Jaye Roycraft, Half Past Hell

Half Past Hell

Jaye Roycraft

ImaJinn, May 2007, $14.00, 242 pp.

ISBN 1933417315

The humans called it Operation Storm; the vampires dubbed it Hell. It was a war between two different species began by two vampire slayers brothers who found a vampire nest in Chicago and destroyed it. They formed the organization Brothers of the Sun and went on a rampage murdering in cold blood the Sucklings, vampires under a hundred years old. It was a virtual massacre. Eventually a peace was brokered with vampires granted almost the same rights as humans event though they had to register and obey human laws. Sucklings either drink synthetic blood or take blood from a willing human.

In ChiNo Wisconsin, Wulf Duvall a master vampire who has lived for three centuries, partners with mortal police officer Kilpatrick who calls the night walkers squids. They are investigating a series of suckling deaths when the ones affected seem to be on fire internally. It turns out that someone wants Hell to start again and has found an ingenious method for making that happen. Duval and Kilpatrick have to stop the head of the plan be it human or vampire before war breaks out all over again.

HALF PAST HELL is a refreshing original, exciting, action packed vampire police procedural that is bloody terrific. Jaye Roycraft has written an innovative fangtastic vampire novel in which vampires are second class citizens and humans are the ones in power. The relationship between the two partners is delightful to watch as it turns from mistrust, with acerbic barbs thrown at each other, to a real partnership. Combining elements from horror, urban fantasy and mystery, HALF PAST HELL is special heavenly read.

Harriet Klausner