Dracula The Un-Dead

Title:Dracula The Un-Dead
Author:Dacre Stoker and Ian Holt
Genre:Horror, supernatural, suspense
Publication:October 13, 2009

Summary:
A quarter of a century after Count Dracula “crumbled into dust,” Quincey Harker-the son of Jonathan and Mina Harker-leaves law school to pursue a career on stage, only to stumble upon the troubled production of Dracula, directed and produced by Bram Stoker himself.

As the play plunges Quincey into the world of his parents’ terrible secrets, death begins to stalk the original band of heroes that defeated Dracula a quarter-century ago. Could it be that the count survived and is now seeking revenge? Or is there another, far more sinister force at work whose relentless purpose is to destroy anything and anyone associated with Dracula, the most notorious vampire of all time?

Review:
Dacre Stoker, who is the great grand nephew of Bram Stoker (author of the original 1897 Dracula), sometimes pleases and other times has you thinking that Bram Stoker must be rolling in his grave. This sequel was in honor of, and written for Bram Stoker with the belief that Bram Stoker intended to do a sequel. This may or may not have been true, and we will never know for certain. Dracula the Un-Dead takes place 25 years after Dracula is defeated and killed by Jonathan & Mina Harker, Van Helsing, Quincey P. Morris, Arthur Holmwood, and Jack Seward. For those of you who have not read the original (you should), there is enough back story to keep you from wondering what happened to the characters in the past.

Quincey Harker is about to be plunged into a world of darkness he could never have imagined. He is an actor who is at constant odds with his father, Jonathan Harker. Forces unseen by Quincey are about to bring this family back together in violent and tragic ways through a stranger named Basarab, and a lady known as Countess Bathory, or the Bloody Countess. Who will survive, and who will die? Is Dracula the monster that history has painted him as, or is it all a huge lie? You will have to read to find out!

The take on Dracula and other characters in this book is most definitely unique and interesting. You are thrown right into the nightmare of blood, death, and betrayal almost immediately. As a stand alone book I find this angle on Dracula to be very satisfying. As a sequel honoring Bram Stoker, not so much though entertaining and well written, this is not the vision Bram Stoker had for Count Dracula. Having said all of that, this book is still worth the read. Enjoy!