I loved the concept of this
gruesome sudden murder that was lena's best friend. And when Victor starts investigating the story changes its angle from the research and investigation into this world of vampires, seedy deeds and discovering that noone is who they say they are. I dont feel the relationship between lena and Victor made sense it felt forced. While the plot was predictable and didnt keep going in that ripper world I kept expecting to come back it was a unique take on the Black dahlia murder.
I would have loved this more if it was shorter as it was drawn out for no reason.

i didnt realise this was based on the true case of the black dahlia murders. i feel quite uncomfortable with the recent commodification of real peoples stories: those had families and loved ones who, in many cases, are still in mourning or feelings the intergenerational effects of these losses. as such, i find true crime and fictional stories explicitly based on true crime events unethical. for those who enjoy those types of stories, and for those who meet the intersection of true crime and dark romance, this would enjoy this novel. however, this was not for me.

Unfortunately I have to DNF this title. I have liked books from Karina Halle before but this one I am just not invested in like I want to be.

I am sure that there is an audience for this but I am not that audience. Thank you so much for the ARC NetGalley!

I am not going to be rating this book, but for the purposes of this review I will have to submit a star rating which is the only reason it will be a 1 star. But I would like to reiterate that I have not actually finished this book.

✨ Overall Rating 5/5
📈 Plot 5/5
🖊️ Writing 5/5
👤 Characters 5/5
⚖️ Interpersonal Relationships 4.5/5
🗺️ World Building 5/5
🔥 Spice 3/5
😭 Emotional Damage 2/5
🤩 Entertainment 5/5


I have yet to read a book by Karina Halle that I do not absolutely love!


Thank you so much to Netgalley and Karina Halle for the e-book 🖤

Unfortunately, this book did not grab me.

I really wanted to enjoy it and the premise was super intriguing as I love a good vampire book but this just didn't hit it for me.

DNF'ed at 35%

I went into this book really excited, especially since it plays on the backdrop of the Black Dahlia case. Unfortunately, this one just didn’t work for me the way I hoped. While I normally love Karina Halle’s writing and have really enjoyed other books from her, this story fell flat and didn’t keep me entertained.

The premise was interesting, but I found myself struggling to stay engaged. It lacked the spark I’ve come to expect from her work, which was disappointing.

That said, I know other readers may connect with this one more than I did, especially if they’re drawn to the true-crime-inspired angle. For me personally, it was a miss.

⭐️⭐️

Sadly this book just didn’t grab as much as I hoped it would. I put it down and picked it up multiple times but I just couldn’t connect with it. Super bummed.

Vampire meets true crime?! Karina Halle absolutely nailed it. Thrilling, dark, and completely unputdownable—highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and publishers for this ARC

This is a great Black Dahlia retelling. The interweaving of facts has been nicely done for a story that has been retold numerous times before.

Once again, Karina can do no wrong!

I always love a good story with vampires and this was no exception. The dark noir vibes and the murder mystery kept me on my toes. This was definitely more plot driven than character driven, but in saying that, I did love the mmcs, as well as the supporting characters.

The romance was a tad insta-lusty, but considering the mystery plot needed space to move and this is a standalone, I can forgive the romance moving faster. Even though I’ve read and watched many versions of vampires, this one definitely stands as unique, and I loved the nod to the real life Black Dahlia murder case.

Overall, definitely need to continue picking up more books from this author!

This book had me hooked from the get-go! Perfect blend of contemporary fantasy and thriller intrigue, as we see another side to the Black Dahlia mystery. And that's before the absolutely enthralling romance between Lena and Callahan!

i loved this a lot. the black dahlia was always something that intrigued me a lot, and i always wanted to know more about it because, well, it was so heartbreaking. i was a little nervous that this might have been insensitive to it, but wow. it was so great, but then again... i love vampires, so it just made sense that this would be right up my alley!

Hmmmmmm not my favorite Karina Halle book I’ve ever read, but also not my least favorite. I thought it was fast, fun, and solidly okay!

What a fun read! A story full of mystery and twists and some paranormal romance? Sign me up! Karina creates a really interesting gothic/noir setting with well developed characters, and intriguing plot and steamy romance. It kept me hooked from beginning to end!

The way I LOVED this book!! I’m a true crime junkie, so the black dahlia reimagining was everything to me. Absolutely adore the 1940’s time period and LA vibes as well. And vampires!! Basically this book was written just for me. A+ on the romance and spice too!

The twists, turns, mystery and the swift way that this book is written made me not put it down. I absolutely loved how I felt on edge and craved the darkness within. The atmosphere was beautifully written and the characters. Loved every second!

I love Karina Hale as an author and this book was no exception to this. I first found this author with the Dracula duet and this book is at that same standard. She knows how to create the most perfect gothic dark setting with a hint of sizzling chemistry and lust. She will forever be an auto-buy author for me , can’t wait to buy a trophy of this book and do a re-read

⭐️⭐️ - 2.5
🌶️🌶️🌶️ - 3

I received this book from NetGalley for an honest review, and here it is.

I had really high hopes for this one, and honestly, it started out great. I found myself visualizing the story in black and white, as if I were watching an old noir film. The mystery of solving Elizabeth's murder held my attention until about halfway through. That's when I started to lose interest in the investigation as everything else was going on.

I did really like Lena and Callahan as the main characters. I found myself truly rooting for them and wanting them to get a happily ever after. But I found myself struggling with the romance, especially the spicier scenes. They felt rushed and forced, especially their first one when he barged into her dressing room.

I thought that the story had great potential, but I feel like there was too much unnecessary action added to it. It went from a murder investigation to something you'd see more in a show like Buffy. (Don't get me wrong, I love Buffy. But it just wasn't what I was expecting or wanting from this style of story.) I feel like this could have made a great novella if she stuck to the Noir PI storyline.

There were so many typos, and I found a minor plot hole. It just felt like the book was rushed to get published and poorly edited. I could have also done without the non-con sister stuff.

I still gave it two and a half stars because I did finish it and I was invested enough to want to know how it ended, but I struggled through the last 20% of the book. This, however, did not turn me off from Karina Halle as an author. I will still continue to read her work; this just wasn't it for me.

Karina Halle has already to write a book that i didn’t love! In Nocturne the true crime and vampire’s elements are blended so well that you can only think “ wow it’s really happened!” And,so I really liked the dark and rich vibes of the ‘40s with all the mystery ,obsession , lot chemistry and mystery combined with a fast pacing, two intriguing characters and lot of suspense ,are given birth to the perfect summer read!

Karina Halle delivers a gripping, dark romance in Nocturne, set against the smoky backdrop of 1940s Los Angeles. Drawing inspiration from the infamous Black Dahlia murder, Halle weaves a tale of obsession, mystery, and supernatural intrigue. Lena Reid, a lounge singer with a hidden vampire heritage, becomes entangled in a web of murder and secrets when her best friend is found dead. Enter Victor Callahan, a private investigator with his own dark past. Their chemistry is palpable, and their journey is both thrilling and haunting.
The novel seamlessly blends elements of film noir, true crime, and paranormal romance, creating an atmosphere that's both nostalgic and eerie. The pacing is steady, allowing for character development and suspense to build naturally. Fans of dark romance and historical fiction with a supernatural twist will find Nocturne to be a compelling read.