SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

Newbie David here and I need some suggestions!

I want to start reading my first Vampire book! I'd like it to be authored by a woman, maybe a bit of romance in it, mystery & humor, the book can be a part of series as long as it's the 1st book. I don't want any Ann Rice novels! Just need something to introduce me to the Genre.
Any and all help would be appreciated.

“Vampire book by woman author” narrows it down to

[checks notes]

eleventy billion novels.

😜

So, the most popular match is almost certainly Charlaine Harris’ Sookie Stackhouse series which the HBO series True Blood is based on, the first one being Dead Until Dark.

David wrote: "Newbie David here and I need some suggestions!

I want to start reading my first Vampire book! I'd like it to be authored by a woman, maybe a bit of romance in it, mystery & humor, the book can be ..."

I'll agree with Trike's recommendation of Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris.

Do NOT read Twilight!

Anne Rice - The Vampire Lestat series, starting with Interview with the Vampire.

Live Girls by Ray Garton. Male author, but fun novel.

Also Deb Harkness has just released a new book. It’s about Vampires. Time’s Convert.

Other than that the Sookie Stackhouse books spring to mind. They’re the base of the True Blood TV show.

I really liked Sunshine. Robin McKinley is a skilled author. The downside is it's a bit "different" as a vampire book. But I really didn't like the Sookie Stackhouse books, so "different" works for me :)

I'm not a huge fan of the genre, but I do like Tanya Huff, and would recommend her Vicki Nelson and Tony Foster series. The latter is a spin-off of the former, but can be read without reading the other series first.

There are so many books out there, so I guess the question is: do you want “bad” or “good” vampires???
For real vampires, I could recommend Fevre Dream (though GRRM is certainly a man), but I loved the atmosphere. Also, Fledgling by Octavia Butler or Those Who Hunt the Night by Barbara Hambly
But if it’s good vampires you want (they usually come with a bit of mystery and romance): I second the Sookie Stackhouse Dead Until Dark books.

Until I read the OP's actual post and the guidelines therein, I was going to recommend Dracula. I mean, where else would you begin reading about vampires?

I say fledgling !

With a bit of mystery and a funny 500yr old vamp try Tanya Huff 's Blood series. Starts with Blood Debt

Some that come to mind, but are more YA:
The Immortal Rules
Vampire Academy

Not YA:
The Passage and its follow-on series