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VRC: Vampire Related Crimes #3
How to Lure a Hunter
Alexei
When Marcus Church brings his brother Claude in to help solve an unusual murder, I’m positive he did it just to disrupt my monotonous life. None of my coworkers in the Vampire Related Crimes unit seem to understand that I want to keep a wall between me and everyone else—especially Claude, who does everything he can to break through it with an annoying smile. After more vampires begin to die, Claude pinpoints the actions of the killers to a group of vampire hunters, leaving us in a race to stop them. When I discover that I have a target on my back, I’m surprised that Claude insists on staying by my side, even when things go from bad to worse. I’m determined to keep him out—I’ve lost enough people in my life—but I can’t stop feeling something every time he breaks through.
Claude
When I reunited with my brother, I never imagined it’d throw me right into Alexei Karsynov’s path. He’s short-tempered, stubborn, and dangerously adorable whenever he smiles—he just doesn’t realize it yet. When Marcus asks me to help with a case, it gives me the excuse I need to get closer to Alexei, but what I discover threatens to change everything. Suddenly, I find myself wanting to do anything to protect Alexei and to see him smile, despite his efforts to keep his distance from others. I’m determined to show him that he can’t live in the past when his future is so much brighter.
How to Lure a Hunter is a 107k word book that Clothes so bright they could cause retina damage, a ridiculous amount of gifts showered on a reluctant recipient, a cranky Russian with a soft spot he tries to hide, a library full of books that need to be treated with the proper respect, some possibly unhealthy sibling teasing, and a sunshiny 300-year-old vampire with an unexpected protective streak.
When Marcus Church brings his brother Claude in to help solve an unusual murder, I’m positive he did it just to disrupt my monotonous life. None of my coworkers in the Vampire Related Crimes unit seem to understand that I want to keep a wall between me and everyone else—especially Claude, who does everything he can to break through it with an annoying smile. After more vampires begin to die, Claude pinpoints the actions of the killers to a group of vampire hunters, leaving us in a race to stop them. When I discover that I have a target on my back, I’m surprised that Claude insists on staying by my side, even when things go from bad to worse. I’m determined to keep him out—I’ve lost enough people in my life—but I can’t stop feeling something every time he breaks through.
Claude
When I reunited with my brother, I never imagined it’d throw me right into Alexei Karsynov’s path. He’s short-tempered, stubborn, and dangerously adorable whenever he smiles—he just doesn’t realize it yet. When Marcus asks me to help with a case, it gives me the excuse I need to get closer to Alexei, but what I discover threatens to change everything. Suddenly, I find myself wanting to do anything to protect Alexei and to see him smile, despite his efforts to keep his distance from others. I’m determined to show him that he can’t live in the past when his future is so much brighter.
How to Lure a Hunter is a 107k word book that Clothes so bright they could cause retina damage, a ridiculous amount of gifts showered on a reluctant recipient, a cranky Russian with a soft spot he tries to hide, a library full of books that need to be treated with the proper respect, some possibly unhealthy sibling teasing, and a sunshiny 300-year-old vampire with an unexpected protective streak.
393 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 24, 2020
531 people are currently reading
829 people want to read
About the author
Alice Winters
62 books2,754 followersAlice Winters started writing stories as soon as she was old enough to turn her ideas into written words. She loves writing a variety of things from romance and comedy to action. She also enjoys reading, horseback riding, and spending time with her pets.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 369 reviews
July 31, 2020
This latest book in the "Vampire Related Crimes" series has all of the same earmarks of snark and banter as the first two books, so I found it to be funny, compelling, and definitely worth a read. : )
At the end of the last book, Marcus' colorful, slightly-campy brother, Claude, had set his very persistent eyes on Alexei Karsyn, a gruff, no-nonsense detective at the VRC, much to the horror of Alexei.
But luckily for Claude, his best friend, Finn, had already begun breaking down the walls that Alexei had spent a century and a half building up to protect his heart from experiencing any further loss and betrayal.
The reported 377 page book's pacing felt a bit slow at times toward the middle; however, that never really translated into disinterest or boredom on my part. Things simply took a bit longer to happen than I'd hoped.
I did really enjoy the flashback scenes, where details slowly trickled out about how Alexei went from being a human in Russia, was turned into a vampire, then moved to America for a fresh start with the VRC.
From the first mention of the person who turned out to be the protagonist in this book, I just *knew* deep in my bones that he would turn out to be The Big Bad here, so I wasn't overly surprised when that was the case, but I still enjoyed that (predictable) storyline, nonetheless.
My favorite parts of the book, though, were those where Claude's always-sunny, trusting personality was on-page in full force. Those scenes were both comedic and ridiculous in equal measure, but I was a huge fan and was never bored.
The angst was pretty manageable, and the steam was more than decent, without becoming annoyingly-frequent, so two thumbs up there.
My overall impression upon finishing the book was that books 1 and 2 were still my favorites, but Claude and Alexei's story fit nicely in with the series, so I'd rate this one at around 3.75 stars and for sure recommend it to fans of the series. : )
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July 2, 2025
✅ Funny moments
✅ Some smut (MM)
✅ Cute romance
✅ Characters / Sexy vampires 😏
✅ 2 POVs
✅ Pace
✅(🆗) Flashbacks
✅(🆗) Intrigue
_______________________
Second read/listen: I enjoyed all the flashbacks less this time around (but that’s a “me thing”), but the narrator made Alexei and Claude’s interactions even funnier than what I remembered from my first read.
_______________________
Alexei Karsyn, my sweet baby. He melts my heart.
I was happy to get more info about Alexei’s backstory, and seeing him and Claude together felt so wholesome. Their dynamic did remind me of Marcus and Finn: the broody, gruff and no-nonsense vampire that doesn’t want anything to do with relationships and romance, and the overhappy romantic that doesn’t know how to quit and doesn’t take no for an answer... But it was also different because the characters have their personality and backgrounds, which is good.
Of course, the romantic aspect was very predictable, but that’s why I read this book, so I don’t care that I knew it would happen. I just wanted Alexei to have some love and sexy times. I have to say, though, that the intrigue was a little predictable… Some revelations about Alexei’s past took me by surprise, but once we had his background, the rest of the plot didn’t surprise me much. Still, I enjoyed this book, and it is a good detective/action/funny/romantic story.
I usually don’t enjoy flashbacks in a book, but in this case, I really loved reading about Alexei’s past as a human, and the author mastered the art of putting the flashbacks in strategic positions in the book to not lose the reader’s interest. Seeing how rough and ruthless his young adult life was helped us understand his grumpy character. He changed a lot in the book, as he realizes that having friends and people to care about is not a weakness and will not inevitably end up with heartbreak. It was also heartbreaking to see how he thought he didn’t deserve love or happiness, and how Claude managed to get through to him and to show him that he was worthy of so much love.
Claude was introduced in the second book, and he is a VERY colorful character. His weird and colorful wardrobe choices were quite funny to read about, and he clashed so much with Alexei’s dark and monochrome lifestyle! Seriously, I can’t even fully imagine what Claude’s outfits must look like… he would probably make any hippie, disco fan, or flashy punk from the 2000s proud. He also has a way to always involve glitter, sequins, rainbows, cupcakes, or unicorns in his everyday life.
Claude’s interactions with Alexei, while reminding me much of the ones in the first book between Finn and Marcus, were still very entertaining, and they made me laugh out loud more than once. He is so persistent and is very confident that he will wear Alexei down and manage to breach his emotional defenses.
One of my top highlights in this book, though, was seeing the dynamic between the 4 main characters of this series. It is epically perfect. I LOVE their little group, and I would read a whole book just about their everyday life because they’re just so entertaining. Their group texts are also hilarious; it's just too funny and cute how they meddle into each other's lives and participate in each other's humiliation.
1. How to Vex a Vampire ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
2. How to Elude a Vampire ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
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✅ Some smut (MM)
✅ Cute romance
✅ Characters / Sexy vampires 😏
✅ 2 POVs
✅ Pace
✅(🆗) Flashbacks
✅(🆗) Intrigue
_______________________
Second read/listen: I enjoyed all the flashbacks less this time around (but that’s a “me thing”), but the narrator made Alexei and Claude’s interactions even funnier than what I remembered from my first read.
_______________________
Alexei Karsyn, my sweet baby. He melts my heart.
“Don’t mistakenly think this means I like you,” he mumbles.
“Do you ever get tired of having to pretend you hate everything?”
“Sometimes,” he says which makes me laugh.
I was happy to get more info about Alexei’s backstory, and seeing him and Claude together felt so wholesome. Their dynamic did remind me of Marcus and Finn: the broody, gruff and no-nonsense vampire that doesn’t want anything to do with relationships and romance, and the overhappy romantic that doesn’t know how to quit and doesn’t take no for an answer... But it was also different because the characters have their personality and backgrounds, which is good.
The door flings open. I really shouldn’t have had faith in him. He has the suit jacket on, but he’s tied it around his neck like some kind of cape. He has about fifteen neckties tied around his head, creating some kind of weird headdress/veil thing. Then there’s the green shirt that he’s rolled up into a belly shirt, shorts that he’s pulled up past his navel so it looks like he has some weird version of booty shorts on, and a pair of zebra print neon socks.
“Ah, I’m so sexy,” he purrs. Literally purrs as he struts across the room.
I’m in so much shock that I just stare at him, unable to comprehend what is happening. “You are a demon!” I cry before I start laughing. He turns his ass to me which allows me to see that the booty shorts are right up his ass crack and I see a peek of cheeks.
“This is how you look all the time. But I see now why you dress this way. I feel magnificent,” he says as I try not to fall off the bed.
“I do not! My god, how have you managed to ruin everything?”
“What are you talking about?” he asks as he does some type of tightrope walk thing with his knee-high socked feet. “This is what you looked like the first time I met you. God, I feel beautiful. I see now why you love mirrors so much,” he says as he struts in front of the mirror and just turns this way and that. How he’s keeping a straight face during all of this, I’ll never know.
Of course, the romantic aspect was very predictable, but that’s why I read this book, so I don’t care that I knew it would happen. I just wanted Alexei to have some love and sexy times. I have to say, though, that the intrigue was a little predictable… Some revelations about Alexei’s past took me by surprise, but once we had his background, the rest of the plot didn’t surprise me much. Still, I enjoyed this book, and it is a good detective/action/funny/romantic story.
I usually don’t enjoy flashbacks in a book, but in this case, I really loved reading about Alexei’s past as a human, and the author mastered the art of putting the flashbacks in strategic positions in the book to not lose the reader’s interest. Seeing how rough and ruthless his young adult life was helped us understand his grumpy character. He changed a lot in the book, as he realizes that having friends and people to care about is not a weakness and will not inevitably end up with heartbreak. It was also heartbreaking to see how he thought he didn’t deserve love or happiness, and how Claude managed to get through to him and to show him that he was worthy of so much love.
“Don’t look so freaking happy,” Alexei says.
“My heart.” I grab it in case he’s not aware of where the heart is.
His eyes narrow. “No! Knock it off or I’ll hunt him down and change.”
“It’s exploding!”
“Ew. No.”
I drop my hand to full-on beam at him. “I thought you loved blood.”
“Yeah, but your heart’s probably full of glitter and sparkles or some shit.”
Claude was introduced in the second book, and he is a VERY colorful character. His weird and colorful wardrobe choices were quite funny to read about, and he clashed so much with Alexei’s dark and monochrome lifestyle! Seriously, I can’t even fully imagine what Claude’s outfits must look like… he would probably make any hippie, disco fan, or flashy punk from the 2000s proud. He also has a way to always involve glitter, sequins, rainbows, cupcakes, or unicorns in his everyday life.
Claude’s interactions with Alexei, while reminding me much of the ones in the first book between Finn and Marcus, were still very entertaining, and they made me laugh out loud more than once. He is so persistent and is very confident that he will wear Alexei down and manage to breach his emotional defenses.
“Here we go!” Claude backs down the driveway and out onto the road before making an immediate left turn into the next driveway that isn’t but a stone’s throw from the one we just left. “And we’re here!”
“No! NO!” Marcus cries, and I’ve never heard such devastation coming out of him. I can’t help but laugh as I see the pure despair on Marcus’s face as Claude beams at us.
“Wait… you’re our neighbor?” Finn asks hesitantly.
Claude’s joy shows on his face as he turns to him. “I’ll be the best neighbor you’ve ever had! The moment I saw the house next door was for sale, I snatched it right up!”
Marcus isn’t listening. He’s too frantic. “We’ll need to build a fence… no… it won’t be enough! We have to move. Finn, start packing,” Marcus says as he throws open the door and tries getting out before realizing he has the seat belt on. All three of us proceed to watch as he has a tantrum trying to get it off.
One of my top highlights in this book, though, was seeing the dynamic between the 4 main characters of this series. It is epically perfect. I LOVE their little group, and I would read a whole book just about their everyday life because they’re just so entertaining. Their group texts are also hilarious; it's just too funny and cute how they meddle into each other's lives and participate in each other's humiliation.
1. How to Vex a Vampire ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
2. How to Elude a Vampire ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
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August 21, 2020
“I feel like you’re being dramatic-aggressive. It’s like passive-aggressive but with a lot of drama thrown in.”
I think after reading three books by this author, I don't mind the author's humour writing that much. It's not that funny but it's not irritating anymore too.
This book surprised me a little. I didn't expect to like it this much. According to me, this had the best mystery out of all three books and I was actually invested and curious to find out more about Karsyn's past. I loved discovering his history.
I feel like adding flashbacks in your story can be tricky. The author has to find the perfect timing so as to not lose the reader's interest. I think Alice Winters did a fantastic job in doing that. I was never bored. In fact, I was getting more and more intrigued by his past as the story continued.
I loved the romance aspect too but I kind of already loved the couple before even starting this book so, that wasn't really a surprise.
And after reading DeGray's short story I can't wait to read his book and discover his love story. I hope it releases soon !!
I think after reading three books by this author, I don't mind the author's humour writing that much. It's not that funny but it's not irritating anymore too.
This book surprised me a little. I didn't expect to like it this much. According to me, this had the best mystery out of all three books and I was actually invested and curious to find out more about Karsyn's past. I loved discovering his history.
I feel like adding flashbacks in your story can be tricky. The author has to find the perfect timing so as to not lose the reader's interest. I think Alice Winters did a fantastic job in doing that. I was never bored. In fact, I was getting more and more intrigued by his past as the story continued.
I loved the romance aspect too but I kind of already loved the couple before even starting this book so, that wasn't really a surprise.
And after reading DeGray's short story I can't wait to read his book and discover his love story. I hope it releases soon !!
August 23, 2020
The guys in this book are totally opposites. Alexei is a broody, Russian accented (yummy), vampire detective with a dark past who dresses in all black and speaks like he's only allotted a few words a day. Claude is a historian with a book-fetish (I get that), who dresses in a way that a pimp in a 70's cop show would be proud of, speaks constantly, and is a happy-puppies-kittens-and-rainbows guy.
Alexei:
Claude:
Oh my gosh, they are perfect for each other!!
So, Claude has had a crush on Alexei since he showed up in the series, but Alexei is all broody and dark and doesn't deserve to be loved. But Claude is persistent. He will not stop trying to get Alexei's attention. He can heal all that darkness. Well, especially with his glow-in-the-dark suits. There is no darkness where Claude is standing. Ever. So, there is a constant battle that is pretty damn funny.
When Alexei is finally willing to give Claude a little time, he lets them pick an activity to do together:
Alexei: "I thought I'd let you pick something we could do together and I will not complain or say no, no matter how torturous it is."
Claude: I stare at him in pure shock...
"Deal!" I shout, unsure if I've ever been this excited in my life. "Fashion show!"
Alexei: "Oh, good god, that didn't even take you a second to think about it! Ah, shit... I already failed. I mean... Yay!"
That exchange pretty much exemplifies their exact relationship throughout the book, and it was a lot of fun.
Oh, also there were vampire hunters killing vampires that they needed to find.
Alexei:
Claude:
Oh my gosh, they are perfect for each other!!
So, Claude has had a crush on Alexei since he showed up in the series, but Alexei is all broody and dark and doesn't deserve to be loved. But Claude is persistent. He will not stop trying to get Alexei's attention. He can heal all that darkness. Well, especially with his glow-in-the-dark suits. There is no darkness where Claude is standing. Ever. So, there is a constant battle that is pretty damn funny.
When Alexei is finally willing to give Claude a little time, he lets them pick an activity to do together:
Alexei: "I thought I'd let you pick something we could do together and I will not complain or say no, no matter how torturous it is."
Claude: I stare at him in pure shock...
"Deal!" I shout, unsure if I've ever been this excited in my life. "Fashion show!"
Alexei: "Oh, good god, that didn't even take you a second to think about it! Ah, shit... I already failed. I mean... Yay!"
That exchange pretty much exemplifies their exact relationship throughout the book, and it was a lot of fun.
Oh, also there were vampire hunters killing vampires that they needed to find.
October 27, 2021
3.5 Stars Rounded Up
I honestly wondered how my 3rd foray into Winters would play out because admittedly, I really enjoyed the first two books of this series as they focused on Finn and Marcus. It’s reasonable to say I was apprehensive as the spotlight would now be on Marcus’s brother Claude, who has steadfastly set his eyes on the elusive Karsyn.
Though not as laugh out loud funny, I had to remind myself that this was about a different couple who would have a different dynamic and thus, the silly shenanigans would not be the same. Nor should they be.
Karsyn is the curmudgeon of all vampires. He has very good reasons for being so, mainly stemming from his family being murdered and his lover betraying him, all of which have shaped his kind soul into someone who thinks he’s undeserving of happiness. When Claude pursues Karsyn relentlessly, Karsyn doesn’t stand a chance at avoiding the sunniest vamp around. Claude is a big glob of indestructible rubber as rejection easily bounces off him. Luckily, Claude’s resiliently stubborn, and there’s a steely toughness underneath the superficial shiny exterior.
Don’t get me wrong. I enjoyed this. Props to the supporting cast members who love to meddle and gleefully partake in each other’s humiliation and embarrassment. I know Winter’s writing isn’t for everyone, but I continue to appreciate her mix of humor and dramatic suspense, and I know exactly where to look when silly suspenseful romance is needed!
I honestly wondered how my 3rd foray into Winters would play out because admittedly, I really enjoyed the first two books of this series as they focused on Finn and Marcus. It’s reasonable to say I was apprehensive as the spotlight would now be on Marcus’s brother Claude, who has steadfastly set his eyes on the elusive Karsyn.
Though not as laugh out loud funny, I had to remind myself that this was about a different couple who would have a different dynamic and thus, the silly shenanigans would not be the same. Nor should they be.
Karsyn is the curmudgeon of all vampires. He has very good reasons for being so, mainly stemming from his family being murdered and his lover betraying him, all of which have shaped his kind soul into someone who thinks he’s undeserving of happiness. When Claude pursues Karsyn relentlessly, Karsyn doesn’t stand a chance at avoiding the sunniest vamp around. Claude is a big glob of indestructible rubber as rejection easily bounces off him. Luckily, Claude’s resiliently stubborn, and there’s a steely toughness underneath the superficial shiny exterior.
Don’t get me wrong. I enjoyed this. Props to the supporting cast members who love to meddle and gleefully partake in each other’s humiliation and embarrassment. I know Winter’s writing isn’t for everyone, but I continue to appreciate her mix of humor and dramatic suspense, and I know exactly where to look when silly suspenseful romance is needed!
August 7, 2021
4 Stars
Book three in this urban fantasy romance series—following vampire special agents who solve vampire related crimes—sees a switch in narrative focus from the usual MC’s Finn and Marcus (first seen in How to Vex a Vampire). This time around, broody AF team member, Alexei Karsyn, is at the forefront of the story, finding himself shocked to his core when a recent string of vampire murders begins to lead back to dark secrets from Alexei’s past that he’d rather NOT come back to bite him in the arse.
While dealing with this new threat to vampire kind, Alexei also finds himself ineffectively fighting off romantic advances from Marcus’s eccentric brother Claude. As annoying as Alexei finds Claude, he also can’t help but be secretly moved by all the attention he’s getting by the kooky but intelligent and kind older vampire. He can claim he’s not looking for love and he’d rather be alone, but Alexei can only play disinterested for so long before Claude’s help on the case leads to big reveals and dangerous circumstances which bring the two closer than Alexei could ever have expected.
The story arc was fresh and exciting, leading to some interesting unveilings, mostly where Alexei’s fascinating past was concerned. I relished getting to read through some new perspectives and I certainly enjoyed getting to read more about Alexei and his history. All that was revealed, in that respect, made getting Alexei’s HFN in the present even more special because the man deserved some happy after a lifetime of hurt and loneliness.
Claude and Alexei together was a lot of fun to read. They seemed such polar opposites when they first met in book two (How to Elude a Vampire), but both were such compelling secondary characters that I just knew I’d have a blast reading how they eventually would fall in love. It’s actually a toss up for me which of the two characters I liked more, if I’m being honest.
Alexei has always outwardly been the strong, snarky type; always dependable on the job and always there to support human teammate and maybe even unexpected best-friend Finn—you know, whenever he’s not busy threatening harm upon Finn’s person whenever the silly human speaks. Hell, even Finn can see beyond Alexei’s hard-surface bravado to the much friendlier—perhaps much lonelier— mushy centre that Alexei will never willingly admit to, not beyond pain of death! He just has that dark and lonesome sadness to him that made me want to wrap him up in a hug—I love that in a badass, immortal crime-fighter!
Claude, on the other hand, is one of those over-the-top characters that you just can’t help but adore. Larger than life and outrageous at times, particularly where his fashion sense is concerned, this centuries old true vampire was one of a kind, made all the more grounded by his fierce loyalty and kind nature, and his hella attractive obsession with books and learning. Oh yes, who doesn’t love a man who loves his books?!?!
At the end of the day, my love for Alexei probably wins out. He has steadfastly been a favourite character of mine since the beginning of the series—maybe the favourite character, now that I’m hashing it out like this—so getting his story and witnessing his romance with Claude was greatly appreciated, particularly when it came to all that we got to learn about his past as the greater story unfolded.
Overall, this was a really fun and engaging read. The plot was interesting, the humour was on-point, the characters were wonderfully charming, and the romance was so very heartwarming, especially once Alexei got past his hang-ups and allowed himself to be truly happy with happy-go-lucky Claude. Their story was a joy to read and I look forward to continuing the series with DeGray’s book (How to Save a Human). <3
Book three in this urban fantasy romance series—following vampire special agents who solve vampire related crimes—sees a switch in narrative focus from the usual MC’s Finn and Marcus (first seen in How to Vex a Vampire). This time around, broody AF team member, Alexei Karsyn, is at the forefront of the story, finding himself shocked to his core when a recent string of vampire murders begins to lead back to dark secrets from Alexei’s past that he’d rather NOT come back to bite him in the arse.
While dealing with this new threat to vampire kind, Alexei also finds himself ineffectively fighting off romantic advances from Marcus’s eccentric brother Claude. As annoying as Alexei finds Claude, he also can’t help but be secretly moved by all the attention he’s getting by the kooky but intelligent and kind older vampire. He can claim he’s not looking for love and he’d rather be alone, but Alexei can only play disinterested for so long before Claude’s help on the case leads to big reveals and dangerous circumstances which bring the two closer than Alexei could ever have expected.
The story arc was fresh and exciting, leading to some interesting unveilings, mostly where Alexei’s fascinating past was concerned. I relished getting to read through some new perspectives and I certainly enjoyed getting to read more about Alexei and his history. All that was revealed, in that respect, made getting Alexei’s HFN in the present even more special because the man deserved some happy after a lifetime of hurt and loneliness.
Claude and Alexei together was a lot of fun to read. They seemed such polar opposites when they first met in book two (How to Elude a Vampire), but both were such compelling secondary characters that I just knew I’d have a blast reading how they eventually would fall in love. It’s actually a toss up for me which of the two characters I liked more, if I’m being honest.
Alexei has always outwardly been the strong, snarky type; always dependable on the job and always there to support human teammate and maybe even unexpected best-friend Finn—you know, whenever he’s not busy threatening harm upon Finn’s person whenever the silly human speaks. Hell, even Finn can see beyond Alexei’s hard-surface bravado to the much friendlier—perhaps much lonelier— mushy centre that Alexei will never willingly admit to, not beyond pain of death! He just has that dark and lonesome sadness to him that made me want to wrap him up in a hug—I love that in a badass, immortal crime-fighter!
Claude, on the other hand, is one of those over-the-top characters that you just can’t help but adore. Larger than life and outrageous at times, particularly where his fashion sense is concerned, this centuries old true vampire was one of a kind, made all the more grounded by his fierce loyalty and kind nature, and his hella attractive obsession with books and learning. Oh yes, who doesn’t love a man who loves his books?!?!
At the end of the day, my love for Alexei probably wins out. He has steadfastly been a favourite character of mine since the beginning of the series—maybe the favourite character, now that I’m hashing it out like this—so getting his story and witnessing his romance with Claude was greatly appreciated, particularly when it came to all that we got to learn about his past as the greater story unfolded.
Overall, this was a really fun and engaging read. The plot was interesting, the humour was on-point, the characters were wonderfully charming, and the romance was so very heartwarming, especially once Alexei got past his hang-ups and allowed himself to be truly happy with happy-go-lucky Claude. Their story was a joy to read and I look forward to continuing the series with DeGray’s book (How to Save a Human). <3
August 4, 2020
4 Loved-this-vampire-on-vampire-romantic-thiller Stars!!! 😍 💘 Having read the last two books in this series, I knew going in that there would be humor, sassy banter and vampiry-action🧛♂️. What I generally don't like in this author's style is the slow pace of her stories and the constant jokes and silliness. I was prepared this time; but to my pleasant surprise, the silliness was less and the "Hunter" plot kept me so engrossed that I didn't mind the slowness or the medium steam😉.
Readers who have read the previous books will know and remember Alexis as the grouchy 150 year old vampire who is also a Russian import. He has certainly mellowed a little ever since he begrudgingly became friends with Finn ( VRC 1&2). However, he is unprepared for the sunshiny positivity with a dash of exaggerated absurdity that Claude (Marcus's twin brother) brings to his life when Claude develops an inexplicable infatuation with him. While Marcus, Finn and everyone in the VRC department is amused by this cat and mouse game, there is a hunter or a group of hunters that is targeting and killing innocent vampires. Claude is brought in as a consultant for his knowledge and researching capabilities to help solve the case. As expected, he relishes the idea of working with the VRC team and being able to spend time with Alexis. As they work closely on the case, Alexis is plagued with flashbacks of his past life as a human and despite his new found appreciation for Claude, he is scared to reciprocate. If his secret past was to ever come out, not only would he lose his job, he would also lose his few friends including Claude. But will Claude give up on pursuing Alexis? What is the connection between Alexis's past life and the current vampire murders? Will Alexis be able to solve the case and catch the perpetrators before they take everything from him?
This thrilling ride takes us readers through the past and present and how they connect. It was not particularly suspenseful, because I knew who the villain was pretty much immediately, but it still had a lot of nail-biting moments😱. The humorous banter and absurdities were a constant, but they did not affect the plot. There was slow-burn between the MCs which gave in to some sizzling passion, but again it did not detract from the story. All in all this is another winner from the VRC series and despite my general avoidance of the paranormal genre, these books are proving to be an exception to my rule. 😁. Highly recommended to all fans of vampire M/M romances. 👍👍
Readers who have read the previous books will know and remember Alexis as the grouchy 150 year old vampire who is also a Russian import. He has certainly mellowed a little ever since he begrudgingly became friends with Finn ( VRC 1&2). However, he is unprepared for the sunshiny positivity with a dash of exaggerated absurdity that Claude (Marcus's twin brother) brings to his life when Claude develops an inexplicable infatuation with him. While Marcus, Finn and everyone in the VRC department is amused by this cat and mouse game, there is a hunter or a group of hunters that is targeting and killing innocent vampires. Claude is brought in as a consultant for his knowledge and researching capabilities to help solve the case. As expected, he relishes the idea of working with the VRC team and being able to spend time with Alexis. As they work closely on the case, Alexis is plagued with flashbacks of his past life as a human and despite his new found appreciation for Claude, he is scared to reciprocate. If his secret past was to ever come out, not only would he lose his job, he would also lose his few friends including Claude. But will Claude give up on pursuing Alexis? What is the connection between Alexis's past life and the current vampire murders? Will Alexis be able to solve the case and catch the perpetrators before they take everything from him?
This thrilling ride takes us readers through the past and present and how they connect. It was not particularly suspenseful, because I knew who the villain was pretty much immediately, but it still had a lot of nail-biting moments😱. The humorous banter and absurdities were a constant, but they did not affect the plot. There was slow-burn between the MCs which gave in to some sizzling passion, but again it did not detract from the story. All in all this is another winner from the VRC series and despite my general avoidance of the paranormal genre, these books are proving to be an exception to my rule. 😁. Highly recommended to all fans of vampire M/M romances. 👍👍
July 31, 2020
I really enjoyed books 1 and 2 and was looking forward to see how ever grumpy Alexei and ever cheerful Claude could possibly fit.
The plot with the idea of a heartrending backstory for Alexei, one that links directly to the present, is appealing, but I’m afraid that the exaggerated humour just killed this for me.
Alice Winters is hammering certain jokes to death from beginning to end, Claude’s wardrobe and ‘fashion sense’ for example, or Alexei’s ‘love of a bit of violence’. I have no idea how often we are told that Claude’s outfits are hurting someone’s eyes. Too many times for me.
In essence, Alexei and Claude are pretty similar to Finn and Marcus (the grumpy and the happy one), but for some reason they don’t have the same charm. I think I enjoyed Finn and Marcus here as secondary characters more than Alexei and Claude.
It’s not that I hated them either. Alexei is suitably gruff and grouchy, and clearly closed off for a reason, but I really couldn’t buy that he hadn’t put past events behind him after 150 years! And I would have loved to see more of his vulnerability.
Claude is cheeky and cheerful, but so over the top, in virtually everything, from his dress (non)sense to his (almost) irritating persistence in his pursuit of Alexei, I found it hard to take to him completely. He seems to prove that even kindness can get too much if you overdo it.
The random sincere and serious moments between Claude and Alexei were very welcome and well done, but while I love sarcy humour, the repeated jokes, the never-ending banter and relentless teasing are too overwhelming.
As before I have to conclude that, with the exception of the first two books in this series, this author and me simply don’t gel.
The plot with the idea of a heartrending backstory for Alexei, one that links directly to the present, is appealing, but I’m afraid that the exaggerated humour just killed this for me.
Alice Winters is hammering certain jokes to death from beginning to end, Claude’s wardrobe and ‘fashion sense’ for example, or Alexei’s ‘love of a bit of violence’. I have no idea how often we are told that Claude’s outfits are hurting someone’s eyes. Too many times for me.
In essence, Alexei and Claude are pretty similar to Finn and Marcus (the grumpy and the happy one), but for some reason they don’t have the same charm. I think I enjoyed Finn and Marcus here as secondary characters more than Alexei and Claude.
It’s not that I hated them either. Alexei is suitably gruff and grouchy, and clearly closed off for a reason, but I really couldn’t buy that he hadn’t put past events behind him after 150 years! And I would have loved to see more of his vulnerability.
Claude is cheeky and cheerful, but so over the top, in virtually everything, from his dress (non)sense to his (almost) irritating persistence in his pursuit of Alexei, I found it hard to take to him completely. He seems to prove that even kindness can get too much if you overdo it.
The random sincere and serious moments between Claude and Alexei were very welcome and well done, but while I love sarcy humour, the repeated jokes, the never-ending banter and relentless teasing are too overwhelming.
As before I have to conclude that, with the exception of the first two books in this series, this author and me simply don’t gel.
February 21, 2025
Re-read 18th - 21st February 2025
Enjoyed it just as much the second time round.
Original review - 4.75*
This book is hilarious. Especially early on. But it’s so much more than just a funny book. It has a great story running through it as well.
I absolutely love Claude. I mean seriously who doesn’t. And Alexei how he’s suffered over the years. Claude slowly but surely breaks down his barriers. And shows him he deserves to be loved and cared for. While Alexei battles his past and his present.
This book is a brilliant mix of serious and laugh out loud.
Enjoyed it just as much the second time round.
Original review - 4.75*
This book is hilarious. Especially early on. But it’s so much more than just a funny book. It has a great story running through it as well.
I absolutely love Claude. I mean seriously who doesn’t. And Alexei how he’s suffered over the years. Claude slowly but surely breaks down his barriers. And shows him he deserves to be loved and cared for. While Alexei battles his past and his present.
This book is a brilliant mix of serious and laugh out loud.
August 24, 2020
I wasn't sure how this was going to go with all of Claude's over the top antics leading up to this (not that most of the author's humor and characters aren't over the top) but I really enjoyed Claude and Alexei Karsyn both as a couple and as their own characters.
Alexei's backstory was interesting and painful. Claude is so much more than flashy clothes and ridiculous attempts to woo the grumpy Alexei. When Alexei began opening up to Claude it was really touching. There was a bit of steam and plenty of romance, despite Alexei's denial. The two were really sweet together.
While I had a grip on who the big bad would be pretty early on, I still enjoyed watching the story unfold. Looking forward to the next one.
Alexei's backstory was interesting and painful. Claude is so much more than flashy clothes and ridiculous attempts to woo the grumpy Alexei. When Alexei began opening up to Claude it was really touching. There was a bit of steam and plenty of romance, despite Alexei's denial. The two were really sweet together.
While I had a grip on who the big bad would be pretty early on, I still enjoyed watching the story unfold. Looking forward to the next one.
July 24, 2020
A Joyfully Jay review.
4 stars
How to Lure a Hunter is the third book in Alice Winters’ Vampire Related Crimes series, this time focusing on a new couple in Claude and Alexei. Alexei has served as a foil for both Finn and Marcus in past books, and Claude made an appearance in book 2, so familiarity with the series is helpful, but the overarching plot from the first two books is already wrapped up so you can jump into the story here pretty easily. I don’t want to give too much away about Alexei’s past and his big secret, but I will say that Winters does a nice job having his backstory unfold, intermingled with the currently storyline. It balances well, giving us pieces of the story at just the right times to connect the past and the present. There isn’t as much law enforcement investigation happening here as in the earlier books, so there isn’t as much crime drama here as I was expecting and it takes a little time before the action really picks up. But I think the storyline is engaging and Winters does a nice job bringing in Alexei’s backstory and tying things all together.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
4 stars
How to Lure a Hunter is the third book in Alice Winters’ Vampire Related Crimes series, this time focusing on a new couple in Claude and Alexei. Alexei has served as a foil for both Finn and Marcus in past books, and Claude made an appearance in book 2, so familiarity with the series is helpful, but the overarching plot from the first two books is already wrapped up so you can jump into the story here pretty easily. I don’t want to give too much away about Alexei’s past and his big secret, but I will say that Winters does a nice job having his backstory unfold, intermingled with the currently storyline. It balances well, giving us pieces of the story at just the right times to connect the past and the present. There isn’t as much law enforcement investigation happening here as in the earlier books, so there isn’t as much crime drama here as I was expecting and it takes a little time before the action really picks up. But I think the storyline is engaging and Winters does a nice job bringing in Alexei’s backstory and tying things all together.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
September 13, 2022
Claude + Alexei
4.25
There's vampire hunters on the loose and they seem to be trying to get the attention of one very specific VRC member, Alexei. The crew is working together to solve the murders and pulls in the help of Claude. However, Claude's knack for history may cause a huge problem for Alexei as it may bring too much information of his past to light.
While solving the case Alexei and Claude's relationship takes a turn. Maybe all it took was a VERY persistent vampire to knock down Alexei's emotional walls.
I really enjoyed this one. Claude may be my favorite. Seeing how caring and kind he was to Alexei really put him up there for me 🥰
*AUDIO VERSION*
5 stars
This is probably one of my favorite, if not favorite, book by this author. I just love Claude and Alexei.
4.25
There's vampire hunters on the loose and they seem to be trying to get the attention of one very specific VRC member, Alexei. The crew is working together to solve the murders and pulls in the help of Claude. However, Claude's knack for history may cause a huge problem for Alexei as it may bring too much information of his past to light.
While solving the case Alexei and Claude's relationship takes a turn. Maybe all it took was a VERY persistent vampire to knock down Alexei's emotional walls.
I really enjoyed this one. Claude may be my favorite. Seeing how caring and kind he was to Alexei really put him up there for me 🥰
*AUDIO VERSION*
5 stars
This is probably one of my favorite, if not favorite, book by this author. I just love Claude and Alexei.
June 6, 2023
I love Alexei!
Claude and Alexei are definitely my favourite couple in this series, I love the humour in this book.
Much easier to like than Finn and Marcus for me. It feels like I know more about the MCs of this book than I do from reading two books solely focused on Marcus and Finn's relationship!
Claude and Alexei are definitely my favourite couple in this series, I love the humour in this book.
Much easier to like than Finn and Marcus for me. It feels like I know more about the MCs of this book than I do from reading two books solely focused on Marcus and Finn's relationship!
October 8, 2025
Alice Winters has become a definite favourite lately. I'm just so in love with her characters and their stories.
While the first two books in this series focused on Finn and Marcus, this book was about a couple of the side characters from those two, Alexei and Claude.
Listened on audiobook again, like the rest of Alice's books.
I really enjoy it, because it gives it so much more character.
....Here however, the narrator isn't great at accents or odd voices.
Alexei is Russian, and while his accent started off that way, it took a stroll into French territory, then ended up a bad Mexican accent for a lot of the book. Just switching in and out between the sounds.
It didn't really bother me though.
Loved it.
On to book 4!
While the first two books in this series focused on Finn and Marcus, this book was about a couple of the side characters from those two, Alexei and Claude.
Listened on audiobook again, like the rest of Alice's books.
I really enjoy it, because it gives it so much more character.
....Here however, the narrator isn't great at accents or odd voices.
Alexei is Russian, and while his accent started off that way, it took a stroll into French territory, then ended up a bad Mexican accent for a lot of the book. Just switching in and out between the sounds.
It didn't really bother me though.
Loved it.
On to book 4!
July 21, 2020
Loved Karsyn/Alexei and Claude's story!
I enjoyed going back in time, learning about Karsyn's pre-vampire life and what led him to be the closed off and gruff (to most) vampire he is today. You just knew underneath all that grumpiness was someone loving and worthy of being loved. It just took an overly sunshiney vampire to bring that about!
Claude was a bit of an enigma, a very entertaining one, but definitely an enigma. With his outlandish clothes and over-the-top ways, you almost forget he is a true vampire. Not that a true vampire has to be/act a certain way, I think I just had it in my head one should be more stoic and on the serious side, kind of like Marcus (for the most part). But Claude sure showed us his true vampire-ness a time or 2 and it was awesome. He's such an easy going, fun loving kind of guy, but when the time called for him to play the part he was born into, he never hesitated. I loved how good he was for Alexei.
I really like how Ms. Winters balances the emotional and the light-heartedness in her books. Just when you think things might get too heavy, she pulls a laugh or an eye-roll out of you, without detracting from whatever seriousness was happening in the story. And that happened quite a few times in How to Lure a Hunter. This series is so fun, but also much more heartfelt than expected, and Claude and Alexei's story exemplified that perfectly.
I enjoyed going back in time, learning about Karsyn's pre-vampire life and what led him to be the closed off and gruff (to most) vampire he is today. You just knew underneath all that grumpiness was someone loving and worthy of being loved. It just took an overly sunshiney vampire to bring that about!
Claude was a bit of an enigma, a very entertaining one, but definitely an enigma. With his outlandish clothes and over-the-top ways, you almost forget he is a true vampire. Not that a true vampire has to be/act a certain way, I think I just had it in my head one should be more stoic and on the serious side, kind of like Marcus (for the most part). But Claude sure showed us his true vampire-ness a time or 2 and it was awesome. He's such an easy going, fun loving kind of guy, but when the time called for him to play the part he was born into, he never hesitated. I loved how good he was for Alexei.
I really like how Ms. Winters balances the emotional and the light-heartedness in her books. Just when you think things might get too heavy, she pulls a laugh or an eye-roll out of you, without detracting from whatever seriousness was happening in the story. And that happened quite a few times in How to Lure a Hunter. This series is so fun, but also much more heartfelt than expected, and Claude and Alexei's story exemplified that perfectly.
July 23, 2020
Alexei and Claude!!! I loved them so much! We finally get Alexei's backstory and I knew underneath that grouchy exterior was this utterly adorable man who deserves everything!! And Claude, with his penchant for hoarding books (I'm totally not jealous of his library) and clothes in bright neon colours is perfect for him. Claude is so whipped and Alexei never stood a chance.
I couldn't put this down. It made me laugh and then cry and then laugh again. I've been waiting for this book since the beginning and it's totally worth it. While it can be read as a standalone, reading the previous books will enhance the experience.
Marcus and Finn are still hilarious and I loved seeing the progress between Marcus and Claude. You'll love this if you are into the grumpy/sunshine trope with humour, action and romance.
*ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review
I couldn't put this down. It made me laugh and then cry and then laugh again. I've been waiting for this book since the beginning and it's totally worth it. While it can be read as a standalone, reading the previous books will enhance the experience.
Marcus and Finn are still hilarious and I loved seeing the progress between Marcus and Claude. You'll love this if you are into the grumpy/sunshine trope with humour, action and romance.
*ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review
February 11, 2023
ETA: doing a relisten and I really do love these guys in audio haha. So much sass all over the place. And the texting omg
This is the third book in the series and should definitely be read in order. I'm so happy we got Alexei and Claude's story. There were some seriously LOL moments through this book - especially from the group chats and interactions with the rest of the gang at the VRC and Marcus and Finn.
Throughout it all, I loved Claude wearing ALexei down. I love how their pasts have shaped who they are today, and I really enjoyed reading their story!
This is a slow burn folks, it takes a while, but enjoy the journey because you will definitely be laughing along the way!
This is the third book in the series and should definitely be read in order. I'm so happy we got Alexei and Claude's story. There were some seriously LOL moments through this book - especially from the group chats and interactions with the rest of the gang at the VRC and Marcus and Finn.
Throughout it all, I loved Claude wearing ALexei down. I love how their pasts have shaped who they are today, and I really enjoyed reading their story!
This is a slow burn folks, it takes a while, but enjoy the journey because you will definitely be laughing along the way!
March 20, 2024
3 jobs and a lot of personal commitments later... I finally finished it! I felt so guilty that I didn't give this as much attention as it deserved because my goodness! Claude and Alexei was just so effing ADORABLE! Especially Claude. How can a hundreds-of-years-old vampire be so precious, sweet, nerdy, and adorable?! Definitely loved him more than his twin but that's probably because he's pure sunshine and his fashion sense was so... uhm, unique? 🤣🤣🤣
Anyway, I loved him a lot. His clueless nature and the fact he's a common target for teasing made me love him more. Alexei, on the other hand, was a tsundere. He just needed the right person to take down his walls and all his gooey insides came flooding out. *sigh These two made me so happy in between stressful days. 🥰
Anyway, I loved him a lot. His clueless nature and the fact he's a common target for teasing made me love him more. Alexei, on the other hand, was a tsundere. He just needed the right person to take down his walls and all his gooey insides came flooding out. *sigh These two made me so happy in between stressful days. 🥰
October 28, 2021
Hilariously romantic
Gush! I love the way Alice writes her characters and her plots are so original. This was is hard to read in bed next to your sleeping partner because you’ll be giggling so much you shake the bed. Alexei is so perfectly grumpy and Claude is an oblivious romantic goofball. Definitely should start at the beginning of the series for max enjoyment.
Gush! I love the way Alice writes her characters and her plots are so original. This was is hard to read in bed next to your sleeping partner because you’ll be giggling so much you shake the bed. Alexei is so perfectly grumpy and Claude is an oblivious romantic goofball. Definitely should start at the beginning of the series for max enjoyment.
February 9, 2025
I have loved Alexei since the first time he walked on page and knew there was more under that grumpy demeanor. Finn started breaking through the huge wall that surrounds his heart way back in book 1 (okay book 1 was not that long ago :)). When Claude popped up in the last book, I knew that he & Alexei would be perfect for each other. And I was so right. I loved watching Claude chip away at the rest of the walls. We come to find out what happened to Alexei all those centuries ago and it just broke my heart. He has never forgiven himself for what he was & what he did. He was afraid to tell anyone as he thought they would turn their backs on him and put him in jail. In this book we have Hunters killing off vampires in horrible ways. Turns out they are really coming for Alexei and the person that was behind it, was a bit of a surprise. I had a niggling feeling, but was like, no I'm wrong. I loved how loving and loyal Claude was, he would have done anything for Alexei. His gifts were just perfect! He couldn't have done any better. Even though Claude kind off comes off as a little bit of a airhead, no I don't think that is the right word, but maybe a pampered princess, he is a bada&& when he needs to. I hope there are going to be more books in this series as I love these guys.
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
July 3, 2025
Absolutely adored this book
I think I might love Alexei and Claude even more than Finn and Marcus!
This book was brilliant, I raced through it and couldn't put it down because I was enjoying the banter and snark so much.
I wasn't sure about Claude when he first appeared on the scene but it's pretty clear in this book how appearances can be deceiving because he's a complete sweetheart.
Alexei is my fave kind of prickly vampire, but once you find out about his past, it's easy to see how he's hiding so much pain behind sky high walls.
Watching Claude slowly demolish them while dealing with the ghosts of Alexei's past, is wonderful and the action packed main plot rockets along at breakneck speed perfectly.
I think I might love Alexei and Claude even more than Finn and Marcus!
This book was brilliant, I raced through it and couldn't put it down because I was enjoying the banter and snark so much.
I wasn't sure about Claude when he first appeared on the scene but it's pretty clear in this book how appearances can be deceiving because he's a complete sweetheart.
Alexei is my fave kind of prickly vampire, but once you find out about his past, it's easy to see how he's hiding so much pain behind sky high walls.
Watching Claude slowly demolish them while dealing with the ghosts of Alexei's past, is wonderful and the action packed main plot rockets along at breakneck speed perfectly.
May 13, 2025
Alex book! I love him with Claude!
They do bully Claude way to much but it's out of love, the whole series is worthed to me! If you want some vampires with your mystery this is the series for you!
They do bully Claude way to much but it's out of love, the whole series is worthed to me! If you want some vampires with your mystery this is the series for you!
July 17, 2020
Fabulous sunshine vampire/grumpy vampire romance.
I couldn’t help but fall in love with Alexi and Claude who are just so opposite but so good together. Claude is full of sunshine that even his unique taste in clothing reflects that, whereas Alexi only wears black, is stubborn (sometimes just for the sake of it) and short tempered.
This is definitely not an instant attraction romance but Claude is forever optimistic and eventually Alexi cannot help but have the occasional small smile on his face. When Alexi finally lets his walls down, these two wonderful characters turn the heat up and embrace the quirks each other has.
Their story had me laughing out loud one minute then feeling heart sore for Alexi the next. Another fantastic instalment in the VRC series that I couldn’t put down and I highly recommend it if you’re after an original, well crafted plot with humour, a bit of action and drama all alongside a romance that develops into a well earned HEA.
I couldn’t help but fall in love with Alexi and Claude who are just so opposite but so good together. Claude is full of sunshine that even his unique taste in clothing reflects that, whereas Alexi only wears black, is stubborn (sometimes just for the sake of it) and short tempered.
This is definitely not an instant attraction romance but Claude is forever optimistic and eventually Alexi cannot help but have the occasional small smile on his face. When Alexi finally lets his walls down, these two wonderful characters turn the heat up and embrace the quirks each other has.
Their story had me laughing out loud one minute then feeling heart sore for Alexi the next. Another fantastic instalment in the VRC series that I couldn’t put down and I highly recommend it if you’re after an original, well crafted plot with humour, a bit of action and drama all alongside a romance that develops into a well earned HEA.
February 9, 2023
Once again, hilarious! I was so excited for Alexei's story and finding out about his background is grand. Him and Claude??? hilarious and perfect. This series is wonderful. This author has become a go-to for me. I cannot wait to read more!
July 25, 2020
2.5 stars
July 25, 2020
✮4.5 Stars✮
💗
June 22, 2025
Re-read June 2025
_________
4.5 stars
_________
4.5 stars
December 21, 2021
Alexei and Claude's romance.
Alexei works for the VRC. He's the grumpy type, who comes of snarky but deep down he has a heart of gold. He lost his family and his love a long time ago (hundred or so years ago), but is determined not to open himself up to heartbreak again.
Claude is determined to break Alexei's cold exterior. He was born a vampire, so he's a lot older vampire wise. He doesn't work for the VRC, but when he's brought in to assist on a case Alexei and Claude have to work together a lot more...
Add in Alexei's secret past coming back to threaten him and you get an action-packed romance, with a good dose of humour.
I also love the flashbacks we get from Alexei. It's really interesting to see what vampire/human relations were like over a hundred years ago.
Alexei works for the VRC. He's the grumpy type, who comes of snarky but deep down he has a heart of gold. He lost his family and his love a long time ago (hundred or so years ago), but is determined not to open himself up to heartbreak again.
Claude is determined to break Alexei's cold exterior. He was born a vampire, so he's a lot older vampire wise. He doesn't work for the VRC, but when he's brought in to assist on a case Alexei and Claude have to work together a lot more...
Add in Alexei's secret past coming back to threaten him and you get an action-packed romance, with a good dose of humour.
I also love the flashbacks we get from Alexei. It's really interesting to see what vampire/human relations were like over a hundred years ago.
November 24, 2021
How to Lure a Hunter (Vampire Related Crimes, 3)
By Alice Winters
Published by the author, 2020
Five Stars
What I like best about this series is the integration of vampire characters into a plausible alternative universe. The VRC (Vampire Related Crime) unit is a wry take on the endless CSI spinoffs on television, and in this third volume the focus shifts onto a different cast-member.
Karsyn—short for Alexei Karsynov—is a dour, grumpy Russian, who seems to be shielding his personal history behind a façade of carefully crafted unfriendliness. Karsyn’s nemesis in this book is another character introduced but not explored earlier—his boss Marcus Church’s flamboyantly irritating twin brother, Claude.
An obsessive bibliophile in opposition to his twin’s warlord persona, Claude sets his sights on Karsyn, who is appalled at the idea that this outrageous man, with his loud clothes and impulsive behavior, could be interested in him. When Claude turns out to be potentially useful as a consultant for a particularly murky case involving the brutal murder of local vampires, Karsyn resigns himself to working with his boss’s brother.
I gave this book a full five stars because it’s so surprisingly funny. The sitcom antics between Claude and Karsyn had me chortling throughout the story, even as both the murder case and Karsyn’s own backstory are explored to hair-raising effect. There is an effective use of pets as a comic foil, something I also appreciate, and the author weaves the creepy mystery, the traumatic personal history, and the silly developing romance deftly into something pretty unusual in this genre.
For all that the author has romance front and center in her mind; this is a seriously dark mystery, and the back-and-forth keeps the book unsettling in a way that is pretty effective.
On to book 4 in the series, and yet another character I hardly know. Oh, goody.
By Alice Winters
Published by the author, 2020
Five Stars
What I like best about this series is the integration of vampire characters into a plausible alternative universe. The VRC (Vampire Related Crime) unit is a wry take on the endless CSI spinoffs on television, and in this third volume the focus shifts onto a different cast-member.
Karsyn—short for Alexei Karsynov—is a dour, grumpy Russian, who seems to be shielding his personal history behind a façade of carefully crafted unfriendliness. Karsyn’s nemesis in this book is another character introduced but not explored earlier—his boss Marcus Church’s flamboyantly irritating twin brother, Claude.
An obsessive bibliophile in opposition to his twin’s warlord persona, Claude sets his sights on Karsyn, who is appalled at the idea that this outrageous man, with his loud clothes and impulsive behavior, could be interested in him. When Claude turns out to be potentially useful as a consultant for a particularly murky case involving the brutal murder of local vampires, Karsyn resigns himself to working with his boss’s brother.
I gave this book a full five stars because it’s so surprisingly funny. The sitcom antics between Claude and Karsyn had me chortling throughout the story, even as both the murder case and Karsyn’s own backstory are explored to hair-raising effect. There is an effective use of pets as a comic foil, something I also appreciate, and the author weaves the creepy mystery, the traumatic personal history, and the silly developing romance deftly into something pretty unusual in this genre.
For all that the author has romance front and center in her mind; this is a seriously dark mystery, and the back-and-forth keeps the book unsettling in a way that is pretty effective.
On to book 4 in the series, and yet another character I hardly know. Oh, goody.
March 11, 2025
*Audio version - Michael Ferraiuolo is so talented! I loved how I could tell if an Alexei scene was a flashback or not just by the subtle change in accent. How had I forgotten the horse bit, damn near made me cry!*
I love this series! Full of the same kind of humour as the first 2 books but obviously less because Finn is not the focus of this book.
This is where we learn about Alexei Karsyn and his whole back story. There are plenty of flash back scenes to show what has brought him to his isolated life (prior to Finn's refusal to leave him alone) with the VRC.
Pretty sure I cried more than twice just laughing at them. I especially loved the banter between Marcus and Claude and seeing how their relationship has changed.
There are plenty of serious moments and a pretty sweet love story too. Never a dull moment!
I love this series! Full of the same kind of humour as the first 2 books but obviously less because Finn is not the focus of this book.
This is where we learn about Alexei Karsyn and his whole back story. There are plenty of flash back scenes to show what has brought him to his isolated life (prior to Finn's refusal to leave him alone) with the VRC.
Pretty sure I cried more than twice just laughing at them. I especially loved the banter between Marcus and Claude and seeing how their relationship has changed.
There are plenty of serious moments and a pretty sweet love story too. Never a dull moment!
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