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Book Review: Dracul by Dacre Stoker and J.D. Barker

Dracul by Dacre Stoker & J.D. Barker.

G.P. Putnam’s Sons. 2018

ISBN-13: 978-0735219342

Available: Hardcover, paperback, Kindle edition, audiobook, audio CD

 

There’s very little that can be added to the Dracula canon that would be deemed worthy of reading at this point, but when the great-grand-nephew of Bram Stoker pens a “prequel” to the original novel it’s worth making an exception. Dacre Stoker went deep into his research, discovering the many notes,  journals, and other documents in the family treasure trove, and emerged with an intriguing tale that is more a fictionalized “biography” of Bram than a true prequel.

Dracul chronicles the life of Bram Stoker, from a sickly young child to a man searching for the truth behind the mysteries in his life that laid the groundwork for his writing. Journals, letters, and narratives drive the novel, most notably those of Bram, his sister Matilda, and a man who is likely the inspiration for Van Helsing. Yet the true driving force in the book is Ellen Crone, the nanny who nursed young Bram back to health in mysterious fashion. Bram and his sister begin to notice odd things about the woman– until she suddenly disappears.

The search for her and the emergence of Dracul unfolds slowly, but in a manner that effectively builds tension, in a style similar to that of the original tale. The addition of J.D. Barker (author of The Fourth Monkey, a great thriller on his own), adds modern sensibilities to Dracul that help the pages turn more easily. Recommended for fans of classic horror fiction or any strong storytelling.

 

Reviewed by Dave Simms

Editor’s note: Dracul is a 2018 Stoker Award finalist in the category of Superior Achievement in a Novel.

 

Posted on March 17, 2019 by , Reply

Book Review: The Devil Aspect by Craig Russell

The Devil Aspect by Craig Russell

Doubleday Books, 2019

ISBN-13: 978-0385544368

Available: Hardcover, paperback, Kindle edition

Historical horror can be a fascinating subgenre, if it is done right, but it is a balancing act. The amount of detail for the period often overshadows the atmosphere, with information overloading story and character. When the author successfully balances the elements, the result can result in a treasure.

The Devil Aspect reads like a perfect offspring of The Alienist, Silence of the Lambs, The Exorcist, and Shutter Island.  It is a stunning novel that captures the best of these, yet adds to it a flavor all its own, leaving the reader with a chill that feels like it needs to be washed away.

In the shadows of the rising tide of the Nazi movement in 1935, Czechoslovakia is a dangerous country. Hrad Orlu Asylum for the Criminally Insane exists as a state of the art hospital outside of Prague, but holds a horrific reputation in local lore as having been built on the mouth of hell. When Viktor Kosarek arrives with a new psychiatric approach, the tiny town cringes as they sense the horrors that brew within the stone walls. Viktor believes in “The Devil Aspect,” a method he believes can cure even the world’s most heinous creatures, while Hitler’s crew infects the country in a slow-moving plague, its tendrils snaking inside the walls of the castle to infect some of the staff.

Within the walls themselves exist the Devil’s Six–  The Woodcutter, The Vegetarian, The Clown, The Scionancer, The Glass Cutter, and The Demon, each with a detailed backstory. None can be dealt with without full restraints, and even so, attacks on staff still occur, events that defy logic.

Outside the castle, another murderer is feeding on the citizens of the city: Leather Apron, a Jack The Ripper type serial killer. The suspects can’t recall committing the murders, and swear a shadowy figure is mocking them, forcing them to witness its horrors.  Detective Lucas Smolak scours the streets for clues, and grows frustrated as every clue leads to a darker truth. He senses a connection to the legends around him, yet holds onto the assertion nothing is supernatural in these crimes.

How the two storylines intertwine is brilliant, as are the characters. Smolak and Kosarek are imperfect, both committing errors that could end more lives as their humanity holds them back from achieving their goals.

Russell’s novel is one of those rare entities that is intelligent yet readable, full of historical accuracies and folklore but somehow still relatable, and scary as the hell that may exist beneath the castle. What brings the story success is the ambiguity of the horror. Russell keeps the supernatural aspect on the periphery of the reader’s psyche. He plays his cards close and the revelation of which evil is worse, human or demonic, burrows beneath the skin as the mysteries begin to unravel.

The reader must wrestle the secrets away from the characters with each alternating chapter, the clues muddy yet fitting together. The story’s serpentine descent into madness is a challenge that is worth the effort.

A highly recommended novel for the new year that will linger long after the final page is closed.

 

Reviewed by Dave Simms

 

 

Posted on March 5, 2019 by , Reply

Book Review: The Hunger by Alma Katsu

The Hunger by Alma Katsu

G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2018

ISBN-13: 978-0735212510

Available: Hardcover, paperback, Kindle edition, audiobook

 

The release of Alma Katsu’s new historical horror novel brings with it comparisons to The Terror by Dan Simmons, even including both of them in social media ads. Do not be fooled. Yes, both authors bring impeccable research to fine stories and put you right there in the moment with ease, and both examine the human condition and how people can easily be turned to embrace their shadow selves, the monsters within the person.

However, there are a couple of major differences. First, The Hunger will not take the entire summer to read. At nearly a thousand pages, The Terror, while amazing, could be used as a weapon to literally knock someone out. Katsu’s story trims the fat, leaving a lean but thoroughly detailed and realistic story that doesn’t skimp on the details of the western mountains or pioneer life. Instead, she focuses on the relationships and the rot that crisis can reveal.

Many readers will be at least partially familiar with the story of the unfortunate Donner Party, a caravan of travelers who attempted to traverse the Sierra Nevada mountains, but were ill-prepared for the journey.

In a story where the ending is already written and most of the facts are substantiated, Katsu keeps the reader’s attention with compelling characters, and takes her time in building the burn. She introduces the many characters and allows them to maneuver through the plot, growing and festering in readers’ minds as they turn the pages. Her weaving together of the players in this horrific chunk of history creates a bloody tapestry that will intrigue the reader.

The most vividly drawn characters are Charles Stanton, a bachelor with the dark secret; Tamsen Donner, wife of George, who strongly believes in the supernatural and witchcraft;  James Reed, another party leader with a dark path; and Tamsen’s youngest daughter, who can hear the dead speak to her. Toss in some other players, and the stew simmers to a rich boil that threatens to destroy the group even before the true tragedy hits.

Katsu inserts the supernatural, or at least the vibe of it, which elevates the novel from pure historical fiction to historical horror, but she keeps the story lean. Reading it, one can almost feel the desolation of the mountains and the desperation their journey. By the time the climax unfolds, Katsu delivers on the promise hinted at in the beginning– a bit of a twist,  but just enough to create wonder Recommended reading for any thriller or history fan.

 

Reviewed by David Simms

Editor’s note: The Hunger is a nominee for the 2018 Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a Novel.

 

Posted on March 1, 2019 by , Reply
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