Cool book title ✅
Old Hollywood/ Noir vibes ✅
Dark romance ✅
Vampires ✅
Mystery / thriller ✅

Literally what more can you ask for? This book perfectly blends all the BEST elements a girl could ask for.. this is my third Karina Halle book and understandably this is my favourite so far, the vampire component may have given this one an extra boost for me because I’ve always had a thing for vampires 😂😂😂

Enter a smoky Hollywood lounge, an alluring singer who also happens to be a vampire, a broody ex boxer turned private eye and a hunt for an murderer…I honestly can’t make this up, it’s SO good why has no one thought of this before 😆

I don’t think I have to say anything else to convince you on this one.

Thank you for the gifted copy!

Woah, just woaah.
Sizzling and steamy dark romance between a PI and a singer. Perfectly paced.
Oh and most importantly VAMPIRES😍

The nicknames he gave herrrrrrr👀

Hooked me from page 1 and remained that way till the end. The mystery and case being investigated was nuts. I was soo invested I couldn’t put it down, was trying to solve it with them.
Plot twist after plot twist after PLOT TWIST.

I heard there were characters cameos from Karina’s previous books so I’m gna need to read those asap. I LOVE this world and I kinda want more from it!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 🌶️🌶️🌶️

My first Karina Halle Book and I didn’t know if I was going to like it, as I’m usually not a 1940s time piece reader.

Old‑Hollywood noir with real teeth—literally. Set in smoky 1947 Los Angeles, Nocturne follows lounge singer Lena Reid (femme fatale, secret vampire) and war‑vet‑turned‑private‑eye Victor Callahan (ex‑boxer, new fangs) as they hunt the killer behind the Black Dahlia murder.

Karina Halle nails the period detail: neon marquees, mob‑run nightclubs, cigarette haze you can almost smell. The mystery’s main twist is visible a block away, but the ride is so atmospheric I didn’t mind. Steam sits at a solid three‑pepper, the dialogue crackles, and cameo nods to Dracula‑lore are pure catnip for vampire fans. A compelled, drug‑fogged encounter may unsettle some readers—worth noting for consent sensitivity—but the overall package is lush, moody, and utterly bingeable.

🖤 1947 Hollywood‑noir setting
🥀 Lounge‑singer vampire FMC (femme fatale)
🖤 Broody PI / ex‑boxer MMC
🥀 Slow‑burn, fangs‑out romance
🖤 Black Dahlia true‑crime
🥀 Mobsters & smoky nightclubs
🖤 Reluctant vamp‑transformation arc
🥀 “Touch her and 💀” possessive hero
🖤 Mystery‑thriller plot

ARC courtesy of NetGalley & Metal Blonde Books

Dark and moody! This romance was fun! A little mystery mixed in with vampire tension. I loved the darkness and the sizzling romance. This book has a rich atmosphere and it was difficult to put down once I started. Good read for the spooky season!

A dark vampire romance mystery set in the 1940s? Sign me up! 🔥

Nocturne is a dark, seductive story set in 1940s Los Angeles, where danger lurks in every shadow and vampires walk among us. The atmosphere is rich and moody, and the whole book feels like a classic film noir with a paranormal twist.

Lena Reid is a true femme fatale 🌹 — confident, clever, and impossible to ignore. I loved her character. Her chemistry with Victor Callahan is intense, full of tension and dark romance that really pulls you in.

While the mystery was interesting and the vibe was great, some of the plot twists were easy to guess, and the story didn’t feel super original. Still, it was fun to read — especially if you like vampire stories with a mix of romance, mystery, and a touch of danger. It gave off strong Dracula (he’s literally in it) meets Buffy energy.

Thank you NetGalley for sending me this book!!

I am familiar with Karina’s writing so I knew a bit of what to expect in this book. I just have to say, she nailed the noir theme. This book was so well written, with a good dose of mystery - mixed in with the paranormal elements of vampires! I loved watching Lena and Callahan learn more about themselves and the circumstances that brought them together.
I did wish there would’ve been a bit more about Callahans background - that was a really interesting tidbit that I thought could’ve been explored more but at the same time, the length of the book was perfect and anymore might’ve made it drag out.
So basically. It was great!

The first 40% of Nocturne were fun and engaging, with great vibes, but as soon as the mystery aspect started moving along, the book lost me. The plot was so predictable it felt nonsensical at times, and since I never connected to the characters, the romance wasn't doing anything for me either.
I'm sure Nocturne will appeal to some readers, but ultimately it wasn't the book for me.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

This hauntingly seductive blend of true crime and vampire romance is set in 1947 Los Angeles. When lounge singer Lena Reid loses her best friend, Elizabeth Short, later known as the Black Dahlia, she’s pulled into a chilling mystery that leads her to private investigator Victor Callahan. He’s dark, dangerous, and hiding a monstrous secret. Their chemistry is electric, the tension unrelenting. Karina Halle masterfully layers noir vibes, murder, and supernatural allure into a gritty, immersive world of danger and desire. With nods to her other vampire novels, this standalone is a moody, atmospheric thriller. This is for you if you crave morally grey heroes, femme fatales, and a story that bites in all the right ways.

This book had some really fun themes and I wanted to love it but sadly it just didn’t hit for me. I found it a bit too slow paced for the first half of the story and I know we needed the background info but it was just hard to stay focused. I did really like the characters and I think it was really interesting about how vampires grow up but sadly this one just wasn’t for me.

Wow, just wow! This book drew me in instantly with the concept and the historical context. Then the writing was just phenomenal. The characters and their story they had to tell and the development of them as their stories unfolded was an incredible journey. Lena is a powerhouse and strong, bold, and captivating. Callahan is so much more than the PI we first meet him as. He becomes fiercely addicted to Lena and his instincts take over in a way he is not prepared for. I did not want to put this book down, and it made me want to just go into an entire Karina backlist deep dive. If you're finding yourself in an awkward reading soup and needing something different, this is it!

Thanks NetGalley for the arc!

This book started off with a bang and I honestly couldn’t put it down. I really enjoyed the noir setting, the characters, the plot and the vampires.

I liked the characters so much that even though I’m not a fan of instalust, it really didn’t bother me when it came to them. I thought they had good chemistry and I found myself eager at every chapter for them to have their next interaction.

I will say, my main issue was a scene that involved the FMC and MMC being drugged and compelled by bad vampires which led to a nonconsensual situation. It was very uncomfortable to read especially with how inconsistent the MMCs feelings during all of this were.

<b>Karina Halle brings intensity, sensuality, intrigue and suspense in her latest paranormal romance Nocturne. Set in 50s Los Angeles, this vampire romance sucked me right in from the first scene. The plot is complex and explosive with endless twists and turns. It was scorching hot with pure fiery emotions. The effects will linger in my heart for a long time.</b>

* set in 1950s
* vampire romance
* based on one of the most sensational unsolved mystery of America, the case of Black Dahlia aka Elizabeth Short.

<b>I love reading this period piece and Karina Halle executed it so well. Some characters are real from the history and she used them to weave this vampire tale. Victor Callahan, the ex military ex boxer PI investigating the murder of Elizabeth Short and going through something big that he doesn't understand himself. Lena Reid, the sultry singer best friend of Elizabeth involved with the mobsters and hiding her vampire identity. Their paths cross and things go crazy. The author crafted every part so beautifully that you won't be able to blink. Callahan and Lena's connection feels like this living breathing all consuming epic thing from the very first touch.

Callahan is an alpha hero through and through. Protective, confident, strong, sexy..but his world is falling apart with his vampire transformation happening but he didn't know it till Lena let him know. There is an uncontrollable feral need for hunting and violence and claiming coming that makes him dangerous. Lena is in danger too. There are some old evil vampire bloodline who is trying to open the gate to their ancient home and they are murdering women to perform rituals. Lena is their target too. She isn’t a damsel in distress. She is fierce and bold but she is also falling for a man who is struggling. She is the one who kept Callahan together. In the end, Callahan managed to get his animal side under enough control to use it to beat the devil. Their passion is scorching hot, specially when Callahan's other side takes over. It's action packed with some epic appearances by oldies like Van Helsing and Dracula! Lena and Callahan is a force together and I absolutely loved every second of their adventure.</b>

I reviewed an early copy voluntarily

Another amazing vampire romance from Karina! In this one we have Lena, a vampire singer hiding in plain sight amongst the Hollywood elite, and Victor, a PI who finds himself involved with the Black Dahlia murder. Lena and Victor connect through the case and find themselves in the middle of something much larger and more sinister. I loved so many things about this book - the 1940s Hollywood setting, the murder mystery, the vampires, the spice!

I also loved the darker elements of the story with everything from mobsters to feeding dens to ritual sacrifice. Not to mention a possessive MMC whose favorite phrase is “you’re mine”. It’s been a while since I read the Dracula Duet so I admit it took me an embarrassingly long time to realize it was connected. But overall I loved how the mystery played out and all of the action and suspense at the end. My interest was also peaked by the epilogue and I’m hoping for another book based on what played out there.

A big thank you to Karina for the ARC!

I absolutely loved Nocturne. The writing style really made it feel like I was back in 1940s Hollywood investigating the Black Dahlia. The added element of the ancient vampires was a nice touch. The spice was just right. Karina Halle knocked it out of the park with this book. One of my favorites of the year so far!

Fantastic 1940s Black Dahlia, mystery and dark romance plot. Los Angeles singer Lena Reid and P.I Victor Callahan get entwined over the murder of Elizabeth Short aka. The Black Dahlia. A series of dark murders are happening all victims of a secret group and mob. Edgy, smutty, entertaining, and lots of mystery. loved the historical essence; Van Helsing, Dracula. stalker, "your mine" troupe. Hot, femme fetale vibes. Loved it!
Highly recommend! *** do check for triggers in this before diving in. ****


Thank you Netgalley and Metal blonde books for my advanced copy, in exchange for my honest review.

“Nocturne” was my first Karina Halle read, though more or less I knew what I was getting into. And I must say that I enjoyed the ride, even though it wasn't perfect one.

It is a dark romance with vampires twist. And what a twist! We meet Lena Reid, a beautiful singer who catches eyes of the many. She finds out that her friend, Elisabeth Short... was murdered.

Does it ring a bell? You're right! It's a true crime and unresolved story from 1947, Los Angeles. Elisabeth Short was brutally murdered and drained of blood, but her case has never been resolved. And now Karina Halle took that fact and created a story about it... And took vampires in it.

Apart from Lena we meet Callahan, private investigator who takes up the Elisabeth case. Little does he know that once his path crosses with Lena, his life will change forever...

It's dark romance, so we get violence and explicit sexual content. It's not very very dark, but if you don't enjoy that kind of literature, please skip this one. Also, if you don't enjoy instalove, it may also not be for you, as the stuff starts off pretty immediately... Though may I say, it was so hot, and they were so perfect, that I didn't really mind.

Vampires! I won't tell you who is who, but it was an interesting take. I just miss some more information about how they work, as they seem to differ from vampires I know. Like, kids...

Overall I enjoyed the story and the writing and I'm definitely going to pick up other books by Karina Halle.

Thank you @netgalley for an ARC.

5 ⭐ 3 🌶️

That was so freaking good. Such a fantastic mix of paranormal romance and thriller with some horror vibes set in 1940s LA, I really couldn't get enough. I loved the characters, the plot and the spice, truly just everything about this book.

Callahan and Lena were amazing. I loved seeing their relationship progress and watching Callahan come into his own. I really enjoyed the side characters as well, some of which apparently have their own books I must now dive into.

The last 30% had me up until almost 3am. Once the third act started I couldn't put it down, it was so utterly thrilling. And then the way it wrapped was perfect, I adored their happily ever after to pieces.

⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

Oh boy, I really didn’t want things to go this way….

The concept of the story immediately hooked me. As a true crime fanatic and romance enthusiast, the two worlds colliding is what I would have once considered to be the perfect storm. I am no longer of that opinion.

The Black Dahlia case has always interested me and yet I couldn’t have been more bored while reading this. As much as I appreciate when someone takes an already existing thing and makes it their own, I can’t say it worked regarding this book. There just seemed to be so much going on and yet nothing at all. And of course the uneven pacing did not help.

I found the characters to be so bland. There was nothing about them that made me feel connected to them so honestly, I couldn’t have cared less about their fates. They all could have been slaughtered and I wouldn’t have batted an eye.

As for the couple, they severely lacked chemistry outside of the physical. The spice was really well written. Definitely, could feel the heat between the characters but it’s unfortunate that they couldn’t maintain the chemistry outside of the bedroom so to speak.

To put it plainly, I did not look forward to picking up my kindle to read this book and couldn’t wait for it to be over. I just felt completely disconnected from the story and the characters.

I will say, the story was a very unique spin on a real case and I completely appreciate that but it wasn’t enough to alter my opinion.

With all of that said, I personally cannot recommend this book.

This is a dual POV dark fantasy that is romance centered, with a mystery plot unfolding in the background. The beginning was pretty strong--it definitely piqued my interest right away & was easy to get in to.

Unfortunately, this lost its spark for me kind of quickly, relying on insta-lust to entertain & I don't tend to love that. I think there was too much focus on the relationship and not enough on the characters themselves, making it hard to connect to them and have an interest in them on their own or really even together.

The plot itself was interesting enough, but I found that a lot of the major revelations were foreshadowed too obviously so they didn't have much of an impact when they were confirmed later on.

Overall, though, I think that I might just not like dark romances, but I'd imagine that people who do will enjoy this a lot more than me.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

I fear I am now a Karina Halle stan 🙂‍↕️

I saw two words in the blurb of this book and immediately requested it on NetGalley. <i>Black Dahlia</i>. That was all it took.

Because what do you mean this book follows that murder, is set in the ‘40s, and the MCs are a P.I. and a jazz singer (who’s a vampire, btw)????? Sign me the fuck up!!!!

I loved the film noir style of this book, the lore of vampires, the whole investigation into the Black Dahlia murder. God, it was so cool. I’ve researched that case for my own personal interest for so long and heard all the theories and for this book to take one of those theories and run with it???? Incredible.

Lena is a mysterious singer in a club whose clientele is mostly mobsters and criminals. Her best friend, Elizabeth Short, was murdered and she found herself questioning just what happened. Victor is a P.I. and war vet who took the case to investigate the truth for Elizabeth’s sister, coming across Lena and learning more about himself and the world than he ever intended to.

Let me just say, the plot was plotting and the lore was loreing. This was honestly so interesting and I loved the historical and paranormal elements woven together!!

I’d LOVE to see more books like this on the market so I can gobble them up!!!

Thank you so much to Metal Blonde Books for the ARC!!! 🫶🏻