This was my first book by this author, and I wasn't expecting much, but it was so good! It's dark, almost horror vibes, and while I'm normally not a horror fan since I scare easily, I loved the atmosphere and the descriptions in this one. 

Sam Carter, American has deserted from the legion and stolen the pay packets of his fellow soldiers. Now he's taken a first class ticket on the Orient Express, trying to get as far away from France as possible, to Constantinople. 

Lucas Avery who works for the British secret service is upset at his transfer from Paris to Constantinople, but he has no choice but to accept it. On surface, he's either a banker or part of the diplomatic staff, whichever suits the moment. He's also gay which is a crime in those days. 

When Avery and Carter run to the aid of a young girl who was attacked, they see a vampire, but they cannot understand what it is they saw or if it even was real. Their minds were affected by the creature compelling them to look away, to not see. Though the authorities chalk the attack to some unauthorised passenger who has attacked the girl and escaped when Avery and Carter arrived, the two men know differently. 

With their own secrets and worries already, they have to team up if they're to destroy the creature. But they don't know how, and they don't have any resources. 

Apart from the religious angle, which I don't really believe in, and the fact that Sam is straight—lol, okay, I would have loved for them to end up together, but it's a nice team up too—I liked everything about this. It's a very short read but packed a punch. The whole atmosphere from the train to the snowy wastes where they chase the vampire to the cellar where Avery confronts it is very dark and spooky. 

If you love fast paced books with no let up on the action, dark fantasy (the genre not the biscuit), vampires who are as evil as they were originally intended (no sparkling), flawed characters who are struggling to do the right thing even when they're afraid, this is the book for you.