Vampire: Vampire

This silly, nearly incoherent novel begins when its heroine, Darcy, comes to live with her Uncle Jake. Strange events occur even before Darcy's arrival--a girl is found murdered, and on her neck are lipstick marks in the shape of a vampire's bite. When several other girls are murdered in the same fashion, Darcy begins to suspect Jake and various others among her new friends. Meanwhile, vague romantic yearnings spring up between Darcy and nearly all the young men in the novel, including Jake--who (readers may well be relieved to discover) is not really Darcy's uncle. Those with great tenacity may have the energy to follow this book to its very end, if only to find out whether it ever starts making sense. But even die-hard fans of the genre will find little to relish in this tedious would-be horror tale. Ages 10-up. (June)