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Mystery Play
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The youngest son in a family of historians who has been hunted by dark forces associated with Dracula finds himself in peril at the hands of a new threat—a thrilling novel from the bestselling author of The Historian.
When his mother passes away suddenly, Jay Turner finds himself at a crossroads. She was always secretive, raising him alone in Boston and staying single until her death. Returning to their brownstone to clear out her possessions, he finds two unusual objects: a partially burned scrap of newspaper bearing the name “Gael Brogan,” and a small antique volume bound in leather.
The sight of the volume is chilling. As a young scholar, his mother had been given the medieval book—one of a set commissioned by Vlad Tepes, otherwise known as Dracula, just before his death in 1477. She'd always warned Jay of how dangerous it was, and had donated it to a museum before she died . . . yet here it sits before him.
Taking leave from his position as a history instructor at a boys’ boarding school, Jay sets out to learn more about Gael Brogan, a prominent nineteenth century actor whose last and most famous role was the Count himself in Bram Stoker’s Dracula. As Jay begins to dig deeper—helped by a mysterious woman named Rhiannon he meets along the way—he uncovers a frightening story of a young actress who fell under Brogan's sway long ago. And before long, Jay and Rhiannon realize that something similarly implacable is also pursuing them.
Hypnotic and atmospheric, Mystery Play is a novel richly steeped in lore, pulsating with tension as it chronicles a dark secret history of rituals, religion, and immortality.
When his mother passes away suddenly, Jay Turner finds himself at a crossroads. She was always secretive, raising him alone in Boston and staying single until her death. Returning to their brownstone to clear out her possessions, he finds two unusual objects: a partially burned scrap of newspaper bearing the name “Gael Brogan,” and a small antique volume bound in leather.
The sight of the volume is chilling. As a young scholar, his mother had been given the medieval book—one of a set commissioned by Vlad Tepes, otherwise known as Dracula, just before his death in 1477. She'd always warned Jay of how dangerous it was, and had donated it to a museum before she died . . . yet here it sits before him.
Taking leave from his position as a history instructor at a boys’ boarding school, Jay sets out to learn more about Gael Brogan, a prominent nineteenth century actor whose last and most famous role was the Count himself in Bram Stoker’s Dracula. As Jay begins to dig deeper—helped by a mysterious woman named Rhiannon he meets along the way—he uncovers a frightening story of a young actress who fell under Brogan's sway long ago. And before long, Jay and Rhiannon realize that something similarly implacable is also pursuing them.
Hypnotic and atmospheric, Mystery Play is a novel richly steeped in lore, pulsating with tension as it chronicles a dark secret history of rituals, religion, and immortality.
592 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication October 13, 2026
About the author
Elizabeth Kostova
17 books5,340 followersElizabeth Kostova was born Elizabeth Z. Johnson in New London, Connecticut and raised in Knoxville, Tennessee where she graduated from the Webb School of Knoxville. She received her undergraduate degree from Yale University and a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Michigan, where she won the 2003 Hopwood Award for her Novel-in-Progress. She is married to a Bulgarian scholar and has taken his family name.
Her first novel, The Historian, was published in 2005 and it has become a best-seller.
In May 2007, the Elizabeth Kostova Foundation was created. The Foundation helps support Bulgarian creative writing, the translation of contemporary Bulgarian literature into English, and friendship between Bulgarian authors and American and British authors.
Kostova released her second novel The Swan Thieves on January 12, 2010. Her third novel, The Shadow Land, was released in 2017.
Her first novel, The Historian, was published in 2005 and it has become a best-seller.
In May 2007, the Elizabeth Kostova Foundation was created. The Foundation helps support Bulgarian creative writing, the translation of contemporary Bulgarian literature into English, and friendship between Bulgarian authors and American and British authors.
Kostova released her second novel The Swan Thieves on January 12, 2010. Her third novel, The Shadow Land, was released in 2017.
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Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Remember how you felt when the first Star Wars prequel came out in 1999? That is to say, fairly certain there was no way it was going to live up to the original trilogy, but excited to try it anyways because... against all odds... it could be good? Then, after spending two odd hours of your life and $9 (or whatever a theater ticket was back then), feeling strangely empty and flat - like, why did this have to exist at all? Why couldn't they have just left that imaginary world where it was?
Well, if you're anything like me (and also old enough to remember the debut of The Phantom Menace) that's how you'll feel about Mystery Play if you enjoyed The Historian.
This book is most definitely a sequel, although the description deliberately obscures its relation, partly to avoid narrowing the audience by having potential readers feel they have prereqs and partly to avoid reminding people too much of the plot twists of the original book which this book takes out of the trunk, like old costumes, and puts on attempting for the same scares. It does not succeed. To paraphrase the quote from Jack Kemp, "I've read The Historian and you, sir, are no Historian."
Indeed, to continue the acting metaphor, this book reminded me of Marx's famous quip about 1848 being a literal travesty of 1789 that history plays "the first time as tragedy, the second as farce." While I make no claim that the original was great literature, it was a genuinely absorbing book that did not *feel* (at least for me) like it was 700 pages but at the same time felt like a world I genuinely enjoyed (maybe the wrong word?) living in.
The world of Mystery Play, a comparatively svelte 590 pages, is stilted and contrived and the book feels much longer. I'm surprised I made it through - tbh I found myself skimming a lot, particularly over Quinn's diary entries which were just too precious. However, never fear, I managed to catch lots of changing perspectives and random found diaries and reminiscences and people staring at each other meaningfully and gasping and grasping arms and completely predictable relationships forming and driving to archives and books being destroyed and strange seals and whatnot. Also a huge body count that is treated with remarkable casualness, and a fairy-godmother-like character who is for some reason named Helsa Grace and in my mind is Mystery's Play equivalent of Jar-Jar Binks.
There were a lot of these kinds of corny horror thriller elements in The Historian as well, but for me they did not take away from the reading experience in the same way perhaps because the central villain - Vlad Teppes - had an innate gravity and the central mythology was compelling and well-developed (in part because it was already existent). I don't know if it was just because I started skimming so much to just be done, but the dueling Eleusian mysteries plot (introduced at exactly 50% the way through the book - formulaic if ever anything was!) just didn't make a lot of sense and Gael Brogan wasn't a very compelling villain.
TL; DR. Don't.
A huge thanks anyways to NetGalley for the ARC.
Well, if you're anything like me (and also old enough to remember the debut of The Phantom Menace) that's how you'll feel about Mystery Play if you enjoyed The Historian.
This book is most definitely a sequel, although the description deliberately obscures its relation, partly to avoid narrowing the audience by having potential readers feel they have prereqs and partly to avoid reminding people too much of the plot twists of the original book which this book takes out of the trunk, like old costumes, and puts on attempting for the same scares. It does not succeed. To paraphrase the quote from Jack Kemp, "I've read The Historian and you, sir, are no Historian."
Indeed, to continue the acting metaphor, this book reminded me of Marx's famous quip about 1848 being a literal travesty of 1789 that history plays "the first time as tragedy, the second as farce." While I make no claim that the original was great literature, it was a genuinely absorbing book that did not *feel* (at least for me) like it was 700 pages but at the same time felt like a world I genuinely enjoyed (maybe the wrong word?) living in.
The world of Mystery Play, a comparatively svelte 590 pages, is stilted and contrived and the book feels much longer. I'm surprised I made it through - tbh I found myself skimming a lot, particularly over Quinn's diary entries which were just too precious. However, never fear, I managed to catch lots of changing perspectives and random found diaries and reminiscences and people staring at each other meaningfully and gasping and grasping arms and completely predictable relationships forming and driving to archives and books being destroyed and strange seals and whatnot. Also a huge body count that is treated with remarkable casualness, and a fairy-godmother-like character who is for some reason named Helsa Grace and in my mind is Mystery's Play equivalent of Jar-Jar Binks.
There were a lot of these kinds of corny horror thriller elements in The Historian as well, but for me they did not take away from the reading experience in the same way perhaps because the central villain - Vlad Teppes - had an innate gravity and the central mythology was compelling and well-developed (in part because it was already existent). I don't know if it was just because I started skimming so much to just be done, but the dueling Eleusian mysteries plot (introduced at exactly 50% the way through the book - formulaic if ever anything was!) just didn't make a lot of sense and Gael Brogan wasn't a very compelling villain.
TL; DR. Don't.
A huge thanks anyways to NetGalley for the ARC.
July 4, 2026
Written for adults but relevant for anyone who enjoyed the original Dracula. I have not read the author’s first book, The Historian, but was still able to follow this story without much confusion. I should also note that I read an ARC I received at a conference. I liked how the things that happened to the characters were subtle enough that they (and the reader) could second guess if it meant anything. I also liked that what was going on (no spoilers!) had echoes and familiarity with classic horror but wasn’t derivative.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Mystery Play by Elizabeth Kostova was an absolutely fantastic read. Once again, Kostova has hit it out of the park with the kind of dense, immersive historical fiction she does so well. Returning to a story centered around Dracula, Vlad Țepeș, history, and legend made this feel like a wonderful companion to The Historian, a novel I absolutely loved.
One of my favorite things about Kostova's writing is the journey she takes you on. These aren't books that rush from one plot point to another. She takes her time building the world, digging into history, developing her characters, and creating an atmosphere that makes you want to settle in and experience everything alongside them. Mystery Play has that same richness. It's dense, but in a way that I found rewarding rather than overwhelming.
I especially enjoyed the way Kostova once again plays with the boundary between historical fact, folklore, and the supernatural. Vlad Țepeș is already such a fascinating historical figure, and when his real history becomes intertwined with the mythology of Dracula, there's an enormous amount of material to explore. Kostova clearly understands how compelling that intersection can be, and she uses it to create a story that feels historical and mysterious at the same time.
There's also something wonderfully old-fashioned about the experience of reading a novel like this. It's a book that asks you to give yourself over to it, follow its characters through history and mystery, and trust that the journey itself is just as important as reaching the destination. I really appreciated that. In an era when so many novels seem determined to move as quickly as possible, Kostova isn't afraid to slow things down and allow her story to unfold at its own pace.
For me, the greatest compliment I can give Mystery Play is that it immediately made me want to revisit The Historian. It's been long enough since I read that book that I've forgotten many of the smaller details, but I still remember how much I loved the experience of reading it. Mystery Play brought those feelings right back and reminded me why Kostova's particular combination of history, mystery, travel, folklore, and the supernatural works so well for me.
Thank you to NetGalley, Ballantine Books, and Elizabeth Kostova for granting me access to a digital ARC of this title.
One of my favorite things about Kostova's writing is the journey she takes you on. These aren't books that rush from one plot point to another. She takes her time building the world, digging into history, developing her characters, and creating an atmosphere that makes you want to settle in and experience everything alongside them. Mystery Play has that same richness. It's dense, but in a way that I found rewarding rather than overwhelming.
I especially enjoyed the way Kostova once again plays with the boundary between historical fact, folklore, and the supernatural. Vlad Țepeș is already such a fascinating historical figure, and when his real history becomes intertwined with the mythology of Dracula, there's an enormous amount of material to explore. Kostova clearly understands how compelling that intersection can be, and she uses it to create a story that feels historical and mysterious at the same time.
There's also something wonderfully old-fashioned about the experience of reading a novel like this. It's a book that asks you to give yourself over to it, follow its characters through history and mystery, and trust that the journey itself is just as important as reaching the destination. I really appreciated that. In an era when so many novels seem determined to move as quickly as possible, Kostova isn't afraid to slow things down and allow her story to unfold at its own pace.
For me, the greatest compliment I can give Mystery Play is that it immediately made me want to revisit The Historian. It's been long enough since I read that book that I've forgotten many of the smaller details, but I still remember how much I loved the experience of reading it. Mystery Play brought those feelings right back and reminded me why Kostova's particular combination of history, mystery, travel, folklore, and the supernatural works so well for me.
Thank you to NetGalley, Ballantine Books, and Elizabeth Kostova for granting me access to a digital ARC of this title.
September 7, 2026
I read Elizabeth Kostova’s The Historian 20-ish years ago and was mesmerized by her writing. She hasn’t lost her touch! I was hard pressed to put it down! At almost 600 pages, putting it down was inevitable, but it was in my thoughts in the meantime.
It is related to The Historian in that the protagonist is Helen and Paul’s grandson. His story is different. Though Dracula lore hovers in the background of this story, it isn’t front and center. There are references to Vlad and other characters in The Historian, but none feature here. Mystery Play covers completely fresh ground and can easily function as a standalone novel. I love this book and hope everyone loves this twisty story as much as I do!
Taking this one to the family mausoleum!
Thank you to Elizabeth Kostova , Ballantine Books , and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this uncorrected proof. The opinions herein are my own.
It is related to The Historian in that the protagonist is Helen and Paul’s grandson. His story is different. Though Dracula lore hovers in the background of this story, it isn’t front and center. There are references to Vlad and other characters in The Historian, but none feature here. Mystery Play covers completely fresh ground and can easily function as a standalone novel. I love this book and hope everyone loves this twisty story as much as I do!
Taking this one to the family mausoleum!
Thank you to Elizabeth Kostova , Ballantine Books , and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this uncorrected proof. The opinions herein are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
2.5 really, rounded up.
It’s been forever since I read Kostova’s The Historian, so there are possibly differences between the two books that I’m not remembering, but this essentially is a rehash of The Historian’s plot, with a different monster standing in for Dracula.
It’s been forever since I read Kostova’s The Historian, so there are possibly differences between the two books that I’m not remembering, but this essentially is a rehash of The Historian’s plot, with a different monster standing in for Dracula.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I was excited to see this pop up as an ARC because I remembered loving The Historian back when it first came out, and so I was very much looking forward to this sequel. I reread The Historian before I picked up this one, and I'm glad I did, because I didn't remember a ton of details about it. My reading of The Historian really held up, and I still loved it. Unfortunately, I found this one fell a little flat.
The biggest issue I had with this book was it felt like very much a retread of the plot of the first one—the developed romance between a man and a woman drawn together to investigate a mystery, the slow unfurling of said mystery, even down to surprise secret societies dedicated to fighting against monsters. It just felt like I'd already read a better, more interesting version of this book. A lot of what worked for me in the first book felt awkward here. For instance, there are a lot of coincidences that drive the plot along; in the first book, this felt like the shadowy hand of fate because of their ties to Dracula. In this one, it just felt convenient.
The book weaves a lot of narratives together, but several of the threads felt like they picked up too early. The first chapters of Helsa Grace's reminisces and Fern Quinn's diaries could have been cut with no loss to the story, and because they seemed so irrelevant at first, it felt off being jerked out of the "action" in order to get the inconsequential musings of someone who seemed random.
There is a lot that is over the top theatrical about this one, which I suppose makes sense given its subject, but in many cases it kind of read a bit too corny and campy for my tastes. People who are super into theater may find it more palatable, perhaps. The end also felt a little hokey, I can't like. I also feel like a bunch of plot threads were left hanging, which bugs me.
All that said, Kostova's prose remains gorgeous and she really knows how to paint a picture with words. I am sure there was a lot of research done for this one too, but it's less obvious in the text. I really wish I liked this one better, but it just didn't work well for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
The biggest issue I had with this book was it felt like very much a retread of the plot of the first one—the developed romance between a man and a woman drawn together to investigate a mystery, the slow unfurling of said mystery, even down to surprise secret societies dedicated to fighting against monsters. It just felt like I'd already read a better, more interesting version of this book. A lot of what worked for me in the first book felt awkward here. For instance, there are a lot of coincidences that drive the plot along; in the first book, this felt like the shadowy hand of fate because of their ties to Dracula. In this one, it just felt convenient.
The book weaves a lot of narratives together, but several of the threads felt like they picked up too early. The first chapters of Helsa Grace's reminisces and Fern Quinn's diaries could have been cut with no loss to the story, and because they seemed so irrelevant at first, it felt off being jerked out of the "action" in order to get the inconsequential musings of someone who seemed random.
There is a lot that is over the top theatrical about this one, which I suppose makes sense given its subject, but in many cases it kind of read a bit too corny and campy for my tastes. People who are super into theater may find it more palatable, perhaps. The end also felt a little hokey, I can't like. I also feel like a bunch of plot threads were left hanging, which bugs me.
All that said, Kostova's prose remains gorgeous and she really knows how to paint a picture with words. I am sure there was a lot of research done for this one too, but it's less obvious in the text. I really wish I liked this one better, but it just didn't work well for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read
August 21, 2026The following book reviews have been shared by Text Publishing, publisher of Mystery Play.
‘Seamlessly blends history with the supernatural...an atmospheric mystery built around the Gilded Age of American theatre.’
Kirkus
‘Kostova’s dark tale delves into secret societies, obsession, and immortality, but also shows how far a mother’s love and protection can reach. Readers looking for an engrossing escape will find themselves transported.’
Booklist
‘Seamlessly blends history with the supernatural...an atmospheric mystery built around the Gilded Age of American theatre.’
Kirkus
‘Kostova’s dark tale delves into secret societies, obsession, and immortality, but also shows how far a mother’s love and protection can reach. Readers looking for an engrossing escape will find themselves transported.’
Booklist
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Read the full review on Spectral Reads!
The Historian is one of those books that sticks with you. As a vampire fanatic, I read it years ago and always had a soft spot for its scholarly tone and slow gallivanting through Europe. Now, over 20 years later, Elizabeth Kostova has reentered the world she created to give us a pseudo-sequel in the form of Mystery Play. The cast of characters may be different, but the theatrical antics hit just as hard in this stage-themed production.
This book is a true whirlwind from start to finish. Much like its predecessor, Mystery Play gathers up the reader in an immense adventure that's taking place across time at a breakneck pace. The sense of mystery and tension is palpable, and the stakes truly do seem to be life or death. As our protagonists James and Riley uncover one mystery, another one emerges, meaning we're never quite satisfied until the succulent ending.
Do you need to read The Historian first?
No. Despite sharing some characters and lore from the first book, you don't need to read The Historian before reading Mystery Play. While there are plenty of Easter eggs and callbacks throughout, the story is perfectly understandable without any prior knowledge.
However, if you did read The Historian and love it... you'll be pleased to know the vibes are exactly the same. We get that similar Victorian narrative voice that drives the story forward through an epistolary-style telling. Jay is an excellent narrator, and while I was at first reticent about the other POVs, they eventually grew on me. Slowly but surely, the story comes together through his narrative and the other documents he finds along the way.
Mystery Play plot summary
To briefly summarize the plot of Mystery Play without giving anything away: James Turner is reeling after the death of his mother, but his life is turned upside down when he receives a mystery dragon book in the mail. This, coupled with a mysterious slip of paper inside his mother's old dressing table and an old biography on his neighbor's bookshelf, leads him on the historical trail of Gael Brogan.
The deeper he digs, the more dangerous the situation becomes, until he has no choice but to solve the mystery that's been thrust upon him.
Obviously, this is a dazzling premise, especially if you love academic-led investigation. But I did find fault with some of the catalysts in the story that pushed Jay to keep investigating. So many mysterious things kept happening to him as a way to scare him off, so naturally, he wanted to figure out why. It seems that if whatever malevolent force was behind all of this simply stopped making mysterious things happen, then Jay would have forgotten about it and moved on with his life.
The characters also felt a bit... dense at times? These are very smart, scholarly people, and while they might not initially believe supernatural tidings are afoot, they eventually realize there has to be something unnatural behind it all. Once they do... it takes them a very long time to draw simple conclusions about what is going on.
I also felt like we were strung along a bit too long. Key pieces of information were withheld until nearly the end of the book, meaning it felt like it took forever to solve this mystery. And once it is solved, we do have full resolution, but I'm still a bit confused about how everything could possibly have gone down the way it did.
Final thoughts
Overall, I do feel that Mystery Play is a worthy sequel to the greatness that was The Historian. It's a delightful, if overly long, romp into an academic mystery. Kostova is clearly a skilled writer who knows how to weave a tale packed with tension while slowly dripping new information. Her characters are real and drawn to life, her prose is luscious and filling, and her mix of occult and academia is entirely immersive.
P.S. I absolutely hate the cover — I think it makes the book seem cheesy, like a soap opera. Like, why are this man's eyes floating in the sky? Can we get a redo?
The Historian is one of those books that sticks with you. As a vampire fanatic, I read it years ago and always had a soft spot for its scholarly tone and slow gallivanting through Europe. Now, over 20 years later, Elizabeth Kostova has reentered the world she created to give us a pseudo-sequel in the form of Mystery Play. The cast of characters may be different, but the theatrical antics hit just as hard in this stage-themed production.
This book is a true whirlwind from start to finish. Much like its predecessor, Mystery Play gathers up the reader in an immense adventure that's taking place across time at a breakneck pace. The sense of mystery and tension is palpable, and the stakes truly do seem to be life or death. As our protagonists James and Riley uncover one mystery, another one emerges, meaning we're never quite satisfied until the succulent ending.
Do you need to read The Historian first?
No. Despite sharing some characters and lore from the first book, you don't need to read The Historian before reading Mystery Play. While there are plenty of Easter eggs and callbacks throughout, the story is perfectly understandable without any prior knowledge.
However, if you did read The Historian and love it... you'll be pleased to know the vibes are exactly the same. We get that similar Victorian narrative voice that drives the story forward through an epistolary-style telling. Jay is an excellent narrator, and while I was at first reticent about the other POVs, they eventually grew on me. Slowly but surely, the story comes together through his narrative and the other documents he finds along the way.
Mystery Play plot summary
To briefly summarize the plot of Mystery Play without giving anything away: James Turner is reeling after the death of his mother, but his life is turned upside down when he receives a mystery dragon book in the mail. This, coupled with a mysterious slip of paper inside his mother's old dressing table and an old biography on his neighbor's bookshelf, leads him on the historical trail of Gael Brogan.
The deeper he digs, the more dangerous the situation becomes, until he has no choice but to solve the mystery that's been thrust upon him.
Obviously, this is a dazzling premise, especially if you love academic-led investigation. But I did find fault with some of the catalysts in the story that pushed Jay to keep investigating. So many mysterious things kept happening to him as a way to scare him off, so naturally, he wanted to figure out why. It seems that if whatever malevolent force was behind all of this simply stopped making mysterious things happen, then Jay would have forgotten about it and moved on with his life.
The characters also felt a bit... dense at times? These are very smart, scholarly people, and while they might not initially believe supernatural tidings are afoot, they eventually realize there has to be something unnatural behind it all. Once they do... it takes them a very long time to draw simple conclusions about what is going on.
I also felt like we were strung along a bit too long. Key pieces of information were withheld until nearly the end of the book, meaning it felt like it took forever to solve this mystery. And once it is solved, we do have full resolution, but I'm still a bit confused about how everything could possibly have gone down the way it did.
Final thoughts
Overall, I do feel that Mystery Play is a worthy sequel to the greatness that was The Historian. It's a delightful, if overly long, romp into an academic mystery. Kostova is clearly a skilled writer who knows how to weave a tale packed with tension while slowly dripping new information. Her characters are real and drawn to life, her prose is luscious and filling, and her mix of occult and academia is entirely immersive.
P.S. I absolutely hate the cover — I think it makes the book seem cheesy, like a soap opera. Like, why are this man's eyes floating in the sky? Can we get a redo?
September 20, 2026
What a remarkable and surprisingly complex novel! And so full of secrets and surprises!
I have read every book by Elizabeth Kostova (author of THE HISTORIAN) and I find her a brilliant story creator and exceptional writer. In MYSTERY PLAY what starts out as a story of one history teacher's curiosity over his late mother's work is slowly and carefully transformed into a psychological thriller that will have you frantically turning pages. And you'll never again think of an historian as a boring job. Awarded four stars but 4.5 is more accurate.
You'll need to pay close attention reading this book. Not just because there are multiple story lines to follow from different time periods. But also because there are many small details dropped along the way that turn out to be important. The story itself is built by the characters within the novel - created out of old research, journal entries, a few random letters, and even travel notes.
Here's my best attempt at an overview:
• One story line is about a (fictional) world famous stage actor, Gael Brogen, from the early 1900s. (Think of the great American actor, Edwin Booth,* 1833-1893). His power in the theater world is unquestioned, his performances mesmerizing, and his influence over up-and-coming actress Fern Quinn feels a little #MeToo-ish.
• A second story takes place in our own time. 30-year-old James "Jay" Turner, an only child who never knew his father, is grieving the recent loss of his loving mother, an academic historian. Not long after her death, Jay takes delivery of an unusual book that dates from the 1600s, but contains mostly blank pages. Believing his mother had already donated it to a museum, Jay sets out to find out why it ended up in his hands. He is joined by Riley, the niece of one of his mother's colleagues. For her own reasons, she too is eager to get answers.
• A third shorter strand concerns Jay's mother and a vacation trip she took to Tuscany in her mid-30s.
Moving back and forth in time, from New York City to London, from Italy to the remote Hebrides, author Elizabeth Kostova slowly builds this novel the way a good detective investigates a crime. Bit by bit.
So much isn't as it appears. Facts you believed turn out to be untrue. Characters you meet begin to exhibit strange behavior. Those who appeared reliable now look suspicious. More and more questions arise. And there are some gruesome murders. It's helpful (but not essential) if you are familiar with the original story of DRACULA by Bram Stoker (1847-1912), based loosely on the historical figure of Vlad Tepes (1428-1476).
The combination of plot, building suspense, and sheer complexity of how the novel is constructed held my attention firmly until about 2/3rds of the way in. That was when I began to feel fatigue at having to juggle so much information without understanding why. I felt ready for a payoff. I even momentarily considered dropping the book. Fortunately, soon enough the plot picked up again and then I found myself racing toward the page-turning conclusion. The only reason I did not award five stars is because of the length (592 pages) and my own loss of faith.
I consider this novel an exceptional accomplishment. Kostova is such an intelligent writer and she knows how to challenge her readers in a good way. No wonder her books only come out every five to seven years! Each one requires such careful research but winds up offering such uniqueness.
Like any good historical fiction, MYSTERY PLAY will also teach you about new topics. You'll learn about theater in the early 20th century. A bit about staging Shakespearean plays. You'll go behind the scenes at several museums. All in all, highly recommended!
I have read every book by Elizabeth Kostova (author of THE HISTORIAN) and I find her a brilliant story creator and exceptional writer. In MYSTERY PLAY what starts out as a story of one history teacher's curiosity over his late mother's work is slowly and carefully transformed into a psychological thriller that will have you frantically turning pages. And you'll never again think of an historian as a boring job. Awarded four stars but 4.5 is more accurate.
You'll need to pay close attention reading this book. Not just because there are multiple story lines to follow from different time periods. But also because there are many small details dropped along the way that turn out to be important. The story itself is built by the characters within the novel - created out of old research, journal entries, a few random letters, and even travel notes.
Here's my best attempt at an overview:
• One story line is about a (fictional) world famous stage actor, Gael Brogen, from the early 1900s. (Think of the great American actor, Edwin Booth,* 1833-1893). His power in the theater world is unquestioned, his performances mesmerizing, and his influence over up-and-coming actress Fern Quinn feels a little #MeToo-ish.
• A second story takes place in our own time. 30-year-old James "Jay" Turner, an only child who never knew his father, is grieving the recent loss of his loving mother, an academic historian. Not long after her death, Jay takes delivery of an unusual book that dates from the 1600s, but contains mostly blank pages. Believing his mother had already donated it to a museum, Jay sets out to find out why it ended up in his hands. He is joined by Riley, the niece of one of his mother's colleagues. For her own reasons, she too is eager to get answers.
• A third shorter strand concerns Jay's mother and a vacation trip she took to Tuscany in her mid-30s.
Moving back and forth in time, from New York City to London, from Italy to the remote Hebrides, author Elizabeth Kostova slowly builds this novel the way a good detective investigates a crime. Bit by bit.
So much isn't as it appears. Facts you believed turn out to be untrue. Characters you meet begin to exhibit strange behavior. Those who appeared reliable now look suspicious. More and more questions arise. And there are some gruesome murders. It's helpful (but not essential) if you are familiar with the original story of DRACULA by Bram Stoker (1847-1912), based loosely on the historical figure of Vlad Tepes (1428-1476).
The combination of plot, building suspense, and sheer complexity of how the novel is constructed held my attention firmly until about 2/3rds of the way in. That was when I began to feel fatigue at having to juggle so much information without understanding why. I felt ready for a payoff. I even momentarily considered dropping the book. Fortunately, soon enough the plot picked up again and then I found myself racing toward the page-turning conclusion. The only reason I did not award five stars is because of the length (592 pages) and my own loss of faith.
I consider this novel an exceptional accomplishment. Kostova is such an intelligent writer and she knows how to challenge her readers in a good way. No wonder her books only come out every five to seven years! Each one requires such careful research but winds up offering such uniqueness.
Like any good historical fiction, MYSTERY PLAY will also teach you about new topics. You'll learn about theater in the early 20th century. A bit about staging Shakespearean plays. You'll go behind the scenes at several museums. All in all, highly recommended!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I enjoyed The Historian (to which, as it turns out, this is a kind of sequel), so I was excited to delve into the ARC of this upcoming release. For the majority of the book, at least, it didn't disappoint.
Like Kostova's earlier work, Mystery Play is pure catnip for academics and historical researchers, deeply intriguing, with a tasteful hint of supernatural horror. The history of American theater in the 1890s was fascinating, as was the background on the ancient origins of theater and the titular mystery plays of the Middle Ages. Kostova spins a compelling yarn around the concept of modern theater as a descendant of these ancient rites, and of the power--real or imagined, cathartic or magical--of ritualistic performance.
Until the last, say, quarter of the novel, this was easily a four- or even five-star read (and I give those out very sparingly). The pacing was excellent, even across multiple POVs, dual timelines and epistolary chapters, which can be difficult to pull off. The horror element was subtle but effective--it genuinely had me jumping at odd noises in the house while reading late at night.
After ninety-plus chapters, however, the story resolved into a rushed climax and a major "reveal" that was predictable and somewhat melodramatic. I can forgive that, perhaps, but not the extraordinary amount of loose ends that followed. I was actually astonished how many questions were simply left unanswered, and not, I think, in an intentional way. So many mysteries dangled in front of the reader turned out to be mere set dressing and hollow stage props, if you will, extraneous and unnecessary to the story. Then, during a brief monologue from the antagonist in the climax, a character's fate seemed to be explained, only to be immediately contradicted one page later. I appreciate not wanting to fall into the trap of info-dumping, but when there is too little explanation and the story is a trip hazard of loose ends, the reader feels cheated.
A few other nitpicks: in the final climactic scene, the forces of evil are too easily dealt with, and mostly by a secondary character. Perhaps the protagonist could have had a more active role. There was also a tendency, throughout the book, to have characters overanalyze in dialogue (maybe he thinks I took the item, maybe he thinks you helped me, maybe he knew I asked you about it, maybe he knows me and maybe he doesn't). Filler lines in between like "There's another possibility" and "What?" just seem to bog down the story. I'm reminded, also, of a great deal of fuss made over the logistical adventures of a button (or two), to no real purpose. The Dracula book, which is central to the previous novel and appears briefly in this one, turns out to be irrelevant and should have been left out.
Make no mistake, the ideas here are fascinating, but so many of them turn down blind alleys and culminate in dead ends, it's as though the book has not been fully edited. Still, 90% of the reading experience was a delight. I hope the publishers consider a bit of revision, at least to tie up some of the loose ends.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC!
Like Kostova's earlier work, Mystery Play is pure catnip for academics and historical researchers, deeply intriguing, with a tasteful hint of supernatural horror. The history of American theater in the 1890s was fascinating, as was the background on the ancient origins of theater and the titular mystery plays of the Middle Ages. Kostova spins a compelling yarn around the concept of modern theater as a descendant of these ancient rites, and of the power--real or imagined, cathartic or magical--of ritualistic performance.
Until the last, say, quarter of the novel, this was easily a four- or even five-star read (and I give those out very sparingly). The pacing was excellent, even across multiple POVs, dual timelines and epistolary chapters, which can be difficult to pull off. The horror element was subtle but effective--it genuinely had me jumping at odd noises in the house while reading late at night.
After ninety-plus chapters, however, the story resolved into a rushed climax and a major "reveal" that was predictable and somewhat melodramatic. I can forgive that, perhaps, but not the extraordinary amount of loose ends that followed. I was actually astonished how many questions were simply left unanswered, and not, I think, in an intentional way. So many mysteries dangled in front of the reader turned out to be mere set dressing and hollow stage props, if you will, extraneous and unnecessary to the story. Then, during a brief monologue from the antagonist in the climax, a character's fate seemed to be explained, only to be immediately contradicted one page later. I appreciate not wanting to fall into the trap of info-dumping, but when there is too little explanation and the story is a trip hazard of loose ends, the reader feels cheated.
A few other nitpicks: in the final climactic scene, the forces of evil are too easily dealt with, and mostly by a secondary character. Perhaps the protagonist could have had a more active role. There was also a tendency, throughout the book, to have characters overanalyze in dialogue (maybe he thinks I took the item, maybe he thinks you helped me, maybe he knew I asked you about it, maybe he knows me and maybe he doesn't). Filler lines in between like "There's another possibility" and "What?" just seem to bog down the story. I'm reminded, also, of a great deal of fuss made over the logistical adventures of a button (or two), to no real purpose. The Dracula book, which is central to the previous novel and appears briefly in this one, turns out to be irrelevant and should have been left out.
Make no mistake, the ideas here are fascinating, but so many of them turn down blind alleys and culminate in dead ends, it's as though the book has not been fully edited. Still, 90% of the reading experience was a delight. I hope the publishers consider a bit of revision, at least to tie up some of the loose ends.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I spent a week reading this book so you don’t have to.
I went into "Mystery Play" knowing almost nothing about it. I requested the ARC because I have read all of Elizabeth Kostova’s previous books and especially enjoyed "The Historian". So imagine my excitement when I started reading and discovered that "Mystery Play" was connected to "The Historian". I was immediately pulled in. Unfortunately, if you loved "The Historian" and that connection is what draws you to this book, let me save you from making the same mistake I did.
For the first third or so, I was completely invested. The story was mysterious and suspenseful, and I genuinely wanted to know where Kostova was taking it. Then things began to unravel. The coincidences became increasingly convenient, revelations that were supposed to be surprising felt predictable, and unanswered questions began piling up. Eventually, I was doing so much eye-rolling that it became difficult to stay immersed in the story.
Most disappointing was the connection to "The Historian". The novel establishes that connection almost immediately in a way that makes it seem as though it will be important to the mystery. Instead, it ultimately felt contrived rather than essential. The main character did not need this particular connection for the central story to work, and I was left wondering whether it was included largely to tie "Mystery Play" to a much-loved earlier novel. Readers hoping for something that feels like a meaningful continuation of "The Historian" may be disappointed.
There are also simply too many plot holes and unresolved questions. I don't need every mystery neatly explained, and I actually enjoy some ambiguity. But there is a difference between deliberately leaving something open to interpretation and introducing intriguing events, relationships, and questions that never receive a satisfying explanation. Several character choices also seemed inconsistent with the emotional histories the novel had spent so much time establishing.
And then there is the ending. After nearly 600 pages, I expected the many threads of this story to come together in a way that made the journey worthwhile. Instead, I was left with even more questions and coincidences. There were so many more interesting and satisfying directions Kostova could have taken with the ending.
I love long books and regularly seek out novels over 400 pages, so the length itself was never the problem. The problem was reaching the end of nearly 600 pages and feeling that the considerable time I had invested hadn't been rewarded. Kostova is a talented writer, and the beginning of "Mystery Play" reminded me exactly why I have enjoyed her previous novels. Unfortunately, by the end, I mostly wished I had spent that week reading something else.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
I went into "Mystery Play" knowing almost nothing about it. I requested the ARC because I have read all of Elizabeth Kostova’s previous books and especially enjoyed "The Historian". So imagine my excitement when I started reading and discovered that "Mystery Play" was connected to "The Historian". I was immediately pulled in. Unfortunately, if you loved "The Historian" and that connection is what draws you to this book, let me save you from making the same mistake I did.
For the first third or so, I was completely invested. The story was mysterious and suspenseful, and I genuinely wanted to know where Kostova was taking it. Then things began to unravel. The coincidences became increasingly convenient, revelations that were supposed to be surprising felt predictable, and unanswered questions began piling up. Eventually, I was doing so much eye-rolling that it became difficult to stay immersed in the story.
Most disappointing was the connection to "The Historian". The novel establishes that connection almost immediately in a way that makes it seem as though it will be important to the mystery. Instead, it ultimately felt contrived rather than essential. The main character did not need this particular connection for the central story to work, and I was left wondering whether it was included largely to tie "Mystery Play" to a much-loved earlier novel. Readers hoping for something that feels like a meaningful continuation of "The Historian" may be disappointed.
There are also simply too many plot holes and unresolved questions. I don't need every mystery neatly explained, and I actually enjoy some ambiguity. But there is a difference between deliberately leaving something open to interpretation and introducing intriguing events, relationships, and questions that never receive a satisfying explanation. Several character choices also seemed inconsistent with the emotional histories the novel had spent so much time establishing.
And then there is the ending. After nearly 600 pages, I expected the many threads of this story to come together in a way that made the journey worthwhile. Instead, I was left with even more questions and coincidences. There were so many more interesting and satisfying directions Kostova could have taken with the ending.
I love long books and regularly seek out novels over 400 pages, so the length itself was never the problem. The problem was reaching the end of nearly 600 pages and feeling that the considerable time I had invested hadn't been rewarded. Kostova is a talented writer, and the beginning of "Mystery Play" reminded me exactly why I have enjoyed her previous novels. Unfortunately, by the end, I mostly wished I had spent that week reading something else.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I was ecstatic when I saw that Elizabeth Kostova had written another thriller like The Historian. It was a little bit unclear if Mystery Play was a sequel to The Historian. It's not front and center in the book's marketing, which I think can be explained by the two novels being published by different publishers. But it IS a sequel. The main character, Jay Turner, is the son of one of the main characters of The Historian, who, in that book, is a teenager living in Amsterdam who discovers dangerous secrets that tie her family to Dracula, a deadly presence who is the historical Vlad Tepes (the Impaler). Let's get this out of the way: Dracula as an antagonist is a hard act to follow, but I think Kostova has successfully created one in "Gael Brogan," and the theater's ancient roots in myth and sacrifice are very interesting and fresher to me than the vampire lore we are all familiar with by this point. What I was most looking forward to in another Kostova novel was immersion in evocative atmosphere, experiencing the sense of the uncanny, and most of all, the intellectual puzzle of solving a mystery that depends on libraries, museums, and archives. I hit those three sweet spots once again, and I particularly liked the atmosphere of a Maine collection of cottages; a Connecticut restored 19th-century theater/mansion; Charleston, SC; and, most of all, an unnerving passage from the Hebrides in the 1930s. I read that Hebrides passage twice, my pulses racing with excitement, appreciating every creepy detail.
I have to say that the three main characters of The Historian--the teenage daughter, and, in an earlier timeline, her graduate student father, Paul, and Helen Rossi, a fearless academic educated in Hungary--pulled me in more than the two main characters of Mystery Play: teacher Jay Turner and grad student Rhiannon. I also found I connected more strongly to a character in a 19th century timeline, a young actress named Quinn, and to a secondary modern-day character: a Charleston archivist who is an older single Southern woman with an acerbic wit. I wish she had appeared in Mystery Play earlier! I didn't care for an Italian flashback sequence that I can't properly critique without spoiling the plot--I will just say I wasn't persuaded by a crucial decision made by a key character about the aftermath of a love affair. I was also confused by a twist that came after the main thriller climax. But with an ambitious book like this, I am not going to fall in love with every single character and plot twist. I have to say I really enjoyed Mystery Play and I hope Elizabeth Kostova gives us more historical thrillers like Mystery Play and The Historian. I recommend this novel! It's such a delight to get this level of atmosphere, lore, and suspense.
I have to say that the three main characters of The Historian--the teenage daughter, and, in an earlier timeline, her graduate student father, Paul, and Helen Rossi, a fearless academic educated in Hungary--pulled me in more than the two main characters of Mystery Play: teacher Jay Turner and grad student Rhiannon. I also found I connected more strongly to a character in a 19th century timeline, a young actress named Quinn, and to a secondary modern-day character: a Charleston archivist who is an older single Southern woman with an acerbic wit. I wish she had appeared in Mystery Play earlier! I didn't care for an Italian flashback sequence that I can't properly critique without spoiling the plot--I will just say I wasn't persuaded by a crucial decision made by a key character about the aftermath of a love affair. I was also confused by a twist that came after the main thriller climax. But with an ambitious book like this, I am not going to fall in love with every single character and plot twist. I have to say I really enjoyed Mystery Play and I hope Elizabeth Kostova gives us more historical thrillers like Mystery Play and The Historian. I recommend this novel! It's such a delight to get this level of atmosphere, lore, and suspense.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Ballantine/Random House. Thank you!
Elizabeth Kostova’s The Historian has long been one of my most treasured books, and I was elated to find that Mystery Play is a sequel! Happily, it is full of the elements that made The Historian so brilliant: multiple timelines, secret societies, a villain searching for eternal life and unlimited power, and, yes, love.
Mystery Play’s chief protagonist is the son of The Historian’s central character. Jay is struggling with the loss of his mother, and takes a leave of absence from his teaching career to stay at their Maine cottage. After borrowing the biography of a famous American theater actor, Gael Brogan, from his cottage’s caretaker, a series of bizarre events throws Jay into a sinister world of murder and ritual. Along the way, he meets Riley, a young woman whose aunt Sherry was a good friend of Jay’s mother. Through a long and fantastical series of events, Jay and Riley discover that neither of them is exactly who they thought themselves to be; and that their mother and aunt held secrets Jay and Riley could never have imagined. The book ends with both tragedy and triumph, and leaves the reader, as The Historian did, with delicious questions to ponder.
Much like The HIstorian, Mystery Play is also a love letter to a region. Whereas The Historian wove a beautiful travelogue of eastern Europe, Mystery Play does the same for New England with a road trip to the lovely and dark Charleston, South Carolina. Also incorporated are adventures to the Hebrides and Ireland, with Kostova’s brilliance in capturing place on full display throughout. The reader is transported directlyto each location and feels it keenly as part of the plot.
I enjoyed this book tremendously. It moves at a perfect pace, and the threads of many stories are expertly woven together to produce a narrative that kept me engaged throughout with the joy of trying to piece the mystery together myself before the characters could! Each of the characters brings something of immense value to the novel, and, as with The Historian, each brings their bit of sadness and gladness and mystery as well.
Kostova is a fiercely talented writer. I highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in theater, Dracula, historical fiction, secret societies, and family connections. The Historian will forever be one of my favorites, and Mystery Play is a worthy follow-up!
Elizabeth Kostova’s The Historian has long been one of my most treasured books, and I was elated to find that Mystery Play is a sequel! Happily, it is full of the elements that made The Historian so brilliant: multiple timelines, secret societies, a villain searching for eternal life and unlimited power, and, yes, love.
Mystery Play’s chief protagonist is the son of The Historian’s central character. Jay is struggling with the loss of his mother, and takes a leave of absence from his teaching career to stay at their Maine cottage. After borrowing the biography of a famous American theater actor, Gael Brogan, from his cottage’s caretaker, a series of bizarre events throws Jay into a sinister world of murder and ritual. Along the way, he meets Riley, a young woman whose aunt Sherry was a good friend of Jay’s mother. Through a long and fantastical series of events, Jay and Riley discover that neither of them is exactly who they thought themselves to be; and that their mother and aunt held secrets Jay and Riley could never have imagined. The book ends with both tragedy and triumph, and leaves the reader, as The Historian did, with delicious questions to ponder.
Much like The HIstorian, Mystery Play is also a love letter to a region. Whereas The Historian wove a beautiful travelogue of eastern Europe, Mystery Play does the same for New England with a road trip to the lovely and dark Charleston, South Carolina. Also incorporated are adventures to the Hebrides and Ireland, with Kostova’s brilliance in capturing place on full display throughout. The reader is transported directlyto each location and feels it keenly as part of the plot.
I enjoyed this book tremendously. It moves at a perfect pace, and the threads of many stories are expertly woven together to produce a narrative that kept me engaged throughout with the joy of trying to piece the mystery together myself before the characters could! Each of the characters brings something of immense value to the novel, and, as with The Historian, each brings their bit of sadness and gladness and mystery as well.
Kostova is a fiercely talented writer. I highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in theater, Dracula, historical fiction, secret societies, and family connections. The Historian will forever be one of my favorites, and Mystery Play is a worthy follow-up!
September 7, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for the E galley. I will start off by saying that I recommend reading the author’s previous novel The Historian first. It’s not necessary but will give you a lot of the backstory discussed in this novel. When I got The Historian years ago it was because of my love for vampire lore, especially Bram Stoker and Vlad III. It’s a huge book, literary, and historical, so I assumed it would take me weeks to read. I gave up sleep and read it in two days. It’s in my top 10 favorite novels.
I made myself read Mystery Play in small chunks. I’ve had a lot going on. If I wouldn’t have, I would have also devoured it. (No pun intended) I’m trying to think of all the adjectives I would love to use for this novel. Just the historical characters alone made the story fun and entertaining. There’s Vlad III, Bram Stoker, Shakespeare, and Henry Irving to name a few. The references to famous plays that I now want to read or reread. The main character is perfect to carry on his family’s legacy from The Historian. The side characters are just as brilliant and well developed. Every character, whether we are learning about them from a diary or in “real time” is relevant. The bonds they form and relationships are easy to believe and endearing. I read for characters and judge a book by that first. The author’s love of travel is evident in their vivid descriptions of landscapes, city structure, and environmental factors. I especially enjoyed the detailed libraries, museums, homes, and theater. The way they describe the ambience of the lighting, or lack there of, made my ability to imagine the atmosphere better. This novel took me on a journey that has made me want to research something I didn’t think I was interested in. I will also add that I am a horror lover. I was reading horror way too young. At this stage it is hard to scare me. The Historian and Mystery Play are not scary in the typical sense. It’s a suggestive horror and subtle. That being said, while reading them I would get creeped out by something I saw out of the corner eye. I was so immersed I’d forget my dog was next to me and she’d sigh or snore and I’d get goosebumps.
Obviously, I recommend this novel. This isn’t the stereotypical vampire novel, however. It’s more literary and historical. I especially suggest this if you also enjoy Shakespeare and theater. I will be rereading this as well as The Historian until I no longer have the ability.
I made myself read Mystery Play in small chunks. I’ve had a lot going on. If I wouldn’t have, I would have also devoured it. (No pun intended) I’m trying to think of all the adjectives I would love to use for this novel. Just the historical characters alone made the story fun and entertaining. There’s Vlad III, Bram Stoker, Shakespeare, and Henry Irving to name a few. The references to famous plays that I now want to read or reread. The main character is perfect to carry on his family’s legacy from The Historian. The side characters are just as brilliant and well developed. Every character, whether we are learning about them from a diary or in “real time” is relevant. The bonds they form and relationships are easy to believe and endearing. I read for characters and judge a book by that first. The author’s love of travel is evident in their vivid descriptions of landscapes, city structure, and environmental factors. I especially enjoyed the detailed libraries, museums, homes, and theater. The way they describe the ambience of the lighting, or lack there of, made my ability to imagine the atmosphere better. This novel took me on a journey that has made me want to research something I didn’t think I was interested in. I will also add that I am a horror lover. I was reading horror way too young. At this stage it is hard to scare me. The Historian and Mystery Play are not scary in the typical sense. It’s a suggestive horror and subtle. That being said, while reading them I would get creeped out by something I saw out of the corner eye. I was so immersed I’d forget my dog was next to me and she’d sigh or snore and I’d get goosebumps.
Obviously, I recommend this novel. This isn’t the stereotypical vampire novel, however. It’s more literary and historical. I especially suggest this if you also enjoy Shakespeare and theater. I will be rereading this as well as The Historian until I no longer have the ability.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Mystery Play, Elizabeth Kostova's fourth novel, is expected to be published on October 13, 2026. It follows The Historian, The Swan Thieves, and The Shadow Land (my reviews of these can be found at https://imobookreviews.blogspot.com/, the first two dated June 27, 2015, and the third dated April 2, 2017). In Mystery Play, the reader is immersed in the history of the world of theater.
Mystery Play introduces us to James (Jay) Taylor, a historian (from a long line of historians), roughly a year following his mother's death. While going through his mother's belongings, Jay found a newspaper fragment from 1902 referencing Gael Brogan, an actor who was most famous for his portrayal of Dracula. The remainder of the book switches between the theater in the late 1890's, primarily through Brogan's leading lady from that time, Fern Quinn, and Jay's deep dive into Brogan's world.
While Jay was sorting through his mother's possessions, we learn that his mother had owned a book dated from 1477, one of a few commissioned by Vlad Tepes (also known as Dracula), a blank book but for a woodcut printing of a dragon at the center. She told Jay that she had donated this book to the Rutherford Museum and Library. Nonetheless, while he was discovering the article fragment, Jay received a delivery, the very same book. Although this book is obviously the same book received by some historians in The Historian, thereby connecting Mystery Play to The Historian, the relevance of Vlad's book within Mystery Play is not clear to me.
I found Mystery Play to be quite slow at the beginning. However, as the book progressed and the pieces started coming together, the pace picked up as well. The history of the theater detailed in the book did not pique my interest as much as the subjects considered in other Kostova novels, although Jay and his story did. I soon became immersed in the book and enjoyed the experience.
IMO, Mystery Play is RECOMMENDED.
This review is based upon an Advanced Reader Copy kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Mystery Play introduces us to James (Jay) Taylor, a historian (from a long line of historians), roughly a year following his mother's death. While going through his mother's belongings, Jay found a newspaper fragment from 1902 referencing Gael Brogan, an actor who was most famous for his portrayal of Dracula. The remainder of the book switches between the theater in the late 1890's, primarily through Brogan's leading lady from that time, Fern Quinn, and Jay's deep dive into Brogan's world.
While Jay was sorting through his mother's possessions, we learn that his mother had owned a book dated from 1477, one of a few commissioned by Vlad Tepes (also known as Dracula), a blank book but for a woodcut printing of a dragon at the center. She told Jay that she had donated this book to the Rutherford Museum and Library. Nonetheless, while he was discovering the article fragment, Jay received a delivery, the very same book. Although this book is obviously the same book received by some historians in The Historian, thereby connecting Mystery Play to The Historian, the relevance of Vlad's book within Mystery Play is not clear to me.
I found Mystery Play to be quite slow at the beginning. However, as the book progressed and the pieces started coming together, the pace picked up as well. The history of the theater detailed in the book did not pique my interest as much as the subjects considered in other Kostova novels, although Jay and his story did. I soon became immersed in the book and enjoyed the experience.
IMO, Mystery Play is RECOMMENDED.
This review is based upon an Advanced Reader Copy kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
For readers who have spent the past two decades hoping Kostova would return to the shadowy intersection of history, scholarship, and Vlad the Impaler, Mystery Play is a rewarding homecoming. Beautifully written and meticulously researched, this gothic mystery blends historical intrigue, dark academia, and Dracula-inspired lore into a compelling and atmospheric narrative. Drawing on the haunting power that made The Historian so memorable, Kostova crafts another richly layered tale. When Jay Turner stumbles upon a missing medieval manuscript connected to an enigmatic nineteenth-century actor, he finds himself drawn into a labyrinth of secrets, obsession, and danger that stretches across centuries.
While The Historian surges forward with the scope and momentum of a grand expedition spanning continents and centuries, Mystery Play takes a more intimate path, unfolding like a careful excavation that uncovers long-buried secrets layer by layer.
Kostova's greatest strength lies in her ability to make scholarly investigation feel every bit as thrilling as a traditional mystery. Lost manuscripts, forgotten journals, and obscure historical clues become vital pieces of a captivating puzzle. The novel's exploration of Victorian theater is especially compelling, offering a fresh and inventive lens through which to view Dracula lore while deepening its themes of performance, identity, and obsession. Kostova moves seamlessly between present-day investigation and nineteenth-century theatrical intrigue, creating a narrative that is both intellectually engaging and suspenseful. By weaving the world of the stage into the story, she revitalizes the Dracula mythos, transforming familiar vampire mythology into something strikingly original. Richly textured historical details are integrated with such skill that the setting feels vividly authentic, immersive, and unsettlingly real.
Overall, Mystery Play is a richly atmospheric, intellectually satisfying gothic mystery that rewards patient readers. Fans of The Historian are likely to feel right at home.
While The Historian surges forward with the scope and momentum of a grand expedition spanning continents and centuries, Mystery Play takes a more intimate path, unfolding like a careful excavation that uncovers long-buried secrets layer by layer.
Kostova's greatest strength lies in her ability to make scholarly investigation feel every bit as thrilling as a traditional mystery. Lost manuscripts, forgotten journals, and obscure historical clues become vital pieces of a captivating puzzle. The novel's exploration of Victorian theater is especially compelling, offering a fresh and inventive lens through which to view Dracula lore while deepening its themes of performance, identity, and obsession. Kostova moves seamlessly between present-day investigation and nineteenth-century theatrical intrigue, creating a narrative that is both intellectually engaging and suspenseful. By weaving the world of the stage into the story, she revitalizes the Dracula mythos, transforming familiar vampire mythology into something strikingly original. Richly textured historical details are integrated with such skill that the setting feels vividly authentic, immersive, and unsettlingly real.
Overall, Mystery Play is a richly atmospheric, intellectually satisfying gothic mystery that rewards patient readers. Fans of The Historian are likely to feel right at home.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A thoroughly enjoyable sequel to “The Historian.” It has been at least a decade since I read “The Historian,” and I didn’t reread it before diving into the sequel, mostly because I wanted to know if the book could stand alone, and I feel like it does quite easily.
This is one for the theater buffs out there. While that’s not an area I’m overly passionate about, I’m not disinterested. I may not have captured every reference and Easter egg, but I think people who know things would be far more appreciative of the research that went into this book.
This book is written from multiple points of view, with multiple timelines, in epistolary style. Just when you are getting nice and settled into one character’s story, the chapter ends and you are bounced to another character in another timeline. It isn’t necessarily a complaint, but if this style isn’t your favorite way of reading a book, be forewarned.
What I enjoyed about this book was the slow buildup of plot and tension. I like a slow burn thriller, and settling into the chapters, getting to know the characters for the first half of the book before the hook really sunk in was part of the joy of reading this book. I loved the many literary references. Most of all, I loved the way Kostova took me around the world in my armchair. Her descriptive writing paints the scene so well you can almost smell the peat smoke in Scotland and the dusty road filled with flowers in Italy. Even though this book was about a supernatural creature tearing the throats out of humans, it was, at times, a pure joy to read.
I think if you go into this expecting what you got from “The Historian,” you might be slightly disappointed. That was a tough act to follow. If you go in with no expectations, you will find an enjoyable vampire literary thriller.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is one for the theater buffs out there. While that’s not an area I’m overly passionate about, I’m not disinterested. I may not have captured every reference and Easter egg, but I think people who know things would be far more appreciative of the research that went into this book.
This book is written from multiple points of view, with multiple timelines, in epistolary style. Just when you are getting nice and settled into one character’s story, the chapter ends and you are bounced to another character in another timeline. It isn’t necessarily a complaint, but if this style isn’t your favorite way of reading a book, be forewarned.
What I enjoyed about this book was the slow buildup of plot and tension. I like a slow burn thriller, and settling into the chapters, getting to know the characters for the first half of the book before the hook really sunk in was part of the joy of reading this book. I loved the many literary references. Most of all, I loved the way Kostova took me around the world in my armchair. Her descriptive writing paints the scene so well you can almost smell the peat smoke in Scotland and the dusty road filled with flowers in Italy. Even though this book was about a supernatural creature tearing the throats out of humans, it was, at times, a pure joy to read.
I think if you go into this expecting what you got from “The Historian,” you might be slightly disappointed. That was a tough act to follow. If you go in with no expectations, you will find an enjoyable vampire literary thriller.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I had to look up how long ago I read The Historian because I knew it had been awhile. Twenty years. I was sixteen. I didn’t think it had been THAT long!
I think that’s important to start with because I’ve come to believe that our reactions to books are shaped by everything that has come before, as well as what’s going on at the moment we’re reading them.
When I was 16, I hadn’t read Dracula yet. I hadn’t graduated high school or gone to college yet. Goodreads didn’t even exist yet.
So that’s all to say I’ve been through a lot of things since I read The Historian, and I don’t remember much about it other than at the time I absolutely loved it. It was the first epistolary novel I can remember reading. It felt complex, smart, dramatic, and certainly much more engaging than anything I was reading in school.
Although Mystery Play is a sequel, it reads a lot more like the first draft of what The Historian turned into. It almost has a YA feel. But I don’t know if I’m an unreliable narrator here, or just that I’m at a very different time in my life to have experienced these two books.
I generally liked this story. It doesn’t feel like a sequel, only that Jay is the son of the narrator from The Historian. The book surrounds the mysterious Gael Brogan. It’s creepy and has the same slow build as its predecessor, but the ending feels rushed. The relationship between Jay and Riley feels somewhat forced, and one of the big character reveals left me confused, as if I was supposed to know who this person was.
There were some twists I didn’t expect, and I was eager to keep reading once I got about halfway through to see where things were going to go, but I wonder how others who read The Historian will receive this because I felt that it was different in more ways than it was the same.
Thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy.
I think that’s important to start with because I’ve come to believe that our reactions to books are shaped by everything that has come before, as well as what’s going on at the moment we’re reading them.
When I was 16, I hadn’t read Dracula yet. I hadn’t graduated high school or gone to college yet. Goodreads didn’t even exist yet.
So that’s all to say I’ve been through a lot of things since I read The Historian, and I don’t remember much about it other than at the time I absolutely loved it. It was the first epistolary novel I can remember reading. It felt complex, smart, dramatic, and certainly much more engaging than anything I was reading in school.
Although Mystery Play is a sequel, it reads a lot more like the first draft of what The Historian turned into. It almost has a YA feel. But I don’t know if I’m an unreliable narrator here, or just that I’m at a very different time in my life to have experienced these two books.
I generally liked this story. It doesn’t feel like a sequel, only that Jay is the son of the narrator from The Historian. The book surrounds the mysterious Gael Brogan. It’s creepy and has the same slow build as its predecessor, but the ending feels rushed. The relationship between Jay and Riley feels somewhat forced, and one of the big character reveals left me confused, as if I was supposed to know who this person was.
There were some twists I didn’t expect, and I was eager to keep reading once I got about halfway through to see where things were going to go, but I wonder how others who read The Historian will receive this because I felt that it was different in more ways than it was the same.
Thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
592 pages
5 stars
Oh, I have waited such a long time for Ms. Kostova to write a companion book to “The Historian.” I’ve read that book several times and I still absolutely love it.
James “Jay” Turner is grieving the recent loss of his mother. Taking time off from his history professor position, he travels to his and his mother’s isolated cottage in Maine. There he finds a scrap of newspaper bearing the name of “Gael Brogan.” An antique book is delivered, bloody footprints appear, the book written by his mother about the life of Vlad Tepes, also known as Dracula is located. His mother warned him about the book.
Jay decides to dig deeper into the mystery of Gael Brogan.
The reader is treated to an adventure mostly set in the Nineteenth Century. The glittering stages where actors and actresses portray their craft. Jay learns that Gael and his co-star Fern Quinn are the talk of the town. Gael is pronounced the most accomplished actor of all time.
Ms. Kostova blends the thrill of stage productions with the very real literary and famous actors of the day such as Bram Stoker, John Irving and others. Jay uncovers dark secrets about Gael.
People in his contemporary life begin to die horribly. As he and his friend Riley search for answers, they seem to be led upon a mysterious path.
This is a brilliant novel. Full of surprises and I could barely tear myself away. The characters are very life-like and I felt as though I had a real grasp of them. There were no wasted words. Or irrelevant side trips.
I want to thank NetGalley and Ballantine - Ballantine Books for forwarding this novel to me. The opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.
5 stars
Oh, I have waited such a long time for Ms. Kostova to write a companion book to “The Historian.” I’ve read that book several times and I still absolutely love it.
James “Jay” Turner is grieving the recent loss of his mother. Taking time off from his history professor position, he travels to his and his mother’s isolated cottage in Maine. There he finds a scrap of newspaper bearing the name of “Gael Brogan.” An antique book is delivered, bloody footprints appear, the book written by his mother about the life of Vlad Tepes, also known as Dracula is located. His mother warned him about the book.
Jay decides to dig deeper into the mystery of Gael Brogan.
The reader is treated to an adventure mostly set in the Nineteenth Century. The glittering stages where actors and actresses portray their craft. Jay learns that Gael and his co-star Fern Quinn are the talk of the town. Gael is pronounced the most accomplished actor of all time.
Ms. Kostova blends the thrill of stage productions with the very real literary and famous actors of the day such as Bram Stoker, John Irving and others. Jay uncovers dark secrets about Gael.
People in his contemporary life begin to die horribly. As he and his friend Riley search for answers, they seem to be led upon a mysterious path.
This is a brilliant novel. Full of surprises and I could barely tear myself away. The characters are very life-like and I felt as though I had a real grasp of them. There were no wasted words. Or irrelevant side trips.
I want to thank NetGalley and Ballantine - Ballantine Books for forwarding this novel to me. The opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I was very excited for another book from Kostova, as I loved The Historian and have been anticipating this release; sadly, it was a bit of a disappointment. This book did not live up to that previous novel, though it was somewhat of a sequel to it. The characters were not as well developed, and there were times during the reading that it dragged and things were just told and explained instead of allowing the characters to develop. It was almost as if, at points in the book, there was too much she needed to happen and she spent too much time telling us facts. And, on the other hand, there were times where it seemed very repetitive, and I wanted the plot to move along a bit.
Toward the end of the book, James and Riley make a discovery about a character who, until that point, did not have much of a role in the book, and in fact, it seemed he had just disappeared = -perhaps died in the gruesome way that other characters died in this novel. But this character, all of a sudden, is playing an important role and helps to save the day. It didn't make plot sense. Also, there was too much time spent on James' mother's story in Italy, and it was pretty clear during that time what happened and why it was included, so the details were not needed, which brings me to the subject of the two buttons. What was the point of that part of the story? There are two places in the tale where a button shows up on the floor of a bedroom, and then the buttons disappear, and the characters find it disturbing, but nothing else is ever said about the buttons. It was an undeveloped plot point.
All in all, I was a bit disappointed, and I give this book 3.5 stars, rounded down to 3. Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Toward the end of the book, James and Riley make a discovery about a character who, until that point, did not have much of a role in the book, and in fact, it seemed he had just disappeared = -perhaps died in the gruesome way that other characters died in this novel. But this character, all of a sudden, is playing an important role and helps to save the day. It didn't make plot sense. Also, there was too much time spent on James' mother's story in Italy, and it was pretty clear during that time what happened and why it was included, so the details were not needed, which brings me to the subject of the two buttons. What was the point of that part of the story? There are two places in the tale where a button shows up on the floor of a bedroom, and then the buttons disappear, and the characters find it disturbing, but nothing else is ever said about the buttons. It was an undeveloped plot point.
All in all, I was a bit disappointed, and I give this book 3.5 stars, rounded down to 3. Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
"After his beloved mother passes away suddenly, Jay Turner finds himself at a crossroads. She was always secretive, and when he returns to their Boston home to clear out her possessions, he finds an unusual item: a partially burned scrap of newspaper bearing the name “Gael Brogan.” Soon after, a deliveryman leaves behind a package containing a small antique volume bound in leather—and two bloody footprints.
The sight of the volume is chilling. As a young scholar, his mother had been given the medieval book—one of a set commissioned by Vlad Țepeș, otherwise known as Dracula, just before his death in 1477. She'd always warned Jay of the dangers associated with it, and had donated it to a museum before she died . . . yet here it is, back in his possession.
Jay sets out to learn more about Gael Brogan, a prominent nineteenth-century actor whose last and most famous role was based on Bram Stoker’s Dracula. As Jay begins to dig deeper—with the help of a mysterious woman named Rhiannon—he uncovers the frightening story of a young actress who fell under Brogan's sway long ago. Before long, Jay and Rhiannon realize that something similarly implacable is pursuing them.
In this epic and riveting tale, Elizabeth Kostova takes us deep into the Gilded Age of the theater and across the Atlantic in pursuit of an ancient evil and its dramatic followers."
This book is doing so many things, and I tried to explain what I was reading briefly with no spoilers to someone and I just could not do it. Almost six hundred pages does not make for a quick summary! I will say it like this- this is a book for lovers of books, learning, and history. I was so enthralled by this book that I read other stuff during the time I read it and I can say this was definitely the ghost looming over everything else I read and I would read another six-hundred page book in this universe. Tomorrow ideally.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the ARC. Definitely among my favorite reads of the year.
The sight of the volume is chilling. As a young scholar, his mother had been given the medieval book—one of a set commissioned by Vlad Țepeș, otherwise known as Dracula, just before his death in 1477. She'd always warned Jay of the dangers associated with it, and had donated it to a museum before she died . . . yet here it is, back in his possession.
Jay sets out to learn more about Gael Brogan, a prominent nineteenth-century actor whose last and most famous role was based on Bram Stoker’s Dracula. As Jay begins to dig deeper—with the help of a mysterious woman named Rhiannon—he uncovers the frightening story of a young actress who fell under Brogan's sway long ago. Before long, Jay and Rhiannon realize that something similarly implacable is pursuing them.
In this epic and riveting tale, Elizabeth Kostova takes us deep into the Gilded Age of the theater and across the Atlantic in pursuit of an ancient evil and its dramatic followers."
This book is doing so many things, and I tried to explain what I was reading briefly with no spoilers to someone and I just could not do it. Almost six hundred pages does not make for a quick summary! I will say it like this- this is a book for lovers of books, learning, and history. I was so enthralled by this book that I read other stuff during the time I read it and I can say this was definitely the ghost looming over everything else I read and I would read another six-hundred page book in this universe. Tomorrow ideally.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the ARC. Definitely among my favorite reads of the year.
August 17, 2026
Review of ARC received from NetGalley.
I was excited to see this continuation of The Historian. I was a bit concerned I had forgotten too much of that book, but it didn’t matter too much. Playing again with dark forces, a bit of the occult, famous actor Gael Brogan is the center of the mystery. After his mother’s death, Jay Turner’s grief leads him to an old friend of his mother. Sherry’s murder results her niece Riley and Jay joining forces to unravel the circumstances of Sherry’s death. Riley worked at the museum/castle of Brogan who apparently committed suicide a century earlier after gaining worldwide acclaim playing Dracula.
The story jumps between Jay, Brogan’s leading lady Fern’s diary entries, librarian Helsa Grace, and diary entries from Jay’s mother. Despite the 4 timelines, the jumps worked well and weren’t too confusing, but Jay’s mother’s Italian story did disrupt the momentum of the story as it was racing towards climax. The ending did feel a bit of a letdown. Brogan’s pursuit of immortality was clear pretty early, and being undone by what was described as a children’s song seemed somewhat simple even after chasing him across the world. It seems like he had been built up to have a much more dramatic ending than he received.
3.5 rounded up. Kostova’s prose is just as enjoyable as in The Historian but I felt like some things could use some editing — some of Fern’s entries were excessive, the Italy chapters went on a bit too long, and Helsa Grace felt a bit out of place and forced. I also would have liked a little more from the ending. The story is enjoyable, and characters interesting.
I was excited to see this continuation of The Historian. I was a bit concerned I had forgotten too much of that book, but it didn’t matter too much. Playing again with dark forces, a bit of the occult, famous actor Gael Brogan is the center of the mystery. After his mother’s death, Jay Turner’s grief leads him to an old friend of his mother. Sherry’s murder results her niece Riley and Jay joining forces to unravel the circumstances of Sherry’s death. Riley worked at the museum/castle of Brogan who apparently committed suicide a century earlier after gaining worldwide acclaim playing Dracula.
The story jumps between Jay, Brogan’s leading lady Fern’s diary entries, librarian Helsa Grace, and diary entries from Jay’s mother. Despite the 4 timelines, the jumps worked well and weren’t too confusing, but Jay’s mother’s Italian story did disrupt the momentum of the story as it was racing towards climax. The ending did feel a bit of a letdown. Brogan’s pursuit of immortality was clear pretty early, and being undone by what was described as a children’s song seemed somewhat simple even after chasing him across the world. It seems like he had been built up to have a much more dramatic ending than he received.
3.5 rounded up. Kostova’s prose is just as enjoyable as in The Historian but I felt like some things could use some editing — some of Fern’s entries were excessive, the Italy chapters went on a bit too long, and Helsa Grace felt a bit out of place and forced. I also would have liked a little more from the ending. The story is enjoyable, and characters interesting.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I rate this book 2.5 stars rounded down. This is a book with a strong paranormal element. I decided to read it because I had previously read and enjoyed "The Shadow Land" by Elizabeth Kostova. But this was not an enjoyable book for me.
Pros: There is a romance between the two main characters. They start out as strangers, then develop feelings for each other as they investigate a sinister entity which is killing people. The more they find out, they realize that the murders have going on for over a hundred years, connected to the same person.
Cons: This book, at 592 pages, is about 150-200 pages too long. The paranormal element is an overwhelming presence. I don't usually read paranormal books, but gave this one a chance because I liked the author's previous book. In addition, there were 4 different timelines.
Principal two characters:
James Turner, who is settling his mother's estate.
Riley "Rhiannon" O'Sullivan, a guide at the Castle Durmore, built by the late actor Gael Brogan.
One quote by James Turner: "The olive skin tone had been my mother's , too, from her own mother, beautiful Romanian Helen, even if my eyes were blue, 'chips of the sky', my mother had called them, from some book or other, or maybe a poem."
I may be an outlier, since the majority of the Goodreads reviews are 4 and 5 star. However, this book didn't work for me. If you like paranormal books, you might like it.
Thank You RACHEL TAYLOR at Ballantine Books for sending me this eARC through NetGalley.
Pros: There is a romance between the two main characters. They start out as strangers, then develop feelings for each other as they investigate a sinister entity which is killing people. The more they find out, they realize that the murders have going on for over a hundred years, connected to the same person.
Cons: This book, at 592 pages, is about 150-200 pages too long. The paranormal element is an overwhelming presence. I don't usually read paranormal books, but gave this one a chance because I liked the author's previous book. In addition, there were 4 different timelines.
Principal two characters:
James Turner, who is settling his mother's estate.
Riley "Rhiannon" O'Sullivan, a guide at the Castle Durmore, built by the late actor Gael Brogan.
One quote by James Turner: "The olive skin tone had been my mother's , too, from her own mother, beautiful Romanian Helen, even if my eyes were blue, 'chips of the sky', my mother had called them, from some book or other, or maybe a poem."
I may be an outlier, since the majority of the Goodreads reviews are 4 and 5 star. However, this book didn't work for me. If you like paranormal books, you might like it.
Thank You RACHEL TAYLOR at Ballantine Books for sending me this eARC through NetGalley.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I first read Elizabeth Kostova's The Historian when it was published years ago, and I constantly find myself drawn back to it. Mystery Play is the sequel I didn't know I needed.
From the very first page, Kostova keeps readers on the edge of their seats through her richly detailed settings, vivid descriptions, and masterful storytelling. Her ability to seamlessly weave together historical fiction, mystery, and turn-of-the-century detail once again showcases why she is such a gifted writer. Rather than overwhelming readers with information, Kostova reveals the story gradually, allowing the mystery to unfold at a deliberate, captivating pace that makes it difficult to put the book down.
The characters are exceptionally well developed, each with distinct personalities that feel authentic and memorable. The parallel timelines add another layer of intrigue, following Fern and Gael at the turn of the twentieth century alongside James and Riley in the present day. As the two narratives begin to intersect, readers are constantly asking questions and eagerly turning the pages to uncover the connections.
The ending is both shocking and satisfying, leaving readers speechless while still wanting more. Overall, Mystery Play is an elegant, thought-provoking novel that beautifully showcases Elizabeth Kostova's gift for atmospheric storytelling. It is an excellent choice for readers who enjoy literary fiction, historical mysteries, richly drawn characters, and beautifully crafted prose.
From the very first page, Kostova keeps readers on the edge of their seats through her richly detailed settings, vivid descriptions, and masterful storytelling. Her ability to seamlessly weave together historical fiction, mystery, and turn-of-the-century detail once again showcases why she is such a gifted writer. Rather than overwhelming readers with information, Kostova reveals the story gradually, allowing the mystery to unfold at a deliberate, captivating pace that makes it difficult to put the book down.
The characters are exceptionally well developed, each with distinct personalities that feel authentic and memorable. The parallel timelines add another layer of intrigue, following Fern and Gael at the turn of the twentieth century alongside James and Riley in the present day. As the two narratives begin to intersect, readers are constantly asking questions and eagerly turning the pages to uncover the connections.
The ending is both shocking and satisfying, leaving readers speechless while still wanting more. Overall, Mystery Play is an elegant, thought-provoking novel that beautifully showcases Elizabeth Kostova's gift for atmospheric storytelling. It is an excellent choice for readers who enjoy literary fiction, historical mysteries, richly drawn characters, and beautifully crafted prose.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Mystery Play is the sequel to The Historian, even if the publisher isn't really advertising it as such, with the main character Jay Turner being the child of the main narrator of The Historian, and the grandson of Paul and Helen. As the book opens, Jay's mother (who is never named) has passed away after a sudden and serious illness, and he is cleaning out her apartment in Boston for the new owners to take possession before he moves to their summer home in Maine to put the pieces of his life together again. Her death left him unmoored, and unsure how to mov forward as a history teacher at a private boy's school, so he is using the summer to decide what his path forward career-wise will look like, when he manages to stumble on a book about a famous actor from the late 1800s, Gael Brogan. He finds himself investigating this actor's life and unknowingly putting himself and others around him in danger.
For readers of The Historian, the back-and-forth narrative style between various diaries and letters of several different characters will feel familiar. The danger that Jay finds himself in also feels familiar as well, while Jay's lack of awareness about the danger he is in feels surprising, since he tells us early on that his mother wrote a memoir about her and her family's hunt for Vlad Tepes and their encounters with him. The pattern of investigation, death, and danger, is the same for Jay in Mystery Play but somehow, he doesn't seem to recognize the echoes of the past in his own life. All that said, this was still an enjoyable read, as the author slowly lays out exactly who Gael Brogan is and how he came to be the way he is, causing death and destruction in his wake.
Thank you to Ballantine and NetGalley for the electronic ARC of this novel for review.
For readers of The Historian, the back-and-forth narrative style between various diaries and letters of several different characters will feel familiar. The danger that Jay finds himself in also feels familiar as well, while Jay's lack of awareness about the danger he is in feels surprising, since he tells us early on that his mother wrote a memoir about her and her family's hunt for Vlad Tepes and their encounters with him. The pattern of investigation, death, and danger, is the same for Jay in Mystery Play but somehow, he doesn't seem to recognize the echoes of the past in his own life. All that said, this was still an enjoyable read, as the author slowly lays out exactly who Gael Brogan is and how he came to be the way he is, causing death and destruction in his wake.
Thank you to Ballantine and NetGalley for the electronic ARC of this novel for review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I hadn't realized when I requested this e-ARC that it was linked to Kostova's earlier book 'The Historian' which I've had sitting on my shelf for an unspeakable amount of time but fortunately for me it did not effect my enjoyment of this book at all and shouldn't deter any new readers from diving into this one.
The influences for the book are evident and I love that the format echoes a lot of how the original 'Dracula' was written, journal entries, letters, newspaper clippings, etc. and that language is very beautiful. It builds up a perfect atmosphere for the looming threat and mystery behind several murders and disappearances through several eras. The first 10% of the book was hard for me to get into and felt slow to read but after that things went much more quickly (as quickly as they can for a nearly 600 page book!). I especially enjoyed the section from Fern Quinn's POV - an actress sharing the stage with the charismatic and enigmatic Gael Brogan.
Kostova did a lot of research for this book and there's a lot of information on the theater, through various eras, and a special concentration on Shakespeare all of which I enjoyed. The pacing was a little inconsistent with some storylines feeling like they had moments of repetition and that there did not need to be quite as many pages as there are while the ending seemed quite short and fast compared to the rest of it.
I'd recommend it for anyone who enjoys the original Dracula, historical fantastical mysteries, lush prose, theater history, and Shakespeare.
3.5 stars rounded up
Thank you to Ballantine, Elizabeth Kostova, and Netgalley for the e-ARC. The above contains only my own honest opinions.
The influences for the book are evident and I love that the format echoes a lot of how the original 'Dracula' was written, journal entries, letters, newspaper clippings, etc. and that language is very beautiful. It builds up a perfect atmosphere for the looming threat and mystery behind several murders and disappearances through several eras. The first 10% of the book was hard for me to get into and felt slow to read but after that things went much more quickly (as quickly as they can for a nearly 600 page book!). I especially enjoyed the section from Fern Quinn's POV - an actress sharing the stage with the charismatic and enigmatic Gael Brogan.
Kostova did a lot of research for this book and there's a lot of information on the theater, through various eras, and a special concentration on Shakespeare all of which I enjoyed. The pacing was a little inconsistent with some storylines feeling like they had moments of repetition and that there did not need to be quite as many pages as there are while the ending seemed quite short and fast compared to the rest of it.
I'd recommend it for anyone who enjoys the original Dracula, historical fantastical mysteries, lush prose, theater history, and Shakespeare.
3.5 stars rounded up
Thank you to Ballantine, Elizabeth Kostova, and Netgalley for the e-ARC. The above contains only my own honest opinions.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
My introduction to Elizabeth Kostova years ago was through The Historian, a book that completely captivated me with its atmosphere, rich historical detail, and immersive storytelling. Reading Mystery Play felt like coming home to that same beautifully crafted writing style that made me fall in love with her work in the first place.
Kostova has a remarkable ability to create a sense of place and mystery, weaving together history, art, and human nature into a story that feels both thoughtful and compelling. The novel unfolds at a measured pace, allowing readers to fully sink into its world while gradually revealing its secrets. Her prose remains elegant and evocative, rewarding readers who enjoy literary mysteries rich in atmosphere and character.
While the slower pacing may not appeal to every reader, I found myself drawn in by the author’s meticulous storytelling and the depth she brings to her characters and settings. The mystery itself was intriguing, but it was Kostova’s writing that kept me turning the pages, reminding me why The Historian remains such a memorable reading experience for me.
Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
If you’re a fan of literary mysteries, atmospheric settings, and beautifully written fiction, Mystery Play is well worth picking up.
Kostova has a remarkable ability to create a sense of place and mystery, weaving together history, art, and human nature into a story that feels both thoughtful and compelling. The novel unfolds at a measured pace, allowing readers to fully sink into its world while gradually revealing its secrets. Her prose remains elegant and evocative, rewarding readers who enjoy literary mysteries rich in atmosphere and character.
While the slower pacing may not appeal to every reader, I found myself drawn in by the author’s meticulous storytelling and the depth she brings to her characters and settings. The mystery itself was intriguing, but it was Kostova’s writing that kept me turning the pages, reminding me why The Historian remains such a memorable reading experience for me.
Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
If you’re a fan of literary mysteries, atmospheric settings, and beautifully written fiction, Mystery Play is well worth picking up.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
4 1/2 stars
Revolving around the child of the main character in THE HISTORIAN but easily read as a standalone, MYSTERY PLAY is the same eerie mix of classic literature, old world horror and academic mystery. A potential monster or celebrated playwright/classic stage actor is resurrected Jay finds an ancient book in his mother's things and asks the advice of his mom's oldest friend. The mystery behind this text leads Jay down a rabbit hole of murders, shadowy people and danger to himself and anyone associated with the text. One side of the story is told from Jay's journal while the other is told through the journal and letters of an aspiring actress and her infatuation with a mesmerizing playwright in the late 1800's. The second half of the book takes us further back to ancient plays, secret societies and the immortal evil of Count Vlad Tepes (otherwise known as Count Dracula) and others like him. The mood is dark and shadowy, the writing is as if the classic Bram Stoker novel never ended and the presentation of letters, journal entries and research makes the reader feel part of the investigation. The perfect sequel to THE HISTORIAN and one that will delight those readers who have recommended and placed it in so many reader's hands. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.
Revolving around the child of the main character in THE HISTORIAN but easily read as a standalone, MYSTERY PLAY is the same eerie mix of classic literature, old world horror and academic mystery. A potential monster or celebrated playwright/classic stage actor is resurrected Jay finds an ancient book in his mother's things and asks the advice of his mom's oldest friend. The mystery behind this text leads Jay down a rabbit hole of murders, shadowy people and danger to himself and anyone associated with the text. One side of the story is told from Jay's journal while the other is told through the journal and letters of an aspiring actress and her infatuation with a mesmerizing playwright in the late 1800's. The second half of the book takes us further back to ancient plays, secret societies and the immortal evil of Count Vlad Tepes (otherwise known as Count Dracula) and others like him. The mood is dark and shadowy, the writing is as if the classic Bram Stoker novel never ended and the presentation of letters, journal entries and research makes the reader feel part of the investigation. The perfect sequel to THE HISTORIAN and one that will delight those readers who have recommended and placed it in so many reader's hands. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.
September 2, 2026
A direct sequel to The Historian, this is written in the exact voice that is written off as him taking after his mother and is mentioned in the book itself, as the author knew someone would question the verboseness of the Gen Z character she has created. And maybe not just the verboseness. Maybe the overall character, but I honestly didn’t find the character himself to be a problem. Kostova is once again overly descriptive but could be forgiven if the conclusion of the story wasn’t rushed. The author spends so much time layering exposition that she quickly pushes through the ultimate confrontation, slipping an important piece of lore as an afterthought (which surprised me). I felt like I spent so much time investing in these characters and then the ultimate battle is over in a heartbeat.
But the story is very intriguing with some fun twists and turns. Unfortunately, I did see the twist coming and wish the character had more time to deal with the ramifications. But a sweeping story is where Kostova excels, and she keeps you on your toes, typically not knowing where she is going and how everything will connect. While Mystery Play isn’t her best, it is intriguing and entertaining.
I received an ARC through NetGalley; all opinions are my own.
But the story is very intriguing with some fun twists and turns. Unfortunately, I did see the twist coming and wish the character had more time to deal with the ramifications. But a sweeping story is where Kostova excels, and she keeps you on your toes, typically not knowing where she is going and how everything will connect. While Mystery Play isn’t her best, it is intriguing and entertaining.
I received an ARC through NetGalley; all opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The ability to build atmosphere that I enjoyed in "The Historian" was lacking in "Mystery Play". Though somewhat billed as a sequel, it actually hurts this novel to be considered as such as it is its own creation.
Kostova really struggled with pacing in this novel. It took half the novel for threads to start coming together, and then the latter half was rushed and not well enough explained. The framing of the novel as journals/notes compiled by an "editor" didn't work. For one, none of the authors had a distinct voice; all three sounded alike, even though they had very different ages and educations. The notebooks often didn't feel like journals; the actress's section were better and emphasized how stiff and sterile the others were.
The prose was very readable, if I forgot that it was supposed to be a journal, and I feel like the story had much more potential than it ultimately achieved. I went in expecting an atmospheric emotion, but the atmosphere came only in the last quarter and by that time I couldn't bring myself to care anymore. It would have been improved by losing 100 pages and losing the connections to "The Historian" that brought it down. Rating is rounded up from 2.5 stars.
Kostova really struggled with pacing in this novel. It took half the novel for threads to start coming together, and then the latter half was rushed and not well enough explained. The framing of the novel as journals/notes compiled by an "editor" didn't work. For one, none of the authors had a distinct voice; all three sounded alike, even though they had very different ages and educations. The notebooks often didn't feel like journals; the actress's section were better and emphasized how stiff and sterile the others were.
The prose was very readable, if I forgot that it was supposed to be a journal, and I feel like the story had much more potential than it ultimately achieved. I went in expecting an atmospheric emotion, but the atmosphere came only in the last quarter and by that time I couldn't bring myself to care anymore. It would have been improved by losing 100 pages and losing the connections to "The Historian" that brought it down. Rating is rounded up from 2.5 stars.
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