Half the Blood of Brooklyn

By: Charlie Huston

Narrated by: Scott Brick

There’s only so much room on the Island, only so much blood, and Manhattan’s Vampyre Clans aren’t interested in sharing. So when the Vyrus-infected dregs of New York’s outer boroughs start creeping across the bridges, the Clans want to know why. Bad luck for PI Joe Pitt. Joe used to be a Rogue, work off his own dime, pick his own gigs, but tight times and a terminally ill girlfriend pushed him to the renegade Society Clan.

Now he has all the cash and blood he needs, but at a steep price. The price tonight is crossing the bridge, finding the Freak Clan, and figuring out what’s driving the savages to scratch at the Society’s door. No need to look far. The answer lies around the corner in Gravesend. From uptown to the boardwalk, war drums are beating. Murderous family feuds and personal grudges are being drawn and brandished, along with the long knives.

©2007 Charles Huston (P)2010 Blackstone Audio

Critic reviews

“As always, Huston’s formidable writing chops are on full display: his action scenes are unparalleled in crime fiction and his dialogue is so hip and dead-on that Elmore Leonard should be getting nervous.” ( Publishers Weekly)

“Well written and fast-paced, this third installment in Houston’s Joe Pitt Casebooks noir series…features all the hard-boiled action of the previous titles.” ( Library Journal)

I loved the Joe Pit Series and So Will You!

I love the Joe Pitt series, because it is something so unique, extremely well written and a great performance. The series embodies the very elements of the Hero’s Journey. Yes, we know, this is book 3 of a 5 part series, and it was recorded after My Body, which is the last book in the series. I almost bought the hard copy last fall when My Body was released so I could fill in the blanks. Needless to say this book was worth the wait.

Half the Blood of Brooklyn is a Fantastic book in the Joe Pitt series, which is the tale of a Vampire who is a detective, or is it a detective who is a Vampire, set in modern day New York. In preface of the book Charlie Huston both thanks and apologizes to Raymond Chandler and Bram Stoker for the liberties taken in the book, which is the perfect blend of both genres of fiction in the creation of THE Vampire Detective novel. The prose of the story is so rich and dialog so seamless that one can’t help thinking that perhaps Huston was channeling Chandler at some level, but through the writing he has created something that is very much his own style. There is an element of mystery that surrounds the story and you are easily transported into the multiple clans of the vampires in Huston’s novel as well as the violence that permeates this world with its own set of rules. It is also just a great detective novel.

Scott Brick’s performance (and I say performance rather than narration) in the series has been GREAT. What Scott does in this book exceeds the bench mark with everything he has read previously. He brings the written word alive and sets the words on fire. His performance is so passionate and dynamic that through his narration you feel the world of Joe Pitt come alive You are effortlessly transported to the world of Joe Pitt where he has to strike a balance between the vampire clans. Fantastic job! One hopes that if this book is made into a movie he will get to play the role of Joe Pitt.

another solid installment

If you are at this point in the series, you are probably already invested.

More of the same (in a good way) - solid writing, great voice work (hey, it's Brick)

One observation, not really a criticism -- the story in this installment is a little less self-contained. I think the episodic plot, the immediate issue or "mystery" that the protagonist deals with, takes a back seat to service the overall plot arc of the series. there is less about the immediate threat and more about complications in the recurring world and overall situations, and the story ends with issues maybe a little more open. It feels like a set-up for the next installments.
(much like Part II of abt any classic trilogy behaves)
It's not really a negative
while it would be a clever trick to be able to close the story AND keep momentum, that would just be a clever trick -- I think the change in pacing keeps the series from falling into a "set em up...knock em down" monotony and seems to be a common and natural place to open up a story to a larger arc (Dresden Files book 3 does this very clearly and the Harry Potter series also follows this rhythm for instance).


-the short term characters,situations nd themes are quite interesting
-the author is not afraid to make the threats a little more abstract and complex (protagonist having to juggle multiple elements)
- the long term characters are not too precious for change

If you are this far in, you'll enjoy it, I did

just prepare to immediately want book 4 (in production) to tie things up.

Order correction

Already dead is Volume 1, NO Dominion is Volume 2, this is book 3 ,Every Last Drop is book 4, My dead Body is book 5. Book 4 should be out September. Love these books! :D

Not the best in the series, Still good

This one took a bit to long to get started. Great at the end though. Definatly wanting to read the next one. I do wish the riders were more involved. Easily my favorite group, but kind of lackluster and neutered in this one.

Awesome Listen

Charlie Huston has done it again with this third book in the Joe Pitt Series, he is an amazing writer, and he brings us great characters that flow nicely into this story, and all his stories. Also Scott Brick did such an awesome job of narrating this audiobook, there are a lot of very good voice actors in the audio world, but I can not think of one who could have done a better job with this audiobook, he was definitely the perfect pick for this book, I am on to the next book in this series. If you have not yet discovered Charlie, give him a look, if you like good smart fiction, I am sure you will be pleasantly surprised. Also his Henry Thompson series could be a good place to start, That is where I became a big fan.

infection. H.I.V. N.Y.C. & a film noir feel

that is what I'd say about this one book. I've not read the other volumes sadly. they're not ALL in the + status. Wasn't sure about the author nor the storyline so this was a welcome surprise for me. gobbled up the story in 1 evening as well. I enjoyed the narrator & being new also I was happy w/ this overall. * Low talking 'about killed me! Loved the lack of 'mood music ' junk. I can leave my emotions up 2 the story w/o what usually happens 2 b awful stuff. I feel cheated out of more narrative if I'm honest. 😊
joe Pitt's a fun guy & I'm sorry he's fallen so hard but I'm still confident he will not disappoint us. Like a tough guy w/ his ♡ on his sleeve. Being a 🤨 well whatever He is... I was & am looking forward 2 more Fem intervention in the volumes 2 come. Who knows? thx 4 reading this 😃

A bit too much talking going on

It wasn't quite as exciting as the earlier ones in the series. Joe is still Joe, and the story is still noir, with vampires being a 'normal' addition to the world, but there was a lot of - well, I guess discussion is the best word - of religious-political factions in the vampire world. Of course, Joe is caught in the middle of it all, but... there was too much talk-talk (the Rabbi sharing his politics, Bird sharing his politics, Lydia sharing her politics, the Enclave sharing its politics, Amanda sharing hers and so on...) I wanted more action-story, less talking-story.

That and some of the suspense seemed put-on for the sake of the story: Joe didn't have to go through what he did go through, all he had to do is speak up and much of it wouldn't have happened. But then there'd be no story, huh...

Of course, it was still good, just not as thrilling as I had hoped. The narrator *is* the voice of Joe.

order

Good book but this is book 3, NO Dominion is book 1, Already Dead is book 2, Every Last Drop book 4, My dead Body is book 5. Staying in order helps with these books.

Joe Pitt crosses a bridge

I find myself addicted to the Joe Pitt stories, Huston's vibrant and gritty characters, and Brick's flawless vocal delivery. That said, I must admit that this is my least favorite book in the series. There is a lot of talk and political positioning by characters other than Joe Pitt. While I am sure Half the Blood of Brooklyn could stand alone, it rather feels like a bridge to get from one story arc to another. Like me, existing Joe Pitt fans will most likely enjoy this story. However, if I could recommend only one book in this series, it would not be this book, but rather Already Dead.

A one nighter!

Why? Because you can not put it down. At the onset, the writer pulls you in to a fantasy world that is aso out there that it seems impossible for Scott Brick to do his magic. Simon is spectacular in his persona with so much detail that you feel out of breath just keeping up. Thanks loved it and will look for more from this talented team. Thank you