelings are not in doubt at all. Bobbi can be trusted not to fall for such enticements, and will probably be the one who plays rather than getting played, but Jack must resist the temptation to do something drastic about Archy's attentions.
Jack and Charles Escott are involved at the same time with attempting to recover some writings (they think they are love letters) that a wealthy socialite wants her former low brow lover to return, before they become an embarassment and derail her wedding to a foreign prince charming. The twist this subplot takes at the end is simply marvelous.
The main plot also takes an odd twist or two, as we finally get to learn about some of Escott's personal demons. I am starting to get a little irritated about how Jack never seems to keep an eye out for people sneaking up on him with a club, cosh, or cane. For someone who is able to hear the changes in the heartbeat of a blackjack dealer and get an advantage on the house odds, he is curiously unable to notice the heartbeat of someone who is pumped full of adrenaline and about to whack him on the head.
Another decent read from Elrod.
Jack and Charles Escott are involved at the same time with attempting to recover some writings (they think they are love letters) that a wealthy socialite wants her former low brow lover to return, before they become an embarassment and derail her wedding to a foreign prince charming. The twist this subplot takes at the end is simply marvelous.
The main plot also takes an odd twist or two, as we finally get to learn about some of Escott's personal demons. I am starting to get a little irritated about how Jack never seems to keep an eye out for people sneaking up on him with a club, cosh, or cane. For someone who is able to hear the changes in the heartbeat of a blackjack dealer and get an advantage on the house odds, he is curiously unable to notice the heartbeat of someone who is pumped full of adrenaline and about to whack him on the head.
Another decent read from Elrod.
August 18, 2022
Came back to this series after a long long time away. Now I wonder why on earth i have had this on my shelf for 10 plus years and not reread it (or volume 9). This is fantastic, i really enjoyed the mix of 20's private eye and vampire and may have to search out the last two or three i havent got.
September 23, 2025
Quite a bit sadder than many of the preceding ones, it was still exciting and fun with Jack and Bobbi's relationship maturing in a sweet way, and with a totally-bloodthirsty ending! (pun intended)
December 3, 2012
This book was very cool. The focus was more on Escott than anything else, and we learned about his past and the reason for some of his odder personality ticks. Being a big fan of Escott, I loved this.
Conversely, I was a little annoyed by Jack this time around - mostly, I think, because of a poor writing decision. I'm not sure why writers insist on doing this, but I haven't seen it implemented well, ever - the main character has a tie to writing (in Jack's case, he's a former reporter that's trying to get a novel published now), and there's inevitably a chunk of the story devoted to "man, writing is such a difficult, fine art. Look how hard I had to work in order to make this story so great."
Luckily, it was a very short bit and I was able to glance over it without missing any of the real story. I appreciate the hard work that goes into writing a good story, being in the process of trying to get one published myself, but I don't think the middle of the story is a good place to toot your horn about how much work you've spent on it.
Anyway-
The story of Escott, and the decision Jack makes about Club Crymsyn, and how he and Bobbi handle her advancement, all work really well together to make a solid story that stands up nicely in the series. If you've been wanting to know more about the supporting cast, this is a must-read.
Conversely, I was a little annoyed by Jack this time around - mostly, I think, because of a poor writing decision. I'm not sure why writers insist on doing this, but I haven't seen it implemented well, ever - the main character has a tie to writing (in Jack's case, he's a former reporter that's trying to get a novel published now), and there's inevitably a chunk of the story devoted to "man, writing is such a difficult, fine art. Look how hard I had to work in order to make this story so great."
Luckily, it was a very short bit and I was able to glance over it without missing any of the real story. I appreciate the hard work that goes into writing a good story, being in the process of trying to get one published myself, but I don't think the middle of the story is a good place to toot your horn about how much work you've spent on it.
Anyway-
The story of Escott, and the decision Jack makes about Club Crymsyn, and how he and Bobbi handle her advancement, all work really well together to make a solid story that stands up nicely in the series. If you've been wanting to know more about the supporting cast, this is a must-read.
August 15, 2017
Long before Edward Cullen, there was Jack Fleming ...
Many years ago, I read "Bloodlist", P.N. Elrod's first in the "Vampires Files" series featuring Jack Fleming, vampire detective in 1930's Chicago. Seven books later, Ms. Elrod is still going strong. Her "Jonathan Barrett, Gentleman Vampire" series is also highly recommended.
Many years ago, I read "Bloodlist", P.N. Elrod's first in the "Vampires Files" series featuring Jack Fleming, vampire detective in 1930's Chicago. Seven books later, Ms. Elrod is still going strong. Her "Jonathan Barrett, Gentleman Vampire" series is also highly recommended.
January 18, 2020
I nearly left this unread because of the opening chapters, but I'm glad I didn't. It ended up being an essential installment for the series and a major dive into Escott's past. Jack's world continues to grow with a big pool of characters, and everyone feels fleshed out. The B story was the weak point in this book for me, but I found the main story to be an unpredictable page turner.
April 6, 2011
The adventures of Jack never cease to amuse me. It didn't take me as long to get into this book as the last couple have. But I found myself disliking it more for some reason. I loved all the interaction with Bobbie. It really built her character but there was just something... missing.
August 30, 2010
1930s noir and a vampire with a heart who interacts with the mob.
P. N. Elrod is amazing in her depiction of the time period. You can see, smell, feel, and hear it as you read.
Deeper and more debilitating secrets are revealed.
P. N. Elrod is amazing in her depiction of the time period. You can see, smell, feel, and hear it as you read.
Deeper and more debilitating secrets are revealed.
October 6, 2012
A different sort of mystery; combination of hard-boiled detective mystery with a vampire thrown in. I've read a couple of books in P.N. Elrod's vampire Files mysteries and they are enjoyable and readable.
December 15, 2015
We finally learn more about what haunts Escott from his past. He gets the opportunity to face the monster from his memory, but I just didn't find his actions believable. Perhaps one of the weaker books in the series. Still had fun reading it.
January 22, 2016
This series, starring Jack Fleming vampire detective, is a hoot. You have to enjoy vampires, and historical fiction type books. This is the dirty thirties in post-prohibition Chicago. A very enjoyable read for this kind of book, and still going strong. This is number 8 in the series.
August 28, 2025
Such a great instalment in the series! There had been hints dropped in the previous 7 books about Escott's background and story and we finally find out exactly what happened to make him the man he is today. I've read it several times and loved it each time. I'll read it again I'm sure.
March 31, 2011
incredibly hot sex scene with mirror and vampire, excellent
December 31, 2016
Love the series.
November 28, 2013
I like a vampire private detective so both special skills and sleuthing. Also set in the 1930s/40s in Chicago so a different environment.
November 15, 2007
read 02.11.07
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews