13 Bullets

A Vampire Tale

By: David Wellington

Narrated by: Bernadette Dunne

All the official reports say they are dead—extinct since the late ’80s, when a fed named Arkeley nailed the last vampire in a fight that nearly killed him. But Arkeley knows what most people don’t: there is one left. In an abandoned asylum she is rotting, plotting, and biding her time in a way that only the undead can. When state trooper Laura Caxton calls the FBI looking for help in the middle of the night, it is Arkeley who gets the assignment. Caxton is out of her league on this case and more than a little afraid, but the fed made it plain that there is only one way out. But the worst thing is the feeling that the vampires want more than just her blood. They want her for a reason, one she can’t guess…a reason her sphinxlike partner knows but won’t say…a reason she has to find out—or die trying. Now there are only 13 bullets between the living and the damned.

©2007 David Wellington (P)2010 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“In 13 Bullets, David Wellington focuses his ample powers of imagination on modernizing the vampire legend. The result is a charming, funny, bloody, and best of all, thrilling adventure. FBI vampire hunters Caxton and Arkeley make an electric duo. Thwarting them at every turn from within the walls of a maximum security prison, ringleader Malvern is a diabolical cross between Hannibal Lecter and one of Anne Rice's ancients.” (Sarah Langan, author of The Keeper)

“Lace collars and kerchiefs are nowhere to be found in this breakneck, blood-spattered, totally original vampire novel. Breathless, exciting and totally kick ass.” (B. H. Fingerman, author of Bottomfeeder)

Need a new narrator

The story was okay. There are pointless details throughout the story. The characters are okay. It would have been a decent listen except for the narrator. The narrator was constantly making a clicking/ smacking noise very distracting. I would never buy or even listen for free to this narrator again.

Early season X-Files kills Twilight!

This is an unstoppable Horror Thriller! If you loved the investigation of early season X-files get ready to ramp it up to 11 with unspeakably violent vampires. They don't want to kiss you, they want to eat you.

This is the first book in a five book series by David Wellington. Wellington tears away all the "beautiful" from the vampire mythos and keeps the savagery. It's honest and refreshing. All the vampires are terrible blood junkies and weren't much better in life.

I love this book the most of the five because Caxton, the lead, is so raw and new here. The relationship between her and the US Marshal define the book. He is just as unlikeable as a vampire.

One more thought... The narrorator for this audiobook is ACES!!! She has excitement in her voice and great nuance between the characters. Give it your best ear!

Great listen!

This book is a great "read" and I enjoyed every minute of it. The reader Bernadette Dunne is outstanding. If you like paranormal stuff this is for you. Be sure to read this before you read 99 Coffins.

HER LARYNX ROTTED AWAY YEARS AGO

THE POLICEMAN'S HEAD CAME WITH IT.
This is a vampire masterpiece, a sleeper, a character driven classic. This book was published in 2007 and took some reviewer hits because the main character is a lesbian. The recording was made in 2010. That was only six years ago, but it seems gayness was more disturbing to some, more than heads being cut off, humans being eaten alive, half deads killing people and vampires. IF YOUR DONE PISSING ON MY SHOES.

SHE WAS GETTING USED TO BEING SCARED
The story starts right off with the action, with one of the best beginnings to any book I have ever read. It gave me PROUD FLESH. These are not good looking ripped or beautiful vampires. These are bald headed, shark teethed vampires. There is a lot of action, but also character building. I thought the whole thing was smartly done.

PSYCHIC SELF DEFENSE
There is about a two to three hour lag in the late middle. There is some paranormal activity. There is a sort of dreamy scene. I could have done without some of that, but it is a small part of the whole. I used to live in Pennsylvania and part of the country where this takes place, but I had never heard of PennsylTucky before, but I know what the author is talking about.

HE'S STILL IN MY HEAD
Wellington does a great job of showing how vampires manipulate people and how they get into your head. WE WANT YOU TO KILL YOURSELF. Don't let the cover hold you back. I almost did that and I almost did that with Patient Zero, which turned out to be one of my favorite books. Zombie fans should enjoy this book.

Quality vampire novel

Found this one slow to build but it picks up speed towards the end. Not difficult to put down, but it does qualify for being returned to.
A unique narrator with a one off pitch quality; it served the dark motif of the story well.

Okay

The story would have been much better without the Lesbian relationship (yuck). Don't care to hear about women attracted to each other in my horror stories.

Decent story, not a masterpiece

Story was 'ok'. Starts off pretty good, then gets plain silly. A lot of action throughout, but the overarching feminine focus of the book gets old fast (and is very annoying). Did not like the narrator either...her voice did not fit the story. Therefore, I lost interest and ran out of steam at the end.

A Pleasant Time-Killer

Some decent twists on the vampire genre. Overly long in parts, but well-imagined. Entertaining.

Totally Enjoyable from front to back!

I have listened to all of the Vampire stories in this series and was drawn in to the series without a hope turning the story off. The discription of the characters both alive and undead were well done and storyline moved along beautifully.

Bernadette Dunne did a bang up job of narrating and i was very glad the lead character's gender preference was as balanced as one could get considering she saw her lover cut to pieces on the bedroom floor then had to fight her when she had become a vampire (how's that for a relationship ending badly)!

I would have preferred to give more than a 5 star rating but unfortunately we all have to work within limitations at times.

Listen to the stories in this series and you will be glad you did!

Maybe I expected too much

I was all prepared for a dark, gritty vampire story, and indeed, this is a dark, gritty vampire story.

That said, I was put off by some combination of the narration and the writing. I can't exactly put my finger on it, but I bought the book more than three months ago, and have been completely unable to force myself to finish the story.

It might be unfair to rate the book, since I haven't finished it, but that said, if it's so bad I can't MAKE myself finish it, I suppose it's worth one star.