Joe Pitt gets mixed up in a nasty double-cross and, as usual, he's on the losing end of it...

There is a new drug going around the Island of Manhattan and it's causing havoc among the newly converted. Seems that this drug is the only way for a Vampyre to get high, or at least feel the high they did before the Vyrus. Terry Bird, head of The Society, asks Joe to "look into it" and find out where it's coming from and who's dealing it. This mission leads Joe on a journey Uptown which means he has to cross through Coalition territory and connect with someone in The Hood. To make matters worse, he must journey in daylight to avoid encountering Coalition enforcers if at all possible.

Another very fun entry in the Joe Pitt series. This one had me humming the theme song from that old movie "The Warriors" from the time Joe makes it to The Hood to the point where he manages to get back below 14th, back to Society territory. It was so fun, and I really love the pulpy-, noir feel these books have. The Vampyre twist just makes them even better!

On to the next one, "All the Blood in Brooklyn". Can't wait!

Dark but no fun :(

#2 Joe Pitt ‘paranormal noir’ mystery series. Joe, a Rogue Vampyre not pledged to any of the vampyre clans in New York, is feeling a bit peaky these days. He’s down to his last 3 pints of blood in the fridge and two months behind on his rent. Ever since the incident in which he cheesed off a couple of the major clan bosses, the work coming his way has been slim to none. He’s about to go begging for a job when one gets thrown his way by Terry, the Society boss.

New vampyres are hitting on some new drug out there that’s making them go a bit crazy and Terry wants Joe to figure out what this drug is and who’s supplying it. It’s disrupting the tentative truce between the clans and no one wants an all-out war. Or do they? Joe treks across forbidden Coalition territory to the Hood to look up a guy whose name he got from another guy—yeah, the connection is slim but when you’re not sure where your next pint of blood is coming from, and your girlfriend (who, by the way, doesn’t even KNOW you’re a vampyre!) is needing some expensive medical treatments, you get a bit desperate. What ensues is a madcap couple of days with Joe nearly meeting an untimely end several times and the unveiling of plots within plots and much political scheming.

Very dark and noir, lots of graphic violins (but very little sax! LOL) and many unsavory four-letter words. In other words, my kinda book. ::grin:: I love Joe’s rogue attitude, what I call his whole “eff you personality,” since I tend to have the same attitude to belonging to groups myself. I have the next Joe Pitt book here on my TBR and I know it won’t be too long before I get to it. A.

Things start to heat up as Huston introduces more clans and the city begins to get fleshed out further. Joe also has more depth added as his "don't take shit from no one" personality expands.

A standard noir thriller with some gang turf stuff and a typical down and out detective with a chip on his shoulder. The twist is that everyone is a vampire. Well, kind of. The protagonist and mains are all dependent on human blood for survival, healing factor, and kind of a high. It actually made me think about the possibility of a noir detective book starring a heroin addict - might be interesting. Part of the reason I think of this is that the plot is driven by a drug running operation that our hero must ferret out amongst various different vampire-controlled areas of Manhattan. Noir can be unsettling anyway, but there was one part where I almost stopped reading - it involved a dogfight and some stereotypes that struck me as fairly racist. The book later explained this scene a couple different ways and kind of excused itself by introducing a super-duper-racist character and punishing that person mercilessly, but still. Not sure I’d read another Pitt book, but for the most part this was a fairly good example of the genre with an interesting twist.

I really love the voice of the Joe Pitt. He's a strong character and a vivid narrator. He does keep causing trouble for himself though, and I keep wanting to tell him to shut his smart mouth. He also gets beat up an excessive amount and in increasingly gruesome manners. I enjoy the world he describes but I could live without some of the more graphic descriptions.

How to make a bloody omelette. Fantastical racism based on very real racism. When is the Netflix series?

Second book in a series I enjoyed a lot so far. Joe Pitt continues his life as a rouge vampyre in New York, but since he got on Dexter Predos bad side in the first book, he no longer gets any jobs from the coalition, the biggest vampyre clan. With nearly no money or blood, he knocks in the door of his former boss Terry Bird, leader of the society. Terry gets him a job, to find out what's the meaning of the new drug, for vampyres, which is popular among the new vampyres. Joe has to go through different turfs to find answers, which to no one's surprise causes a lot of problems for him. I like the dynamics between the clans and different characters, it makes the world more fleshed out. This book is dialogue heavy, but the slang and different way they talk creates a huge immersive effect and is hilarious. Joe is an anti-hero (my favourite kind of hero), this book is full of blood, killing, injuring and swearing, but there is a clever plot keeping all that together. It never gets boring and I didn't see all the twists and turns coming, but was always pleasantly surprised by them. The love-story could be a little bit more prominent, but that that's about the only thing I would prefer being different.

n  n    n  n

Charlie Huston, Autor der „Joe Pitt“-Romane, wusste früh, dass er seinen vampyrischen Detektiv nicht auf ewig begleiten würde. Obwohl er mit dem Gedanken spielte, die Reihe ohne festgelegten Abschluss zu konzipieren, langweilte ihn die Idee bereits, bevor er mit dem Schreiben begonnen hatte. Nach dem zweiten Band „No Dominion“ beschloss er, dass „Joe Pitt“ überschaubare fünf Bände umfassen sollte. Dadurch musste er harte Entscheidungen für seinen Protagonisten treffen, intensivierte aber auch seine Schreiberfahrung. Mich motiviert die Aussicht auf einen Abschluss, die Reihe konsequenter als bisher zu verfolgen.

Eigentlich möchte Joe Pitt nur in Ruhe gelassen werden. Leider ist er als unabhängiger Vampyr in Manhattan gezwungen, Aufträge der konkurrierenden Clans anzunehmen, um seinen Geldbeutel und Blutvorrat aufzustocken. Seit dieser schmutzigen Geschichte mit der Kleinen erlebt Joe allerdings eine Durststrecke. Ihm gehen die Ideen aus, also wendet er sich an seinen alten Freund Terry, Anführer der Society. Terry bietet ihm einen dubiosen Job an. Es kursiert eine neue Droge. Dass es überhaupt einen Stoff gibt, der nicht sofort vom Vyrus aus dem System gespült wird, ist überraschend genug, doch dieses Zeug hat es in sich. Falsch dosiert verwandelt es Vampyre in rasende Berserker. Joe soll herausfinden, wer die Droge herstellt. Bemüht, schnell Antworten zu finden, stößt er bald auf eine Spur. Diese führt tief in die Hood, in das Territorium von DJ Grave Digga. Sieht so aus, als wäre diese Sache deutlich größer, als er angenommen hatte. Aber Joe wäre nicht Joe, würde ihn das davon abhalten, einigen Leuten kräftig auf die Füße zu treten…

Joe Pitt ist eine der krassesten Romanfiguren, die ich kenne. Obwohl es über vier Jahre her ist, dass ich den ersten Band Stadt aus Blut (damals noch auf Deutsch) gelesen habe, rangiert er noch immer unter den Top 10. Man muss kein Genie sein, um zu begreifen, dass sich Joe als Antiheld qualifiziert, meiner Ansicht nach ist er jedoch ein ungewöhnlich extremes Exemplar. Charlie Huston versucht gar nicht erst, ihn als Sympathieträger zu verkaufen. Er poträtiert ihn als durchschnittlichen Typen, der von seinem gewalttätigen Umfeld geprägt ist und Konflikte diesem entsprechend löst. Mein Verhältnis zu Joe ist schwierig. Zwar habe ich eine Schwäche für ihn, weil er in meinen Augen der Inbegriff eines verlorenen Jungen ist, den ich gern retten würde, aber er ist auch schroff, destruktiv, abweisend und gibt trotz seiner Rolle als Ich-Erzähler wenig von sich preis. Er ist verschlossen wie eine Auster und mit Rasierklingen gespickt. Ich kam kaum an ihn heran. Er verströmt eine greifbare, einschüchternde Aura der Gewaltbereitschaft, die sich in einigen sehr brutalen Szenen in „No Dominion“ Bahn bricht und die die gesamte Handlung begleitet. Das Gewaltpotential der Geschichte brodelt permanent knapp unter der Oberfläche, was allerdings nicht ausschließlich Joe geschuldet ist. Die angespannte Situation der Clans dominiert das Buch. Im zweiten Band verdeutlicht Charlie Huston, wie sensibel das Patt zwischen ihnen ist; bereits eine Kleinigkeit reicht aus, um das prekäre Gleichgewicht zu stören. Das Auftauchen einer neuen Droge ist nun wahrlich keine Lappalie. Die Droge dient Charlie Huston als Gelegenheit, die Wirkungsweise des Vyrus näher zu beleuchten. Es handelt sich dabei um eine bemerkenswert ausgefuchste parasitäre Lebensform mit sehr spezifischem Verhalten. Es gefiel mir, dass Huston sich nicht auf der etablierten Faktenlage ausruht und seinen wissenschaftlich-pragmatischen Ansatz des Vampyrismus in „No Dominion“ weiterentwickelt, weshalb ich mich gezwungen sah, meine Genre-Zuordnung zu überdenken und die Reihe als Science-Fiction einzustufen. Auf der Suche nach den Verantwortlichen gerät Joe zwischen die Fronten der Clans, wird manipuliert, getäuscht, belogen und muss einsehen, dass er ihrem Netz nicht entkommen kann. Egal, wie sehr er sich anstrengt, als Vampyr in Manhattan kann er nicht unabhängig existieren. Die Clans lassen das nicht zu. Seine Nachforschungen führen ihn erneut in das Revier der Enklave, deren Anführer Daniel ein gesondertes Interesse an Joe hat. Es ist offensichtlich, dass sie eine spezielle Beziehung und eine gemeinsame Vergangenheit haben, aber natürlich offenbart Joe keine Details. Ich verstehe nicht, was zwischen ihnen läuft. Daniel glaubt, es sei Joes Bestimmung, als Teil der Enklave zu leben, zu fasten, das Vyrus nahezu auszuhungern und dadurch eine neue Bewusstseinsebene zu erreichen. Ich finde Daniels spirituelle Herangehensweise an das Vyrus faszinierend, weil sie Hustons rationalem Ansatz einen Hauch übernatürlicher Mystik verleiht. Ist das Vyrus vielleicht doch mehr als ein Parasit? Ist es ein Weg zur Erleuchtung?

„No Dominion“ ist kein typischer Vampirroman. Wer auf melancholische Romantik mit spitzen Zähnen, alabasterfarbener Haut und diesem unwiderstehlichen Kitzel der Gefahr hofft: Finger weg von diesem Buch. In der „Joe Pitt“-Reihe spielt Vampyrismus lediglich eine untergeordnete Rolle. Primär handelt sie von blutigen, hässlichen Gangrivalitäten, die das Leben des Protagonisten ungewollt verkomplizieren. Joe definiert sich nicht über seine Existenz als Vampyr. Dieser Typ, der er jetzt ist – der war er schon, bevor er sich infizierte. Durch das Vyrus wurden lediglich die Karten neu gemischt.
Ich mochte die kompromisslose Härte in „No Dominion“ und das komplexe Verhältnis der Clans, das jeder Zeit eskalieren könnte. Meiner Meinung nach muss sich Charlie Huston in den Folgebänden allerdings vorsehen, dass er seinen Protagonisten nicht allzu unnahbar präsentiert. Ich hatte während der Lektüre oft das Gefühl, dass Joe meine Anwesenheit nur widerwillig akzeptierte und deshalb kaum Persönliches preisgab. Diese Ablehnung darf nicht zu weit führen. Von mir aus kann Joe ein gewalttätiger Mistkerl bleiben – aber er darf Hustons Leser_innen nicht ausschließen.

I have really mixed feelings about this book. I really enjoyed the first book. Joe Pitt's noir vampire PI investigating a crime, who gets caught up in organized crime power structures. What's not to like? Huston pulled off reimagining Manhattan's underbelly in a legitimate way. As someone that lived in NYC at the time that these books were set in I feel like Huston really captured the sense of place and successfully applied the veneer of of vampire gangs cleanly on the reality. These have a real sense of reality that I love.

This book fleshed out the lore quite a bit more and I am totally down with it.

But it has serious problems. The biggest one is that the wyte author wrote this in 2006 trying to be edgy about Black culture and I don't think he was successful at it. He flexed his privilege and it felt like it was a writing exercise that might have been better vetted with actual Black people first. He tries to write in Harlem vernacular and at best it is passable, but frequently is just uncomfortable.

It doesn't help that Pitt is kind of a Byronic hero, and frequently is outright unlikable. I actually kind of enjoy that in most cases in these books, but it was made unwelcome when he was attempting to antagonize one Black character. He makes a completely unnecessary racist joke to piss off his captor and while it already sucks to make the joke, the joke wasn't even clever, so it just made the author look like an asshole. It totally comes out of left field. We live in the head of Pitt and despite having every opportunity to exhibit any racist thoughts, he never had. So, it just feels like the Huston decided to have the character say something edgy to piss someone off and that's all he could think of. UGH.

The other problem with the book isn't any kind of deal breaker for me, but it just got tiring. Joe Pitt gets captured and then people tell him stuff, then Joe Pitt gets captured and then people tell him stuff, then Joe Pitt gets captured and then people tell him stuff. Sometimes Joe Pitt captures other people and they tell him stuff, and other times people just tell him stuff without anyone getting captured. Lots of fun action happened. I legitimately had a great time reading it. But the heart of the book is driven by Bond villain exposition.

Anyway, I really liked it despite the warts, but boy does it have warts.

yep, this one was REALLY good, we have the makings of a great series on our hands. Wonder what the future will bring...

Second in the urban fantasy series, Joe Pitt, a new kind of paranormal crime fiction. Yup, the name says it all—gritty, pulp noir about a 17-year-old runaway who gets infected with the Vyrus turning him into a vampire. Spending the first 30 years, few for a vampire that is, learning the ropes and how to survive in his new unlife. Joe decides to go it alone, as a rogue living a precarious life on the fringe of various clans' territories. Tolerated for his fairness.

The Story
It's been rough in the months since that last job when he rescued the girl from her father, the doc who was experimenting with the thing, spoiling Dexter Predo's plans. No work means no money for rent, no blood. The most fun Joe's had was last night when he took care of the drugged-out vamp at Doc Holiday's.

Joe'll just have to bite the bullet and go talk to Terry over at the Society. See if there's any work he can do. Figures that any work Terry'll dole out comes with problems. Big problems. Figure out where the new drug is comin' from. Do it on the QT so no one, I mean no one knows Joe is workin' for Terry.

Wanting to keep himself as safe as possible, Joe uses his own connections to investigate even when the dirt he learns takes him through Coalition territory into the Hood. Where things just get worse the more he learns.


The Characters
The characters are so, well, true is the only word that works for me. Joe is a smart guy in many ways, but, oh so dumb, when it comes to betrayal, plotting, manipulation. He's a straight out guy who takes care of the people for whom he cares.

Evie is terrified, demanding, and proud. Either Joe's gonna be there for her as the HIV gets worse or he's not. And she wants to know now!

The wrap-up on the Count and his little harem. Brilliant exposé by Huston of a spoiled little sociopath. Sure never saw Joe's action coming on that one!

The gang leaders' characters were right on…and so very similar to our own political leaders.

My Take
This was good! I never saw it coming. The truth about Luthor X. How DJ Grave Digga fits into the whole. The past history between Vandewater, Terry, and Predo. Huston had me going back and forth like a ping pong ball! How Huston kept getting Joe out of one mess and into another and then the manner in which Huston wrapped it all up. Sneaky bugger. I ever do a job for him, I'm having my lawyer check out the contract! And all the tricks Huston thought up for how the drug is created….eeeeyew… He is a sick puppy!

The whole plot is a metaphor for how politics work in the real world with their maneuvering and manipulation. With each man's own private view on how to accomplish their particular goal.

If you start this book, don't plan on putting it down until you're done.

The Cover
It's a great cover—gritty, city, rain-slicked streets gleaming in the night with what I'm beginning to think is part of the trademark. A lit cigarette and a partial face showing lip with a fang. The title is perfect, for no clan has dominion in New York City.