Friday, January 13, 2006

Already Dead -- Charlie Huston


Joe Pitt (not his real name) is a Vampyre (no realtion, as far as I know, to this one). He lives in a Manhattan where there are lots of Vampyres (whose clans have divided the island into territories), not to mention a few shamblers (zombies to you). Joe's a sort of private-eye, an independent sort who does favors for the Coalition now and then. This time he's doing two, one of them involving a shambler and one involving a missing daughter. It will come as no surprise to anybody who's read a few p.i. tales that these favors are connected. Just how and why might be a surprise, however.

This is a violent, noirish novel. I thought Lennon in Duane Swierczynski's The Wheelman took a lot of punishment, but Lennon's a wuss compared to Pitt. (Pitt, being a Vampyre, can be expected to be a little tougher, though, I guess.) I was reminded, too, of Andrew Vachss's novels, if Burke were a Vampyre. If you're in the mood for something a little different, give this one a try.

3 comments:

mtmorgan said...

I enjoyed CAUGHT STEALING very much. Look forward to reading 6 BAD THINGS and ALREADY DEAD.

Jen Jordan said...

This book, like Huston's others, was read in lieu of eating, sleeping and other normal human activities.

For those put off by the supernatural angle, don't be. This reads like crime fiction. The only difference,as Mr. Crider mentions, is that vampires can really take a beating or six.

Unknown said...

I'm reading this now, and it's absolutely terrific.

(For the record, though: Lennon could easily take more beatings than any sissy goth boy vampire. I mean, c'mon... a little bit of sunlight and he gets his panties in a twist? Please.)