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Avery & Carter #1
Vampire on the Orient Express
Paris, 1914. American adventurer Sam Carter boards the Orient Express, departing France in style after an impulsive decision to desert the Foreign Legion. British diplomat Lucas Avery is already nursing a drink in the smoking car, resenting his assignment to the distant Ottoman Empire. Neither man expects anything more from the next three days and three thousand miles than rich food, expensive champagne and fine cigars.
But something dangerous is lurking aboard the train, hiding in plain sight among French aristocrats and German businessmen. Through fire and darkness, through blood and ice, the Orient Express is bearing an ancient evil across the continent - and not all its passengers will live to see Constantinople...
But something dangerous is lurking aboard the train, hiding in plain sight among French aristocrats and German businessmen. Through fire and darkness, through blood and ice, the Orient Express is bearing an ancient evil across the continent - and not all its passengers will live to see Constantinople...
135 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 26, 2019
About the author
Shane Carrow
15 books74 followersShane Carrow is an Australian writer of science fiction, horror and fantasy. Born and raised in Western Australia, he now lives in Melbourne.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 184 reviews
October 22, 2019
Sam Carter (a young American adventurer who impulsively decided to leave the Foreign Legion) and Lucas Avery (a British diplomat) are both on the Orient Express, traveling to Constantinople. On board the train they become acquainted with each other. One night they hear screaming from another cabin and when they rush to investigate they are confused by what they see. Is it a man, or something else standing over a young girl? Both men are worried and frightened. Could it be that there is a vampire on board the luxury train?
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It took place in 1914, with a very interesting cast of characters. I loved the setting on the train, with the snow outside the darkened windows, and the creepy feeling of being trapped on board with a vampire. I liked the main characters Carter and Avery. The story had a lot of suspenseful moments and I quickly turned the pages to see what was going to happen next. This book was very entertaining and different. I've never read a vampire story that took place in 1914, and on the Orient Express, which made this book all the more enjoyable.
An eerie, atmospheric, and captivating read!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It took place in 1914, with a very interesting cast of characters. I loved the setting on the train, with the snow outside the darkened windows, and the creepy feeling of being trapped on board with a vampire. I liked the main characters Carter and Avery. The story had a lot of suspenseful moments and I quickly turned the pages to see what was going to happen next. This book was very entertaining and different. I've never read a vampire story that took place in 1914, and on the Orient Express, which made this book all the more enjoyable.
An eerie, atmospheric, and captivating read!
January 8, 2024
Mmm…Enjoyable!
Englishman Lucas Avery and American Sam Carter, meet on a train ride that is traveling the continent. The Orient Express.
Sam Carter is on his way to Constantinople. He is running from, I don’t know, charges of thievery, desertion, cold weather?
Lucas Avery is also on his way to Constantinople, but he is not on the run. He is a British diplomat and Constantinople is his next assignment.
The two men meet up and find that they like each other. After staying up all night drinking, they finally return to their rooms and prepare for bed. They suddenly hear loud, frightening screaming and run to investigate.
A mother and her daughter are in a cabin, together. The mother is screaming profusely. There’s a man in the room, but he suddenly vanishes out the window.
Who is he? What does he want?
Cater and Avery are there, just in time to prevent a rape and possible murder.
The atmosphere in the train is smothering and intense and the people seems to be a ghost of passengers. It is cold outside and the environment is bleak. Will the man perish in the weather?
The author appears to allow you to eavesdrop on Carter’s and Avery’s conversations, so you can see what they are talking about, from the events that are happening.
Five fantastic stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Englishman Lucas Avery and American Sam Carter, meet on a train ride that is traveling the continent. The Orient Express.
Sam Carter is on his way to Constantinople. He is running from, I don’t know, charges of thievery, desertion, cold weather?
Lucas Avery is also on his way to Constantinople, but he is not on the run. He is a British diplomat and Constantinople is his next assignment.
The two men meet up and find that they like each other. After staying up all night drinking, they finally return to their rooms and prepare for bed. They suddenly hear loud, frightening screaming and run to investigate.
A mother and her daughter are in a cabin, together. The mother is screaming profusely. There’s a man in the room, but he suddenly vanishes out the window.
Who is he? What does he want?
Cater and Avery are there, just in time to prevent a rape and possible murder.
The atmosphere in the train is smothering and intense and the people seems to be a ghost of passengers. It is cold outside and the environment is bleak. Will the man perish in the weather?
The author appears to allow you to eavesdrop on Carter’s and Avery’s conversations, so you can see what they are talking about, from the events that are happening.
Five fantastic stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
January 29, 2020
I really loved this book and the setting of the story just whisks you back in time to the days of the Orient Express! I have never read this author before and it was quite a surprise that the book just captures the feel of days gone by.
The year is 1914. The Orient Express has just departed Paris, France with businessmen and important people on board. The two main characters, Sam Carter a/k/a adventurer and Lucas Avery a/k/a British diplomat are literally right in the thick of it on board the train. It seems that there are other interesting characters aboard the train as well including what seems to be royalty with a Count and Countess along with their man servant on board.
The book starts off with a little world building and character descriptions, but when the screams start on the train is when the books kicks into high gear. Sam Carter along with Lucas Avery investigate and what they find is beyond their imagination. No one would ever dream that vampires are riding the train, but that is what Sam and Lucas find when they delve deep into the train cars.
The book reminds me of the old "cloak and dagger" stories, but this one has more of a twist as instead of cloak and daggers the characters have "stakes and holy water".
The book moves along at a fast pace and I was entranced by the feeling of the characters as it really makes you feel that you have been transported back in time. The story literally flows along and keeps the mystery of the vampires secret or I should say "cloaked in the shadows" until the big reveal.
The author, Shane Carrow, just grabs the reader from the first page and literally throws them on a time machine back to 1914. The atmosphere of the Orient Express surrounds the reader and makes them feel like they are really there.
I did have this starred with 4 stars, but the more I think about it I have decided to make it 4.5 which I will round up to 5 stars as I really did love this story and will be putting it on my favorites shelf.
The year is 1914. The Orient Express has just departed Paris, France with businessmen and important people on board. The two main characters, Sam Carter a/k/a adventurer and Lucas Avery a/k/a British diplomat are literally right in the thick of it on board the train. It seems that there are other interesting characters aboard the train as well including what seems to be royalty with a Count and Countess along with their man servant on board.
The book starts off with a little world building and character descriptions, but when the screams start on the train is when the books kicks into high gear. Sam Carter along with Lucas Avery investigate and what they find is beyond their imagination. No one would ever dream that vampires are riding the train, but that is what Sam and Lucas find when they delve deep into the train cars.
The book reminds me of the old "cloak and dagger" stories, but this one has more of a twist as instead of cloak and daggers the characters have "stakes and holy water".
The book moves along at a fast pace and I was entranced by the feeling of the characters as it really makes you feel that you have been transported back in time. The story literally flows along and keeps the mystery of the vampires secret or I should say "cloaked in the shadows" until the big reveal.
The author, Shane Carrow, just grabs the reader from the first page and literally throws them on a time machine back to 1914. The atmosphere of the Orient Express surrounds the reader and makes them feel like they are really there.
I did have this starred with 4 stars, but the more I think about it I have decided to make it 4.5 which I will round up to 5 stars as I really did love this story and will be putting it on my favorites shelf.
February 18, 2022
I must confess, I am not a reader of horror fiction, but the titles of the books in this series really got my attention and out of curiosity I decided to start with it, and I am properly impressed by it.
The story is fast paced and and the setting in both time (1914) and place (Europe) is great. Though the title of this book clearly gives away what will take place in the book, it keeps you on edge and is full of twists and turns. The characters outside of the two characters are also well rounded and authentic and brings something extra to the story.
The main thing what makes this story so great though, is the two main characters. The young American drifter/adventurer Sam Carter who recently deserted the French Foreign Legion, and the older Brit Lucas Avery with his upper class background and currently working as a spy for the Foreign Office. Both characters have their flaws and own demons from their past, but together they make a formidable team that compliment each other well during the book. They almost remind me of the Winchester brothers from watching the TV series 'Supernatural' in my younger days.
Will read the next book shortly to see how the series develop.
The story is fast paced and and the setting in both time (1914) and place (Europe) is great. Though the title of this book clearly gives away what will take place in the book, it keeps you on edge and is full of twists and turns. The characters outside of the two characters are also well rounded and authentic and brings something extra to the story.
The main thing what makes this story so great though, is the two main characters. The young American drifter/adventurer Sam Carter who recently deserted the French Foreign Legion, and the older Brit Lucas Avery with his upper class background and currently working as a spy for the Foreign Office. Both characters have their flaws and own demons from their past, but together they make a formidable team that compliment each other well during the book. They almost remind me of the Winchester brothers from watching the TV series 'Supernatural' in my younger days.
Will read the next book shortly to see how the series develop.
February 23, 2022
Suspenseful with unanticipated twists
My Goodreads friend JD Zondagh wrote interesting and favorable reviews for both this book and its sequel, WEREWOLF ON THE WESTERN FRONT. After reading those reviews, the descriptions of the books and noting that they are available through Kindle Unlimited, I decided to read VAMPIRE ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS. I am glad that I did. This vampire tale is well done and believable in so far as such stories can be believable. The story takes place in February, 1914 with the main characters headed to Turkey on the Orient Express. The historical details are good. The characters are well developed and interesting. The action is such that, even though the title and descriptions tell readers that there is a vampire, it is a suspenseful book.
My Goodreads friend JD Zondagh wrote interesting and favorable reviews for both this book and its sequel, WEREWOLF ON THE WESTERN FRONT. After reading those reviews, the descriptions of the books and noting that they are available through Kindle Unlimited, I decided to read VAMPIRE ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS. I am glad that I did. This vampire tale is well done and believable in so far as such stories can be believable. The story takes place in February, 1914 with the main characters headed to Turkey on the Orient Express. The historical details are good. The characters are well developed and interesting. The action is such that, even though the title and descriptions tell readers that there is a vampire, it is a suspenseful book.
May 4, 2023
Now, that was a good story!
Two very different people, coming together in adversity on the Orient Express. Avery, an upper class Englishman, diplomat and spy who just happens to be gay. This was in the early 20th century when being gay would have courted scandal, disgrace and penal servitude, irrespective of that person's social standing. Carter, by contrast, was a working class American heterosexual. A soldier of fortune, thief, and deserter from the French Foreign Legion. Circumstances brings these two unlikely individuals together as they battle a mystical creature on-board the Orient Express. A wonderful cast of imaginative characters compliment a thrilling plot. This story was a true gothic delight. Highly recommended!
Two very different people, coming together in adversity on the Orient Express. Avery, an upper class Englishman, diplomat and spy who just happens to be gay. This was in the early 20th century when being gay would have courted scandal, disgrace and penal servitude, irrespective of that person's social standing. Carter, by contrast, was a working class American heterosexual. A soldier of fortune, thief, and deserter from the French Foreign Legion. Circumstances brings these two unlikely individuals together as they battle a mystical creature on-board the Orient Express. A wonderful cast of imaginative characters compliment a thrilling plot. This story was a true gothic delight. Highly recommended!
July 4, 2020
There is humor and wit on the Orient Express when ex-legionnaire teams up with an Englishman who seems to be more of a jack of several trades to seek out a prowler. A young girl has been attacked and her mother has been frightened. While Sam and Avery witness this, somehow the intruder managed to get away; they and their team of cohorts will stop at nothing to thwart the evil on the train and save Evin.
I loved the humor and the partnership with these two. Hilarious.
I loved the humor and the partnership with these two. Hilarious.
March 21, 2020
Pretty good story!
Vampire on the Orient Express by Shane Carrie is a pretty good story with a different vibe on vamps. Nice plot, creatures, and characters. I couldn't help visualising the movie Murder on the Orient Express and taking the background, old clothes, train, etc. Soon I was visualising it as a movie! Nicely done! Entertaining and great paranormal fantasy!
Vampire on the Orient Express by Shane Carrie is a pretty good story with a different vibe on vamps. Nice plot, creatures, and characters. I couldn't help visualising the movie Murder on the Orient Express and taking the background, old clothes, train, etc. Soon I was visualising it as a movie! Nicely done! Entertaining and great paranormal fantasy!
June 5, 2020
Orient Express Shocker! Vampires Infest First Class: "I couldn't get a hot toddy without risking my life!"
Poignant, brilliant, one of the best authors I've read.
This story works. One of the best vampire stories I've read, and one of the best stories I've read. A story about courage, duty and frailty wonderfully woven together for a mesmerizing read.
A rare example of a book I had to put down last year due to other demands on my time. I'm so glad I picked it up again and read it all the way through.
Shivers.
Strongly recommended. 5 'Vampire Hunter's Blood on the Snow,' stars
Poignant, brilliant, one of the best authors I've read.
This story works. One of the best vampire stories I've read, and one of the best stories I've read. A story about courage, duty and frailty wonderfully woven together for a mesmerizing read.
A rare example of a book I had to put down last year due to other demands on my time. I'm so glad I picked it up again and read it all the way through.
Shivers.
Strongly recommended. 5 'Vampire Hunter's Blood on the Snow,' stars
December 8, 2021
THIS WAS A GIVEAWAY ON AMAZON. THANK YOU.
My Review: I mean, what Agathite could pass up the chance to read such a blatant homage to her dameliness’s most famous creation? To know it was made specifically to call forth the echoes of a mighty and miraculously made mountain of storycraft made it utterly impossible to resist. (Free didn’t hurt my feelings or slow down my One-Clickin’ finger.) I didn’t try very hard to do so, it must be said.
It is February 1914, and a cold and wet one it is. A loutish criminal American, an effete aristocratic Englishman, and an ancient vampire get on a train. Many deaths will ensue. Paris’s posh purlieus long behind them, Constantinople’s exotic staginess still ahead of them, and them in a hurtling bottle on a trip through the benightèd Mitteleuropan landscape in which (as all civilized people know) anything can happen and usually does. It isn’t rocket science to follow this trail, is it.
But oh the scenery! The author’s delightful evocation of the barely-still-Belle-Epoque world in which his characters are moving (and have moved, in memory flashbacks) is lush and fully immersive. The story’s resonances with Dracula in its vampire strand and with Murder on the Orient Express in its mystery strand are very, very well handled. The deft winding of the two is one of my fullest pleasures in the read.
I am rating it two-and-a-half stars for that.
Not to put too fine a point on it, but the Gawd/Religion angles did not work for me, even moreso as they’re used in unpleasant and judgmental ways. Much emphasis on how it’s one’s Faith In Gawd that protects one from the Ancient Evil of the Vampire…the explicitly labeled Jew Doctor who dies while being a good carer for a Muslim girl who survives…the gay guy who’s small and blond ranged alongside the big, bluff, “normal” (and explicitly described as such *by* the gay Englishman) American who comes right out and says “of course I know what you’re hinting at but I’m not interested” at the very end of the book…the male vampire whose gayness deepens his evil.
I don’t like or subscribe to that view of the world, and I’m faintly contemptuous of those who do. I’m also very opposed to them spreading such pernicious and specious claptrap.
Even when it’s well written…maybe more when it’s well-written than when it’s not. So, despite the evident pleasures of the read, I won’t seek the next one in this series.
My Review: I mean, what Agathite could pass up the chance to read such a blatant homage to her dameliness’s most famous creation? To know it was made specifically to call forth the echoes of a mighty and miraculously made mountain of storycraft made it utterly impossible to resist. (Free didn’t hurt my feelings or slow down my One-Clickin’ finger.) I didn’t try very hard to do so, it must be said.
It is February 1914, and a cold and wet one it is. A loutish criminal American, an effete aristocratic Englishman, and an ancient vampire get on a train. Many deaths will ensue. Paris’s posh purlieus long behind them, Constantinople’s exotic staginess still ahead of them, and them in a hurtling bottle on a trip through the benightèd Mitteleuropan landscape in which (as all civilized people know) anything can happen and usually does. It isn’t rocket science to follow this trail, is it.
But oh the scenery! The author’s delightful evocation of the barely-still-Belle-Epoque world in which his characters are moving (and have moved, in memory flashbacks) is lush and fully immersive. The story’s resonances with Dracula in its vampire strand and with Murder on the Orient Express in its mystery strand are very, very well handled. The deft winding of the two is one of my fullest pleasures in the read.
I am rating it two-and-a-half stars for that.
Not to put too fine a point on it, but the Gawd/Religion angles did not work for me, even moreso as they’re used in unpleasant and judgmental ways. Much emphasis on how it’s one’s Faith In Gawd that protects one from the Ancient Evil of the Vampire…the explicitly labeled Jew Doctor who dies while being a good carer for a Muslim girl who survives…the gay guy who’s small and blond ranged alongside the big, bluff, “normal” (and explicitly described as such *by* the gay Englishman) American who comes right out and says “of course I know what you’re hinting at but I’m not interested” at the very end of the book…the male vampire whose gayness deepens his evil.
I don’t like or subscribe to that view of the world, and I’m faintly contemptuous of those who do. I’m also very opposed to them spreading such pernicious and specious claptrap.
Even when it’s well written…maybe more when it’s well-written than when it’s not. So, despite the evident pleasures of the read, I won’t seek the next one in this series.
August 12, 2019
This was such a pleasant surprise. To be honest, kinda expected it to be crappy or at least cheesy and it was neither. I’m not even into vampire stories, this was just a freebies with an alluring setting and page count. But yeah, oh so much fun. Where modern day vampires are mostly pouty gothed up clichés, the old school ones are much more interesting. And when one of them ends up on a luxury train to Constantinople and steps out for a light snack, he finds himself pursued by an international team of able and determined men all the way to Transylvanian soil. This is much more Dracula than Twilight, albeit it without the ponderous language of classics. And so well written, with terrific descriptions ranging from the glamourous travel of a bygone age to the variety of exotic locales along the way. You can practically imagine yourself in a warm well appointed train compartment speeding through Europe as the snowstorm des ends all around you. Seriously, with a title like that one might expect a locked traincar mystery with some exsanguination, something cheapish and derivative. But this was so much more superior in every way. They don’t even stay on the train for the duration. There’s…fieldwork involved. A very enjoyable read. Wherever you stand on vampires, this tale is an absolute delight and well worth checking out. Recommended.
April 16, 2024
Bruhhhhhhh I'm washed...just washed. The streak of poor book choices continues.😭😅🤣
February 28, 2022
When one thought of European luxurious travel a hundred or more years ago, at or near the top of the list was The Orient Express. So many stories have used it as a factor or background to death and intrigue. It is the Express’s first class car that allows our heroes, Avery (an upper class Englishman) and Carter (an American from the West), to meet….and to encounter the title monster.
“…what happened in that cabin last night defies any rational explanation,” Avery went on. “The way he looked—the way he mesmerised us—and then, when the others came, he simply… vanished. Not out the window. That’s the conclusion the police came to, that’s what everyone else seems to think. But I was there. And he couldn’t have. Surely not. And where did he come from in the first place? He wasn’t there, and then he was… and then he was gone again.” Avery nodded down at Verninac’s book (a Conan Doyle novel). “What is it the great detective says? When you’ve ruled out the impossible…”
“Then whatever remains must be the truth,” Father Verninac said. “Which I always thought was a bit too neat. M’sieur Avery, you are not basing this conclusion on any observation. You are not frightened of this man because you believe the facts don’t make sense up here –” the priest pointed at his head, “– you are frightened because you know the facts do not make sense in here.” And he pointed at his heart."
What is referred to is their middle of the night response to a scream from another compartment in their car. Some one or some thing had been interrupted while biting the neck of a young lady (Evin Durmaz). This is what Avery and Carter are discussing below:
"“Evin Durmaz is ill.” Carter paused, the razor pressed against his throat.
“I know. I went and saw her.” “I believe she will stay that way. Unless something is done.”
“I wonder if I can guess what that something might be?”
“It’s still on the train, Mr Carter. Whatever it is. I’m sure of that, and I think you know that too. Either it’s lurking somewhere, or it’s hiding in plain sight among the other passengers. And unless we find it, Evin Durmaz is going to die. Or worse. And she might just be the first.”"
There is plenty of description of this legendary train and its effects on its passengers.
"The Orient Express rattled and whistled, slowing as it approached a bend in the tracks. Another locomotive passed, a sudden blast of sound and fury which vanished just as suddenly, silence rushing back in to fill the vacant volume. A few hours ago he’d been lying in bed enjoying that noise, that feeling, of rattling along, heading east all through the night, increasing the miles between himself and Paris. Now it felt very different. Now he felt trapped."
In addition there is more delving into the background of the main characters than I anticipated. And it goes beyond the usual in this genre:
"Carter could remember going to the schoolhouse in Boulder as a boy—when his mother could afford it, at least—and Miss McQuaid replacing the map of America on the wall when Utah became a state. That had been a good month or two after the date, as a matter of fact, though the school had got the flag replaced pretty quick, with the new one that had forty-five stars. That was more important than the map, apparently, which Miss McQuaid paid for out of her own pocket. Maybe that was what had given Carter a sense of the world: having that map on the wall as an eight-year-old….Thinking about Boulder and Miss McQuaid’s schoolhouse made him feel a little better. Not much, sitting here alone in the smoking car with the lights turned low and the unknowable Carpathian backwoods whooshing past the window. But a little. He realised he’d never felt properly scared before. Not in New Mexico with Cesar, not aboard the Esmerelda during the hurricane, not out in the infinite Saharan sand dunes with Tuaregs taking pot shots at his company’s patrol. He’d been running on immutable youthful confidence his entire life."
Certainly a satisfactory tale of violence and the macabre, even if it is only the introduction of these “hunters of the supernatural.” I may even choose to travel with them on their next adventure.
“…what happened in that cabin last night defies any rational explanation,” Avery went on. “The way he looked—the way he mesmerised us—and then, when the others came, he simply… vanished. Not out the window. That’s the conclusion the police came to, that’s what everyone else seems to think. But I was there. And he couldn’t have. Surely not. And where did he come from in the first place? He wasn’t there, and then he was… and then he was gone again.” Avery nodded down at Verninac’s book (a Conan Doyle novel). “What is it the great detective says? When you’ve ruled out the impossible…”
“Then whatever remains must be the truth,” Father Verninac said. “Which I always thought was a bit too neat. M’sieur Avery, you are not basing this conclusion on any observation. You are not frightened of this man because you believe the facts don’t make sense up here –” the priest pointed at his head, “– you are frightened because you know the facts do not make sense in here.” And he pointed at his heart."
What is referred to is their middle of the night response to a scream from another compartment in their car. Some one or some thing had been interrupted while biting the neck of a young lady (Evin Durmaz). This is what Avery and Carter are discussing below:
"“Evin Durmaz is ill.” Carter paused, the razor pressed against his throat.
“I know. I went and saw her.” “I believe she will stay that way. Unless something is done.”
“I wonder if I can guess what that something might be?”
“It’s still on the train, Mr Carter. Whatever it is. I’m sure of that, and I think you know that too. Either it’s lurking somewhere, or it’s hiding in plain sight among the other passengers. And unless we find it, Evin Durmaz is going to die. Or worse. And she might just be the first.”"
There is plenty of description of this legendary train and its effects on its passengers.
"The Orient Express rattled and whistled, slowing as it approached a bend in the tracks. Another locomotive passed, a sudden blast of sound and fury which vanished just as suddenly, silence rushing back in to fill the vacant volume. A few hours ago he’d been lying in bed enjoying that noise, that feeling, of rattling along, heading east all through the night, increasing the miles between himself and Paris. Now it felt very different. Now he felt trapped."
In addition there is more delving into the background of the main characters than I anticipated. And it goes beyond the usual in this genre:
"Carter could remember going to the schoolhouse in Boulder as a boy—when his mother could afford it, at least—and Miss McQuaid replacing the map of America on the wall when Utah became a state. That had been a good month or two after the date, as a matter of fact, though the school had got the flag replaced pretty quick, with the new one that had forty-five stars. That was more important than the map, apparently, which Miss McQuaid paid for out of her own pocket. Maybe that was what had given Carter a sense of the world: having that map on the wall as an eight-year-old….Thinking about Boulder and Miss McQuaid’s schoolhouse made him feel a little better. Not much, sitting here alone in the smoking car with the lights turned low and the unknowable Carpathian backwoods whooshing past the window. But a little. He realised he’d never felt properly scared before. Not in New Mexico with Cesar, not aboard the Esmerelda during the hurricane, not out in the infinite Saharan sand dunes with Tuaregs taking pot shots at his company’s patrol. He’d been running on immutable youthful confidence his entire life."
Certainly a satisfactory tale of violence and the macabre, even if it is only the introduction of these “hunters of the supernatural.” I may even choose to travel with them on their next adventure.
February 26, 2020
Shane Carrow’s Vampire on the Orient Express is a quick, entertaining, and great read. I was expecting a mindlessly cheesy romp. But, although a few parts are predictable and the characters sometimes act implausibly, I got a well-written and interesting adventure that is such fun!
It’s 1914. In Paris, American adventurer Sam Carter has just deserted from the Foreign Legion. He boards the Orient Express destined for Constantinople. On board, Carter meets British diplomat Lucas Avery who has secrets of his own. Carter and Avery soon witness a frightening supernatural attack on a young girl. There’s something on board…something ancient and evil and hungry…
This novella is exciting and fast-paced! The timeframe and setting are well-written. I definitely feel like I’m right there hurtling along on the train with Lucas and Sam! I also love the vivid descriptions of the places.
Certain parts of the plot are a little cliched and predictable. The characters sometimes act implausibly. For instance, Lucas and Sam’s creepy and clueless (yet hilarious from a knowledgeable reader’s perspective) encounter with the vampires hiding in plain sight. However, I still enjoyed these parts because they add to the hilarity and fun! I also like the other interesting twists. There is lots of suspense and action to keep you entertained. I like the ending and the confrontations with the vampire. Carrow’s take on vampires isn’t particularly new but I wish he had delved more into the vampire mythology of the creatures.
I love the evolution of Lucas and Sam’s friendship! I thought there were hints at a possible romance between them. However, I appreciate the eventual outcome of their relationship. They are both great characters. They do act unwisely sometimes and fumble about ridiculously but that just adds to the fun! I enjoyed reading about Sam’s sad but interesting past. I really would have loved to learn more about Lucas’ spy work.
I also like the interesting secondary characters like Father Verninac and Captain Claes. I would’ve liked to know more about them but I understand the limitations of multiple character development given the restraints of a novella.
Vampire on the Orient Express is an entertaining and engaging novella that is super fun and easy to read. I really hope that this is the first in a series because I love the characters and world that Carrow has created!
🧛🧛🧛🧛 ½ vampires out of 5!
It’s 1914. In Paris, American adventurer Sam Carter has just deserted from the Foreign Legion. He boards the Orient Express destined for Constantinople. On board, Carter meets British diplomat Lucas Avery who has secrets of his own. Carter and Avery soon witness a frightening supernatural attack on a young girl. There’s something on board…something ancient and evil and hungry…
This novella is exciting and fast-paced! The timeframe and setting are well-written. I definitely feel like I’m right there hurtling along on the train with Lucas and Sam! I also love the vivid descriptions of the places.
Certain parts of the plot are a little cliched and predictable. The characters sometimes act implausibly. For instance, Lucas and Sam’s creepy and clueless (yet hilarious from a knowledgeable reader’s perspective) encounter with the vampires hiding in plain sight. However, I still enjoyed these parts because they add to the hilarity and fun! I also like the other interesting twists. There is lots of suspense and action to keep you entertained. I like the ending and the confrontations with the vampire. Carrow’s take on vampires isn’t particularly new but I wish he had delved more into the vampire mythology of the creatures.
I love the evolution of Lucas and Sam’s friendship! I thought there were hints at a possible romance between them. However, I appreciate the eventual outcome of their relationship. They are both great characters. They do act unwisely sometimes and fumble about ridiculously but that just adds to the fun! I enjoyed reading about Sam’s sad but interesting past. I really would have loved to learn more about Lucas’ spy work.
I also like the interesting secondary characters like Father Verninac and Captain Claes. I would’ve liked to know more about them but I understand the limitations of multiple character development given the restraints of a novella.
Vampire on the Orient Express is an entertaining and engaging novella that is super fun and easy to read. I really hope that this is the first in a series because I love the characters and world that Carrow has created!
🧛🧛🧛🧛 ½ vampires out of 5!
November 30, 2021
VAMPIRE ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS
By Shane CARROW …. Self-published: 6/26/2019
What an unexpected gem …. A short gothic novel (200 pages) in the vein of Bram Stoker’s: Dracula.
Lucas Avery is riding on the mythical and somewhat magical Orient Express in 1914, reluctantly making the three thousand mile excursion from Paris to Constantinople (Istanbul). He is somewhat resentful of his transfer, although he is traveling as a British diplomate, he is actually a spy. He incidentally comes across an American, Sam Carter in the smoking car. After a brief discussion, he senses that Sam likely is a deserter from the French Foreign Legion, hopefully putting himself out the reach of the French government. They both retire to their first-class carriage accommodations, only to awaken abruptly from screams nearby. They both barge into the adjacent compartment to find a teenage girl being ravaged by a “vague being” …. man or beast? They both have trouble focusing on the culprit visually or even pointing their revolver at “it” .. it somehow sidesteps them and vanishes. The girl is alive, but unresponsive … both note two adjacent stab marks on her neck. Lucas immediately recalls a tale told by one of his spy associates, in which he tracked down a vampire that arrived in Scotland amongst a boat filled with dead people. They both realize that something dangerous is lurking amongst the usual French and German businessmen and nobility. Both vow to help each other in the investigation and take down of the vampire … each anticipating the need for “holy water” and a wooden stake. No one here in this tale is interested in having sex with the vampire. …. only killing it!
Carrow crafts an intriguing , melodramatic tale filled with suspense and an overriding foreboding sensation as an exhilarating denouement unfolds. The characterization of both Avery and Carter are effortlessly developed into worthy heroes, up for the daunting task of achieving “vampire killer” status. The escalating tension compels the reader to briskly turn the next page. I look forward to downloading Shane Carrow’s Avery and Carter Book Two: “ Werewolf On the Western Front “
….. at readers remains.com ….
By Shane CARROW …. Self-published: 6/26/2019
What an unexpected gem …. A short gothic novel (200 pages) in the vein of Bram Stoker’s: Dracula.
Lucas Avery is riding on the mythical and somewhat magical Orient Express in 1914, reluctantly making the three thousand mile excursion from Paris to Constantinople (Istanbul). He is somewhat resentful of his transfer, although he is traveling as a British diplomate, he is actually a spy. He incidentally comes across an American, Sam Carter in the smoking car. After a brief discussion, he senses that Sam likely is a deserter from the French Foreign Legion, hopefully putting himself out the reach of the French government. They both retire to their first-class carriage accommodations, only to awaken abruptly from screams nearby. They both barge into the adjacent compartment to find a teenage girl being ravaged by a “vague being” …. man or beast? They both have trouble focusing on the culprit visually or even pointing their revolver at “it” .. it somehow sidesteps them and vanishes. The girl is alive, but unresponsive … both note two adjacent stab marks on her neck. Lucas immediately recalls a tale told by one of his spy associates, in which he tracked down a vampire that arrived in Scotland amongst a boat filled with dead people. They both realize that something dangerous is lurking amongst the usual French and German businessmen and nobility. Both vow to help each other in the investigation and take down of the vampire … each anticipating the need for “holy water” and a wooden stake. No one here in this tale is interested in having sex with the vampire. …. only killing it!
Carrow crafts an intriguing , melodramatic tale filled with suspense and an overriding foreboding sensation as an exhilarating denouement unfolds. The characterization of both Avery and Carter are effortlessly developed into worthy heroes, up for the daunting task of achieving “vampire killer” status. The escalating tension compels the reader to briskly turn the next page. I look forward to downloading Shane Carrow’s Avery and Carter Book Two: “ Werewolf On the Western Front “
….. at readers remains.com ….
September 10, 2019
Agatha Christie meets Dracula, with a couple of new twists on the vampire myth but sadly not much new on the mystery factor. This was fun and I enjoyed it for a quick holiday read, I missed having a decent female character though :(
June 2, 2020
Review pending.
November 5, 2019
This was a short one but good albeit leaving a lot of mystery and loose ends.
The story and main characters were engaging but it was very much a case of 'this character fits this pigeon hole' on the whole. If it had been a longer book or part of a larger series this would have been a detriment but I think it worked ok in context.
The vampires were suitably evil, classical in many ways but the main bad guy had a bit of a sad story that almost made you feel sorry for him. Almost. The ending wasn't quite what it was made out to be an was actually an interesting concept.
The story and main characters were engaging but it was very much a case of 'this character fits this pigeon hole' on the whole. If it had been a longer book or part of a larger series this would have been a detriment but I think it worked ok in context.
The vampires were suitably evil, classical in many ways but the main bad guy had a bit of a sad story that almost made you feel sorry for him. Almost. The ending wasn't quite what it was made out to be an was actually an interesting concept.
August 9, 2019
Well written, entertaining
Shane Carrow sets the stage for a story as old as time, good vs evil. Mr. Carrow sets the stage so you can see it in your minds eye, see the beauty, sense the danger, and fear the evil.
Shane Carrow sets the stage for a story as old as time, good vs evil. Mr. Carrow sets the stage so you can see it in your minds eye, see the beauty, sense the danger, and fear the evil.
September 28, 2020
Super entertaining twist on the traditional Dracula story. Perfect for Halloween and spooky reads.
February 23, 2020
When Lucas Avery and Sam Carter board the Orient Express, they expect all the bells and whistles that come with traveling to Constantinople in style. Instead, these two strangers become witnesses to a supernatural attack that leaves them scared and confused. Sam is perfectly fine with trying to pretend that he didn’t see the being that his mind is trying to block out. However, Lucas is compelled to get to the bottom of the mystery and convinces Sam to join him. After all, there’s an innocent life at stake.
I picked up this novella expecting a cheesy and fun story. What I didn’t expect was that this would be a great story that’d suck me in and leave me hoping that it’s the beginning of a new series. Shane Carrow had me so drawn in that I read the entire novella in one night. It’s such a fun and cheesy story with great characters and many hilarious moments that I can’t see why anyone wouldn’t like it.
The story takes place on a train traveling from France to Constantinople in 1914. We follow Lucas and Sam as they struggle to locate and defeat the vampires traveling with them. Lucas is a British diplomat and spy who vaguely remembers someone in his past mentioning their own supernatural adventures. Using this knowledge, he convinces Sam that he has to help him find and kill this supernatural being so they can save the girl who was attacked and has fallen into a mysterious coma. Sam, an American adventurer who has deserted the Foreign Legion, reluctantly joins the search.
I had so much fun following these two character’s adventures. Is it obvious who the vampires are? Yes. Is watching Lucas and Sam blindly fumble around during their investigation, unaware what or who they’re up against part of the story’s charm? Yes. It seems like these two guys are big dummies, but it feeds into the hilarious and fun charm that the novella has. I laughed so hard when these two characters just sat down with vampires and didn’t question a thing that I couldn’t wait to see how things would unfold.
Plus, the unlikely friendship that forms between Lucas and Sam is great. They bicker like an old married couple and form an unbreakable bond while fighting vampires and finding themselves in some deadly situations. I honestly thought there might be a budding romance at some point, but how their lack of romance unfolds makes sense for these two characters. The story is so short that I’m not sure that there’d be any room for romance unless the story turns into a series.
The ending was predictable, but it’s not bad. I just have a few questions that I’d like answered. I’m hoping that Carrow continues with these characters and turns this into a series. While I’d love to have some answers about how vampirism works in the universe he's created, I really just want to see these characters go on more hilarious adventures together.
I picked up this novella expecting a cheesy and fun story. What I didn’t expect was that this would be a great story that’d suck me in and leave me hoping that it’s the beginning of a new series. Shane Carrow had me so drawn in that I read the entire novella in one night. It’s such a fun and cheesy story with great characters and many hilarious moments that I can’t see why anyone wouldn’t like it.
The story takes place on a train traveling from France to Constantinople in 1914. We follow Lucas and Sam as they struggle to locate and defeat the vampires traveling with them. Lucas is a British diplomat and spy who vaguely remembers someone in his past mentioning their own supernatural adventures. Using this knowledge, he convinces Sam that he has to help him find and kill this supernatural being so they can save the girl who was attacked and has fallen into a mysterious coma. Sam, an American adventurer who has deserted the Foreign Legion, reluctantly joins the search.
I had so much fun following these two character’s adventures. Is it obvious who the vampires are? Yes. Is watching Lucas and Sam blindly fumble around during their investigation, unaware what or who they’re up against part of the story’s charm? Yes. It seems like these two guys are big dummies, but it feeds into the hilarious and fun charm that the novella has. I laughed so hard when these two characters just sat down with vampires and didn’t question a thing that I couldn’t wait to see how things would unfold.
Plus, the unlikely friendship that forms between Lucas and Sam is great. They bicker like an old married couple and form an unbreakable bond while fighting vampires and finding themselves in some deadly situations. I honestly thought there might be a budding romance at some point, but how their lack of romance unfolds makes sense for these two characters. The story is so short that I’m not sure that there’d be any room for romance unless the story turns into a series.
The ending was predictable, but it’s not bad. I just have a few questions that I’d like answered. I’m hoping that Carrow continues with these characters and turns this into a series. While I’d love to have some answers about how vampirism works in the universe he's created, I really just want to see these characters go on more hilarious adventures together.
August 14, 2019
I ABSOLUTELY enjoyed this book! It was not what I expected because frankly vampires have been done TO DEATH. But the book was very engaging and nicely written. The ending wasn't exactly what I expected, it wasn't good or bad just kind of made you go Hmmmmm. The characters were interesting and well thought out. Very nice experience of good, evil, faith, and belief.
Very compelling and Nicely Done!
Very compelling and Nicely Done!
June 13, 2024
3.5 ⭐️s (Rounded up for Goodreads)
When I first started and even before I started this, I thought this was going to be a 4 stars or higher read, because the concept is perfect, I love supernatural stuff and the enemy is a vampire and I love the older centuries and I love The Orient Express related stuff but unfortunately I had put my hopes too high for this one. Now I'm not saying this is bad, it's actually pretty decent, but there are a few things that should've been fixed or thought over.
1. There were quite a few typos. Almost like there wasn't an editor, (which there might not be.) One of the typos went like this: "What they were they doing." That's one too many 'they's.' A simple mistake, sure, but there are more typos. Another one: "That thing thing's scared of water?" Another double word that isn't supposed to be there, 'thing.' There were a couple more mistakes but I don't remember what they were.
2. The main character, Avery and Carter (Lucas and Sam) almost felt like they swapped personalities half way through. The first half: Sam Carter is the young (22) arrogant man who gave hero feels, not brave, but couragous, it felt like he would get up and run straight into danger to save you. Lucas Avery the older but still not old (30) man, felt like the more sensical and hardy and mature character who would make a plan before running straight into the danger. But once the second half started, it felt like they completely swapped. Carter was no longer the young man who would run into a fire to save you, Avery was. Carter was now the one who wanted to hide back and only followed along because everyone else was going. Huh?! Did you just secretly swap out the two main characters when I wasn't looking?!
They also felt like they were contradicting themselves quite a bit. Like Sam would be like: "Hey, we gotta save them! We gotta kill that monster!" To all of sudden being like: "Are you crazy?! That's a monster! We can't kill it!" (It didn't go exactly like that, but you get the point.) Like I said, they literally swapped lol
But other than that, I still loved the two main characters. They were honestly cute patooties.
3. The writing wasn't too great, it wasn't horrible though, and at some parts it was pretty good, but there were plenty of times where it just felt meh and contradictive.
Overall, it's alright. I am interested in continuing the series though, the next book is about a werewolf so that sounds cool! I also want more of Avery and Carter 🤣❤
When I first started and even before I started this, I thought this was going to be a 4 stars or higher read, because the concept is perfect, I love supernatural stuff and the enemy is a vampire and I love the older centuries and I love The Orient Express related stuff but unfortunately I had put my hopes too high for this one. Now I'm not saying this is bad, it's actually pretty decent, but there are a few things that should've been fixed or thought over.
1. There were quite a few typos. Almost like there wasn't an editor, (which there might not be.) One of the typos went like this: "What they were they doing." That's one too many 'they's.' A simple mistake, sure, but there are more typos. Another one: "That thing thing's scared of water?" Another double word that isn't supposed to be there, 'thing.' There were a couple more mistakes but I don't remember what they were.
2. The main character, Avery and Carter (Lucas and Sam) almost felt like they swapped personalities half way through. The first half: Sam Carter is the young (22) arrogant man who gave hero feels, not brave, but couragous, it felt like he would get up and run straight into danger to save you. Lucas Avery the older but still not old (30) man, felt like the more sensical and hardy and mature character who would make a plan before running straight into the danger. But once the second half started, it felt like they completely swapped. Carter was no longer the young man who would run into a fire to save you, Avery was. Carter was now the one who wanted to hide back and only followed along because everyone else was going. Huh?! Did you just secretly swap out the two main characters when I wasn't looking?!
They also felt like they were contradicting themselves quite a bit. Like Sam would be like: "Hey, we gotta save them! We gotta kill that monster!" To all of sudden being like: "Are you crazy?! That's a monster! We can't kill it!" (It didn't go exactly like that, but you get the point.) Like I said, they literally swapped lol
But other than that, I still loved the two main characters. They were honestly cute patooties.
3. The writing wasn't too great, it wasn't horrible though, and at some parts it was pretty good, but there were plenty of times where it just felt meh and contradictive.
Overall, it's alright. I am interested in continuing the series though, the next book is about a werewolf so that sounds cool! I also want more of Avery and Carter 🤣❤
June 1, 2020
Goes straight for the jugular from the start, a great traditional Vampire blast. Really enjoyed this.
November 28, 2021
I love anything that has to do with the Orient Express. Add vampires to the mix and this book is right up my alley. The story takes place in 1914 and takes you right back to the old stomping grounds of Dracula and Nosferatu. It almost had a Gothic horror feel. The characters are all interesting. The story is short but with continuous action. It is very atmospheric. A fun read and I look forward to more books in the series of Carter and Avery.
June 30, 2022
july 2020 reread: still one of the best books I've ever read, probably my favorite comfort read as well tbh
october 2020 reread: the above statement still stands. i first discovered this book just a year and four days ago, and i took my time rereading it through october because of how comforting it is. just the thing i needed, tbh, because it's obviously been a rough year. every time i read i find new little details i enjoy within carrow's prose. it just makes me feel warm and hopeful. i don't think i'll ever be over how much this series just feels like home.
june 2022 reread: i really don't have anything new to say, i just needed something comfortable to try and get me out of a slump, and what better book than this?? happy pride to mr. lucas avery
**
original review, october 2019:
absolutely amazing short read. I'm not really a fan of vampires, so I didn't expect to like this as much as I did, but man it is good. nice pacing and mythology, well-rounded characters, and surprisingly nice gay representation (I'm so glad that Sam was such an ally, and that Carrow didn't make the decision to be "accurate to the era", or whatever excuse it is homophobes make for hating LGBT people in historical settings). ideally, I'd love to see a sequel since the ending was so ambiguous, though it's also satisfying enough that I'd be content if we aren't so blessed... but a sequel sure would be swell
october 2020 reread: the above statement still stands. i first discovered this book just a year and four days ago, and i took my time rereading it through october because of how comforting it is. just the thing i needed, tbh, because it's obviously been a rough year. every time i read i find new little details i enjoy within carrow's prose. it just makes me feel warm and hopeful. i don't think i'll ever be over how much this series just feels like home.
june 2022 reread: i really don't have anything new to say, i just needed something comfortable to try and get me out of a slump, and what better book than this?? happy pride to mr. lucas avery
**
original review, october 2019:
absolutely amazing short read. I'm not really a fan of vampires, so I didn't expect to like this as much as I did, but man it is good. nice pacing and mythology, well-rounded characters, and surprisingly nice gay representation (I'm so glad that Sam was such an ally, and that Carrow didn't make the decision to be "accurate to the era", or whatever excuse it is homophobes make for hating LGBT people in historical settings). ideally, I'd love to see a sequel since the ending was so ambiguous, though it's also satisfying enough that I'd be content if we aren't so blessed... but a sequel sure would be swell
August 15, 2019
Very good
I like vampire stories. I was afraid this would be a Sherlock Holmes type mystery but it wasn't. It was a very interesting story about people riding the Orient Express and finding them selves with a vampire as a fellow passenger. I enjoyed reading this book and hope you will too. Happy Reading.
I like vampire stories. I was afraid this would be a Sherlock Holmes type mystery but it wasn't. It was a very interesting story about people riding the Orient Express and finding them selves with a vampire as a fellow passenger. I enjoyed reading this book and hope you will too. Happy Reading.
April 24, 2023
Was an old fashioned vampire monster novel with good writing style, tributes toward Dracula, and the mixture with the Orient Express making you think of Christie. I didn't love it as much as many, but it was good, and I plan to read the next in the series, Werewolf in the Wild West
January 15, 2020
A fun little thriller to read on a dark winter’s night. It ends far too soon but only because it will leave you wanting more.
Recommend.
Recommend.
February 13, 2022
Lot of people have set mysteries on the Orient Express in homage to Agatha Christie’s famous novel, but I’ve never before seen one quite like this. Carrow’s undead are quite frightening and the threat feels very real…but I’m getting ahead of myself.
Carrow opens by introducing his two main characters—an American deserter from the French Foreign Legion and an English spy. Both are on the famous train and the early chapters shows them meeting members of the supporting cast and settling down for their long trip. Then screams break the peace of the night and they encounter something that their minds don’t want to grapple with—but which they know in their hearts is not human. I want to stress here how well done this first encounter is. They don’t just discover a victim with fang marks on her neck—they metaphorically grapple with something clearly supernatural and being young men of the early twentieth century, that’s not something they easily accept.
From that point forward, things get much worse very quickly. They meet an Eastern European count and countess whose eyes are so sensitive to light that they wear shaded glasses. The reader is quick to think Dracula but honestly, things are far worse than I thought they would be. Carrow is drawing more on the early Eastern European myths rather than on the modern urban fantasy genre for his source material, and frankly, this makes his undead much more spooky.
The pacing also surprised me. Midway through the book he gives us what I had expected to be the climatic concluding action but it’s really the tip of the iceberg. If you like vampire stories, this is a good one.
If you liked this review, you can find more at www.gilbertstack.com/reviews.
Carrow opens by introducing his two main characters—an American deserter from the French Foreign Legion and an English spy. Both are on the famous train and the early chapters shows them meeting members of the supporting cast and settling down for their long trip. Then screams break the peace of the night and they encounter something that their minds don’t want to grapple with—but which they know in their hearts is not human. I want to stress here how well done this first encounter is. They don’t just discover a victim with fang marks on her neck—they metaphorically grapple with something clearly supernatural and being young men of the early twentieth century, that’s not something they easily accept.
From that point forward, things get much worse very quickly. They meet an Eastern European count and countess whose eyes are so sensitive to light that they wear shaded glasses. The reader is quick to think Dracula but honestly, things are far worse than I thought they would be. Carrow is drawing more on the early Eastern European myths rather than on the modern urban fantasy genre for his source material, and frankly, this makes his undead much more spooky.
The pacing also surprised me. Midway through the book he gives us what I had expected to be the climatic concluding action but it’s really the tip of the iceberg. If you like vampire stories, this is a good one.
If you liked this review, you can find more at www.gilbertstack.com/reviews.
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