book cover of Blood Drunk
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Blood Drunk

(2026)
(The first book in the South London Gothic series)
A novel by

 
 
Brutal gangsters and bloody vampires. A filthy pub crawl from the streets of South London to a grimy school of magic. Blood Drunk is for fans of Slow Horses, Rivers of London, and The Dresden Files.

Freddie Burns just wants ten pints, a fight, and to take over his family's South London crime empire.

When a routine hit plunges Freddie into a secret London, he discovers a city run by vampire clans and a ruthless Firm keeping it all hidden. Good thing he has a magical talent for giving vampires a good kicking. Them, and anyone else who looks at him funny.

Shipped off to their grubby little magic school to hone his powers, everyone wants Freddie's lethal power on their side. But nobody trusts a South London hooligan who smells of cheap lager and cigarettes.

Too bad it might be up to Freddie to save the world – or at least not wreck it entirely. He just needs a drink first.

* * *



‘I literally couldn't put it down’ – Catriona Ward, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Last House on Needless Street and Nowhere Burning

‘Dark, violent, intelligent and quick. Ben Shepherd is one to watch’ –
Jim Butcher, author of The Dresden Files series

‘Grimy, gritty and a huge amount of fun’ –
RJ Barker, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Bone Ships and Mortedant's Peril



Genre: Urban Fantasy

Praise for this book

"Sordid, grubby, violent... unusual compliments for an unusual novel. In a world crowded with high-concept vampire stories, Blood Drunk really stands out for its raw and refreshing approach. Highly recommended." - Dan Abnett

"Blood Drunk scratches at the belly of a magical underground and doesn't stop until it's ripped its guts out. Grimy, gritty and a huge amount of fun." - RJ Barker

"Unique, gritty, and fun. If Elmore Leonard had written any urban fantasy, it might read like this book - dark, violent, intelligent, and quick. Ben Shepherd is one to watch." - Jim Butcher

"Gripping from the first page to the last. Shepherd's gritty London feels fresh and real. The characters pop off the page and you can't help but love how messy they all are." - T L Huchu

"Blood Drunk is a very special book that leaps the boundaries of genre and takes the reader in a chokehold. Visceral, lyrical and entirely consuming. I literally couldn't put it down." - Catriona Ward


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