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D: Whitby's Darkest Secret
LESS than 3 years after the release of BramStokers novel Dracula, Whitby is tormentedby a diehard fan who sees Dracula as hisrole model; and it isn’t long before womenare being murdered, and the residents ofWhitby are scared to leave their homes.WHEN a young lady from London, who hastravelled to Whitby with her new husband,is targeted, it is a race against time to catchthis cloaked monster before he kills again
289 pages, Paperback
Published October 28, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 28, 2016
What a pleasure to read. The cover is striking and the story grabbed me straight away. The story is told mainly through the perspectives of Victoria, a newlywed who is on her honeymoon with her husband who spends a large amount of time taking care of business matters and D who becomes fixated on Victoria and believes that she feels the same for him. D lives in the shadows, committing the most hideous crimes against women. The book Dracula is his bible, his most prized possession. Then we also get the occasional point of view from Detective Matthews who is tasked with putting a stop to D’s crime sprees but the pressure is mounting on him to get results.
This is the second book I have read by Chris Turnbull both of which have been very different but equally great. The pacing was great. He managed to capture enough suspense to make me hold my breath for the finale. I couldn’t put it down despite my drooping eyes. The characters are well written especially Victoria, I really felt as though I were walking in her shoes rather than reading about her.
This is the second book I have read by Chris Turnbull both of which have been very different but equally great. The pacing was great. He managed to capture enough suspense to make me hold my breath for the finale. I couldn’t put it down despite my drooping eyes. The characters are well written especially Victoria, I really felt as though I were walking in her shoes rather than reading about her.
January 2, 2016
An enjoyable read. I now have a longing to revisit Whitby.
Tom the young boy working at the hotel is my favourite character. An exceptionally polite young man very loveable.
D was something else again, I really did not like him at all, a very scary character who managed to freak me out a little.
I loved the idea of the story based around a first edition of Bram Stokers Dracula. AWESOME. Check it out well worth perusing.
Happy Reading :-)
Tom the young boy working at the hotel is my favourite character. An exceptionally polite young man very loveable.
D was something else again, I really did not like him at all, a very scary character who managed to freak me out a little.
I loved the idea of the story based around a first edition of Bram Stokers Dracula. AWESOME. Check it out well worth perusing.
Happy Reading :-)
February 21, 2016
It’s always rather daunting reading an author’s second book when you’ve loved their first one. There is the whole worry of, will it be as good? Will I go off them and have to find a new favourite? I’m glad to report this was not the case with Chris Turnbull.
I thought the author was brave to change his genre of writing as this does not always work. While his first book was romance, nostalgia, war and time-travel, this book was a gothic, gritty crime novel that I really got my teeth stuck into.
The thing I loved most about this book, apart from the cleverly written characters and overall gothic feeling of Bram Stoker hanging over it, was the fact that the authors had obviously done substantial research. There is nothing worse than a historical fiction book, which has not been properly researched. If you read this book, you’ll feel like you’ve been to Whitby, as if you’ve walked along those same cobbled streets with the breath of the killer at your neck. This is a brave break from his first novel and I think the author is onto a winner, with just the right mix of romantic gothic history and parts that give you the shivers.
I thought the author was brave to change his genre of writing as this does not always work. While his first book was romance, nostalgia, war and time-travel, this book was a gothic, gritty crime novel that I really got my teeth stuck into.
The thing I loved most about this book, apart from the cleverly written characters and overall gothic feeling of Bram Stoker hanging over it, was the fact that the authors had obviously done substantial research. There is nothing worse than a historical fiction book, which has not been properly researched. If you read this book, you’ll feel like you’ve been to Whitby, as if you’ve walked along those same cobbled streets with the breath of the killer at your neck. This is a brave break from his first novel and I think the author is onto a winner, with just the right mix of romantic gothic history and parts that give you the shivers.
February 7, 2017
I'm not really sure what to say about this book. I went in reading this book as the cover and blurb both attracted my attention. But after reading it I was a bit confused as to why there was ever a mention of Bram Stoker's Dracula in it. I thought it may of had a reference to the story but after finishing the book I can't see there is.
There's a murderer on the run in the town of Whitby, women are turning up dead and the police have no clue as to who the murderer is. A women and her husband are enjoying their stay in Whitby when she becomes the next victim. They have to race against time to catch the killer before he strikes again.
I really enjoyed the story, I loved the authors writing style. It pulls you into the story and makes you want to keep reading to find out what will happen next. You can tell the author did a lot of research about the small town of Whitby, as you got the feel for the place and could imagine yourself there.
I had trouble connecting to the characters throughout the story. They didn't really jump put of the page to me.
I am eager to read the next book in the series to see where the author will take the story!
There's a murderer on the run in the town of Whitby, women are turning up dead and the police have no clue as to who the murderer is. A women and her husband are enjoying their stay in Whitby when she becomes the next victim. They have to race against time to catch the killer before he strikes again.
I really enjoyed the story, I loved the authors writing style. It pulls you into the story and makes you want to keep reading to find out what will happen next. You can tell the author did a lot of research about the small town of Whitby, as you got the feel for the place and could imagine yourself there.
I had trouble connecting to the characters throughout the story. They didn't really jump put of the page to me.
I am eager to read the next book in the series to see where the author will take the story!
March 13, 2017
Brilliant. I was lucky enough to meet Chris at a book signing in Telford and I knew as soon as I picked up this book it would be a brilliant read. Each character is unique and wonderfully written. I found it atmospheric and I did at times feel like I was there in Whitby. I'm hoping I might take a trip to see whereabouts a lot of these places are and feel the atmosphere of this cleverly written book. I cannot wait for the second part to this with the terror D leaving and heading to find Victoria. I really did enjoy every page of this book.
April 9, 2017
A beautiful tale of love, false hope and murder. D is utterly deranged and disturbing. He lives in a world of his own making and doesn't follow any rules and has no boundaries. How can anyone save him from himself... maybe that can't.
Chris has a wonderful writing style and manages to envelop you into the time and place of Whitby with endearing ease. Thank you for the ride Chris, I loved it.
Chris has a wonderful writing style and manages to envelop you into the time and place of Whitby with endearing ease. Thank you for the ride Chris, I loved it.
February 25, 2019
I don't often read historical fiction, but the cover and blurb (Whitby and Dracula) caught my attention on this one.
From the beginning of the book, I was transported back in time to join Victoria and her husband, Albert, as they spend a week in Whitby for a belated honeymoon, and for Alberts political career, which leaves Victoria on her own quite often. Victoria is completely unaware that she has caught the attention of a disturbed and dangerous killer, who believes that he is in love with her and that she shares those feelings.
It's a race against time as Detective Matthews tries to catch the killer before Victoria becomes his next victim.
Being told mainly from Victoria and D's points of view, helps you to understand the danger that Victoria is in, as well as adding insight to D's deranged mind. There's also some occasional input from Detective Matthews, and from Tom, a helpful local boy working at the hotel, who Victoria takes a shine to.
The characters are well rounded and believable. My favourite was Tom, who despite being an orphan was a polite and lovable boy.
This book took me on a suspenseful journey into the 1900s and had me walking in Victoria shoes, rather than watching the action at a distance.
(I’m glad I read the prequel, D: Darkest Beginnings: Prequel to Whitby's Darkest Secret, first)
From the beginning of the book, I was transported back in time to join Victoria and her husband, Albert, as they spend a week in Whitby for a belated honeymoon, and for Alberts political career, which leaves Victoria on her own quite often. Victoria is completely unaware that she has caught the attention of a disturbed and dangerous killer, who believes that he is in love with her and that she shares those feelings.
It's a race against time as Detective Matthews tries to catch the killer before Victoria becomes his next victim.
Being told mainly from Victoria and D's points of view, helps you to understand the danger that Victoria is in, as well as adding insight to D's deranged mind. There's also some occasional input from Detective Matthews, and from Tom, a helpful local boy working at the hotel, who Victoria takes a shine to.
The characters are well rounded and believable. My favourite was Tom, who despite being an orphan was a polite and lovable boy.
This book took me on a suspenseful journey into the 1900s and had me walking in Victoria shoes, rather than watching the action at a distance.
(I’m glad I read the prequel, D: Darkest Beginnings: Prequel to Whitby's Darkest Secret, first)
July 1, 2024
I was attracted to this book because I have family in Whitby and many happy memories which were tweaked by some of the beautiful descriptions in this books, from the achy legs and getting out of breath hiking up the 199 steps, to walking around the abbey and along the pier, the fishing boats moored along the River Esk, sadly no longer there now that our fishing industry has died, and the jewellers selling Whitby Jet. So there are a lot of things that I loved in the book. The story, written mostly from three points of view (a fourth towards the end), is quite slow moving with no clear conclusion to the story at the end, so you really need to read the next in the series to find out what happens next. That said, I did enjoy the book, I liked how the author linked the book to Bram Stoker’s Dracula, and I am invested enough in the characters to want to know what happens next. I’ll just be sad to leave Whitby behind for the streets of London!
July 2, 2024
really rather interesting 🤨
Not something I usually read.
But I’m glad I did.
A few little details let it down.
But I really liked the characters.
Liked the plot, and the pace.
I’ll be returning to this one again to reread at some point 👍🏻
Not something I usually read.
But I’m glad I did.
A few little details let it down.
But I really liked the characters.
Liked the plot, and the pace.
I’ll be returning to this one again to reread at some point 👍🏻
January 28, 2018
Full review to follow.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews