First Bite

Accidental Vampire PI #1

by Avery Daniels

What's a positive thought girl to do when she finds herself one of the undead? Recite plenty of affirmations and use those new toothy skills to assist her PI boss, of course.
In 24 hours, Misty Summers had the worst date of her life, was bit by a vampire, and her PI boss may close his business as he goes through a divorce. Looking on the sunny side, she decides to use her new vampire assets and become the investigator to keep her job and income. She doesn't know what her future holds, but it can't be any worse! When she starts following up on a missing woman's case, she finds herself in the middle of murder. Even with her positive thinking and affirmations, she is finding her new reality daunting. But she vows to take a bite out of crime in her small lake resort town.
If you like Duffy Brown, Nancy Warren, Nova Nelson, Dionne Lister, Trixie Silvertale, and Leighann Dobbs, then you'll love this series with a quirky intelligent sleuth, small town lake setting, and tantalizing mysteries. Misty Indigo Summers is a positive thinking kind of gal and a most unlikely vampire and PI. Buy these fun and clean cozy mysteries and start enjoying Misty's adventures today!
Advance "Author Avery Daniels spins an intricate murder mystery tale full of vampires, witches, and talking cats that keeps you entertained from start to finish. Moving at a brisk pace, the plot takes wild twists and turns, keeping you guessing until the end. The characters are vibrant and colorful, with spirited personalities you can't help but find yourself attached to. The narrative follows Misty, an immensely likable young woman who wants to help others even at the cost of her own convenience. Her bubbly and optimistic personality is incredibly infectious and makes you root for her. I thoroughly enjoyed First Bite and heartily recommend it to vampire fans or readers who love paranormal sleuth stories." Reader's Favorite 5 Star

Genres: Cozy Mystery, Paranormal

258 pages, Paperback

Published August 13, 2022

About the author

I was born and raised in Colorado, graduated from college with a degree in business administration and worked in fortune 500 companies and Department of Defense my entire life. My most eventful job (fires, suicide, kidnapping, etc) was apartment management for 352 units. I still live in Colorado with two brother black cats as my spoiled and beloved companions. I volunteer for a cat shelter, enjoy scrapbooking and card making, photography, and painting in watercolor and acrylic. I inherited a love for reading from my mother and grandmother and grew up talking about books at the dinner table. I was the odd child in school who knew the names of Henry VIII's wives because of that dinner talk.

Reviews

[Leslie aka StoreyBook Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

What would you do if you woke up a vampire? Well, that is Misty's problem after a horrible blind date and not what she had planned. But she manages to roll with the punches and does her best to adapt to her new situation with the help of a few from the Meta-Mundane council that governs all non-human creatures. 

This was a fun read and while normally I don't read a lot of paranormal books, this one sounded intriguing. I enjoyed getting to know Misty and her new life. It doesn't hurt that she has an ally, Rowan, who is a warlock (male witch), who helps her with some P.I. cases she decides to investigate while her boss is trying to work on his marriage. She shouldn't be doing these jobs but she needs something to do so this is it. Misty learns a lot about her new life as a vampire and she is quite bummed that she can't smell or taste anything anymore and that the foods and drinks she used to love, make her sick.

I have to admit that I don't think I would have solved the cases she did and while some clues were there, not enough to really pinpoint who was the antagonist(s) in the end. But I enjoyed the chase to find the answers to the missing child and woman. At least some of the cases she worked on for her boss were minor and more mundane but added a little more depth to the story.

Misty and Rowan are also chasing down the vampire that turned her because it was like a "hit and run" event. Apparently, there are rules that are to be followed when turning someone into a vampire...who knew?! While the case isn't solved, there are more clues to finding this vampire and it will carry over to the new book or two.

I will definitely be picking up the next book in this series to discover how Misty is adapting, what the story is with the rogue vampire, and if Misty and Rowan are able to form a relationship other than friends.

We give this book 4 paws up.

[Holly Dimitrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

So at first when reading this book it started out kind tough to get into just the first character or so, bc to me the writing was a bit annoying and felt like it was written by a kid but as I read on it got much better and I really got into this book and enjoyed it.
a cozy mystery with a paranormal flare
such a fun book, about a "newbie" vampire. such a different type of book than other vamp themed ones
it stood out
loved her "day" job at her not P.I., P.I. job lol
the investigations, helping her boss and the people in the cases just brought it all together and you really got to see who she was even as a new vamp
loved her cat and their conversations (adorable added element)
great fun read
I am so thankful to have been given a chance from the publisher, author and NetGalley to receive this ARC to give my voluntary honest review.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Misty Summers is bit by a rogue vampire and becomes a student of the Meta Mundane council. She is blindsided to find out she was bit and has transformed. Working for a Private Investigator she now has some special talents that help solve several cases. This is a light-hearted first book in a new series, Accidental Vampire PI. This book does a good job introducing characters for future books and establishes a potential romance.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is just flat out quirky fun! I loved Misty and her determination to first not believe and then accept and use her new found strength to help others. She’s adorably funny, resilient, relatable and I so want her to be ,y friend! A lighthearted and whimsical take on a mystery and vampire / paranormal story. One of the most enjoyable books I’ve read this year!
I received an advance review copy from BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Delphia Von Heeder · Rating 5 out of 5]

First Bite is book 1 in the Accidental Vampire PI Mystery by Avery Daniels. I thought that First Bite was a fun book. Misty, the accidental vampire, and Rowan, a witch, are great characters. I thought the author did an outstanding job of laying the foundation for the series and the PI work that Misty and Rowan did were interesting and promised an interesting book 2. First Bite is a first rate fantasy book. I received an arc for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

First Bite Earns 5+/5 Type Ohhs…Entertaining & Clever Cozy!

Life continues to challenge twenty-something Misty Summers. Another bad date has her swearing off dates in general or maybe just those set up by her bestie. Her private detective boss is distraught over his wife’s request for a divorce putting into question Misty’s employment status. And a recent attack has her being introduced to life as a…vampire? Yes, the Meta-Mundane Council that serves the needs and monitors behavior of witches, vampires, and all sorts of “species” is upset by the rash of illegal turnings, but supportive by providing a mentor to help Misty transition to life as a full-fledged vampire. However, she enjoys being part of the P.I. firm and decides to remain and close out the last four active cases to maintain a positive reputation for the business should her boss return or at least make sure there’re funds to cover any severance payment. She needs help, though, and is given Council permission to be assisted by the handsome witch Rowan Donovan who had saved her life, but only if she uses her “investigative talents,” however unlicensed, to uncover the identity of the rogue vampire that turned her and others. Ok, let’s close out these cases! Two cases are resolved with client satisfaction, a third case requiring some magical intervention resulted in smiles all around, but the last case turns dark and deadly. Is Misty really prepared for such challenges?

For the first book in her Accidental Vampire P.I., Avery Daniels has created a fascinating world with a vast array of creatures thought mythical living side by side with clueless humans along with intriguing details about behaviors, lifestyle, and mandates monitored by the Meta-Mundane Council. Misty’s new life as a vampire and introduction to this diverse community is entertaining as she copes as well as she can with a “feisty” attitude, questioning long set rules, honing her own vampire traits often dispelling Hollywood and literary elements, and exploring an inter-meta friendship, albeit forbidden, with the handsome witch Rowan. I loved it! The cases were realistic for any P.I. firm to engage in with results that are satisfying, and the one murder mystery was complex with several interesting theories and clever in how it all unfolded to an arrest. The search for the rogue vampire had some surprising twists, and leads to making Misty an important member in this community. The paranormal elements are all realistically portrayed; no juvenile hocus-pocus here. I loved it! Well written, steady pace, descriptive, marvelous characters both good and bad, entertaining banter, and even some perilous predicaments have always been the hallmark of Daniels’ work, and the first-person narrative highlighting the inner thoughts of budding private detective and fledgling vampire Misty is enjoyable. I loved it! Great beginning! Eager for more!

Disclosure: I received an ARC from the author. My review is voluntary with honest insights and comments.

[Julie Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not a fan of vampires because they just creep me out but I am a actually really enjoying this series. I started with book two and just had to go back to the beginning to find out what I missed. Glad I did as it was just as entertaining. Even better there was still no gory blood drinking, the vampire change starts at the beginning of the book but learning what she can and can't do is woven into the story and was cleverly done and explained. In fact it was all about the cozy mystery. There is actually three cases to solve, a missing child, a missing woman and tracking down the rogue vampire. The first two cases get wrapped up very nicely but the search for the rogue vampire continues throughout the series, with you discovering a little bit more with each book. All three cases are very different and I like the way Misty uses different methods to solve them. Having said I don't like vampires, I am surprised to find I really like Misty, she doesn't change from the caring person she is and the vampire skills enhance her skills making her one vampire I am happy to join while on the hunt. The other characters are a lot of fun too and I can't wait to join them on There next case.
The worse date ever ends in a life changing experience for Misty. She is attacked and changed by a rogue vampire, which opens up a whole new secret world to her. Not happy she is having her life dictated to her she refuses to give up her job. The problem is her boss has run out of town to try and mend his marriage, leaving behind two missing person cases. Misty might only be his secretary but she has learnt a lot from being in the office. Can she find the missing people? Maybe with the help from a wizard, a wizard that as a new turned vampire she is meant to stay away from. Misty was never very good at following the rules especially with a missing child and a deadly vampire to find.
I was given this free review copy book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

[Gail Walker · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars- The premise for this book is fun, but the quality of the writing just isn’t great. The dialogue is often stilted and some phrasing used is awkward. There wasn’t a whole lot of character development for Misty, and even less for Rowan (her love interest). I did enjoy Winston’s character.
A few of the awkward bits that stood out to me enough to highlight them:
- Misty calls a missing girl “stout, but cute”….kind of offensive
- Misty’s friend comes over to apologize for setting up her bad date and the book says “Courtney turned and faced me as if she were staring down a firing squad. She had her honey-brown hair parted on one side and softly draped across her forehead with a bump in back for a sophisticated yet casual look.” This is so weirdly specific when it’s not even necessary.
- When Misty’s friend has apologized, Misty she decides her about her being turned into a vampire. While trying to figure out how to explain it, her friend “After a minute or so, she motioned hurry up with her hand.” That’s just weird and rude. It doesn’t fit with the friend’s character.
- Instead of her shoes tennis shoes or sneakers, she calls them “sports shoes”. Who says that?
Those were just a few specific things that irked me, but really just the writing in general is immature. It seems like something a young student would write. Maybe it just needs more editing?
Even though the writing isn’t good, I maybe like the story enough to read more.
Thank you to NetGalley and Blazing Sword Publishing for providing me access to this eARC for my honest opinion!

[Sapphyria · Rating 3 out of 5]

First Bite is the first book in the Accidental Vampire PI Mystery series. Misty Summers is attacked one evening by a rogue vampire, turning her entire world upside down. She also learns her boss is going through a divorce, threatening closure of his PI business. As such, she decides to use the skills she’s picked up on the job, along with her new vampire skills to keep the PI business operational. The consequences of her vampirism also land her in the Meta Mundane council as a student.

I wasn’t really a fan of this book. Misty is immature and isn’t provided much character development. The dialogue was choppy, uneven, and, at times, very awkward. I found myself skimming through much of the book. The premise was interesting and the story fine, I just found the main character unlikable.

The story is a paranormal cozy with all of the elements you would expect. I think this series and the characters have ginormous potential. The secondary character introduction was done well, and I can see a great future for them and Misty. I just didn’t enjoy the author’s writing style or how Misty’s character was set up.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Misty had a horrible blind date and to top it off was attacked on the way home. She wakes up to find out that she was turned into a vampire. When she goes to work, her boss tells her he may be shutting down and she'll need to find a new job. Deciding to take matters into her own hand, she continues working as a Private Investigator while he is out of town with the little known fact that she isn't licensed to be a PI. She does enlist the help of a witch, even though the Meta Mundane Council discourages mixing of supernaturals. The fact that he is super hot is a plus but she is not sure that he feels the same way.
Opinion
This is a great new spin on vampires. I love that Misty is working as a PI and must do some work for the council in order to hang out with her witch friend, Rowan. I think the part I would personally love, if it were me, was the fact that she can now hold conversations with her cat. Overall the book was a fun, lighthearted mystery with much promise for more in the series.
Many thanks to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC of this book.

[Avery Daniels]

"Author Avery Daniels spins an intricate murder mystery tale full of vampires, witches, and talking cats that keeps you entertained from start to finish. Moving at a brisk pace, the plot takes wild twists and turns, keeping you guessing until the end. The characters are vibrant and colorful, with spirited personalities you can't help but find yourself attached to. The narrative follows Misty, an immensely likable young woman who wants to help others even at the cost of her own convenience. Her bubbly and optimistic personality is incredibly infectious and makes you root for her. I thoroughly enjoyed First Bite and heartily recommend it to vampire fans or readers who love paranormal sleuth stories." Pikasho Deka, Reader's Favorite 5 Star

[teal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Misty is definitely making the best of a batch of lemons! Holding down the fort while her boss is trying to save his marriage, she skirts around actually labeling herself a PI as she works on open cases. In addition to her job, she is also coming to terms with being a vampire and learning the ropes of the Meta-Mundane Council. Despite there being a rule against inter-species relationships, she gets permission to enlist the help of Rowan the witch to solve several cases and he proves invaluable.

I enjoyed the setting... everything being lake-themed is cute and entertaining. The characters are likable and I look forward to getting to know them better!

~ Thank you to BookSirens for the free ebook. This review is voluntary and my honest opinion. ~

[Sheridan Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book! I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I’ll be completely honest, I expected this book to be a stereotypical vampire book with tons of angst and cringy-ness. BUT, I was pleasantly surprised that that was NOT the case in this book. The main character was relatable, witty, and lovable! I loved this book showed vampires and other mythical beings but didn’t make it so serious. While this book had mystery components, I breezed through this book because it felt so lighthearted in some parts, which I enjoy! Overall, this book was amazing and I can’t wait to read more!🖤

[Rahel Charikar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the book. Misty and Rowan's chemistry and romance was my favorite. The book is a light and breezy read, and I sailed through it. The writing is not complex, and perfect for someone looking for a relaxed read. I liked the characters, however, the character development was a bit weak. I failed to relate to Misty's best friend's immediate acceptance of Misty as a vampire. Even Misty's adjustment to being a vampire felt rushed. The climax came too quickly, but I understand that it could be because there will be more books in the series. It is a cute paranormal cozy mystery book. A perfect recommendation for paranormal lovers.

[Danielle Bush · Rating 3 out of 5]

After a horrible date, MIsty gets attacked but somehow winds up back home in her bed with no idea how she got there. Turns out some random dude turned her into a vampire and ran. She is pretty oblivious to the changes in her own body, or the fact her cat is talking to her... I did like the PI part, and how she and Rowan worked together to solve one of the harder cases.
I think that this series has potential, but I didn't love the writing style or our main character. There were quite a few things that were that weren't important but were described weirdly specifically, which kept taking me out of the story.

[Thebookishreview · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was provided a free ARC of First Bite by Avery Daniels by Blazing Sword Publishing via NetGalley in return for my honest review of this book. Any opinions stated in this review are mine completely and are not influenced by outside sources.

It’s exactly what is advertised, a cozy mystery with a paranormal flare. Nothing about this book really stood out to me that would set it apart from the rest of paranormal cozy mysteries but it was an enjoyable read. If this series continues I will probably use it as my “Inbetween Series” books.

[Rebecca Goss · Rating 3 out of 5]

After the worst blind date of her life, Misty is attacked and turned into a vampire. She is introduced to a paranormal world she didn't know existed. Her boss, a private investigator, leaves town to try to salvage his marriage. In this paranormal cozy mystery, Misty tries to solve their cases and keep her job. This is a fun book with a hint of flirtation and hope for romance. This is a good start for this series and sets the pace for more adventure. I read this on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Penny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like to read paranormal cozies because they are fun, light stories. I saw this one, and I thought I’d give it a try. This is exactly that: a cute, fun, light paranormal cozy. Misty is kinda of a timid person until she is turned into vampire. By the end of the book, she’s starting to come into her own. I really liked this story, and I will definitely read the next one. I’m intrigued by the rogue vampire, the council, and Misty and Rowan. I’m excited to see what’s next. Recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

[wonderfullyweird88 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an entertaining cosy mystery that kept me entertained from start to finish. Missy stepping up as a PI while her boss dealt with family issues was highly entertaining. I love a heroine with a cat and this book doesn't disappoint. I would love to wake up one morning and be able to speak with my pets. (minus the undead part)

This is a series I will definitely be following and I can't wait to read the next one.

I received an arc of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

Talk about bad luck! Go on a blind date and get bit by a vampire???!!! Poor Misty has exactly that happen and has to figure out everything from there. No spoiler alerts. This was a cute, easy paranormal cozy with a little mystery thrown in as well. I read this in one setting, very easy to read. I'm interested to see where this leads further in the series. I really like this author's writing so I'm hoping for a really good series!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[JoAn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed Ms. Daniel's first book in this cozy paranormal mystery series. First Bite introduces us to Misty Summers who has just been bitten by a rogue vampire and turned. An epic bad date turned into a horror film.
With descriptive writing, likable characters who are developing organically and more than one mystery for Misty to solve, this book kept my attention from first page to last. A very entertaining book. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was quite interesting and entertaining. I give it 5 bites- er stars. I enjoyed the main character and her acting as a P I. I liked that she is a newly turned vampire, because it added another dimension to an intriguing story. She's smart and pretty good at her new career. She has some guidance from a new supernatural friend too. I definitely will be reading more from this author. I appreciate her style. I voluntarily read a free copy of this book provided by book sirens and am giving an honest opinion.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

First Bite by Avery Daniels is a cute paranormal cozy mystery. After dumping the blind date from hell Misty Summers is attacked and turned into a vampire. If that wasn’t bad enough her boss has bailed to go save his marriage. Misty needs the job and gives herself the title of junior investigator. She has cases to solve and paranormal rules to learn. She meets new people and makes new friends but her love life really needs work. A fun first in a series.

[Katherine Azad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super cute story. I enjoyed the relationships between the main character and her old and new friends and am looking forward to reading the next one! I cant wait to see what happens between her and Rowan! I also liked learning with her as she discovered her new abilities and sorted through her feelings about it. I never thought about what foods vampires must miss! Well thought out and a fun book!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Vic · Rating 5 out of 5]

First in new series and ends sort of a cliffhanger but leads into next nicely. Misty goes on another bad blind date and ends the night being turned into a vampire. She then is thrown into a whole new world and way of life. She uses her new skills and with help from Rowan, a witch, starts solving some cases from the P.I. firm she works for. Great supernatural mystery crime solving duo story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Chere Gruver]

Loved this story!

This story is a lot different from most vampire stories. Even though it was nothing she asked for, Misty adapts pretty well to becoming a vampire. The story is well written, the plot is fantastic with Misty continuing to work as a private investigator, even though she isn’t licensed, and I adore Winston! With the first story being this good, I can’t wait to see what happens next.

[Martine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Misty is turned into a vampire and is struggling to get used to it. Meanwhile she is taking over a few of her PI boss’ cases. Oh and there's that hot wizard who's helping her. This is a nice, entertaining and easy to read story. I like the writing style and found it hard to put the book down.
I received a review copy via Booksprout and I’m leaving a voluntary and honest review.

[Jodi Sweet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was able to jump right into this book. The characters are so engaging. The story progressed smoothly and the mystery aspect was very good. There were a few things to figure out in addition to the one main mystery that is going to continue in the series. I’m looking forward to continuing this series.

[Rachel (Get Booked with Rae) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun spin on crime by mixing in paranormal! The writing and the characters grow as you read. The story line sets this up for a fun series and I look forward to see how the MFC and the MMC grow in their relationship. Hoping to see some love
Bloom beyond friendship :) I like that she didn’t move them into that too quickly though.

[Annarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had fun and found this book highly entertaining. Good plot and character development, interesting world building.
I can't wait to read another book in this series
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine