Red Death: Being the First Book in the Adventures of Jonathan Barrett, Gentleman Vampire [Paperback]

P. N. Elrod (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 11, 2004 | Series: Jonathan Barrett, Gentleman Vampire (Book 1)

This compelling series combines action and historical drama in fascinating tales of an American Tory who stumbles into the dark world of the vampire. Completely revised and expanded, each of these new editions includes more than 40 pages of new material.

In this introduction to the series, young Jonathan Barrett arrives in London in 1773 to pursue his college education. His fate among the undead is sealed by the unnaturally beautiful Nora Jones, who seduces him and consumes his blood. Unbeknownst to Jonathan, he is no longer the same man, something he soon discovers upon his return to America to join the armed forces and defend his country. Rather than an appetite for traditional fare, he has developed a strange craving for human blood.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This entertaining first installment in a new series by the author of The Vampire Files offers deft touches of wit, beauty and suspense. Amidst the tumult of pre-Revolutionary War America, 17-year-old country gentleman Jonathan Barrett happily prepares to attend Harvard. However, Jonathan's mother, a loyalist whose devotion to the Crown is exceeded only by her quick temper, decides that Cambridge University would afford her son a more proper education. Jonathan resolves to avail himself of the opportunity to study law and carnal pleasure, too. Upon arrival in England, he makes the acquaintance of Nora Jones, a seductive beauty who seems to hold an uncommon sway over her numerous suitors. Soon, Jonathan becomes Nora's favorite, and before long, he is made aware of the bloody source of her power through their frequent trysts, which often resemble a vampiric communion. Later, Jonathan is called home to the troubled colonies, where he is felled by a fatal musket shot, only to rise as one of the undead. Learning to cope with his new existence, he becomes enmeshed in the rebellion while still pining for Nora.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"An entertaining blend of detective story and the supernatural." -- Science Fiction Chronicle

"Offers deft touches of wit, beauty, and suspense." -- Publishers Weekly

"The characters are well-drawn, the good and the bad, and there is an unexpected plot twist at the end." -- Locus

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: BenBella Books (March 11, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1932100199
• ISBN-13: 978-1932100198
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,212,520 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I'm best known for writing THE VAMPIRE FILES, a series about an undead vampire Jack Fleming whose first case is to solve his OWN murder! There's 12 books and counting, as well as a number of short stories about his adventures.

In addition to writing, I've gone into editing and had the pleasure of working with the top names in urban fantasy with several award-winning collections.

Lately, I've just signed to edit a new anthology for St. Martin's called HEX SYMBOLS and signed a 3-book contract with Tor for a new steampunk series, ON HER MAJESTY'S PSYCHIC SERVICE. I'm currently working on the first book, THE HANGED MAN.

I consider myself to be danged lucky to have a job that I love this much!

There's a lot more info on my website: www.vampwriter.com and, yeah, you figured it, I'm on FaceBook. Far too often for my own good! Drop in and hang out!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Well written, sexy...a good vampire fantasy., May 4, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Red Death (Vampire Files) (Paperback)

This book kept me guled until I was done. Jonathan Barrett, the unsung "hero" experiences first hand the lure and lust of the vampire world. Reading through the pages it was if I were there on the hot summer days, and erie nights. I will say I found the ending a little weak, but it sure left things open for P.N. Elrods next book. Worth the time!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars one of my all-time favorite books, October 13, 2004

By 

Melissa (nanaimo, canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Red Death: Being the First Book in the Adventures of Jonathan Barrett, Gentleman Vampire (Paperback)

This book introduces Jonathan Barrett, who we meet briefly in Bloodcircle (Elrod's 3rd Vampire Files novel). Jonathan is much less cynical and polished than Jack, and also quite a bit younger (only seventeen as the story opens). We get exposed to his family (his mother, father, sister and cousin) and also see how he came to be a vampire, from the very beginning (falling in love with a strange girl, Nora) to waking up in his coffin and convincing his family and the townspeople he isn't dead. I loved this book not only because it presents the American Revolution from a decidedly anti-Washington view (very uncommon in historical fiction) but because unlike the Vampire Files, in this book we see Jonathan as human. He's young, he falls in love, doesn't get along with his mother, goes away to university, makes new friends, and 'learns the world.' The changes he makes while he is alive mirror the kinds of things he goes through after death-both are a type of change, of growing up. And unlike Jack Fleming, Jonathan has no idea what's happened to him when he wakes up in his coffin. He doesn't know where he is, what he is, why he survived his death, what he has to do to continue to survive, or how to judge and use his strength and gifts, and what his weaknesses are. The book ends not with him learning those things, but with him accepting that there is still a lot he doesn't know.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good vampire book, October 12, 2001

By 

Ted Lambert (Ann Abror, MI United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Red Death (Vampire Files) (Paperback)

Having read the vampire files I had high expectations for this book
and was not disappointed. I have one suggestion for anyone planning on reading Red Death, and that is to buy the next one in line Death and the Maiden. This book gets you so involved in the main character that you may find it hard to sleep at night as you lay awake wondering what happens next.