ARC Review: Hunting Prince Dracula by Kerri Maniscalco

Recommended Read!

“HUNTING PRINCE DRACULA was a thrillingly morbid adventure I didn’t want to see come to an end.”
~ Under the Covers

Kerri Maniscalco has quickly become a fave author of mine.  There’s something alluring about the world she’s created and the way she crafts it.  Her writing stands out because it just works perfectly for me.  She has a talent for detailing a scene and making you feel and see all the right things without being wordy.  This is not an easy task!  And yet, when I read one of her books is as if I’m transported to this scary place and I love being on this adventure with these characters.

Because yes, lets face it.  THE CHARACTERS!  I’ve come to love Audrey and Thomas.  Her curious and astute mind, his power of observation.  Their sense of humor and undeniable chemistry.  They’re the perfect protagonists to a story filled with some darker elements.

But on to HUNTING PRINCE DRACULA.  It picks up where the first book left off (I’ll try not to spoil that one in this review) and Audrey is dealing with the emotional issues of solving the Jack the Ripper case.  Thomas and her father have agreed that she attends a forensic studies course in Romania with Thomas to get her mind back to what she loves and hopefully move on with her life.  Tragedy quickly follows them and bodies start appearing.  Bodies that seem for all intents and purposes as if they were killed by none other than Dracula.  Newspapers are warning people that he’s come back and the village is in an uproar, full of folk stories about werewolves and vampires.

The mystery in this series is always so well done.  I often get bored with mysteries because I’ve read so many in my days I can usually pick apart the formula and figure things out pretty quickly.  With this book, I couldn’t figure it ALL out.  I had parts of it right, but the main culprit eluded me until the very end.  Ms. Maniscalco kept me guessing and fooled me just as much as all the characters were.  And I love that she was able to do that!  The mystery in this one was better than in the first one in that respect.

Another favorite thing of mine about this series is the ability of the author to blend in the real classic tale details into her story.  In this instance, the origins of Dracula and the Romanian folklore were integrated really well and made the story all that more interesting and layered.  Definitely adding what the mystery needed.

And then there’s the romance.  Audrey and Thomas have a chemistry that you can’t help but be drawn in by.  Their banter and humor can lighten up an otherwise morbid scene and is one of the things that keeps me coming back for more.  That combo works for me.  I was also so impressed with how the romance is really such a small element in terms of what happens in the story, but at the same time the author manages to make it present all throughout.

This was one of my most anticipated reads of this month and it far exceeded my expectations.  HUNTING PRINCE DRACULA was a thrillingly morbid adventure I didn’t want to see come to an end.  If you’re not reading Ms. Maniscalco then you must start today.  Even if you don’t usually read gothic horror, give it a shot.  I cannot wait to see what other troubles Audrey and Thomas will get into next.  We’ve had Jack the Ripper, Dracula… what’s next?  I’m dying to find out. 🙂

 

[about-author author=”Kerri Maniscalco”]

What did you think of our review?
Let us know your thoughts in the comment box below!

 ♡ Don’t want to miss any of our posts? ♡ 
Follow Under the Covers: Facebook | Twitter | Tsu | GoodReads | Email