La Screams

Name: La Screams
Price: 27.95 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781475991505

✍️ Su Boddie

Reader Score

4.5

(1 review)

$27.95

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A late nineteenth-century police officer investigates a vampire in Los Angeles.

The story centers on Mike Sullivan, a new cop in a small squad of seventy officers who still use horses for patrol. He faces a surge in criminal activity within a rapidly growing metropolis. The plot thickens when sailor William Shakespeare O'Brien accuses a female vampire of murder. Sullivan’s perspective changes after he engages with Bram Stoker's Dracula. His professional duties clash with personal crises, including his mother’s health and his relationship with Jennifer Fitzgerald. The narrative demonstrates how traditional law enforcement fails against supernatural predators. Boddie uses the historical setting to explore fear and skepticism in a changing city.

Key Themes

vampire hunting late nineteenth century police investigation

Literary Context

The text is set in late nineteenth-century Los Angeles, a period when the population surpassed one million. It reflects an era where law enforcement relied on seventy officers who rode horses to pursue criminals. The story engages with gothic fiction traditions through its depiction of supernatural threats in an urban environment.

Difficulty

●● Medium

Recommended For Fans Of

Bram Stoker · Anne Rice · Mary Shelley

🦇

Vampires

🏛 iUniverse 📅 2013 🌐 English 📔 Hardcover ISBN: 9781475991505

📝 Description: La Screams

Su Boddie’s La Screams places rookie officer Mike Sullivan in late nineteenth-century Los Angeles. The narrative follows a squad of seventy horse-riding police officers as they confront rising crime rates in a city exceeding one million residents. Sullivan initially dismisses the claims of William Shakespeare O'Brien, an old sailor who attributes recent deaths to a female vampire aboard his vessel. This skepticism shifts when Sullivan reads Bram Stoker's Dracula, prompting him to reconsider the sailor’s account. The plot intertwines Sullivan’s investigation with personal struggles involving his mother’s illness and his engagement to Jennifer Fitzgerald. As the body count rises, conventional policing proves ineffective against the supernatural threat. Boddie draws on gothic horror traditions and historical detective fiction to construct a story where urban expansion meets ancient evil. The narrative structure moves from skeptical inquiry to desperate action as the vampire hunts the streets. This book suits readers interested in period pieces that blend police procedurals with supernatural elements. It appeals to those who enjoy stories set in the late nineteenth century featuring horse-mounted law enforcement. Readers seeking modern forensic techniques or contemporary settings will likely find this work unsatisfying. The focus remains strictly on the intersection of historical policing and vampire lore.

💎 Our verdict on La Screams

“

🩸

Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

Boddie constructs a compelling narrative by placing rookie officer Mike Sullivan in late nineteenth-century Los Angeles, where he confronts rising crime rates alongside supernatural threats. The story effectively utilizes the historical setting to explore themes of fear and skepticism, particularly as Sullivan’s perspective shifts after engaging with Bram Stoker's Dracula. While the focus on horse-mounted policing may not appeal to those seeking modern forensic techniques, it offers a distinct atmospheric quality for fans of gothic horror and dark fantasy. The intertwining of professional duties with personal crises adds depth to the investigation, making it a satisfying choice for readers who enjoy traditional detective fiction blended with vampire lore.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

This book is ideal for readers who enjoy period pieces that blend police procedurals with supernatural elements, particularly those fascinated by the late nineteenth-century setting. It appeals to audiences interested in stories featuring horse-mounted law enforcement and the historical context of a rapidly growing metropolis. Those who appreciate the intersection of urban expansion and ancient evil will find value in Sullivan's journey from skepticism to desperate action. The narrative offers a unique perspective on how traditional policing fails against supernatural predators, providing a rich exploration of fear and skepticism within a changing cityscape.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.5

Based on 1 reviews

Horror Reads editorial team

Boddie constructs a compelling narrative by placing rookie officer Mike Sullivan in late nineteenth-century Los Angeles, where he confronts rising crime rates alongside supernatural threats. The story effectively utilizes the historical setting to explore themes of fear and skepticism, particularly as Sullivan’s perspective shifts after engaging with Bram Stoker's Dracula. While the focus on horse-mounted policing may not appeal to those seeking modern forensic techniques, it offers a distinct atmospheric quality for fans of gothic horror and dark fantasy. The intertwining of professional duties with personal crises adds depth to the investigation, making it a satisfying choice for readers who enjoy traditional detective fiction blended with vampire lore.