• American Vampire

  • Vampire for Hire, Book 3
  • By: J. R. Rain
  • Narrated by: Dina Pearlman
  • Length: 5 hrs and 56 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (1,122 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
American Vampire  By  cover art

American Vampire

By: J. R. Rain
Narrated by: Dina Pearlman
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $17.95

Buy for $17.95

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

Mother, wife, private investigator... vampire. Six years ago, federal agent Samantha Moon was the perfect wife and mother, your typical soccer mom with the minivan and suburban home. Then the unthinkable happens, an attack that changes her life forever. And forever is a very long time for a vampire.

Now in American Vampire, the sequel to Vampire Moon, private investigator Samantha Moon receives a heartbreaking phone call from a very unlikely source: a five-year-old girl who's been missing for three months. Now on the hunt, Samantha will use her considerable resources, including her growing supernatural abilities, to locate the missing girl before it's too late. And as she gets closer and closer to the horrible truth, she receives devastating news on the home front.

Now, with her world turned upside down, Samantha Moon is forced to make the ultimate choice of life and death. And through it all, she discovers the identity of one mysterious man... a man she has grown to love.

Blood money: listen to more in the Vampire for Hire series.
©2011 J.R. Rain (P)2011 Audible, Inc.

More from the same

What listeners say about American Vampire

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    619
  • 4 Stars
    343
  • 3 Stars
    127
  • 2 Stars
    22
  • 1 Stars
    11
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    626
  • 4 Stars
    264
  • 3 Stars
    81
  • 2 Stars
    11
  • 1 Stars
    4
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    528
  • 4 Stars
    293
  • 3 Stars
    125
  • 2 Stars
    23
  • 1 Stars
    9

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Good, Light Reading

I am a fan of this series, but it's a bit like a good bowl of popcorn; you enjoy it while you're eating it, and you're certainly sorry when it's done, but if something else exciting comes along, you can easily put it down. That said, I have purchased every book and will continue to do so. The writing is smooth, although I felt something was 'off' on the interpersonal relationships until I discovered JR Rain is a man-- then it made sense. Don't get me srong, he is a good writer and makes a great story and an easy read, but the women's inner voice seems like a man's version of a woman's inner voice if you know what a mean. This is a good combo of supernatural and mystery, reminded me of Dresden Files a little. Overall, a good, solid easy to digest series that I will stick with.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Great addtion to the Series!

What did you love best about American Vampire?

I love how the characters development over the series, and how Samantha's skills seem to evolve with each story.

What did you like best about this story?

In this story, we finally get to know who Fang is which I did not see that coming. I love it when a plot takes me by surprise.

Any additional comments?

This is not typical vampire story and does not betray vampires as being perfect. Yeah, Samantha has heightened senses and strength, but she cannot been seen in a mirror, or go out in the sun. Oh, and she can only drink blood and some white wine. Then she can turn into a creature that can fly.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Story isn't resolved at the end....

I read this immediately after book 2 in the series. The prologue of this book is an exact repeat of the last chapter in the previous one... bit annoying because a) I just read book 2, and b) the book is already so short I suspect it should be sold as a short story rather than a novel.

Of the 3 books so far in the series, this was my least favorite, mainly because Sam's reactions to her son's illness were not very believable. Either she didn't care about him (but her words say otherwise) or the writer doesn't know how to write a grieving mother. (Or, perhaps this was just meant to show that vampires really aren't human anymore?)

That, and this book has a definite cliff hanger - one that is annoying because the main thread of the story is not resolved at the end. It feels like the author had one longer novel which he chose to chop exactly in half, making book 3 (this one) and book 4 (where the main thread from book 3 is continued). A cheesy way to make a sale, btw.

I did end up buying the next book and I really like the character development and story-telling and I do want to find out where Sam goes next, but I'm not sure I want to be subject to another 'let's chop the story in half so they'll have to buy another book' sales tactic.

The narration is good. Oh, I don't think the books would make much sense if they were read out of order. And, for the most part, they are not gory or graphic. I don't think there is swearing, and there isn't any sex.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Hurting kids and a dash of Death Becomes Her

“Grease monkey is not a politically correct term, Moon Dance, we prefer Lubed Primates.”
“Sounds like a bad porno.”
“There are no bad pornos.”

Book 3 continues the tradition of being 95% vampire-detective noir and 5% dry humor. The gumshoe mystery procedural part once again features two mysteries: (1) a murder and art heist at a museum and (2) a girl in peril. Sam’s personal life, however, also features a plot involving her little boy being horribly ill, bringing a double dose of plots with kids getting hurt and angst about parents facing the loss of a child. While there are no details, only summary statements about them, some might feel triggered about themes of trafficking and child porn.

As much as I appreciate the livelier snark of, say, the Quincy Harker vampire detective series, this author’s more sly delivery of quirky humor has grown on me. I saw some of the groundwork in the prior books and was tickled to see the ongoing tweaks to monster lore. That scene in the movie Death Becomes Her, where we realize which famous people must have been supernatural? If that made you smile, you’ll have fun with one of the new characters.

I also love that Sam continues to defy the usual vampire MC tropes. With kids, a supportive sister, and her feminine wiles, she’s the opposite of the childless white male loner MC in so many urban fantasies. Even the romance arc is different, with her having pretty bad taste in men, including a thing for dad bods and Chris Farley. Lol, what?! Although, Chris Farley doing the Chippendales skit with Patrick Swayze was spectacular! There weren’t any hanky panky scenes in this book and the F bombs eased up from book 2, but this is still an adult vampire series.

As sale purchases, the first five books in this series are pretty good. After that, there’s diminishing returns as the supernatural plots get more and more out there. Also, it starts to feel like the whole point is a money grab, to click-bait you with cliffhangers and ever more dangerous, powerful, mysterious Big Bads or apocalyptic futures. I would prefer sticking to the vampire-noir mystery procedurals with a dash of Death Becomes Her humor.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

In love with this series!

What did you like best about this story?

The fact that it was written by a male author.

Have you listened to any of Dina Pearlman’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Dead on perfect.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

There were many.

Any additional comments?

This author is a must try, these books are exciting and humorous. I will buy any other books this author writes.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Good....But!!!!

What did you like best about American Vampire? What did you like least?

I really like this series, and up until this one was very happy with it. But as a Mom I kept saying to myself " go to your son....go to your son", maybe since the author is a male he doesn't realize that a Mom would never leave her child if he's that sick. It was just frustrating.

What was one of the most memorable moments of American Vampire?

When she meant Fang.

Have you listened to any of Dina Pearlman’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes, she's a great narrator, she also does the Anna Strong books, I absolutely love her. She got 5 Stars

Was American Vampire worth the listening time?

Yes, even though I had a lot of MOM FRUSTRATION, it was still a good book.

Any additional comments?

If you enjoy this series, still listen or read it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Good, but not quite as satisfying as the first two

I really enjoyed the first two installments of this series, but not so much this one. It was good, too. But I felt that there was a bit too much unexplained as far as Fang was concerned. Also, because the title was "American Vampire" and we learn that that was Fang's moniker when he was being tried for murder I thought there would be more explanation and exploration about Fang. It fell kind of flat in that aspect, though there is enough other continuing drama in Samantha's life to carry the book. There was just too much unexplained as far as Fang is concerned. I appreciate that Samantha is able to get some of her "life" back in a satisfying way so that her ex isn't always able to get the best of her. Again, we are left hanging at the end as it segues into another storyline. Dina Pearlman is a first rate narrator.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Fizzled

I enjoyed the first two books in this series as light-hearted entertainment to listen to while driving and working. The narration is excellent, and I do recommend Dina Pearlman as a narrator. In this book the inconsistencies and bizarre decisions by the main character are really off-putting. I finished it, but do not find myself interested enough in the cliff-hanger to go on.

In reviews for the previous two books, I saw that people commented on a man writing from a woman's perspective, and this may be the problem I had with the inter-personal relationships in this book especially. While I know that sexually appreciative descriptions of the opposite sex are the norm in this detective-style genre, they struck me as excessive in this book. This was especially awkward in her relationship with the older detective, which came across as creepy rather than endearing, crossing the line between fatherly mentor and sexual object with Sam's weird descriptions of him.

I hate to leave a bad review, but I was very disappointed that I used my credit for this book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

What was she thinking?

Would you try another book from J. R. Rain and/or Dina Pearlman?

I would most likely try the 4th book in the series, but will not finish Book 3 and I'm no quitter! I downloaded it when I purchased the third book. I'm hoping for storyline improvement

Has American Vampire turned you off from other books in this genre?

No, not at all

What about Dina Pearlman’s performance did you like?

Her performance was fine

Any additional comments?

Here is a woman who has been a vampire for over a year (a former government agent) and who has been maintaining her work at home mom life. All of a sudden she loses her mind, takes justice into her own hands, divulges her utmost secrets to a complete stranger AND although she states multiple times she knows her son is VERY sick, leaves him with her sister because "there is a little girl out there" who needs her! Seriously? I admired her for having common sense and a working brain. It appears both have failed her in Book 3.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fun series with Female Vampire detective

Female married with children Federal Agent, gets turned into a Vampire. Messes with her work, her marriage, blah blah blah......But it really is an amazing series, has mystery, serious moments, and humor. I hope that this series continues to evolve. Every book just gets better and the narration is excellent Dina Perlman does great job

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful