Hollywood in the 4o's - kind of like a softer Chandler does an earlier "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" noir with vampires. I love the mix of real people and places, historical events, mixed with the fictional characters, well done and definitely engaging. The Black Dahlia murder, gangsters, the "real" Van Helsing and Dracula, what a mix! I need to call someone "dollface" now ...

The film noir vibes made this feel so dark and sultry.

I loved being back in this world with familiar faces. The new faces though are just lovely, Lena and Callahan are to die for. This one had an few interesting twists in it that I loved. Incorporating the Black Dahlia murder into it and the mystery surrounding it. Its a detective drama with a twist. It all felt so glamorous from the settings to the clothing and the vernacular of that time.

"I don't need saving." "Everyone needs saving sometimes, kitten."

You should totally check this out if you are a fan of her other vampy things, and even if you're not, its not a terrible place to start.

It is quite spicy and she does give adequate warnings. I respect your right to not read a TW list but I also believe it doesn't hurt, Never kills the vibe for me any way. Enjoy!

"'Beautiful,' he murmurs. 'So fxxxing beautiful. So very much mine.' He pauses, staring into my eyes. 'You're mine, aren't you, kitten?' 'Never a doubt, detective.'"

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and Metal Blonde Books for granting my wish and sending me an arc in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

I've really been looking for a dark romance that wasn't just abuse disguised as kink and I was hoping this was it.

For the first half or so, I was really locked in. Granted, I was a bit weirded out that the basis of the story is built around a fictionalized depiction of the Black Dahlia murder, which there is a preface about it, I just felt a bit weird about it. That said, I did enjoy the inclusion of vampires but after like the first 45-50%, it got really predictable and I found myself bored.

It was an overall quick and fun read though. I thought Karina Halle did a great job of depicting Old Hollywood and it was clear she did her research into the case. And the romance was kinda exactly what I was looking for.

Vampires. Obsession. Mystery. What more could a gal want?

Nocturne is the kind of dark, sultry vampire romance that grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go. Set against the smoky backdrop of 1947 Los Angeles, Karina Halle delivers a gothic noir dripping with atmosphere, secrets, and the slow, dangerous burn of obsession. At the heart of it all is Lena Reid—a fierce, haunted heroine searching for justice in the wake of her best friend’s brutal death. Enter Victor Callahan: brooding, brutal, and unknowingly monstrous. Their connection is immediate, twisted, and completely unshakable. Think: vampire stalker, blackouts, blood-soaked mystery, and undeniable heat.

This book is a delicious blend of forbidden love, dark pasts, serial killer suspense, and that classic he’s-a-monster-but-only-soft-for-her trope we all secretly (or not-so-secretly) live for. Halle balances old Hollywood glamor with supernatural danger, crafting a love story that’s as chilling as it is seductive. If you're into morally gray romances with bite (and some seriously swoony danger), Nocturne is your next obsession. Just remember Lena's one rule… and get ready to break it.

Thank you to the author for the early copy! So excited to be back in Karina’s vampire universe 🫶 I love a good bed-breaking scene (quite literally), and it’s even better when the characters are vampires.

This one’s a stalker vampire horror romance inspired by the infamous Black Dahlia case from the 40s, and it just keeps getting wilder the deeper you go. There’s so much I’m obsessed with.. the characters, the mystery, the storyline, the on-page spice… like seriously, if you’re into vampire horror romance and also happen to love true crime, just read it 😂

I highly recommend checking out Karina’s earlier vampire books too (some familiar faces pop up, and it makes everything hit even harder).

Moody, blood-soaked, and seductively unhinged, Nocturne is a noir-drenched fever dream that blends true crime, horror, and erotic obsession in the most deliciously twisted way. Set in 1947 Los Angeles, this Black Dahlia-inspired vampire romance sinks its teeth into grief, desire, and the kind of darkness that doesn’t ask permission. Lena is all grit and grief, Victor is danger incarnate—and their chemistry? Absolutely feral. Think L.A. Confidential meets Interview with the Vampire, with a splash of blood and a whole lot of bite. Not for the faint of heart—and that’s exactly why I loved it.

I’m so disappointed that I didn’t love this!

I’ve read another of this author’s books and I absolutely devoured it but I just didn’t get the same vibe and excitement from this one.

A lot of my issues stem from the FMC. I get that the author was trying to do something different here and needed a sort of damsel vibe to go along with the plot, but I just found her weak. She’s a supernatural, but she’s always so afraid of getting hurt and dying, won’t stand up for herself even though she’s strong… I just don’t feel as though this type of FMC is for me.

I think if you want something spicy, easy to read, a hint of dark underworld and noir vibes with a murder mystery, then this one is for you.

Thank you to NetGalley for the review copy of this book

Karina has done it again! Looking for something that is dark romance, vampires, set in 1940’s, with a bit of mystery??

This is going to check off all those boxes and more! She’s a singer, he’s a private investigator who is falling her. This will be having you at the edge of your seat the entire time.

Check those trigger warnings and please know that this is an open door romance.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for the eARC opportunity.

This book had me thinking about it at the most random moments. It took me a few days to get through, but not for lack of entertainment. Just me being lazy lol. If you love true crime, vampires, suspense, then this is definitely for you! The characters weren’t boring and led interesting lives. The twist was predictable but still something you don’t see often. I really enjoyed this one!!

Nocturne by Karina Halle totally pulled me in. I loved the whole moody, old Hollywood vibe mixed with this dark, intense romance. It gave off major noir energy, and the tension between Lena and Victor? So addicting. The writing felt super atmospheric—even if a bit heavy at times—but honestly, I was hooked. If you’re into slow burn, mystery, and a little bit of danger, this one hits the spot!!

If you said vampires I'm going to think of Anne Rice and then Karina Halle. After finish this mistery gotic beauty I have decide that I need to reread all of her vampire-related books, and if you haven't, you should. They're so sooo good.

They have that mix of mystery with that almost tangible tension that come out of the pages, and the level of steam sometimes leaves me rethinking so many things
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In this particular book, the mystery wasn't difficult to understand, but several times I had to go back to check if I wasn't imagining things. And Yep ...It left me with the mouth open 
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And when I got to the end and recognized some names, I knew I had to reread all of her vampire books. It's like finding the puzzle piece you didn't know was missing, but it sheds a different light on the whole series
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Word by word, the story draws you in, and in every dark corner, there's a mystery to be solved.

Lena Reid has just discovered that her best friend died and with a tragic and gruesome death that's the news everyone can't stop talking about. As she begins to put the pieces of the puzzle together, private detective Victor Callahan appears, and not only does he seem intent on unraveling the mystery of her best friend's death, and although she knows she has to be careful not to reveal her secrets she can't also resist being near him.
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It's a book about vampires and murder, and a mysterious invisible thread that connects everyone in the story. A perfect book to pull you out of a reading slump and stay up all night.
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Thanks to Karina Halle and her team for give me a copy of this beautiful book in exchange for my honest and voluntary opinion.

Darkly romantic and beautifully written, with a haunting atmosphere. The pacing dragged slightly in the middle, but the payoff was worth it. Perfect for gothic romance lovers.

NOCTURNE

3.5⭐️
4🌶️

✔️Vampires
✔️Romantasy
✔️Rituals
✔️Detective

A vampire romance so dark it’ll bite.

He’s not just dangerous—he’s designed to destroy you. Blood. Obsession. Murder.And a love story twisted enough to hurt so good.

True crime fans are going to love this book!! 📕
•───⋅☾☽⋅───•──•───⋅☾☽⋅───•
I struggled with this book at first as I found it slow pacing - however, once over the hurdle I found the story quite enjoyable. I enjoyed the whole 1940’s setting it made the book unique.

The Black Dahlia references and character development was amazing! I was over the moon 🌑. As a true crime fan this hit the spot for me and I love Karina Halle’s take on the crime that rocked the world!

The detective element to the book was astounding!!! I loved, loved, loved it! 🥰 it gave such a dark and mysterious vibe to it especially the Era of the book.

Vampires - I love them! I honestly can’t get enough of vampires I enjoyed watching Victor during his becoming - Lena was a great FMC to help guide Victor throughout the book.

Also, I really loved the Dracula and Van Helsing characters/ input 🥰🥰

1940s PI Vampire?! I can picture this so well it's insane. I loved that this was dark romance but also had some elements that felt straight out of a movie. This is very dark but I just could not stop reading. I need more from Karina Hall like yesterday!

I am not a new Karina Halle fan (Grave Matters was definitely a highlight for me), so I knew going into this that I would love it instantly. True crime, vampires, thriller, smut, what more could a girl want?

What made this book even more enrapturing for me was that some characters were based on real people, and it really brought to life the Black Dahlia murder in a different light.

I really enjoyed the Hollywood 40s vibe, which isn't usually something I'd be interested in. It meshed together so well with the vampiric theme.

Definitely one for you to enjoy if you're looking for a smutty thriller vampire book, or a returning Halle fan.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book. I loved this, it was such a good romance in its specific genre. SO good.

The Black Dahlia, Dracula, and Charlie Manson oh my. Elizabeth Short has just been found dead and the police are scrambling to find the killer. Her sister hires a PI to help out and he’s drawn to Elizabeth’s best friend Lena. However Lena has her own secret (and it’s a pretty big one) and a mafia boyfriend who won’t leave her alone. Can she stay away from her private investigator Callahan? Callahan might have some secrets of his own that’ll throw a wrench in everything.

Based after a few real life people (and a few literary ones) in the 1940s, Callahan and Lena are thrust together in the investigation and will need the help of some trusted friends to help them with their secrets, the mob, and some really hot attraction.

I loved that this had real characters that I already knew about. It’s a alternate story from what actually happened (or I mean we never know because the Black Dahlia’s murder is still unsolved to this day 🤔) The spice level is about 🌶️🌶️🌶️ which worked for the story and made for some pretty interesting scenes. It did read a little slowish in a few parts but other wise flowed well and is a fun reimagining on some notorious characters from history. This dark stalker romance is one you’ll want to read. Nocturne is now available.

Thank you to @netgalley and @authorhalle for this advanced copy!

I really enjoyed this one! There were so many twists that I didn’t see coming. The chemistry that Victor and Lena had was right from the start. The mob boss era in the 50s vibes felt super realistic it made me feel like I was watching the Godfather😂 When I was trying to imagine what Lena looked like singing I imagined the singer in The Greatest Showman who sang Never Enough.

I really enjoyed this one; the mystery and the thriller aspect were great. I really liked how it was based on a real crime, it made it that much “creepier.” Hopefully, there are more books in the series, maybe following the other vampires in the clan 👀

Read if you like:
🩸Vampires
🩸Mob era, 1950s LA
🩸Dark Romance
🩸Thriller/mystery
🩸Spice with a plot

Please read the TWs! I don’t want to give any spoilers, but as an acid attack victim, there was a scene in here that was shocking and made me take a step back but I loved how the author portrayed it in this book. More awareness on this is so so important.

okay this was just… not it for me no matter how hard i tried to convince myself it was.

the premise was interesting but the execution was very surface level and felt almost like a caricature of other vampire stories and i just couldn’t take it seriously.

the repetition of some irrelevant plot points was wild like can we PLEASE talk about how many damn times lena made this woman sandwiches? literally every. single. day. at a certain point it became comical to me. ☠️ NOT JUST THAT but she kept talking about how big his dick was, like damn girl we know.

i am a big true crime girly but for some reason this story actually using a victims name rubbed me the wrong way? it’s one thing to do a story heavily based on something but it’s a different thing entirely when you’re using victims names from me. it just felt very ick to me.

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is it still technically an arc if i got approved after the release date? who knows but shoutout to netgalley, karina hallee and metal blonde books for access to this book in exchange for an honest review. 🥰

I was hooked from the beginning!

I loved all the twists and turns. Karina Halle is an amazing writer and captivates the time and era of Hollywood/LA in the late 40’s incredibly well. Lena and Callahan both were interesting characters, I was on the edge wanting to know more especially Callahan. Seeing the struggle that Callahan goes through trying to come to terms with what he is and the chaos he did when he was not himself was adding that extra element of what version of himself he was going to accept. Having Lena there to help him and show him how to be both parts of himself, because she herself is strong and independent and there is this vulnerability that she has even with being a vampire.

Vampires, Hollywood Lore of that age and the history of LA playing so well together. I think a perfect mesh of what happened with the Black Dahlia and rumors surrounding it gave way to a great unique (fictional) story.

Highly recommend.