A Song In The Dark

July 25, 2005
Picking up where Cold Streets
(2003) left off, Elrod's winning 10th Vampire Files novel finds nightclub-owning vampire Jack Fleming, who usually works for the "good guys" as a private detective in 1938 Chicago, on the other side of the law. When Jack agrees to fill in for his wounded gangster boss pal, Gordy Weems, he winds up nearly tortured to death at the hands of sadistic hood Hog Bristow. Jack gets his payback by killing Bristow, but must face the music after the arrival of the big boss from New York, Whitey Kroun. Though Jack manages to make nice with Kroun, he still has other problems. Bristow's rough treatment has left Jack with seizures, impaired vampiric hypnotic ability and an overwhelming craving for blood. A thug who wants Jack dead and the murder of a singer at Gordy's club further complicate an already tough situation. Interesting twists, good period detail, fine characterization and snappy dialogue lift this genre-crossing tale. Agent, Lucienne Diver at Spectrum Literary Agency.

August 15, 2005
In the tenth installment of Elrod's 1930s Chicago -era "Vampire Files" series, P.I. vampire Jack Fleming battles both his inner demons and the mortal bad guys. Whenever Jack influences someone through his vampiric powers of hypnosis, his mind and body are overtaken by raging pain. Eventually, he realizes that the pain is an aftereffect of the horrific torture he endured under now-deceased gangster Hog Bristow (see "Cold Streets"). Hog's New York bosses are after Jack to avenge his murder, but Jack can hold his own ground. Jack is friends with some of Chicago's underworld; in fact, he runs pal Gordy Weem's gang while Gordy recovers from mob-related injuries. As temporary boss, Jack must at once ward off the Mafia and solve the mysterious death of an entertainer at Gordy's club. Elrod knows how to pace the action without resorting to caricature. These characters, including the vampires, are believable and -for the most part -a pleasure to know. For fans of vampire fiction, fantasies, and noir mysteries. -Patricia Altner, Information Seekers, Columbia, MD

Copyright 2005 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.