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Vampire Detective Midnight #6
A Vampire's Curse
They say you can never go home again.
In Nick’s case, he can’t seem to escape it.
San Francisco seems determined to suck him back in, whether he wants it or not.
But it’s only a few days. He can do a few days without dying, right?
A high-profile cage match brings Nick back to his hometown, to fight for Farlucci’s vampire fight club. After years of avoiding going back, avoiding the crushing memories that live on those twisty streets, Nick returns now as a champion fighter and a celebrity. He can’t go anywhere without being recognized, and mobbed by excited fans.
While signing autographs, Nick is accosted by a strange vampire who swears he knows him, who has memories of Nick that make absolutely no sense. When Nick tries to investigate, things only get weirder, until Nick falls down a rabbit hole of missing memories and long-ago wars, friends and family long dead.
Before Nick can sort it out, his other boss, the one who works for the NYPD, wants Nick to stay in San Francisco, to help them solve a murder case back in Manhattan. But what should have been a routine investigation quickly merges with Nick’s past until both things feel connected.
But someone doesn't want that past unearthed, or the mysteries solved.
After an attempt on Nick's life, Wynter shows up, and pretty soon they're targeting her, too.
In Nick’s case, he can’t seem to escape it.
San Francisco seems determined to suck him back in, whether he wants it or not.
But it’s only a few days. He can do a few days without dying, right?
A high-profile cage match brings Nick back to his hometown, to fight for Farlucci’s vampire fight club. After years of avoiding going back, avoiding the crushing memories that live on those twisty streets, Nick returns now as a champion fighter and a celebrity. He can’t go anywhere without being recognized, and mobbed by excited fans.
While signing autographs, Nick is accosted by a strange vampire who swears he knows him, who has memories of Nick that make absolutely no sense. When Nick tries to investigate, things only get weirder, until Nick falls down a rabbit hole of missing memories and long-ago wars, friends and family long dead.
Before Nick can sort it out, his other boss, the one who works for the NYPD, wants Nick to stay in San Francisco, to help them solve a murder case back in Manhattan. But what should have been a routine investigation quickly merges with Nick’s past until both things feel connected.
But someone doesn't want that past unearthed, or the mysteries solved.
After an attempt on Nick's life, Wynter shows up, and pretty soon they're targeting her, too.
- GenresRomance
311 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 30, 2022
About the author
J.C. Andrijeski
213 books715 followersAlso publishes under the name Julie Light
JC Andrijeski is a USA TODAY bestselling author who writes sexy, apocalyptic and cyberpunk-y science fiction romance and mystery books, often with a metaphysical bent. Current works include the gritty, epic, psychic warfare romance, ALLIE'S WAR, which follows Allie Taylor and her antihero partner, Revik, in their attempts to save the world from a dark, psychic force. Her dystopian science fiction romance series, ALIEN APOCALYPSE, features Jet Tetsuo, survivor and slave under alien conquerors, and her GATE SHIFTER series is about a shape-shifting alien and a tough-girl PI from Seattle. Her newest launch is QUENTIN BLACK, a science fiction romance and mystery series that’s a spin-off from Allie’s War but set in our own version of Earth.
JC has a background in journalism, history and politics, travels extensively and has lived abroad in Europe, Australia and Asia, and from coast to coast in the continental United States. She currently lives in Bangkok, Thailand.
To learn more about me and my writing, please visit http://jcandrijeski.com. For more about the Allie's War series, visit http://allieswarseries.com
If you want to get an automatic email when JC's next book is released, join THE REBEL ARMY at tinyurl.com/JCAndrijeski.
JC Andrijeski is a USA TODAY bestselling author who writes sexy, apocalyptic and cyberpunk-y science fiction romance and mystery books, often with a metaphysical bent. Current works include the gritty, epic, psychic warfare romance, ALLIE'S WAR, which follows Allie Taylor and her antihero partner, Revik, in their attempts to save the world from a dark, psychic force. Her dystopian science fiction romance series, ALIEN APOCALYPSE, features Jet Tetsuo, survivor and slave under alien conquerors, and her GATE SHIFTER series is about a shape-shifting alien and a tough-girl PI from Seattle. Her newest launch is QUENTIN BLACK, a science fiction romance and mystery series that’s a spin-off from Allie’s War but set in our own version of Earth.
JC has a background in journalism, history and politics, travels extensively and has lived abroad in Europe, Australia and Asia, and from coast to coast in the continental United States. She currently lives in Bangkok, Thailand.
To learn more about me and my writing, please visit http://jcandrijeski.com. For more about the Allie's War series, visit http://allieswarseries.com
If you want to get an automatic email when JC's next book is released, join THE REBEL ARMY at tinyurl.com/JCAndrijeski.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
April 3, 2022
Nick heads to San Francisco for just a couple of days to fight in a high-profile cage match for Farlucci’s vampire fight club. It's strange for him to go back to his hometown and now he is a celebrity he can't go anywhere without fans getting exciting and mobbing him. Can he cope with the unsettling memories that are now starting to cope back at him? It starts to go wrong from the start as he gets accosted by a strange vampire who has memories of Nick that make no sense at all. Then when Nick tries to investigate what he was told it just gets even more strange as missing memories and long-ago wars, friends and family long dead start to assail him. When the NYPD contact him asking him to stay a little longer to solve a murder case for them that happened in Manhattan it seems to merge into Nick's past and then both things feel connected in some way. Things also might be trying to kill him and when Wynter shows up they are trying to kill her soon. Can they survive this and solve the murder case?
Wow. This blew my mind to the point that I had to sit and process it as so many things happened to Nick that were connected in some subtle ways as well as a few obvious ones. I won't give any spoilers but the bonus epilogue solidified and confirmed several conclusions that I had already come to. As always, the author has woven multiple storylines and unknowns together in order to craft something very enjoyable. Now I'm anticipating and waiting patiently to find out what happens next in the next book in the series. Very easy to read, understand and feel. If I wasn't already addicted to this series I definitely am now.
Wow. This blew my mind to the point that I had to sit and process it as so many things happened to Nick that were connected in some subtle ways as well as a few obvious ones. I won't give any spoilers but the bonus epilogue solidified and confirmed several conclusions that I had already come to. As always, the author has woven multiple storylines and unknowns together in order to craft something very enjoyable. Now I'm anticipating and waiting patiently to find out what happens next in the next book in the series. Very easy to read, understand and feel. If I wasn't already addicted to this series I definitely am now.
April 2, 2022
How does she do it?
It takes an outstanding author to keep characters interesting over hundreds of years, (and more) assorted worlds, time- and story lines and still make everything, kinda, understandable. Well, bar the times when she throws a curve ball of the freaking kind.
And those were abundant in this story, enough to give me whiplash!
And then that epilogue! Really... ? Did you have to... ?
It takes an outstanding author to keep characters interesting over hundreds of years, (and more) assorted worlds, time- and story lines and still make everything, kinda, understandable. Well, bar the times when she throws a curve ball of the freaking kind.
And those were abundant in this story, enough to give me whiplash!
And then that epilogue! Really... ? Did you have to... ?
April 12, 2022
“A Vampire’s Curse”, the sixth instalment in the ‘Vampire Detective Midnight Series’ by JC Andrijeski, is without any doubt the best in the series, which is an enormous feat all by itself, because there have been some exceptional stories in this series, but “A Vampire’s Curse” tops them all (at least for now 😉 I wouldn’t be surprised if - after everything Nick Tanaka has endured in this book, his next adventure breaks new records. But… I’m going ahead of myself, let us concentrate in the book at hand.
All Nick Tanaka wants is a brief respite, to be honest it’s all he has been wanting since he got his second chance at redemption and moved out of San Francisco to work as a ‘Midnight’ for the NYPD. When a high-profile cage match brings Tanaka back to San Francisco, as a celebrity champion fighter, Tanaka has not only to confront his past, but also come to terms with his new situation. Needless to say that this isn’t the respite Tanaka was hoping for, not in the briefest 😉
As the NYPD reaches to him to resolve an old murder case with connections to Manhattan, Tanaka’s life gets even more convoluted: the case has some obscure links with his own past, and as Winter comes to visit, both of them end up in the killer(s) radar.
As the story develops the reader find themselves tangled into the action, tangled but never lost 😉, thanks to JC Andrijeski’s masterfully storytelling, her ability to interweave various plots into coherent storylines, and her uncanny ability to create whole new worlds, alien and familiar at the same time, which she then populates with the most captivating, interesting, and relatable characters.
Her fluid, fast paced, vivid and always delightful writing style, excels in getting across the action elements without disregarding the more subtle romantic aspects of the story (romantic but never soapy 😉), making Tanaka into possible one of the most human vampires you would ever come across, as well as one of the characters that have undergo the highest growth since we first meet him in the “Quentin Black Series”. Tanaka is a wonderful character, a real hero in the Japanese way, the one who does what must be done, and needs no other reason: And the one who is destined to fail and tries nevertheless; and becomes the hero, no because he wins, but as result of his own failures and his resolve to try, nevertheless.
There is by any means necessary to have any previous knowledge of the original series (Quentin Black) to enjoy the “Vampire Detective Midnight” (VDM) Series, which stands solely on its own. However, as Nick Tanaka character keeps evolving through the VDM series, an acquaintance with the previous books in the series, is recommendable, and still doesn’t really matter, does it? because there is not way to ever stop after just ‘one’ Nick Tanaka story, thus should you haven’t read the previous books before, you will read them afterwards anyway, once you get to know Tanaka, you can’t ever have enough 😉.
Last but not least, please bear in mind that “Quentin Black” and “Vampire Detective Midnight” are both wonderful series intended for mature readers that appreciate multidimensional characters and new perspectives.
All Nick Tanaka wants is a brief respite, to be honest it’s all he has been wanting since he got his second chance at redemption and moved out of San Francisco to work as a ‘Midnight’ for the NYPD. When a high-profile cage match brings Tanaka back to San Francisco, as a celebrity champion fighter, Tanaka has not only to confront his past, but also come to terms with his new situation. Needless to say that this isn’t the respite Tanaka was hoping for, not in the briefest 😉
As the NYPD reaches to him to resolve an old murder case with connections to Manhattan, Tanaka’s life gets even more convoluted: the case has some obscure links with his own past, and as Winter comes to visit, both of them end up in the killer(s) radar.
As the story develops the reader find themselves tangled into the action, tangled but never lost 😉, thanks to JC Andrijeski’s masterfully storytelling, her ability to interweave various plots into coherent storylines, and her uncanny ability to create whole new worlds, alien and familiar at the same time, which she then populates with the most captivating, interesting, and relatable characters.
Her fluid, fast paced, vivid and always delightful writing style, excels in getting across the action elements without disregarding the more subtle romantic aspects of the story (romantic but never soapy 😉), making Tanaka into possible one of the most human vampires you would ever come across, as well as one of the characters that have undergo the highest growth since we first meet him in the “Quentin Black Series”. Tanaka is a wonderful character, a real hero in the Japanese way, the one who does what must be done, and needs no other reason: And the one who is destined to fail and tries nevertheless; and becomes the hero, no because he wins, but as result of his own failures and his resolve to try, nevertheless.
There is by any means necessary to have any previous knowledge of the original series (Quentin Black) to enjoy the “Vampire Detective Midnight” (VDM) Series, which stands solely on its own. However, as Nick Tanaka character keeps evolving through the VDM series, an acquaintance with the previous books in the series, is recommendable, and still doesn’t really matter, does it? because there is not way to ever stop after just ‘one’ Nick Tanaka story, thus should you haven’t read the previous books before, you will read them afterwards anyway, once you get to know Tanaka, you can’t ever have enough 😉.
Last but not least, please bear in mind that “Quentin Black” and “Vampire Detective Midnight” are both wonderful series intended for mature readers that appreciate multidimensional characters and new perspectives.
April 5, 2022
A Vampire’s Cure starts finds Nick back in San Francisco, somewhere he hasn't been in a very long time. He's there for a fight, but unexpected events keep him there for longer than planned. First, he meets a vampire who claims to have worked with Nick back when he was human, which doesn't make sense since Nick doesn't remember the guy. Then Nick revisits his old neighborhood and discovers more oddities. Unfortunately, he doesn't have a lot of time to investigate these inconsistencies because his NYPD boss needs him to investigate a San Francisco connection to a murder case back home. After some unexpected events, Nick finds himself embedded in mysteries much bigger than expected.
I really liked this book! As other reviewers have already noted, this book has a pretty big plot twist. I will admit that I did not see it coming, but I really liked it and it makes a lot of sense! I really hope there's further information in the next book--and I'd love to be a fly on the wall for the family conversation planned in the epilogue. I enjoy this series, the characters are engaging, the mysteries well written, and I cannot wait to see where it goes next!
I really liked this book! As other reviewers have already noted, this book has a pretty big plot twist. I will admit that I did not see it coming, but I really liked it and it makes a lot of sense! I really hope there's further information in the next book--and I'd love to be a fly on the wall for the family conversation planned in the epilogue. I enjoy this series, the characters are engaging, the mysteries well written, and I cannot wait to see where it goes next!
April 8, 2022
Such an excellent story. Nick has always been a favorite character of mine even before he became a vampire. Since his change he has become even more interesting! In this mystery he returns to his old stomping grounds to fight a series of vampire fights.
Things happen in NY that his boss feels could use his attention considering that on of the deceased was from San Francisco! So Nick goes exploring of his old stomping grounds while back in NY Brick and StMartin get nervous about what he will find.
During his beginning of the investigation his wife shows up to assist him and the plot thickens! This involves a so called thing to turn humans into vampires but retaining their humanity. Well things get very interesting and Brick shows up with other vampires just in the nick of time, lol
I will not say more because this is an excellent story and you will love the secrets!y
Things happen in NY that his boss feels could use his attention considering that on of the deceased was from San Francisco! So Nick goes exploring of his old stomping grounds while back in NY Brick and StMartin get nervous about what he will find.
During his beginning of the investigation his wife shows up to assist him and the plot thickens! This involves a so called thing to turn humans into vampires but retaining their humanity. Well things get very interesting and Brick shows up with other vampires just in the nick of time, lol
I will not say more because this is an excellent story and you will love the secrets!y
April 10, 2022
Nick is in San Francisco for a fight when his boss calls and asks him to look into the deaths of some newly made vampires that were from that area. While there, he encounters a vampire that knew him when he was human and worked as his partner. Only problem is Nick doesn’t know him. The longer Nick is in San Francisco the more events in his life don’t add up. Meanwhile he is trying to work the case and things aren’t adding up there either.
Lots of things happening in this book. I love who Nick has become and that twist at the end has me sitting on the edge of my seat wanting more. Can’t wait to see what happens.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of this book.
Lots of things happening in this book. I love who Nick has become and that twist at the end has me sitting on the edge of my seat wanting more. Can’t wait to see what happens.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of this book.
April 23, 2022
I kind of don’t even know what to do with that revelation at the end. It’s left me at a complete loss for words and has somewhat magnified my book hangover. The carefully woven threads and layered plotlines kept me guessing from the moment the book opened. They also kept me glued to the pages, gobbling up every clue that Nick and Wynter turned over. Nick’s investigation and his trip down memory lane have uncovered some surprising truths that have left me absolutely rabid to find out where the author’s going to take us next.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author.
March 31, 2022
AWESOME!!!
OMG - I love these books!!!! This author is a true master of weaving a complex compelling tale which will drag you into Nicks world and you won't want to leave.
The richness of details in these story's will blow your mind!
The murder plot is devious and poor Nick has his own mind blown as he gets dragged deeper and deeper into a menacing situation!
Seriously read this book! You won't regret it!!
Highly recommended.
OMG - I love these books!!!! This author is a true master of weaving a complex compelling tale which will drag you into Nicks world and you won't want to leave.
The richness of details in these story's will blow your mind!
The murder plot is devious and poor Nick has his own mind blown as he gets dragged deeper and deeper into a menacing situation!
Seriously read this book! You won't regret it!!
Highly recommended.
April 7, 2022
Who stole Nick's venom?
Nick, fighter, detective, and vampire is jumped in his hotel room and drained of his venom. With it gone, most of his vampire abilities are missing as well; speed, strength, all of them!. As he is currently investigating the murder of five baby vampires, he believes it is connected. Is it?
Nick, fighter, detective, and vampire is jumped in his hotel room and drained of his venom. With it gone, most of his vampire abilities are missing as well; speed, strength, all of them!. As he is currently investigating the murder of five baby vampires, he believes it is connected. Is it?
April 8, 2022
JC Andrijeski is back with A Vampire's Curse (Vampire Detective Midnight, Book 6), and the important news is that despite being so far in to the series, Nick & Co once again deliver with a fresh, imaginative, exciting and downright fun novel. I don’t know how this author consistently pulls this off, but she most definitely had here, and this book is very easy to highly recommend.
February 7, 2023
San Francisco
Awesome! Wow! What a mystery, total thrills with chills, suspense.
told his venomWho hit him in the head and stole his venom? How is killing newborns? Why does Brick show up every where? Why is Nicks fami,y home still standing? Oh no you read the book I do not do spoilers, lol
JC your a genius! You Rock girl!
Thanks for keeping your stories on KU
Awesome! Wow! What a mystery, total thrills with chills, suspense.
told his venomWho hit him in the head and stole his venom? How is killing newborns? Why does Brick show up every where? Why is Nicks fami,y home still standing? Oh no you read the book I do not do spoilers, lol
JC your a genius! You Rock girl!
Thanks for keeping your stories on KU
February 18, 2023
Missing pieces
Ah so, we get into more of Nick's missing backstory & we're in for quite a ride. This author has a way with going from standing still to light speed in zero seconds flat. Of course, also true of our fabulous author, we're left scatching our heads when we get to the end trying to figure out where she's going next. LoL.
Ah so, we get into more of Nick's missing backstory & we're in for quite a ride. This author has a way with going from standing still to light speed in zero seconds flat. Of course, also true of our fabulous author, we're left scatching our heads when we get to the end trying to figure out where she's going next. LoL.
April 2, 2022
Another great book!
I am always pleased with JC Andrijeski’s writing. This is another hit. Love this series! Can hardly wait for the next installment of Vampire DetectiveMidnight Books!
I am always pleased with JC Andrijeski’s writing. This is another hit. Love this series! Can hardly wait for the next installment of Vampire DetectiveMidnight Books!
April 5, 2022
4.5
Excellent continuation for this series. I was glad to read more about Nick and Winter and the ending finally explained why the story had felt a little off. Well worth the read.
Excellent continuation for this series. I was glad to read more about Nick and Winter and the ending finally explained why the story had felt a little off. Well worth the read.
October 30, 2023
Good story. Nick makes a grouchy, but "good" vampire. I would love to see one installment in this series focus on Brick's past. Ending was a bit abrupt for me. Keep up the good work with this series, J.C.A.!
December 15, 2023
This series has been truly exceptional. The only problem is that it's so well written, it's hard for me to stomach reading the usual crap afterwards!
November 11, 2022
Good read
This continues the saga as our Vampire Detective continues to search out the truth about his home and the people he knew. Lots of twists and turns and action.
This continues the saga as our Vampire Detective continues to search out the truth about his home and the people he knew. Lots of twists and turns and action.
January 10, 2024
Although I enjoyed the storyline, this was not a favorite.
This book is filled with lots happening: Newly turned vampires are wild, untamed and driven by impulse and thirst to hunt and destroy their prey- humans. New vampires are indiscriminate and uncaring if their food source is a young child, a crying baby or its' mother. A human is only food to sustain them. Someone in San Francisco is turning humans into vampires.
Nick has been attacked, knocked over the head and injected into unconsciousness, his fangs broken, and venom taken. He is as weak as a human without venom.
A stranger knows details about a life that Nick doesn't know or remember. Nick doesn't know him but acknowledges that this guy could and would be someone he would hang out with, if he knew him. Brick has a secret. He knows something things about Nick that Nick doesn't know about himself. Brick does reveal his secret to Nick but is he telling the truth? Ok, like I said, lots going on!
There is a future for Nick with his Wynter and the family he has formed with Talia and Mal. The question is where his future will lead him. Looking forward to the continuing story of Nick.
This book is filled with lots happening: Newly turned vampires are wild, untamed and driven by impulse and thirst to hunt and destroy their prey- humans. New vampires are indiscriminate and uncaring if their food source is a young child, a crying baby or its' mother. A human is only food to sustain them. Someone in San Francisco is turning humans into vampires.
Nick has been attacked, knocked over the head and injected into unconsciousness, his fangs broken, and venom taken. He is as weak as a human without venom.
A stranger knows details about a life that Nick doesn't know or remember. Nick doesn't know him but acknowledges that this guy could and would be someone he would hang out with, if he knew him. Brick has a secret. He knows something things about Nick that Nick doesn't know about himself. Brick does reveal his secret to Nick but is he telling the truth? Ok, like I said, lots going on!
There is a future for Nick with his Wynter and the family he has formed with Talia and Mal. The question is where his future will lead him. Looking forward to the continuing story of Nick.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews