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In Hollywood, there’s always plenty of gossip to go around—who’s sleeping with whom, who’s feuding with whom, and who’s hiding which deep, dark secrets. So when three stars are brutally murdered within two weeks, the city’s gossips start talking about a star-hunting serial killer called the Cinema Slayer. But only Ovsanna Moore can imagine what’s really happening.
When Beverly Hills detective Peter King is called in to handle the three high-profile cases, he quickly finds a connection between the victims: all three worked with Scream Queen and Anticipation Studios partner Ovsanna Moore. Though the clues point to Ovsanna and her suspiciously over-protective assistant, Maral McKenzie, Peter suspects that Ovsanna’s hiding something—and he’s right.
Ovsanna Moore is more than just a movie star—she’s a vampyre. She’s the Chatelaine of Hollywood—the first and, therefore, the leading vampyre in town—and the three victims were part of her clan. It seems that a vampyre hunter is tracking Ovsanna—and the other Hollywood vampyres are worried that the high profile case will uncover their secret. So they give Ovsanna an ultimatum: either kill the hunter or stage her own death and go into hiding.
I’ll admit that I was a bit skeptical going into this one—but I was surprised (perhaps even shocked) to find that actress Adrienne Barbeau and best-selling author Michael Scott make a sensational team. While Barbeau brings the Hollywood glitz and gossip, Scott brings the gore and folklore. And the result is a suspenseful and sometimes horrifying novel that still manages to feel elegant and even classy.
Maybe that’s because of Ovsanna’s Old Hollywood lifestyle—not to mention her Old Hollywood friends. But despite the fact that she produces (and stars in) horror movies that often go straight to DVD, Ovsanna seems to be the classy kind of Old Hollywood star—the kind who owns a glamorous mansion and dresses in beautiful gowns. And that adds to the story’s mystique.
Vampyres of Hollywood offers a bit of something for everyone. On one hand, it’s a suspenseful police procedural—and readers follow along with Peter as he tries to put the clues together. On the other hand, though, it’s also a paranormal thriller, filled with all kinds of mythical creatures in surprising settings and unexpected situations. And, at the same time, it’s an imaginative look inside the workings of Hollywood (co-written by an actress who’s probably met her share of a different kind of Hollywood bloodsuckers).
Packed with pop culture references and interesting historical connections to everyone from Jack the Ripper to Freud to old Hollywood legends, Vampyres of Hollywood is a deliciously witty and wildly creative read. You’ll be captivated from start to finish by the unusual characters and their fascinating story, and you’ll find yourself holding your breath as it builds to its grippingly gruesome climax.
I found Vampyres of Hollywood to be nearly impossible to set aside. Even after it was over, I didn’t want to put it down—I just wanted to read more. So I can only hope that there’s more to come from this spectacular writing team.
