Simon Kirby-Jones is a gay American vampire living in a small English village. He is invited to attend a literary writer's workshop in a local manor house as one of the guest lecturers. While reviewing the list of scheduled lecturers, he discovers that someone posing as one of his nom-de-plumes will be attending. However, while attending the workshop, Simon discovers he isn't the only writer with a link to the fake writer. The fake writer is found dead. Simon, although not a suspect, can't resist investigating. Along the way Simon fights with romantic temptation in the form of his handsome and extremely available secretary/assistant, Giles.
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The review of this Book prepared by Stephanie
Kensington, April 2003, 22.00, 240 pp.
ISBN 1575668874
The villagers of Snupperton Mumsley are happy to welcome American Southern born and bred best-selling author Simon Kirby-Jones into their English midst. Simon is elated to be away from the States and the break up with his boyfriend especially now that he has as his assistant the gorgeous Sir Giles Blitherton, who is just waiting to jump his bones. The only thing holding him back from getting romantically involved with anyone is the fact that he is a vampire and is afraid to trust Giles with his secret.
As long as Simon takes his medication three times a day he can pass for human, which enables him to walk in the sunlight and be active in the daytime. He accepts an invitation from Lady Hermione Kinsale to appear at a writer's workshop but he's outraged to learn that mystery author Dorinda Darlington is also appearing. Simon knows she's a fake because he is Dorinda and he's absolutely livid that his agent who is also at the conference arranged this publicity stunt. When the fake Dorinda is murdered, Simon deduces that one of blackmailed authors killed her. He investigates because he's nosy.
The protagonist is a drama queen with a biting sense of humor. He is also a vampire who has few traditional powers (the side effect of the medication he uses) so he must solve the who-done-it by using his wits of which he has many. The mystery is well plotted and there are many suspects who could be the killer so the readers are able to like this delightful cozy with a supernatural twist.
Harriet Klausner
The review of this Book prepared by Harriet Klausner