Title: Stoker’s Manuscript
Author: Royce Prouty
First published June 6, 2013
338 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9780425269794 (ISBN10: 0425269795)
Rating: 3.48
Overview
Royce Prouty’s Stoker’s Manuscript is a tale of mystery, horror, and redemption that will leave you spellbound. Joseph Barkeley is a gifted document authenticator who has been hired to authenticate the original manuscript of Bram Stoker’s Dracula.
His journey to Transylvania to deliver the manuscript to Bran Castle leads him to discover that his employer is the son of the notorious Vlad Dracula. Imprisoned in the castle and forced to serve the Master, Barkeley must decipher cryptic messages hidden within Stoker’s masterpiece to find the Master’s long-lost bride or risk wearing out his welcome.
As he unravels the mysteries of Dracula and his own lineage, Barkeley realizes that his selection for this job was based on more than his talent with rare books. He is faced with a perilous decision- save his life with a coward’s flight or wage a deadly battle with an ancient foe.
If you love tales of horror and suspense, you’ll love Stoker’s Manuscript.
About the Author
Meet Patrick Royce Prouty, a certified public accountant, business consultant, and avid Harley-Davidson enthusiast. He currently resides in Southern California with his wife.
Prouty recently published his debut novel, titled Stoker’s Manuscript.
Editoral Review
Stoker’s Manuscript by Royce Prouty is a riveting thriller about a rare manuscript of Bram Stoker’s Dracula being discovered in the hands of a secretive collector, Jonathan Barlow. The author, Prouty, is an American horror and thriller writer, and the novel was first published in June 2013.
The book belongs to the horror and thriller genre and is reminiscent of Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code. The novel follows the journey of an ancient manuscript of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, which surfaces after more than a century, and Jonathan Barlow, a collector of rare books, who has ownership of it.
The manuscript is full of annotations and enigmatic symbols, which pique the interest of one of Barlow’s acquaintances, Joseph Barkeley, a rare-book dealer. As Joseph digs deeper into the mystery, he realizes that the manuscript contains a hidden truth that could lead to a supernatural terror with the power to destroy the world.
Prouty masterfully creates a thrilling atmosphere, with well-developed characters and a gripping storyline. The setting of the novel, an old mansion in New York, adds to the gothic and dark ambiance of the book.
The novel holds readers captive with its twists and turns, culminating in an unexpected and satisfying ending. One of the strengths of Stoker’s Manuscript is Prouty’s beautiful prose, which is both engaging and descriptive.
The characters are well thought out and developed, and the author’s writing style makes them come to life. Prouty’s attention to detail contributes significantly to the authentic feel of the novel.
The intertexture of Stoker’s original text with the annotations made by Barlow, is both eerie and fascinating. The plot structure in Stoker’s Manuscript is impressive, with the story gradually building up to a thrilling climax.
Each chapter leaves the reader craving for more, and the pacing is well-suited for the genre. The author also addresses themes of obsession, the supernatural, and the question of what is real or not, which are especially relevant to fans of horror and thriller genres.
However, the novel falls short in some aspects, including some plot points that are underdeveloped and the lack of character depth. Some readers may find the plot to be predictable, and the pacing may be too slow for some.
Nevertheless, fans of the horror and thriller genre will find Stoker’s Manuscript a compelling read, especially those who are interested in Stoker’s Dracula. The novel is well-crafted, with an engaging plot, and a natural sense of horror that is reminiscent of the author’s predecessors.
Washington Post would rate Stoker’s Manuscript with 4 out of 5 stars, recommending it to fans of the genre who are looking for a gripping and engaging read.
