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Alex Rains, Vampire Hunter #1
The Devil's Mouth
The only things Alex Rains cares about are rock ’n’ roll, classic cars, and killing vampires—that is, until he meets Carmen, a tough-as-nails cop who's hot on the trail of her missing little sister.
When the two join forces, they leave a trail of corpses across the desert as they race against the clock, hunting an ancient evil that’s preyed on the migrants of the American Southwest since the time of the Spanish conquest.
While Alex leads Carmen deeper into the deadly, secret world of vampire hunters and their quarry, a romance blooms that neither of them expected. But when it all goes wrong, Alex is forced to make a grueling choice.
An urban fantasy thriller from author Matt Kincade, The Devil’s Mouth is an adrenaline-fueled ride through the dark underbelly of America: a warped landscape of old motels, seedy roadhouse bars, and monsters lurking in the night.
When the two join forces, they leave a trail of corpses across the desert as they race against the clock, hunting an ancient evil that’s preyed on the migrants of the American Southwest since the time of the Spanish conquest.
While Alex leads Carmen deeper into the deadly, secret world of vampire hunters and their quarry, a romance blooms that neither of them expected. But when it all goes wrong, Alex is forced to make a grueling choice.
An urban fantasy thriller from author Matt Kincade, The Devil’s Mouth is an adrenaline-fueled ride through the dark underbelly of America: a warped landscape of old motels, seedy roadhouse bars, and monsters lurking in the night.
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 17, 2016
37 people are currently reading
166 people want to read
About the author
Matt Kincade
3 books25 followersMatt Kincade, the son of a librarian, was often left to wander the fiction shelves for hours as a child, happily lost among the stacks, soaking up a love for words and the smell of books.
Since then he has been a pizza chef, a sandwich artist, a cash-register jockey, a night manager, a furniture assembler, and a creepy one-hour photo clerk, all while pursuing his dream of being an author of sci-fi and supernatural fiction.
Matt lives in Northern California, where he enjoys the outdoors and gets out into the nearby Sierra Nevada mountains every chance he gets, whether to hike, camp, or just go jump in a creek. When not writing or working at his slave job, Matt reads entirely too much, makes music, rides his bicycle, watches movies, and plays video games.
If Matt drank as much alcohol as he does coffee, his family and friends would have staged an intervention by now. Matt shares his apartment with a cat who grudgingly tolerates his existence.
Since then he has been a pizza chef, a sandwich artist, a cash-register jockey, a night manager, a furniture assembler, and a creepy one-hour photo clerk, all while pursuing his dream of being an author of sci-fi and supernatural fiction.
Matt lives in Northern California, where he enjoys the outdoors and gets out into the nearby Sierra Nevada mountains every chance he gets, whether to hike, camp, or just go jump in a creek. When not writing or working at his slave job, Matt reads entirely too much, makes music, rides his bicycle, watches movies, and plays video games.
If Matt drank as much alcohol as he does coffee, his family and friends would have staged an intervention by now. Matt shares his apartment with a cat who grudgingly tolerates his existence.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
March 10, 2019
I would give this book 5 stars for story. You know it's good when you are sad that it is finished.
Matt Kincade had story telling talent - that is for sure.
I am deducting 1 star for the lack of a final edit to clean up issues with the text. There are multiple instances of jumbled sentences which detract from the book.
All that said - those issues are very fixable.
I'm looking forward to reading the next instalment
Matt Kincade had story telling talent - that is for sure.
I am deducting 1 star for the lack of a final edit to clean up issues with the text. There are multiple instances of jumbled sentences which detract from the book.
All that said - those issues are very fixable.
I'm looking forward to reading the next instalment
April 9, 2023
A good story, with plenty of action.
June 1, 2016
Short version: If you like vampire movies like From Dusk Till Dawn, or enjoy work by authors like James R. Tuck, you need this book in your life.
Long version: This book. THIS BOOK.
I had so many things I meant to do the day I started reading it. All those things? Not done, because I could not put this sucker down. *rimshot*
Alex Rains is a new kind of cowboy with a Southern drawl, a way with guns and swords, and a hero complex that drives him to seek and destroy any vampire that crosses his path. His Pleasantville-esque obsession with old music and kitchy Americana knick knacks is as charming and quirky as his penchant for wearing cowboy boots and Stetsons with his ridiculous Hawaiian shirts.
His good ol' boy nature clashes with the cold, heartless killer he becomes in an instant when on the hunt. It's delicious. I love it.
The story starts with a bang. A young girl, trying to reach her older sister in America, hires a coyote (a person who specializes in smuggling people across the border from Mexico) to help her. Turns out this guy is in cahoots with a ring of vampiric human traffickers who use the coyote to find them slave labor and food who won't be missed. Too late, the girl realizes just how much trouble she's in when the vampiric driver of the truck that was supposed to deliver them to their new home decides to have a little snack before hitting the road.
Meanwhile, Alex, the vampire hunter, is on a stakeout. He's forced to intervene when his prey gets a visitor--a woman named Carmen who is searching for her missing sister--and the vampire attacks.
Thanks to a lovely new scar on her neck, Carmen now believes that vampires are real. With Alex's help, the two go on an epic adventure to save her sister.
There is so much to like about this story. So much.
These vampires are not cuddly teddy bears with fangs. They are brutal, vicious creatures--and yet, they are not simple caricatures of evil. Seeing how they draw humans into working for them is presented in a believable manner. The unfolding of the layers of greed, corruption, and secrecy surrounding the horrible deeds these creatures and their cronies have been committing is fascinating.
Yes, there is a great deal of violence and bloodshed (which is very well wrought, by the way), but there is also a lot of attention to detail. Despite the story having that summer blockbuster movie feel to it, the plot threads all flow together seamlessly.
The characters--even secondary ones--are all distinct personalities and voices. They all have clear motivations, even if it doesn't seem like it in the beginning. In most cases, the characters are not simply parodies of themselves, and even when they do something stupid, they (mostly) walk into it openly acknowledging that they know they're not making a wise choice. No matter what decisions they make or actions they take, all the characters stay true to their own personalities, as presented. Their ideals and quirks don't just come and go to serve the plot, which might seem like a given, but often isn't in a novel like this. It's damned refreshing to have bad guys who are not just villainous to be villains, but because they have genuine flaws and motivations that make them stand out as people instead of cookie-cutter Bond villains.
Maybe they're a giant walking bag of dicks, but even if you don't empathize with their reasoning, at least you can understand why they're such raging assholes.
Aside from the characterization, there is also a tremendous amount of detail that goes into every other aspect of the plot. From how Alex and the other vampire hunters network and get the tools of their trade, to how the vampire behind the human trafficking ring has had his fingers in every political and social pie since the Spanish conquest, there's a rhyme and reason to it all.
The range of descriptions were also beautifully immersive and I really liked the little touches. For example, a scene where Alex and Carmen taste some wine--which sounds like a silly choice of scenes for me to talk about, I know, but is actually very important to the story--and how the flavors are described, as well as the bit with the raccoons later, is just so perfect. I might be completely off base, but to me, that--among many other things--was a sign of just how much care and thought and research went into crafting this novel, which I deeply appreciate.
The onion-like layers to this story as you unfold the secrets of the vampire network and Alex and Carmen's past are brutal and delicious. It's a fun, fascinating puzzle to watch unfold, and there's a lot to like here. While there are a few typos and grammar errors that are knocking half a point off for this book for me, it's still very much worth the read. It's clever, fun, and action-packed, and as I mentioned earlier, it's easy to get sucked right in. I strongly recommend it, and I'll be keeping an eye out for future books by Kincade.
4.5/5
Originally posted here: http://jesshaines.com/blog/2016/05/31...
Long version: This book. THIS BOOK.
I had so many things I meant to do the day I started reading it. All those things? Not done, because I could not put this sucker down. *rimshot*
Alex Rains is a new kind of cowboy with a Southern drawl, a way with guns and swords, and a hero complex that drives him to seek and destroy any vampire that crosses his path. His Pleasantville-esque obsession with old music and kitchy Americana knick knacks is as charming and quirky as his penchant for wearing cowboy boots and Stetsons with his ridiculous Hawaiian shirts.
His good ol' boy nature clashes with the cold, heartless killer he becomes in an instant when on the hunt. It's delicious. I love it.
The story starts with a bang. A young girl, trying to reach her older sister in America, hires a coyote (a person who specializes in smuggling people across the border from Mexico) to help her. Turns out this guy is in cahoots with a ring of vampiric human traffickers who use the coyote to find them slave labor and food who won't be missed. Too late, the girl realizes just how much trouble she's in when the vampiric driver of the truck that was supposed to deliver them to their new home decides to have a little snack before hitting the road.
Meanwhile, Alex, the vampire hunter, is on a stakeout. He's forced to intervene when his prey gets a visitor--a woman named Carmen who is searching for her missing sister--and the vampire attacks.
Thanks to a lovely new scar on her neck, Carmen now believes that vampires are real. With Alex's help, the two go on an epic adventure to save her sister.
There is so much to like about this story. So much.
These vampires are not cuddly teddy bears with fangs. They are brutal, vicious creatures--and yet, they are not simple caricatures of evil. Seeing how they draw humans into working for them is presented in a believable manner. The unfolding of the layers of greed, corruption, and secrecy surrounding the horrible deeds these creatures and their cronies have been committing is fascinating.
Yes, there is a great deal of violence and bloodshed (which is very well wrought, by the way), but there is also a lot of attention to detail. Despite the story having that summer blockbuster movie feel to it, the plot threads all flow together seamlessly.
The characters--even secondary ones--are all distinct personalities and voices. They all have clear motivations, even if it doesn't seem like it in the beginning. In most cases, the characters are not simply parodies of themselves, and even when they do something stupid, they (mostly) walk into it openly acknowledging that they know they're not making a wise choice. No matter what decisions they make or actions they take, all the characters stay true to their own personalities, as presented. Their ideals and quirks don't just come and go to serve the plot, which might seem like a given, but often isn't in a novel like this. It's damned refreshing to have bad guys who are not just villainous to be villains, but because they have genuine flaws and motivations that make them stand out as people instead of cookie-cutter Bond villains.
Maybe they're a giant walking bag of dicks, but even if you don't empathize with their reasoning, at least you can understand why they're such raging assholes.
Aside from the characterization, there is also a tremendous amount of detail that goes into every other aspect of the plot. From how Alex and the other vampire hunters network and get the tools of their trade, to how the vampire behind the human trafficking ring has had his fingers in every political and social pie since the Spanish conquest, there's a rhyme and reason to it all.
The range of descriptions were also beautifully immersive and I really liked the little touches. For example, a scene where Alex and Carmen taste some wine--which sounds like a silly choice of scenes for me to talk about, I know, but is actually very important to the story--and how the flavors are described, as well as the bit with the raccoons later, is just so perfect. I might be completely off base, but to me, that--among many other things--was a sign of just how much care and thought and research went into crafting this novel, which I deeply appreciate.
The onion-like layers to this story as you unfold the secrets of the vampire network and Alex and Carmen's past are brutal and delicious. It's a fun, fascinating puzzle to watch unfold, and there's a lot to like here. While there are a few typos and grammar errors that are knocking half a point off for this book for me, it's still very much worth the read. It's clever, fun, and action-packed, and as I mentioned earlier, it's easy to get sucked right in. I strongly recommend it, and I'll be keeping an eye out for future books by Kincade.
4.5/5
Originally posted here: http://jesshaines.com/blog/2016/05/31...
November 21, 2016
I am always on the lookout for some good UF and this one is a gem. If you are looking for fluffy, sparkle vampires, you sure wont find any here.
The characters were distinctive and Alex was outstanding with his southern drawl and cowboy attire. The motivations and backstories of the characters were worked into the story in a seemless and congruent way and made them feel alive. I cant remember the last time a hero had at lay in bed for two weeks.
The plot was well thought out and executed. It had me turning the pages late into the night.
The writing was concise, descriptive and i didn't notice any errors. The world building was good and the reader is introduced into the lore bit by bit with no big info dumps. The vampires were oldschool scary and you wouldnt want them to bite your neck.
All in all, it was an very good start to a series and i am eagerly awaiting the next book.
Characters 5/5
Plot 5/5
Suspense 5/5
Writing 4/5
World Building 4/5
The characters were distinctive and Alex was outstanding with his southern drawl and cowboy attire. The motivations and backstories of the characters were worked into the story in a seemless and congruent way and made them feel alive. I cant remember the last time a hero had at lay in bed for two weeks.
The plot was well thought out and executed. It had me turning the pages late into the night.
The writing was concise, descriptive and i didn't notice any errors. The world building was good and the reader is introduced into the lore bit by bit with no big info dumps. The vampires were oldschool scary and you wouldnt want them to bite your neck.
All in all, it was an very good start to a series and i am eagerly awaiting the next book.
Characters 5/5
Plot 5/5
Suspense 5/5
Writing 4/5
World Building 4/5
June 5, 2016
Given in exchange for honest review.
What an incredible story! I hated that I could only read in the evenings, I didn't want to put it down! I love that the vampires die when exposed to light, as they should, no sparkling. Such a heart felt story. Love Alex, such an amazing character. My heart breaks for him and the life he has had to survive. All you want is for him to get what he deserves. I can not wait to read more of this series, I am sure we are going to see where he and Carmen go from here!
What an incredible story! I hated that I could only read in the evenings, I didn't want to put it down! I love that the vampires die when exposed to light, as they should, no sparkling. Such a heart felt story. Love Alex, such an amazing character. My heart breaks for him and the life he has had to survive. All you want is for him to get what he deserves. I can not wait to read more of this series, I am sure we are going to see where he and Carmen go from here!
June 17, 2016
If I could give more than 5 stars to any book, it would be The Devil’s Mouth by Matt Kincade. Not only did it start with one of my all-time favorite writing quotes from Alan Moore, but it sucked me in immediately and did not let go until I’d somehow raced through all 384 pages in one night without so much as a potty or coffee break.
So instead of extra stars, I’ll just tell you that the second I finished reading The Devil’s Mouth, I pulled up Amazon in a desperate search for anything else by Matt. And THEN I followed up with an even more desperate (dawn) email to him demanding the sequel. Now. Yesterday would be even better.
Despite the number of genres he mashed to create Devil’s Mouth, Matt Kincade’s writing and world building is in the spare, essential-info-only style of a Clint Eastwood western. Against that, the backstories of protagonist and vampire hunter Alex Rains and almost every other character emerge in tantalizing fragments to create a tapestry of three-dimensional supporting characters, both good and bad.
This is a tale of hunters and victims, but the roles are constantly being swapped. It begins with a prologue in which Mia, a Mexican teenager trying to reach her sister, is being smuggled into the US along with a group of other Mexicans. But once on the American side, they are taken prisoner, forced to watch while one is murdered by a vampire who then taunts the remaining prisoners, “Bienvenidos a América.”
In the first chapter, we meet Alex Rains, hiding in the New Mexico desert to spy on a remote house. When a woman enters the house and then begins screaming, Alex reluctantly leaves his surveillance to intervene. Rescuing the injured woman and killing her vampire assailants, he takes her back to his home in a secret location to care for her. She tells him that her name is Carmen and that she’s searching for her little sister Mia.
A skeptical Carmen is initiated into Alex’s violent world where vampire hunters are often the hunted, and where a shadowy network of hunters, adrenaline junkies, and their surprisingly well-equipped technical and medical support network are always aware that they are a step from death—or undeath.
[quote] “She took another sip from the coffee and looked at him sideways. “Forgive me if I’m having a hard time with the concept. Do you make money at this? Do you have a boss?”
Alex laughed. “I’m…an independent contractor. And as far as money, you know what they say, do what you love and the money follows.” [end quote]
Okay, so the vamp vigilante career doesn’t exactly involve a formal medical or retirement plan. But the job isn’t without its financial rewards. Vampires who’ve been around a long time have had plenty of opportunity to stockpile money and treasure—the hunters’ payroll. Plus…swords! Really cool old ones.
In all this, Alex is a complex figure. To Carmen’s growing frustration, he hides lethal expertise and tragic history behind his aw-shucks country boy rockabilly facade and quips.
[quote]“Gonna be harder to find than a black jellybean in a rabbit hutch.”
Carmen shook her head. “Do you just make these lines up?” [end quote]
As Alex and Carmen search for Mia, they become the targets of one of the oldest, most dangerous opponents, putting their lives, their friends, and their developing relationship at risk. In their world, violence is sudden, constant, and inevitable. They are in a war that can’t be won, against a constantly replenished enemy. It’s the world of the modern western, where the toys and trappings of modern civilization hide an endless cycle of good vs bad, while showcasing the vampire and western genres’ most common tropes:
* The gunslinger (Alex) is not only a quick draw, but also a trick shot as he demonstrates for his friends’ entertainment
* There are plenty of horses (but they’re under the hood, especially of Alex’s beloved muscle car).
* The good guy (Alex) rescues girls and wears a white cowboy hat, while his enemy eats girls and wears a black one. (No really.)
* Morality is on a sliding scale, where every horrific act committed by good guys is justified by the fact that the bad guys are so far outside the scope of the law.
* Heroes are badass, but bad guys are so unrelievedly villainous that they kill each other, murder young girls, and withhold cigarettes from enslaved housekeepers.
* Vampires do NOT sparkle, but they are spectacularly flammable in sunlight.
The Devil’s Mouth is a nonstop rollercoaster where violence, humor, tenderness, good, and evil are mixed, and where the individual wins are balanced against heartbreaking losses. Not only would I not hesitate to recommend it, but Matt Kincade goes straight to my autobuy list.
***I received this book for free from the publisher or author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.***
So instead of extra stars, I’ll just tell you that the second I finished reading The Devil’s Mouth, I pulled up Amazon in a desperate search for anything else by Matt. And THEN I followed up with an even more desperate (dawn) email to him demanding the sequel. Now. Yesterday would be even better.
Despite the number of genres he mashed to create Devil’s Mouth, Matt Kincade’s writing and world building is in the spare, essential-info-only style of a Clint Eastwood western. Against that, the backstories of protagonist and vampire hunter Alex Rains and almost every other character emerge in tantalizing fragments to create a tapestry of three-dimensional supporting characters, both good and bad.
This is a tale of hunters and victims, but the roles are constantly being swapped. It begins with a prologue in which Mia, a Mexican teenager trying to reach her sister, is being smuggled into the US along with a group of other Mexicans. But once on the American side, they are taken prisoner, forced to watch while one is murdered by a vampire who then taunts the remaining prisoners, “Bienvenidos a América.”
In the first chapter, we meet Alex Rains, hiding in the New Mexico desert to spy on a remote house. When a woman enters the house and then begins screaming, Alex reluctantly leaves his surveillance to intervene. Rescuing the injured woman and killing her vampire assailants, he takes her back to his home in a secret location to care for her. She tells him that her name is Carmen and that she’s searching for her little sister Mia.
A skeptical Carmen is initiated into Alex’s violent world where vampire hunters are often the hunted, and where a shadowy network of hunters, adrenaline junkies, and their surprisingly well-equipped technical and medical support network are always aware that they are a step from death—or undeath.
[quote] “She took another sip from the coffee and looked at him sideways. “Forgive me if I’m having a hard time with the concept. Do you make money at this? Do you have a boss?”
Alex laughed. “I’m…an independent contractor. And as far as money, you know what they say, do what you love and the money follows.” [end quote]
Okay, so the vamp vigilante career doesn’t exactly involve a formal medical or retirement plan. But the job isn’t without its financial rewards. Vampires who’ve been around a long time have had plenty of opportunity to stockpile money and treasure—the hunters’ payroll. Plus…swords! Really cool old ones.
In all this, Alex is a complex figure. To Carmen’s growing frustration, he hides lethal expertise and tragic history behind his aw-shucks country boy rockabilly facade and quips.
[quote]“Gonna be harder to find than a black jellybean in a rabbit hutch.”
Carmen shook her head. “Do you just make these lines up?” [end quote]
As Alex and Carmen search for Mia, they become the targets of one of the oldest, most dangerous opponents, putting their lives, their friends, and their developing relationship at risk. In their world, violence is sudden, constant, and inevitable. They are in a war that can’t be won, against a constantly replenished enemy. It’s the world of the modern western, where the toys and trappings of modern civilization hide an endless cycle of good vs bad, while showcasing the vampire and western genres’ most common tropes:
* The gunslinger (Alex) is not only a quick draw, but also a trick shot as he demonstrates for his friends’ entertainment
* There are plenty of horses (but they’re under the hood, especially of Alex’s beloved muscle car).
* The good guy (Alex) rescues girls and wears a white cowboy hat, while his enemy eats girls and wears a black one. (No really.)
* Morality is on a sliding scale, where every horrific act committed by good guys is justified by the fact that the bad guys are so far outside the scope of the law.
* Heroes are badass, but bad guys are so unrelievedly villainous that they kill each other, murder young girls, and withhold cigarettes from enslaved housekeepers.
* Vampires do NOT sparkle, but they are spectacularly flammable in sunlight.
The Devil’s Mouth is a nonstop rollercoaster where violence, humor, tenderness, good, and evil are mixed, and where the individual wins are balanced against heartbreaking losses. Not only would I not hesitate to recommend it, but Matt Kincade goes straight to my autobuy list.
***I received this book for free from the publisher or author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.***
March 7, 2017
This is a paranormal suspense with a little romance thrown in for good measure. There is considerable violence and chopping off of heads, practicing chopping off heads and talking about chopping off heads. There is a little sex, no cliffhanger but if you are looking for a HEA for the couple - it doesn't happen. At least not yet. I've still got hopes for them.
The best way I can describe this book is a paranormal Lethal Weapon. You have Alex Rains as Martin Riggs and Carmen as Roger Murtaugh. Alex Rains is a risk taker. Carmen is less like Murtaugh since she has hardly any police experience and she's a girl. The vampires that meet their end are nasty buggers and they mostly are drug king pins or traffickers in the human sex trade. None of these vampires are the least bit sparkly.
I enjoyed this book immensely as I read the whole thing in one day. I loved the characters and their interactions. There was a certain amount of realism involved (not every good guy lived) which definitely adds to the depth of the story. Alex and Carmen's relationship is not an easy one and will prove to break your heart if you bet too much on them in this book. Like I said, I have all the confidence in the world that Alex and Carmen might make it work yet.
The best way I can describe this book is a paranormal Lethal Weapon. You have Alex Rains as Martin Riggs and Carmen as Roger Murtaugh. Alex Rains is a risk taker. Carmen is less like Murtaugh since she has hardly any police experience and she's a girl. The vampires that meet their end are nasty buggers and they mostly are drug king pins or traffickers in the human sex trade. None of these vampires are the least bit sparkly.
I enjoyed this book immensely as I read the whole thing in one day. I loved the characters and their interactions. There was a certain amount of realism involved (not every good guy lived) which definitely adds to the depth of the story. Alex and Carmen's relationship is not an easy one and will prove to break your heart if you bet too much on them in this book. Like I said, I have all the confidence in the world that Alex and Carmen might make it work yet.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 25, 2016
4/5 for a multi-layered urban fantasy that brings real issues to light.
The Devil’s Mouth begins as one may expect from this type of book— with blood and vampires. One might not expect, however, to be confronted with as distinct a main character as can be found in this book. Alex Rains is a no-nonsense cowboy with a dark past that’s found his calling as a vampire hunter.
A little background about Kincade’s vampires: Thankfully, we aren’t confronted with vampires that sparkle or shine, but rather those that are in close relation to the historical myth. Although no holy water is thrown, these vampires burn in sunlight and have to drink fresh human blood to live. Vampirism is a virus, and so, depending on the situation, can be passed on from a scratch or a bite.
The story takes place in New Mexico, right on the border. Although fixed in the world of fiction, some of the issues it revolves around (illegal immigration, specifically), are very much real. This book will not only call into question your sense of justice, it will blur the line between reality and fiction.
However much you expect to be reading a simple novel about vampire’s, expect things to get complicated towards the end. Be especially wary of entanglements, especially the romantic kind. Because although this book lives and breathes on the interactions between Alex Rains and others… that doesn’t mean everyone will keep breathing all the way up to the end.
The Devil’s Mouth begins as one may expect from this type of book— with blood and vampires. One might not expect, however, to be confronted with as distinct a main character as can be found in this book. Alex Rains is a no-nonsense cowboy with a dark past that’s found his calling as a vampire hunter.
A little background about Kincade’s vampires: Thankfully, we aren’t confronted with vampires that sparkle or shine, but rather those that are in close relation to the historical myth. Although no holy water is thrown, these vampires burn in sunlight and have to drink fresh human blood to live. Vampirism is a virus, and so, depending on the situation, can be passed on from a scratch or a bite.
The story takes place in New Mexico, right on the border. Although fixed in the world of fiction, some of the issues it revolves around (illegal immigration, specifically), are very much real. This book will not only call into question your sense of justice, it will blur the line between reality and fiction.
However much you expect to be reading a simple novel about vampire’s, expect things to get complicated towards the end. Be especially wary of entanglements, especially the romantic kind. Because although this book lives and breathes on the interactions between Alex Rains and others… that doesn’t mean everyone will keep breathing all the way up to the end.
June 18, 2016
I wasn't sure what to expect beyond loving the cover. I'd never read a vampire novel before and The Devil's Mouth is a cracking read. Engaging story, a tight group of characters with their own traits, great dialogue and overall a terrific read. What a debut novel.
The story centres around Alex Rains a vampire hunter who stands out as a unique character to me in the vampire realm and ultimately the tale turns into a hunt to find a missing person, the sister of Carmen, who Alex helps out.
I found the writing fresh and full of humour, observation and well paced throughout.
Matt balances the two main characters well and they form a dynamic duo, with plenty of twists and unexpected turns along the way.
The story centres around Alex Rains a vampire hunter who stands out as a unique character to me in the vampire realm and ultimately the tale turns into a hunt to find a missing person, the sister of Carmen, who Alex helps out.
I found the writing fresh and full of humour, observation and well paced throughout.
Matt balances the two main characters well and they form a dynamic duo, with plenty of twists and unexpected turns along the way.
June 20, 2016
The Devil's mouth
This book I wasn't sure about it, then I started reading it and the characters started growing on me. This wonderfully written story will amaze you and entertain you for hours and doesn't stop doing that til the last sentence. Let the characters grow on you to but don't let them get to close some are vampires don't ya know :)
This book I wasn't sure about it, then I started reading it and the characters started growing on me. This wonderfully written story will amaze you and entertain you for hours and doesn't stop doing that til the last sentence. Let the characters grow on you to but don't let them get to close some are vampires don't ya know :)
June 17, 2016
Fairly basic but entertaining
It was a fairly basic story populated with interesting characters. Doesn't waste a lot of pages on forced exposition it flows naturally. The romance angle felt forced.
It was a fairly basic story populated with interesting characters. Doesn't waste a lot of pages on forced exposition it flows naturally. The romance angle felt forced.
July 29, 2019
This is was fun, fast paced and surprisingly touching book.
It had a very comic book feel throughout and the world, whilst interesting, didn't feel that well fleshed out. Still the characters were good, Carmen at times felt a little too good at learning but otherwise the bad guys were bad and the good guys were good.
The romance was handled well, even after certain incident unfolded and despite the slightly sad ending it had elements of hope too.
A good start to the series, will be interesting to see where book two takes it.
It had a very comic book feel throughout and the world, whilst interesting, didn't feel that well fleshed out. Still the characters were good, Carmen at times felt a little too good at learning but otherwise the bad guys were bad and the good guys were good.
The romance was handled well, even after certain incident unfolded and despite the slightly sad ending it had elements of hope too.
A good start to the series, will be interesting to see where book two takes it.
March 10, 2018
A engaging read.
Not your typical vampire tale. The main character is both flawed and interesting. At first you think you're going to get a boy saves girl story , but the plot twists into something much more interesting . I just bought the second book in the series. I am very much looking forward to reading it.
Not your typical vampire tale. The main character is both flawed and interesting. At first you think you're going to get a boy saves girl story , but the plot twists into something much more interesting . I just bought the second book in the series. I am very much looking forward to reading it.
September 20, 2021
Needed this
I now consider this the standard for vampire hunting! A perfect blend of action, grit, brutality, hope, love, and sprinkled in comedic moments. I look forward to the next one!
I now consider this the standard for vampire hunting! A perfect blend of action, grit, brutality, hope, love, and sprinkled in comedic moments. I look forward to the next one!
May 16, 2017
Good fun
A few mistakes close to the end, but overall a good story with some good twists and turns.
I recommend this book to those that like vampire hunters.
A few mistakes close to the end, but overall a good story with some good twists and turns.
I recommend this book to those that like vampire hunters.
June 17, 2017
Great read, great character!
January 21, 2018
Unusual take on the vampire story, good tie-ins to old west history. Would read again to remind myself of the characters.
April 23, 2018
Vampires in the desert
alex rein is a badass, can't wait to read the sequel, Matt's vampires were so good I can't wait to see his take on the undead in the next book.
alex rein is a badass, can't wait to read the sequel, Matt's vampires were so good I can't wait to see his take on the undead in the next book.
July 17, 2020
Great read
I really enjoyed this book. In fact I bought the second book halfway thru reading it. I wish the author had more novels to read.
I really enjoyed this book. In fact I bought the second book halfway thru reading it. I wish the author had more novels to read.
April 25, 2023
I thought this was a great book, especially for people who like Vampire/Vampire Hunter stories.
More too come
More too come
March 3, 2017
With a particularly well-played prologue to hook the mood and scenery, this vampire hunter series starts on all the right notes. Vampires on the southern US border are preying on illegal immigrants directly and on a legal system that'd prefer to look the other way when it comes to trials of the disenfranchised.
The hero of this tale, Alex Rains, is a Taratino-ish cowboy that'd blend in with the characters of Kill Bill. The campy aw-shucks-t'aint-nothing attitude belies the sword-play martial arts. Early on, Alex meets the ex-cop Carmen desperate for the trail of her sister who's gone missing after crossing into the New Mexican desert with an immigrant smuggler.
The breadth of the story is guilty fun, if not predictable.
Jen, the character to watch out for, plays medic to the vampire hunting crowd. She hints at a layer of society to which even Alex is unaware. This tease pays off in the brief but poignant epilogue. In a sea of errant author epilogues, this one hits the mark.
I received my copy of this novel directly from the author through bookreviewdirectory.wordpress.com.
The hero of this tale, Alex Rains, is a Taratino-ish cowboy that'd blend in with the characters of Kill Bill. The campy aw-shucks-t'aint-nothing attitude belies the sword-play martial arts. Early on, Alex meets the ex-cop Carmen desperate for the trail of her sister who's gone missing after crossing into the New Mexican desert with an immigrant smuggler.
The breadth of the story is guilty fun, if not predictable.
Jen, the character to watch out for, plays medic to the vampire hunting crowd. She hints at a layer of society to which even Alex is unaware. This tease pays off in the brief but poignant epilogue. In a sea of errant author epilogues, this one hits the mark.
I received my copy of this novel directly from the author through bookreviewdirectory.wordpress.com.
July 27, 2016
When looking for another junk food title, I had a choice - there was a book with a spaceship on the cover, or The Devil's Mouth - the cover of which looks like a movie poster for a 1970s grindhouse horror film.
I made my choice, and I regret nothing.
Okay! Main character - Alex Rains: Rockabilly Badass, who will be played this episode by Kevin Bacon as seen in Tremors.
Carmen Carranza - Alex's steadfast sidekick and love interest / ex-MTV Video DJ if her name is any indicator, played by... uhm... ambiguous Latino actress of your choice, because she's not a grindhouse stereotype like Alex.
I don't think I'll ruin any part of the book by letting you know right off the bat that Alex Rains is a bad motherfucker. Unbelievably bad. At one point in the book it's stated by a supporting character,
"Alex could take any three men I know."
And this supporting character, Jen, associates almost exclusively with Vampire Hunters. Who, as a rule, tend to be pretty rough customers.
So suffice to say, Alex is tough. His dialog is tough, and witty, and for the most part pretty cool - well, there's one part where he fires his gun up in the air and goes "Ahh!", which I thought was pretty hilarious, but I'm fairly sure wasn't meant to be a reference to Point Break or Hot Fuzz. Also on one occasion he squints, looks at the horizon, and says something profound... which is something that a grindhouse action-movie hero would do. So I can excuse it, I guess. Still funny though.
For the most part, though, he's a witty fella - well written, if a little unbelievable before you really think about him. At first, I thought to myself -
"Right. So this guy has an amazing talent for violence - just, like Sonny Chiba, Mike Tyson, and Simo Häyhä all rolled into one, and he decides to just... kill vampires? I can see a guy like Alex, who's an ex-mafioso type enforcer, having beef with ONE vampire and killing him.. but this moral crusade? Nah."
And then Alex pulls fifty-grand out of a vampire's house, and the world made sense again.
Do the right thing? Check.
Revenge? Check.
Boatloads of cash? Check, and double-check.
The only thing that bothers me about Alex is the same thing that bothers me about all of these grindhouse super-tough killing machines - he's too pretty to be a badman.
I would, just once outside of a Larry Correia book, like to see a badman look how i know a badman looks. Cauliflower ears, pancake nose, trick knees, swollen knuckles and a bad back. Face looks like a river-map of the amazon basin because of the scars, and odds are - the four front teeth are either gonna be fake or missing. Because nobody, and I mean NOBODY, is fast enough and smart enough to be a tough-guy for more than a little while without some serious ugly creepin' in. But that's not a problem with this book - that's a genre issue. And a personal issue. So yeah.
All in all, it's a pretty fun little read - lotta killin' and fightin' and Elvis and Johnny Cash. Blood and gore and gunpowder, with a side of Sonny Chiba.
I made my choice, and I regret nothing.
Okay! Main character - Alex Rains: Rockabilly Badass, who will be played this episode by Kevin Bacon as seen in Tremors.
Carmen Carranza - Alex's steadfast sidekick and love interest / ex-MTV Video DJ if her name is any indicator, played by... uhm... ambiguous Latino actress of your choice, because she's not a grindhouse stereotype like Alex.
I don't think I'll ruin any part of the book by letting you know right off the bat that Alex Rains is a bad motherfucker. Unbelievably bad. At one point in the book it's stated by a supporting character,
"Alex could take any three men I know."
And this supporting character, Jen, associates almost exclusively with Vampire Hunters. Who, as a rule, tend to be pretty rough customers.
So suffice to say, Alex is tough. His dialog is tough, and witty, and for the most part pretty cool - well, there's one part where he fires his gun up in the air and goes "Ahh!", which I thought was pretty hilarious, but I'm fairly sure wasn't meant to be a reference to Point Break or Hot Fuzz. Also on one occasion he squints, looks at the horizon, and says something profound... which is something that a grindhouse action-movie hero would do. So I can excuse it, I guess. Still funny though.
For the most part, though, he's a witty fella - well written, if a little unbelievable before you really think about him. At first, I thought to myself -
"Right. So this guy has an amazing talent for violence - just, like Sonny Chiba, Mike Tyson, and Simo Häyhä all rolled into one, and he decides to just... kill vampires? I can see a guy like Alex, who's an ex-mafioso type enforcer, having beef with ONE vampire and killing him.. but this moral crusade? Nah."
And then Alex pulls fifty-grand out of a vampire's house, and the world made sense again.
Do the right thing? Check.
Revenge? Check.
Boatloads of cash? Check, and double-check.
The only thing that bothers me about Alex is the same thing that bothers me about all of these grindhouse super-tough killing machines - he's too pretty to be a badman.
I would, just once outside of a Larry Correia book, like to see a badman look how i know a badman looks. Cauliflower ears, pancake nose, trick knees, swollen knuckles and a bad back. Face looks like a river-map of the amazon basin because of the scars, and odds are - the four front teeth are either gonna be fake or missing. Because nobody, and I mean NOBODY, is fast enough and smart enough to be a tough-guy for more than a little while without some serious ugly creepin' in. But that's not a problem with this book - that's a genre issue. And a personal issue. So yeah.
All in all, it's a pretty fun little read - lotta killin' and fightin' and Elvis and Johnny Cash. Blood and gore and gunpowder, with a side of Sonny Chiba.
July 8, 2016
The book contains the line, “The Don doesn’t make a lot of mistakes.” That’s because he makes ALL OF THEM. Evil monologues (plural!), leaving your enemy alive, letting your enemy pick up a weapon and go after you just because you want to prove you’re better, insisting on killing people yourself when that should be what your people do for you, and doing most of these things multiple times. Much of this book is one giant facepalm revolving around the inexcusably dumb choices made by a vampire who’s old enough and powerful enough to know better.
The current hyperbolic, over-the-top style in some of the genre fiction I read these days can be very difficult to tell from satire. I occasionally have to check categories a book is listed under at Amazon just to be sure, and even then I’m not always certain. As far as I can tell, this was not meant as satire by the author. Unfortunately, even if it was satire it wouldn’t make up for the piled up cliches and stupidity.
I feel a little sorry for bad guy Jacob, just because he’s made to deliver a lot of the Don’s ridiculous pronouncements: “There’s only one reason you’re still alive right now. When somebody pisses off the Don, he insists on finishing them himself.” Really? Seriously? The 500-year-old vampire who has retained control of a huge estate and a bunch of vampires is going to be that stupid?! (Even Jacob seems to occasionally realize how stupid the Don is being. However, noting a plot hole doesn’t fix it.) There are a bunch of events, pronouncements, arguments and such which just don’t make sense. Also there are some spiffy senses and other abilities vampires get which must go on the fritz or something because there are scenes that should have gone very differently due to what the vamps should have seen or heard.
After addressing the Don, I should really get back to Alex. He styles himself as a cowboy. He does tai chi, he’s a swordsman, he has an old car collection in his bat cave. Oh, and “a scrawny old Asian man” beat his ass and then taught him and made him a better person. He has an entire armory. I don’t even know where to go with this. It’s a question of how many cliches you can fit into one man. He’s quite the Mary Sue. For a lot of things he doesn’t even have an excuse–it’s just oh, I picked it up somewhere. I was starting to giggle every time he came up with some new hobby, collection, or ability.
I could add in a lot of examples, but I’m pretty sure you have the picture by now.
Original review on my site: http://www.errantdreams.com/2016/07/r...
The current hyperbolic, over-the-top style in some of the genre fiction I read these days can be very difficult to tell from satire. I occasionally have to check categories a book is listed under at Amazon just to be sure, and even then I’m not always certain. As far as I can tell, this was not meant as satire by the author. Unfortunately, even if it was satire it wouldn’t make up for the piled up cliches and stupidity.
I feel a little sorry for bad guy Jacob, just because he’s made to deliver a lot of the Don’s ridiculous pronouncements: “There’s only one reason you’re still alive right now. When somebody pisses off the Don, he insists on finishing them himself.” Really? Seriously? The 500-year-old vampire who has retained control of a huge estate and a bunch of vampires is going to be that stupid?! (Even Jacob seems to occasionally realize how stupid the Don is being. However, noting a plot hole doesn’t fix it.) There are a bunch of events, pronouncements, arguments and such which just don’t make sense. Also there are some spiffy senses and other abilities vampires get which must go on the fritz or something because there are scenes that should have gone very differently due to what the vamps should have seen or heard.
After addressing the Don, I should really get back to Alex. He styles himself as a cowboy. He does tai chi, he’s a swordsman, he has an old car collection in his bat cave. Oh, and “a scrawny old Asian man” beat his ass and then taught him and made him a better person. He has an entire armory. I don’t even know where to go with this. It’s a question of how many cliches you can fit into one man. He’s quite the Mary Sue. For a lot of things he doesn’t even have an excuse–it’s just oh, I picked it up somewhere. I was starting to giggle every time he came up with some new hobby, collection, or ability.
I could add in a lot of examples, but I’m pretty sure you have the picture by now.
Original review on my site: http://www.errantdreams.com/2016/07/r...
July 27, 2016
I really liked The Devil's Mouth. Like others have mentioned, it has a Tarantino/Rodriguez feel to it, with a bit of Coen brothers added in. The protagonist was pretty damn likeable (I was charmed) and the female lead has understandable reactions to everything. Plus, there was Elvis and a lot of decapitation. This book would make a really awesome movie.
Read
May 23, 2016An entertaining book
A vampire hunter, who happens to like Elvis , wears Hawaiian shirts and speaks with southern dialect. I read this pretty much straight through the day and I'm looking forward to the next book in the series., it's that good.
A vampire hunter, who happens to like Elvis , wears Hawaiian shirts and speaks with southern dialect. I read this pretty much straight through the day and I'm looking forward to the next book in the series., it's that good.
November 4, 2016
Ready for more Alex Rains!!!!
Awesome read with a captivating protagonist full of badassery and witty good ol boy phrases. There was an interesting and original take on vampires and how they operate. Look forward to more!!
Awesome read with a captivating protagonist full of badassery and witty good ol boy phrases. There was an interesting and original take on vampires and how they operate. Look forward to more!!
November 21, 2016
Fantastic
Just an overall fantastic book. One of my favorite vampire stories. There is a lot to say. If you enjoy vampire hunters with some sex appeal and humor, you owe it to yourself.
Just an overall fantastic book. One of my favorite vampire stories. There is a lot to say. If you enjoy vampire hunters with some sex appeal and humor, you owe it to yourself.
June 21, 2016
Interesting twist on a vampire hunter story.
Loved the contrasting characters they make the story. I recommend to anyone who enjoys this genre of story. Hoping for more in series.
Loved the contrasting characters they make the story. I recommend to anyone who enjoys this genre of story. Hoping for more in series.
June 25, 2016
Cowboy vs Vampire
This was a great read. The missile silo and Hunter network was very creative. Looking forward to the next book.
This was a great read. The missile silo and Hunter network was very creative. Looking forward to the next book.
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