Denver psychologist Kismet Knight, Ph.D, doesn't believe in the paranormal. She especially doesn't believe in vampires. That is, until a new client introduces Kismet to the vampire underworld and a drop dead gorgeous, 800-year-old vampire named Devereux. Kismet isn't buying the vampire story, but can't explain why she has such odd reactions and feelings whenever Devereux is near. Kismet is soon forced to open her mind to other possibilities, however, when she is visited by two angry bloodsuckers who would like nothing better than to challenge Devereux by hurting Kismet.
To make life just a bit more complicated, one of Kismet's clients shows up at her office almost completely drained of blood, and Kismet finds herself immersed in an ongoing murder investigation. Enter handsome FBI profiler Alan Stevens who warns her that vampires are very real. And one is a murderer. A murderer who is after her.
In the midst of it all, Kismet realizes she has feelings for both the vampire and the profiler. But though she cares for each of the men, facing the reality that vampires exist is enough of a challenge... for now.
Title: The Vampire Shrink
Author: Lynda Hilburn
Series: Vampire Psychologist, Book 1
Start & Finished: 9/29/08- 10/1/08
Published: 2007
Publisher: Medallion Press, Inc.
Pages: 392
Genre: Paranormal
"I feel like a newbie, a brand new therapist sitting with my first client, trying not to screw up. Trying to convince the boogieman under the bed that there's no boogieman under the bed,” s
ays the main character Kismet in debut urban fantasy author Lynda Hilburn’s new book The Vampire Shrink, the first book in her Vampire Psychologist series. A therapist herself, Hilburn can really relate to her new protagonist… vampires notwithstanding.
For a new debut book, The Vampire Shrink is surprisingly a good story with very interesting characters and it was even has some funny parts. The main thing about the story that really captured me was the vampire of course! Devereux was gorgeous, charismatic, and very powerful not to mention wise (being over 800 years old, I would expect so!) and ethical too. Kismet meets another man in the course of the book named Alan and he of course provides more conflict… not to mention the fact that there are tons of bad guys too.As it was a debut book I won’t hold the author at fault but I did notice throughout the story quite a few things that irked me such as how hokey some of the dialogue was and how two plot threads just seem to be dropped: how and why Kismet wakes up in a coffin (I'm assuming it has something to do with one of the bad guys of course, but she wasn't harmed, just stuck in a coffin) and the fortune teller. Maybe the author added it since she herself was one? She claims that Cerridwyn is a combination of h
erself and other Tarot Card readers that she knows (Hilburn also said that she will appear in future books). I did like her but there really wasn't much of a need for her part in the story either.My main issue with The Vampire Shrink was how Kismet spends over half of the book denying the existence of vampires. If a guy is reading your mind, talking in your head, can slide his fangs out at will, can entrance you with his eyes, and pop from place to place- then he is probably a vampire. No one can deny an existence of a being for so long! She's being courted by one and hunted by others and yet she still wouldn‘t budge on believing that they’re just delusional for the longest time and it became downright annoying! All that time could have been put to better use in my mind but it was still a good story nonetheless and while I wish more time would have been spent exploring the psychologist to vampires angle, undoubtedly there will be more interesting clients in future books.
Vampire Psychologist Series:
The Vampire Shrink
Dark Harvest
Links: MySpace Page, Paranormality Author Blog
Interview: Patricia’s Vampire Notes, Sisters in Crime, Darque Reviews, Ask Wendy
Book Trailer:
Picture Explanations
Denver: The story takes place here
Celtic Pendant: Worn by the protagonist
Shower: A very interesting scene takes place in the shower after Kismet escapes the coffin in the graveyard
Well, that's certainly an interesting angle for a vampire novel! Sounds interesting.
ReplyDeleteIt's been I while since I read this one and to be honest I never noticed her doing the the Queen of Egypt thing (De Nile). I liked this one but liked Dark Harvest more.
ReplyDeleteDear Jen: Thank you so much for reading my book and writing about it! I appreciate you. I totally understand what you mean about Kismet's refusal to accept the fact of vampires. I'll just tell you a little about what I was thinking when I wrote it. Kismet really is an idealized version of me, and the story was actually inspired by a real situation in my psychotherapy practice. I wanted the book to be as realistic as possible, so Kismet had to behave like a scientist/psychologist until the absolute last minute. She has to find mental health reasons for everything that happens until she can't deny the truth any more. Since the mind really can do strange things, it isn't out of the realm of possibility that a therapist might see the paranormal/supernatural occurrence through a diagnostic lens. That's what I'd do!! Grin. You're a sweetie to post about me and my books.
ReplyDeleteHugs, Lynda Hilburn
I've got this one on my TBR list but haven't picked it up yet. It does sound like an interesting angle. Great review!
ReplyDeleteDarla D: Yes it's what drew me to it in the first place.
ReplyDeleteSciFiGuy: I'm sure I'll like the sequel more as well.
Lynda Hilburn: Thank you for stopping by my little blog! As much as it may seem otherwise, I did enjoy your book quite a lot and I am looking forward to reading the next one.
Samantha: Thank you and I hope you enjoy it!
This one is on my wishlist. Thanks for a great review.
ReplyDeleteI've been interested to see what people thought of these, the initial idea sounded kind of iffy to me, but so far it seems they are really being enjoyed, so I'll have to keep a lookout for them!
ReplyDeletegreat cover, The Vampire Shrink sounds very good!
ReplyDeleteI had never heard of this one before.
http://thebookworm07.blogspot.com/
Monie G: I'm glad you enjoyed it and I hope you like the book!
ReplyDeleteShaunesay: I understand your reluctance but it truly was a great story.
Naida: I did picture Deaverux just a tad bit differently but the cover guy is pretty :)
Hmm I am intrigued... I like the cover and the fresh angle on adding a shrink into the mix.
ReplyDelete