Verse of the Vampyre

Diana Killian hooked me on Grace and Peter in HIGH RHYMES AND MISDEMEANORS. I could hardly wait to read the next in the series, but feared it might not live up to the excellent first entry. Wrong! VERSE OF THE VAMPYRE is just as delightful a read as Ms. Killian's previous book. For me, the strength of the book is in the charming characters and the humor plus the beautiful locale. Not that Ms. Killian can't plot, because she most certainly can, and what's so lovely is that her plots are refreshing and original. I just happen to enjoy the push/pull of Grace and Peter's relationship. I highly recommend this book, and will definitely buy SONNET OF THE SPHINX when it's released.

Once again, we find American schoolteacher and literary scholar, Grace Hollister, in a beautiful picturesque village in the English Lake District. She has extended her stay and is on sabbatical leave to write a doctoral dissertation-turned book on Lord Byron. That's what she is supposed to be doing, but Grace finds herself pulled into mysterious happenings when she acts as an advisor to a local theatrical production of "The Vampyre" a play written by Lord Byron's doctor. Dangerous accidents are plaguing the cast in the theater itself, as well as outside the theater. The same member of the cast who almost fell through a stage trap door also has a spill when her saddle comes lose while riding in Grace's first ever fox hunt. Some think that incident could just be an accident or possibly saboteurs of the hunt, but Grace isn't so sure, especially since the trap door incident had already occurred. Grace, herself, feels danger lurking too close for comfort as she is stalked by a local "witch" who makes it all too clear she doesn't like the fox hunts. As if this wasn't enough on Grace's plate, robberies seem to be happening in frequency among some of the wealthiest residents of the quaint small English village of Innisdale. Grace doesn't like to think it, but wonders if her inscrutable love interest ex- jewel thief, Peter Fox, could be involved. Grace works along side Peter in his posh antique store, The Rogue's Gallery, but he's been acting oddly distant and behaving more than a little suspiciously since the robberies began. Why was he lurking in a graveyard late at night? Now some folks have been killed, as well. Rumor has it that a guard killed during one of the robberies had puncture wounds like a vampire mark on his neck and now another member of the production has been found with vampire like puncture wounds on her neck, murdered at a masquerade ball Peter and Grace are attending. A robbery has occurred at the same ball around the time Peter mysteriously disappeared with cast member, Catriona, a married woman who has no love for Grace and appears to have more than a passing interest in Peter, or so Grace thinks. Grace sets out to ease her mind that handsome urbane Peter isn't involved in the village looting. She finds herself reluctantly sleuthing with ex boy friend Chaz, who has come for an unwelcomed, uninvited and unexpected visit. Chaz is totally the opposite of dashing adventurous Peter and reminds Grace of her more practical days-days when Grace wouldn't have dreamed of getting involved in sleuthing and murder. Those who enjoyed the first book in the series, High Rhymes and Misdemeanors, will find this book just as entertaining and enjoyable-a fast paced romp. Once again Diana Killian offers skillful and vivid descriptions of the English countryside which is complete with castles and secret passageways. Included in this book is a preview of "Sonnet of the Sphinx" which is the third book in the series. I eagerly aw

Grace Hollister is a respected American schoolteacher on sabbatical in England researching a doctoral dissertation on Romantic poets as well as a book on Lord Byron. So why is she in the middle of a cemetary spying on her not-quite-but-possible love interest Peter Fox? That's a question that Grace keeps asking herself, as she's already occupied as a technical consultant for the local theater group's production of "The Vampyre" that is plagued by accidents and appearances by a cloaked figure resembling the toothy main character. There's also a rash of robberies going around, and when a security guard is murdered Grace knows that the police are going to be focusing on Peter, an ex-master thief who is definitely hiding his share of secrets. Another murder, the reappearance of Grace's ex-boyfriend, and gunfire at the local foxhunt has Grace acting like a gothic heroine as she follows Peter, hides in a castle, and engages in a final showdown with swords, guns, and a dangerous gang. What is so enjoyable about this series is the banter between Peter and Grace, which is completely believable and immensely witty. Grace's inner dialogue is dry, sardonic, and totally aware that she is acting less than sensibly. Readers who so enjoyed the first in this literate series, HIGH RHYMES AND MISDIMEANORS, won't be disappointed with its sequel, which features appearances by characters from the first mystery. Grace and Peter appear to have a successful future together no matter how much they irritate each other and entertain the reader. Be on the lookout for SONNET OF THE SPHINX, the third in the Poetic Death Mystery series, which can't come out soon enough.

In VERSE OF THE VAMPYRE, Grace Hollister, a Romantic poet scholar on sabbatical, has settled into the Lake District village of Innisdale. She's advising a production at the local playhouse and riding with hunt, but her relationship with antique shop owner and ex-jewel thief, Peter Fox, has hit a snag. Grace isn't quite sure what's gone wrong, but Peter's been distant since a rash of robberies focused the chief constable's attention on Peter as a suspect. Accidents, vandalism, and rumors about a vampire are chalked up to excitement over the upcoming Halloween fete, but Grace has her doubts about the source of the strange incidents. Then the local witch seems to be stalking Grace. When there's a murder, complete with fang marks on the victim's neck, Grace must once again sort out the lies and discover the truth about the murder as well as the truth about her feelings toward Peter. She trusts him. Right? Grace is likeable and witty with her dry humor and the banter between Grace and Peter is entertaining, even though their relationship is strained. Killian weaves history and lore from the Romantic poets into the puzzle and layers on vampires, castles, and masquerade. The fast-paced finale reminded me of Elizabeth Peters' style. I loved the first in the series, HIGH RHYMES AND MISDEMEANORS. Killian has again taken the conventions of the cozy, thrown in a dash of caper fun, and a twist of adventure. I only wish I didn't have to wait for the SONNET OF THE SPHINX!

American schoolteacher Grace Hollister is still on sabbatical in England. But things are not all roses. Peter Fox, the reason she stayed, is withdrawing. He especially clams up when the subject of the recent burglaries in the area come up. Could he have returned to his former life of crime? Meanwhile, Grace has joined the local theater company's version of "The Vampyre" as a technical consultant. The rehearsals don't seem to be progressing too smoothly, and the accidents happening to the cast don't help. Couple that with the rumor of a real vampire in the area, and this will be an October few will forget. Having enjoyed the first in the series, I was looking forward to reading this one as well. While it didn't start with quite the bang the first one did, it gained momentum quickly and by the end, I was staying up way to late to read "just a little more." Grace and Peter are great lead characters. They are sufficiently complex and likable, making it easy to root for them to solve the current problems. This series is wonderful for anyone looking for a puzzling adventure. You really should read the first book first (High Rhymes and Misdemeanors) to get the complete background on the characters. Personally, I'm already counting the days until the third comes out.