The Dead Travel Fast

and all good. Being a big fan of the Silent novels I was pleased to find that Deanna Raybourn had a new book coming. This is not another Lady Julia novel but that's fine. As big a fan of those books as I am, I liked seeing the difference in setting and tone of the novel. The novel starts in Scotland where Theodora Lestrange hails from. She's a budding author and has close ties to her married sister and brother in law, both of whom feel she's getting a little long in the tooth to not have a husband. As it turns out, her publisher also happens to be in love with her and has proposed marriage. It would be safe and proper for Theodora but those are two things aren't high on her priority list. A stroke of fate gives her the perfect reason to leave the land that is her home and experience a bit of adventure that could likely make wonderful research for a new novel. An old school friend of hers that she hasn't seen in years has sent word from Transylvania that she's to be wed to the new count. Theodora sees this as a great, if not a little intimidating, prospect to see a mysterious land that has born so many legends over the years as well as seeing a friend she cares for greatly. What Theodora experiences during her stay at the Castle Dragelscu is both frightening and thrilling. She was prepared to enjoy the company of her friend, but she wasn't entirely prepared for the mysteries of the exotic Transylvanian mountains, its people, and the even more mysterious new count. What's more, something bad happens at the castle during her stay. Is it mere human treachery or something more evil? This book does have shades of the Lady Julia series in it. A strong heroine getting involved in something that's seemingly beyond her experiences, a mysterious and near intoxicating strange man thrown into the middle of her life. Those were both staples of the Silent series. What makes this book even more interesting is the setting. Transylvania. With its legends of werewolves and vampires and the very simple and superstitious townspeople, it makes a great backdrop for a great mystery. Raybourn mixes mystery with vampire lore and Transylvanian imagery to great effect to make a very engrossing read. The Dead Travel Fast has the signature stamp of Deanna Raybourn on it, but it was a nice change to see a perfectly different setting. The book's also darker because of the location and the wonderful sense of place. Thick, dark woods..the shadow of the Carpathian mountains looming overhead, a once majestic castle that's fallen into decline, etc. I like when favorite authors of mine take a slight departure from a well established series of theirs and manage to put it off and she has done that with The Dead Travel Fast. It's not your typical vampire novel, but it's not your typical mystery book either. Those two things make it a great read.

As a fan of the "Silent" series and Lady Julia, I wasn't sure how I would like this stand-alone novel. I downloaded and gave it a shot anyway. Let me say that I loved it! Theodora and the Count are every bit as engaging as Julia and Brisbane. Sure, it was predictable--even corny--at times, but still had an intriguing plot with just enough supernatural element to keep me fascinated.

Theodora Lestrange is living with her sister and brother-in-law in Scotland unsure of what is next in her life. She is trying to make a living as a writer, not easy in Victorian times. Her sister wants her to find someone to marry and her publisher has proposed marriage to her. But while Theodora is fond of him, she wants true love. So when a former school friend, Cosmina invites her to stay with her for several months in a castle in Transylvania, Theodora jumps at the chance. She thinks the atmosphere will be perfect for the novel she wants to write. She is immediately attracted to the strange Count Andrei Dragulescu, Cosmina's cousin. But Theodora finds that the stories Cosmina used to tell her in school are not just considered folklore by the townspeople and that they believe in werewolves and vampires. After a maid in the castle is found dead with fang marks in her neck, Theodora is unsure what to believe. my review: I enjoyed the author's Lady Julia series and was unsure what to expect of this novel. But I really liked the Gothic atmosphere and the creepy characters. Theodora is young but knows what she wants. I liked her a lot. I also thought Andrei sounded sexy even while I wondered if he was a vampire. I know some have been disappointed in this novel as compared to her series but I think I liked this one better. It was deliciously creepy and as it is a stand alone novel it didn't get bogged down with setting things up for future books. Of course I liked Theodora and Andrei so much that I would like it to be a series but then their relationship would have dragged on like Lady Julia and Nicholas Brisbane. This is not a paranormal book but a dark, thriller in an excellent setting. It seemed like the author really did her research and created a fantastic mystery. I would have loved to stay in a castle in Transylvania though I would have been scared silly. I thought that the ending had some nice twists and I was unsure what to expect for much of this novel. It was worth the read alone for the atmosphere but Raybourn served up much more. I was sorry to have it end. This is a definite re-read for me! my rating- 4.5/5

This new book from Deanna Raybourn introduces a new heroine, Theodora Lestrange, after her previous 3 books featuring Lady Julia Grey (which were all excellent). The story is entertaining, and the read is fast-paced and fun. As with her other books, the writing is solid - the dialogue between the characters is well-written, and the descriptions are vivid & interesting. Highly recommended for anyone who likes romantic suspense, and authors like Nora Roberts.

I felt compelled to write a review for this book. I had purchased it as soon as it had come out on the strength of the author's previous books, but after reading the lackluster reviews here, put off reading it for several days. Well, I ran out of things to read so I turned to this book today and finished it in one sitting. I felt so strongly that it was being unfairly maligned, and worried that others may pass it up and miss out on an enjoyable read, so had to review it immediately. I believe the author brings all the strengths of her writing from her previous series to this book, but with an entirely new twist. I enjoyed it more as a romance than a mystery, though it has plenty of that and suspense as well. At one point I couldn't take it anymore and had to flip to the back to reassure myself of the ending before continuing on. I think her writing is as strong here as it is in Julia Grey, but just be prepared for something new. I was expecting to be disappointed, however now I am only more firmly a fan! She will definitely remain on my pre-order list.