BLURB: A secret sect of the Catholic Church, armed with an ancient book of the undead called The Gospel of Shadows, has been slowly destroying vampires for centuries. Now the book has been stolen, and the sect races to retrieve it before their purpose is discovered: a final purge of all vampires. As the line between saints and shadows grows ominously faint, private eye Peter Octavian is drawn into the search. And he'll do anything to find the book ... for Peter Octavian is also a vampire.
Ostracized by his kindred for refusing to take part in the 'blood song', he cannot stand by and watch while they are destroyed. In a deadly game with a driven, sadistic assassin, the trail leads to Venice at the time of carnival, where the Defiant Ones, as the vampires are known, are engaged in a savage battle for their lives.
Ostracized by his kindred for refusing to take part in the 'blood song', he cannot stand by and watch while they are destroyed. In a deadly game with a driven, sadistic assassin, the trail leads to Venice at the time of carnival, where the Defiant Ones, as the vampires are known, are engaged in a savage battle for their lives.
3 STARS
MY REVIEW: If you enjoy paranormal crime novels, this one hits all the right beats off the bat. There's the broody vampire private eye working to atone for his dark past, the feisty human love interest, the gruff old police detective, and a string of bizarre murders. You may think you're reading a typical example of the genre, but things take a swing as you delve deeper into the book, and the reason behind the murders is revealed.
I found the plot was unexpected, and I was bit torn trying to root for either side of the ensuing conflict, considering most everyone involved was insane, a murder, or both. The characters were varied and interesting enough, but I never formed much of a bond with any of them. My favorite was definitely Cody, who sadly didn't have a front seat role in the story. Pity, I think I'd have liked him in the lead better than Peter, but then I've never been into that whole 'dark and broody' kind of thing.
This novel is extremely graphic, with gruesome deaths and a few disturbing sex scenes. I don't recommend the book if either bothers. I could have certainly done without them myself.
I enjoyed the book well enough to finish it, and the last five or six chapters were pretty good.
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