[Cheiron]

Laurell K. Hamilton. lol.

Actually her first ... um 7 books? in the series are pretty good fun. After that it turns much more into vamperotica. If you are into that. Cool. If not.. avoid the later books in the series. I haven't read the last 2, as stories have been replaced with reasons for the main character to have detailed sex.

Anne Rice's original stuff also avoided vamperotica.

And yeah Id' check out Martin's Fevre Dream, and his The Skin Trade.

Bram Stoker's Dracula is recommended from many as well. I haven't read it yet. Heard Bram's writing is fairly poor but the story carries.

And frankly most of the books based on the White Wolf (Vampire and Werewolf) are probably pretty decent.