Valentino, a UCLA film archivist and occasional detective is helping out a friend who recently bought an old drive-in movie venue. Leo brings in his friend Leo Kalishnikov who is a top-notch theater designer. But Leo's mind isn't on the job - he's being blackmailed in regards to something from his past. Valentino offers to help Leo but at just about the same time, Valentino is contacted by a stranger who claims to have two reels of the silent film Cleopatra (1917) starring Theda Bara. Finding a film thought to be lost is a film archivist's dream.
But getting ahold of the film would require that Valentino navigates in the dark, underbelly of Los Angeles. Meanwhile, time is running out for his friend Leo. Can Valentino accomplish both missions, successfully? Can he even stay alive?

Maybe it's not a surprise, given my interest in films, but I've read a surprising number of books (ie: within the last year) about rare/lost films recently. One of these was a book I rather randomly picked up in my local library (Alive!), which, it turns out, is part of this same series featuring Valentino.

Author Loren D. Estleman is clearly a film fan himself or a huge fan of research (possibly both). I followed up on the issues in the book to see that Theda Bara was one of the biggest stars of her time, maybe one of the first sex symbols. And yes, there are no known copies of her film Cleopatra in existence. This historical film-related mystery, complete with history lesson, is actually quite fun.

The mystery surrounding the missing film is rather a side story to the bigger issue of the drive-in restoration and Leo's problems and none of the stories is earth-shattering exciting. It's a solid story, well-written, but the theme and general character of the series are the most interesting aspects of the book.

It's not the first time I've gotten into a series based on the concept (Gigi Pandian's "Accidental Alchemist" series comes immediately to mind) and Estleman's work is certainly strong enough that I'm very interested in reading more in the series (earlier books and future volumes), but it's not a book I'd recommend for the average mystery reader.

Looking for a good book? Vamp by Loren D. Estleman is a mystery with a classic film theme, well researched and well told, though it may not be the most exciting mystery.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Old old hollywood detective story that can be read as a stand alone and still enjoyed. Valentino is a detective trying to save a lost copy of Cleopatra before it's destroyed forever.

This is the first book I've read in the series, and while I had no trouble following what was going on at about the halfway point, I was enjoying it so much that I went and requested the first book from my library!
I really enjoyed everything about this book, from the characters.. especially Leo to the murder mystery plot with a film detective at the center of it all.

I had a lot of fun following Valentino as he helped his friend build a drive-in theater, and brought in Leo, an eccentric Russian specializing in building theaters, only to be pulled into assisting Leo with a bit of a blackmail problem. There was so much happening it kept me on the edge of my seat and I couldn't put it down. I loved all the film stuff and the intrigue that goes along with locating and authenticating them.
I can't wait to start this series from the beginning and see how it all began!!

Valentino is back! I enjoyed this newest installment. Valentino has a job that I would love! Not the solving the murders, but this is a great series for fans of historical, traditional, and cozy fans.

"Vamp is a hot new Valentino mystery by Loren D. Estleman, the master of the hard-boiled detective novel and recipient of the Private Eye Writers of America Lifetime Achievement Award.

Renowned film detective Valentino is on a quest to help restore The Comet, an extinct drive-in movie theater, and his trail leads him to Leo Kalishnikov, who requests a favor first - rid him of a blackmailer from his shady past, and he'll gladly hand over the money that The Comet needs.

With only an uncashed check for a clue, Valentino embarks on a treacherous path to save not only The Comet but the last remaining print of the 1917 film Cleopatra, which has been lost for over a century. The film is somewhere in Los Angeles, and Valentino is willing to risk it all to find it. He must navigate the shady underbelly of Hollywood once more, in a dangerous adventure that threatens not only his career - but his life."

I love hard-boiled detectives involved in the seedy underbelly of the film industry.

Loren D. Estleman does it again in the Valentino series, it had the charm that I looked for in this series. The characters felt like they were suppose to and worked with the series. I was engaged with what was happening in the time-period. It was great to have a mystery set in old Hollywood and I always enjoy reading books from Loren D. Estleman.