A Betrayal in Blood

The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Titan Books #9

by Mark A. Latham

When Sherlock Holmes acquires the fabled 'Dracula Papers', the stage is set for the greatest battle of wits since Reichenbach. Why did five men really pursue an innocent Transylvanian nobleman to the ends of the earth? Who was really behind the murders that would have every man in England whispering 'vampire' for years to come? The detective would have the truth, though he must overcome the genius of Abraham Van Helsing to get it.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Vampires, Historical Mystery, Fantasy, Historical

296 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2017

About the author

Mark A. Latham is a writer, editor, history nerd, proud dogfather, frustrated grunge singer and amateur baker from Staffordshire, UK. An immigrant to rural Nottinghamshire, he lives in a very old house (sadly not haunted), and is still regarded in the village as a foreigner.

Formerly the editor of Games Workshop’s White Dwarf magazine, Mark designs tabletop games, and is an author of strange, fantastical and macabre tales.

Reviews

[TheRavenking · Rating 3 out of 5]

What if count Dracula was actually a good guy? Not the grisly bloodsucker of grim horror tales, just an innocent man who was framed to cover up crimes committed not by supernatural foes but by very human villains. This is the premise behind “A Betrayal In Blood”, and it is an interesting one.

As we know Sherlock Holmes does not believe in the supernatural and when he begins digging into the “Dracula papers”, the documents chronicling the murderous creatures’ acts of terror, he starts noticing that plenty of things just do not make an awful lot of sense. So apparently Dracula is able to shape-shift into various animals, but for some reason he chooses not to use this power when he is in gravest danger under attack by his greatest enemies. Why did the count come to England at all and how did he choose his victims? And for that matter what really happened to the Demeter, the ship he arrived on? Why does the celebrated vampire-hunter Abraham Van Helsing pretend to be Dutch, when he is in fact German?

If you are a vampire aficionado and know Bram Stoker’s classic novel Dracula inside out then you will no doubt enjoy Mark A. Latham’s book very much. If however like me you are a bit rusty on vampire lore and it’s been a while since your last reading of Dracula you might get a bit confused now and then. So wait, who was Renfield again? What was the role of Lord Godalming? How did “The Crew Of Light” originally manage to defeat the master of darkness?

Nonetheless even if you do not know the precise answers to these and other questions there is still a lot to enjoy here; it might seem like a tale of gothic horror on the surface, but this is actually a real detective story, with some of the best bits occurring when Holmes and Watson investigate how it might have been possible for Van Helsing and his associates to fake the existence of vampires. They even staged the killing of a vampire at a cemetery by putting a stake through its heart. Sherlock Holmes demonstrates that this illusion can be achieved by relatively simple means.

If A Betrayal In Blood is a let-down ending with a whimper rather than a bang, it is because once you take the supernatural elements and even the part of the actual blood-sucking away from the Dracula story you are left with only an average series of crimes committed by villains who are not that interesting. Initially Holmes likens Professor Van Helsing to his arch nemesis Moriarty, but in the end he is only a pathetic old man not smart or menacing enough to be a worthwhile spoil for the great detective.

This is still a good solid novel that just lacks the ultimate excitement it promises on the cover.

[Stephen Robert Collins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cry Hale And release the dogs of war the game is a foot.
Sherlock Holmes vs Van Helsing in other side of Dracula.Mycroft does not believe in the undead Vampires are hogwash so why has The Dutchman got away with murder this very different Dracula that Bram Stocker didn't get right
But this not really Holmes but a book about Dracula using SH so he can tell how bad Dracula was.
My point is that another authors have Holmes meet Dracula & one has him as a cousin.
All this book is an author too lazy to write a non fiction book about how Bram did not write a good tale.
Dracula is one of the great 19th century classic books that had ladies fainting but has made mockery of it.
And use Sherlock Holmes to do it.I not say it is not an interesting story but could be lot better if change Van H to Prof.M.
But biggest thing about this if you never read Dracula this complete waste of blood time.
But funniest thing of all was that all I could see was Mel Brooks as Van Helsing from his comedy version of Dracula with Leslie (Naked Gun) Lesaune as Dracula

[Margaret]

Did not finish.

This is the draw back to reading what is possibly a reasonable Sherlock Holmes book just after reading a great one. The enivitable comparison. Found this one too slow and dull compared to "The Adventure of the Deadly Dimensions".

May give a go some other time.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our infatuation for a damned fine mystery often stirs a morbid curiosity of the unknown and encourages many of us to channel our inner detective. We may not rival the greats, particularly when the competition is none other than Sherlock Holmes, but A Betrayal in Blood reinvents a cryptic nemesis to indulge our every whim.

In this embittered tale a familiar legend places innocent lives in jeopardy. Set amid Victorian society, an asylum, and the grandeur of a Transylvanian castle, Doctor Watson narrates the case of the ‘Dracula papers’ as the determined duo investigate the impact of vampirism, allegedly practised by a deceased reclusive nobleman.

How I love it when sinister plots are afoot aiming to foil our intrepid private detectives, especially when those responsible are not to be meddled with. Professor Abraham Van Helsing is one such character. Exuding confidence in both his intelligence and influence, The Dutchman defends his posse’s intervention to stop Dracula (literally dead in his tracks) after an unfortunate young woman could not escape the Count’s wicked motives. He may have led the hunt for the monster responsible but was subsequently accused of murder.

Certain irregularities regarding the murders will rise, along with reports of the undead, causing Sherlock to continue where Scotland Yard’s official involvement ceased as the whole affair remains fantastical. In an unusual spin, a new case is born combining the tale of Count Dracula and the authenticity of classic Sherlock Holmes. Harnessing the keen perception of the great man himself complete with his faithful colleague at his side, they nip at the heels of shifty witnesses until the facts are unveiled and the wicked are held accountable.

"I could tell from the spring in his step and that familiar gleam in his eye that he had the scent of villainy, and would stop at nothing until the wrongdoer was brought to justice."

Unreliable evidence and inconsistent testimony construct a riddle that features timeless fictional celebrities fuelled by fear and a quest for the truth. A worthy and thoroughly obliging addition to the Sherlock archives.

[On a totally random note, by reading this I’ve learned the name ‘Wendy’ (a fleeting character appearance, and of course my own) appeared before JM Barrie’s Peter Pan was published. I didn’t know that, and I only mention it as I’d never heard the name being used in a story around this period before. End of randomness.]

(I received a copy of this title from the publisher and it is my pleasure to provide an unbiased review.)

[Kenneth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thorough grounding in the novel Dracula makes this much easier to follow. If you haven't read it for a while, go back. It's worth it.

[Lucy Lillianne]

Další kousek ze seznamu příběhů Sherlocka Holmese splněn. Tentokrát se děj točí okolo jednoho spisu pojednávajícího o upírech, hraběti Drákulovi, profesoru Van Helsingovi a podobně. Spoustu jmen znám i z jiných projektů, hlavně filmových, takže to bylo docela úsměvné.

Samozřejmě jsem měla tušení (nebo jsem alespoň doufala), že obsah bude reálnějšího rázu, takže všechno dění bude mít racionální vysvětlení a nepůjde o nic paranormálního. Bylo však zábavné číst takto známou legendu spojenou s Sherlockem.

Bavila jsem se a byla tím vším dost zaujatá. Ale velké mínus pro mě bylo sledovat všechny ty krůčky a logické myšlenky. Vysvětlování jednání postav, co se stalo, detektivovy domněnky. Detaily se neustále měnily, až jsem se v tom ztrácela a především jsem nestíhala držet krok v přehlednosti toho, kdo je nebo není záporák...

Nicméně konečné vysvětlení zapadlo na místo a vzhledem k tomu, že tajemství se do konce udržovalo minimum, spousta drobností byla jasná a odhalitelná postupně. Co se týče vypravování, postupu a vyústění, jsem velice spokojená. Dávalo to smysl a bylo to výborně promyšlené. Jen občas ten postup byl trochu náročnější skrz udržení pozornosti a přehlednosti.

[Ally · Rating 4 out of 5]

For someone who studied Dracula extensively in college and who currently consumes anything related to Sherlock Holmes, my honest opinion is that this story was very compelling and overall a good read. Took me about six months to actually sit down and read it after I initially bought it and tried reading for the first time, but whatever. Still made it. Still counts.

Truthfully, reading Dracula before reading this book helped immensely. Otherwise, the clues and characters and stories that Sherlock and Watson go through probably mean nothing to you. It's a cool cross-over fiction with the greatest literary detective of all time trying to solve the story of the greatest literary supernatural creature of all time, and if you haven't read Dracula and aren't that familiar with Sherlock Holmes, then this might be less interesting to you than it was for me, or anyone else in that vain.

That being said, the story of Dracula lends itself to being solved because it claims a Transylvanian vampire is wreaking havoc on the citizens of London, and even though Bram Stoker wrote it so that Dracula is literally a vampire, and not simply metaphorically or figuratively, A Betrayal in Blood delves into the question: what if Dracula hadn't actually been a vampire, and something had gone horribly wrong that his existence had to be spun thusly? What if "killing vampires" was actually a cover-up for meticulously planned murders? This idea certainly intrigues Sherlock Holmes, and thus the plot of this book has its launch pad.

No more details need to be given for this story or else too much can be given away. I would definitely recommend this book to any fans of Dracula and Sherlock who are looking for a sufficient hybrid of both: the compelling and intricate mystery of a Holmes story written similarly to the style of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and a visit back to the characters of Bram Stoker's imagination from a different perspective, and the (at least in literature) immortal Count Dracula.

[Richard Marman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Titan Books has released a number of Sherlock Holmes titles by several authors. Mark Latham has a good job of recreating a Dr Watson narrative un-raveling the TRUTH of the Dracula papers. Firstly if you haven't read Bram Stoker's original book, you won't have a clue what's going on in 'Betrayal by Blood'. If you have, you'll see Latham has great fun cherry-picking ideas from both Stoker and Arthur Conan Doyle. The text is written in Victorian/Edwardian prose without being too florid and long-winded. Fans of period crime procedural novels will enjoy this book. I think I'll try some of the other titles in the Titan Books collection.

[Eric Butler · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a sucker for a good Sherlock Holmes book, even more so when it's a crossover with another fictional/time-appropriate character. This is my 3rd or 4th Sherlock/Dracula crossover and while I enjoyed the premise, I wasn't in love with the writer's take on Holmes & Watson (or possibly his style of writing these characters?).

It wasn't a complete waste as I completed it. And honestly, there were times when I felt like the book was moving toward the right direction, but then after a bit, it swerved back.

So the idea is what if Dracula wasn't a vampire, but some dude that Van Helsing murdered? That's an interesting and new take and then to insert Sherlock and Watson...should have been a win-win. As a Holmes fan, I want to read everything so in that context, this works towards that. That said I won't be revisiting this book. If you like either Dracula or the world of Holmes, I'd suggest giving it a look. But if you are just interested in reading a Holmes novel, there are so many more worth looking at.

[Dale · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a Holmes/Dracula File with a stunning twist!

It was probably destiny that people would connect the World’s Greatest Detective and the World’s Worst Vampire as they occur at the same period in time. The meeting of the two has been explored by more than one author. Some follow the tale of Dracula closely, guided by the times when it would have been logical to find Holmes involved.

After all there was a Police investigation into the case of the children harmed by “The Bloofer Lady.” The incident even made it into the papers, and any Holmes aficionado knows how Holmes devoured any strange report in the papers! That alone would have sent Holmes on the hunt.

What makes this story different is the choice of villain. What if Dracula wasn’t evil? What if he wasn’t even a vampire? What is the story were carefully contrived to cover up a murder…

Holmes finds himself faced with an implacable foe, one who has wealth and influence. Holmes may suspect the truth behind the “Dracula Papers,” but being able to bring the truth to court where the bad guys would face justice is something else altogether…

The battle takes place through all the landmarks made famous in the novel by Bram Stoker. Transylvania, Whitby, Doctor Seward’s Asylum, Carfax, the home of Lucy Westenra, the Law Office where Jonathan Harker worked, the sailing ship Demeter—all of these places feature in this unique tale! The story even ends in the same place as Dracula—Transylvania!

I liked this tale a lot! I give the book five stars!

Quoth the Raven…

[A.L. Bellettiere · Rating 2 out of 5]

I went into A Betrayal in Blood intrigued by the premise—Sherlock Holmes investigating the truth behind Dracula sounded like a fascinating concept. Mark A. Latham clearly understands Holmes as a character; his portrayal feels authentic, and the detective's strategic mind is well-captured. However, where the book falls apart is in its execution.

Rather than allowing the mystery to unfold naturally, Latham spoon-feeds information to the reader, making deductions feel less like a challenge to follow and more like a preordained script. Doyle never treated his audience as if they needed hand-holding, yet here, much of the intrigue is undercut by an over-explanatory narrative structure. It often felt as though the book didn't trust the reader to think for themselves, which detracted from what should have been an engaging mystery.

There was a glimmer of promise when meeting Lord Godalming’s wife—I briefly felt as if I were reading a true Holmes story. But that moment was short-lived, and as the book leaned deeper into deconstructing Dracula rather than crafting an original mystery, my doubts only grew stronger.

Perhaps with a more measured approach, this could have been an engaging pastiche. But as it stands, A Betrayal in Blood took an interesting idea and rendered it lifeless, leaving me ultimately disinterested in finishing the book.

Would I recommend it? Only if you’re deeply invested in Holmes pastiches that deconstruct classic literature. Otherwise, I’d suggest sticking to Doyle’s original works.

[Jonathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Betrayal in blood is by no means a completely original concept, there have been many Sherlock Holmes investigating the Dracula mystery pastiches, but this effort is a well thought out idea. Certain concepts are great and work well, especially the portrayal of the famous count and his nemesis Van Helsing. However, there is still an air of familiarity to the tale that unfolds.
Some Dracula enthusiasts may become irritated by the novels main theme; indeed, I was slightly annoyed myself. The problem is that the novel becomes almost like a creative assassination of Bram Stokers original book. The main concept is to use the discrepancies and minor plot errors in the classic tale to back up the theory that Van Helsing’s, and his adventurous band of friends account, may be false. It seems a bit harsh and disrespectful at times.
Despite its flaws, this novel is still engaging and fun at times. I would certainly say It has original ideas, which helps to make it a fresher walk down a well-worn path.

[Terence · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are no such things as vampires.

Therefore, when Mycroft Holmes sends his brother the "Dracula Papers" a few months after the events recounted therein, it is in the clear hope that the Great Detective will take up the case and discover the truth behind the deaths of Lucy Westenra, Quincey Morris, Peter Hawkins, Renfield and the notorious "King of the Un-Dead" himself, Dracula. The game is afoot, and soon Holmes and Watson are knee deep in a convoluted scheme of extortion, murder & revenge orchestrated by the "good doctor" Van Helsing.

I was delightfully surprised at how much I enjoyed reading this book. Make no mistake, A Betrayal in Blood is brain candy but it's well written brain candy. Latham captures Holmes' and Watson's characters, and successfully recasts those of Bram Stoker's Dracula in a believably sinister light.

If you're a fan of Conan Doyle and/or Stoker, and are looking for an undemanding, enjoyable mystery, then I'd recommend this book without reserve.

[Michael Brown · Rating 1 out of 5]

This series of new Holmes stories has a history of hits and misses. The concept for this book of Holmes treating Bran Stoker's Dracula as a series of crimes was interesting so I picked it up at the library. But Latham has rewritten much of the info from the book to suit his concept of the original inconsistences to support his tale. In addition he has Holmes from the very first spouting threats and accusations against almost all of the characters. In Doyle's works, Holmes very seldom accused people from the start of a tale or even long into one. He looked for clues and evidence even when at the end he might admit that he "suspected" so and so from the start. Latham has rewritten Holmes' personality as have others with this series. But this time the trend has gone too far. He has also turned Dracula into a hero and the other characters into monsters. This will count as one of the 'misses' in this series.

[Mabji · Rating 5 out of 5]

Großartig!
Diese Art die klassische Dracula-Geschichte in einen Fall für Sherlock Holmes zu nutzen war einfach nur fantastisch. Ich selbst habe die Originalgeschichte von Bram Stroker nie gelesen, kannte also nur hier und da ein paar Fakten aus Alltagsanspielungen.
Das machte jedoch gar nichts. Alles Wichtige wurde immer gut dagelegt und um ehrlich zu sein habe ich nun sogar Lust bekommen den alten Wälzer mal in Angriff zu nehmen.
Ich will hier nicht zu genau ins Detail gehen, aber mit dieser Endlösung für all die Ereignisse hätte ich nie gerechnet, auch wenn natürlich sofort klar war, dass Graf Dracula natürlich kein Vamipr war.
Ich kann nur eine klare Leseempfehlung aussprechen!!

[Elle Hartford · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will say, it helps to read (or re-read) Dracula before you read this book; even though everything is explained and you could follow along without having read Dracula at all, they do get into the nitty-gritty of some of the accounts in Dracula. In some ways, this book reads a bit like someone picking apart the superhero (or supervillain, I suppose, in Dracula's case?) movie while leaving the theater. But that isn't a bad thing in this case, because all those small points do come together to make for a good story! I enjoyed the book and above all appreciated the fact that the author's love & respect for not only Holmes but Watson as well comes through in the details.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sherlock Holmes has tackled Dracula before, in other works, but never like this....
It's 1894 and the news of a Transylvanian Nobleman's death at the hands of Professor Van Helsing is the talk of London.
The Dracula Papers have been published and Van Helsing has been acquitted of any wrong doing. (The Dracula Papers are basically the Novel Dracula, as we know it)
Holmes's brother asks he and Watson investigate to find out what really happened...
A knowledge of the Novel Dracula is a help, in enjoying this one.
I really liked it. Though Holmes does poke holes in many plot points of the original Dracula. And the heroes of the Novel come off much different here......
Great fun.

[Jota Houses · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unas ingeniosa subversión de Dracula en forma de pastiche Holmesiano que, con mucho cariño, conocimiento y respeto hacia ambos universos victorianos utiliza todas las inconsistencias y fantasmadas de la novela gótica para permitir al frío investigador de la calle Baker encontrar una explicación alternativa y alejada de lo sobrenatural en la que toda la historia de vampiros no es más que una elaborada estratagema con la que ocultar el asesinato de un pobre noble Transilvano por parte de malvado profesor Van Helsing. Bien construida y bastante entretenida, exige conocer las obras en las que se basa y le falta un poco de alma.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good mystery for those who like the Dracula story. This novel tied in some of the same events from the Dracula story with only one exception. Van Helsing was the villain in this story. Holmes has to match wits with the illustrious Van Helsing. The timeline of this story runs after the death of Dracula and after the Dracula papers are released, showing a supposedly supernatural horror that was brought to justice. In this story, Dracula is the victim of revenge after Van Helsing’s machinations surface.

[Janice · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was kind of like an extended version of one of those videos about the plot holes in the latest blockbuster movie. Only about a book. One of the guys at work read this on my recommendation for the series. He liked it, but hasn't read Dracula, so said he felt like he was missing some. You probably will get a little more out of this one if you have read Dracula, but still well worth the read.

[Kati · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tato kniha vyžadovala vskutku zevrubné znalosti Drákuly. A tím nemyslím jenom hlavní obrysy příběhu, nýbrž povědomí i o těch nejpodružnějších postavách a jejich osudu ve Stokerově knize. A jelikož já takovými znalostmi neoplývala, měla jsem pocit, jako by mě někdo hodil rovnou doprostřed rozjetého příběhu, ve kterém všichni vědí, o co jde, jenom já tápu. Důsledkem bylo, že ačkoli nebyla kniha vůbec špatně napsaná, připadala mi spíše jako rozbor Drákuly, než jako samostatný příběh.

[Christopher Lutz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I definitely should’ve read Dracula before attempting to read this book. It’s well constructed and has a satisfying conclusion, but having to learn about all the players of the Dracula narrative and their fantastical motivations in addition to Holmes’s debunking of it into a criminal conspiracy was too complex for me. I got the general idea but if I was already familiar with those characters it would’ve been so much better.

[Meredith Miyake · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely a worthwhile read for any Holmes and Stoker fan. Some fun twists and thrilling action. Not really a Holmesian Mystery, per se, but pretty intriguing throughout. The most fun part is the faithfulness to the source material in Stoker's work. I read it and I completely believe that this is how things could have turned out in the circumstances.

[-Curious- · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received as gift and was skeptical as to how Dracula could be sensibly dealt with in a Sherlock book.

I was surprised at how well it was handled and enjoyed it a lot...first book I've read in quite awhile that I was having trouble putting it down.

Mark Latham has become a favorite among the authors in this series.

Recommended.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

“No ghosts need apply.” So says Sherlock Holmes in “The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire.”

The Holmes brothers don’t believe in the supernatural, so when Mycroft sends Sherlock the Dracula Papers – the official records of Prof. Abraham van Helsing & company, detailing their fight against the vampire, Count Dracula, the previous year, the Great Detective knows there’s something not being told. So off he goes, Watson in tow, to investigate what really happened.

Being a lover of both Sherlock Holmes and Bram Stoker’s Dracula (which I’ve read more times than I can remember), I’ve read several books combine both. This one, however, was a bit different. You see, as Holmes digs deeper past the lies and obfuscations thrown in his path by van Helsing and the rest of his cadre of fearless vampire hunters, it’s looking more and more like his instincts against something supernatural having taken place the previous year are correct.

But if Count Dracula wasn’t the villain of the piece, if he wasn’t some long undead vampire, then what really happened…and why?

Mark Latham’s book is an enjoyable mystery, and a good blending of two of fiction’s most famous characters in a well thought out mystery. Although we never meet Dracula (he is, after all, dead when the story opens), he is a major secondary character throughout. I also found for me at least, that it helped to be familiar with Stoker’s novel to fully appreciate what the author has done with it.

I give A Betrayal in Blood a sold four-star rating.

[PATRICIA KUNA · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a pretty good book.
Sherlock Holmes and Watson need to figure out all this business of Count Dracula and Van Helsing.

Several other people are part of this mystery and are involved with The Count and Van Helsing.

Some people in this book do die.

Sherlock and Watson go from one place to another to figure out what is happening.

I will read more of this series.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spotted this at the UK Ghost Story Festival and grabbed it; I read both Dracula and every Sherlock Holmes story I could find in high school, and this was the crossover I never knew I needed. The book didn't disappoint. Satisfying voice for Watson and Holmes, and a brilliant reexamination of the facts of the Dracula novel. Would recommend.

[Calvin Daniels · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have loved the series, and this is as good as it gets.

Very fresh take on the Dracula story.

Detailed mystery that worked wonderfully.

Only weakness was the sort of anticlimactic ending. A concealed weapon on a prisoner always rings unlikely.

[Emerch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now this was intriguing one! Event's of the classic vampire tale Dracula has just ended when Holmes is brought to the case. Sherlock Holmes doesn't believe in vampires. If so, who is behind of all the bloody murders?

[Jose Gomez-Rivera · Rating 2 out of 5]

Messing with Legend

I am not a revisionist in iconic literary characters. There is something profoundly disappointing in this book. The writing is acceptable and the story fast paced but it is too iconoclastic by far to suit my tastes.