BLOOD IS THICKER THAN WATER - UNLESS THERE'S A VAMPIRE IN THE FAMILY...
Hot-shot Hollywood horror writer Harry Matheson remembered how it began all those yars ago - in the wake of ghastly screams in that dark, dank cellar. He'd been terrified then, but now, things were different - and so was he...
Wright's first novel, The Hunt, was lots of fun so I gave Blood Brothers, his second book, a go. I am not a huge vampire fan, but that seems to be Wright's bag; more macabre than scary vampires, however. Harry and Jerry Matheson, twin brothers, have always felt a connection to one another, but Harry lead while Jerry followed.
The story kicks off with Jerry moving into Harry's old house in a small, upstate NY town while Harry supposedly is in Hollywood writing the script of a horror movie. Both brothers write horror novels (a cardinal sin in the Book of Phil!), but Harry's already made bank doing it while Jerry is just starting to make a name for himself.
Jerry, his wife Maria and son Tad like the house, but son and wife find it creepy; it sits isolated next to a cemetery except for one house at the bottom of the hill. Once the novel gets started with Maria and Tad moving in, etc., Wright takes us on a number of digressions into the past of Harry and Jerry. Harry, about 20 years ago when he went to high school, had a very bad experience and now seeks revenge on the 'pranksters' (some of his fellow classmates). Why now? Well, Harry became a vampire and the timing just seems right 😎
If you are looking for a fun, pulpy vampire novel, you could do much worse. Wright does not really bring anything new into the vampire world, but the scheming and small town atmosphere make up for that. Lots of strange things brewing in the little town, including a macabre festival that features in a number of time lines. I liked The Hunt more, and now I may try to find more of his books. 3 bloody fangs!