🦇 Vampires

13 Bullets: A Vampire Tale

✍️ David Wellington
Reader Score
4.4
(1 review)
$45.95
Temporarily out of stock

Currently unavailable

This book is sold out right now. Leave your email — we'll let you know if it comes back, and you'll get 10% off any book today.

In stock now — readers of this book also loved:

Vampyrnomicon
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.4
1
Scott M Baker
Vampyrnomicon
$13.99
78
Dracula superstar: Biografia cultural de un mito moderno
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
1
Julio Perez Manzanares
Dracula superstar: Biografia cultural de un mito moderno
$24.00
81
Trust Me, Vampires Are Real
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.4
1
Mia Noelle Plaza
Trust Me, Vampires Are Real
$16.00
78
Immortal Rogue
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
1
Colleen Gleason
Immortal Rogue
$19.95
81
Dracula (Revised)
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Bram Stoker
Dracula (Revised)
$9.99
86
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A former agent investigates a vampire case he thought was closed forever.

This novel challenges the accepted history of monster hunting by introducing Arkeley, an ex-fed who believes he ended the vampire threat decades ago. The plot ignites when Laura Caxton, a state trooper, reaches out for help during a crisis that defies explanation. Arkeley receives the case, forcing him to face the possibility that his past victory was a lie. Wellington uses this premise to explore themes of denial and institutional failure. The story does not rely on ancient castles or romantic entanglements. Instead, it grounds the supernatural in the mundane reality of federal paperwork and modern law enforcement. This approach creates a distinct atmosphere where horror emerges from bureaucratic incompetence rather than gothic dread.

Key Themes
vampire extinction myths federal agent investigations supernatural cover-ups
Literary Context

Published by Blackstone Publishing in 2006, this work sits within the contemporary urban fantasy and horror genres. It reflects a period where vampire fiction moved away from historical settings toward modern procedural frameworks.

Difficulty
●● Medium
Recommended For Fans Of
Stephen King's urban horror · Neil Gaiman's mythic subversions · Tana French's procedural depth
🦇
Vampires
🏛 Blackstone Publishing 📅 2006 🌐 English 📔 Compact Disc ISBN: 9781441727398

📝 Description: 13 Bullets: A Vampire Tale

David Wellington returns with a modern take on vampire lore in his novel 13 Bullets: A Vampire Tale. The story centers on Arkeley, a former federal agent who officially killed the last known vampire in the nineteen eighties. When state trooper Laura Caxton contacts the FBI for assistance during a late-night emergency, Arkeley is reassigned to the case. This assignment suggests that the official reports were incorrect and that vampires still exist. Wellington draws on police procedural traditions and supernatural fiction to create a narrative that blends bureaucratic realism with horror elements. The book examines the consequences of past violence and the difficulty of maintaining cover stories in a world where the impossible becomes real. It appeals to readers who enjoy gritty, character-driven thrillers that subvert classic monster myths. Those seeking traditional gothic romance or historical vampire epics may find the contemporary setting and tone less appealing. The narrative structure follows Arkeley as he confronts evidence contradicting his life's work. Wellington qualifies himself through this sharp reimagining of genre tropes, focusing on the psychological toll of hunting creatures that refuse to stay dead. The plot relies on the tension between official records and lived experience. Readers will follow the investigation as it unravels the truth behind the supposed extinction of vampires.

💎 Our verdict on 13 Bullets: A Vampire Tale

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
Wellington delivers a distinct atmosphere where horror emerges from bureaucratic incompetence rather than traditional gothic dread. By grounding the supernatural in the mundane reality of federal paperwork and modern law enforcement, he creates a compelling narrative structure. The book examines the consequences of past violence and the difficulty of maintaining cover stories when the impossible becomes real. This approach challenges accepted history by introducing an ex-fed who must face the possibility that his past victory was a lie. The focus on psychological toll over romantic entanglements offers a fresh perspective for horror enthusiasts.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who enjoy gritty, character-driven thrillers that subvert classic monster myths will find this book rewarding. It appeals to those interested in the psychological toll of hunting creatures that refuse to stay dead. The narrative explores themes of denial and institutional failure, offering a sharp reimagining of genre tropes. Those seeking traditional gothic romance or historical vampire epics may find the contemporary setting less appealing. However, fans of police procedurals blended with supernatural fiction will appreciate the tension between official records and lived experience. The book grounds the supernatural in mundane reality, creating horror from bureaucratic incompetence rather than gothic dread.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.4
Based on 1 reviews
5
0
4
1
3
0
2
0
1
0
H
Horror Reads editorial team

Wellington delivers a distinct atmosphere where horror emerges from bureaucratic incompetence rather than traditional gothic dread. By grounding the supernatural in the mundane reality of federal paperwork and modern law enforcement, he creates a compelling narrative structure. The book examines the consequences of past violence and the difficulty of maintaining cover stories when the impossible becomes real. This approach challenges accepted history by introducing an ex-fed who must face the possibility that his past victory was a lie. The focus on psychological toll over romantic entanglements offers a fresh perspective for horror enthusiasts.

📖 From the series “Laura Caxton Vampire”

Vampire Zero: A Gruesome Vampire Tale
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
David Wellington
Vampire Zero: A Gruesome Vampire Tale
$45.95
83
Read →
13 Bullets: A Vampire Tale
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
David Wellington
13 Bullets: A Vampire Tale
$35.95
78
Read →
Vampire Zero: A Gruesome Vampire Tale
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
David Wellington
Vampire Zero: A Gruesome Vampire Tale
$35.95
86
Read →
13 Bullets
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
David Wellington
13 Bullets
$20.00
78
Read →
Vampire Zero: A Gruesome Vampire Tale
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
David Wellington
Vampire Zero: A Gruesome Vampire Tale
$13.95
81
Read →
99 Coffins: A Historical Vampire Tale
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
David Wellington
99 Coffins: A Historical Vampire Tale
$35.95
78
Read →

✍️ More books by this author David Wellington

Erebus-13
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
David Wellington
Erebus-13
$19.99
81
Read →
Revenant-X
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
David Wellington
Revenant-X
$19.99
78
Read →
Paradise-1
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
David Wellington
Paradise-1
$45.00
81
Read →
Paradise-1
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
David Wellington
Paradise-1
$21.99
86
Read →
The Last Astronaut
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
David Wellington
The Last Astronaut
$35.00
86
Read →
The Last Astronaut
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
David Wellington
The Last Astronaut
$19.99
79
Read →

🏛 Books from this publisher Blackstone Publishing

Halloween Kills: The Official Movie Novelization
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Tim Waggoner
Halloween Kills: The Official Movie Novelization
$39.95
81
Read →
Out of Time
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Matthew Mather
Out of Time
$45.95
78
Read →
Midnight Mass
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
F Paul Wilson
Midnight Mass
$49.95
86
Read →
Secret Santa
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Andrew Shaffer
Secret Santa
$39.95
81
Read →
Bone Harvest
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
James Brogden
Bone Harvest
$55.95
81
Read →
56 Days
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Catherine Ryan Howard
56 Days
$45.95
78
Read →

You might also like

See more →
Vampire Zero: A Gruesome Vampire Tale
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
David Wellington
Vampire Zero: A Gruesome Vampire Tale
$35.95
86
Read →
23 Hours: A Vengeful Vampire Tale
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
David Wellington
23 Hours: A Vengeful Vampire Tale
$35.95
86
Read →
Dracula: A Deluxe Hardcover Collector's Edition of the Bestselling Vampire Classic
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.8
1
Bram Stoker
Dracula: A Deluxe Hardcover Collector's Edition of the Bestselling Vampire Classic
$49.95
92
Read →
The Haunting of Hill House
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.8
1
Shirley Jackson
The Haunting of Hill House
$35.95
92
Read →
Dog Blood
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
David Moody
Dog Blood
$45.95
86
Read →
Nightmare at 20,000 Feet: Horror Stories
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Richard Matheson
Nightmare at 20,000 Feet: Horror Stories
$45.95
86
Read →

Have a question about this item?

Ask about the edition, condition, delivery or anything else — we reply by email or phone, usually within a day.

Horror Terms

Terms in this book

Vampire →
Home Genres
Cart
Wishlist