Synopsis:
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.
My Review
Although this review is for May Day, I did read the prequal novella Killian’s Dead. It was a quick read and gives you background on the main character Jack and how she came to be. I don’t think it’s necessary to read it in order to enjoy May Day. It’s a good added bonus though.
The Setting
May Day is set in the city of Oxford, in modern day. I’ve always enjoyed reading about this location. There is something about the historic streets that seem to lend themselves to the paranormal. It is the perfect backdrop for this story.
The Characters
In case you haven’t already guessed our main character Jack, is a vampire. A member of The Seekers, which are the equivalent of human police. Making sure vampires don’t do anything to out themselves to the humans. Jack has a personal vendetta against the Baron of the area and is determined to pin this latest crime on him.
When things don’t quiet pan out the way she wants, Jack is forced to team up with the Baron and maybe reevaluate her thinking.
Not going to lie I struggled to like Jack. She’s very impetuous, almost childlike. In terms of vampires she is a baby, fairly newly turned and still very human in her thoughts and actions. Even though her friends are trying to back her up, she fails to heed their advice on numerous occasions and several times through out the book I wanted to shake her.
The book is told in first person from Jack’s point of view, so initially I did struggle a little to get into it. However, I found myself quickly wrapped up in the plot and totally in love with some of the other characters. Others not so much, there are some truly terrible vampires and they made for good hostility.
Final Thoughts
May Day has some of my favourite vampire troupes, being able to come out in the day with no ill effects, virtually immortal and extraordinarily powerful. It is fast paced and once I was into it, I could not put it down. This is the first book I have read by Josie and I am very interested to see how this book ties into her other series that have already been completed.
There is so much scope for which way this series could go. In my head I know how I would like it to progress but one thing I have learnt from reading this. Josie will surprise me and the outcome will be better than I imagined it to be.
My thanks to Josie for a copy of her book in exchange for an honest review.
Great review!