Title: Those Who Hunt the Night

Author: Barbara Hambly

Series: James Asher #1

Genre: Horror

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

The Overview: At the turn of the twentieth century, a former spy is called into service to hunt down a vampire killer… Once a spy for Queen Victoria, James Asher has fought for Britain on every continent, using his quick wits to protect the Empire at all costs. After years of grueling service, he marries and retires to a simple academic’s life at Oxford. But his peace is shattered one night with the arrival of a Spanish vampire named Don Simon. Don Simon can disappear into fog, move faster than the eye can see, and immobilize Asher—and his young bride—with a wave of his hand. Asher is at his mercy, and has no choice but to give his help. Because someone is killing the vampires of London, and James Asher must find out who—before he becomes a victim himself. –Goodreads

Dave’s Review:

Barbara Hambly’s Those Who Hunt the Night is an enjoyable blend of gothic horror and mystery that brings to mind Bram Stoker’s Dracula. It is also notable as the first winner of the Locus Award for Best Horror Novel. Set in Victorian England, it captures much of the atmosphere and tone of Stoker’s classic, with its dark secrets, unsettling encounters, and genuinely frightening vampires. However, Hambly takes the concept in a somewhat different direction, giving readers a closer look at vampire society and a more human-like perspective on these creatures.

Unlike the increasingly glamorized and romanticized vampires that have become popular in more recent fiction, Hambly does not lose sight of what makes vampires frightening. They may have understandable motivations, personalities, and even recognizable human qualities, but they remain dangerous and unsettling. This balance between their more relatable characteristics and their fundamentally monstrous nature is one of the novel’s strengths.

Another feature that distinguishes the novel is its structure. Rather than relying primarily on the traditional conventions of gothic horror, Hambly approaches the story as a mystery investigation. The plot unfolds through the gathering of clues, questioning of suspects, and gradual uncovering of secrets. This gives the novel a different feel from Stoker’s book, even while retaining much of its atmosphere and sensibility.

I found Those Who Hunt the Night to be an entertaining and refreshing take on vampire fiction. It may not be particularly groundbreaking, and some aspects of the story are more engaging than others, but the combination of Victorian mystery and traditional gothic horror works quite well. For readers who enjoy vampires portrayed as genuinely dangerous creatures rather than romantic figures, this is certainly worth a look.