Caffeinated Reviewer

The Dead Don’t Drink at Lafitte’s by Seana Kelly is the second audiobook in the Sam Quinn urban fantasy series. Narrated by Samantha Desz, Sam is still figuring out what she is when her vampire boyfriend find’s himself under attack. Come travel with Clive & Sam to New Orleans.

I’m Sam Quinn, the werewolf book nerd owner of the Slaughtered Lamb Bookstore and Bar. Things have been busy lately. While the near-constant attempts on my life have ceased, I now have a vampire gentleman caller. I’ve been living with Clive and the rest of his vampires for a few weeks while the Slaughtered Lamb is being rebuilt. It’s going about as well as you’d expect.

My mother was a wicche and long dormant abilities are starting to make themselves known. If I’d had a choice, necromancy wouldn’t have been my top pick, but it’s starting to come in handy. A ghost warns me someone is coming to kill Clive. When I rush back to the nocturne, I find vamps from New Orleans readying an attack. One of the benefits of vampires looking down on werewolves is no one expects much of me. They don’t expect it right up until I take their heads.

Now, Clive and I are setting out for New Orleans to take the fight back to the source. Vampires are masters of the long game. Revenge plots are often decades, if not centuries, in the making. We came expecting one enemy, but quickly learn we have darker forces scheming against us. Good thing I’m the secret weapon they never see coming

I love discovering new series and I am enjoying the Sam Quinn series. Sam is the owner of the Slaughtered Lamb Bookstore and Bar A bookstore & a bar…how could you not love her? She is a shifter, born from a witch, but she is more. We discovered some of her abilities in the first audiobook and get fresh developments in this installment. For this reason I recommend you listen to the series is order.

While her bar and bookstore are being rebuilt, she is living with Clive and his vampires. Clive is Master of the City and some vampires are not happy about having a “dog” under their roof, but Clive is their master and loves Sam.

Necromancy!! One of her skills mentioned in the synopsis is necromancy and, of course, she knows nothing about it, but a ghost warns her Clive is in danger and that opens the door to her learning more about this new skill. Others, and even some in Clive’s house, want him dead. Having Sam in his bed and as a secret weapon is handy. They thwart the attack before heading to New Orleans to respond.

The events in New Orleans kept me engaged and second guessing all the players. Secondary characters and villains have depth and draw you in. Seana Kelly gives us plenty of action as Sam navigates her new skills and steps not so lightly through vampire covens. Who is behind the attacks against Clive? Will Sam and Clive be able to deliver last death to them? It was a twisty action-packed tale where you cannot trust anyone.

Sam’s skills from picking up on emotions to physically fighting came in handy, as did some of her newer skills. I am looking forward to her honing those skills. I like Sam and enjoy her relationship with Clive. He is a sweetheart until he needs to bare his teeth. The two fit, and it leaves the drama and tension to the current case and overall story ARC concerning her family and those who want he dead.

The case in New Orleans wrapped up and Kelly left us in a good place with just enough foreshadowing to leave me craving the next audiobook.

Samantha Desz narrates and has captured the voice of Sam. I enjoy listening to her and find her pacing, accents and tone to fit the story.

Amazon | Audible

About Seana Kelly

Seana Kelly lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, two daughters, two dogs, and one fish. When she's not dodging her family, hiding in the garage and trying to write, she's working as a high school teacher-librarian. She's an avid reader and re-reader who misses her favorite characters when it's been too long between visits. She's represented by the delightful and effervescent Sarah E. Younger of the Nancy Yost Literary Agency

Website | Twitter | Instagram

About Samantha Desz

Samantha Desz is a classically trained actor with extensive theater experience. She also is an experienced voice actor, working on a variety of long form voice-over projects. Samantha has a passion for learning about different cultures and lifestyles. She's lived around the US and in London, England, called New York City home for nearly twenty years, and is currently living in the Midwest.

Website | Twitter

About Kimberly

Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram

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