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The prequel to Dracula, penned by a Stoker descendant and a bestselling writer, Dracul is a supernatural historical thriller in which a young Bram Stoker must confront an indescribable evil.
It is 1868, and a 22-year-old Bram Stoker has locked himself inside a desolate tower to face off against a vile and ungodly beast, armed with mirrors and crucifixes and holy water and a gun, kept company by a bottle of plum brandy, praying to survive a single night, the longest of his life. Desperate to leave a record of what he has witnessed, Bram scribbles out the events that led him here–a childhood illness, a haunting nanny, stories once thought to be fables now proven true.
A riveting novel of Gothic suspense, Dracul reveals not only Dracula’s true origin, but Bram Stoker’s–and the tale of the enigmatic woman who connects them.
- Film rights optioned by Paramount with Andy Muschetti (IT, Mama) attached to direct!
- Named a Fall 2018 Buzz Book by Publisher’s Lunch!
- Named one of Publisher’s Weekly Top 10 Books of Fall 2018!
- Starred review at Library Journal!
- Named New and Noteworthy by New York Times!
- Named one of Library Journal’s Best Books of 2018!
- 3rd Place – GoodReads Choice Awards – Best Horror of 2018!
Praise for Dracul
“Reading DRACUL is like watching a classic vampire film. Bram Stoker lives! Dracula lives! HORROR lives on nearly every page. A terrifying read that gave me hours of fun.”
—R.L. Stine, NY Times Bestselling Author of Goosebumps and Fear Street
“A compelling, deep, dark drama about Dracula’s origin. Even I had to keep the lights on when reading this book!”
—John Saul, NY Times Bestselling Author
“A big book that will no doubt be a hit among monster-movie and horror lit fans—and for good reason.”
—Kirkus
“An exhilarating fever dream of creeping dread and dark adventure. Reading Dracul is like stepping into a time machine and traveling back to a shadowy landscape ruled by nightmares. I devoured it in two sittings and was delighted and chilled with every turn of the page. You will be, too.”
—Richard Chizmar, New York Times Bestselling co-author of Gwendy’s Button Box
“Bram Stoker fans and scholars will find this a satisfying exploration of his legacy.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Brilliant. Dracul pumps fresh blood into the vampire genre by telling the story of the man who started it all — Bram Stoker. And what a story! A grand adventure that contains all the literary playfulness and mounting dread of the original Dracula. It gave me chills.”
—Riley Sager, Bestselling Author of Final Girls and The Last Time I Lied
“A terrifying and compelling prequel that reveals how a young Bram Stoker confronted evil to craft a masterpiece.”
—Library Journal
“Whatever fiendish bargain Stoker and Barker struck to resurrect the voice of Bram Stoker with such authenticity and aplomb, it was worth it, at least to their mere mortal readers. Dracul is a genius and fevered nightmare of Gothic madness, each page seeping with ominous dread and escalating horror. It is a prequel more than just worthy of the original novel— it is sure to be an undying classic of its own, haunting, terrifying and entertaining generations to come.”
—Eric Rickstad, New York Times Bestselling author of What Remains of Her and Silent Girls
“Scary as hell. Gothic as decay. Dracul will have you checking over your shoulder, under your bed, and up on the ceiling, too. All while wondering about the contents of every crate and oblong box you see.”
—Josh Malerman, Bestselling author of Bird Box
“Dracul is interesting because it sheds light on the original characters and author. Adding just the right touch of suspense increases the pace and ratchets up the tension, which appeals to the contemporary reader.”
—Booklist
“Instantly gripping, beautifully bound, and meticulously researched, Dracul will chill you to the bone.”
—SyFyWire
“This delightfully gothic tale is packed with gore and atmosphere.”
—Bookpage
“Dracul reveals not only Dracula’s “true” origin, but Bram Stoker’s as well. More than just a Dracula novel, it’s a great addition to the entire vampire genre.”
—SF Reader
“Brilliant… Close your windows. Lock your doors. Turn the lights on. Place a silver crucifix around your neck, and make sure to have a few sharp wooden stakes nearby. In other words, prepare yourself for a transfixing journey into the diabolically delicious world of DRACUL — if you dare.”
—Chanticleer Reviews
“I thought the novel was a deliciously dark tale that is sure to satisfy Stoker fans’ enduring thirst for mystery and horror. I loved it!”
—Neil Spring, International Bestselling Author of The Ghost Hunters
“This is speculative horror writing at its best, on par with Stephen King, Joe Hill and, especially, Dan Simmons. Riveting and relentless.”
—Providence Journal
“A horror story for true fright-seekers!”
—AARP
“It’s a thrilling exploration of the novel’s creator. It is also, as with the best literary horror, genuinely creepy. In its crafty structure and unhurried layering of dread, this addition to the canon is a brilliantly entertaining read.”
—Financial Times
“What’s eerie about Dracul is how the voice of Bram Stoker seems to inhabit the pages.”
—Pittsburgh City Paper
Praise for J.D. Barker
“J.D. Barker is a one-of-a-kind writer and that’s a rare and special thing. Stephen King comes to mind and Lee Child, John Sandford. All one-of-a-kinds. Don’t miss anything J.D. writes.”
—James Patterson, #1 International Bestselling Author
“A talented writer with a delightfully devious mind!”
—Jeffery Deaver, NY Times Bestselling Author
“I don’t say this lightly: J.D. Barker is a force to be reckoned with.”
—Tosca Lee, NY Times Bestselling Author
“What sets Barker apart is his unique ability to blend genres seamlessly. His novels are a masterful fusion of horror, crime, mystery, science fiction, and the supernatural, creating a reading experience that is both thrilling and thought-provoking.”
—CULTR.com
“J. D. Barker is quickly becoming one of the best thriller writers working today.”
—Book Reporter.com
“Devilishly dark.”
— Library Journal
“Barker is a master wordsmith.”
— AudioBookReviewer.com
“Masterful storytelling.”
— Bookish
“J.D. Barker knows how to set a scene.”
— Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
“...on par with Stephen King, Joe Hill and especially, Dan Simmons. Riveting and relentless.”
— BookTrib
"J.D. Barker was born to write suspense thrillers."
—The Real Book Spy
“It is clear Barker is a name to watch.”
—The Horror Bookshelf
“Barker’s slight of literary hand is absolute genius. He builds tension and then rips the rug right out from under you, just to do it all over again.”
—Quitterstrip
“Mr. Barker may have begun by following in the footsteps of such literary royalty as Stephen King, Thomas Harris, and Dean Koontz, but he has blazed a unique path all his own.”
— Fresh Fiction
“J.D. Barker is quite frankly one of the best crime thriller writers out there who should be on everyone’s radar!”
— Novel Delights
“Barker is an award-winning writer who is the second coming of Thomas Harris.”
— Book Reporter.com
“Barker's mastery of character and dialogue is noteworthy.”
— Booklist
“Barker is the Mozart of thrillers!”
— GoodReads
“Barker is such a skilled and exciting writer, delivering a chilling, slow-build thriller, a final, jaw-dropping twist, and a cliffhanger ending that leaves readers dangling precariously by their fingertips.”
— Lancashire Evening Post
“Mr. Barker doesn't just tell a story, he paints pictures with his words.”
— BookBub
“If you haven't read any J.D. Barker, I strongly suggest you start now.”
— Goodreads