Reviews of "The Vampire Shrink" & "Dark Harvest" by Lynda Hilburn

Lynda Hilburn is a fascinating author. If you do decide to read and I hope enjoy her books, you will see from her her biography she has pursued a number of varied career paths in her life. Ms. Hilburn notes, “I sometimes feel as if I’ve already lived several lifetimes in the years I’ve inhabited this body”. Amongst her many pursuits, she is a licenced psychotherapist and certified hypnotherapist, the knowledge base of these health disciplines is certainly reflected in the creation and the voice of her character “Dr. Kismet Knight”. Ms. Hilburn writes in the first person so a reader sees the story unfold through Kismet’s eyes. I know many readers are not keen about books told from the first person point of view. However, Ms. Hilburn has crafted an excellent cross genre story and Kismet’s voice is wonderful.

I’ve read some excellent reviews of Ms. Hilburn's series that make a comparison with Laurell K. Hamilton’s “Anita Blake”, stories. And, yes Ms. Hamilton tells Anita’s story from the first person point of view and she exists in a paranormal world. However, as a reader I have to comment that I think that is where the parallel ends. Kismet is firm in her belief of what is real and she requires scientific evidence to disprove what she views as unreal. She is stubborn in her beliefs and is pulled kicking and screaming into a paranormal world that does not meet her definition of "reality". She does have somewhat of a extrasensory gift, however she is secure in her own skin and she is no warrior. These people claiming to be vampires are delusional as far as Kismet is concerned.

The Vampire Shrink

“My Involvement with vampires began innocently enough.” This is the first sentence of Kismet’s story and it speaks volumes.

Dr. Kismet Knight is a psychologist in private practice working in Denver, Colorado. At the opening of the book she meets a new young patient “Midnight”, who dresses ‘goth’ and claims, as their therapy session continues to be involved with a group of vampires at a bar called “The Crypt”, in downtown Denver. Kismet of course concludes that Midnight has created a fantasy world and is participating in dangerous activities with vampire ‘wannabees’. Midnight is completely enamoured with the leader of the ‘vampires’ whose name is “Devereux”.

Following the session with Midnight, Devereux pays Kismet a visit in the guise of wanting an appointment for therapy. Devereux has to be one of, if not the most charismatic vampire I’ve read. He is 6 feet tall, a studley, with long platinum hair and turquoise eyes. Devereux is 800 years old and Ms. Hilburn has written the vamps to become more powerful with age. Needless to say, when Devereux claims to be a vampire, Kismet engages him as an insane delusional patient.

The juxtaposition Hilburn creates between Kismet Knight and Devereux is fabulous. She is a modern independent woman with a Doctorate in Psychology whose analytical thought processes are founded in science and he is a 800 year old vampire leader of a coven who is an artist and an individual with essentially old world ideas. I hooted with laughter at some of the dialogue between these two characters as Kismet tries to school Devereux with respect to her expectations as a modern woman.

These vampires have varying strengths and abilities with respect to power, as you will find if you read the book(s) but I will say that mind reading, and entrancing humans are two of their gifts. The strength of their power depends on the sire and their age. Ms. Hilburn's vamps will rock your socks! Devereux also has an interesting power that enhances his vampire abilities and will surprise you.

There are a coterie of fascinating supporting characters that add to a plot that is exciting, suspenseful, a little frightening and full of twists and turns. As Kismet becomes more involved in the vampire underworld, her very existence is threatened. There is even a vampire with Dissociative Affective Disorder, now really; you don’t see that one every day! lol I have to say though that Kismet’s wonderful dark humor and tendency to psychoanalyze the vampires she encounters offsets any of the more frightening sequences.

A mortal FBI profiler “Alan” becomes involved when one of Kismet’s patient’s turns up in her office very nearly drained of blood. Alan is very handsome with a dark secret and he vies for Kismet’s affection creating a love triangle in the romantic plot. (This also adds to Kismet's confused feelings for Devereux).

I read “The Vampire Shrink”, early this year and have been eagerly waiting for the release of “Dark Harvest”.




Dark Harvest

The second instalment of “The Kismet Knight Vampire Psychologist”, series did not disappoint. In fact, it was just as thrilling, if not more so than the first book.

The story opens five months after the conclusion of “The Vampire Shrink”, Kismet has moved her office into Devereux’s building because he wants to be closer to her and offer protection. In addition, Kismet’s practice has now expanded to counselling vampires and she has gained a reputation as 'the vampire psychologist', because of offering therapy to ‘vampire wannabees’.

A belligerent, slimy radio talk show host is interviewing Kismet and a call comes in from an individual who claims to be a vampire. Kismet is immediately sceptical as it is daytime and the vamps she is familiar with are sensitive to daylight. However, this vampire proves to have unspeakable power. Lyren Hallow is a malevolent, manipulative, psychopathic creature with a God complex. Through his interference and influence, Kismet begins to act completely out of character. She knows something isn’t right, but cannot seem to grasp that she is not behaving normally or utilizing her usual analytical thought processes.

Devereux is completely besotted with Kismet and as this depraved maniac begins to control her mind more and more and his power is insufficient to offset Hallow’s influence, he becomes frantic and enraged and is forced to call in reinforcements. Kismet, however is resistent to Devereux's warnings and attempts to protect her.

As with the first book the supporting characters are well-developed and woven into an intricate plot. Luna, Devereux’s assistant and an ever-present thorn in Kismet's side proves to be more trouble than she is worth.

Kismet’s previous love interest and fellow psychologist Tom Radcliffe plays a pivotal role in the plot of this book. Tom, like Luna was introduced in “The Vampire Shrink”, and is a real 'piece of work'. The guy is a total narcissist and Kismet’s interactions with him had me laughing out loud.

The love scenes between Devereux and Kismet are beautifully written and with the deepening of their relationship, sex and his feeding intensify their shared experience. I read an interview with author Tanya Huff once who wrote a series of books in the 1980’s called “The Blood Books”, about a private detective who becomes involved with a centuries old vampire. Ms. Huff said in modern paranormal fiction there seems to be a connection between the taking of blood and sex that heightens the eroticism on the page. I have to agree and this is certainly the case in the scenes written for Kismet and Devereux.

Lynda Hilburn explores time travel, psychic phenomenon, reincarnation, magic and various psychological diagnoses and symptoms, all woven in to a riveting storyline as told by Kismet. IMHO these books are original and a high octane thrill ride that will keep you entertained from beginning to end. I highly recommend “The Vampire Shrink”, and “Dark Harvest”. I hope to see future publications in Ms. Hilburn's series.

Lynda Hilburn's website is: http://www.lyndahilburnauthor.com/