The Fifth House of the Heart - by Ben Tripp (Paperback)

About the Book

"Filled with characters as menacing as they are memorable, this chilling twist on vampire fiction packs a punch in the bestselling tradition of 'Salem's Lot by Stephen King. Asmodeus "Sax" Saxon-Tang, a vainglorious and well-established antiques dealer, has made a fortune over many years by globetrotting for the finest lost objects in the world. Only Sax knows the true secret to his success: at certain points of his life, he's killed vampires for their priceless hoards of treasure. But now Sax's past actions are quite literally coming back to haunt him, and the lives of those he holds most dear are in mortal danger. To counter this unnatural threat, and with the blessing of the Holy Roman Church, a cowardly but cunning Sax must travel across Europe in pursuit of incalculable evil--and immeasurable wealth--with a ragtag team of mercenaries and vampire killers to hunt a terrifying, ageless monster...one who is hunting Sax in turn. From author Ben Tripp, whose first horror novel Rise Again "raises the stakes so high that the book becomes nearly impossible to put down" (Cory Doctorow, author of Little Brother), The Fifth House of the Heart is a powerful story that will haunt you long after its final pages"--

Book Synopsis

Filled with characters as menacing as they are memorable, this chilling twist on vampire fiction packs a punch in the bestselling tradition of 'Salem's Lot by Stephen King.

Asmodeus "Sax" Saxon-Tang, a vainglorious and well-established antiques dealer, has made a fortune over many years by globetrotting for the finest lost objects in the world. Only Sax knows the true secret to his success: at certain points of his life, he's killed vampires for their priceless hoards of treasure.

But now Sax's past actions are quite literally coming back to haunt him, and the lives of those he holds most dear are in mortal danger. To counter this unnatural threat, and with the blessing of the Holy Roman Church, a cowardly but cunning Sax must travel across Europe in pursuit of incalculable evil--and immeasurable wealth--with a ragtag team of mercenaries and vampire killers to hunt a terrifying, ageless monster...one who is hunting Sax in turn.

From author Ben Tripp, whose first horror novel Rise Again "raises the stakes so high that the book becomes nearly impossible to put down" (Cory Doctorow, author of Little Brother), The Fifth House of the Heart is a powerful story that will haunt you long after its final pages.

Review Quotes

"A page-turner that keeps the reader invested, alert, and captivated....a smart adventure tale with a new take on vampire lore with great storytelling and a perfect mix of action, adventure, blood, and gore."-- "Geeks of Doom"

"Ben Tripp's THE FIFTH HOUSE OF THE HEART is your new favorite vampire novel....if you like your vampire fiction witty and sharp but with moments of real horror and action, then I can unreservedly recommend [this novel]."-- "Matt Staggs, Suvudu"

"Having breathed new life into the zombie genre, Ben Tripp takes on the vampire trope in a story that is lushly detailed, taut with high-stakes terror and slow-building dread. This is no battle between good and evil, but an ingenious cat-and-mouse game, making this chase one that readers can savor as the narrative gradually draws the diverse cast of characters together to coalesce around a climactic confrontation. His reinterpretation of the vampire mythos is quite clever, but remains respectful to the long history of this genre, giving this narrative a richness that fans will be sure to savor. Four-and-a-half-stars."-- "RT Book Reviews"

"May be one of best vampire novels in years....The action in The Fifth House of the Heart is impeccable, moving at lightning speed....a rollicking bloody epic of a story."-- "The Horror Review"

"Stylish, sophisticated, intelligent--THE FIFTH HOUSE OF THE HEART is a marvel. Ben Tripp's septuagenarian antiques dealer, the wonderfully named Asmodeus Saxon-Tang, is an Abraham van Helsing for the 21st century. I can't recall the last time I read a book that was so fantastically creepy and such marvelous fun."--Nick Cutter, bestselling author of THE TROOP and THE DEEP

"Tripp melds the modern vampire myth with comic mystery and detective fiction in this intriguing and intelligent horror novel....instantly appealing....exhaustively researched....This deep and terrifying vampire story is as nuanced as it is thrilling."-- "Publishers Weekly (starred review)"

"THE FIFTH HOUSE OF THE HEART is a frightening adventure story, a gothic entertainment told with zest and humor. Ben Tripp's galloping pace and world-building aims to please, and does."--Andrew Pyper, bestselling author of THE DAMNED and THE DEMONOLOGIST