Beasts in Velvet

by Jack Yeovil and Kim Newman

Book Overview

Another installment in the Vampire Geneivieve series from Warhammer Horror The dark, crowded streets of Altdorf, greatest city of the Old World, have always teemed with rogues and cut-throats. But now... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0743443071
• ISBN13: 9780743443074
• Release Date: May 2002
• Publisher: Games Workshop(uk)
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.4" x 6.7"

Customer Reviews

Fantasy with "DaVinci Code" pacing....

As good or beter than Newman's previous Warhammer novel, "Drachenfels". A nobleman, a psychic and a police detective must track down a "Jack the Ripper" style killer who is praying upon prostitutes in a fantasy city. The action is fast, the chapters short and the tension steadily mounts. There are plenty of red-herrings and plot twists which keep the reader guessing until the very end. Very innovative. Bears more in common with thrillers like "Red Dragon" or "DaVinci Code" than "Lord of the Rings" or "The Wheel of Time". Also very humerous. The detective is named "Filthy Harold" and he's clearly modelled after Dirty Harry. Instead of a Magnum, Harold carries a "Magnin"--a large throwing knife made by "Magnin the Steelsmith". One piece of advice. Read "Drachenfels" first. Although not a direct sequel, this book refers to the events of "Drachenfels" and gives away the ending of that book.

Gifted storyteller tries his hand at the gothic macabre.

To my opinion plots are overrated. Almost everyone in this genre is stealing from his predecessors. Even the great Tolkien borrowed from the Nordic myths and other sources (anyone who feels offended can ignore the last sentence). But no matter how chewed down or trivial the plot is an adequate author will make the difference. Jack Yeovil scores far above adequate. The story is a gothic mystery / detective style, embedded into the fantasy world of Warhammer. There is a maniac woman-slaughtering beast (jack the ripper style). A noble protecting his brother, an uncorrupted green cop, a psychic and a tough ex-cop trying to bring him to justice. Around them there is a score of minor colorful characters to serve as the prime suspects. Even though we have seen this kind of detective story a thousand times or more (on books and on TV) and even though it is not too tough to figure out the killer, the story still manages to capture the imagination. Jack Yeovil knows how to draw vivid likable characters and how to keep up suspense and intensive rhythm. There was even a nice and an unexpected twist at the end as a bonus.For anyone who is fan of Warhammer this is an excellent buy to your collection