Vampyres of Hollywood

June 2, 2008
Actress Barbeau and bestseller Scott (The Alchemyst
) give a novel twist to one of the hoariest clichés of vampire lore in this compulsively readable dark fantasy. Secret vampires in the film industry have concocted vampire myths and disseminated them through horror movies to mislead superstitious humans (e.g., real vampires can walk by day). One of the biggest bamboozlers is Ovsanna Moore, a seductive centuries-old vampire currently producing and acting in B-movies with titles like Vatican Vampyres.
When humans and vampires in her studio entourage begin dying spectacularly gruesome deaths, Ovsanna knows that someone is specifically targeting her. Since it's just a matter of time before investigating detective Peter King uncovers Ovsanna's vampire pedigree, she must solve the mystery or “die” and resurface somewhere else. Alternate chapters from Peter and Ovsanna's limited points of view build narrative tension. Briskly paced and full of fang-in-cheek humor, this novel is one of the more entertaining recent works of supernatural noir.

May 15, 2008
This novel by actress Barbeau ("The Fog; Maude") and author Scott ("The Alchemyst") begins with the gruesome murders of three Hollywood A-listers. What the police don't know is that the victims were vampyres, the progeny of actress and high-rolling producer Ovsanna Moore. Her specialties are horror movies that often focus on the nasty doings of the undead. Ovsanna is convinced that a vampyre hunter has come to town but is unsure who or why. Hunky veteran Beverly Hills detective Peter King is assigned to investigate the murders, unaware, of course, that Hollywood is literally crawling with the undead. Barbeau uses her insider knowledge to paint a picture of a Hollywood inhabited by immortal blood suckers. The writing is witty and the main characters interesting, but the silly plot sometimes overwhelms. Recommended for large fiction collections where vampire fiction is popular.Patricia Altner, Biblioinfo.com , Columbia, MD

Copyright 2008 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 1, 2008
Although still a fairly young vampire, Scream Queen Ovsanna Moore is chatelaine of Hollywood; that is, the vamp in charge. Owning 51 percent of little Anticipation Studios, she hopes an infusion of Japanese cash will move her into the big time. That deal is imperiled, however, when people connected to her start getting murdered. First, three young vamp movie stars that she made fall to the Cinema Slayer. Then the people movie-handsome cop Peter King wants to question, including Anticipations special-effects chief, start turning up horribly dead. Ultimately, the prime suspects are Ovsanna and her very attractive personal assistant Maral, who as a teenager was acquitted of manslaughter after eviscerating a would-be rapist. Ovsanna and Peter fight mutual attraction while facing a 48-hour deadline to unearth the killer. Barbeau and Scott infuse this tongue-in-cheek romp with industry-insider realism as well as vampire lore and conjure scenes that recall George A. Romeros Night of the Living Dead and the feel of an old William Shatner Priceline commercial.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)