If you thought Norm Applegate's first two Kim Bennett books (Into the Basement and Into the Spell) 'weren't yo' momma's thrillers, well, buckle up if you want to know what Kim gets into next.
This book is not for the faint of heart. There are graphic scenes, both violence and sex, but all are in the context of the story.
Kim Bennett, San Francisco madam and first class Dominatrix, gets a call from Rose Nicholls, who was part of the last Bennett adventure. She tells Kim that her boyfriend Drach has been murdered and she is a suspect, and asks Kim for help. Kim was introduced at the end of the last book, Into the Spell, to vampires and blood bars. Blood bars are kind of underground places where vampires and their 'donors' come to feed and be pleasured.
The non-vamps have razor rings they can cut a willing participant and drink from them.
Not a 'Cheers' type place!!
Kim comes to Rose's aid, and finds there is a 'Black Testament' that was written by Jack the Ripper - it's been divided in several pieces for protection, but somehow the major vamp players know Kim Bennett is right in the middle of this mystery...
Norm Applegate is a masterful writer and if you have never read things about Dominatrixes and graphic sex, well, be forewarned.
You WILL however read what a thriller should be - dark, scary, sexy, tense and taut with action and character driven by strong people - starting with Kim herself.
Applegate's first novel Into the Basement is being made into a movie, and I for one will be the first to buy a ticket -
The Kim Bennett series is well written and plotted - Blood Bar is Applegate's best to date!
An excellent read!
Blood Bar, by Norm Applegate, ISBN-10: 0-9822530-1-x, A Black Bed Sheet/Diverse Media Book, review by ellen george
Mike Monahan
author of
Barracuda