Linda and David A. (mamabluestem) - reviewed on 1/18/2010

Helpful Score: 5

I requested this novel on the strength of the blurb alone; I had no previous knowledge of the work, and I wasn't entirely sure what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised, so much so that I finished the book in one long day of reading off and on, during a forced snowday off. Don't get me wrong; it's not that it's a quick read or anything, but it was one of those that sneaks up on you: I kept saying to myself, "just one more chapter!", until I looked up from the ending, and found it was dark outside!

The Historian is an entirely-believable (in a suspension-of-disbelief, "it could really happen this way!" kind of way) modernization (taking place in the '60s during the cold war period) of the classic Dracula tale, which combines a scholarly (but anything but "dry", gory details included) analysis of the actual Vlad the Impaler/Dracula legend, pays homage to Bram Stoker's version while avoiding all of the movie cliches, and presents all this in an exciting chase-around-Europe, "dig" up the clues story surrounding likable characters and interesting locales. "Heartily" recommended! (Sorry, won't be reposting my copy; it's one I'll re-read.)

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