For as long as I can remember, I’ve had a love/hate relationship with vampires.
There was a year in elementary school where I was terrified of vampires. I can’t remember what triggered it (although, knowing me, I probably read some adult vampire book I had no business reading, like Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot) but whatever it was, I was so scared that every night I wore a cross to bed. I ended up breaking three chains before that fear ran its course.
When I was in high school, the movie Fright Night came out. If you’ve ever seen this movie, you probably put it in the campy 80s flick.
Not me. For whatever reason, that movie triggered my old vampire fear that I had thought was gone, and I was back to being terrified of vampires. (I think what really got me was how the main character knew the new neighbor was a vampire but no one believed him.)
Luckily, this time it only took a few days to get over the fear (and, no, I didn’t resort to wearing a cross at night).
Also, when I was in high school, I read Anne Rice’s Interview with a Vampire, and fell in love with the book. Alas, I can’t remember if this was before or after the Fright Night incident. Yes, I know this makes no sense. My only excuse is I was a teenager and as everyone knows, teenagers make no logical sense.
And of course, I read Twilight and watched True Blood (along with reading the Sookie Stackhouse Mysteries which is what True Blood was based off of) along with Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Angel, Bran Stoker’s Dracula and any number of vampire movies, books and shows.
Clearly my relationship with vampires is confusing and needed processing. And, since I’m a writer, the way I process is to put it in a book.
Would you join me in welcoming Murder Next Door to the world? My first vampire book but likely not my last (as I’m fairly certain I haven’t finished vampire processing yet).
Murder Next Door is Book 3 in the Charlie Kingsley Mystery series, a twisty, funny cozy mystery series set in the 1990s. You should also probably know even though there’s a vampire in it, it’s not a paranormal cozy.
(Have I mentioned yet that my relationship to vampires is complicated?)
Here’s a sneak peek:
Everyone knows vampires don’t exist.
So when Mildred Schmidt, one of Charlie’s customers, is convinced that her next-door neighbor’s house sitter is actually a vampire, Charlie of course has to step in to see what is really going on.
What she finds is … disturbing. The house sitter DOES have some peculiar habits—like digging holes in the backyard in the middle of the night.
Surely, they aren’t … graves.
But then Polly, a local teenager, goes missing.
Of course, teenagers DO run away from time to time.
Less explainable is the dead body that then appears in the “vampire’s” yard.
Luckily, Charlie is hot on the case, and not a moment too soon as she races to not only find Polly, but to discover the killer before the bodies start to pile up.
To celebrate Murder Next Door’s release, I’m offering 3 signed paperbacks with bonus bookmarks (US only) and a grand prize of a $10 Amazon Gift Card. Giveaway ends at midnight PST on Friday, April 29.
I’d also love to hear what you think about vampires. Love them? Hate them? Something else?
Check out Murder Next Door's book birthday and win one of 3 signed paperbacks or a $10 Amazon Gift Card! Share on XGIVEAWAY ENDED
Congrats to the winners! Please check your email.
Signed Paperback Winners
Nese Gordon
Jackie Stieghorst
Susan
$10 Amazon Gift Card Winner
Jackie Wisherd
Didn’t win? That’s okay, we have more giveaways coming up! In fact you check out other giveaways here.
The book sounds great. Thanks for your great generosity.
I love Dracula, but I haven’t enjoyed vampires since they started to sparkle, and they were everywhere. But I still love Dracula.
There was usually that one strange person in my neighborhood or who was your friend’s neighbor that got my imagination running wild — are they a vampire? a werewolf? or maybe a zombie? I can’t wait to read Murder Next Door!
Can’t wait to read this books.
Thank you for the giveaway! I can’t wait to read the book! Good luck to you for the books success!
thanks for the chance to win!
I love your books! I hate vampires. I saw a vampire movie when I was kid and I slept with a sheet pulled up around my neck for the rest of my childhood. I’m sure that sheet was going to deter a vampire bite to the neck! 🙂 Thanks for the giveaway!
This book sounds awesome!
Love the title! I’m spooked!
Have you watched the rebooted Fright Night with Colin Farrell as the vamp & David Tennant as the faux vampire hunter? I loved it, despite a few gross moments. But I’m a (blood)sucker for ANYTHING with David in it.
I have not, I’ll have to check it out.
this looks like a good book- you are a new author for me-thanks
Thank you for including me!
Wellm this sounds like it will keep you up at night?
About vampires – I don’t think much about them one way or the other. I don’t bother them if they don’t bother me. 😁
Well, this sounds like it will keep you up at night?
Definitely sounds like my kind of read. Thank you for the chance.
The book sounds intriguing – even though I don’t like vampires. I love a good monster story/movie but have never cared for vampires. They are just so weird but look like us – perhaps that’s why. Who knows?
I have a kindle so that is how I read books, or I also read handheld books. I love to read. Not sure how I’d get your ebook on my kindle.
Thanks so much!
What a generous giveaway.
Thanks for a chance to win. Your book sounds interesting and love giving honest reviews (bad or good).
I am NOT a fan of vampires at all. Too unbelievable and too many rules for me. Especially for a made up thing.
Thanks for the chance
Sounds good.
Sounds like a great read
I honestly don’t think I’ve read a book with vampires in it.
Sounds like a good story!
Haven’t read this type of story in a long time but would like to. This book sounds like one I would enjoy reading.
Book sounds like a great read. Would love to read & review in print format. Love books like this.
Never can tell about the secret lives of your neighbors. Guess you never know do you?
Sounds really good!!
Thanks so much for sharing! This seems like such an interesting read!
Thanks for the free book and the chance at this awesome giveaway.
I love vampires. Especially since I saw the movie My Best Friend is a Vampire. Then, the Canadian TV show Forever Knight came out. Even Disney jumped on board with Mom’s Got a Date with a Vampire. After that, they were in everything.
Awesome giveaway. Thanks for the opportunity to win a great prize. Good luck everyone.
True Blood was my favorite TV series and books! Charlaine’s writing made me realize that the supernatural genre dosn’t have to be so dark and serious all the time.
Thanks for offering the chance to win this book.
I like the title. It is drawing me in!
Personally, I prefer the Argeneau family–not really vampires you know, but immortals descended from survivors of Atlantis! But this might be interesting, since I am always willing to expand my knowledge!
I love to read and good mystery is just my cup of tea. Thank you.
Sounds fascinating. Looking forward to reading the book.
Love a great mystery.
I’ve loved all the Redemption series and the Charlie Kingsley books even more. Just started Murder Next Door and can’t put it down. Keep on writing Michele.