Readers who can't stand mixed genres -- vampire and noir detective in this case, probably won't want to read this book. I think they'll be missing a good read. I've read a couple of Jack Fleming stories in anthologies, but this is my first Vampire Files novel. This one opens with a scene that would do for the climax of a story, but it's just the beginning for poor Jack. He's up against a society gent whom we would call a serial killer these days. If that's not enough, a big lout from the New York mob has come to Jack's city with ideas Jack doesn't like. Neither do I, for that matter.
Because this is a series, don't expect to have everything resolved in this book. There's action for action fans, detecting for mystery fans, relationships for relationship fans, and the wry touch of having a vampire hero who does not want to believe in ghosts. (The resident ghost is not amused.)
I don't know about the other books, but in this one Jack suffers from Wolverine Syndrome. If you're not familiar with that comic book superhero, his mutant powers allow him to heal from injuries that would be fatal to those of us not so blessed, so the writers give his healing factor plenty of work. It is an easy way to show how bad the villain/situation is, after all. There's a scene late in this book that's not for the squeamish. Fortunately for myself, I've read fanfic (not to mention Barbara Hambly and Laurell K. Hamilton). Am I looking forward to reading more of the Vampire Files? Yes. ( )

Feels strangely incomplete - the emotional arc may have been completed, but the story arc wasn't. The structure is that of hard-boiled detective stories, yet the "cases" don't get resolved to satisfaction within the book.
Witty and sly, the language fits the setting and genre snugly - no word goes to waste.
Jack Fleming remains charming. ( )