The Flesh, the Blood, and the Fire [Paperback]

S. A. Swiniarski (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 1998

Between 1934 and 1944, Elliot Ness and his agents were in Cleveland, investigating the Kingsbury Run (or Torso Killer) case, in which decapitated and bloodless bodies were found along the Kingsbury Run train tracks. In one of the most ineffective manhunts in history, Ness raided and burned out Cleveland's shantytowns in his efforts to find the killer who left behind twelve victims, only three of which were identified. Unwilling to concede defeat, one Cleveland cop continues to follow the bloody trail and discovers thehorrifying truth--that the law is not dealing with the mobor a serial killer--but with a community of vampires!

* In the tradition of best-selling author Anne Rice * Set in the era when Elliot Ness was in Cleveland, The Flesh, The Blood, And The Fire offersa whole new perspective on the still unsolved Kingsbury Run murders * A new musical "Elliot Ness in Cleveland" is scheduled to open on Broadway shortly after therelease of this book

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: DAW (July 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0886778794
• ISBN-13: 978-0886778798
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #784,149 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Crossing genres, May 20, 2000

By 

mellion108 (Michigan, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Flesh, the Blood, and the Fire (Paperback)

This one will thrill mystery, history and horror buffs alike. Swiniarski creates characters, both human and undead, who are fascinating, realistic and dynamic. He also calls upon history to set a chilling background: the unsolved Cleveland Torso Murders, the media-frenzied career of Eliot Ness, and the mix of emotions surrounding the Depression and the world at war.

The novel takes a look at the unsolved series of murders in the 30's and asks "what if they weren't solved because the killer wasn't human?" Enter Stefan Ryzard; he's one of a few Cleveland cops who isn't corrupt. He does his job well all the while playing the dark, brooding cop with a sad history (dead wife and child). Along with his partner, Nuri Lapidos, he sets out to find out who is decapitating the locals. The body count rises, Eliot Ness is assigned as Safety Director to try to clean up the law enforcement and "fix" crime, and Stefan figures out that the killer isn't your average sick madman. What he uncovers is a secret vampire society regulated by a Covenant now broken by an old nemesis who is hell-bent on world domination. Our main vamp just happens to be as good with a sword as he is with his fangs. This is a roller-coaster read that is quite often downright chilling. The vampires are hungry. Dingy, nighttime Cleveland is creepy. And actual history morphs with an alternate reality to create quite a unique horror novel.

Don't read this if you want a fast, in-your-face slasher novel! This isn't it. There are a lot of characters to track, and Swiniarski does a remarkable job of giving us just enough information along the way until all the pieces fall into place. This is a great one for any fan of vampire fiction. But if you like good, solid horror that actually provides a surprising twist, get this now!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My new favorite book, August 20, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Flesh, the Blood, and the Fire (Paperback)

I am a very picky reader, but I knew from the first few pages of this book that it was going to be one of my all time favorites. The characters are fully rounded and unique, the setting completely realistic, and it is fascinating how the author weaves the facts of the real world with the fiction of his story. Surprisingly, there were even parts that managed to give me the creeps, and that is a difficult task. Anyone who likes mysteries, vampire fiction, horror, or just a great book should buy this one.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Fascinating Dance Between Fact and Fiction, January 29, 2000

By 

Alecia N. Conner - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Flesh, the Blood, and the Fire (Paperback)

Swiniarski draws on the unexplained events of "torso killer" to weave a fascinating and terrifying tale of vampirism that raises the standard for all vampire fiction to aspire toward. The story is exciting, captivating, full of surprises, and even manages to give chills to horror fan as jaded as I am! I loved this book on its own, but it was even better when I read the historical records of the actual events on which it was based, and I saw how accurate the story was to the facts. I know, it is a complete work of fiction, but as close as Swiniarski followed what really happened, his story could have taken place. This is a must read for anyone, even those that don't like vampire fiction.