From a New York Times-bestselling author: A former spy is recruited to unmask a vampire hunter in this Locus Award Winner. James Asher, a retired member of the Queen’s secret service in Edwardian England, has settled into quietude as an Oxford professor of philology with his physician wife, Lydia. But his peace is shattered when he’s confronted by a pale aristocratic Spaniard named Don Simon … Spaniard named Don Simon Ysidro, who makes an outlandish claim that someone is killing his fellow vampires of London, and he needs James’s help to ferret the culprit out. The request also comes with a threatening ultimatum: Should James fail, both he and his wife will die.
With James’s talent for espionage and Lydia’s scientific acumen and keen analytical mind, the couple begins an investigation that takes them from the crypts of London to the underworld circles of the unliving to the grisly depths of a charnel house in Paris. Now James and Lydia must believe in the unbelievable–if they’re to survive another night in the shadow of Don Simon Ysidro.
This first book in the James Asher series is “one of the more memorable vampire novels of recent years–smoothly written, suspenseful, awash in moral ambiguity, and rich in vampire lore . . . a must-read for vampire fans” (Kirkus Reviews). Barbara Hambly gives “Anne Rice a run for her money” (Publishers Weekly) and “Don Simon is unforgettable” (Charlaine Harris).
This ebook features an illustrated biography of Hambly, including rare photos and never-before-seen documents from her personal collection.
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This is Book #1 in one of my favorite vampire series. At the end of the 19th Century, James Asher, professor and world weary former spy for the crown, returns to Oxford to try to find some peace. Once there, he re-connects with Lydia, a forward-thinking young woman intent on a medical career, and also learns that vampires are real, as he is …
It was a bit of a slow start but then, it was written over 30 years ago so writing styles were different then. The pace did pick up and the story maintained the mystery and I found I couldn’t put it down.
Scientific treatment of vampires that makes every sense.
This is an outstanding novel. Unlike the slew of “popular” vampire novels, the ones James Asher has to work with or lose his beloved wife are very creepy and quite inhuman. Great setting, great worldbuilding, great characters, and a scary climax. What more could you want? I read the library ebook, the Kindle version is very well formatted. Highly, …
I enjoyed the main characters very much. Story is very original. I was entertained thru the whole book and am buying more in the series,
i found this book many years ago and reread it many times. i had no idea that there is now a series and i am working towards getting the whole set. it is a world that sucks you in and won’t let go.
Very atmospheric Book #1 in this vampires in Old London series from a few years ago. Love the beginning pages. Interesting MC, a scholarly spy.
I will admit to being a fan of the vampire novel– have been since reading the serialized Dark Shadows books in jr. high. But there have been so many great ones– and so many weak facsimiles– that I was skeptical of finding anything fresh in the genre. But Hambley’s vampires are it. Think Sherlock Holmes meets Lestat. This series is a definte …
Back in the day this was one of the most fun vampire books I had read. Detectives, vampires, spooky, creepy things happening. Hambly’s real talent lies in her ability to give perspective to inhuman creatures and she does a wonderful job with Simon in this book.
There are more in the series, but this is the one that stands out, though it is dated.