Second in the Jack Fleming, Vampire PI series
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The second story, "Lifeblood", takes place just a few weeks after the first story finishes. Jack and Bobbi have settled into some kind of a relationship and Jack also spends some of his time helping Escott with his private investigations. However they soon decide that it would be wise for Jack to have some more of his home earth stored at Escott's place in case he has a problem with returning to his hotel room so Jack drives 'home' to Ohio to collect it. On the way he realises he is being followed and eventually has a showdown with the two people in the car - vampire hunters. They're obviously both rather loony and have read far too many vampire novels, thinking that they are safe from Jack with their garlic and crosses. He gives them a flat tyre and then continues on his way.
Once he's collected the earth he passes his parents' house to find the vampire hunters are there. He chases them off, then returns to Chicago but worried about his parents. Unfortunately he hasn't completely escaped the vampire hunters and they start to plague him in Chicago; he's worried about Bobbi and whether they will go after her. His attention is also taken by an old woman, Gaylen Dumont, who has responded to his adverts in the papers asking for Maureen to contact him (Maureen is his lost love and the vampire who made him). Gaylen is Maureen's sister, now 74 years old, and she gives Escott some information which might help him to find Maureen. However there's more to Gaylen than Jack initially realises and more danger to Bobbi than just from the vampire hunters. Jack is faced with an impossible situation, one that he realises Maureen found herself in, and it's only with the help of Escott his friend that he can survive at all.
This story is more gritty perhaps than the first as we have more emotional engagement from Jack. Being a vampire makes him mostly bombproof but it doesn't mean that he isn't extremely vulnerable because of the friendships he has made and because of his family. The story is always interesting with some great humorous touches and Jack as a character is always very appealing. I found that as a reader I really cared about what happened to him and wanted things to work out well for him. It's a great second book in the series and possibly could be read as a standalone book although it might seem rather complex. The ending leaves the question of Maureen still unresolved and this is dealt with more fully in the third book.
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Excellent! (Read my review of Bloodlist)
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In this book, Jack is still searching for the woman who made him a vampire. He finally decides to give up his search, therefore withdrawing his personal ad from the paper. Several people notice, and as a result, he has several vempire slayers on his tail. I won't reveal the ending, but I'll say this: it is a very good book, even for people who are not normally interested in vampires or in mysteries.
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Sublime!
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I will never again watch a movie or read a book about hunting down and eradicating vampires in the same way after having become acquainted with Jack Fleming. From now on, I'm rooting for the vampire. Jack is the ultimate vampire hero; sexy, smart and supernatural. He is a thrill to know. Elrod's characters are all, as a matter of fact, great to know, even those who you hate. They are well drawn, finely detailed, until they become living breathing people who leave you confused as to whether you've been reading fact or fantasy. She also knows how to bring the time period alive. Ms. Elrod you have my assurance that as your newest devotee I will be reading, no, devouring your books, one by one and then waiting for new ones to come out.
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