Welcome aboard, train wreck.

Back in October I had an idea. Which is a dangerous thing in of itself. The thought was to read a book a day. And not just any books. Horror. 31 books in 31 days. While preparing for Halloween. And working a full time job. And mom life.

I’m an idiot.

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Spoiler alert: I did not read 31 books. I read 24. Which is still an insane amount of reading, books, and words. I read classics like Dracula and Frankenstein. Popular favorites like Carrie and The Shining. I even read the novelizations of Ghostbusters and Halloween.

And then there was this book: The Lesser Dead. I went in blind. Knew nothing about it. And I’m so glad I found this book and gave it chance.

The Lesser Dead

by Christopher Buehlman

New York City in 1978 is a dirty, dangerous place to live. And die. Joey Peacock knows this as well as anybody—he’s spent the last forty years as an adolescent vampire, perfecting the routine he now enjoys: womanizing in punk clubs and discotheques, feeding by night, and sleeping by day with others of his kind in the macabre labyrinth under the city’s sidewalks.
 
The subways are his playground and his highway, shuttling him throughout Manhattan to bleed the unsuspecting in the Sheep Meadow of Central Park or in the backseats of Checker cabs, or even those in their own apartments who are too hypnotized by sitcoms to notice him opening their windows. It’s almost too easy.
 
Until one night he sees them hunting on his beloved subway. The children with the merry eyes. Vampires, like him…or not like him. Whatever they are, whatever their appearance means, the undead in the tunnels of Manhattan are not as safe as they once were.
 
And neither are the rest of us.

About Christopher Buehlman

Christopher Buehlman is a native Floridian and author of the literary horror novels ‘Those Across the River’ and ‘Between Two Fires.’ He is the winner of the 2007 Bridport Prize in poetry, and the author of several provocative plays, including Hot Nights for the War Wives of Ithaka. Many know him as comedian Christophe the Insultor, something of a cult figure on the renaissance festival circuit. He lives in St. Petersburg, Florida. His first novel, ‘Those Across the River,’ was nominated for a World Fantasy Award for best novel in 2012.

Not your average vampire story, if you like vampires without the sparkle, this is the book for you. I’m not a fan of vampire stories, but I was intrigued by the description of this book and decided to give it a try. I’m glad I did because it was a fun, fast-paced read that kept me entertained from start to finish.

In this novel, the author has taken the vampire myth and given it a fresh twist. The story is set in the late 70s and follows the lives of a group of vampires who are struggling to adapt to a changing society. What I like about this book is the fact that it’s not like any other vampire story I’ve read. Sorry, Edward, but take your glittery self somewhere else. No romantic entanglements. Just a group of creatures trying to survive in a world that does not understand them.

Joey Peacock is a product of his times. So, content warning. He uses some homophobic, racist, and misogynistic language. Not often. Not a lot. Because none of that has anything to do with the story. It’s just he’s from the 30s originally. And hasn’t adapted. Thought I would give you a head’s up if you try the book out.

So, if you’re looking for a vampire book that breaks the mold, I highly recommend giving this one a try. It’s dark, gritty, and doesn’t shy away from violence. And I promise there won’t be any cheesy love scenes between the vampire and his human prey.

What is your favorite vampire book? Let me know in the comments below.

This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, I may earn an affiliate commission. Again, if you like what I post, please like, comment, share, and subscribe. Please consider donating to help keep this going. $1 and I’ll ask you what your favorite book is so we can talk about it. $5 and I’ll write a review of a book you suggest. $10 and I’ll write a blog suggested by you. That’s all I’ve got for today, train wrecks. All aboard.