The Dark Sleep (Vampire Files, No. 8)

Vampire detective Jack Fleming is seething with jealousy over the famous radio star who has promised to land his girlfriend on the airwaves. Reprint.

Jack Fleming is one hell of a lucky guy for a dead man. As Elrod's eighth entry in the Chandleresque Vampire Files series opens, Fleming's got some mob money that nobody's missing; his gorgeous girlfriend, Bobbi, headlines a new revue that could lead to stardom; and his partner, the P.I. Charles Escott, has what looks like a simple, profitable case. Miss Sommerfield, a saltine-cracker heiress, wants some papers retrieved from a former boyfriend. Piece of cake, when your partner is a vampire.

But Escott won't let Jack do it the easy way. He seems to court danger. He's also secretive about his past, though it keeps him awake at night. Jack's worried about him but distracted by popular radio personality, Archy Grant, who's offering Bobbi more than just an appearance on his show. Archy's not above using mob connections get Jack out of the way. The heiress's former boyfriend wants the papers back, and he's got a gun. Soon bullets are flying, Escott's in mortal danger and seems to be unraveling, and Jack's out for blood--as soon as he can figure out whose.

The Dark Sleep will give fans new insights into Jack, Bobbi, and Escott, along with plenty of action. If you like your detectives hard-boiled and your vampire heroic, this is the series for you. --Nona Vero