Rulers of Darkness [Mass Market Paperback]

Steven Spruill (Author)

Book Description

Series: Rulers of Darkness | Publication Date: March 1998

It is midnight at the historic Washington Cathedral when police discover the murdered woman--her throat shredded by human teeth. When other such murders follow, Dr. Katherine O'Keefe and her ex-lover, Detective Merrick Chapman are assigned to track down the "vampire" killer. They discover a bizarre abnormality in the killer's blood. The man is stricken with a rare disease whereby the blood genetically craves infusions of fresh blood. It is a condition Merrick knows well--because he too has it. And as O'Keefe and Chapman draw closer to the killer, they may find a truth more horrific than the murders themselves. Martin's Press.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Spruill continues his string of medical horror novels (My Soul to Take; Before I Wake) with this slight variation on vampires: he calls his bloodsuckers "hemophages" and suggests scientific explanations for their preternatural abilities and peculiar dietary needs. The hero, Merrick Chapman, is a centuries-old hemophage who, like many of his brethren, refuses to kill for the blood he drinks and is looking for a cure. The story is set in and around contemporary Washington, D.C., where Merrick uses his position as a detective to find and trap other hemophages. His son Zane, however, is a homicidal hemophage without guilt; he becomes Merrick's nemesis. The bloodsucking cop is both aided and hindered by his human associates, who include police colleagues and Dr. Katie O'Keefe, his recent lover and a specialist in blood research. They don't know his true identity and, in the tradition of superheroes with dark secrets, he's not going to tell them. The plot is intriguingly complex, incorporating matters of love and paternity as well as the central problem of how Merrick will handle Zane. By adding a noir-crime spin to his medical-horror formula, Spruill manages to grab hold of, and ride reasonably high on, the cape-tails of Anne Rice and the current vampire craze.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press; Reprint edition (March 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312956681
• ISBN-13: 978-0312956684
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,836,426 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

1968: Andrews University. Graduated with B.A. in biology.
1969: Married Nancy Lyon

1969-1974: Hazleton Laboratories. Laboratory technician, technical writer.

1974-1981: The Catholic University.
While studying for a doctorate in clinical psychology, Spruill sold his first novel, Keepers of the Gate, to Doubleday in 1976. Five more of his novels were published while he completed graduate school. During this period, Spruill also served as an adjunct professor at Catholic University, teaching creative writing to students in the drama program at Catholic U. In 1980, Spruill completed his doctoral dissertation on Creativity, and was awarded the Ph.D. in clinical psychology in 1981.

1981-present: After completing a year's internship at Mount Vernon Hospital in Virginia, Spruill turned to writing, full time. Fifteen of his novels, two novellas, and one non-fiction book have been published by Doubleday, Playboy Press, St. Martin's Press, TOR, Berkley, and Dell. His pseudonyms include Steve Morgan (UK), Steve Lyon, and Steven Harriman (Berkley). His work has sold in over twenty foreign countries. Several of his novels were selections of The Literary Guild and the Doubleday Book Club. Three of his medical thrillers were condensed in Good Housekeeping Magazine and one in Reader's Digest Books. Both Kirkus and Publishers Weekly have awarded starred reviews to his novels. Spruill's novel Rulers of Darkness was nominated for the British Fantasy Award. It was this novel that, in 1995, coined the term "Hemophage" to describe the "reality" behind the vampire myth. In 1995, the Catholic University of America conferred upon Spruill its award for "Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Literature." Other recipients of this award in the arts include Susan Sarandon and Jon Voight.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Story Telling at it's BEST, July 14, 2001

By 

Sheila (Macedon, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rulers of Darkness (Mass Market Paperback)

This book was one of the best told books that I have ever read. The medical-murder-mystery-love story is most complelling. The way Spruill told the story and descibed all the events and characters was amazing. It felt as if I was sitting right there with the charachters watching everything happen. Merrick, Katie, and Zane were described so well it was as if I personally knew them. Being a PREVIOUS non - reading type of person Spruill change my outlook completely on reading and now I would rather read than watch a movie. This is without a doubt an author that should be recognized for all his work becase it is absoulutly amazing. I am looking forward to reading Daughters of Darkness (the follow up) and I have read Painkiller which was also a GREAT book! And I plan on reading all or most of Spruill's other books! ~Sheila

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Excellent Book!, November 21, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Rulers of Darkness (Mass Market Paperback)

Steven Spruill has a knack for creating not only livable worlds, but breathing characters who live _in_ them. Vampires are an old theme, but I'm always pleased when someone -- like Spruill -- comes up with a new logic to support the vampiric realm. RULERS OF DARKNESS is followed by DAUGHTER OF DARKNESS, an excellent follow-up. Rumors abound of a third in the series called LORDS OF LIGHT. I can't wait!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Masterly Written, July 13, 2001

By 

Sheila (Macedon, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rulers of Darkness (Mass Market Paperback)

I picked this book up at the library barley reading the discription and just picking it up for something to read. When I got home and started to read I couldn't put it down. It's compelling in it's mysterious mixture of a scientifical, medical, murder mystery love story. The way Spruill describes all the characters and situations, you can paint the most vivid discription in your mind that's better than watching a movie. If your not a book person (as I was not) this book will quickly change your views and you won't put it down untill the end! You will IMEDIATELY fall in love with this author and want to read more of his works.