Tuesday Reviews: Nocturne by Karina Halle

Los Angeles, 1947.

The city is drowning in secrets and blood—and Lena Reid just lost her best friend to the shadows.

Elizabeth Short is dead. The press calls her the Black Dahlia.

Lena wants answers. Closure. Revenge.

What she finds instead… is him.

Victor Callahan is danger in a three-piece suit. An ex-boxer with fists like thunder and eyes that promise ruin. He’s supposed to help her.

Instead, he haunts her. Follows her. Wants her.

He doesn’t remember what happens after dark.

The blackouts. The blood.

The hunger.

But Lena’s not afraid of monsters.

She falls for them.

She is one.

Now, with a serial killer circling closer and a secret society pulling strings behind the curtain, Lena has one rule left:

Don’t let a vampire fall in love with you.

Because once he does…

He’ll never let you go.

I didn’t realize it tied into Halle’s vampire world, so the familiar cameos were such a fun bonus. The beginning was a bit of a slow burn, and it took me a minute to connect with the characters—but once things picked up, I was all in.

Set against the backdrop of 1940s LA and the Black Dahlia murder, Nocturne blends noir vibes, true crime, and supernatural twists. Lena and Callahan's connection grew on me, and their chemistry ended up stealing the show. Add in gangsters, secrets, and vampires, and you’ve got a gritty, atmospheric ride that feels both fresh and nostalgic.

Another win from Halle—unexpected, layered, and totally worth the ride.