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Vampire Hunt
It is 1914. Dr Joseph Aymon returns to his youthful haunts in Transylvania where he used to accompany the famous vampire-killer, Professor Van Helting, on his vampire hunts. One of Joseph’s aims is to discover the whereabouts of Bella, his first and only love, who vanished years ago, in mysterious circumstances… His quest brings him into contact with a host of the daunting, chilling figure of Count Drace; his voluptuous wife, the Countess; her thin-lipped, haughty and depraved niece, Grimelda; the enigmatic, beguiling figure of the Mother Superior of the local convent; Thomas, the man-servant harbouring a shocking secret... In a world fast throwing off belief in mythical monsters and medieval terrors, Joseph is on a personal quest to prove the existence of vampires. The new sciences have mercilessly dismissed the old certainties of evil and purity which Joseph and his master still cling to. Joseph is eager to rehabilitate his and the Professor’s reputation. He can’t wait to come face-to-face with the Undead, and prove all his detractors wrong... Will Joseph find what he’s looking for, and, if he does, will that discovery bring him release, justification, more derision, or plain, unadulterated horror? A vampire story like no other…
145 pages, Paperback
Published November 18, 2018
42 people are currently reading
52 people want to read
About the author
Alan Hardy
39 books128 followersI'm a director of an English language school for foreign students. Married, with one daughter. Poetry pamphlets: Wasted Leaves, 1996; I Went With Her, 2007. I've had poems published in such magazines as Orbis, Iota, The Interpreter's House, Poetry Nottingham, Poetry Salzburg Review, Poetry Cornwall, and others. I have now written ten novels. I would describe them as surreal novels with plenty of comedy, satire, humor, romance, sex and adventure. They're shocking, original and respectful of nothing and nobody. You have been warned.
The nine published so far are THE CASE OF THE TATTOOED BUTTOCKS, THE CASE OF THE PINIONED BOSOMS, THE CASE OF THE DISAPPEARING CORPSES, THROUGH THE GATES, VAMPIRE HUNT, JULIA, GOOD QUEEN BETH, BRITT, and GABRIELLA.
THE CASE OF THE TATTOOED BUTTOCKS, subtitled AN INSPECTOR CULLOT MYSTERY, is a cheeky, exciting murder mystery, with plenty of thrills, surprises, witty repartee, suspense and sexy ladies, let alone a couple of gory murders. The story takes place in a country mansion, with an assembled array of suspects (a mixture of the rich, decadent, sophisticated and louche) who are all perhaps not quite what they seem and hiding God knows what secrets... Even the renowned Inspector Cullot, with his occasional fits of dark despair, and now working in a department store's lingerie section, is tormented by ghosts from his past... And does the bumbling, simple-minded PC Blunt, recording another Inspector Cullot case for posterity in an array of note-books, also have skeletons in his cupboard..? And do the unsolved Night-Club Hostess Murders committed two years earlier have a bearing on the case? And what about the strange tattoos on the buttocks of the gorgeous ladies assembled at the mansion? What does it all mean? You'll die laughing trying to find out.
Check out the two follow-up novels in the series, THE CASE OF THE PINIONED BOSOMS and THE CASE OF THE DISAPPEARING CORPSES.... let alone THE CASE OF THE TORN YELLOW SOCKS, soon to appear as the fourth book in this hilarious series...
THROUGH THE GATES is a time-travel novel, with the hero (or anti-hero) Mark travelling back to the days of World War Two. He lives in an old house with a big, mysterious garden where he keeps unearthing and discovering objects which draw him back into the past. He's also obsessed with a beautiful young woman he saw when very young, and his attraction towards the past, and journeys into it, are also an attempt to find her and discover who she was... Not to mention the gold bullion buried somewhere in Mark's garden...
VAMPIRE HUNT tells the story of Dr Joseph Aymon's return to Transylvania in search of Bella, his long-lost first love, and in search of vampires...to kill...
JULIA is a novel dealing with a young man's obsession with his first love, and his pursuit of her over seven years. Is he just a young man hopelessly and helplessly in love, or is it something more delusional...or even dangerous?
GABRIELLA is a cheeky, sexy portrayal of young love played out on the sports field. It's romantic, provocative, unabashed, and unapologetic.
BRITT is set in France during World War One, and is a comic, exciting tale of derring-do, spies, aerial dog-fights...and sexual shenanigans... In contrast to this world of sexual abandon and experience, we have Wriggles of the Royal Flying Corps and Britt, his childhood sweetheart. Both are innocents in a world they don't understand, and can't relate to. With a devilishly cunning German spy ring about to escape with top-secret information that might well bring about England's defeat, they are England's only hope. Will they be able to save England, and find true love...?
GOOD QUEEN BETH is a savage, no-holds-barred critique of the monarchy and present-day society, in a novel which is brutal and provocative, yet exhilarating and wide-ranging in events and relationships.
The nine published so far are THE CASE OF THE TATTOOED BUTTOCKS, THE CASE OF THE PINIONED BOSOMS, THE CASE OF THE DISAPPEARING CORPSES, THROUGH THE GATES, VAMPIRE HUNT, JULIA, GOOD QUEEN BETH, BRITT, and GABRIELLA.
THE CASE OF THE TATTOOED BUTTOCKS, subtitled AN INSPECTOR CULLOT MYSTERY, is a cheeky, exciting murder mystery, with plenty of thrills, surprises, witty repartee, suspense and sexy ladies, let alone a couple of gory murders. The story takes place in a country mansion, with an assembled array of suspects (a mixture of the rich, decadent, sophisticated and louche) who are all perhaps not quite what they seem and hiding God knows what secrets... Even the renowned Inspector Cullot, with his occasional fits of dark despair, and now working in a department store's lingerie section, is tormented by ghosts from his past... And does the bumbling, simple-minded PC Blunt, recording another Inspector Cullot case for posterity in an array of note-books, also have skeletons in his cupboard..? And do the unsolved Night-Club Hostess Murders committed two years earlier have a bearing on the case? And what about the strange tattoos on the buttocks of the gorgeous ladies assembled at the mansion? What does it all mean? You'll die laughing trying to find out.
Check out the two follow-up novels in the series, THE CASE OF THE PINIONED BOSOMS and THE CASE OF THE DISAPPEARING CORPSES.... let alone THE CASE OF THE TORN YELLOW SOCKS, soon to appear as the fourth book in this hilarious series...
THROUGH THE GATES is a time-travel novel, with the hero (or anti-hero) Mark travelling back to the days of World War Two. He lives in an old house with a big, mysterious garden where he keeps unearthing and discovering objects which draw him back into the past. He's also obsessed with a beautiful young woman he saw when very young, and his attraction towards the past, and journeys into it, are also an attempt to find her and discover who she was... Not to mention the gold bullion buried somewhere in Mark's garden...
VAMPIRE HUNT tells the story of Dr Joseph Aymon's return to Transylvania in search of Bella, his long-lost first love, and in search of vampires...to kill...
JULIA is a novel dealing with a young man's obsession with his first love, and his pursuit of her over seven years. Is he just a young man hopelessly and helplessly in love, or is it something more delusional...or even dangerous?
GABRIELLA is a cheeky, sexy portrayal of young love played out on the sports field. It's romantic, provocative, unabashed, and unapologetic.
BRITT is set in France during World War One, and is a comic, exciting tale of derring-do, spies, aerial dog-fights...and sexual shenanigans... In contrast to this world of sexual abandon and experience, we have Wriggles of the Royal Flying Corps and Britt, his childhood sweetheart. Both are innocents in a world they don't understand, and can't relate to. With a devilishly cunning German spy ring about to escape with top-secret information that might well bring about England's defeat, they are England's only hope. Will they be able to save England, and find true love...?
GOOD QUEEN BETH is a savage, no-holds-barred critique of the monarchy and present-day society, in a novel which is brutal and provocative, yet exhilarating and wide-ranging in events and relationships.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
December 8, 2017
I love a good vampire story and this is a good vampire story.
On page one Vampire Hunt pulls out the creep factor. Poor Dr. Joseph Aymon has somehow gotten himself invited to stay at the Count's castle with the intention of proving to the world that vampires really do exist. Of course now that he's there eating dinner with several diners who may or may not be real vampires, he begins to question how smart of an idea that was.
I love how Joseph thinks he get waltz right into a vampire's home and really believe he can walk away with all the material he needs to write a good book. Only an author would think that was a good idea.
Does Joseph walk away unharmed with all of his blood still in his veins? That's not my story to tell, but I did love Joseph and The Count's conversations. They were enlightening.
On page one Vampire Hunt pulls out the creep factor. Poor Dr. Joseph Aymon has somehow gotten himself invited to stay at the Count's castle with the intention of proving to the world that vampires really do exist. Of course now that he's there eating dinner with several diners who may or may not be real vampires, he begins to question how smart of an idea that was.
I love how Joseph thinks he get waltz right into a vampire's home and really believe he can walk away with all the material he needs to write a good book. Only an author would think that was a good idea.
Does Joseph walk away unharmed with all of his blood still in his veins? That's not my story to tell, but I did love Joseph and The Count's conversations. They were enlightening.
November 26, 2017
This is another well-written story by Alan Hardy. A departure from his Inspector Cullot books that feature a ribald, tongue-in-cheek take on the British mystery, Vampire Hunt takes on another classic genre--the vampire tale.The story unfolds as part erotic fantasy amidst a desperate search to find the line between the new psychology and the old morality of good and evil. Joseph Aymon is on a quest. As the pre World War I era discards old beliefs Dr Aymon is intent on discovering the truth about the existence of vampires. His search is deeply personal because of its connection to the work of his mentor, Professor Van Helting, a vampire hunter nearing the end of his life. And because of an even more intimate connection to his lost love Bella. Does he get find Bella and the answers he seeks? You'll have to read the story for yourself to find out!
November 13, 2017
This is something new from Alan Hardy that I didn't expect, but he did a great job writing under this genre. In this story,
Dr. Joseph Aymon is on a vampire hunt to prove to the naysayers who underestimated he and Professor Van Helting, that vampires still exist. As Joseph takes the journey into the dark creepy belly underworld, he realizes he can find his true love Bella in the mist of his quest. In the scary and eerie places, he faces the Countess who wants to make him one of her own, and thirsts for his virgin neck, but will he be saved by the Mother Superior? Who really is Mother Superior and why does she want to save him? Joseph has his suspicion as to who she really is, but he is determined to conquer the Count and Countess first, and only then could he possibly reunite with Bella, but it could be in the afterlife.
Alan puts an interesting spin on Vampire Hunt, and the love interest for Bella is what intrigued me the most. Alan's detailed descriptions and creative settings give this story a suspenseful feel but end with a light at the end of the tunnel that no Count or Vampire wants to be awakened to.
Dr. Joseph Aymon is on a vampire hunt to prove to the naysayers who underestimated he and Professor Van Helting, that vampires still exist. As Joseph takes the journey into the dark creepy belly underworld, he realizes he can find his true love Bella in the mist of his quest. In the scary and eerie places, he faces the Countess who wants to make him one of her own, and thirsts for his virgin neck, but will he be saved by the Mother Superior? Who really is Mother Superior and why does she want to save him? Joseph has his suspicion as to who she really is, but he is determined to conquer the Count and Countess first, and only then could he possibly reunite with Bella, but it could be in the afterlife.
Alan puts an interesting spin on Vampire Hunt, and the love interest for Bella is what intrigued me the most. Alan's detailed descriptions and creative settings give this story a suspenseful feel but end with a light at the end of the tunnel that no Count or Vampire wants to be awakened to.
November 1, 2017
I am an avid fan of this author's Inspector Cullott series and was very surprised to learn about his new release about vampires. Note I am not a fan of the paranormal.
I decided to read this book, however, because of my prior experience with the Inspector's Cullott series in which I adore the author's witty, cogent and fascinating use of language and the Inspector's antics. I was curious as to how author Alan Hardy could write about something so different from his usual detective style. Not really a surprise but the main character in this book conducts his own investigation--one into the unknown and the 'Undead' as he calls it. Dr. Aymon is a fascinating character in search of his lost love. As we learn from the beginning of this book, Dr. Aymon is certain that his hunt is well targeted when he thinks "One of them is a vampire.' The book had my full attention when I read this first line.
In his usual style. Hardy's work is well written with fully developed characters and excellent dialogue. This book is a page turner and one I highly recommend.
I decided to read this book, however, because of my prior experience with the Inspector's Cullott series in which I adore the author's witty, cogent and fascinating use of language and the Inspector's antics. I was curious as to how author Alan Hardy could write about something so different from his usual detective style. Not really a surprise but the main character in this book conducts his own investigation--one into the unknown and the 'Undead' as he calls it. Dr. Aymon is a fascinating character in search of his lost love. As we learn from the beginning of this book, Dr. Aymon is certain that his hunt is well targeted when he thinks "One of them is a vampire.' The book had my full attention when I read this first line.
In his usual style. Hardy's work is well written with fully developed characters and excellent dialogue. This book is a page turner and one I highly recommend.
October 31, 2017
Great vampire story, a nice mix of traditional treatment, plus an original spin on the theme. Both scary and sexy at the same time. Kept me guessing. Really quite enjoyed it. It’s got suspense, romance, psychological bits and pieces, scary bits, yeah, really liked it. Definitely different!
December 23, 2017
***** A Unique Look at Vampires
Using a literary prose that is perfect for its 1913 time frame, Hardy introduces us to a unique look at the vampire genre. It begins with the young doctor, Joseph, a neophyte when it comes to experiencing life, and his mentor, Professor Van Helting, who, having garnered the reputation of clinically analyzing vampires, is now old, frail, and seen as a has been. Joseph, forever remembering a young virginal encounter with a girl named Bella years before in Transylvania, decides to go back there, to continue on the professor’s work. He plans on getting to the bottom of whether or not vampires do indeed exist, interview the famous Count purported to be the king of vampires, and in the process, search for Bella.
What I found fascinating about this book was partly due to the academic, Socratic questioning coming from both the Count and Joseph at the Count’s castle. Questions such as whether a vampire’s bite is considered the same as a human’s sexual ecstasy; how Freud and Alzheimer’s interpretations don’t quite hold up versus legends of old; how, according to the Count, the time honored lure of vampires will always survive against all of modern science’s efforts to debunk it.
Also peppered into this scenario is Joseph’s sadness at seeing his beloved mentor, Van Helting, losing his grasp of life. Like being with a parent who is the mere shadow of his/her former self, I found this particularly touching, and a good enrichment to the story.
But that’s not all. Along the way, Hardy has gently tossed in a riveting element. The entire time Joseph interacts with the Count, his wife, the Countess, and other side characters within the castle and its neighborhood, signs of something supernatural is happening to him. As we’re pulled into the story more and more, tension rises beautifully as we wonder if Joseph might be more involved in this vampire quest than we originally thought. Ending with a cliffhanger punch, I found this book to be a great read. Definitely recommended!
Using a literary prose that is perfect for its 1913 time frame, Hardy introduces us to a unique look at the vampire genre. It begins with the young doctor, Joseph, a neophyte when it comes to experiencing life, and his mentor, Professor Van Helting, who, having garnered the reputation of clinically analyzing vampires, is now old, frail, and seen as a has been. Joseph, forever remembering a young virginal encounter with a girl named Bella years before in Transylvania, decides to go back there, to continue on the professor’s work. He plans on getting to the bottom of whether or not vampires do indeed exist, interview the famous Count purported to be the king of vampires, and in the process, search for Bella.
What I found fascinating about this book was partly due to the academic, Socratic questioning coming from both the Count and Joseph at the Count’s castle. Questions such as whether a vampire’s bite is considered the same as a human’s sexual ecstasy; how Freud and Alzheimer’s interpretations don’t quite hold up versus legends of old; how, according to the Count, the time honored lure of vampires will always survive against all of modern science’s efforts to debunk it.
Also peppered into this scenario is Joseph’s sadness at seeing his beloved mentor, Van Helting, losing his grasp of life. Like being with a parent who is the mere shadow of his/her former self, I found this particularly touching, and a good enrichment to the story.
But that’s not all. Along the way, Hardy has gently tossed in a riveting element. The entire time Joseph interacts with the Count, his wife, the Countess, and other side characters within the castle and its neighborhood, signs of something supernatural is happening to him. As we’re pulled into the story more and more, tension rises beautifully as we wonder if Joseph might be more involved in this vampire quest than we originally thought. Ending with a cliffhanger punch, I found this book to be a great read. Definitely recommended!
January 9, 2018
Dr. Joseph Aymon travels to Transylvania to finish the study of vampires that his mentor, Professor Van Helting, has not completed. Professor Helting, suffering from Altzheimers, is being taken cared of by nuns at a local convent. Professor Helting, a vampire hunter in younger days, taught Joseph about vampires. To research the undead further, Joseph stays at the castle of Count Drace. Soon, Joseph engages the Count in philosophical discussions about vampire existence and conduct. When asked if he is a vampire, the Count refuses to answer.
As Professor Aymon's condition worsens, Joseph becomes ill. He dreams of sexual episodes with the Count, Countess, and their niece. On his visits to the Professor at the convent, Joseph becomes closer to the Mother Superior, who reminds him of his lost love, Bella. He fears Bella might be the Mother Superior or a vampire lost in the castle.
Joseph visits a doctor who advises him to keep away from the Count. However, Joseph returns. He is obsessed with the Count and his family. His neck aches. His dreams grow vivid and disturbing.
Are the inhabitants of the castle vampires? Does Joseph become one? Alternatively, does he kill the Count? Read and find out.
As Professor Aymon's condition worsens, Joseph becomes ill. He dreams of sexual episodes with the Count, Countess, and their niece. On his visits to the Professor at the convent, Joseph becomes closer to the Mother Superior, who reminds him of his lost love, Bella. He fears Bella might be the Mother Superior or a vampire lost in the castle.
Joseph visits a doctor who advises him to keep away from the Count. However, Joseph returns. He is obsessed with the Count and his family. His neck aches. His dreams grow vivid and disturbing.
Are the inhabitants of the castle vampires? Does Joseph become one? Alternatively, does he kill the Count? Read and find out.
December 10, 2017
With an unusual plot and brilliant dialogues, Vampire Hunt is one the best vampire stories I’ve had the pleasure to read recently.
The story focuses around the quest of Dr Aymon, who travels to Transilvania to fetch more info about vampires and prove their true existence.
With a mix of humour, romance, and horror (yes!), the story develops quickly in a series of intersting and sometimes amusing twist and turns. The secondary characters populate the story along with the very well depicted Dr Aymon, each of them giving a particular “blend” to the story.
This is definitely not another traditional vampire story. I think this little gem adds something different to the genre. On top of it, I truly appreciate Mr Hardy’s writing style which is very British, and yet accessible and open to any other type of readers (I mean, not only British readers will love his writing!).
I tried to make Vampire Hunt last as much as possible when reading it. I was so sorry when I reached the end of the book! Hope Mr Hardy will write another vampire story similar to this one because I really enjoyed it :)
The story focuses around the quest of Dr Aymon, who travels to Transilvania to fetch more info about vampires and prove their true existence.
With a mix of humour, romance, and horror (yes!), the story develops quickly in a series of intersting and sometimes amusing twist and turns. The secondary characters populate the story along with the very well depicted Dr Aymon, each of them giving a particular “blend” to the story.
This is definitely not another traditional vampire story. I think this little gem adds something different to the genre. On top of it, I truly appreciate Mr Hardy’s writing style which is very British, and yet accessible and open to any other type of readers (I mean, not only British readers will love his writing!).
I tried to make Vampire Hunt last as much as possible when reading it. I was so sorry when I reached the end of the book! Hope Mr Hardy will write another vampire story similar to this one because I really enjoyed it :)
December 18, 2017
Loved it!
If you fancy something really different in the vampire genre, try this one. It's so unlike anything I ever read in this theme before.
Joseph's quest to prove the existance of vampires and find his lost love at the same time, proved to be a real page turner. The characters come over as strangely creepy, way more so than normal, and the scene settings are fabulously described.
Give yourself a couple of hours free time so that you are not interrupted while enjoying this great read.
If you fancy something really different in the vampire genre, try this one. It's so unlike anything I ever read in this theme before.
Joseph's quest to prove the existance of vampires and find his lost love at the same time, proved to be a real page turner. The characters come over as strangely creepy, way more so than normal, and the scene settings are fabulously described.
Give yourself a couple of hours free time so that you are not interrupted while enjoying this great read.
August 29, 2025
Not Worth Your Time or Money
It begins with the Plot; for which there really isn’t one. The characters are never really developed. The scene settings are few, and far between, and lack any depth. Needless to say I was extremely disappointed. Again, save your time and money. Look elsewhere for your next read.
It begins with the Plot; for which there really isn’t one. The characters are never really developed. The scene settings are few, and far between, and lack any depth. Needless to say I was extremely disappointed. Again, save your time and money. Look elsewhere for your next read.
December 13, 2017
A Different Kind of Vamp Story!
Great variation on traditional vampire story. Was kept guessing all along. Who is a vampire, and who isn’t? And who, and where is Bella, Joseph’s lover from years ago he is looking to rescue? Romantic, scary and dramatic.
Great variation on traditional vampire story. Was kept guessing all along. Who is a vampire, and who isn’t? And who, and where is Bella, Joseph’s lover from years ago he is looking to rescue? Romantic, scary and dramatic.
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December 19, 2019🎁 FREE on Amazon today (12/19/2019)! 🎁
January 5, 2024
A retelling of van helsing pretty enjoyable
May 3, 2024
Good solid read on vampires.I love how the character uses freuds psychological theories and are used to try and understand the behaviours of the undead.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 17, 2019
This book promises to be "A vampire tale like no other." Well, I don't know about that, but it certainly is different to the most of the fare we're subjected to these days.
I liked it.
In many ways, although I did say it was unique, it reminds me of the quintessential vampire book, Dracula. Oh, it's not written in letters or anything like that. Just the pacing, the plot, the feel of it. It's very gothic.
I said I liked it, and it's true. I really wanted to love it, though. But I couldn't.
I couldn't get past the editing. When something makes me stop and go "WTF?" every few pages, it really affects my enjoyment. To its credit, the grammar and spelling were perfect, but the sentence construction got really confusing at times. There are some strange turns-of-phrase, redundancies, and an intense overuse of ellipses and the phrase "let alone" to mean "not to mention"... and it's used incorrectly on more than one occasion.
In the beginning, there's also some confusion as to the name of the antagonist. First, he's "Count Drake" (which I thought was a funny allusion to Dracula), then he becomes "Count Drace", then back to "Count Drake", before finally settling on "Count Drace" for the rest of the book.
I could go on, but you get the idea, and you probably think I'm being petty at this point. Well, maybe I am, but I tend to be really sensitive to things like that, and anything that makes me stop and remember that I'm actually reading a book affects my enjoyment of a story.
If it weren't for those things, though, this book might easily have been five stars for me. So if you don't mind stuff like this, and you love gothic vampire stories, go read this book!
I liked it.
In many ways, although I did say it was unique, it reminds me of the quintessential vampire book, Dracula. Oh, it's not written in letters or anything like that. Just the pacing, the plot, the feel of it. It's very gothic.
I said I liked it, and it's true. I really wanted to love it, though. But I couldn't.
I couldn't get past the editing. When something makes me stop and go "WTF?" every few pages, it really affects my enjoyment. To its credit, the grammar and spelling were perfect, but the sentence construction got really confusing at times. There are some strange turns-of-phrase, redundancies, and an intense overuse of ellipses and the phrase "let alone" to mean "not to mention"... and it's used incorrectly on more than one occasion.
In the beginning, there's also some confusion as to the name of the antagonist. First, he's "Count Drake" (which I thought was a funny allusion to Dracula), then he becomes "Count Drace", then back to "Count Drake", before finally settling on "Count Drace" for the rest of the book.
I could go on, but you get the idea, and you probably think I'm being petty at this point. Well, maybe I am, but I tend to be really sensitive to things like that, and anything that makes me stop and remember that I'm actually reading a book affects my enjoyment of a story.
If it weren't for those things, though, this book might easily have been five stars for me. So if you don't mind stuff like this, and you love gothic vampire stories, go read this book!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews