Noir detective novel crossed with vampire. Interesting read, but not an "Oh, you've got to read this" book. This is Book One of "The Vampire Files" - I probably won't search for book two.
The story itself wasn't bad - it was just a story that you've pretty much seen on 70's detective shows over and over (plus the vampire stuff.) So - no real score there.
Then, there's the vampire stuff. I don't like it when an author picks and chooses which parts of the mythos to embrace. Our hero can turn invisible, pass through walls, control men's minds (unless that piece would simplify the plot, in which case we forget to use this particular talent) and doesn't reflect in a mirror. Oh - but he can cross water (albeit with difficulty), and he can control his bloodlust. Change into a bat or wolf - no. Coffin with earth - nice, but apparently not necessary. Oh - and the sun hurts his eyes, but he doesn't burst into flames.
Come on - decide. Either we've got the classic gothic vampire or we don't. You can't just write a "vampire detective story" by throwing stuff together. (Uh - OK - you can, obviously, but that doesn't make it "good".) This doesn't have the wit or structure of Butcher's Dresden Files.
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