Prisoner of Midnight
Vampire Don Simon Ysido has been captured and held aboard a ship heading to the US to act as a slave, and Dr Lydia Asher must stop it . . . at any cost. March, 1917. The goal of every government involved in the Great War has been achieved: industrialist Spenser Cochran has drugged and enslaved a vampire, Don Simon Ysidro, to do his bidding, and is now on the way to the US aboard a luxury ship. Horrified, Dr Lydia Asher secures her passage on the vessel to rescue her friend from Cochran's chemical thrall. Meanwhile, her husband makes a dangerous alliance with the vampires of Paris to send Lydia the information she needs about the drug. As they cross the Atlantic evidence mounts that another vampire is hiding aboard the ship, indiscriminately murdering passengers. Lydia knows she must solve both cases before the ship docks, and that breaking Cochran's hold on Don Simon will not be enough . . . She must kill him.
Genres: Mystery / Historical Fiction
Author: Barbara Hambly
Hardcover 247 pages
Expected Publication: May 1st, 2019
Publishing House: Severn House
My Review
Vampires are not the only danger to be faced on the Atlantic voyage aboard the City of Gold.
As the Great War lasts until 1918 during the conflict of Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire (the Central Powers), against Great Britain, France, Russia, Italy, Romania, Japan and the United States (the Allied Powers), this novel is nestled in the year of 1917 and gives way to an array of characters of different backgrounds and statuses.
James Asher receives the note that his wife Lydia will embark on an Atlantic crossing to solve the capture of Vampire Don Simon Ysido. He knows his wife will be in danger as the Germans are launching torpedoes at ships left and right.
Most of the story is told from Lydia's view on her travels aboard the luxury liner. As passengers one after another are being found dead in third class on the lowest deck, she is cleverly investigating. Talks of vampires on the ship and the threat of torpedoes create a generalized panic and she has little time to sort things out.
There are some big players on the ship, one of them being Spencer Cochran the industrialist, who has found a way to enslave vampires via drugs with the intent to use them as weapons. With Lydia uncovering the truth she is not only putting herself in danger but her daughter traveling with her as well. Will she be able to stop the drug and other vampires from entering the United States?
***
A cleverly written mystery in the James Asher series. It's historical flair due to the vast and different characters injected with different languages and customs, make this very atmospheric in setting. Barbara Hambly's attention to historical detail truly whisks the reader into the past.
This novel was a first for me by this author, but I could tell immediately that she is an experienced writer. I do love books like Dracula, and was pleasantly surprised by this novel. I may have to take a closer look at this series and start at the beginning.
I would recommend this book to mystery and vampire lovers alike. It is entertaining and witty, infused with historical charm.
I received a digital copy of this novel from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.
All opinions are my own.
Thank you.
