99 Coffins: A Historical Vampire Tale

November 19, 2007
Vampires and mortals fight a modern battle of Gettysburg in vampire hunter Laura Caxton's gore-soaked second outing (after 2007's 13 Bullets
). When a college archeological dig uncovers a cache of Civil War–era coffins, each containing a corpse minus heart, grizzled detective Jameson Arkeley recognizes these remains as evidence of a forgotten Union vampire corps and immediately summons Caxton. Before the two can unravel the historical mystery, someone reanimates one of the vampires, setting the stage for the full vampire army to rise and resume its unfulfilled mission. Wellington keeps the pace brisk, alternating action-packed chapters set in the present with chapters cast credibly in the form of extracts from period journals, letters and dispatches that gradually reveal the origin and intent of the vampire regiment and its enigmatic leader, Alva Griest. The taut narrative never slackens, providing thrilling entertainment for readers who like their horror raw and bloody.

February 15, 2008
Pennsylvania state trooper Laura Caxton gets a call from her former partner, Jameson Arkeley, to take a look at a recently discovered crypt in Gettysburg. Previously, in "13 Bullets", the two worked to destroy a nest of undeads created by the world's last vampire, Justinia Malvern, but the 99 coffins crowding this underground room show they failed. A splintered empty coffin tells Laura a vampire has risen, and she must hunt it down before many people die. This action-adventure will certainly keep readers' attention, but the graphic violence will limit its appeal to the unsqueamish. Recommended for large fantasy collections.

Copyright 2008 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.