Review -- Already Dead

Already Dead
by Charlie Huston
Ballantine Books, 2005
268 pages

Summary: Joe Pitt is a rouge vampire and private investigator living in Manhattan. While looking for a zombie infecting the population, he is called in to investigate the disappearance of a wealthy teenage girl.

Review: Wow -- this book is not for the faint of heart. Already Dead is gritty, morose, and action packed. Joe is a vampire who is living on his own and is balancing his individual lifestyle around the politics of neighboring vampire clans. Much of the story revolves around vampire politics and how Joe can make a living without getting too involved. Joe is tough and makes no excuses for his choices. He is a fantastic character that jumps off the page. The writing is strong, especially the dialogue, and the plot is fast paced. Most likely not for the vampire romantics, but overall this novel is a great read. Ratings: **** out of 5.