The Lesser Dead Audiobook By Christopher Buehlman cover art

The Lesser Dead

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The Lesser Dead

By: Christopher Buehlman
Narrated by: Christopher Buehlman
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About this listen

Christopher Buehlman excels in twisting the familiar into newfound dread in his genre-bending novels. Now the acclaimed author of Those Across the River delivers his most disquieting tale yet.

The secret is, vampires are real and I am one. The secret is, I'm stealing from you what is most truly yours and I'm not sorry.…

New York City in 1978 is a dirty, dangerous place to live - and die. Joey Peacock knows this as well as anybody - he has spent the last 40 years as an adolescent vampire, perfecting the routine he now enjoys: womanizing in punk clubs and discotheques, feeding by night, and sleeping by day with others of his kind in the macabre labyrinth under the city's sidewalks.

The subways are his playground and his highway, shuttling him throughout Manhattan to bleed the unsuspecting in the Sheep Meadow of Central Park or in the backseats of Checker cabs, or even those in their own apartments who are too hypnotized by sitcoms to notice him opening their windows. It's almost too easy.

Until one night he sees them hunting on his beloved subway. The children with the merry eyes. Vampires, like him…or not like him. Whatever they are, whatever their appearance means, the undead in the tunnels of Manhattan are not as safe as they once were.

And neither are the rest of us.

©2014 Christopher Buehlman (P)2014 Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Classics Fantasy Scary Horror Fiction

Critic reviews

"As much F. Scott Fitzgerald as Dean Koontz." ( New York Times best-selling author Patricia Briggs)

Featured Article: The top 100 horror books of all time


This list encompasses the full spectrum of what horror can be—campfire-worthy tales, stomach-churning gore, and incisive social commentary. The classics are accounted for, but it also spotlights more recent titles, because that’s the nature of the genre—it is as perennial as it is ever-evolving, conjuring whatever frights most haunt our collective consciousness. Each title does have one thing in common: It makes for devilishly good listening. So cut the lights and press play—if you dare.

What listeners say about The Lesser Dead

Highly rated for:

Unique Vampire Story Fresh Storytelling Approach Excellent Narration Compelling Plot Twists Vivid World-building
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Master Storyteller & His His Masterful Tale

If you could sum up The Lesser Dead in three words, what would they be?

enchanting, bloody, ride

Who was your favorite character and why?

All the characters were given such great life, it's difficult to choose one. And their stories are so intertwined it's difficult to single one out.

Which scene was your favorite?

If I told it would be a slight spoiler - but involves the graffiti

Any additional comments?

This is one of those rare books I would recommend that someone listen to over reading. The author is a master storyteller, and hearing him bring his own words to life made for a phenomenal "read". This was my first Buehlman novel, but I've already added his others to my wish list. From reading other reviews, I wish he would read all his books as I can't imagine another narrator as strong, especially with how gifted he is with accents, and voices.

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awesome

I remember the author from the renfests in Florida, he has really come in to his own as an author now.

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spooky and engaging

I loved it! scary and engaging and I couldn't stop waiting to hear the next lines. I held my breath at so many points because of the suspense! listen to this you will not regret it!

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TOP NOTCH VAMPIRE STORY!!

Loved this intriguing and enrapturing story! Top tier narrator, plot twists, character building, it’s all here in one book and not a typical free teaser to get you hooked then wanting to buy future releases.

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Amazing!

The author is the narrator. So many voices, characters, feelings. I couldn't stop listening. It is published as fiction, but makes you think... what if. I loved it. If you enjoy vampire stories, you will love this one. Warning: quite a few sexual descriptions, gore and language. I would think 16, 17 and up for age group. This was my first listen of this author, and I'm definitely going to find another. I just hope he narrates all of his own!

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A pleasant surprise

I saw the author doing a show. At the end he mentioned he wrote some books. I checked them out mostly because I was curious, seems like everyone has written a book these days. Found two of them on Audible included in my membership and i must say, they’re both really good.

I really enjoy the performance of this book and was also surprised it was narrated by Buehlman. It’s a unique way to tell a story.

I am not a horror story buff and this isn’t really a scary book, it’s a good book that happens to be about vampires.

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what an amazing book

this was such an amazing book, I enjoyed every second of it. great performance and very addicting, had a hard time not blasting through it. I recommend this for the story and characters and just an overall amazing performance. Loved it from start to finish

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Exceptionally Entertaining Author/Narrator

I rarely write reviews. I loved this book.
The -author is one of the best narrators I have ever heard on audible and I have listened to hundreds of books. The story, it historical, philosophical and literary references are first rate. The book left me thoroughly entertained and thirsty for more.

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The real New York underground

Christopher Buehlman's The Lesser Dead is a light-hearted vampire horror tale set in New York City. Joey is a vampire, 'turned' back in the 30's as an older teen and so has never physically aged beyond that point. He lives in abandoned subway tunnels in NYC with his peers, including the vampire that turned him. He describes his childhood, the turning, and his subsequent lifestyle which is relatively tame in that he tends to form friendships with his victims (they watch TV together). Things change when they encounter other vampires that are different from his peer group. These 'children' are more vicious and conduct themselves in ways that tend to call attention. All this leads to conflict and confrontation, eventually forcing Joey to flee and eventually find a soulmate. Except, at the end, a twist takes place that upends the whole story driving it firmly back into the horror realm.

For the most part, the first person narration is relayed a bit tongue in cheek with multiple comedic moments. As is typical, there are specific rules that vampires follow. For examples they can regenerate limbs rather quickly. The horror is a mixture of gore (vampires can only be killed by beheading) and the notion of vampires hunting vampires. There's an overtone of melancholy throughout that makes the main character quite identifiable.

Narrations by authors can be a toss-up. In this case, the general demeanor and tone of the first person perspective combined with the comedic elements more than justify and author rendition.

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Just......wow

I do not read horror. I have read very little in the vampire fantasy genre. I"m soooooo glad that I listened to this! This is one of the best audio books I have ever heard. It is gritty, scary, foul, gorey, disturbing and completely engrossing. Now, before you freak and say..."I don't like stories like that" Well, neither do I , my friend. But this is truly fantastic! I wish I had time to go into details, but I have to get on the road and Audible will be listened to and no writing can occur while driving. Please, do yourself a favor and download this. What a great story and the narration does what a good storyteller should do....create a world, with words, that is almost as real as your own. Enjoy!

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