The second part of the two-novel set my husband gifted me for Christmas has proven to be an exhilarating read. Set in the era of Bram Stoker's management of London's Lyceum Theater, the story draws inspiration from real-life figures such as the illustrious actor Sir Henry Irving and the celebrated author Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of Sherlock Holmes. Bram's desire for literary success is piqued when he meets Tepes, a European stranger who offers to share terrifying tales from his homeland in exchange for learning about English customs. As Bram delves deeper into these stories, he realizes that they are rooted in dark truths, and he, along with Sir Henry, Arthur, and other friends, including Quincy Morgan, must navigate a terrifying series of events. This novel is a riveting page-turner that skillfully brings historical figures to life in extraordinary circumstances. I highly recommend it.

A really wonderful book which concludes the adventure begun in the first novel. It's a stylish story that harks back to the old Hammer horror films. A morality play, where good and evil are clearly defined and good triumphs over evil. There are small details that the author introduces, which Stoker used in his famous novel -like the kukri knife (which make this book a delight to read). The action is thunderously exciting with an element of romance thrown in. Even if the outcome is known to all aficionados of the original novel and that Stoker must remain alive to write the novel, this 'what if ' adventure keeps you turning the pages until the end. I hope Mr Kassel continues to write more novels of this genre.