Nathaniel Cade returns for the third instalment of The President's Vampire series, and just keeps getting badder.

Whether first time reader, or fan of the books, Red White and Blood will blow you away. This time around Farnsworth explores serial killers, as Cade battles a particularly nasty Bogeyman who is a hell of a lot worse than a child-scaring closet-hidden goon, and a few familiar baddies from early books.

Farnsworth delivers an expected high level of action and horror, along with bearable doses of political intrigue. Red White and Blood also introduces us to a little more of Zach's history, and pulls Cade's character in some scary directions too.

All that coupled with some killer twists, makes Red White a Blood a must read, in fact just writing this review right now, is making me thing about how long we're going to have to wait for the next book in the series - Too Long!

Oh man, I LOVE these books.

Full disclose: the author is a friend (but I would MAKE the author my friend if he wasn't already, so that may be a bit moot).

Mad action, fun and complex characters who evolve over the course of the books, solid research into Secret Service, US gov't protocol, and monster lore...it's edge-of-seat stuff for people who like many genres of fiction. Definitely start at the beginning of thus-far trilogy for max enjoyment. I bought these books for my Uncle T for Christmas and now he's roped in as well.

So this year I read a 15-book series that I deplored. I don't know why. I really don't. Quit asking. What are you, my conscience? I just did it, okay. Wanted to see if there was anything in all those pages that made me want to keep going . . . I kept going without that incentive. Stupid, maybe. But here we are.

Enter a Vampire!

Yup, Nathaniel Cade to the rescue. Zach, his handler, and Cade go off in search of a monster out to wreck a presidential campaign. Nope, it's not a two-headed Koch-brothers monster, but a mean scary murdering crazed boogeyman.

What's the difference between the Koch Brothers and a boogeyman? Come on, just let me write this review without getting all metaphorical . . .

And Cade kicks some ass. He's fun, interesting book candy. The plot is engaging and it flies by, keeping you gripped and interested, like nothing else I've read this year.

And, the difference is that the Boogeyman can be stopped before destroying the world . . .

I'm selective about my vampire reading because I don't like the new stuff that's popular today, so I was thrilled to find this series.

Blood Oath and The President's Vampire were very good, but Christopher Farnsworth really outdid himself with Red, White, and Blood.

I never talk to my books, but I found myself talking to Cade a couple of times, "yes, you can ... what's wrong with you ... do it".

The first thing out of my mouth when I read the ending was, WHAT?! and I proceeded to scan the internet to see if there is any sign when book number four will be released.

Nathaniel Cade, the President's Vampire, is facing the worst threat he's ever come across in his more than 150 years of serving American presidents. It's the one foe he has never been able to completely destroy...the Boogeyman. Yes, the Boogeyman. But not this is no hiding-under-the-bed children's myth; the horrific creature that calls itself the Boogeyman is real, and he comes straight from hell, resurrected in different bodies over and over by his faithful followers throughout the ages. He's been responsible for dozens of villains throughout history, including Charles Manson and Ted Bundy. Now he's back, just in time for the 2012 presidential election. For Cade and his young handler, Zach, the stakes have never been higher. They must protect the president on the campaign trail and stop the Boogeyman once and for all.

Okay, I know the plot sounds way out there. And it is. But I think it's done really well, and it's probably my favorite Nathaniel Cade novel to date (and I enjoyed the other ones, so that's saying something). I like that Farnsworth takes the Boogeyman--something that is traditionally silly and not taken seriously, at least by adults--and makes it truly fearful and disturbing. As usual, Cade is intriguingly mysterious (a vampire who is religious?) and goofy Zach provides some comic relief. However, he grows up a bit in this book, which is good to see. The action is nonstop and flows nicely, and there's a great cliffhanger at the end. This book is really bizarre, but it's a must-read if you like that kind of thing.

Third book in the series continues the quality of the first two. This time, Cade faces an enemy he's faced many times over his years as an agent of the president. There's some good action and plot twists along the way, and the ending is a good set up for the next novel, which, unfortunately, hasn't come out yet. Here's to hoping it will soon!

Gah. Freaking Goodreads ate my review.

To sum up:
- Damn, did not expect that ending, but I think it will lead the series into a new dynamic in the fourth book.
- I liked the way the serial killer quotes wove real life into the mythology of the Boogeyman that the author created.
- Zach's speech about his dad and the pre-tied ties at the bar was a perfect and poignant way to wrap up that storyline.
- The one liners and sarcastic comments still make me laugh (the few lines where Cade and Barrows are walking through New Orleans were great).
- I thought the book was great and action-packed (though a few small parts dragged and I wanted to get back to the main event) and I look forward to the next book.

That's all.

In the third installment of Christopher Farnsworth’s The President’s Vampire Nathaniel Cade, aided by his “handler” Zach Barrows, finds himself doing battle with The Boogeyman; an old foe who has come back to threaten the President. Red, White, and Blood may be the best book of the series thus far. It holds up well as a standalone story while reintroducing characters that appear in the earlier books (always with enough of an explanation that new readers won’t feel lost). The plot is interesting enough and moves along well with lots of action; Cade continues to be one of the most interesting literary characters in recent time; and there are enough twists to keep the reader engaged. A very enjoyable read.

Really enjoyed this book, although it was gory. I love the constant reminders that Cade isn't human. There is no falling in love with this vampire, but he kicks butt. I do wonder how authors come up with some of the sick stuff.