The Fifth House of the Heart by Ben Tripp

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I adored this book, almost solely because of the main character. Asmodeus Saxon-Tang is a septuagenarian antiques dealer who dresses like Quentin Crisp and has led three expeditions to kill vampires. These aren’t your sparkly broody vampires, either. In fact, they take Dracula a step farther. Sax undervalues the courage he shows, all the while remarking on the hotness of the killers he’s assembled around him. He’s the most fascinating character I’ve met in a long time.

The only time the book was in danger of losing me was its first chapter, which concerns a Mumbai dancer in Bollywood movies. For one thing, I had trouble believing that a woman so concerned with being “ruined” would go alone to a party. For another, she seemed set up as a classic victim, someone you care about solely so she can be torn apart. I won’t say that I became satisfied with her part in the story, but I am glad I looked past it to read the rest of the book.

I could barely put the book down last night and it troubled my dreams. I actually got up early so that I could finish it this morning. That almost never happens to me any more.

You can order your own copy from Amazon, but I bought mine from Borderlands Bookstore, on recommendation of Jude Feldman.  From now on, I’m always going to ask what she’s reading whenever I come into the store.

View all my reviews on Goodreads.