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Charles Maddox #4
The Pierced Heart
In a dazzling mystery inspired by Bram Stoker's much-beloved Dracula, the critically acclaimed author of The Solitary House and A Fatal Likeness, Lynn Shepherd-and her brilliant Victorian detective Charles Maddox-return in their biggest, most challenging literary suspense novel yet.
Clever, eerie and compelling by turns, The Pierced Heart finds detective Charles Maddox traveling to the remote castle of the enigmatic Baron Von Reisenberg, a pioneering scientist with a terrible secret. Meanwhile, London is in the throes of a series of brutal murders, executed by a mysterious killer known only as "The Vampire." What is the connection between the Baron and the murders? And what does the journal of a young theater assistant named Lucy have to do with it all? Maddox must find out. Drawing inspiration from both Dracula and from the strange life of a mysterious and long-forgotten real-life scientist, The Pierced Heart dramatizes a fatal clash between science and superstition, at a time of profound change and dangerous transition, and once again spins a gorgeously atmospheric literary suspense story from one of the world's most beloved novels.
Clever, eerie and compelling by turns, The Pierced Heart finds detective Charles Maddox traveling to the remote castle of the enigmatic Baron Von Reisenberg, a pioneering scientist with a terrible secret. Meanwhile, London is in the throes of a series of brutal murders, executed by a mysterious killer known only as "The Vampire." What is the connection between the Baron and the murders? And what does the journal of a young theater assistant named Lucy have to do with it all? Maddox must find out. Drawing inspiration from both Dracula and from the strange life of a mysterious and long-forgotten real-life scientist, The Pierced Heart dramatizes a fatal clash between science and superstition, at a time of profound change and dangerous transition, and once again spins a gorgeously atmospheric literary suspense story from one of the world's most beloved novels.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published October 21, 2014
21 people are currently reading
847 people want to read
About the author
Lynn Shepherd
16 books200 followersLynn Shepherd studied English at Oxford in the 1980s, and got a doctorate degree there in 2006. She always wanted to be a writer and in 2000 she went freelance to see if it was possible to make her dream into reality. Ten years later her dream finally comes true. Murder at Mansfield Park was her first novel.
She describes her genre as 'literary mystery', and in 2012 she since published Tom All-Alone's / The Solitary House, which is inspired by Charles Dickens' Bleak House.
Her third book A Treacherous Likeness explores the dark secrets of the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley and his wife Mary, the author of Frankenstein. It will be published in the UK in February 2013, and in the US in August under the title A Fatal Likeness. More details and a video about the book can be found on www.lynn-shepherd.com
She describes her genre as 'literary mystery', and in 2012 she since published Tom All-Alone's / The Solitary House, which is inspired by Charles Dickens' Bleak House.
Her third book A Treacherous Likeness explores the dark secrets of the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley and his wife Mary, the author of Frankenstein. It will be published in the UK in February 2013, and in the US in August under the title A Fatal Likeness. More details and a video about the book can be found on www.lynn-shepherd.com
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 89 reviews
July 18, 2016
Viktorijanski, atmosferični triler, ili čak horor... Volim to razdoblje pa onda još kada su tu i nevine djeve kojima se događaju neke ružne stvari, pa ekscentrični velikaši u svojim, opskurnim dvorcima, kao i hrabri borac za pravdu...sve to skupa zanimljivo je štivo... A mislim da bi bilo odlično da se ekranizira..
March 21, 2016
Ukoliko još nište čitali ništa iz ovog serijala, predlažem vam da počnete čitati po redu. Ja sam s čitanjem bila krenula od 'Fatalne bliskosti' i već sam tamo naletjela na brojne nepoznanice koje mi nisu bile jasne jer nisam bila pročitala prethodne knjige, a ova se knjiga nastavlja u istom tonu, s tim da se Charlesov konkretni slučaj koji u njoj istražuje nadovezuje na posjetu klijenta koja se dogodila netom prije kraja prethodnog romana.
Dakle, Charlesa su angažirali ljudi s Oxfordskog sveučilišta kako bi provjerio njihovog velikog donatora, baruna von Reisenberga. Tim poslom Charles odlazi u posjetu Reisenbergu na njegovo imanje u Austriju. Već je i Charlesov put do tamo prepun čudnovatih zbivanja, koja se samo još pojačaju kad stigne na imanje i upozna baruna, koji je i sam, blago rečeno, vrlo ekscentrična pojava. Nekako u to vrijeme, događaju se i misteriozni nestanci nekoliko djevojaka, a kasnije, u Londonu, i nekoliko brutalnih ubojstava. Charlesov instinkt govori mu da su svi ti događaji nekako povezani sa tajanstvenim barunom, ali svoju teoriju tek treba doraditi i dokazati, po mogućnosti prije nego se dogodi još jedno ubojstvo...
Ono što mi se općenito svidjelo kod ovog serijala je to što je svaki roman u određenoj mjeri povezan s nekim poznatim djelom svjetske književnosti i/ili njegovim tvorcem: 'Fatalna bliskost' bila je povezana s 'Frankensteinom', odnosno Shelleyevima; 'Murder at Mansfield Park' s (je li uopće potrebno napominjati?) 'Mansfieldskim parkom' Jane Austen, a 'Tom All-Alone's' aka 'The solitary house' sa 'Sumornom kućom' Charlesa Dickensa. Ta povezanost s književnim djelima i/ili njihovim autorima obično je utkana i u samu radnju svakog romana, no u ovom je romanu ta povezanost malo drugačije izražena: roman je pisan u stilu koji neodoljivo podsjeća na 'Draculu' Brama Stokera, ali radnja romana nema baš neke veze s tim romanom, već je inspirirana fantazmagorijom i eksperimentima stvarnog austrijskog ekscentrika, Karla Von Reichenbacha.
Kao i 'Fatalna bliskost', i ovaj roman odiše nekom mračnom i tajanstvenom atmosferom tipičnom za gotičke romane iz 18. stoljeća. Likovi samo doprinose toj atmosferi - što samim svojim pojavama, što načinom na koji nam iznose svoje pojedinačne priče i upleću ih u onu glavnu, koja ih sve povezuje. Poglavlja su pisana u stilu dnevničkih zapisa i ponekog pisma, namjerno, kako bi, budući da je tim djelom i djelomice inspiriran, nalikovao 'Draculi'. Poveznicu s 'Draculom' vidimo i iz izbora imena likova i načina na koji oni jedan s drugim dolaze u doticaj: Charlesovo putovanje na u Austriju podsjeća na ono Jonathana Harkera u Transilvaniju; Lucyni dnevnički zapisi pisani su istim zagonetnim tonom i obiluju jednako zagonetnim događajima kao oni Lucy Westenra iz 'Dracule', itd. Puno je malih sličnosti, manje ili više značajnih, ali one su većinom stilske, radnjom se ta dva romana ipak razlikuju.
Sama radnja, njen tempo i njena slojevitost dobro su razrađeni, iako slabije no što je to slučaj s 'Fatalnom bliskosti'. Ono što ovdje nedostaje, a što je 'Fatalnu bliskost' činilo iznimnim djelom je utkanost povezanosti književnog djela koje je ovo djelo inspiriralo u samu priču. Ovaj roman svoju inspiraciju vuče iz dva izvora: eksperimenata Karla Von Reichenbacha i 'Dracule', ali ovaj prvi ogleda se u radnji, dok se ovaj drugi ogleda samo u stilu pisanja i općenitom ozračju romana. Kao što sam već spomenula, radnja je slojevita, ali na dijelove zna biti i zbrkana, kao i sporo se odvijati, zbog čega mi se ovaj roman, iako mi se jest svidio, svidio manje od 'Fatalne bliskosti'.
Charles je ona konstanta u romanu koja je ostala nepromijenjena od prethodnog, te mi se i dalje jako sviđa kao lik. Domišljat je, inteligentan, hrabar kad to treba biti, pravovremeno reagira, analitičan je i dosljedan: sve ono što očekujem od glavnog lika detektivskog romana, pa i više. I drugi su likovi jednako dobro okarakterizirani i dobro su uklopljeni u ovu priču, postoji samo jedan mali problemčić s njima u vezi, koji se u biti više tiče hrvatskog prijevoda romana no samih likova. Naime, ovaj je serijal od 'Fatalne bliskosti' do 'Probodenog srca' promijenio prevoditelja, što ne bi bio problem sam po sebi da je novi prevoditelj uskladio svoj prijevod sa svojim prethodnikom, što očito nije, jer u 'Probodenom srcu' su odjednom gotovo svi sporedni likovi (koji u originalu govore cockneyem, ali u 'Fatalnoj bliskosti' to nije pretjerano naglašavano u smislu da im se doda nekakvo hrvatsko narječje), ovdje iznenada postali Zagorci. Bilo bi bolje da su knjige međusobno usklađene, ovako se dobije dojam da su se u drugoj knjizi pojavili neki posve drugi likovi.
Ako ste se već upoznali s Charlesom u 'Fatalnoj bliskosti' (ili ranije), nemojte prekočiti ni ovaj roman o njegovim dogodovštinama. Nije toliko dobar kao 'Fatalna bliskost', ali je svejedno dobar i vrijedi ga pročitati. Ako još ne znate tko je Charles Maddox (ni mlađi ni stariji), preporučam da s čitanjem o njemu/njima krenete od početka serijala. Samo ćete na taj način uspjeti pohvatati baš sve konce u svim njihovim slučajevima. A ako vas pak ne smeta da vam pri čitanju negdje visi koji konac, krenite proizvoljnim redom. Samo krenite.
Dakle, Charlesa su angažirali ljudi s Oxfordskog sveučilišta kako bi provjerio njihovog velikog donatora, baruna von Reisenberga. Tim poslom Charles odlazi u posjetu Reisenbergu na njegovo imanje u Austriju. Već je i Charlesov put do tamo prepun čudnovatih zbivanja, koja se samo još pojačaju kad stigne na imanje i upozna baruna, koji je i sam, blago rečeno, vrlo ekscentrična pojava. Nekako u to vrijeme, događaju se i misteriozni nestanci nekoliko djevojaka, a kasnije, u Londonu, i nekoliko brutalnih ubojstava. Charlesov instinkt govori mu da su svi ti događaji nekako povezani sa tajanstvenim barunom, ali svoju teoriju tek treba doraditi i dokazati, po mogućnosti prije nego se dogodi još jedno ubojstvo...
Ono što mi se općenito svidjelo kod ovog serijala je to što je svaki roman u određenoj mjeri povezan s nekim poznatim djelom svjetske književnosti i/ili njegovim tvorcem: 'Fatalna bliskost' bila je povezana s 'Frankensteinom', odnosno Shelleyevima; 'Murder at Mansfield Park' s (je li uopće potrebno napominjati?) 'Mansfieldskim parkom' Jane Austen, a 'Tom All-Alone's' aka 'The solitary house' sa 'Sumornom kućom' Charlesa Dickensa. Ta povezanost s književnim djelima i/ili njihovim autorima obično je utkana i u samu radnju svakog romana, no u ovom je romanu ta povezanost malo drugačije izražena: roman je pisan u stilu koji neodoljivo podsjeća na 'Draculu' Brama Stokera, ali radnja romana nema baš neke veze s tim romanom, već je inspirirana fantazmagorijom i eksperimentima stvarnog austrijskog ekscentrika, Karla Von Reichenbacha.
Kao i 'Fatalna bliskost', i ovaj roman odiše nekom mračnom i tajanstvenom atmosferom tipičnom za gotičke romane iz 18. stoljeća. Likovi samo doprinose toj atmosferi - što samim svojim pojavama, što načinom na koji nam iznose svoje pojedinačne priče i upleću ih u onu glavnu, koja ih sve povezuje. Poglavlja su pisana u stilu dnevničkih zapisa i ponekog pisma, namjerno, kako bi, budući da je tim djelom i djelomice inspiriran, nalikovao 'Draculi'. Poveznicu s 'Draculom' vidimo i iz izbora imena likova i načina na koji oni jedan s drugim dolaze u doticaj: Charlesovo putovanje na u Austriju podsjeća na ono Jonathana Harkera u Transilvaniju; Lucyni dnevnički zapisi pisani su istim zagonetnim tonom i obiluju jednako zagonetnim događajima kao oni Lucy Westenra iz 'Dracule', itd. Puno je malih sličnosti, manje ili više značajnih, ali one su većinom stilske, radnjom se ta dva romana ipak razlikuju.
Sama radnja, njen tempo i njena slojevitost dobro su razrađeni, iako slabije no što je to slučaj s 'Fatalnom bliskosti'. Ono što ovdje nedostaje, a što je 'Fatalnu bliskost' činilo iznimnim djelom je utkanost povezanosti književnog djela koje je ovo djelo inspiriralo u samu priču. Ovaj roman svoju inspiraciju vuče iz dva izvora: eksperimenata Karla Von Reichenbacha i 'Dracule', ali ovaj prvi ogleda se u radnji, dok se ovaj drugi ogleda samo u stilu pisanja i općenitom ozračju romana. Kao što sam već spomenula, radnja je slojevita, ali na dijelove zna biti i zbrkana, kao i sporo se odvijati, zbog čega mi se ovaj roman, iako mi se jest svidio, svidio manje od 'Fatalne bliskosti'.
Charles je ona konstanta u romanu koja je ostala nepromijenjena od prethodnog, te mi se i dalje jako sviđa kao lik. Domišljat je, inteligentan, hrabar kad to treba biti, pravovremeno reagira, analitičan je i dosljedan: sve ono što očekujem od glavnog lika detektivskog romana, pa i više. I drugi su likovi jednako dobro okarakterizirani i dobro su uklopljeni u ovu priču, postoji samo jedan mali problemčić s njima u vezi, koji se u biti više tiče hrvatskog prijevoda romana no samih likova. Naime, ovaj je serijal od 'Fatalne bliskosti' do 'Probodenog srca' promijenio prevoditelja, što ne bi bio problem sam po sebi da je novi prevoditelj uskladio svoj prijevod sa svojim prethodnikom, što očito nije, jer u 'Probodenom srcu' su odjednom gotovo svi sporedni likovi (koji u originalu govore cockneyem, ali u 'Fatalnoj bliskosti' to nije pretjerano naglašavano u smislu da im se doda nekakvo hrvatsko narječje), ovdje iznenada postali Zagorci. Bilo bi bolje da su knjige međusobno usklađene, ovako se dobije dojam da su se u drugoj knjizi pojavili neki posve drugi likovi.
Ako ste se već upoznali s Charlesom u 'Fatalnoj bliskosti' (ili ranije), nemojte prekočiti ni ovaj roman o njegovim dogodovštinama. Nije toliko dobar kao 'Fatalna bliskost', ali je svejedno dobar i vrijedi ga pročitati. Ako još ne znate tko je Charles Maddox (ni mlađi ni stariji), preporučam da s čitanjem o njemu/njima krenete od početka serijala. Samo ćete na taj način uspjeti pohvatati baš sve konce u svim njihovim slučajevima. A ako vas pak ne smeta da vam pri čitanju negdje visi koji konac, krenite proizvoljnim redom. Samo krenite.
February 4, 2015
DNFed at 37%. And Lord, I'm surprised I made it that far.
Here's a list of issues I had with this book.
First off, the writing style is ridiculously difficult to read. It's like the author tried way too hard to exactly emulate the common writing styles of the book's time setting (19th Century) -- with the end result being a style that is largely inaccessible to the modern reader. It takes a substantial amount of effort to follow this story because of the style, and, quite frankly, that is not what I'm looking for in my usual modern read. If I want a challenging, classic-like book read, I'll read an actual classic instead of a modern-day imitation of one.
All around, the style choice was just very poor. Not only because it was so difficult but because it served to distance me from the main character in a way that made me feel...absolutely nothing for him. I didn't care about the protagonist at all because I consistently felt very far away from him.
Those issues alone were enough to turn me off this book very, very quickly.
But they were further exasperated by the...super-weird, awkward plot. The first 30% of the book (according to my Kindle) is like this strange, tacked-on, prologue-esque section that occurs before the actual plot of the book starts. It's like one super-long backstory that pretty much gives away all the mystery that could have existed in the main plot (that doesn't start for a third of the book). That's what it read like. It was...odd. It felt odd. It didn't read "right" to me at all. It was, quite possibly, the strangest structural choice I could have ever conceived for what was supposed to be a (paranormal) historical mystery.
Not a good experience.
Alll around, this book fell flat for me. The writing was hard to follow. The protagonist was hard to like. And the plot...I'm still not entirely sure how to describe that. It just didn't work for me.
Rating
2/5
____
... \\ Disclosure
I received a free ebook copy of this title from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
Here's a list of issues I had with this book.
First off, the writing style is ridiculously difficult to read. It's like the author tried way too hard to exactly emulate the common writing styles of the book's time setting (19th Century) -- with the end result being a style that is largely inaccessible to the modern reader. It takes a substantial amount of effort to follow this story because of the style, and, quite frankly, that is not what I'm looking for in my usual modern read. If I want a challenging, classic-like book read, I'll read an actual classic instead of a modern-day imitation of one.
All around, the style choice was just very poor. Not only because it was so difficult but because it served to distance me from the main character in a way that made me feel...absolutely nothing for him. I didn't care about the protagonist at all because I consistently felt very far away from him.
Those issues alone were enough to turn me off this book very, very quickly.
But they were further exasperated by the...super-weird, awkward plot. The first 30% of the book (according to my Kindle) is like this strange, tacked-on, prologue-esque section that occurs before the actual plot of the book starts. It's like one super-long backstory that pretty much gives away all the mystery that could have existed in the main plot (that doesn't start for a third of the book). That's what it read like. It was...odd. It felt odd. It didn't read "right" to me at all. It was, quite possibly, the strangest structural choice I could have ever conceived for what was supposed to be a (paranormal) historical mystery.
Not a good experience.
Alll around, this book fell flat for me. The writing was hard to follow. The protagonist was hard to like. And the plot...I'm still not entirely sure how to describe that. It just didn't work for me.
Rating
2/5
____
... \\ Disclosure
I received a free ebook copy of this title from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
October 19, 2014
Looking for a story that mixes supernatural and science ? This one mixes vampirism with historical medical and scientific adventures all wrapped up in themes of Dracula, castles, and 19th century London. Although heavy with descriptions of traveling that sometimes were a bit dull, the characters Charles Maddoxx, Lucy, and the Baron were well drawn and propelled the story. Very entertaining and suspenseful despite its slow start. Honestly, I liked the story, but the ending left me saying, okay, and...? So, because the ending lacked real emotion during the last scene and the epilogue, I was disappointed. Still, it's a good read if you want a thrilling plot, sinister characters, bloody murders, supernatural mystery, and elements of history. A must read for vampire fans!I received this book via NetGalley for a fair and honest review.
November 4, 2014
'Dracula' meets 19th-century Science and Séance. But, mainly, it's Dracula.
For the first 2/3rds of the book, the story was similar enough that I had to say: "Why not just go read Bram Stoker?"
The ending picks up the pace and mixes it up a bit - although there's a 'twist' at the end that will likely only be appreciated by people that have read the previous three books in this series (I have not.)
A young British man is sent to investigate the reputation of a foreign nobleman who wishes to make a significant donation to a bequest. It wouldn't do, you see, for an institution to accept money from a questionable source.
Unfortunately, although the giver is undeniably noble, wealthy and a brilliant businessman and inventor, questions do indeed arise. His castle is downright spooky, he's clearly hiding secrets, the local peasants are superstitious about him, and then there's a odd correlation between his travels and the location of the discoveries of the mutilated bodies of murdered young women...
Meanwhile, a young woman with a tendency toward the vapors travels as well, assisting her father with his magic show - one that has recently taken a turn toward spiritualism. Her health has also taken a turn for the worse, and in desperation, her father contacts yet another doctor who's interested in proposing an experimental course of treatment...
The book is billed as a 'Charlie Maddox mystery' but honestly, I never got much of a sense of Mr. Maddox here. The two main characters are the swooning, easily-influenced Lucy, and the enigmatic Dracula, I mean, Baron Von Reisenberg.
The prose is a faux-19th-century style, which I didn't mind - except when the voice of a modern narrator intrudes unnecessarily, which happens periodically. (Things like: 'once called a sequential killer, nearly a hundred years before the coinage of a far better-known modern phrase' or mentioning in passing that arsenic in paint [unknown to any of the characters] will, years later, cause the demise of attendants at an asylum.) It's jarring, and moreover, the style of the book is out-of-place and inappropriate if the narrator is presumed to be modern-day.
Overall - I certainly couldn't say the book was strikingly original, and it has its flaws, but I did enjoy reading it. I'd recommend it for fans of the original Dracula who enjoy tributes to the classic tale.
Many thanks to NetGalley for providing a copy of this book. As always, my opinions are solely my own.
For the first 2/3rds of the book, the story was similar enough that I had to say: "Why not just go read Bram Stoker?"
The ending picks up the pace and mixes it up a bit - although there's a 'twist' at the end that will likely only be appreciated by people that have read the previous three books in this series (I have not.)
A young British man is sent to investigate the reputation of a foreign nobleman who wishes to make a significant donation to a bequest. It wouldn't do, you see, for an institution to accept money from a questionable source.
Unfortunately, although the giver is undeniably noble, wealthy and a brilliant businessman and inventor, questions do indeed arise. His castle is downright spooky, he's clearly hiding secrets, the local peasants are superstitious about him, and then there's a odd correlation between his travels and the location of the discoveries of the mutilated bodies of murdered young women...
Meanwhile, a young woman with a tendency toward the vapors travels as well, assisting her father with his magic show - one that has recently taken a turn toward spiritualism. Her health has also taken a turn for the worse, and in desperation, her father contacts yet another doctor who's interested in proposing an experimental course of treatment...
The book is billed as a 'Charlie Maddox mystery' but honestly, I never got much of a sense of Mr. Maddox here. The two main characters are the swooning, easily-influenced Lucy, and the enigmatic Dracula, I mean, Baron Von Reisenberg.
The prose is a faux-19th-century style, which I didn't mind - except when the voice of a modern narrator intrudes unnecessarily, which happens periodically. (Things like: 'once called a sequential killer, nearly a hundred years before the coinage of a far better-known modern phrase' or mentioning in passing that arsenic in paint [unknown to any of the characters] will, years later, cause the demise of attendants at an asylum.) It's jarring, and moreover, the style of the book is out-of-place and inappropriate if the narrator is presumed to be modern-day.
Overall - I certainly couldn't say the book was strikingly original, and it has its flaws, but I did enjoy reading it. I'd recommend it for fans of the original Dracula who enjoy tributes to the classic tale.
Many thanks to NetGalley for providing a copy of this book. As always, my opinions are solely my own.
July 23, 2019
In my opinion The Pierced Heart is Lynn Shepherd's best work to date.
I was surprised to find the story on average 100 pages shorter than her previous three books, but as so often the reader is reminded that it isn't really about the length of the book that defines its quality.
With only ca. 230 pages the author created a story of suspense, grotesque, eeriness and the possibility of the supernatural. As with all books in a series, it is impossible to review this book in a standard manner, since various elements of the overall story may be the focus while others are left for later installments.
The plot: as with all of the author's stories in this series, she decides to focus on one particular classic literary work and creates a story that encompasses elements of the classic.
Having said that, the author's decision to focus on Bram Stoker's Dracula for this installment provided the perfect bridge and vehicle to further the overall story arc that includes the main character.
As an avid admirer of the classic literary works, I appreciated the intricate weaving of the traditional Dracula elements (that are responsible for the eerie mood) with the details of the detective's story.
It was a well-paced story that focused more on the actions than the overall narration of the characters the reader knows so well by now.
The characters: as mentioned above, this story is not really character-driven, which at this point in the series is not a bad thing to do. We are; however, left with an interesting twist at the end of this story that provides for greater character focus in future installments.
To be quite honest, personally I did not mind the story-driven approach the author adopted.
The narration: I find it remarkable how skilled the author is in including elements of the classic literary work she uses as a foundation for her stories, not only with respect to the plot, but also in her writing style.
It showcases her knowledge of the classic as well as her competence as a writer.
I was a bit surprised to find rather medicocre ratings for all books in this series.
I admit that the writing style the author uses does not allow for a quick and easy read, but a rich reading experience that takes time and focus. It places great value in the authenticity of the story, instead of the quick fix entertainment kick.
ElliotScribbles
I was surprised to find the story on average 100 pages shorter than her previous three books, but as so often the reader is reminded that it isn't really about the length of the book that defines its quality.
With only ca. 230 pages the author created a story of suspense, grotesque, eeriness and the possibility of the supernatural. As with all books in a series, it is impossible to review this book in a standard manner, since various elements of the overall story may be the focus while others are left for later installments.
The plot: as with all of the author's stories in this series, she decides to focus on one particular classic literary work and creates a story that encompasses elements of the classic.
Having said that, the author's decision to focus on Bram Stoker's Dracula for this installment provided the perfect bridge and vehicle to further the overall story arc that includes the main character.
As an avid admirer of the classic literary works, I appreciated the intricate weaving of the traditional Dracula elements (that are responsible for the eerie mood) with the details of the detective's story.
It was a well-paced story that focused more on the actions than the overall narration of the characters the reader knows so well by now.
The characters: as mentioned above, this story is not really character-driven, which at this point in the series is not a bad thing to do. We are; however, left with an interesting twist at the end of this story that provides for greater character focus in future installments.
To be quite honest, personally I did not mind the story-driven approach the author adopted.
The narration: I find it remarkable how skilled the author is in including elements of the classic literary work she uses as a foundation for her stories, not only with respect to the plot, but also in her writing style.
It showcases her knowledge of the classic as well as her competence as a writer.
I was a bit surprised to find rather medicocre ratings for all books in this series.
I admit that the writing style the author uses does not allow for a quick and easy read, but a rich reading experience that takes time and focus. It places great value in the authenticity of the story, instead of the quick fix entertainment kick.
ElliotScribbles
December 17, 2014
This is the third novel by Lynn Shepherd featuring Charles Maddox, I've read and enjoyed them all and have some of the same feelings about this book as I did about the second one, 'A Fatal Likeness'. Which is the telling could benefit from some additional backstory refreshing (or at the very least I could).
While I can remember parts of each previous story I don't necessarily remember all of the details. I think the reading experience would be a little richer if there was a little more fleshing out of the past trials and tribulations of our endearing protagonist. I know that I really enjoyed his company in the past but in this go round I felt like I didn't really get to know him very well.
This is a relatively short book, weighing in at 228 pages. I expected it to be a quick read but found the pacing was a little drawn out. There were times when I wasn't quite sure what the author was thinking tying her story so closely to Bram Stoker's, 'Dracula'. But having recently listened to the audio version of the original (loved it) I did enjoy connecting the characters and the imagery in my mind.
Fortunately readers are rewarded with a great ending. I loved the way the author tied up this story, it was satisfying and well done and very cleverly has me wanting to read the next book in the series without leaving me with the feeling that I'm hanging at the edge of a cliff.
Thank you to the Amazon Vine Program and Delacorte Press for providing me with an advance uncorrected proof in exchange for an honest review.
While I can remember parts of each previous story I don't necessarily remember all of the details. I think the reading experience would be a little richer if there was a little more fleshing out of the past trials and tribulations of our endearing protagonist. I know that I really enjoyed his company in the past but in this go round I felt like I didn't really get to know him very well.
This is a relatively short book, weighing in at 228 pages. I expected it to be a quick read but found the pacing was a little drawn out. There were times when I wasn't quite sure what the author was thinking tying her story so closely to Bram Stoker's, 'Dracula'. But having recently listened to the audio version of the original (loved it) I did enjoy connecting the characters and the imagery in my mind.
Fortunately readers are rewarded with a great ending. I loved the way the author tied up this story, it was satisfying and well done and very cleverly has me wanting to read the next book in the series without leaving me with the feeling that I'm hanging at the edge of a cliff.
Thank you to the Amazon Vine Program and Delacorte Press for providing me with an advance uncorrected proof in exchange for an honest review.
November 24, 2015
Probably closer to 3.5 stars. I enjoyed this installment of the Maddox series less than previous ones. Perhaps I enjoyed the others more because I am more familiar with their literary setting. This one has echoes of Dracula as well as historical figures but it never resonated with me. Not a terrible book by any means but pales in comparison to its predecessors.
January 27, 2025
Don't miss any opportunity to read this book it's brilliant. Well written and talented author. Il be reading all her others now
October 23, 2014
With thanks to the publishers for providing me with an ebook review copy via NetGalley.
Lynn Shepherd fans will already know that each of her novels have as their inspiration a classic work of literature. Murder at Mansfield Park fairly obviously Mansfield Park, Tom-All-Alone’s; Bleak House, A Treacherous Likeness, took as its inspiration Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and the lives of those concerned with that infamous Swiss holiday . Now The Pierced Heart plays homage to Dracula, Bram Stoker’s classic gothic novel while also drawing on the real life story of a mysterious scientist.
my full review: http://heavenali.wordpress.com/2014/1...
October 28, 2014
This is the fourth novel by Lynn Shepherd featuring Charles Maddox – I read the first but found in this one I really did not get to know him very well. The plot is twisted, with sinister characters, brutal murders, supernatural mystery, and historical elements referencing Dracula.
Full review go to:
http://greatreadsandtealeaves.blogspo...
Full review go to:
http://greatreadsandtealeaves.blogspo...
March 16, 2018
Wow! Where to even begin? I picked out this book from the library shelf thinking it'll be something similar to the old Victorian gothic novels and classic horror stories which I love. It wasn't. In fact, I was so bored with the descriptions and the lack of dialogue in the beginning, I seriously thought I'd throw the book at the wall. I didn't because the book wasn't mine. When you have a mysterious figure right from the beginning and everyone and everything points at him, it really isn't that interesting. And the turn of events at the end... the Van Helsing show... the unlikely discovery of the girl's heritage... It's all so packed in the last 15 or so pages and up until then the pace of the story was snail "fast". The storytelling was sometimes confusing and some parts were unneccesarily inserted. Even the main character, Charles Maddox, was confused most of the time. There were some good parts, though - the setting, the creepy atmosphere, the character of the old Maddox - but not enough to give it a higher mark. Perhaps someone will say I'm a bit harsh, but I've read plenty books on this subject and this one simply didn't have that something that others had.
July 31, 2014
Title - The Pierced Heart
Author - Lynn Shepherd
Summary -
Thief Taker, Charles Maddox is journeying to Vienna from his home in London, hired to audit a collection of books for an investor, he is to visit the castle of Baron Von Reisenberg. After the tragic events of his life, Maddox needs to get away from the memories of London and put behind him the thoughts of a young dead girl and still born child.
Castle Reisenberg is a foreboding structure and Maddox reaches it late in the night, he is well received by his host and tries to rest. But the Castle has its own secrets and Maddox finds himself drawn into the darkness and haunts of Baron Von Reisenberg and the superstitions of the surrounding villagers. Superstitions that believe the Castle and its owner to be far more than they seem.
Maddox explores the hidden chambers of the Castle and stubbles onto a horror that has him committed to an asylum.
"..Charles recognizes it at once-the white figured woman thrown back over the bed, the grinning monkey-fiend astride her body, and the white-eyed horse leering through the womb-red drapes. Fuseli's Nightmare-perhaps the most infamous image of the Gothic imagination. Only this is not the painting, or even a print of the painting. It is a copy in wax, sized to the life. As the light from the lamp wavers in the sudden draught Charles has a momentary wild conviction that this girl is actually alive.."
Elsewhere, the journal of young Lucy is kept as she travels with her father. Her trade is to communicate with the dead. But she and her father are pretenders in the art and she soon finds that there is a darker evil about. An evil that kills young women and then mutilates their corpse.
Maddox returns to London to find that the evil he left in Vienna has come to his home. The murders of young women. Prostitutes. Their bodies mutilated and the heads taken. Before that though, the blood drained and two small punctures left in the throat. Punctures that make him think of the time spent Castle Reisenberg.
Maddox finds himself on the trail of a creature that his scientific and logical mind cannot accept. A creature that has taken young Lucy and will do to her what Maddox has seen done to the dead. A creature of myth. Can Maddox find and kill a creature he does not believe exist? A killer of superstition and legend? A creature that may be turning young Lucy into one of its own.
"..I am becoming a thing of darkness. My eyes are too weak to bear even the dim glow that comes when he opens the door, and I recoil from it in pain, as I recoil from his touch. I can no longer even see his face, as the light streams in behind him and he seems monstrous, like a fiend of some half-forgotten myth..."
Maddox, the broken Thief Taker is pitted against the legend of Nosferatu, the strigoi, the Undead.
Review -
Lynn Shepherd has taken one of my favorite novels of all time, Dracula, and infused it into a mystery with her own character Charles Maddox. Many of the same characters are still here. Lucy. Van Helsing. The Baron as Shepherd's incarnation of Dracula. And Maddox as Jonathan Harker.
It is audacious, brazen, even blasphemous in some circles! But Shepherd pulls this one off. Turning the horror story outline of Bram Stoker's into her own murder mystery.
I have read Lynn Shepherd's prior novels and am happy to see her return to form. After her novel A Fatal Likeness I had concerns. But she has returned to the tempo and story driven novel that was A Solitary House.
The only issue I have with these novels is the main character himself. Charles Maddox. I just don't like him. He is high browed without the nobility or birthright to be. Judgmental of others when his own actions and irresponsibility has done so much harm to those he purports to love and care about.
But it is story that does it for me on this one. Shepherd has written a very good story and taken the Dracula mythos into a different and entertaining back alley.
Well done.
I received this Kindle edition from Net Galley.
Author - Lynn Shepherd
Summary -
Thief Taker, Charles Maddox is journeying to Vienna from his home in London, hired to audit a collection of books for an investor, he is to visit the castle of Baron Von Reisenberg. After the tragic events of his life, Maddox needs to get away from the memories of London and put behind him the thoughts of a young dead girl and still born child.
Castle Reisenberg is a foreboding structure and Maddox reaches it late in the night, he is well received by his host and tries to rest. But the Castle has its own secrets and Maddox finds himself drawn into the darkness and haunts of Baron Von Reisenberg and the superstitions of the surrounding villagers. Superstitions that believe the Castle and its owner to be far more than they seem.
Maddox explores the hidden chambers of the Castle and stubbles onto a horror that has him committed to an asylum.
"..Charles recognizes it at once-the white figured woman thrown back over the bed, the grinning monkey-fiend astride her body, and the white-eyed horse leering through the womb-red drapes. Fuseli's Nightmare-perhaps the most infamous image of the Gothic imagination. Only this is not the painting, or even a print of the painting. It is a copy in wax, sized to the life. As the light from the lamp wavers in the sudden draught Charles has a momentary wild conviction that this girl is actually alive.."
Elsewhere, the journal of young Lucy is kept as she travels with her father. Her trade is to communicate with the dead. But she and her father are pretenders in the art and she soon finds that there is a darker evil about. An evil that kills young women and then mutilates their corpse.
Maddox returns to London to find that the evil he left in Vienna has come to his home. The murders of young women. Prostitutes. Their bodies mutilated and the heads taken. Before that though, the blood drained and two small punctures left in the throat. Punctures that make him think of the time spent Castle Reisenberg.
Maddox finds himself on the trail of a creature that his scientific and logical mind cannot accept. A creature that has taken young Lucy and will do to her what Maddox has seen done to the dead. A creature of myth. Can Maddox find and kill a creature he does not believe exist? A killer of superstition and legend? A creature that may be turning young Lucy into one of its own.
"..I am becoming a thing of darkness. My eyes are too weak to bear even the dim glow that comes when he opens the door, and I recoil from it in pain, as I recoil from his touch. I can no longer even see his face, as the light streams in behind him and he seems monstrous, like a fiend of some half-forgotten myth..."
Maddox, the broken Thief Taker is pitted against the legend of Nosferatu, the strigoi, the Undead.
Review -
Lynn Shepherd has taken one of my favorite novels of all time, Dracula, and infused it into a mystery with her own character Charles Maddox. Many of the same characters are still here. Lucy. Van Helsing. The Baron as Shepherd's incarnation of Dracula. And Maddox as Jonathan Harker.
It is audacious, brazen, even blasphemous in some circles! But Shepherd pulls this one off. Turning the horror story outline of Bram Stoker's into her own murder mystery.
I have read Lynn Shepherd's prior novels and am happy to see her return to form. After her novel A Fatal Likeness I had concerns. But she has returned to the tempo and story driven novel that was A Solitary House.
The only issue I have with these novels is the main character himself. Charles Maddox. I just don't like him. He is high browed without the nobility or birthright to be. Judgmental of others when his own actions and irresponsibility has done so much harm to those he purports to love and care about.
But it is story that does it for me on this one. Shepherd has written a very good story and taken the Dracula mythos into a different and entertaining back alley.
Well done.
I received this Kindle edition from Net Galley.
December 29, 2015
Probodeno srce- Lynn Shepherd
Novi slučaj privatnog detektiva Charlesa Maddoxa zahtjeva iskusnog čitaoca istančanih živaca koji je donekle upoznat sa prethodnom Charlsovom avanturom iz „Fatalne bliskosti“. Ali čak i ako to nije slučaj, dozvolite sebi putovanje u daleku 1851. godinu na relaciji London- Beč.
Pritisnut osobnim gubicima i porodičnim uspomenama Charles Maddox preuzima slučaj koji će ga udaljiti iz Londona koji vrvi turistima, posjetiteljima Velike izložbe.
Glasoviti barun von Reisenberg iskazao je želju da oxfordskoj biblioteci Bodleiani pokloni jedan od najznačajnijih naslova iz svoje privatne zbirke. Međutim, kada Maddox u svojstvu posjetitelja i procjenitelja stigne na imanje ovog aristokrate, znanstvenika i industrijalca, postaje sve teže razlikovati stvarnost od privida.
Među barunovim podanicima vlada neopisivi strah i trepet od onoga što se dešava među zidinama njegovog dvorca.
Kao po zlu, sam von Reisenberg svojim ponašanjem pruža sve više razloga za Maddoxovu zaintrigiranost, pomućujući sposobnost logičkog zaključivanja na koju se ovaj privatni detektiv toliko oslanja.
Naime, u barunovom dvorcu su svi zastori danonoćno navučeni, on sam nikada ne uzima hranu, a iza jednih vrata se često čuju neobjašnjivi zvukovi.
Charlesova pristojnost nestaje onoga trena kada u jednoj od tih prostorija naiđe na replike obezglavljenih djevojaka kojima su izvađena srca.
Nakon što je jedne olujne noći vidio baruna kako stoji na rubu krova svoga zdanja, Charles se i sam odluči na noćne obilaske okoline.
Na nesreću, biva nemilosrdno napadnut od strane barunovog psa i umjesto kući, sam barun ga lično otpremi u sanatorij...
Nakon niza ekscentričnih doživljaja u sanatorijumu, Charles se vraća u London ne rekavši nikome, pa čak ni svome ujaku, ni riječi o onome što se desilo na imanju baruna von Reisenberga.
Velika izložba je u toku, a u njenoj sjeni se dešavaju brutalna ubistva mladih djevojaka koje su sve redom prostitutke. Ono što se tako uspješno skriva od očiju javnosti, ne može biti sakriveno i od Charlesa Maddoxa. Onoga trenutka kada on uvidi da su sve žrtve obezglavljene, da iz njihovih grudi nedostaje srce te da su im na vratu ostavljeni ožiljci, jedino pitanje biti će: Koliko je pametno čak i policiji prešutjeti ono što zna? Da li je za devetnaesti vijek prihvatljivo da je ubica, ni manje ni više nego- vampir?
Ova knjiga svima nama pruža slikovit prikaz viktorijanskog doba, u svom nastavku zadržavajući sve one sporedne likove na koje pomislimo kada nam na um padne Charles Maddox. Ona također pruža priliku da sve svoje strahove ostavite u 2015. godini!
Novi slučaj privatnog detektiva Charlesa Maddoxa zahtjeva iskusnog čitaoca istančanih živaca koji je donekle upoznat sa prethodnom Charlsovom avanturom iz „Fatalne bliskosti“. Ali čak i ako to nije slučaj, dozvolite sebi putovanje u daleku 1851. godinu na relaciji London- Beč.
Pritisnut osobnim gubicima i porodičnim uspomenama Charles Maddox preuzima slučaj koji će ga udaljiti iz Londona koji vrvi turistima, posjetiteljima Velike izložbe.
Glasoviti barun von Reisenberg iskazao je želju da oxfordskoj biblioteci Bodleiani pokloni jedan od najznačajnijih naslova iz svoje privatne zbirke. Međutim, kada Maddox u svojstvu posjetitelja i procjenitelja stigne na imanje ovog aristokrate, znanstvenika i industrijalca, postaje sve teže razlikovati stvarnost od privida.
Među barunovim podanicima vlada neopisivi strah i trepet od onoga što se dešava među zidinama njegovog dvorca.
Kao po zlu, sam von Reisenberg svojim ponašanjem pruža sve više razloga za Maddoxovu zaintrigiranost, pomućujući sposobnost logičkog zaključivanja na koju se ovaj privatni detektiv toliko oslanja.
Naime, u barunovom dvorcu su svi zastori danonoćno navučeni, on sam nikada ne uzima hranu, a iza jednih vrata se često čuju neobjašnjivi zvukovi.
Charlesova pristojnost nestaje onoga trena kada u jednoj od tih prostorija naiđe na replike obezglavljenih djevojaka kojima su izvađena srca.
Nakon što je jedne olujne noći vidio baruna kako stoji na rubu krova svoga zdanja, Charles se i sam odluči na noćne obilaske okoline.
Na nesreću, biva nemilosrdno napadnut od strane barunovog psa i umjesto kući, sam barun ga lično otpremi u sanatorij...
Nakon niza ekscentričnih doživljaja u sanatorijumu, Charles se vraća u London ne rekavši nikome, pa čak ni svome ujaku, ni riječi o onome što se desilo na imanju baruna von Reisenberga.
Velika izložba je u toku, a u njenoj sjeni se dešavaju brutalna ubistva mladih djevojaka koje su sve redom prostitutke. Ono što se tako uspješno skriva od očiju javnosti, ne može biti sakriveno i od Charlesa Maddoxa. Onoga trenutka kada on uvidi da su sve žrtve obezglavljene, da iz njihovih grudi nedostaje srce te da su im na vratu ostavljeni ožiljci, jedino pitanje biti će: Koliko je pametno čak i policiji prešutjeti ono što zna? Da li je za devetnaesti vijek prihvatljivo da je ubica, ni manje ni više nego- vampir?
Ova knjiga svima nama pruža slikovit prikaz viktorijanskog doba, u svom nastavku zadržavajući sve one sporedne likove na koje pomislimo kada nam na um padne Charles Maddox. Ona također pruža priliku da sve svoje strahove ostavite u 2015. godini!
August 1, 2014
In Victorian England, the penny dreadfuls were noted for their overwrought, sensational tone. They were fairly harmless, entertaining and quick reads. That pretty much describes this book. Set in 1851, "The Pierced Heart" is a mashup of vampires and a Ripper-like killer murdering young women. Therein is my first complaint about this book. All of the women are weak, ill, unstable and/or prostitutes who exist to be kidnapped or murdered. Even the dog winds up shot. On the other hand, the men don't end up too badly.
The protagonist is Charles Maddox, a young former policeman who is now a private investigator. He lives with his great uncle, referred to as Maddox. It sometimes takes a little while to figure out which Maddox the author means. Most of the story is told in present tense, first person by Charles. Sometimes the story is told in the form of journal entries by Lucy, a charlatan with a phantasmagoria act, who becomes one of the victims. However, occasionally there is an unidentified narrator who tells the story in the past tense and seems to have zoomed in from the 21st Century. How else to explain the reference to something being the "Victorian equivalent of fast food"? In addition, some of the characters speak in an irritating dialect. It may be accurate, but it is annoying.
Charles is sent to Austria to investigate a wealthy Baron who proposes to make a large donation to a library. The Baron is a mysterious, eccentric scientist and industrialist. According to the author's note at the end of the book, the Baron is based on a real person. His inventions and obsessions are interesting and could form the basis if an intriguing story of science and pseudo-science, under different circumstances. Unfortunately, this book seems to aim to be a thriller and has tacked on vampires.
Things go badly for Charles in Austria where he is outsmarted by the Baron and is unsettled by what he sees or imagines. After Austria, the story shifts to London, where several prostitutes have turned up murdered and mutilated and Charles is asked to help the police investigate this too. There is some detection and many coincidences. By the time the giant bat appears, the story is almost laughable and the final enormous coincidence in the epilogue is not only completely irrelevant, it is ludicrous. As I said at the beginning, "harmless, entertaining and a quick read."
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
The protagonist is Charles Maddox, a young former policeman who is now a private investigator. He lives with his great uncle, referred to as Maddox. It sometimes takes a little while to figure out which Maddox the author means. Most of the story is told in present tense, first person by Charles. Sometimes the story is told in the form of journal entries by Lucy, a charlatan with a phantasmagoria act, who becomes one of the victims. However, occasionally there is an unidentified narrator who tells the story in the past tense and seems to have zoomed in from the 21st Century. How else to explain the reference to something being the "Victorian equivalent of fast food"? In addition, some of the characters speak in an irritating dialect. It may be accurate, but it is annoying.
Charles is sent to Austria to investigate a wealthy Baron who proposes to make a large donation to a library. The Baron is a mysterious, eccentric scientist and industrialist. According to the author's note at the end of the book, the Baron is based on a real person. His inventions and obsessions are interesting and could form the basis if an intriguing story of science and pseudo-science, under different circumstances. Unfortunately, this book seems to aim to be a thriller and has tacked on vampires.
Things go badly for Charles in Austria where he is outsmarted by the Baron and is unsettled by what he sees or imagines. After Austria, the story shifts to London, where several prostitutes have turned up murdered and mutilated and Charles is asked to help the police investigate this too. There is some detection and many coincidences. By the time the giant bat appears, the story is almost laughable and the final enormous coincidence in the epilogue is not only completely irrelevant, it is ludicrous. As I said at the beginning, "harmless, entertaining and a quick read."
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
April 19, 2024
I feel conflicted having finished this story. I enjoyed it, and yet there was definitely something 'off' about it. I had never heard of this author or read anything else she has written, so I went into it blind. It was basically 99p on Amazon and popped up in my 'you might like this' so I thought OK then.
I quickly realised what it was that unsettled me - it just felt like a rip-off. It felt familiar when I started reading it, even though I knew I'd not previously read this and I quickly realised I was being forcibly reminded of the literary classic Dracula by Bram Stoker in the opening chapters, it was very similar. After I had finished the story and I read the authors notes, I realised that was the intention, and she has written a series of books, each with a 'homage' to classic literary greats. But for me, that isn't a good thing and just smacks too much like nothing more than a published fan fiction, written by someone piggybacking on the literary greats instead of writing something original.
Despite that, it was an entertaining read but I just couldn't get past the obvious parallels and similarities with the original and in my opinion superior work, so my rating is 2 ½ stars generously rounded up to 3.
I quickly realised what it was that unsettled me - it just felt like a rip-off. It felt familiar when I started reading it, even though I knew I'd not previously read this and I quickly realised I was being forcibly reminded of the literary classic Dracula by Bram Stoker in the opening chapters, it was very similar. After I had finished the story and I read the authors notes, I realised that was the intention, and she has written a series of books, each with a 'homage' to classic literary greats. But for me, that isn't a good thing and just smacks too much like nothing more than a published fan fiction, written by someone piggybacking on the literary greats instead of writing something original.
Despite that, it was an entertaining read but I just couldn't get past the obvious parallels and similarities with the original and in my opinion superior work, so my rating is 2 ½ stars generously rounded up to 3.
September 21, 2014
I received an advanced copy of this book from Net Galley, in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, Random House!
A great treat for serious vampire fans. Not "Twilight-vampire" but real, classic, Stoker-LeFanu-Polidori vampire. The language is old-fashioned, with an omniscient narrator who is clearly from the present, so it reads a little slower than more coloquial books. But the story surprised me. It uses the old tropes of vampire literature and turns them on their head. Is science always better than superstition? The scary part is that some of this is based on real historical discoveries. I'll take a sparkly vampire over this any time. And its description of London's Great Exhibition makes me want to take my TARDIS (or time machine, for non-Whovians) and travel there. My one complaint is the font - really hard to read even on large font on my Kindle. But this is a minor concern, the content, in my opinion, is flawless.
A great treat for serious vampire fans. Not "Twilight-vampire" but real, classic, Stoker-LeFanu-Polidori vampire. The language is old-fashioned, with an omniscient narrator who is clearly from the present, so it reads a little slower than more coloquial books. But the story surprised me. It uses the old tropes of vampire literature and turns them on their head. Is science always better than superstition? The scary part is that some of this is based on real historical discoveries. I'll take a sparkly vampire over this any time. And its description of London's Great Exhibition makes me want to take my TARDIS (or time machine, for non-Whovians) and travel there. My one complaint is the font - really hard to read even on large font on my Kindle. But this is a minor concern, the content, in my opinion, is flawless.
March 28, 2016
This is the 3rd in the Charles Maddox series and the best so far. Maddox is by Oxford university to make inquires into a donor. His investigations take him to Vienna and from there right into a retelling of Dracula. Maddox's investigations are alternated with Lucy's story. the mysterious count in Vienna has some fixation with her. When Charles returns to London gruesome deaths start happening. Another fab read from Ms Shepherd.
February 28, 2015
Ok, I finished it. Not sure yet whether it is a mystery or a horror story. It was horror to read and I still don't understand the ending.
March 26, 2019
The Pierced Heart is written in the context of vampires with the Austrian aristocrat Baron Ben Reisenberg appearing to be a vampire in the tradition of Dracula.
Charles Maddox, an investigator, is asked by the authorities at Oxford University to look into the affairs of the Baron who wishes to make a significant donation to the University. Travelling to Vienna, he arrives at the castle of the Baron which appears, to the reader, to be the castle of vampire novel tradition. Later the Baron travels to England, arriving in Whitby - as in Bram Stoker's novel - and a series of murders seem to suggest that the Baron is a vampire, like Dracula. However, as the novel progresses it appears that the interest of the Baron is more scientific as he investigates a power he believes to be an element of the universe. The murders are not committed by the Baron.
After reading her previous novels, I found this novel disappointing. The reader is led to believe the Baron is the guilty party in the murders and it is only at the last minute that the real culprit is revealed. I also felt the separation of the Charles from the other main character, Lucy, in the events of the novel meant the reader was left with two stories running in two strands.
In her previous novels, Lynn Shepherd, has cleverly linked her story to stories by other novelists or other literary events and these have been very successful. I hope she returns to that in her future writing.
Charles Maddox, an investigator, is asked by the authorities at Oxford University to look into the affairs of the Baron who wishes to make a significant donation to the University. Travelling to Vienna, he arrives at the castle of the Baron which appears, to the reader, to be the castle of vampire novel tradition. Later the Baron travels to England, arriving in Whitby - as in Bram Stoker's novel - and a series of murders seem to suggest that the Baron is a vampire, like Dracula. However, as the novel progresses it appears that the interest of the Baron is more scientific as he investigates a power he believes to be an element of the universe. The murders are not committed by the Baron.
After reading her previous novels, I found this novel disappointing. The reader is led to believe the Baron is the guilty party in the murders and it is only at the last minute that the real culprit is revealed. I also felt the separation of the Charles from the other main character, Lucy, in the events of the novel meant the reader was left with two stories running in two strands.
In her previous novels, Lynn Shepherd, has cleverly linked her story to stories by other novelists or other literary events and these have been very successful. I hope she returns to that in her future writing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 16, 2017
The Pierced Heart continues the story of Lynn Shepherd’s flawed detective Charlie Maddox. Regretting his behaviour towards servant girl, Molly, he is haunted by her in his dreams which are not abated by a mission to Austria, where he finds himself in a strange castle deep in the Austrian countryside. As the plot progresses the actions of his host, Baron Von Reisenberg, take us to the gothic world of Bram Stoker and Charlie begins to descend into madness.
For me this story came to life in Chapter 4, at the beginning of the journal of Lucy, in January 1851. Describing her travels in Paris and Vienna she is about to return to Whitby, a home she cannot remember. She recounts how she has assisted her father in deceiving audiences with phantasmagoria and how gradually her health has weakened. In the style of the books of Essie Fox and Wilkie Collins, Lucy’s plight worsens with each episode we read.
At times, the novel seems too gratuitous for me, but others will relish the descriptions of a series of violent murders of young women in London, 40 years before Jack the Ripper. This is an intense, captivating book to read and the ending, though not really a surprise, was very satisfying.
For me this story came to life in Chapter 4, at the beginning of the journal of Lucy, in January 1851. Describing her travels in Paris and Vienna she is about to return to Whitby, a home she cannot remember. She recounts how she has assisted her father in deceiving audiences with phantasmagoria and how gradually her health has weakened. In the style of the books of Essie Fox and Wilkie Collins, Lucy’s plight worsens with each episode we read.
At times, the novel seems too gratuitous for me, but others will relish the descriptions of a series of violent murders of young women in London, 40 years before Jack the Ripper. This is an intense, captivating book to read and the ending, though not really a surprise, was very satisfying.
May 15, 2018
I'm back with Lynn Shepherd and her incomparable private eye, Charles Maddox! Why are there not at least a dozen of these books? I'm completely enthralled, and even though I never read Victorian mysteries in the summertime, I'm blazing right through these.
In "The Pierced Heart", Charles is hired to verify the credentials of an Austrian nobleman who has offered a substantial donation to the University of Oxford. What should have been a humdrum task turns into an intricate, layered mystery with strong shades of "Dracula" - the Baron is not only the subject of local gossip, but is also strangely reluctant to appear in the light of day. Castles, gruesome murders, stormy nights and a surprise ending - all here in this wonderful, spooky mystery! Shepherd has, quite simply, created some of the best historical mysteries I've ever read, and there is a pure genius in her ability to take a well-known story and refit it to her own talents - as well as those of her private eye. Her use of omniscient point of view gives her writing a style and grace that outshines almost any other mystery writer today. Love, love, love!
In "The Pierced Heart", Charles is hired to verify the credentials of an Austrian nobleman who has offered a substantial donation to the University of Oxford. What should have been a humdrum task turns into an intricate, layered mystery with strong shades of "Dracula" - the Baron is not only the subject of local gossip, but is also strangely reluctant to appear in the light of day. Castles, gruesome murders, stormy nights and a surprise ending - all here in this wonderful, spooky mystery! Shepherd has, quite simply, created some of the best historical mysteries I've ever read, and there is a pure genius in her ability to take a well-known story and refit it to her own talents - as well as those of her private eye. Her use of omniscient point of view gives her writing a style and grace that outshines almost any other mystery writer today. Love, love, love!
September 21, 2019
I debated getting this book after skimming some other reviews. They were positive - but several mentioned that the story wouldn't make as much sense/be as meaningful without reading the other books about the main character first.
I would guess that the story would be a bit richer had I known more about Charles Maddox's past - but I was able to navigate through and thoroughly enjoy "The Pierced Heart" as a stand alone novel.
The prose is nearly hypnotic as the reader is immediately drawn into the Victorian age and into the lore of vampires. There is a haunting feel to both the sections from Charles' viewpoint and the sections from Lucy's diary. The two narratives mesh nicely together - and the only stumbling points were when the story is pulled from them into an omniscient point of view. The feel and the flow of the story are interrupted and would be better served without these sections.
This story of darkness and light, of love and madness, of science and of experimentation was well done and I will make a point of looking for a new book in the series.
I would guess that the story would be a bit richer had I known more about Charles Maddox's past - but I was able to navigate through and thoroughly enjoy "The Pierced Heart" as a stand alone novel.
The prose is nearly hypnotic as the reader is immediately drawn into the Victorian age and into the lore of vampires. There is a haunting feel to both the sections from Charles' viewpoint and the sections from Lucy's diary. The two narratives mesh nicely together - and the only stumbling points were when the story is pulled from them into an omniscient point of view. The feel and the flow of the story are interrupted and would be better served without these sections.
This story of darkness and light, of love and madness, of science and of experimentation was well done and I will make a point of looking for a new book in the series.
August 25, 2024
Majority of the book I sat wondering what it was I was reading. It was hard to follow along and it seemed pointless. Granted, this is apparently the 4th book in the series (I did not realize that when I got it at my local library's book sale) and not having read the previous 3 probably put me at a disadvantage of the writing style and the main characters backstory. By the time I finally was getting into the book and was excited to read more, (and started to understand what the point the first half of the book was),the story was finished.
August 6, 2025
In the spirit of author David Liss ("A Conspiracy of Paper", among other works), Lynn Shepherd weaves in a tale of science, historical facts, Dickenson London and even a bit of the supernatural into this story. Shepherd's writing is top-notch, and certainly reminds me of Dicken's greatest works including Bleak House. While the plot here was a touch predictable, and still made a grand tale, and I appreciated the author staying true to the travel style, dress, communication and suspicions of the time.
April 11, 2021
I didn't enjoy this Maddox book as much as The Solitary House however Shepherd delivers a thought-provoking crime mystery that truly does not conclude until the final page. Set to the ideas of Dracula and vampires the occult ties this book teases are what interested me and for the large part delivered the teasing are they or aren't they idea which moved the plot along. Would read if you have read the other books in the Charles Maddox series.
November 13, 2021
Shepherd writes well, but is somehow very irritating. Perhaps it’s because the plots are not her own, rather they are variations on established literature, so not original. She’s also a bit Agatha-Christie-rabbit-out-of-a-hat…
And why hasn’t she had anything published since 2014? Perhaps she doesn’t sell well. Or is it because of her fatal mis-step: https://www.theguardian.com/books/201...?
And why hasn’t she had anything published since 2014? Perhaps she doesn’t sell well. Or is it because of her fatal mis-step: https://www.theguardian.com/books/201...?
August 1, 2023
A different twist on the vampire tale, The Pierced Heart is a good read for a rainy day. Very atmospheric, you're transported from Austrian castles to the Exhibition in London. Shepherd takes you on a grand journey that keeps up a great pace throughout the book. Very enjoyable!
June 20, 2017
Excellent!
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