Vampire Shift (Book One) (Kiera Hudson Series One 1)

If there's one book that you need to buy , it's this one. No, scratch that..... Don't even bother getting one, get the whole series. This series never disappoints unlike some books that's really good but when you get to the next book, it's just plain boring. This series will keep you up all night for its fast pace, intriguing, the characters are lovable, it's witty, and it's simply beautifully written. Do not miss this series. I'm on my last book and will be getting the other series from mr. O'rourke.
I just wish that other series have it in paperback so i can give it as presents to my friends who doesn't own an ereader. Again, do not look for any other book, this is a must have book!

On the whole, I enjoyed this book. The story felt well paced, and with a few minor exceptions, it was well written. There are two main reasons I couldn't give this book a higher rating:

1. The protagonist has the most annoying habit of randomly talking to herself in full, coherent sentences during stressful situations. I figure the average person, while being thrown in life or death situations, would be hard pressed to formulate a full sentence and vocalize it. Kiera is constantly spouting stuff to herself; my favorite being "Please don't let me die!" Note that most of the time, she's not actually talking to anyone. These little snippets occur throughout the book, and I felt that a good many of them would have been better written as internalizations, especially considering the POV. They were so frequent as to be distracting, especially during 'intense' scenes.

2. The Love Interest seemed extremely forced. One scene in a hotel room and the protagonist is hooked. Kiera even mentions that something felt off about how accepting she was, but completely abandons that train of thought. Some detective! I was rolling my eyes at their declarations of luurve by the end of the book. The only saving grace was there wasn't a lot of purple prose, which would have promptly caused me to abandon the novel.

When taken by themselves (well, except for the second point), I can see how one could argue a higher rating for this book. The thing is - these items are glaringly obvious, considering how well written the rest of the book is. That being said, I will be reading the second book as I love books that don't romanticize vampires.

In summation, I recommend this novel if you're in the mood for a fast paced paranormal detective book with a few groan-worthy moments. Judging by the rest of the ratings this book has received, my complaints are highly subjective and may not bother you at all.

I have been struggling to find good books to read lately (fantasy). I enjoy the escape from reality from reading books of this genre.

This book was better than a large number I've read recently, but I found it rather predictable.

To sum it up, Headstrong heroine making stupid, impulsive mistakes, falling for the incredibly good looking male who has supernatural powers.

Tim O'Rouke's series, The Kiera Hudson Series, are well worth the price. His concept of a vampire bat species living underground is original and compelling. Vampire Shift (The Kiera Hudson Series (Book One)) Vampire Wake (The Kiera Hudson Series (Book Two)) Vampire Hunt (Kiera Hudson Series (Book Three)) Vampire Breed (Kiera Hudson Series Book Four)

OMG where to begin first off BUY THIS BOOK! Holy crap at only .99 cents for a kindle edition buy a few!!! I was worried that this was going to be the 10,382,823 Twilight knockoff book I've read but it was anything but! The concept was new and refreshing and although it took me a sec to adjust to Tim's view of "Vampires" and "Vampyrus" it didn't take me long to get used to the idea. I love Kiera! She's a strong, independent, kickass heroine who isn't going to wait for a guy to save her. I also fell in love with Potter and Luke I can't even type their names down without getting all hot and bothered. Basically buy this series I promise you won't be disappointed. And look for the last book Vampire Hollows on Feb. 13 : )

First thing, I love anything having to do with vampires! Movies, tv or books, I'm going to partake. I could see The Vampire Shift in my mind like a fun fast paced movie, thrilling me like a rollercoaster! After finishing this fast read, I'm thrilled to find out there's many more Kiera Hudson books to enjoy. Prepare to have a good time!

Yeah, this book read like a fan of the genre saying, "I can do that," but not really being able to do it. The main character was a hollow attempt at a Sherlock Holmes persona, the dialogue was mechanical, the "romance" made no sense, and while I applaud the novel take on "vampire" vs. "vampyrus" (or something like that), the whole notion of the bat-version of vampires wound up feeling really ridiculous. The swerve at the end could be seen coming a mile away, and the reason for Kiera's mother's disappearance was contrived and rather ridiculous. If you're going to try and integrate real-world behavior into an urban fantasy genre, you should at least try to do it well. This book didn't even come close. And if there'd been that many deaths in such a small town, the local population would have left or gone angry mob by that point.

When I started this book, I almost didn't continue. It's really slow, and the sentences just seemed choppy to me. I really didn't care for the writing style. I powered through it though and finished the book. The storyline over all is good, a different take on vampires to be sure, and made for a decent read in the end.

I wasn't sure about getting this book but after reading the reviews I thought I'd give it a try. I'm glad I did. It is different than the normal vampire genre. Not only that the following books ( I am on the 3rd) are carrying my interest and they are cheap!

This is a fun read, I enjoyed the low key on the romance between Kiera and Luke. However I suspect Potter will eventually become a love interest. Normally I like a little bit more sex in my books but this is refreshing and it's safe for preteens and young teens.

Just finished the series and was thrilled to find out there's a second series. Easy read with very interesting characters. Love the author. Can't wait to start the second series. Recharging the kindle now.

After reading many series while off on surgical leave, I stumbled upon series. At first I was thinking to myself "Nothing can compete with Twilight" but I can honestly say that I am now a super huge fan of the Kiera Hudson series! I will gladly ready anything published by Tim!

What can I say. I have a copy of every book that Tim has written and am fast becoming a "must read him" fan. Four books in four months, this guy is on a roll and I can see him becoming very popular with the teen generation.

I read all the fabulous reviews on the series, and took a chance. I am so happy I did. I read these books so fast and enjoyed every second! It is a new twist on the "vampire genre". It was fresh, current, suspenseful and amazing. I especially like how there is a book 4.5 that explains the other side of the story. THIS SERIES WILL NOT DIAPPOINT YOU! I just now CANNOT wait for the new books to come out! Thank you TIm for such a great series!

This book was VERY predictable. I will not be reading the second book or finishing the series. Main character is your typical "I didn't know I was special or overly beautiful." The plot was not only predictable, but lacked more than basic development.

I downloaded this to read while on vacation. It was a really good read. I will be reading the next book because I am interested in what happens next and that doesn't happen a lot with free books.
I will even pass this on to my sixteen year old.

I don't know how long this author has been writing, but this felt like a first novel to me. I enjoyed some portions of the character dynamics, and the mythology was interesting, but the book as a whole did not leave me running to the next in the series.

I absolutely love this series! Kiera Hudson is a character that you'll absolutely adore. She stands her ground and has an eye for solving crimes. She, along with Sergeant Murphy, Luke, and Potter try to keep the vampyrus from feeding on the people of the small town she's assigned to police. But the more the vampyrus feed, all the more vampires being created. Secrets will come to light but this is only the beginning. After you read this first book of the series, you'll beg for more. It only gets better........

I loved this book! It is very fast paced and keeps you on your toes. You think you have it figured out when there is a new twist that turns your whole theory around. I loved it and will personally finish reading the series!

While the author tried to pull some rabbits out the typical vampire hat, I felt like the tricks just weren't that interesting. I didn't really enjoy the whodunit, and this shouldn't have become a series. You might enjoy it, I didn't.

This book was soooo super awesome and super cool that I couldn't get enough of it!!

Filled with wit, action, romance, and zomgs you can't turn (or click lolz) the pages fast enough to see what will happen next.

If you are a fan of paranormal, murder/mystery, or romance then this book is for you! There is something for everyone!!

Definitely something to sink you teeth into on a cold spooky night ;)

Vampire Shift (The Kiera Hudson Series (Book One))
This book was great, exciting and unpredictable. Interesting characters and a likable, inteligent heroine. This was a great mystery story with twists and turns to the very end. I loved her Sherlock Holmes style of detecting. I will be buying the next book as soon as I finish this review.

If you like detective stories with alot of twists and turns and ofcourse some paranormal stuff...you should definitely read this book!
I really like vampire and other paranormal stories and have read alot of them, but I was kind of tired of reading about the same things over and over again. You always got a heroin who is really pretty, but kind of weird or strange and has no friends. But at some point she gets the perfect boy and becomes the center of attention and everything always happens so fast.

This is not the case with Kiera and Vampire Shift. She is a police rookie that gets sent to a small town in the middle of nowhere, where alot of strange murders have taken place. The atmosphere in this town is very cold and dark and I really got the spooky and scary pictures of this place in my head. Kiera starts to investigates the murders with the help of her "gift", which allows her to see things around the crime scene that most other have missed. At first it doesn't very spectacular, but there is (I hope) a bunch of stuff going on that the reader and Kiera don't know about.
Ofcourse there is a romantic part of the book as well, but it is not the main story in the book.

I really enjoyed Kiera and her struggling to find the truth about those murders and about herself and her mother, who has gone missing a couple of years back. I also liked it that the autor took his time in developing the character of Kiera and she doesn't evolve from a normal girl into a superhero over night.
One thing I found somehow irritating is the origin of the vampires in the book (SPOILER!!!!). The good ones are some sort of per-historic human/bats/vampires and the bad ones are a mutation. I think its actually kind of flat and funny. But maybe thats just me :)

So in conclusion: If you are in the mood of a good written detective story with alot of suspense and supernatural beings as well as a little bit of romance...thats the book for u!

I really like this story, it was so creepy yet so vividly breathtaking in details. So many twists and turns I did not see coming, which was really awesome! I really liked how this is a story of vampires, but the vampires themselves had a certain zombie-ish aspect to them. I love being taken by surprise by authors. I cannot wait til the second book comes out!! :)

This novel was very unique to say the least. I loved all the vampire and e everything but I have found, once again, a novel written in the British style of writing. It took my a while to figure out what Keira meant when she said this like"plasters" aka bandaids, and "windscreen" aka windshield. All in all it was a good read. I actually forgot I had the book in my library so when I came across it I thought I had a phantom book for a second. But then I remembered I did download it for free on the store. Recommended for teen readers ages 16+. Not for sexuality but for graphic scenes.

Love this book, so excited to read the Un cut version. The start of a great and very interesting series. I would have never thought of vampires in this light. A very nice change in a almost overdone genre.

At first I really wasn't sure about this book but tried it anyway. I love the characters and the storyline. I read the whole series, I seriously couldn't put them down. Had great action, suspense, and romance.

I liked the book, but I really wish it had been better edited. Perhaps the author could just learn the difference between "instant" and "instance." These are two different words. Other grammar issues kept reminding me that it's a lower level book and not professional.

Book was alright. I hate these books that are split into mini-books. I found it hard to believe the character only kissed one guy when she's supposed to be so great looking and I couldn't believe that she would fall in love so quickly with the bat.

For all of you out there who love paranormal this is a must read. I can't believe I kept putting off buying and reading this book. Love the characters and Potter is my favorite. I don't normally write reviews I just wanted to say that this is a good quick fun read that leaves you wanting more

I don't usually write reviews for books, but after reading this one I decided I needed to write one. I decided to read this book after going through the reviews. Most of them are positive and some even compare this author's work to Meyer's work. Please understand that this book is no where in the same league as Meyers. The author has potential, but doesn't quite do it with this book. The characters don't have realistic emotions to events. Spoiler**** There is a scene where the main character finds out her co-worker is a vampire bat and then she starts making out with him. I know this is fiction, but to make it more realistic, I would have liked to know how she was feeling about finding out that vampires are real. It just seems too unreal that she would really not care and just jump into bed with the strange creature. Then, after another chapter she claims to love him. However, there was no build up in the book between these two characters to make this "love" believable. That's basically how this whole book continues on and on. The story line is great, but the characters and their emotions aren't believable.

This book isn't very well written- more gerund phrases than I've ever seen abd the word "disorientated"! Yikes! In spite of that, i read the entire book due to the new take on vampires. I won't be reading the rest of the series.

As promised, I am re-doing my Review for this book. My views have shifted dramatically with the books, as well as the Author. I find myself loving this series and telling everyone about it. This first book was slow for me to get into and then picked up midway and turned for the better towards the end. A bit of a roller coaster ride I'd say, oh but a fun one.

I have read all the volumes for the first series and now I'm on to the second set. I'm really excited to see what the Author has got in stored for us and Kiera. You should give the set a try, they really are worth it. I will be a fan and will continue reading this Authors works from now on, and quit second guessing! 5 Stars baby, 5 stars!!!

I enjoyed this book, 100%. The main character of the story is much more than that of other characters I have read about in Vampire romance books. She is very stong minded and intelligant. The vampires are traditionally dark, mysterious and still very sexy. The story line has a fresh new approach in that it is not your typical vampire romance. Tim O'Rourke as an author, has in depth imagry and detail so vivid that is just amazing.

The author left editing mistakes in it! Seriously, some of the words were struck through but left in. This epitomizes why people should not be allowed to self publish without sending their product to a professional editor first. Had a good idea, but very poorly executed.

Want a great read? The kind where you pick up a book and can't put it down? Look NO further! I've just finished the 4th book in the Kiera Hudson series, and all I can say is WOW! Tim brings each of the characters in his books to life superbly and keeps your heart pumping with twists and turns I never saw coming. This series grabs you from the start and doesn't let up. There are NO dull moments in this series!

I have no doubt you'll fall in love with Kiera as much as I have and I'm greedily looking forward to the next installment. This is one series you won't regret having. If you like feeling as though you're standing right next to the characters in a book, you won't be disappointed.

I give you fare warning...if you read the first book, you'll be as hooked as I am!

My hats off to Tim for such compelling, spell-binding entertainment!

I was really into the book until Kiera found out what her colleagues really were, then it kinda dwindles down in suspense from there. It was okay but not great, so okay that I don't know about reading further into the series.

Was very surprised at how awesome this book was I usually only read vampire romance like Christine feehan or laurell k Hamilton. But this book was cheap and I really needed something to read damn I glad I did so many twist and turns right when u think the book is predictable it is anything but. I just finished the book and all ready bought the next one. I liked the personalities of all the characters they were likable. Great book will reread again

I loved the concept and the ideas in this book - and I'm a little curious to know what happens next but won't be reading the next book. Maybe I'll find someone to tell me what happened.

I found some of the writing a bit cumbersome and explanations unnecessary or laboured . Simple would have been better. The explanations about what Kiera sees and the conclusions she reaches about a world we are not familiar with were fine but the general stuff about the world as we know it could have been simplified in many cases (we get it!).

However, great concept and story idea.

Entertaining enough, but character development was lacking. For a logical thinking police officer, the main character certainly lacked basic self preservation skills. And it was pretty annoying reading about a police officer being afraid of confronting a stranger on the street to simply ask directions. Wth? For a free book, it did entertain me for a quick read on a boring evening. I did really like the premise. But without better character development, I won't be going out of my way to read further.

I don't want to be rude to this author because they really tried. It has a good plot, but it's poorly written. I really had to struggle to finish reading. You could give it a try, maybe this book just isn't for me. You could definitely like it, but I didn't.

My new favorite series! I was hooked after the first few chapters! I read the whole series (books 1-4.5) in two days! Once I started, I couldn't put down my Kindle! I am eagerly awaiting book 5 to come out! I am so glad I gave this series a shot! The writing style and grammar is excellent! Tim O'Rourke, you are a GENIUS!!!!!! I am glad to have finally found a series worth reading!!!! I LOVE IT!!!!!

I was really hoping this would be a good series but I read the first book and decided not even to waste my time with the next one. It just didn't keep me all that interested and I really couldn't wait to finish it to start my next series.

Sorry :-(

Let me start by saying that when I first read the synopsis for Vampire Shift I was a little leery. I mean it's talking about police work, crime scenes, murder investigations, the main chic is a cop...To say that my Urban Fantasy radar was going off is a bit of an understatement.

More like there was a four alarm siren in my head, bleeding my brain through my ears, screaming Don't do this to yourself!! You don't like Urban Fantasy/CSI type books!

But....I gave it a go anyways...and it was AWESOME!!

Ok so this is NOT another one of those UR genre books. Nope you don't find yourself sucked into a world of boring police paperwork, trying to solve a murder, while the big bad heroine chic runs around kicking butt, and saving the world. Don't ask me why but those kinds of book tend to bore me half to death...Chinese water torture might even be more preferable in those cases.

In fact this "big bad chic" gets her butt handed to her on more than one occasion;)

Vampire Shift will leave you on the edge of your seat, gripping your Kindle. No emotions are left behind here. Tim O'Rourke makes sure to paint a picture that will not only make you swoon for his characters, but leave you utterly TERRIFIED of the dark. Jumping every time the cats start stampeding through the house in the middle of the night. Even for the not-at-all-religious wishing you had a bottle of holy water & a crucifix to sleep with. Maybe even praying for one;)

Keira's character is well done and fleshed out. YES she has a tough girl facade. YES she is basically a mess with a death wish at times. But it works for her. I love that she is all snark and attitude slaps in the face, even after she finds out that she is up against things of nightmares, that can very well kill you. I laughed out loud on more then one occasion at her comments while she was seconds from having teeth sank into her. The best way for me to describe her is Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Which would explain why I love Keira...because I mean who doesn't love Buffy?

There are parts throughout the book that you might think to yourself "Wow that was random. Why did I need to know that?

PAY ATTENTION PEOPLE I assure that Mr. O'Rourke doesn't just go throwing random, unnecessary thoughts of filler in there. Every last detail comes back around full circle. Taking you on twists and turns you never could have pictured. Taking the most insignificant, barely there characters, and turning them into OMG moments. Do yourself a favor. Stray away from the usual Paranormal Romance and jump into this dangerous world, where the humans are reminded that vampires are not friends. Where vampires are reminded that they are monsters, a creation of all things evil and chill inducing.

That's right kids...these vampires DON'T sparkle....and I loved every minute they tried to scare the pee out of me!

I was hoping to find a great series with a strong female lead. This wasn't it. The characeters weren't likeable and the story dragged on. Too much background and not enough dialog. I don't get how this is a series. I really love these kinds of series usually. It almost makes me feel like I should re-read it, but I can't make myself do it. It was boring the first time and will be again. I kept waiting for the love story to come together and it was all talk and no action. Even though this book is inexpensive, I'd save your money and find something else.

Kiera can "see" more than most, that's certainly true, but half is wrong and the rest is unhelpful and/or ignored by everyone -- even herself.

The story is a "hot mess" and the editor (if there was one) should be shot. The last 15% or so suddenly acquired an editor, but we all should have given up by then.

I don't know where Kindle books get so many raters with SUCH low standards!

What a disgusting waste of my time reading this book. Totally ridiculus! Vampire bats?? Oh please, couldn't the author come up with something better? I actually did read the whole thing, in pure agony. I couldn't wait to get it over with already! Very dissapointed!

Let me just start by saying I very rarely have found the opportunity to give a book series 5 stars.Kiera Hudson and her band of teammates was one of the best things I have read all year. There are tons of twists and turns when the obvious explanation turns out not to be the actual explanation. It keeps you on your toes and wondering what will happen next. A lot of people binge watch TV....I binge read. And I have yet to be able to put this series down.
Despite this, there are just a couple of things that have seemed to turn me off a bit. And they are totally personal opinions, that I am aware not all readers agree with. The first being the amount of unnecessary detail in places. I like to call it "fille." When it seems like a writer just starts overly describing things that aren't relevant. It always comes off as trying to lengthen the book in a way instead of sticking to the story line. I understand that with a good description, it is able to bring the characters and scenery to life for a reader. To an extent. The first book in the series was perfect. Just the right amount of description to grasp the situation and be able to picture it in your mind. But as the series continues, it gets a little out of hand. I am now on series 2, and at this point, I am literally skipping PAGES, without missing anything of any importance. It feels like a waste at times.
The next thing is the action and fighting. Again, I understand the purpose behind it. This is not strictly a fairytale romance novel. Naturally, there is going to be fighting. But again, these fight scenes go on for way too many pages. Chapters even. I want to know what happens...how many wolves or vampyrus die....if any of the good guys get hurt...and that's about all that I care to get out of these pages. As I said, some readers will naturally disagree and love these parts the best. It is just something I could do without.

Despite these things, I do LOVE these series. They are definitely a great read, and something I will highly recommend!

This is my first time writing a review but was pushed to this as this book was so dismal. Yes, it is inexpensive, but really not worth the price. It nearly all takes place in the dark, in the most awful weather. There is not one scrap of fun. You are not left hopeful for the future and none of the characters, including the heroine, were likeable.

3.5 STARS

It was the beautiful cover that first intrigued me to read this book, as a refreshing twist on the covers we all know and hate. You know the ones; the ones with striking girls looking off into the distance wearing ball gowns or surrounded by something else completely irrelevant to the story. Well the bloody tear changed that and it worked. After all I picked up the book.

This also isn’t your typical book where the obvious good guys beat the crap out of the obvious bad guys as the female protagonist either kicks butt or hides behind the men. The lines were blurred and you never knew who stood on what side. On one page you find something to say that the person you were rooting for is the bad guy and by the next it’s all swapped around again and you’re completely lost. O’Rourke has managed to spin a story that keeps you on the edge of your seat, with its dark mystery and scheming characters.

The characters themselves were all very complex because as I’ve already mentioned it was hard to distinguish their true motives and assumptions were quickly disregarded and downright destroyed as something else came to light. Kiera was the one constant in this book, with her by-the-book policeman ways and 6th sense for clues (she had a Sherlock personality (I’m going to pretend that’s a thing)). She did come out a little flat and there wasn’t much to connect with but I think O’Rourke was more focused on the plot that has too many twists to count!

You have to pay attention to every single detail in this book, it’s all necessary and the little pieces of information that you’d normally overlook are a lot more important than you’d think.

Posted on: http://enchantedbyya.blogspot.co.uk

Vampire Shift is a fascinating read. Set in a small, remote town in England with the main buildings being an inn, a police station and a church. It is surrounded by fields, cliffs and the sea. For some reason when visualising the fields and the inn I imagined the setting to be similar of that in 'An American Werewolf in London'. The only difference being is that this novel is about vampires.

Keira was an interesting character from the beginning, having become a police officer so young and with high ambitions. When she decided to take on the murder cases and those of missing people in the Ragged Cove one of the first places for her to visit was, of course, the police station. With a very limited workforce and the sergeant sitting smoking a pipe and wearing slippers in this remote town, I couldn't help but imagine 'Heartbeat' and 'Hamish Macbeth'.

As the story unfolds it covers many readers favourite genres. For me, it began as a drama, turning into a thriller, horror, part romance and throughout is quite adventurous with a few action scenes in there too. It is an exciting read at a nice pace. There is always something interesting happening.

Tim O'Rourke's love of modern music really shows as he mentions some songs and artists, including Adele. This gives the story a more current feel to it. However, with phone lines down, population low, and the remote setting it also feels quite eerie, with an older feel to the story too. The difference between the setting feeling older, but with modern characters and music is exciting.

Initially, I would have rated this novel four stars but towards the end something happened that I didn't expect and I thought that it was slightly too much for the story. This may be ignorant on my part as there are more stories in this series and it could be that what I am referring to will pick up in the next book. Maybe I have been harsh and should have given this novel four stars as was intended.

I will be reading the sequel, 'Vampire Wake', next.

I am a sucker for vampires. Always have been, always will be. In this story, it's not just vampires Kiera must deal with and I really enjoyed the new take on the genre that Tim created. Ever wonder about those bats? Well, now you will. Kiera Hudson is a young police officer sent to a remote English village that seems to have more than its fair share of gruesome murders. Dealing with those dredges up feelings from her past including the unexplained disappearance of someone close to her. The other characters (Luke, Bishop, Potter, Murphy, etc.) had me entertained and wondering exactly what their roles would be. Tim did a fantastic job of writing in twists and turns that kept me guessing the entire way. There were some minor editorial errors (lots of sentences starting with gerunds) but they weren't too distracting. In all, Vampire Shift was an original concept with a new take on vampires. Great start for a self-published author plus he has an awesome bio picture on his site.

This was a really good read. I couldn't put it down. I like reading on my way to and from work (I travel by train) and much to my surprise I finished it sooner than I expected, need I say more. One thing that bothered me just a little was the misspelling of the words realize, realized, and realizes. The "z" is replaced with "s". I'm guessing Mr. Tim O'Rourke is partial to the British spelling of this word. But, aside from that can't wait to read the rest of the series, I recommend this book and those following.

*Side note: after doing some research I realized that "realize" outside of North America is spelled with an "s". Just an FYI in case anyone was curious to know.

More than FIVE stars!!!I will be honest, this review is bittersweet for me. One the up side I absolutely LOVED this book, one the down side I finished it in just a few hours and now it's over. ;) It's not that it is a short book or a novella, it was that it caught me at the first few lines and I could hardly put it down from there! I stayed up till 11:30 pm because I just HAD to know how it ended. Vampire Shift was thought to be released on the store.com on Sunday, June 26, 2011 but to my surprise I got a message from the author that is was up and ready for download! This is not your run of the mill vampire story by any means. There are murders, and mysteries, twist and turns throughout. The main character, Kiera Hudson, is a fresh out of the Academy cop in the southwest of England, who volunteers to go to the town of The Ragged Cove, a town so remote she loses radio signal in her car the closer she came to the town, no phone signal, closed signs on most of the little shops and stores that line the cobblestone streets, and on first inspection not a soul around. Oh and also a town where other cops that have been sent to work there have gone mysteriously missing! O'Rourke left nothing missing in my imagination of this quaint little town. His descriptions are so thorough, and the story plays out beautifully. On arriving to The Ragged Cove, Kiera pops in to the police department to meet her co-workers, one a hottie, one a arrogant jerk, and another a grandfatherly type. Not soon after saying her hello's she tags along to a murder call and gets her first taste of the craziness going on in this quiet little town. As the story progresses Kiera discovers things about her family she never thought possible and finds love she wasn't looking for. Things are not always as they seem in The Ragged Cove and you will be on the edge of your seat wanting to know more the further along you read. This is a great beginning to a Kiera Hudson trilogy that will not disappoint!

Let me start by saying that when I first read the synopsis for Vampire Shift I was a little leery. I mean it's talking about police work, crime scenes, murder investigations, the main chic is a cop...To say that my Urban Fantasy radar was going off is a bit of an understatement.

More like there was a four alarm siren in my head, bleeding my brain through my ears, screaming Don't do this to yourself!! You don't like Urban Fantasy/CSI type books!

But....I gave it a go anyways...and it was AWESOME!!

Ok so this is NOT another one of those UR genre books. Nope you don't find yourself sucked into a world of boring police paperwork, trying to solve a murder, while the big bad heroine chic runs around kicking butt, and saving the world. Don't ask me why but those kinds of book tend to bore me half to death...Chinese water torture might even be more preferable in those cases.

In fact this "big bad chic" gets her butt handed to her on more than one occasion;)

Vampire Shift will leave you on the edge of your seat, gripping your Kindle. No emotions are left behind here. Tim O'Rourke makes sure to paint a picture that will not only make you swoon for his characters, but leave you utterly TERRIFIED of the dark. Jumping every time the cats start stampeding through the house in the middle of the night. Even for the not-at-all-religious wishing you had a bottle of holy water & a crucifix to sleep with. Maybe even praying for one;)

Keira's character is well done and fleshed out. YES she has a tough girl facade. YES she is basically a mess with a death wish at times. But it works for her. I love that she is all snark and attitude slaps in the face, even after she finds out that she is up against things of nightmares, that can very well kill you. I laughed out loud on more then one occasion at her comments while she was seconds from having teeth sank into her. The best way for me to describe her is Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Which would explain why I love Keira...because I mean who doesn't love Buffy?

There are parts throughout the book that you might think to yourself "Wow that was random. Why did I need to know that?

PAY ATTENTION PEOPLE I assure that Mr. O'Rourke doesn't just go throwing random, unnecessary thoughts of filler in there. Every last detail comes back around full circle. Taking you on twists and turns you never could have pictured. Taking the most insignificant, barely there characters, and turning them into OMG moments. Do yourself a favor. Stray away from the usual Paranormal Romance and jump into this dangerous world, where the humans are reminded that vampires are not friends. Where vampires are reminded that they are monsters, a creation of all things evil and chill inducing.

That's right kids...these vampires DON'T sparkle....and I loved every minute they tried to scare the pee out of me!

O'Rourke has done it again, creating an intriguing masterpiece, completely original and captivating. This vampire novel is not like anything I've ever read before, and O'Rourke's combination of police knowledge and vampire lore makes for a riveting new series starring Kiera Hudson, a young aspiring policewoman. Complete with suspense, mystery, and intrigue, Vampire Shift takes the reader on a journey into the depths of The Ragged Cove, a place where many have ventured, but few have returned.

I love that Kiera is a strong female lead, possessing the gift of sight where so many others miss vital clues. An asset to any police force, Kiera comes on the scene in The Ragged Cove only to be met with disdain by the current police force. The fact that Kiera does not crumple and stays true to herself, trusting her instincts, makes her an outstanding, strong character that readers will quickly come to love.

O'Rourke weaves together a story of horror and romance in this first book of the series, and I cannot wait for the sequel to release. I highly recommend this novel to all readers, both young and old alike. Five stars to this magnificent novel.

I got as far as Chapter fifteen and had to give up. From the beginning, the idea that there was no massive police presence of high ranking officers and investigators in a small town which boasted 30 murders, missing persons and desecrated graves, was totally unbelievable. The characters were flat, even the main character, who as the narrator should have taken us deep into her personality. The writing left something to be desired. Apart from more "tell" than "show", I couldn't put my finger on what bothered me at first, until I realized it was partly the excessive use of "ing" words. The sentence structure was clunky; it could have been a lot smoother but it seemed as if the author had inserted commas in fragmented sentences, which made them okay with the spell checker. There were other minor but irritating mistakes. Sorry, I couldn't wade through more when I have so many good books to read on my Kindle.

So, today I finished reading this book, it took a few days since I only read during commute to my different jobs, but I swear more than once I almost missed my bus-stop because I was so buried in the book. The characters were so easy-to-get-to-know... the paranormal stuff in it was simply credible and the writing was easy on the mind. I must say I honestly enjoyed this book and will read the second one in the series very soon, I just need to complete some buddy reads with my group before I get there. I also want to read the Black Hill series by this author, now. He seems to write just the way I like. The characters are easy, and I've made them now, my personals friends, I despise the same people they do, I fear the same guys and I love them. The adventures are in line with one another and you can easily follow through the steps of this group of people as you can follow my steps through the day.

I am not gonna write a big review, as many already have, but I gotta say, I really am enjoying this series, so far. I liked book two better, than this first, as it seemed a little rushed, towards the end and there was one part, that really bugged me in this first.

*spoiler***maybe*****

They were going the speed of light, and she heard the sonic boom? no, just no, Tim.... If they are going faster than speed, they will not hear their own sonic boom. lol lol..

I really like this book! Kiera is a new cop who gets stationed in a small town that has a lot of weird things happening.
I enjoyed this book... The beginning was a little slow then it got really great but, then it just ended but, I won't be stopping on series. I have faith this series will be as great!!

I found this book when I was searching out some other authors who write vampires novels. The cover instantly caught my eye and reading the blurb about it made me drop it into my "to read" list instantly. I found that the cover stayed with me and when I went to figure out which book to read next, the front cover of this book reached out to me again and pulled me in.

The story was unique. The characters were well described with complimenting personalities. Kiera Hudson was a tough cookie and I enjoyed her ability to put the fear on the back burner and to move forward with what needed to be done.

The action scenes were well written with great description and details to the small things that occur. The author, Mr. O'Rourke, did an excellent job with describing the events and the actions of everyone involved in the story. Some nice plot twists kept you wondering who would show up next and reveal they too were one of the bad guys.

This book was an easy and quick read. While there were some editing issues with the kindle version, it did not detract from the story. I very much enjoyed this novel and look forward to seeing what happens in the world of Kiera Hudson.

Okay...so O'Rourke nailed me between the eyes with his "Black Hill Farm" novel and a book blogger I follow raved about Shift so I thought I'd take a chance on yet another vamp book! Wow. And that doesn't even cover it! O'Rourke is British and his writing style/diction/syntax is really different and so refreshing for an American who is pretty steeped in my own country's works. He doesn't explain any of the vernaculars that are so common place in the UK and as a reader I was definitely along for the literary ride!

Kiera is a young woman fresh out of police school and assigned to an arduous post in the middle of nowhere along a stretch of creepy coastline. O'Rourke sets the stage for us to see the misery of her surroundings perfectly and as a reader I wanted her to get the heck out of Dodge! I love the way Kiera is insightful and sees details others don't. It deepens the mystery of her surroundings and what is happening wonderfully. I loved the plot. Although somewhat slow in the beginning, about 30% through the novel the plot twists arrive and the action takes hold and doesn't stop until the shattering crescendo at the end. There were several little surprises sprinkled throughout that endeared me to O'Rourke, pegging me to the pages until I was finished. He's excellent at telling a mystery and allowing a slow unravel as the story progresses. The ending leaves the reader puzzling over three main points that I will answer by purchasing the next installment, of course! I recommend this for readers who enjoy the following: mystery, intrigue, paranormal, light romance and vamps that definitely do not sparkle! Ha!

Vampire shift is the first book in the Kiera Hudson series by Tim O'Rourke. I was pleasantly surprised with the book and cannot wait to start Vampire Wake (#2 in the series). The book follows Kiera Hudson, a new police graduate, as she starts her first assignment at a post. She is sent to the secluded town The Ragged Cove. She accepts the assignment originally because she was drawn by the thrill of real action because of a serial killer that has plagued the area. She quickly realizes what a dangerous situation she has really put herself into. She is a great detective/constable and really knows her stuff however what she learns as she uses her "gift" and digs deeper changes her life forever. She doesn't back down and really holds her own. I loved the way it was written; you really get a feel of being in the moment and there with her. I loved the different twist on vampires; it's not just the typical blood sucking horror creatures or the romantic mind manipulators. There were many surprises while reading. Just when I thought I had followed clues and figured out things there would be a twist that blindsided me. I am anxious to start the next book and see where things go for Kiera. I would defiantly recommend the book. I give it 5 out of 5 stars.

This book was really good but it was kinda different from the vampire books I normally read. The vampires here were tough and were portrayed the way they're supposed to be not romantic or loving or sparkly lol. The book was kinda scary I admit but there was romance, mystery and paranormal activity in it. All in all it was a good read and you should definetly get it

I have read all of the books from this series and let me tell you....it took me to another world...I felt like I was drawn into the story and nothing existed but the character's..I recommend this series and cant wait for more!!!!!!

Having read the reviews long after first having discovered Tim Orourkes work, I have got to say, why not just make your own mind up?!?! If you read it ,and its not for you,nothing lost, but if you read it and it is for you, then you had best buckle up and prepare for the reading experience of your life! Tim's work is the reading equivalent of Pringles,once you have popped you just can't stop!! You will be gripped, drawn in and mesmerized by the worlds and characters he creates ,and will be left cliff hanging from one book to the next,............vampire shift is where it all begins, if you haven't downloaded it yet,.....what are you waiting for!?

I'm really surprised at the number 5 star reviews for this book. I read a lot of paranormal fiction and this one is a little lackluster to me. The main characters are interesting. I even like the setting. I skimmed through a fair bit of the descriptions of minor characters and scenery.

I've read the first three books. I'm trying to decide if I'm going to read the fourth. I was really hoping that the series would be over at three. There is just enough of a mystery to keep me reading but I just want to know how it ends. I don't really want to read any more.

The plot of the first three books has been somewhat predictable. So far, I've only been surprised a couple of times and those were not important surprises.

If you are looking for romance, skip this one. If you like dark, gloomy stories, this one is for you.

I enjoyed this book - though I found the development throughout to be disappointing .The premise was great, actually. I loved the main character at first, her keen skills in observation, her bravery and determination. I thought for once this would be a book with a strong female lead- but then she fell for the guy immediately, and the rest of the book, particularly near the end, was just her being completely and utterly helpless, similar to Bella in the Twilight series.

The beginning was fantastic. The author set it up brilliantly. But the rest of the book felt almost rushed and unlikely.

Loved it - kept me gripped ALL THE WAY THROUGH. My God - at last, an English male writter that rocks at PNR. I have been waiting what feels like forever to find a decent story by a Brit, with familiar settings and of course, familiar swearing helps too. I have only found the best writters to be American/Canadian and female, so it was very refreshing to read his "version" of the paranmoral/vampire world. Book 2 downloaded :) Thank you Tim!

OMG what a ride, fast paced story lines, full of fantastic characters, darkness, action, mystery, adventure, twists and turns, oh and quite a lot of the red stuff. I have read all of Kiera Hudson Series 1 and 2 to date and they are my favourite books ever. So worth the money and I will probably read them over and over. Tim O'Rourke is a fantastic story teller and once you start reading you can't put them down and are left wanting more and more. Enjoy, you wont be disappointed, I guarantee it.

Vampire shift was something completely new for me in my love for paranormal books. It was a detective/mystery story, and I haven't read a lot of those, but I loved this book. Kiera is a strong and smart female lead character, and the descriptions of the town and the people in it, gave a real life to the book. I read it in one day, and then purchased Vampire Wake to find out what happens to this great heroine.

Vampire Shift is a twist of paranormal romance and horror. Tim O'Rourke offers a unique species of vampires that are presented as the terrifying and horrific monsters that were once a common knowledge. The story is a very entertaining read. Kiera Hudson is a young female cop that has been assigned to this little one horse town. O'Rourke take no time jumping right into the story, and frightening readers with his inventive characters. Tim shows room for improvement, but it is obvious that this author has a powerful story to tell. I look forward to seeing future novels improve, and observing the promising journey of this talented author.

Wonderful story! I was glued until the last page:) buying the next one right now!! It's more than your average "vampire tell" these vamps are ugly and scary... Do not glitter in this story ! The electricity between the 2 main characters is evolving and you can tell ( hopefully) in the next book Vampire Wake.. That the romance between the 2 is raised another notch;) enjoy I know I did!!

Other than the fact that he says the city name Ragged Cove 5 times in the first 2 pages, it wasn't a bad story. There was some decent action, and I found myself very interested in how things would turn out. I thought the ending was a little corny and abrupt. The cover is misleading b/c you think Kiera might be turning into a vampire. I will be reading the next book to see if the writing improves.

I found Vampire Shift one day while I was perusing vampire themed books. I was looking for a book that I could delve into; I wanted to get wrapped into a story. Little did I know two things: 1) This book is the first of a series (yay!), and 2) Tim O'Rourke created an ordinary world with extraordinary characters navigating their way through it. I have grown so fond of these characters that I can't even pick a favorite! It has been a year since I read Vampire Shift, so I'm not going to get into the plot. The entire series has many enticing and surprising twists and turns. Tim O'Rourke's world is fantastically captivating! You won't be disappointed! :)

I chose this book because I thought, hey sounds good. It was so different than all the others books that I fell in love with it RIght away! Tim does an awesome Job with this story line! At the end of the book I found myself wanting more and not wanting to let go of the characters. At First I thought WOW those cops are so mean to Keira..... then I figured out why. Not going to say... but read it for yourself. Thanks Tim for brining us into a new world of Vampires!

I really enjoyed this book. I read a lot of paranormal books and this was fairly unique. I will definitely be reading the next one. The only thing I could have done without was the cliched "Kiera, I can't lie to you anymore" halfway through the book. It made me physically roll my eyes, but I got over that soon enough.

As an avid reader of vampire novels of all kinds it is always nice to see a new angle & boy does this series fit the bill! awesome lead female in Kiera with an equally great cast of supporting charaters (Team POTTER!!!!) with more twists & turns then u can keep up with & no idea who u can trust!! Excellent Awesome Brilliant Story!!!!! New fav. must read Author in Tim O'Rourke & the cover Art is absolutely STUNNING!! Be sure to read this series!!!!

I could follow along with the story and found it somewhat likeable until it comes out in the book that the detective who Kiera idealizes helped blackmail her mother and had something to do with it and she just goes on. This seems completely unrealistic to me. Good luck finding good literature.

I have no idea what the other readers of this book were seeing but I cannot give it more than two stars. The prose is amateurish, there are many errors in syntax and what seem to be plain typos. The author needs to get an editor at the very least. The final and most egregious flaw for me is the main character who can see all from observation - and is then able to draw the most ridiculously perfect conclusions. Do not recommend for anyone with half a brain. I want my dollar and the hour I spent reading this tripe back.

I liked this book from the very first page. Great short read for me. I am waiting on the next one to come out. I have completely read all of my favorite authors books and am trying to find something to hold my interest. This book was well written and kept you wanting to read more. I think as this author progresses with his writing he will go from good to AWSOME.

Wow what a book! I was total hooked after reading the first chapter. Have read everything i can of Tim's and they are all great! Would recommend to anyone.( not young children though!)Well done Tim and keep up the good work. Love the different take on vampires.

I was so bothered by the typos -- bellowing hair? Really? -- that I never even managed to finish it. And the writing style, honestly, does every other sentence have start with a gerund? "Doing this..., doing that..." Does the author realize that this form denotes two things happening at the same time? So how can Kiera be going into the bathroom getting a glass of water from the tap at the same time?

I may be nitpicking but these things bother me. And English is not even my language. So I will give this series a miss. There are enough stories out there with authors who take a little more care.

Omg! No wonder the kindle book is free. This is the WORST urban fantasy book I have ever read. There is no imagination, Terrible story writing, shallow plot and she falls for the guy like 10 pages in !!!! Don't waste your time or ebook memory on this trash.

Tim Rourke does a fantastic job of combining vampire, romance and real suspense. i have read alot of vampire novels and Tim is now at the top of my list of favorites. i couldn't put the book down. Simply fantastic and a real page-turner.