A Talented Man

by Henrietta McKervey

In the vein of Sarah Waters and Patricia Highsmith, a master forger 'discovers' a sequel to Bram Stoker's Dracula ... and will stop at nothing to claim his prize.

Ellis Spender, only son of a once-esteemed society family, believes money, success and the high life are his birthright -- only prevented by a cruel trick of fate.

Struggling to stay ahead of his creditors, the dejected writer decides to forge a sequel to one of the most famous novels of all time, Bram Stoker's Dracula. Its remarkable 'discovery' will create the lifestyle he believes is his due. But as his scheme begins to bear fruit, others who stand to gain become obstacles. And Ellis will stop at nothing to achieve his desires...

A Talented Man is a page-turning literary thriller of deception, forgery ... and murder.

Genres: Fiction

378 pages, Paperback

First published April 2, 2020

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ellis Spender is twenty nine years old, resentful and struggling for cash. His mother Virginia, Lady Spender, has spent much of, what Ellis considers ‘his’ inheritance, paying of the debts of her beloved brother, Freddie Broughton, who has vanished to America to pursue his acting career. All that is left are his belongings, cluttering up his mother’s house, where Ellis lives with her and two paying guests – Patrick Arcourt, who is studying at the Royal London Hospital and Janey Gould, who works at the Lyceum. The fact that Lady Spender has resorted to taking in lodgers, is made more acceptable to her through the fact they are known to her from friends, or family.

One night, Ellis is concerned he is being followed and is approached by Ernest Winsome; thankfully, not a debtor, but an acquaintance of Uncle Freddie. Ernest is looking for some letters, which he wrote to Freddie, which are of a delicate nature. Desperate for money, and enjoying Mr Winsome’s discomfort, Ellis agrees to search through Uncle Freddie’s boxes. His mother, Virginia, grew up with Florence Stoker and a discovery among the boxes of papers, leads him to consider how much a lost sequel to ‘Dracula,’ could bring…

This is an interesting, literary mystery. The characters are intriguing and develop and change through the novel, while the idea of a sequel to Bram Stoker’s most famous novel – and how it can be obtained - is an interesting one. If you enjoy mysteries, with a literary twist, this is sure to be a winner. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.

[Anne Griffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this literary crime novel set in 1930's Britain, just before the outbreak of the second world war. A very clever and exceptionally well written novel, this work uncovers the life and traumas of a very talented con artist, leading him into a darkness he cannot get out of.

[Helen Carolan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A so so read. Ellis Spender grew up in luxury thanks to his family's wealth. Now in 1937 the money is gone. To keep himself in the idle style he has become used to, he hatches a plan to copy the hand-writing of one of his mothers old friends Bram Stoker and fake a sequel to Dracula. He enlists the help of pal Janey but soon realises he will have to stop at nothing to see his book published and himself become rich. An o.k read.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

I recently read, and mostly loved, Joseph O'Connor's Shadowplay. That book fictionalises Bram Stoker's years working behind the scenes at the Lyceum Theatre, speculating on his creative process and particularly the inspirations for Dracula, which he wrote during that time. O'Connor's Stoker is a complex character, neglectful of his family, poisoned by his (probably) repressed homosexuality and enthralled by Henry Irving - the Lyceum's actor-manager and an emotional tyrant. O'Connor's writing made me feel that I understood him though, even if I didn't like him.

Henrietta McKervey's A Talented Man is almost an unintended sequel to Shadowplay, exploring many of the same themes - why writers write, how their lives feed into their art, more (probably) repressed homosexuality - but here the main character is Ellis Spender. Ellis is a failed author with a talent for forgery. Several years after Stoker's death he comes into possession of some correspondence from Stoker's widow and eventually contrives to write a follow-up to Dracula, fake its provenance and flog it as a lost work by the original author. Things do not go to plan and there's some murder and intrigue and lots of talk about the muse.

I liked a lot McKervey's writing here, especially when she channels Stoker in several included excerpts from the faked novel 'The Un-dead Count', but it did suffer for me being read so soon after O'Connor's superior play on the same source material. Unfortunately McKervey never really got me on board with Ellis. He's unlikable, but unlike O'Connor's version of Stoker, there wasn't enough insight into why. This is all happening in the 1930s, so he has had one of those very cold English upbringings of course, and it is inferred has also been sexually abused by his uncle. He's just not either sympathetic enough or villainous enough for you to take a side against. A story like this hangs on you either rooting for him to get caught or get away with it and I wasn't bothered.

So, an interesting read for Dracula fans, but possibly feeding on a corpse that I'd already sucked dry.

[Ciaran McLarnon · Rating 5 out of 5]

In “A Talented Man” Henrietta McKervey effortlessly takes us back to pre-war London (1938) and exquisitely tells the tale of Ellis Spender, a man with connections but short on confidence who emerges from the “wings” to take centre stage as a dark and devious lead character. This dramatic transformation occurs following a not-so-chance encounter with a stranger who previously had a link with Ellis’ rather unpleasant Uncle now based in the US. Further encouragement from the pretty but unattainable lodger Janey, sets Ellis on a path where his real talents flourish but also one where he ultimately gets long overdue vengeance and a good bit more!

The intricately clever story is set in the twilight years of the golden age of theatre in London but has roots in Dublin. It is a fascinating story gracefully told with a great cast of characters. “A Talented Man” is a clever, atmospheric thriller - you will not want to miss this!

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having read Joseph O Connor’s fictional book about Bram Stoker, I was keen to read this book based on him also. Here , we have a young man who has practically no money and is the only so of a socialite who has fallen on hard times. He is an aspiring writer but he has ever been published. When he decides to write a follow up to Dracula I the name of Bram Stoker, he establishes a cunning plan…..types of old paper on an old typewriter and pretends he found it in a bundle of theatre memorabilia. He engages a lodger from his house to help, and when she gets too greedy , he kills her. Will he got caught before he can escape the country?? Thoroughly awful character, with practically no redeeming features.

[Annarella · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gripping and fascinating historical thriller, cleverly written and engrossing.
The historical background is vivid and fascinating, the characters are complex and well thought, the plot grow slowly on you making this book a page turner.
I appreciated how Ellis was written and to read how he change and evolves. There's a lot of character development and the author did a good job.
It's the first book I read by the author and won't surely be the last.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read it at one sitting on a very wet afternoon . A fascinating story a clever idea by the author to base it on Bram Stoker . A thrilling page turner very well constructed it kept the readers attention right up to the final sentence

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Smart blend of Patricia Highsmith with echoes of Bram Stoker and a dash of noir

[Barbsq · Rating 4 out of 5]

I took a bit of time getting into this book - once I got the opportunity to get time to read though it gripped me. A great story with an old fashioned feel. Now I want to read Dracula.

[Kevin O Farrell · Rating 2 out of 5]

the end was good but a bit of a slog to get there.
not a bad read but one i would not read again

[Maeve Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic Read

Loved this. I would recommend it for anyone who loves and has enjoyed Bram Stoker’s original and anyone who enjoyed The Talented Mr Ripley.