13 Bullets: A Vampire Tale by David Wellington (All Editions)

In 13 Bullets, David Wellington strips away the romanticized, sparkly tropes of modern vampires and returns to something much grittier and more terrifying. The story follows Laura Caxton, a federal marshal who gets pulled into a nightmare when a routine traffic stop reveals that the vampires everyone thought were extinct are very much alive—and incredibly hungry. These aren’t misunderstood heroes; they are pale, bald, necrotic predators that treat humans like livestock. The narrative is fast-paced and brutal, focusing on Caxton’s desperate attempt to learn the “old ways” of killing them before she’s hunted down herself. It’s a lean, mean horror novel that favors gore and tension over gothic pining.

Genre: Speculative Fiction; Vampire

Subject: Caxton, Laura (Fictitious Character)/ Fiction; Horror Fiction; Policewomen/ Fiction; Vampires; Vampires/ Fiction

Rating: Average

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Comments

While it’s primarily marketed as a hard-boiled horror/thriller, the protagonist, Laura Caxton, is a lesbian. In 13 Bullets, her identity isn’t just a minor detail; she begins the story in a committed relationship with her girlfriend, and her sexuality remains a consistent part of her characterization throughout the five-book pentalogy. While the series definitely prioritizes gore and suspense over romance, having a lesbian lead in a “creature feature” style horror series was actually considered quite refreshing and unique when it was released.

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