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Self confessed geek-girl, Melissa Wilson is somewhat of a 21st century anti-heroine. She likes books, romantic comedies and musicals and works as a part-time librarian. However, after being present at the scene of several horrific murders and then attending a Goth wake for Daniel, a tall gentle goth boy with whom Melissa is on the brink of falling in love; she reluctantly joins forces with Gary, a strange man with an even stranger dress sense, to uncover who is behind all the bloodshed.
And so unfolds an absolute humdinger of a first novel by Australian Narelle M Harris. Despite the fact that the subject matter deals extensively with vampires, this novel is very believable. Set entirely in Melbourne, we follow the escapades of Melissa and Gary as they track down a killer in the process we learn a lot about vampires.
For Lissa, the concept of being undead ad thereby escaping all the pain and loss she has experienced in her short life, is a big temptation. As the novel unfolds Harris interweaves a personal philosophy of life and death. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel for many reasons, not least that it s set in Melbourne and that I am now, not a vampire virgin.

review by Prudence Russell