I read Mitchell's "The Vampire de Sade" about a month ago. I wasn't blown away by the novel, but I decided that I would try one of the other books in the Marquis de Sade series. I wish I had not. Mitchell's work is an absolute train wreck. This novel was supposed to be about de Sade and a big battle with another vampire named Marie. Instead, 80% of the novel was about a family of vampires that Marie and de Sade pay a visit too. The characters were completely flat, there was basically no plot, the dialogue was atrocious, and it was once sad and tired cliche after another. I will not be reading anymore of Mitchell's work. I am a huge fan of vampire fiction, but I will not be reading this garbage just because it is part of that genre. I am really surprised that "Tainted Blood" received such a high rating. I am horribly disappointed and I would not recommend Mitchell's works to anyone.