The Vampire Files: Bloodlist

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The Vampire Files:  Bloodlist
P.N. Elrod
1990

The Summary
For investigative reporter, Jack Fleming, danger comes with the territory in his line of work.  But his latest story, a piece on the criminal underworld of Chicago, has gotten him into more than a little trouble.

In fact, it's even gotten him killed.

Now, undead and kicking, Jack has every intention of finding his murderer and cracking open one of the most dangerous cases of his career.  That is, if a well-intentioned private investigator doesn't get in his way.

The Good
P.N. Elrod provides a fun, fast-paced story full of twists and turns and danger that will have you hooked from page one.  Her central character and narrator, Jack Fleming, has an entertaining personality and an intriguing voice that conveys every bit of his witty if slightly jaded mentality.

Moreover, Elrod puts a twist on a centuries old concept by not only transplanting the Dracula myth to Chicago in the 1920s, but also by creating a mythos of her own that's steeped in film noir and intrigue.

More importantly, this novel is just plain, ridiculous fun.  It's quick, entertaining, and full of that special kind of charm that only vampires can ever seem to expel.

The Bad
While immensely fun and enjoyable, I occasionally questioned the historical accuracy of Elrod's work.  A minor complaint, considering it is a work of fiction - and it doesn't really matter, given the context of the work and the intent of the story - and isn't exactly based in reality.  But it remained a small question throughout the story, nonetheless.

The Ugly
Vampire Files is not a "G-rated" novel by any means.

Let's be honest, Jack Fleming has been turned into a vampire and, like all good vampires, he is capable of monstrous feats and he drinks blood to survive.  Granted, Elrod's protagonist is a gentleman at his core, which means he doesn't exactly follow in the same vein as Dracula.

But, in spite of this, he's a man accustomed to violence and he's also a bit of a ladies' man.  There's always some kind of debauchery a fellow like Jack can find, especially in the 1920s in the heart of mob-ruled Chicago.