Book Review - Department 19 - Will Hill

"My master is the second oldest vampire in the world," she said. "He′s more powerful than you can imagine."

"Like how powerful?"

"Like a God. Like that powerful."

"I don′t believe in God."

She smiled at him again, and this time Jamie saw the white fangs below her upper lip, and he shivered.

"You should," she said. "You really should."

When Jamie Carpenter′s mother is kidnapped by strange creatures, he finds himself dragged into Department 19, the government′s most secret agency.

Fortunately for Jamie, Department 19 can provide the tools he needs to find his mother, and to kill the vampires who want him dead. But unfortunately for everyone, something much older is stirring, something even Department 19 can′t stand up against...

I really liked the cover for this book- just getting that out there. It draws you to the book, saying pick me, pick me. It is dark and has a helmet that explodes with light. Then you get to the blurb and you are intrigued. Vampires! Secret government agency, adventure – everything someone wants in a book.

Now I will get the story. Jaime is a teenager with an attitude problem. Faced with problems then nearly dying and finding out his mother has been kidnapped would make anyone have an attitude problem though. There are no shiny vampires in this book. Yes, there are some ‘good’ vampires but most are of the killing and feasting variety. We meet people famous throughout history and the author gets back to the horror of vampires and other were creatures. 

It is very gory and most teenagers would love it. There is no explicit language, nor sex scenes. It is a straight out horror book with nothing else thrown in. Jaime is a great character as we see him struggle to deal with his anger and grow into a good man. The story sucks you in and doesn’t let go until the last words, even then the author leaves you hanging for the next book- there has to be another book.