Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
In this playful series launch from Thor (This Is How We Roll) and Hilis, a gay vampire couple deal with a murder at their small-town bed and breakfast. Bloodsuckers Arthur Miller and Sal Conte run the Iris Inn in sleepy Trident Falls, Ore., a "slice of idyllic peace" tucked away in the Cascade Mountains. No one bothers them about being gay, but there's a quiet strain of prejudice developing against paranormal beings in the region, spearheaded by Trident Falls's mayor, George Roth, whom Arthur and Sal both loathe. Unaware of the tensions in town, new city manager Nora Anderson--who's staying at the Iris until she finds more permanent housing--invites Roth to the inn's wine and cheese night, then finds him dead in the property's garden with a pair of puncture wounds in his neck. Certain that they've been framed, Arthur and Sal set out to find the killer with the help of other paranormal locals including a werewolf and an elf. Witty, exciting, and full of eccentric worldbuilding, this sly supernatural cozy stands out from the pack. It's a hoot. Agent: Carrie Pestritto, Laura Dail Literary. (Oct.)
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Review by Library Journal Review
Cowriters Thor, a YA author, and Hillis fill their first "Dead & Breakfast" mystery with entertaining characters, clever puns, and a vampire couple's amusing sleuthing misadventures. The Iris Inn has been struggling to succeed in the paranormal-wary town of Trident Falls, OR. When the mayor brings the inn its first guest in weeks, the Iris's married vampire proprietors Arthur and Salvatore know they must do their best to impress. Unfortunately, discovering the mayor's dead body in a flower bed the next morning, drained of blood and with puncture wounds on his neck, is hardly the way to bolster their business. After Salvatore is arrested for the mayor's murder, Arthur races to uncover the true killer and save his husband from a wrongful conviction. With the help of a former attorney who is now a barista and also happens to be a werewolf, Salvatore is bailed out, and the vampire pair set out to find the real killer. VERDICT This quick read is a fun and delightful cozy that will keep readers spellbound from the first bite to the last.--Bridgette Whitt
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
A vampire couple's dream of domestic bliss is upended by murder, suggesting that being undead isn't nearly as dangerous as being different. Putting a new spin on long-term relationship goals, vampires Arthur Miller (no, not that one) and Salvatore Conte are ready to retire from centuries of chaos and settle into a quiet life as innkeepers in Trident Falls, Oregon. The bed and breakfast they've acquired, the Iris Inn, isn't exactly booming, but Salvatore is sure that will all change when the town gets a sense of his refined taste and style. Maybe their latest guest, new city manager Nora Anderson, will provide a chance to turn the whole thing around. After all, in a little town like Trident Falls, word of mouth is everything, so the potential for an audience with the mayor could make their business boom. But Arthur and Salvatore's dreams of quiet domesticity and financial success are buried when the mayor's found dead--right in their begonias--with two suspicious puncture wounds in his neck. The town's sheriff, an unemployed actor with a chip on his shoulder, threatens to call the Federal Paranormal Investigators if Arthur and Salvatore can't find a more likely culprit. The duo scramble to prove their innocence, aided by an eclectic supporting cast: a latte-slinging werewolf, an elven coroner, and an eerily calm Nora, all of whom join Arthur and Salvatore on a journey through the political undertones of otherness, hoping for a happy ending. This undead tale would have benefited from more blood in its veins, but it still has a pulse. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
