Blood Drive by Jeanne C. Stein

This is the 2nd book in the Anna Strong series by Jeanne C. Stein. The 3rd book The Watcher is also reviewed at this site. In this installment Anna, a newly-turned vampire, is having a hard time accepting what she’s become. Although she was made a vampire by force and was lucky to have survived the attack she has doubts about her ability to adapt to her new life. As such it’s becoming increasingly difficult for her to keep her vampire life separate from her human one. And from those that she loves.

The Story

The book begins when Anna and her family receive a strange visit from her deceased brother’s former girlfriend. It seems that her brother has fathered a child. The mother approaches the family to seek assistance in finding the child, Trish. You see, Trish has run away and her mother is frantic that she’s involved in the murder of one of her teenage friends. Since Anna is a bounty hunter and since her parents are anxious to meet their heretofore unknown grandchild, she decides to take the case and look for Trish.

As Anna investigates Trish’s disappearance she meets one of the girl’s high school teachers, a hunky shape shifter who assists her in the search. Their efforts are frequently thwarted by 2 FBI agents also looking for Trish and a goth wannabe vampire-loving fanatic that has become obsessed with Anna. On top of that, it appears as if Trish’s mother hasn’t been totally honest with Anna about her motives for wanting to find her runaway daughter.

Anna’s reluctance to accept her vampire nature puts her at risk in the supernatural world. As the story progresses she learns there are others out there willing to help her adjust to her new life. Anna’s personal journey provides a nice subplot to the action in the book.

I had a hard time putting this book down at times. Jeanne C. Stein did a great job pacing the storyline. And although the book includes vampires, clairvoyants (known as “sensitives”), and shape shifters, the book doesn’t get bogged down in describing the mythologies surrounding these creatures as seen in some contemporary fantasy books. I don’t need to be told that vampires like to drink blood and that were beings change shape based on the phases of the moon. Some fantasy writers don’t get that but Jeanne C. Stein clearly does and didn’t let the story get off track with such distractions. This was a great read that maintained my interest level to the very end. Scoop up Blood Drive, The Anna Strong Chronicles, Book 2; for 6 or 7 bucks it’s cheaper than a movie ticket.