Drawing Dead, by Brian McKinley, is set in 1930s New York, a time when the Mafia ruled supreme in the area. We first meet Faolan O’Connor, a hitman known as ‘the Wolf’, as he is preparing to go out on a job to take out Dutch Schultz. Faolan himself is also marked for death this night, and he knows it. He happens to have been one of those responsible for Charlie Luciano’s brush with death that earned him the name ‘Lucky’, and Luciano is ready to repay the favour.
But Faolan has a secret. He’s far more than he appears to be. He’s wily, and wary. ‘Fox’ might have been a better nickname than ‘Wolf’. And he isn’t quite human anymore… The Vampyr, as they are known, exist as an underworld beneath the criminal underworld, controlling things from the deepest shadows, and those of New York are currently at war with Vampyr of other cities. It is a part of this world that Faolan now belongs thanks to Darcy Killian. Question is- can Faolan survive this far more brutal arena, and protect the city he calls home?

This era in history, this time and place, fascinates me. I have a particular interest in these Mafia men of New York, especially Charlie ‘Lucky’ Luciano. In fact, I have an entire shelf of books devoted to this man who, in many ways, ‘civilised’ a brutal subculture. While most of these people were mentioned only briefly, they and the historical era are what drew me to the book in the first place. While you don’t get to see many of the historical Mafia players of the time, Arnold Rothstein, Lucky’s mentor, plays a very big role.

Now… I’m not a big vampire fan. I feel it’s been overused, especially after the fiasco that is Twilight. Sorry… vampires are not supposed to sparkle…  McKinley has chosen a rarer variation on the vampire theme. They aren’t technically dead. They do need blood to survive, and don’t really need to eat. They are stronger, faster, more resilient. Short of the head or heart being taken out, they can heal just about anything, and quickly too.

Drawing Dead is a wonderfully weird blend of urban fantasy and the ‘mafia/mobster’ novel subset of hist fic. Paranormal Mafia? How could I resist? It’s a gritty action story, but it contains layers of psychological growth and transformation. I loved how Faolan himself grew and changed, learning to trust, however grudgingly. As someone with trust issues, I found it easy to sympathise. Well-written and researched, with an engaging pace, it was easy to slip into the story and walk with Faolan.

If you enjoy the shows and books of the worlds of X-Files, Grimm, and Supernatural, or if you, like me, have a love of this particular time in America, take a peek at McKinley’s Drawing Dead.

***This book was first read for Reader’s Favourite in 2016, and reread for the Love Books Tour. Many thanks to Reader’s Favourite/ Love Books Tours, and the author for  providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.