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Piercing the Darkness: Undercover with Vampires in America Today
The true story of Susan Walsh, a young reporter who mysteriously disappeared while writing about downtown Manhattan's "vampire" underground furnishes an exploration into a real-life vampire world that has its own rituals, rules, boundaries, and penalties. Reprint.
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First published September 23, 1998
About the author
Katherine Ramsland
99 books520 followersI've loved books since I was 3, and the library was a highlight of my childhood. I've been fortunate to be able to find great joy in what others have written and sometimes to give this to readers. I follow my own muse, because it leads me on interesting adventures. I began my writing career with "Prism of the Night: A Biography of Anne Rice." I had a bestseller with "The Vampire Companion." Since then, I've published 69 books and over 2,500 articles, reviews and short stories. I have also been an executive producer for "Murder House Flip" and "BTK: Confession of a Serial Killer." From ghosts to vampires to serial killers, I have taken on a variety of dark subjects, mostly in crime and forensics. I hold graduate degrees in forensic psychology, clinical psychology, criminal justice, creative writing and philosophy. Currently, I teach forensic psychology and criminal justice at DeSales University. My books include "I Scream Man," "How to Catch a Killer", "Confession of a Serial Killer", "The Forensic Psychology of Criminal Minds", "The Mind of a Murderer", "The Human Predator: A Historical Chronicle of Serial Murder and Forensic Investigation", "Inside the Minds of Serial Killers", "Inside the Minds of Sexual Predators", and "Inside the Minds of Mass Murderers". My background in forensic studies positioned me to assist former FBI profiler John Douglas on his book, "The Cases that Haunt Us", and to co-write a book with former FBI profiler, Gregg McCrary, "The Unknown Darkness", as well as "Spree Killers" with Mark Safarik, "The Real Life of a Forensic Scientist" with Henry C. Lee, and "A Voice for the Dead" with James Starrs. I speak internationally about forensic psychology, forensic science, and serial murder, and has appeared on numerous documentaries, as well as such programs as The Today Show, 20/20, 48 Hours, NPR, Dr. Oz, Coast to Coast, Montel Williams, Larry King Live and E! True Hollywood. Currently, I'm working on a fiction series, The Nut Cracker Investigations, which features a female forensic psychologist who manages a PI agency. "I Scream Man" is the first one.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
January 14, 2013
This book is the perfect way to introduce you to the
Awful Library Books
blog. It should really be weeded--for a book that's not about technology, it has aged surprisingly badly.
I mean, it was definitely more timely when it was published in 1998. This author got involved in her investigation-turned-participatory-journalism after hearing about the 1996 disappearance of Susan Walsh, a woman similarly studying and writing about the vampire subculture. But fifteen years later, I as a reader couldn't even guess if anything was still accurate.
Plus, it's badly organized and the pictures--fuzzy, color-altered collages--inserted in the center have the effect of a five-year-old with a broken mouse using Photoshop.
Pros: If you are interested in "vampires in America today," presuming you're a time-traveler whose "today" is before Y2K, here is an introduction for you.
Alternatively, tune in if you really want to hear lots of people wax poetic on Anne Rice's vampires.
Cons: The book is written chronologically-ish as the author gets into parties and interviews people, but it's not well-organized. She visits parties, people, and groups, but rehashes a lot of the same things: crossover with Gothic and BDSM subcultures, everybody loves the vampire Lestat, blood is sexy, and interviews with people we don't care about regarding "what a vampire really is."
Things a Vampire Really Is:
*Sexual
*Immortal
*Psychic
*Not immortal or psychic
*Actually a "vampyre"
*Into role-playing
*Totally not into role-playing
*Sexual
*Into blood-play
*Totally not into blood-play, only drinking from willing donors
*Not dependent on blood at all
*A murderer, and obviously disturbed
*Sexual
The summary on the book is misleading: I don't recall learning anything about "the distinctions between Bloodists, Classicals, Nighttimers, and Inheritors." As other reviewers have mentioned, Anne Rice is held up as the reason anything related to vampire subculture exists--LESTAT this, and LESTAT that, and LESTAT MY CHILDHOOD and ♥ANNE♥♥RICE♥, and so on.
So the main focus of the book is dull and uneven. But then you add in the age. As you'd expect with a subculture, especially one that creeps out the general public, the internet is a great anonymous way to meet up, organize, learn, and generally exchange information.
But remember, this is the internet of 1998. Chat rooms abound, and sparkly-backgrounded websites are full of automatically-playing tinny MIDI music, guestbooks, and ugly graphics. The lack of (compared to 2013) connectivity adds to the sense of secrecy, but I found it impossible to get through without wondering why they couldn't just google this, or why there seemed to be so few resources available online, or how this thing has changed since social networking and cell phones became common.
The back of the book does, actually, include a list of resources referenced in the book. Of the 33 we're provided, only 15 are online; the rest are physical addresses for you to write away for information. I tried every single website (except for the single email for an Anne Rice fan list) and only two are still online: gaming company White Wolf, and another that now appears to be a Japanese blog about internet dating. I did make use of the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine to find out what some of them looked like. The addresses themselves will take you back to a different time, a time when website addresses made no freaking sense. ("www.xs4all.nl/~intrvamp," whose archived page brought me a lovely note that the site had been optimized for Netscape.)
The author herself is...well, obviously not objective. She was a well-known (within the community) author of official works on Anne Rice and, like most people she encounters, a big fan of the author's vampires. We get not only the interviewee's opinions, but often the interviewer's as well, regarding what real or proper vampire should be like.
Overall, it's not old enough to be an interesting glimpse of a previous time, and while the references to "today's woman of the 90s," and "teens today [who were born in 1980]" were slightly amusing, the book wasn't that good even before it aged badly.
I mean, it was definitely more timely when it was published in 1998. This author got involved in her investigation-turned-participatory-journalism after hearing about the 1996 disappearance of Susan Walsh, a woman similarly studying and writing about the vampire subculture. But fifteen years later, I as a reader couldn't even guess if anything was still accurate.
Plus, it's badly organized and the pictures--fuzzy, color-altered collages--inserted in the center have the effect of a five-year-old with a broken mouse using Photoshop.
Pros: If you are interested in "vampires in America today," presuming you're a time-traveler whose "today" is before Y2K, here is an introduction for you.
Alternatively, tune in if you really want to hear lots of people wax poetic on Anne Rice's vampires.
Cons: The book is written chronologically-ish as the author gets into parties and interviews people, but it's not well-organized. She visits parties, people, and groups, but rehashes a lot of the same things: crossover with Gothic and BDSM subcultures, everybody loves the vampire Lestat, blood is sexy, and interviews with people we don't care about regarding "what a vampire really is."
Things a Vampire Really Is:
*Sexual
*Immortal
*Psychic
*Not immortal or psychic
*Actually a "vampyre"
*Into role-playing
*Totally not into role-playing
*Sexual
*Into blood-play
*Totally not into blood-play, only drinking from willing donors
*Not dependent on blood at all
*A murderer, and obviously disturbed
*Sexual
The summary on the book is misleading: I don't recall learning anything about "the distinctions between Bloodists, Classicals, Nighttimers, and Inheritors." As other reviewers have mentioned, Anne Rice is held up as the reason anything related to vampire subculture exists--LESTAT this, and LESTAT that, and LESTAT MY CHILDHOOD and ♥ANNE♥♥RICE♥, and so on.
So the main focus of the book is dull and uneven. But then you add in the age. As you'd expect with a subculture, especially one that creeps out the general public, the internet is a great anonymous way to meet up, organize, learn, and generally exchange information.
But remember, this is the internet of 1998. Chat rooms abound, and sparkly-backgrounded websites are full of automatically-playing tinny MIDI music, guestbooks, and ugly graphics. The lack of (compared to 2013) connectivity adds to the sense of secrecy, but I found it impossible to get through without wondering why they couldn't just google this, or why there seemed to be so few resources available online, or how this thing has changed since social networking and cell phones became common.
The back of the book does, actually, include a list of resources referenced in the book. Of the 33 we're provided, only 15 are online; the rest are physical addresses for you to write away for information. I tried every single website (except for the single email for an Anne Rice fan list) and only two are still online: gaming company White Wolf, and another that now appears to be a Japanese blog about internet dating. I did make use of the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine to find out what some of them looked like. The addresses themselves will take you back to a different time, a time when website addresses made no freaking sense. ("www.xs4all.nl/~intrvamp," whose archived page brought me a lovely note that the site had been optimized for Netscape.)
The author herself is...well, obviously not objective. She was a well-known (within the community) author of official works on Anne Rice and, like most people she encounters, a big fan of the author's vampires. We get not only the interviewee's opinions, but often the interviewer's as well, regarding what real or proper vampire should be like.
Overall, it's not old enough to be an interesting glimpse of a previous time, and while the references to "today's woman of the 90s," and "teens today [who were born in 1980]" were slightly amusing, the book wasn't that good even before it aged badly.
June 3, 2014
What started out as an intriguing premise to investigate the murder of Susan Walsh at the hands of a secret vampire organization quickly degenerated into an cacophony of visiting vampire/goth clubs, talking to delusional people who liked to drink blood, and getting late night phone calls from a man who was clearly a pathological liar.
Yes, it definitely did "Pierce the Darkness", in the fact that vampires, if they exist, are good at hiding, and the people who come forward are attention seekers, pathological liars, or roleplayers.
I found her reporting to be lacking. Everyone who speaks has the same bland, wordy style of language. She wanted to immerse herself in vampire culture, yet when visiting the house of a blood fetishist immediately excuses herself and leaves. She justifies this by saying "there is a difference between imagining a blood sucker and actually witnessing one. These aren't real vampires." Wouldn't that have been an interesting way to explore the romanticism of blood drinking as opposed to the reality? No, she throws the whole experience under the bus to keep the romantic image of vampires alive.
There are lots of pages dedicated to her biography of Anne Rice (which is mentioned in nearly every chapter). This gets old quickly.
I am sure there are better books for uncovering this subculture than this one. It was an interesting read, but nonetheless disappointing.
Yes, it definitely did "Pierce the Darkness", in the fact that vampires, if they exist, are good at hiding, and the people who come forward are attention seekers, pathological liars, or roleplayers.
I found her reporting to be lacking. Everyone who speaks has the same bland, wordy style of language. She wanted to immerse herself in vampire culture, yet when visiting the house of a blood fetishist immediately excuses herself and leaves. She justifies this by saying "there is a difference between imagining a blood sucker and actually witnessing one. These aren't real vampires." Wouldn't that have been an interesting way to explore the romanticism of blood drinking as opposed to the reality? No, she throws the whole experience under the bus to keep the romantic image of vampires alive.
There are lots of pages dedicated to her biography of Anne Rice (which is mentioned in nearly every chapter). This gets old quickly.
I am sure there are better books for uncovering this subculture than this one. It was an interesting read, but nonetheless disappointing.
January 16, 2021
It is rare that a book annoys me this much.
1) "I thought I would investigate Susan Walsh's disappearance, only I got bored and it was hard so I didn't."
2) "Wow, I really don't want to do the work. What if I just write a terrible vampire novel about a gay murderer name Wraith whom I am interviewing? I could title it 'Interview with the--' Anne has informed me that I will not be doing that." (Skip all the Wraith bits. You will thank me. She definitely just made him up and then gave over much of the book to him, as he will prove her points.)
3) "WHY ARE THESE GEN-XERS SO STUPID? God, I loathe them. They disgust me."
4) [Observations about newfangled technology and culture that were dated even in the 90s and seems sarcastically glaring now.]
5) "HAVE I MENTIONED THAT I KNOW ANNE RICE? Because I will literally not go five minutes without telling you that. I know Anne Rice. We are buddies."
6) "These vampires are boring. I want to be seduced by some immortal who will eat my face off. How dare they not be that?"
7) "I know you put yourself out there so I could see a blood ritual, vouching for me, but I decided it was icky and bolted. You are the problem, not me."
8) "Oh, so you are openly admitting to rape and murder? I don't see how that concerns me, a therapist who writes about serial killers."
9) "I forgot to write down what you were saying, so I just made it up. No need to make your quotes sound different from my narration. Also, you, like all goth people and vampires, are *obsessed* with Anne Rice. She basically made up vampires, you know? Didn't exist before her. She was the first to consider the vampire a romantic figure. Don't worry, I don't have to look that up"--points at head--"pretty great brain I'm working with here."
10) "It is important that you know that everyone I talk to is a lesser being (unless I made them up as part of a vampire novel I was writing, like Wraith). They are all smelly and unpleasant. I make sure you understand how I do not like or respect my subjects. I also speak to very few people to make my conclusions. Because that's what serious researchers do!"
11) "I BET WRAITH LOVES ANNE RICE. CHRISTIAN LIVES IN MY CHEST AND I READ HIM 'BLACKWOOD FARM' EVERY NIGHT."
All in all, hard pass.
1) "I thought I would investigate Susan Walsh's disappearance, only I got bored and it was hard so I didn't."
2) "Wow, I really don't want to do the work. What if I just write a terrible vampire novel about a gay murderer name Wraith whom I am interviewing? I could title it 'Interview with the--' Anne has informed me that I will not be doing that." (Skip all the Wraith bits. You will thank me. She definitely just made him up and then gave over much of the book to him, as he will prove her points.)
3) "WHY ARE THESE GEN-XERS SO STUPID? God, I loathe them. They disgust me."
4) [Observations about newfangled technology and culture that were dated even in the 90s and seems sarcastically glaring now.]
5) "HAVE I MENTIONED THAT I KNOW ANNE RICE? Because I will literally not go five minutes without telling you that. I know Anne Rice. We are buddies."
6) "These vampires are boring. I want to be seduced by some immortal who will eat my face off. How dare they not be that?"
7) "I know you put yourself out there so I could see a blood ritual, vouching for me, but I decided it was icky and bolted. You are the problem, not me."
8) "Oh, so you are openly admitting to rape and murder? I don't see how that concerns me, a therapist who writes about serial killers."
9) "I forgot to write down what you were saying, so I just made it up. No need to make your quotes sound different from my narration. Also, you, like all goth people and vampires, are *obsessed* with Anne Rice. She basically made up vampires, you know? Didn't exist before her. She was the first to consider the vampire a romantic figure. Don't worry, I don't have to look that up"--points at head--"pretty great brain I'm working with here."
10) "It is important that you know that everyone I talk to is a lesser being (unless I made them up as part of a vampire novel I was writing, like Wraith). They are all smelly and unpleasant. I make sure you understand how I do not like or respect my subjects. I also speak to very few people to make my conclusions. Because that's what serious researchers do!"
11) "I BET WRAITH LOVES ANNE RICE. CHRISTIAN LIVES IN MY CHEST AND I READ HIM 'BLACKWOOD FARM' EVERY NIGHT."
All in all, hard pass.
December 2, 2012
I was one of the many people whom Ms. Ramsland contacted as she was researching this book. My website, "Vampyres Only," had a thriving forum community at the time, with role players, sanguinists, and everything in between. This was a ground-breaking book at the time, and is still a worthwhile read IMHO.
March 27, 2019
I am not enamored of a researcher/writer/therapist who encounters credible claims of participation in serious crimes like forcible rape and multiple murder, and does absolutely nothing about it. Nothing. I will not read anything else by this author, ever. Nor do I recommend anyone seeking her out as a therapist.
March 6, 2010
Very fair and responsible study on vampirism. Refreshing read from someone outside of the community.
May 7, 2024
I've mostly heard of the vampire subculture on the many, many basic cable procedural shows like Castle and, whilst I had no doubt believing people like this exist, I had no idea how vivid and vast the actual subculture they belong to was.
Ramsland'd book shows a wonderful and balanced overeview of these individuals and why they find solace in believing themselves to be the folkloric immortal creatures of the night. It neither portrays them as being mentally ill nor potentially dangerous for the common good, nor even as being fully deluded by popular works of fiction (althought their influence is certainly recognized).
Ramsland combines her firsthand research with geniune personal stories of both it's current and former members, all tied up with a slight dosage of a true crime frame, that being the infamous case of the dissappearence of reporter Susan Walsh, who had been conducting and investigation into the NYC vampire scene, an event that cast major shade at the city's vampire community, creating a stigma that still hasn't been erased to this day, which is what makes the book not only a vitally important staple of contemporary sociology and a very engaging read, but on some level, deeply humane, as it tries to paint the more austricized members of society as not something to be feared, but rather as something that should be further studied and understood.
If you're interested in true crime, obscure topics and/or sociology (especially if you're interested in studying subcultures specifically), I cannot reccomend this book enough.
Ramsland'd book shows a wonderful and balanced overeview of these individuals and why they find solace in believing themselves to be the folkloric immortal creatures of the night. It neither portrays them as being mentally ill nor potentially dangerous for the common good, nor even as being fully deluded by popular works of fiction (althought their influence is certainly recognized).
Ramsland combines her firsthand research with geniune personal stories of both it's current and former members, all tied up with a slight dosage of a true crime frame, that being the infamous case of the dissappearence of reporter Susan Walsh, who had been conducting and investigation into the NYC vampire scene, an event that cast major shade at the city's vampire community, creating a stigma that still hasn't been erased to this day, which is what makes the book not only a vitally important staple of contemporary sociology and a very engaging read, but on some level, deeply humane, as it tries to paint the more austricized members of society as not something to be feared, but rather as something that should be further studied and understood.
If you're interested in true crime, obscure topics and/or sociology (especially if you're interested in studying subcultures specifically), I cannot reccomend this book enough.
November 18, 2017
Being curious over Susan Walsh’s disappearance back in 1996, I decided to read this book. Walsh was a writer and exotic dancer who had been researching New York City’s underground vampire community when she disappeared. Ramsland’s original intent was to research and write a book about Walsh’s disappearance and what may have happened to her. However, after becoming fascinated with the unusual people active in this bizarre, underground world, she shifted her focus to these real life vampires (there are different types). From the few “vampires” who were willing to talk about Walsh and her disappearance, it sounds like Ms. Walsh may still be alive somewhere. However, the “vampires” claim they had nothing to do with her disappearance and no one seems to be willing to offer up any tangible clues on where Ms. Walsh may be these days (assuming she’s still alive). If you are interested in reading about people who like playing vampire, participating in bizarre rituals, and drinking blood, this book may be for you. Others will want to skip.
April 13, 2022
The inside jacket of this book claims that it is about an investigative reporter, Katherine Ramsland (the author) who investigates after a fellow journalist named Susan Walsh vanishes while researching New York's vampires. I, however, felt that Ramsland seemed to use Walsh's disappearance as an excuse to do her own investigating and to get a book out of it. Although she may have started where Walsh had last been seen, she quickly seemed to veer off on her own and never really seemed to get back on point or even attempt to do much about truly finding Walsh. I also found her "interviews" quite hard to swallow, not because I don't believe that vampires could exist, but because she seemed to gussy up their, she claimed, "recorded words" until the stories they told sounded like works of fiction. I found the entire thing absurd.
November 15, 2020
Interesting and disturbing. An in depth account of the vampire subculture, from people who are fans of the movies and literature, to role playing gamers, to those who actually drink blood or seek others to drink from them. What astonished me were the risks the author took in meeting with some of the people she was interviewing. While most posed no threat, there were certainly some who engaged in behaviors that were dangerous to those who were caught in their web. I found myself wondering if the author passed some of the info she obtained on to the police for investigation. It didn't convince me l needed to invest in garlic or holy water, but it did make me feel that it wasn't impossible to become the victim of a vampire.
October 22, 2023
Definitely a very interesting book has got my curiosity in so many ways. Definitely details a lot of the Vampire culture from the 90s but also leaves some things out. Also I have some interest in the part of the book where she talks about Wraith and Christian and I definitely did want to know more about those two and who they were and what happened to Wraith once Katherine finished the book. But my main thing is what happened that she decided not to follow in doing more research about Susan Walsh I mean that was the main focus of why she wrote this book she definitely lost sight of that as she started doing research into more of the vampire community.
April 13, 2021
Not as intriguing as I had hoped. In my opinion the book could be 40% shorter and would be better for it. Too many details and too many different stories within the story. However, some accounts of this secret "vampire" world are shocking, and definitely disturbing. Strange, dark, and even terrifying. Satisfied any curiosity I had about secret "real vampire" societies. An interesting read.
June 1, 2018
I *love* this author to death... which is saying a lot. I read this book out of loyalty, not out of like for the common-day wanna be vampire; which is why is scored so low- the subject matter, nothing to do with the authors work.
July 17, 2020
For it’s time
it was a great book. It was a re-read for me. It’s interesting and had me wondering how many people have moved on/outgrown the Goth stage. Lol. Have some of those featured sought therapy? I also wonder if any new leads ever came up regarding the Susan Walsh case?
it was a great book. It was a re-read for me. It’s interesting and had me wondering how many people have moved on/outgrown the Goth stage. Lol. Have some of those featured sought therapy? I also wonder if any new leads ever came up regarding the Susan Walsh case?
January 2, 2009
I'd read Ramsland's book on ghosts and ghosthunting and found her overly involved style of investigative journalism to be charming, but in Piercing the Darkness she's all over the map. She not only gives up on the narrative hook (the disappearance of another vampire-investigating journalist) less than halfway through the book, she also can't seem to organize her thoughts in a way that makes the book meaningful or coherent past its function as a type of travel journal of her vampire tour as she manages to give Anne Rice credit for the entire culture. And I'm pretty sure she's fudging on the "interviews" because everyone that speaks does so in her narrative style. It's hard for me to believe that everyone she meets speaks in the same stilted, quasi softcore way.
Witness this random sample: "'I watched as Jared reclaimed his coven. Then Micahel motioned for all tos it while my carnal desires were fed. A red-robed figure approached adn stood before me. He lifted his eyes, and it was like looking at my own in the mirror. The vampire pulled back his hood to reveal himself and I gasped. He looked exactly like me, down to the freckle on his right ceek. He dropped his robe, revealing his slender body, and leaned into me with great care and gentleness.'" ETC ETC
Witness this random sample: "'I watched as Jared reclaimed his coven. Then Micahel motioned for all tos it while my carnal desires were fed. A red-robed figure approached adn stood before me. He lifted his eyes, and it was like looking at my own in the mirror. The vampire pulled back his hood to reveal himself and I gasped. He looked exactly like me, down to the freckle on his right ceek. He dropped his robe, revealing his slender body, and leaned into me with great care and gentleness.'" ETC ETC
April 18, 2009
The author Katherine Ramsland examines the dark subculture of real life vampires in this potentially very adventurous and unique study. Unfortunately she seems to fall short of creating a gripping and informative book and instead jumps from one almost trivial and over hyped piece of subject matter to the next. The book skirts around the principles of this dark community, with no sense of direction and little purpose. The book ends disappointingly, with many questions hanging in the misty air of the author's confusion. She seems adamant to repeatedly refer to the world of role-playing, even though this is excruciatingly dull to anyone who is not interested in this scene. A book that from first glance looks to offer a truly informative response to this shadowy underworld, but instead, monotonously bounces from one dull and unimportant situation to the next. But what the hell, that's only my opinion!
July 6, 2014
A rare case of non-fiction that had me riveted. In 1999 I was involved in a staged production of "Dracula", which involved a set design reflective of contemporary gothic culture. For inspiration, the cast had attended the Long Black Veil night at the club Mother in NYC, which I found fascinating. I came across this book a few weeks later and was excited to see that Katherine Ramsland had been at the same club to do research for this book. As someone who is truly interested in the subject, I am aware this book will not be interesting to everyone...many of the negative reviews I have observed are from within the last three years and they reflect on the dated nature of the text, which I completely underestand. I was able to appreciate it at the time because it reflected things I actually observed myself, and revisits to this book now gives me a enjoyable sense of nostalgia.
July 22, 2010
Wow, Hella disturbing. This book follows a reporter and her interviews with people who consider themselves real vampires. She goes to New York City (vinyl "Cyber vampires"), Miami (young raver types), San Francisco (Victorian types) and Chicago (cultish).
Some of these people are downright dangerous and twisted (which, I have to admit, makes for a fascinating read). For example, one guy used date rape drugs so he could rape and cut women (not deep, dangerous cuts). Then there are societies in Chicago that are very tightly knit; they even live together and have dangerous initiation ceremonies.
I've read this twice now and intend to keep it for whenever I want to boggle my mind with human nature
Some of these people are downright dangerous and twisted (which, I have to admit, makes for a fascinating read). For example, one guy used date rape drugs so he could rape and cut women (not deep, dangerous cuts). Then there are societies in Chicago that are very tightly knit; they even live together and have dangerous initiation ceremonies.
I've read this twice now and intend to keep it for whenever I want to boggle my mind with human nature
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 19, 2010
I admire Kate Ramsland a lot. This book is not a dissapointment. The interviews were real and honest. The sub culture was examined from evry possible point of view, at some risk to the author. It brought to light some of the mystery of that vampire culture without being judgmental or preachy. The book may not be for everyone. But it is true to its purpose.
January 10, 2011
I really wanted to enjoy this book more. I think had I read it when it came out I would have enjoyed it but the way Ms. Ramsland writes just isn't my cup of tea. However, this may be because I'm no longer a huge Anne Rice fan so their similarities turn me off as a reader.
Read
July 29, 2011Constrained by the convetions of the 'true crime' genre and the narrative demands of mass market non-fiction, this is still probably the best of the 'true' vampire exposes around. A bit dated, and really as much about the author herself as the subculture she is writing about.
March 29, 2012
I just read this and it was really well researched and really disturbing. She really gets under the skin of this sub-group of individuals who really think they are vampires. Some very creepy parts.
April 19, 2012
Ms. Ramsland did her research and wrote this book with compassion and truth. I actually know some of the people she interviewed and at the time it was published this was the first vampire culture book that wasn't a load of horse manure.
January 17, 2014
I love this book and It gave me some insight to the Vampyre Subculture. However, I wanted to learn more at the time. I am more evolved since 2012 (Year of the Dragon) & 2013 (Year of the Serpent). Thank you, Dr. Ramsland!
March 14, 2014
Promising and interesting concept. However, this book is incredibly boring and filled with descriptive accounts of very strange people performing sex acts in the name of "vampirism." I found myself rolling my eyes a lot of the time. Just a bunch of goths who take it to the next level. Ho hum.
August 21, 2008
As usual, an investigation into the occult underground of America is sensationalized, misrepresented, and a bit jaded. But, I still have to give her kudos for the effort.
May 13, 2009
1996 disappearance of a Village Voice reporter who was studying the underground cult scene of vampires in NYC? Um.. yes please!
February 15, 2009
It was interesting, but didn't go into as much depth as I would have liked.
May 14, 2009
Might have been much better written differently but fell short holding my interest for any length of time
June 8, 2009
Having finished the book, I can say with even greater confidence that vampire people are nuts.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews