Customer Reviews

Mortal Touch: Vampires Of New England Series

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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Having read a billion (Note: this number is an estimate and may possibly be slightly exaggerated) vampire books and stories in my lifetime, it comes to the point where one story tends to blend into another, which then blends into another, and so on and so forth. You get the picture. Of course there are always a few stand-out authors that take the vampire genre to a new level; authors like Laurell K Hamilton, Chelsea Quinn Yarbro and Anne Rice, just to name a few. I believe that Inanna Arthen with her "Mortal Touch" has created an unforgettable new tale of vampires. Her story doesn't flip the vampire world on its blood-sucking head, but it tweaks the standard myths enough to make it both freshly original and memorable. By characters that are uniquely quirky, we are pulled into a world we seem to recognize, but at the same time we are made to view it with new eyes. In Arthen's world, vampires and psychics exist, but are not often recognized as being more than dark fairy tales.

Regan Calloway, the main character in "Mortal Touch," is a strong and likeable character. Arthen's handling of her main heroine is expertly done. At times throughout the book we fear for the character and we definitely feel for her as well. In this tale the world is not a black and white one. There are conflicts between humans and vampires, as well as human versus human conflicts. What is right and who is wrong? There's not always a clear-cut answer to that question in Arthen's vampiric tale. The plot progresses at a fair pace, neither too fast nor too slow as we allow our minds to follow Regan on her mysterious new life path. With descriptive words Arthen brings us New England in all its glory and in all its darkness. In this world we see that Man and Monster are not always what they are expected to be. Mankind is not always the epitome of humanity and at the same time the expected monsters are not always the antithesis of it.

Fans of the vampire genre looking for something a little different from what is currently out there should take "Mortal Touch" for a spin. With a plot that keeps you guessing and characters that you'll love (as well as some you'll love to hate!), this book earns itself a place in my vampire-loving heart as one of the best that I've read in a long time.

Inanna Arthen's highly original vampire novel will appeal to readers of Poe, Lovecraft and Shirley Jackson as well as fans of modern vampire fiction. Arthen avoids the typical clichés of the genre; her vampires have reflections, day jobs, and sex lives.

The title, "Mortal Touch" and the tag line "All I need to do is touch you," both hint at Arthen's unique approach to bloodletting: her vampires don't need fangs, and their pale but otherwise ordinary appearance allows them to fit in all too easily with their human neighbors.

The novel, set in a small Massachusetts town, immerses the reader in a gripping story with eccentric but likable characters and a strong sense of place. These are the Vampires of New England; you won't find them in a New Orleans brothel or on a European stage, calling attention to themselves. Arthen's eerily believable undead hang out quietly at antique stores and cafés, and you won't see them coming for you before it's too late.

Highly recommended!

This book is an excellent beginning to what promises to be a very enjoyable series! Arthen's characters and dialogue are very believable and the plot moves along at a measured but lively pace. Her vampire mythos is refreshing in that it follows folklore a bit more closely than those created by other contemporary authors.

I look forward with great anticipation to the next entry in the Vampires of New England series.

This is an absolutely terrific book! Arthen slowly builds up the suspense. Who is this mysterious new writer who has moved into town and has everyone talking? The owner of a small gift shop is determined to find out, before her best friend gets seriously hurt. Arthen authentically recreates the feel of a small New England town, while introducing vampires who are decidedly different: for one thing, they have no fangs.

Highly recommended for those who like their vampires a little off the beaten track.

This book is so refreshing after all the Dark Romance, Teen Vampire novels of late.

The story is about grown ups, with real life dilemmas and real life moral quandries. It is written well and held my full attention for the time it took to read (thats quite rare, nowadays).

I promise you, if you are looking for something post-Buffy/Eclipse/Morganville then this is for you!

Jonathan Vaughn is a writer, an old writer. And a vampire. Regan Calloway is psychic, but unlike Charlaine Harris's Sookie Stackhouse, Regan doesn't get bombarded with psychic impressions unless she's touching the person. In the small fictional town of Sheridan, Massachusetts, the two end up confronted by, as the back cover of the book says, a "cascading series of disasters" that will keep you reading late into the night -- at least that's what happened to me.

Skillful dialog, great sense of place, thrilling plot, and fascinating take on vampire lore make this an excellent read.

I found that reading Mortal Touch was a pleasure ! The characters are very well drawn and all interesting. Vampires in this teling had several "new" attributes which ought to have been written long ago. The plot progress had numerous unexpected turns that also fit the story so there was no illogical events. The ending wrapped up the story very nicely but certainly left it open for a sequel which I look forward too.

Unlike many in this genre, this book is well-written, well-edited and moves along at a fast pace. I found myself not wanting to put it down. The characters are well-developed and the plot contains romance, suspense, and mystery as well as a good measure of spooky gruesomeness.

So many books in this genre are one-dimensional and wholly predictable, never offering anything truly frightening or suspenseful. They are trite and seem to be written by someone who only completed 5h grade English.

If you're looking for adult entertainment, with a good story, containing all the elements that a good vampire tale should have, this is the book for you. I certainly hope there will be more!

Mortal Touch (Vampires of New England)

In 2004 in Sheridan, Massachusetts psychic Regan Calloway owns a quaint shop while hiding from her gift. Several years ago she helped law enforcement catch killers by using her ability to see things by touching objects held by a murderer or a victim, but the cost to her mind was too great for her to cope with.

Her friend Dr. Hiram Clauson, who worked with her when she lent a hand to the cops several years ago, asks for her help as there has been a serial attacker who leaves victims with scars on their necks, a major loss of blood, and no memory of an assault. Regan reluctantly agrees to assist with the investigation. As she begins to touch objects to try to fathom what the victims can no longer remember, writer Jonathan Vaughn moves into Sheridan; Regan's best friend Veronica Standish seems attracted to the reclusive author. When Regan meets Jonathan, her touch of him reveals to her his connection to the unsolved mysterious assaults and much more as if he has lived for centuries and something illogical about blood. As the psychic and the vampire become attracted to one another, Veronica begins to lose her mind turning dangerous and suicidal.

This is an intriguing paranormal investigative thriller with a touch of romance that grips the audience from the moment Dr. Clausen asks a reluctant Regan to use her psychic skills on the strange case he works. Thus the readers meet the heroine, immediately after the call her flighty best friend and soon afterward the vampire-author. The small New England town is a Frisbee toss away from Rhode Island, making a perfect atmosphere for this engaging supernatural mystery in which Regan suspects the man she is attracted to is the neck biter. Although the font size is tough on the eyes, Inanna Arthen provides an interesting Vampires of New England tale as the lead pair must make difficult even perilous choices that endanger them, loved ones, and semi-innocent.

Harriet Klausner

There are so many paranormal romance authors out now, and this is one I am glad I read. I like my books with some action in them and this holds the right amount of paranormal without being cliche.