Kurt R.A. Giambastiani

Full disclosure: I do not like vampire stories.

Puzzlement: I’m going to recommend one.

The past twenty years have seen an ever-increasing convolution of the vampire, twisting and shoving the original ’50s monster into the tightening straight-jacket of political correctness. I mean, sparkling? Seriously? That’s why they can’t see sunlight now? They sparkle? I haven’t done a study of it (nor will I) but I wouldn’t be at all surprised if there’s a vegan vampire out there, sucking the life out of blood oranges and beetroot.

In response to this saccharine- (or is it Splenda-) induced effrontery, may I humbly suggest the following antidote: Ever Your Servant (or How Retail Really Sucks), by K.A. Corlett.

Corlett is from the Deep South…of Canada, that is. The Great Cold Plains where there’s a lovely admixture of urban and rural, 20th and 21st centuries. It’s a no-nonsense sort of place, strongly individualistic, progressive and yet very traditional in equal measure. Corlett captures all this with wry wit, spot on social commentary, and a heaping teaspoon of farce in what I found to be a fun, at times hilarious, and engaging read.

Joelle Lachance works in a large department store that is equal parts “Are You Being Served” and “Office Space.” But when Maximillien Lambert arrives to open a cyber-cafe, everything changes. He is cool (nay, cold), urbane, and smoothly confident, and his intense interest in Joelle unsettles the petty politics of the store’s social landscape.

But this novel isn’t all farce and hi-jinks. Max is a cypher, and others begin to suspect his motives. When Joelle begins having nightmares, and when people start to die, suspicions begin to swirl around this dark, well-dressed man.

This is not your typical vampire novel (thank heavens!). Corlett deftly sidesteps all of the modern tropes that have been heaped upon the sub-genre, and brings us a fresh view with a fresh voice.

Available in paperback and for the Kindle.

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