Book Review: May Day by Josie Jaffrey

OK, I have a few books coming up that are perfect for Halloween. Previously we danced with the devil; today we are solving crimes with vampires.

Goodreads Blurb

May Day by Josie Jaffrey

If the murderer you’re tracking is a vampire, then you want a vampire detective. Just maybe not this one.

It’s not that Jack Valentine is bad at her job. The youngest member of Oxford’s Seekers has an impressive track record, but she also has an impressive grudge against the local baron, Killian Drake.
When a human turns up dead on May Morning, she’s determined to pin the murder on Drake. The problem is that none of the evidence points to him. Instead, it leads Jack into a web of conspiracy involving the most powerful people in the country, people to whom Jack has no access. But she knows someone who does.

To get to the truth, Jack will have to partner up with her worst enemy. As long as she can keep her cool, Drake will point her to the ringleaders, she’ll find the murderer and no one else will have to die.
Body bags on standby.

May Day is the first book in Josie Jaffrey’s Seekers series, an urban fantasy series set in Oxford, England. 

Review

I love a good vampire. While I do prefer the old school, evil vampires (think Dracula and Nosferatu) I can get on board with some of the modern-day vampires. If the author/filmmaker tries to give vampires a new spin but keeps some of their original traits, I’ll give them a try. That’s why I liked May Day.

If I were to compare the Seekers in May Day to any other vampire, I would choose Angel from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. They are determined to do good, help solve crimes, don’t hunt humans, but still have a slightly bad side. Also, they aren’t really scary so readers who don’t like to be frightened have a nice read for spooky season.

But what about the story itself? Well, it was interesting to read a vampire murder mystery, for one. While it did lie on the side of fantasy, it wasn’t too outlandish and the plot was really well thought out. However, it was the characters that really hooked me to wanting to know how the rest of the Seekers series goes.

I liked most of the characters in May Day but two stood out in particular for me. Jack, of course, who was a good narrator and a feisty, head strong lead. Even more so I enjoyed Baron Drake. I imagine him to be much more complex and I’m interested in seeing how he develops as a character. Both these characters lead to a heated love/hate relationship which I usually don’t care much for but, in this case, really brought out the raw desire of the vampire kind.

Excited to hear what other vampire-lovers have to say about May Day and I am eagerly anticipating the next book.

May Day is available for purchase now.

I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.