Review: Volter is a Vampire - should anyone ask......
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 02 5, 2014
Jon McDonald is a writer who has seen much and remembered it all and all of that comes spilling out of his memory bank and his very fertile imagination. According to the author's summary of his background, `Can't believe I have been in Santa Fe, on and off, for 24 years now, after 15 years in California and before that NYC and London. Most important recently is that I lost my job in 2008. As a result, after putzing around for a few months, I started writing a satirical novel about high society in Santa Fe called `Divas Never Flinch - A Comedy of Manners'. It seems publishing is all about e-books these days. Break out your Kindles everyone.'Jon McDonald is nowhere listed as a specialist in gay fiction, but sprinkled throughout his novels are gay themes, and that is no exception with BLOODLINE - THE QUEST. His other penchant is for polished humor, and that gift, too, is a part of this engrossing, sort of silly novel. The story takes place in Ohio and deals with a European vampire named Volter (`Charles Alain Voltaire who dropped all but his single last name, and became known simply as the Vampire Voltaire') who arrives with a quest: to destroy the local mutant vampires (no human blood consumption, only animal blood) who besmirch the concept of true vampires. Of course there is a local detective bent on destroying the unwelcome visitor and how that plays out is the adventure in store. But as is usually the case, the author offers the best summary of his tale and thus is quoted here:`A colony of mutant vampires secretly settled 100 years ago in the quiet town of Brampton, Ohio.  But Volter, a renegade Romanian vampire, has arrived to eradicate these mutants, who he believes are an inferior disgrace to the true vampire race.  The mutants do not consume human blood - only animal blood - and thus are not threats to humans.  The mutants' identity is unknown to the rest of Brampton, and the mutants wish to keep it that way. Del, a local history professor, and an amateur detective, joins forces with his friend, the Chief of police, to help solve a rash of killings plaguing the town.  It is finally suspected that the murderer might be a vampire.  Del's partner, Jack, is distantly related to the mutants, although he does not yet know how this will affect him. The killings are beyond the scope of the local police force, and the Chief hires a vampire expert from Holland, Professor Vanderbrook. The mutants, in an effort to bolster their image in Brampton, hold a free party at the local amusement park for all the citizens.  However, this turns into a bloody massacre as Volter terrorizes the park in a murderous rampage.  The nature of the mutants is now discovered and exposed by the press. The Professor, Del and the Chief join forces to attempt to defeat Volter, but he is a wily creature, and eludes them.  Volter attacks Jack and he is gravely injured.  But because Jack is part mutant, he cannot use normal human blood, so the mutant community steps forward to donate their blood, saving Jack, and restoring their deteriorating image in Brampton.' Infuse this gore with humor and you have the special gift of Jon McDonald. Even for readers either fatigued from the Twilight Series or just simple not fans of vampire tales, McDonald fresh approach has enough energy and underlying laughter that his book should have wide appeal. Grady Harp, February 14