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.