If you are looking for a fun series that combines element of horror and historical fiction, have I got a series for you! Shane Carrow’s Avery & Carter series (3 titles) has a lot of great historical detail, plenty of action and adventure, and some classic horror movie characters. The first book in the series is Vampire on the Orient Express.

We start out in Paris, 1914. Sam Carter, an American adventurer, boards the Orient Express; he may or may not have just deserted from the French Foreign Legion, right after stealing his unit’s payroll to bankroll this trip. He meets up with Lucas Avery, a British diplomat who may or not be working with the intelligence corps. It’s a fine trip – until the murders begin.

They meet Professor Abraham Van Brunt, scholar and vampire hunter. He believes there is a vampire traveling with them and he is determined to destroy it.

With tensions rising and the body count increasing, Lucas and Sam must work together to identify and eliminate the vampire before the train reaches its final destination. However, suspicion and fear spread quickly, making it hard to discern friend from foe.

So much fun! I raced through this one and really enjoyed it. Sure, it’s a bit of pulp fiction, but it’s well-written and well-researched. There is plenty of detail on the train, the locations, and the characters. Being trapped on a speeding train gives a bit of locked room mystery vibes and adds to the gothic atmosphere.

You can find Vampire on the Orient Express at Amazon. Unfortunately, I had no luck finding it at my local library.