"Upbeat British cozy with a vampire twist"
Simon Kirby-Jones joins his vampire lover in eternity, but
creatures of the night are fickle. When Trevor breaks up
with Simon, he gives him Laurel Cottage in the English
Village of Snupperton Mumsley and Simon moves to the other
side of the Atlantic. He fits in well with the other
residents thanks to the small white pills he takes that
allows him to go out in sunlight and kills the need for
human blood. He writes novels and non-fiction under
pseudonyms while his assistant Sir Giles Blitherington
wants more than a business relationship with the
attractive vampire. The village is agog that Zeke Harwood, host of a home
decorating TV show, comes to Blithering Hall to redecorate
one of the rooms. Zeke goes out of his arrogant way to be
unpleasant to everyone including his host and hostess, his
television producer, his personal assistant, his lover and
even his sister. When someone murders the man Simon
doesn't want his assistant or his mother considered as
viable suspects. In the tradition of Poirot, he
investigates using resources the police don't have, to
figure out who killed a man that everyone hated. Anyone who likes an upbeat British cozy with a vampire
twist will love DECORATED TO DEATH. Dean James has
created a charming series that readers sink their teeth
into without getting bloody since the protagonist never
drinks any blood so the vampiric elements are somewhat
limited. The hero is a suave and debonair cozy type
figure who can charm the birds out of the trees and he
uses that sophistication to worm information out of
various suspects. This mystery manages to be charming and
endearing, a one of a kind series. Harriet Klausner
Reviewed by PNR Group Member
Posted March 10, 2004
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