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Vampire Files #4
Art in the Blood
I'm a vampire, not an artist, but I know what I like.
And I don't like murder:
So when the career of a talented young artist is fatally cut short, I know I won't sleep easy in my coffin until I find the killer: But the world of high art--with its big money, bigger egos, and expensive forgeries--makes even bloodsucking seem simple. And safer.
Dead artists can live forever: An undead detective may not be so lucky...
And I don't like murder:
So when the career of a talented young artist is fatally cut short, I know I won't sleep easy in my coffin until I find the killer: But the world of high art--with its big money, bigger egos, and expensive forgeries--makes even bloodsucking seem simple. And safer.
Dead artists can live forever: An undead detective may not be so lucky...
208 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 1, 1991
1 person is currently reading
486 people want to read
About the author
P.N. Elrod
88 books591 followersPatricia Nead Elrod is an American fantasy writer specializing in novels about vampires. Her work falls into areas of fantasy and (in some cases) mystery or historical fiction, but normally not horror, since her vampires are the heroes. -Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
June 9, 2015
A detective story of the noir kind, only with a vampire in the main role. As a friend of mine keeps saying, this is a vampire series without vampires. Jack's the only supernatural creature far and wide and he has just a few supernatural tricks up his sleeve. Other than that, it's all hard detective work as he and his friend, Charles Escott, investigate.
This particular story had little suspense but very likable characters which made up for the lack of other things. Still it felt a bit slow, not even the reveal of the murderer was all that thrilling. Interesting for people who like the characters but I think it would be boring for those who don't know Jack, Escott and Bobbi and their previous adventures.
This particular story had little suspense but very likable characters which made up for the lack of other things. Still it felt a bit slow, not even the reveal of the murderer was all that thrilling. Interesting for people who like the characters but I think it would be boring for those who don't know Jack, Escott and Bobbi and their previous adventures.
November 14, 2012
Vampire P.I., former journalist, Jack Fleming continues his adventures. This time, he and his friend Escott solve murders in the art community. It seemed a bit weaker than the earlier books and perhaps the art mystery genre was feeling overdone to me. So I enjoyed the continuing story between Jack and his girlfriend Bobbi, but not the mystery much.
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November 26, 2020When his girlfriend, Bobbi, invites Jack to a party at the home of a popular artist, he never imagines it will descend into anything more sinister than sarcasm and artsy chatter. Unfortunately, Jack isn't able to mind his own business when he overhears the beginning of a beating, triggered when one of the artists, Evan is caught cheating at dice by some local hoods. When he faces down Evan's assailants, he gets drawn farther into the affairs (some literal) of artists more than he had hoped.
When Evan's sister, Sandra, is killed shortly after that, Jack's suspicions immediately turn to some sort of revenge attempt either by the angry gamblers, or a debt collection gone horribly wrong, as it turns out Evan owes money to a few gangsters, as well. Things get even more complicated when Jack finds out that the first wife of the sister's boyfriend, Alex Adrian, committed suicide - or was it murder?
The deeper Fleming and his friend, Escott, delve into the situation, the more of a tangled web they discover. Not the most exciting one of these chronicles so far, but it explores Jack and Charles' crime-solving skills a bit, and sets up some situations for later on.
When Evan's sister, Sandra, is killed shortly after that, Jack's suspicions immediately turn to some sort of revenge attempt either by the angry gamblers, or a debt collection gone horribly wrong, as it turns out Evan owes money to a few gangsters, as well. Things get even more complicated when Jack finds out that the first wife of the sister's boyfriend, Alex Adrian, committed suicide - or was it murder?
The deeper Fleming and his friend, Escott, delve into the situation, the more of a tangled web they discover. Not the most exciting one of these chronicles so far, but it explores Jack and Charles' crime-solving skills a bit, and sets up some situations for later on.
November 3, 2019
This one actually had me on the fence. You could tell the author tried something new in the format of the story. One of the fatal flaws of this one was the predictability of who the main villain was.
A good mystery buff would've picked up on it at the beginning of the novel. There was also a feeling of being rushed. I still enjoyed this one but all in all, it didn't seem to fit within the first three.
A good mystery buff would've picked up on it at the beginning of the novel. There was also a feeling of being rushed. I still enjoyed this one but all in all, it didn't seem to fit within the first three.
May 5, 2020
Being a vampire isn't as glamorous as it sounds--especially in Prohibition-era Chicago. Jack Fleming, American journalist, was bitten by the wrong girl, and joined the living dead. Eccentric detective Charles Escott helps Jack solve any strange cases that happen along, so Jack and Charles investigate the case of the talented young artist whose life is suddenly cut short.
February 29, 2024
A lot of people I know read light, fluffy romances or cozy mysteries when they want to curl up with a blanket and a cuppa. Blame my mom for raising me on Christie-based movies, but my "light-hearted entertainment" is pseudo-pulp-noir vampire mysteries where the good guys sometimes do questionable things and the bad guys are seriously villains.
February 11, 2017
The audiobook was long
August 14, 2025
A good mystery with sympathetic characters
August 29, 2010
More of a whodunit story... Jack Fleming is feeling a bit out of sorts in how he manipulated the evil girl to take her life (she had killed his beloved and her own mother, just for jealousy)...
And he joins Bobbi at a reception following an art show at a mansion where she is singing for the guests... he meets a few artists, and rescues a younger one who had gotten caught cheating at craps in the back by the garage...
The players... the young one is Evan, an artist whose technique doesn't sell too many paintings, but he is talented... and his sister Sandra, also an artist but who does more mainstream paintings that decorate government buildings... Alex Adrian, the most famous painter there, of portraits & magazine covers, etc - but his wife committed suicide earlier in the year and there was some speculation that Alex murdered her, and he hasn't painted and appears devastated... and Reva & Leighton, Leighton's art was the reason for the reception, Reva is his lover & manager... and Barbara, reporter, exlover to Alex and still bitter as he loved his art more than her...
Jack is mildly curious about Alex's wife and the truth about her death... he helps out Evan who is trouble for interest owed on his gamblind debts... and he contracts with Alex to paint Bobbi... Alex seems to be developing a relationship withSandra.. when Alex backs out the next day, they go by to find out why, and somewhere in that evening, going back & forth between Evan/Sandra and Alex's place, Sandra is murdered and found by Evan.
It ends up to be Leighton, who was angry with Sandra for copying his technique, selling similiar paintings anyomously, and doing it better than him... he hits her over the head when he confronts her...
Jack uses mindreading and mind control a lot during this investigation, without harming any one, and perhaps easing some of their pain...
And Jack & Bobbi confess their love for one another, and Bobbi asks to be converted... Jack is careful to make sure she knows what her life would be like before he agrees... and they exchange blood, in love and with intense sexual satisfaction for both... though this doesn't guarantee her conversion - not everyone will become vampire at their death, in spite of exchange of blood.
And he joins Bobbi at a reception following an art show at a mansion where she is singing for the guests... he meets a few artists, and rescues a younger one who had gotten caught cheating at craps in the back by the garage...
The players... the young one is Evan, an artist whose technique doesn't sell too many paintings, but he is talented... and his sister Sandra, also an artist but who does more mainstream paintings that decorate government buildings... Alex Adrian, the most famous painter there, of portraits & magazine covers, etc - but his wife committed suicide earlier in the year and there was some speculation that Alex murdered her, and he hasn't painted and appears devastated... and Reva & Leighton, Leighton's art was the reason for the reception, Reva is his lover & manager... and Barbara, reporter, exlover to Alex and still bitter as he loved his art more than her...
Jack is mildly curious about Alex's wife and the truth about her death... he helps out Evan who is trouble for interest owed on his gamblind debts... and he contracts with Alex to paint Bobbi... Alex seems to be developing a relationship withSandra.. when Alex backs out the next day, they go by to find out why, and somewhere in that evening, going back & forth between Evan/Sandra and Alex's place, Sandra is murdered and found by Evan.
It ends up to be Leighton, who was angry with Sandra for copying his technique, selling similiar paintings anyomously, and doing it better than him... he hits her over the head when he confronts her...
Jack uses mindreading and mind control a lot during this investigation, without harming any one, and perhaps easing some of their pain...
And Jack & Bobbi confess their love for one another, and Bobbi asks to be converted... Jack is careful to make sure she knows what her life would be like before he agrees... and they exchange blood, in love and with intense sexual satisfaction for both... though this doesn't guarantee her conversion - not everyone will become vampire at their death, in spite of exchange of blood.
August 4, 2016
Except for one particularly sexy chapter (RE: Jack/Bobbi), where the consequences of it may —or may not— come into play later, this is pretty much a stand alone story.
Great new characters too, but I didn't care for the actual mystery itself. And, again, the book can easily be skipped if none of them plans on making another appearance in the series.
I don't mind stand alone stories, but after such a strong arc with the previous three books, I hope there will be a new one starting soon.
Great new characters too, but I didn't care for the actual mystery itself. And, again, the book can easily be skipped if none of them plans on making another appearance in the series.
I don't mind stand alone stories, but after such a strong arc with the previous three books, I hope there will be a new one starting soon.
August 30, 2010
1930s noir and a vampire with a heart who interacts with the mob.
P. N. Elrod is amazing in her depiction of the time period. You can see, smell, feel, and hear it as you read.
As an artist, I very much enjoyed the artistic elements in this story. And Jack continues to amaze me with his compassion.
P. N. Elrod is amazing in her depiction of the time period. You can see, smell, feel, and hear it as you read.
As an artist, I very much enjoyed the artistic elements in this story. And Jack continues to amaze me with his compassion.
August 14, 2012
One of the best vampire stories I've read. There's a little romance (it's really hard to find a vampire story that doesn't), but it is 90% very entertaining story line. If you like this genre, I would not pass these novels up.
January 16, 2015
I thoroughly enjoyed this story as it brought me back to my middle school days of reading books like this one. I enjoyed the descriptions that Elrod throws in and how it makes it feel like we are in a detective role in the 1930's. It was a quick read that was easy to follow and enjoy.
March 3, 2009
extra 1/2 star.
February 10, 2010
Vampire Files #4
July 30, 2013
This is another great story in the Vampire Files. I enjoy the gangster atmosphere as well as the overall detective work.
Targeted for adult readers.
Targeted for adult readers.
September 29, 2010
Our vampiric hero gets dragged into the world of art in Chicago after the death of a young artist.
One of the better mysteries and as always a likable cast saves a so-so mystery series.
One of the better mysteries and as always a likable cast saves a so-so mystery series.
August 29, 2011
Interesting ideas. Still wish something big would happen.
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September 9, 2011I always enjoy P.N. Elrod.
December 2, 2020
Interesting addition to the series..3.75 stars
March 31, 2011
VG but didn't follow expected thread, great art plot
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews