Margaret Renkl

“A smooth prose style and an authentic Big Easy vibe distinguish Tentler’s debut. Dr. Rain Sommers, the host of Midnight Confessions, a New Orleans late-night radio talk show, was two years old in 1981 when Gavin Firth, Rain’s British guitarist father, murdered her mother, Desiree Sommers, a popular goth singer, then killed himself. Special agent Trevor Rivette of the FBI’s Violent Crimes Unit has been hunting a serial killer dubbed ‘the Vampire’ (aka Dante), who’s slain five women across the U.S. and is now in New Orleans. The sadistic Dante slashes his victims’ throats and leaves a signature rosary just like one Rain’s mother wore in some publicity photos. After killing three goth scene teens, Dante targets Rain. While thriller fans will find much that’s familiar, from the vampire-like killings to the dependable FBI guy falling for the pretty woman in jeopardy, the shivers are worthy of a Lisa Jackson.”

“Ben Fish has recently graduated with a degree in anthropology, undying love for his high-school-aged ex-girlfriend Jess, who broke up with him six months ago, and no plans for how to spend his summer. To avoid another season working a dead-end job at the local mall, he responds to a newspaper ad from one John Barrow, who is looking for a driver on short notice. John hires Ben to drive him to Memphis, 900 miles away, in search of his granddaughter Nadine. Their trip quickly turns into a capriciously epic journey as John, who claims to be, and for all purposes seems to actually be, Elvis Presley, takes them on detours to fight with biker gangs, visit an oracle, and save a hooker named Ginger from her one-eyed pimp. Nathan presents the reader with several fantastic characters in this rollicking, adventurous tale. Readers will pore through this fast-paced, adrenaline-filled novel and eat up the fantastic dialogue that brings Elvis back to life in a new, deliciously lascivious way.”