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The Dead Travel Fast
A husband, a family, a comfortable life: Theodora Lestrange lives in terror of it all. With a modest inheritance and the three gowns that comprise her entire wardrobe, Theodora leaves Edinburgh--and a disappointed suitor--far behind. She is bound for Rumania, where tales of vampires are still whispered, to visit an old friend and write the book that will bring her true independence.
She arrives at a magnificent, decaying castle in the Carpathians, replete with eccentric inhabitants: the ailing dowager; the troubled steward; her own fearful friend, Cosmina. But all are outstripped in dark glamour by the castle's master, Count Andrei Dragulescu.
Bewildering and bewitching in equal measure, the brooding nobleman ignites Theodora's imagination and awakens passions in her that she can neither deny nor conceal. His allure is superlative, his dominion over the superstitious town, absolute--Theodora may simply be one more person under his sway.
Before her sojourn is ended--or her novel completed--Theodora will have encountered things as strange and terrible as they are seductive. For obsession can prove fatal...and she is in danger of falling prey to more than desire.
She arrives at a magnificent, decaying castle in the Carpathians, replete with eccentric inhabitants: the ailing dowager; the troubled steward; her own fearful friend, Cosmina. But all are outstripped in dark glamour by the castle's master, Count Andrei Dragulescu.
Bewildering and bewitching in equal measure, the brooding nobleman ignites Theodora's imagination and awakens passions in her that she can neither deny nor conceal. His allure is superlative, his dominion over the superstitious town, absolute--Theodora may simply be one more person under his sway.
Before her sojourn is ended--or her novel completed--Theodora will have encountered things as strange and terrible as they are seductive. For obsession can prove fatal...and she is in danger of falling prey to more than desire.
309 pages, Paperback
First published February 16, 2010
216 people are currently reading
2837 people want to read
About the author
Deanna Raybourn
40 books9,423 followersNew York Times and USA Today bestselling novelist Deanna Raybourn is a 6th-generation native Texan. She graduated with a double major in English and history from the University of Texas at San Antonio. Married to her college sweetheart and the mother of one, Raybourn makes her home in Virginia. Her novels have been nominated for numerous awards including two RT Reviewers’ Choice awards, the Agatha, two Dilys Winns, a Last Laugh, three du Mauriers, and most recently the 2019 Edgar Award for Best Novel. She launched a new Victorian mystery series with the 2015 release of A CURIOUS BEGINNING, featuring intrepid butterfly-hunter and amateur sleuth, Veronica Speedwell. Veronica has returned in several more adventures, most recently AN IMPOSSIBLE IMPOSTOR, book seven, which released in early 2022. Deanna's first contemporary novel, KILLERS OF A CERTAIN AGE, about four female assassins on the cusp of retirement publishes in September 2022. (Please note: Deanna is not active on GR.)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 533 reviews
December 29, 2009
Can we PLEASE go back to the original cover style for her books so I'm not embarrassed to buy them?
April 27, 2019
Not quite 3 stars, but rounding up for the gothic atmosphere.
This is an homage to Dracula and Northanger Abbey, and I think anyone who enjoyed both of those books would enjoy this one as well. It started out as quite an enjoyable read, but then it lost me somewhere along the way inside the creepy castle and the vampire mystery that just wouldn't end.
Also, am not a fan of vampires or sweeping Victorian romances. However, I am a big fan of creepy castles, chilling folklore, and cold desolate settings. So the highs and the lows kind of evened out.
I really like the Veronica Speedwell series by Deanna Raybourn, especially the latest one, A Dangerous Collaboration, with its gothic tone and gloomy mystery. So I was in the mood for a similar book. The Dead Travel Fast wasn't quite what I was looking for, but it was interesting enough to pass the time.
This is an homage to Dracula and Northanger Abbey, and I think anyone who enjoyed both of those books would enjoy this one as well. It started out as quite an enjoyable read, but then it lost me somewhere along the way inside the creepy castle and the vampire mystery that just wouldn't end.
Also, am not a fan of vampires or sweeping Victorian romances. However, I am a big fan of creepy castles, chilling folklore, and cold desolate settings. So the highs and the lows kind of evened out.
I really like the Veronica Speedwell series by Deanna Raybourn, especially the latest one, A Dangerous Collaboration, with its gothic tone and gloomy mystery. So I was in the mood for a similar book. The Dead Travel Fast wasn't quite what I was looking for, but it was interesting enough to pass the time.
March 9, 2010
Frankly I was kind of disappointed in this. It was well-written and nicely atmospheric, but I never really liked either of the main characters and found the plot unconvincing. I found her weirdly modern in outlook, and him...? All my least favorite alpha traits embodied. Other than his supposed cuteness/hotness/money/position I couldn't see why any woman would find him a catch. Controlling? Vaguely abusive? Selfish? Opium addict? My reaction: YUCK!
It was weirdly reminiscent of Jane Eyre to me, with lots of victorian dialogue. The 'gothicness' of it felt like victorian and modern sensibilities were fighting together, I kept being pulled out of the story. But she is a good writer, and it could have been done much worse, by a lesser author. That's why I gave it 3 stars.
I think it would work better for many readers than it did for me. (I have oddball reactions and often dislike books everyone else seems to love, so don't let me talk you out of it.)
I liked the 'Silent' series much better and am looking forward to the new one coming out.
It was weirdly reminiscent of Jane Eyre to me, with lots of victorian dialogue. The 'gothicness' of it felt like victorian and modern sensibilities were fighting together, I kept being pulled out of the story. But she is a good writer, and it could have been done much worse, by a lesser author. That's why I gave it 3 stars.
I think it would work better for many readers than it did for me. (I have oddball reactions and often dislike books everyone else seems to love, so don't let me talk you out of it.)
I liked the 'Silent' series much better and am looking forward to the new one coming out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 19, 2015
Una historia original basada en el mito de los vampiros, en la misteriosa Transilvana de 1860. Un relato donde no todo es lo que parece, y donde el amor y la muerte se dan la mano. Una lectura muy recomendable.
June 12, 2020
2020 Summer Clearance Special
This is the summer that I read from my own shelves, hopefully clearing some space there. During this quarantine period I have been adding to the problem, as I've been on a bit of a book buying spree. This one is only copyrighted in 2010, but was already unavailable except in the used book trade. I spent far too much on postage, but I'm glad to have it.
I can certainly tell that this is one of Raybourn's earlier works. It is well written, but she has improved in the last ten years. Still, I enjoyed this novel, a cross between a Dracula-like tale and a Gothic romance similar to a Victoria Holt story. I think if she was writing it today she might structure things differently with regard to the mystery. I am ambivalent about the ending. I know that it is the result that most readers desire, but I prefer the unexpected and I thought I was getting it until the last few pages. I'm a tiny bit disappointed, but it was still a great read.
The verdict? This book gets to stay, at least until I read it one more time.
This is the summer that I read from my own shelves, hopefully clearing some space there. During this quarantine period I have been adding to the problem, as I've been on a bit of a book buying spree. This one is only copyrighted in 2010, but was already unavailable except in the used book trade. I spent far too much on postage, but I'm glad to have it.
I can certainly tell that this is one of Raybourn's earlier works. It is well written, but she has improved in the last ten years. Still, I enjoyed this novel, a cross between a Dracula-like tale and a Gothic romance similar to a Victoria Holt story. I think if she was writing it today she might structure things differently with regard to the mystery. I am ambivalent about the ending. I know that it is the result that most readers desire, but I prefer the unexpected and I thought I was getting it until the last few pages. I'm a tiny bit disappointed, but it was still a great read.
The verdict? This book gets to stay, at least until I read it one more time.
March 1, 2010
For the last couple of weeks I've been obsessively checking my local bookstore's stock online to see if Deanna Raybourn's THE DEAD TRAVEL FAST just happened to get in early. Yes, I actually am that nerdy and it's much too late to do anything about it. But, in this case, the effort paid off as a nice, healthy stack of them awaited me on the "New Fiction" table when I dashed in from the rain on my way home from work. As you know, I am a devoted Lady Julia Grey fan. I adore that series and am anxiously awaiting the upcoming fourth installment--Dark Road to Darjeeling--due out this October. But when I heard she was working on a standalone historical set in Transylvania and featuring a would-be lady novelist and a mysterious count...well...I was equal parts intrigued and excited. Who knew what delights and promises it would hold?
Miss Theodora LeStrange has come to the end of her rope. When her grandfather and guardian passes away, her well-meaning if rather insipid brother-in-law takes it upon himself to determine what exactly is to be done with her. Terrified of what he will come up with, Theodora grasps at the nearest straw in the form of a letter from her old school friend Cosmina who now resides at Castle Dragulescu in Transylvania. She invites Theodora to come and stay in celebration of her approaching nuptials. A budding novelist, Theodora convinces her friend and publisher Charles Beecroft the experience will serve to inspire her imagination and fuel the novel she knows is lurking inside just waiting to be brought forth. Against their better judgement, her family and friends let her go and the adventure of a lifetime begins. Upon arrival Theodora is reunited with Cosmina and introduced to the aging Countess and her mysterious son--the newly appointed Count. In a land where the sinister is a daily occurrence and the horrifying merely commonplace, Theodora's imagination is more than stimulated. It is driven into overdrive as her Scottish pragmatism wars with the inexplicable and increasingly nightmarish events unfolding in this small Roumanian village at the edge of the world.
This was such an interesting read. It was at times exactly and not at all what I expected and my response to it evolved as the pages turned. I liked Theodora from the beginning. She is much more pragmatic, yet somehow less sure of herself than Julia Grey and I wondered how she would handle the--what seemed to me--clearly supernatural events at Castle Dragulescu. But just when you (and she) think you have the story and Count Andrei figured out, the narrative takes a meditative turn and you find yourself not at all sure. Perhaps it is merely smoke and mirrors and can all be explained away by an ancient grudge, a marital infidelity, or a genetic predisposition. And so the tale winds on, weaving back and forth between the mundane and the spectacular, never revealing its secrets. At first I was impatient to discover the truth, but it was when I gave myself up to the story that I enjoyed Deanna Raybourn's wonderfully gifted way with words. I was amazed at how seamless the writing and the dialogue were. Initially I wanted to like Andrei as much as I do Brisbane, but he is an entirely different breed of alpha male and not nearly as instantly likable. But he isn't meant to be, I don't think. Much more Rochester than Thornton from the word go. And once again, it was when I sat back and let it wash over me that I really was able to appreciate this novel for what it is--a pitch-perfect Victorian Gothic romance. And the ending was perfect. What a talent for endings Ms. Raybourn has and how much I look forward to each of her books--whatever style or genre they may be.
A Note: For Lady Julia Grey aficionados, there is a delightful little reference to that series hidden in THE DEAD TRAVEL FAST. It left a happily satisfied smile on my face. See if you can spot it.
Miss Theodora LeStrange has come to the end of her rope. When her grandfather and guardian passes away, her well-meaning if rather insipid brother-in-law takes it upon himself to determine what exactly is to be done with her. Terrified of what he will come up with, Theodora grasps at the nearest straw in the form of a letter from her old school friend Cosmina who now resides at Castle Dragulescu in Transylvania. She invites Theodora to come and stay in celebration of her approaching nuptials. A budding novelist, Theodora convinces her friend and publisher Charles Beecroft the experience will serve to inspire her imagination and fuel the novel she knows is lurking inside just waiting to be brought forth. Against their better judgement, her family and friends let her go and the adventure of a lifetime begins. Upon arrival Theodora is reunited with Cosmina and introduced to the aging Countess and her mysterious son--the newly appointed Count. In a land where the sinister is a daily occurrence and the horrifying merely commonplace, Theodora's imagination is more than stimulated. It is driven into overdrive as her Scottish pragmatism wars with the inexplicable and increasingly nightmarish events unfolding in this small Roumanian village at the edge of the world.
This was such an interesting read. It was at times exactly and not at all what I expected and my response to it evolved as the pages turned. I liked Theodora from the beginning. She is much more pragmatic, yet somehow less sure of herself than Julia Grey and I wondered how she would handle the--what seemed to me--clearly supernatural events at Castle Dragulescu. But just when you (and she) think you have the story and Count Andrei figured out, the narrative takes a meditative turn and you find yourself not at all sure. Perhaps it is merely smoke and mirrors and can all be explained away by an ancient grudge, a marital infidelity, or a genetic predisposition. And so the tale winds on, weaving back and forth between the mundane and the spectacular, never revealing its secrets. At first I was impatient to discover the truth, but it was when I gave myself up to the story that I enjoyed Deanna Raybourn's wonderfully gifted way with words. I was amazed at how seamless the writing and the dialogue were. Initially I wanted to like Andrei as much as I do Brisbane, but he is an entirely different breed of alpha male and not nearly as instantly likable. But he isn't meant to be, I don't think. Much more Rochester than Thornton from the word go. And once again, it was when I sat back and let it wash over me that I really was able to appreciate this novel for what it is--a pitch-perfect Victorian Gothic romance. And the ending was perfect. What a talent for endings Ms. Raybourn has and how much I look forward to each of her books--whatever style or genre they may be.
A Note: For Lady Julia Grey aficionados, there is a delightful little reference to that series hidden in THE DEAD TRAVEL FAST. It left a happily satisfied smile on my face. See if you can spot it.
April 7, 2010
First Sentence: All proper stories begin with the words Once upon a time….
Theodroa Lastrange travels to a castle in the Carpathian Mountains at the invitation of her school-days friend, Cosmina. There she finds an old castle, an aristocratic family, and a count to whom she is inexplicably and inexorably attracted. She also finds superstition and dark tales of werewolves and be involved in the destruction of an alleged vampire.
My feelings, about this book, changed almost page to page and my rating oscillated from “Good” to “Not Recommended.” My problem wasn’t that this was very different from the Lady Jane Grey series; I was prepared for this to be completely different. I like gothic. When done well, it can be wonderful. When done badly, it crosses over into being melodramatic. For much of this book, I found the latter to be true.
My problem was the writing itself. Parts of the story are very good; wonderfully written, touching, emotionally and thoroughly engrossing. However, in other parts of the story, I found myself rolling my eyes and wondering what Ms. Raybourn had been thinking.
It is difficult when you read first for character, and the only character you really feel any affinity for is a secondary character, Charles. I truly disliked that the protagonist was named Theodora Lastrange; how cliché can one possibly be. It may be a small thing, but was so trite; it nearly caused me to stop reading immediately. Than rather than Ms. Lastrange being gutsy and independent, there was a wimpishness about her, particularly in her attraction to the Count.
Even with my issues with the characters, it was the plot which let me down. The plot was rife with anachronisms, clichés and coincidences. However, on the plus side, there were some scenes that were very well done, I personally like the inclusion of references to and the poetry of Baudelaire, Les Fleurs du Mal being a particular favorite of mine, and I particularly appreciate her explanation for some of the “supernatural’ events.
All this being said, it wasn’t a terrible book. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a good book either. Having read Ms. Raybourn’s other books, I believe much of my disappointment comes from knowing she is a much better writer than this would indicate.
THE DEAD TRAVEL FAST (Gothic/Susp-Theodora Lastrange-Transylvania-Victorian/1858) – Okay
Raybourn, Deanna – Standalone
Mira, 2010, Trade paperback – ISBN: 9780778327653
Theodroa Lastrange travels to a castle in the Carpathian Mountains at the invitation of her school-days friend, Cosmina. There she finds an old castle, an aristocratic family, and a count to whom she is inexplicably and inexorably attracted. She also finds superstition and dark tales of werewolves and be involved in the destruction of an alleged vampire.
My feelings, about this book, changed almost page to page and my rating oscillated from “Good” to “Not Recommended.” My problem wasn’t that this was very different from the Lady Jane Grey series; I was prepared for this to be completely different. I like gothic. When done well, it can be wonderful. When done badly, it crosses over into being melodramatic. For much of this book, I found the latter to be true.
My problem was the writing itself. Parts of the story are very good; wonderfully written, touching, emotionally and thoroughly engrossing. However, in other parts of the story, I found myself rolling my eyes and wondering what Ms. Raybourn had been thinking.
It is difficult when you read first for character, and the only character you really feel any affinity for is a secondary character, Charles. I truly disliked that the protagonist was named Theodora Lastrange; how cliché can one possibly be. It may be a small thing, but was so trite; it nearly caused me to stop reading immediately. Than rather than Ms. Lastrange being gutsy and independent, there was a wimpishness about her, particularly in her attraction to the Count.
Even with my issues with the characters, it was the plot which let me down. The plot was rife with anachronisms, clichés and coincidences. However, on the plus side, there were some scenes that were very well done, I personally like the inclusion of references to and the poetry of Baudelaire, Les Fleurs du Mal being a particular favorite of mine, and I particularly appreciate her explanation for some of the “supernatural’ events.
All this being said, it wasn’t a terrible book. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a good book either. Having read Ms. Raybourn’s other books, I believe much of my disappointment comes from knowing she is a much better writer than this would indicate.
THE DEAD TRAVEL FAST (Gothic/Susp-Theodora Lastrange-Transylvania-Victorian/1858) – Okay
Raybourn, Deanna – Standalone
Mira, 2010, Trade paperback – ISBN: 9780778327653
July 26, 2016
A twist on the old Dracula legends? Or is there something else going on here? Theodora Lestrange's childhood school mate Cosmina is set to marry a distant cousin, Count Andrei Dragulescu, at his castle high in the Carpathian Mountains. Theodora is soon swept up into a web of intrigue and mystery over Andrei's dead father (do the dead walk at night?), a local villager who disappears into the forest to howl at the full moon (or does he?), a maid found dead with the marks of a vampire's fangs (or is it something else?) and more.
Of course the ever so sensuous Count has no interest in his betrothed but can't keep his hands and lips off our heroine. Will she succumb to his charms? And if she does, will those be kisses she receives or something more sinister? Is he one of the Strigoi or is it all smoke and mirrors?
Well you know I'm not telling. This was a light, easy-breezy read with plenty of creepy moments that kept me guessing at the mystery until almost the last pages. Theodora was just spunky and intelligent enough without going OTT in modern behavior and as for Andrei? I wouldn't mind having one of him for my own. I have to admit to being one of the few people left on the planet who haven't yet read Raybourn's other books, so I don't have those books to compare to as other reviewers have done. Three stars.
Of course the ever so sensuous Count has no interest in his betrothed but can't keep his hands and lips off our heroine. Will she succumb to his charms? And if she does, will those be kisses she receives or something more sinister? Is he one of the Strigoi or is it all smoke and mirrors?
Well you know I'm not telling. This was a light, easy-breezy read with plenty of creepy moments that kept me guessing at the mystery until almost the last pages. Theodora was just spunky and intelligent enough without going OTT in modern behavior and as for Andrei? I wouldn't mind having one of him for my own. I have to admit to being one of the few people left on the planet who haven't yet read Raybourn's other books, so I don't have those books to compare to as other reviewers have done. Three stars.
February 26, 2010
This was a truly perfect book.
It had all of my favorite elements of a neo-Victorian Gothic--the impoverished gentlewoman seeking to make her way in life; the mysterious, sensual young count that catches her eye; mysterious deaths; superstitious locals; and a fraught relationship to the past.
Theodora is an orphan, and her grandfather has recently died as well. When her schoolfriend, Cosima, invites her to Transylvania to be a guest at Cosima's wedding to the local count, Theodora views it as a handy escape. She's a writer, and she knows from Cosima's childhood stories that Transylvania will provide fertile ground for her imagination. Also, she'd rather not live with her sister and brother-in-law, who are expecting their fifth child.
Upon her arrival at the castle, Theodora is thrilled with the magnificent setting, and her writing takes off. She is troubled that Cosima's wedding has been called off, and Theodora is even more disturbed when she realizes just how attracted she is to the count.
In true Gothic fashion, secrets from the past continue to haunt the present. Was the current count's father so evil that he rose from the grave as strigoi? Why did the count's father and grandfather hate each other so deeply? What secrets of love and passion will drive these characters to commit desperate acts?
Raybourn has a fantastic narrative voice, and her ear for dialogue is top-notch. Unlike so many neo-Victorian romances, her characters speak naturally, with only small differences from our modern speech. Clearly, Raybourn has read many Victorian novels in order to master the language so thoroughly. This book was a joy to read, and I would have loved to read it slowly and savor it, but I was too engrossed and had to know what happened next.
It had all of my favorite elements of a neo-Victorian Gothic--the impoverished gentlewoman seeking to make her way in life; the mysterious, sensual young count that catches her eye; mysterious deaths; superstitious locals; and a fraught relationship to the past.
Theodora is an orphan, and her grandfather has recently died as well. When her schoolfriend, Cosima, invites her to Transylvania to be a guest at Cosima's wedding to the local count, Theodora views it as a handy escape. She's a writer, and she knows from Cosima's childhood stories that Transylvania will provide fertile ground for her imagination. Also, she'd rather not live with her sister and brother-in-law, who are expecting their fifth child.
Upon her arrival at the castle, Theodora is thrilled with the magnificent setting, and her writing takes off. She is troubled that Cosima's wedding has been called off, and Theodora is even more disturbed when she realizes just how attracted she is to the count.
In true Gothic fashion, secrets from the past continue to haunt the present. Was the current count's father so evil that he rose from the grave as strigoi? Why did the count's father and grandfather hate each other so deeply? What secrets of love and passion will drive these characters to commit desperate acts?
Raybourn has a fantastic narrative voice, and her ear for dialogue is top-notch. Unlike so many neo-Victorian romances, her characters speak naturally, with only small differences from our modern speech. Clearly, Raybourn has read many Victorian novels in order to master the language so thoroughly. This book was a joy to read, and I would have loved to read it slowly and savor it, but I was too engrossed and had to know what happened next.
May 11, 2022
May 2022 re-read: I always come back to Deanna Raybourn when I've had a run of so-so reads. The Dead Travel Fast is one of her only standalone books at this point (one is coming up this fall and her other early standalones are loosely related) and it's a fun, gothic style story. The writing is great and I found myself wanting to save entire paragraphs here and there. If I was the type to annotate or add flags, they'd be all over this book. Theodora is a main character you can root for - she's a young woman determined to be independent at a time when that was rare, with honest narration as she transitions into adulthood. The male lead is mysterious and callus at times, but Theodora is confident that he could be in the midst of his redemption story. The conclusion of the main story is satisfying, even though it doesn't have a "happily ever after" for all characters. The final chapter is more of an epilogue and it serves up a true happy ending in a fun and smart way. I remain kind of shocked that this book isn't on everyone's TBR now that Deanna Raybourn has a bigger following. This book is a gem.
January 2021 review: After burning through the Veronica Speedwell and Lady Julia Grey series, I went searching for more Deanna Raybourn books to read. As always, I found myself Instantly rooting for the smart, independent protagonist. The last 100 pages are a whirlwind that had me guessing one resolution after another. Had the book ended one chapter earlier, I would have been satisfied, but then we get the completely delightful conclusion. I smiled as Theodora discussed writing a happy ending for a book, hoping that one was coming for her.
January 2021 review: After burning through the Veronica Speedwell and Lady Julia Grey series, I went searching for more Deanna Raybourn books to read. As always, I found myself Instantly rooting for the smart, independent protagonist. The last 100 pages are a whirlwind that had me guessing one resolution after another. Had the book ended one chapter earlier, I would have been satisfied, but then we get the completely delightful conclusion. I smiled as Theodora discussed writing a happy ending for a book, hoping that one was coming for her.
October 17, 2024
Reread 10.16.24. Planning to gorge myself on some vampire books in the next few weeks. Because I can! Started with a reread of this fun, romantic Victorian tale by the author of the Veronica Speedwell series. Young Scottish woman goes to visit her old school friend at her family's estate in Transylvania and things get...creepy.
October 24, 2020
This was an entertaining enough read, but not especially what I like to read. Yes…another book that fit a challenge category :) The characters were pulled from a movie set actors list…a spirited heroine,…an ominous housekeeper…a darkly handsome but mysterious Count. Their dialog is peppered with clichés, and they exhibit too many improbable motivations to be taken seriously. Surely, real people would not behave in such ways…but then surely real people wouldn’t be playing with vampires either. There was a positive side. The plot contains some very clever twists…the atmosphere is created so realistically that one can share the chills with the Theodora, the heroine when the wind carried the cries of wolves in the night… and the description of the castle was a brilliant piece of work. The readers that like Victorian romances and wish to work and play with vampires will more than likely like the book.
February 21, 2010
I was so focused on the fact that Deanna Raybourn had a new book coming out that I somehow failed to find out what the book was about until I was standing in the check out line at the bookstore. And even reading the back cover I still didn't know what I was in for. Really there should be vampire warnings somewhere so that you know what you're getting yourself into with books these days.
The back cover does say our heroine is bound for Rumania, where tales of vampires are still whispered... and the castle's master is Count Andrei Dragulescu. I am the first one to tell you I like things spelled out for me...perhaps it's because I am often completely obtuse. As it seems was the case with this book, I had no idea until I was a hundred or more pages into it that it was a vampire story. Once that major detail was discovered I found myself wanting to run back to the book store with my receipt in hand and ask for a refund. But I didn't, I finished the book and on the whole, it was okay.
I'm a little sad that the wonderfully talented Ms. Raybourn has turned her hand to things vampirian, it seems somehow faddish to me. But those of you who loved Twilight will likely love this as well. This novel felt very much like a Romance novel and the murder mystery didn't feel very well developed. The characters seemed rather stereotypical and the attraction between our heroine and the Count seemed based almost entirely on the physical.
Overall this novel pales in comparison to the characters and story lines the author created for her Lady Julia series. And yet I would not be at all surprised if this novel took off in popularity and had better sales than her first series. I say that only because of the popularity of romance novels and the current interest in all things vampire. Personally I will be happy to read the next Lady Julia book and count this as the first and last vampire book I'll read.
The back cover does say our heroine is bound for Rumania, where tales of vampires are still whispered... and the castle's master is Count Andrei Dragulescu. I am the first one to tell you I like things spelled out for me...perhaps it's because I am often completely obtuse. As it seems was the case with this book, I had no idea until I was a hundred or more pages into it that it was a vampire story. Once that major detail was discovered I found myself wanting to run back to the book store with my receipt in hand and ask for a refund. But I didn't, I finished the book and on the whole, it was okay.
I'm a little sad that the wonderfully talented Ms. Raybourn has turned her hand to things vampirian, it seems somehow faddish to me. But those of you who loved Twilight will likely love this as well. This novel felt very much like a Romance novel and the murder mystery didn't feel very well developed. The characters seemed rather stereotypical and the attraction between our heroine and the Count seemed based almost entirely on the physical.
Overall this novel pales in comparison to the characters and story lines the author created for her Lady Julia series. And yet I would not be at all surprised if this novel took off in popularity and had better sales than her first series. I say that only because of the popularity of romance novels and the current interest in all things vampire. Personally I will be happy to read the next Lady Julia book and count this as the first and last vampire book I'll read.
August 12, 2010
When I opened the book and found the prescript page,asking readers to let themselves be swept away by the lore she was about to delve into, I was hooked. I wanted to dive into that world she promised. Unfortunately, The Dead Travel Fast, made me feel as if I swan-dived off of the high diving board only to land in the shallow end of the pool. Raybourn's style of writing is fresh and interesting, it showed a lot of potential. And I LOVED the chemistry between the two main characters in the beginning. However, about 3/4 of the way through, I had no idea where the female protagonist's heart should belong. I felt no allegiance to either of the men in her life. I was actually surprised when in the last page of the book, things wrapped up so...romantically (for lack of better word). All things considered, I liked the book purely for the writing style and the potential it had especially at the beginning. But I feel gypped. I only wanted what was promised: an escape into dark imagination and whimsy. Perhaps the author should have asked the same thing of herself.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 25, 2011
Up front, this book is NOT a Lady Julia book (one of my very favorite mystery series). It's been sitting around a while and I just decided to clear it off my Kindle. I liked it, but didn't LOVE it. Basically if you like a good period-ish Gothic romance set in Transylvania, you might really enjoy it. To me the main character didn't have enough flaws, and the beginning chapters were a bit clunky, but the meat of the book was quite satisfying and interesting. Fluffy one-off that Gothic fans might enjoy.
June 8, 2019
4,5 - Una scrittrice che di se stessa dice: "Sono una codarda. Non ho il coraggio di negare ai miei lettori un lieto fine". E per lei invece? In una Transilvania insolita, selvaggia e spiritata un giallo-rosa assolutamente gotico e malinconico, che parte lento, carbura in amore e mistero, e ha un finale faticoso, non scontato, che si fa desiderare.
Raybourn sempre brava e originale.
Siete un uomo che vuole essere capito, che desidera essere preso con tutte le sue pecche e i suoi falli e amato a dispetto di se stessi.
Quando il vento soffierà inatteso tra gli infissi, udrete il vostro nome e sarà la mia voce che vi chiama. Quando spegnerete soffiando una candela, sarà il mio respiro a levarsi col fumo, incurvandosi una volta a toccarvi la guancia. E quando piangerete... quando piangerete, sentirete il sale delle mie lacrime sulle vostre labbra.
Raybourn sempre brava e originale.
Siete un uomo che vuole essere capito, che desidera essere preso con tutte le sue pecche e i suoi falli e amato a dispetto di se stessi.
Quando il vento soffierà inatteso tra gli infissi, udrete il vostro nome e sarà la mia voce che vi chiama. Quando spegnerete soffiando una candela, sarà il mio respiro a levarsi col fumo, incurvandosi una volta a toccarvi la guancia. E quando piangerete... quando piangerete, sentirete il sale delle mie lacrime sulle vostre labbra.
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April 20, 2023DNF @ 130 pages
super slow start, kinda boring. don’t care for the mc and the romance progressed too quickly for my tastes. the set up for the story is interesting but i’m just not vibing
super slow start, kinda boring. don’t care for the mc and the romance progressed too quickly for my tastes. the set up for the story is interesting but i’m just not vibing
March 10, 2010
There wasn't anything particular about the style or the content that I could single out as being alluring, but this drew me in from the start and moved quickly, keeping my attention rapt from start to finish. What starts as a gothic romance turns on its heel to become a murder mystery steeped in suspicion that I daresay recalls du Maurier's Rebecca.
The main character, Theodora, is strong and fierce in her grasp of feminism - determined not to lean on anyone but to make her living by way of her writing. She is confronted with the prospect of marrying a man she respects but does not love, and instead opts out of marriage entirely, desirous of making a name for herself as an authoress. She is given the chance to work on her book when a friend from her younger days requests her presence at her imminent marriage. Upon arrival, she discovers the marriage is not to take place, and her friend expresses relief; thus planting the seeds which Translyvanian folklore fosters into a miasma from which the threads of fiction and fact are hard to differentiate. Little clues planted from the beginning steer the reader exactly as the author desires, from one suspicion to the next, and even Theodora's scientific mind is rocked by her own growing feelings for one of the potential suspects. The author never concludes one way or another in the matter of several aspects of fact vs. fiction - instead lending the reader a feeling that is it not necessary to KNOW, just to accept the beliefs of a people whose minds will not be swayed by one dissenter.
The plot may not be overly complicated, but the delight of reading something that engaged me so throughly more than makes up for any lightness elsewhere. And certainly there are enough little sprinkles of character development that even though one may not pull it together until the end, nothing can be said as a surprising or unexpected turn from any of the characters - everything has built towards this end, even if you didn't know it as you read.
The main character, Theodora, is strong and fierce in her grasp of feminism - determined not to lean on anyone but to make her living by way of her writing. She is confronted with the prospect of marrying a man she respects but does not love, and instead opts out of marriage entirely, desirous of making a name for herself as an authoress. She is given the chance to work on her book when a friend from her younger days requests her presence at her imminent marriage. Upon arrival, she discovers the marriage is not to take place, and her friend expresses relief; thus planting the seeds which Translyvanian folklore fosters into a miasma from which the threads of fiction and fact are hard to differentiate. Little clues planted from the beginning steer the reader exactly as the author desires, from one suspicion to the next, and even Theodora's scientific mind is rocked by her own growing feelings for one of the potential suspects. The author never concludes one way or another in the matter of several aspects of fact vs. fiction - instead lending the reader a feeling that is it not necessary to KNOW, just to accept the beliefs of a people whose minds will not be swayed by one dissenter.
The plot may not be overly complicated, but the delight of reading something that engaged me so throughly more than makes up for any lightness elsewhere. And certainly there are enough little sprinkles of character development that even though one may not pull it together until the end, nothing can be said as a surprising or unexpected turn from any of the characters - everything has built towards this end, even if you didn't know it as you read.
June 12, 2011
A watered-down narrative pretending to be a romance, a mystery, and a horror story all in one.
Theodora Lestrange (no, I'm not kidding - that's her name) is an independent Victorian authoress on her way to Transylvania to visit an old school friend and get inspiration for her latest novel. Insert a handsome brooding count, echoes of vampire stories, and a few mysterious occurrences and you have The Dead Travel Fast. What would have been an otherwise enjoyable story was ruined by its lack of dedication to one single idea. The heroine is skeptical of the rumors of vampires, but she does nothing towards investigating them (as she might in a mystery novel). The hero and the heroine share overwhelming chemistry, but the hero doesn't appear to be as interested in the heroine's feelings as she is in his (as he might be in a romance novel). Actually, he's kind of callous. Finally, there is an awful lot of talk about vampires and werewolves, and not a single appearance by either of them (so much for a horror story). The ending is swift and unsatisfying - hardly any questions were really answered and whatever emotional conclusion that has been drawn for the characters is unbelievable and forced. In short, this story is a deeply detailed description of a very roughly-drafted plot, and the book suffers for it.
I loved the amount of detail Ms. Raybourn put into the landscape of Transylvania and the Dragulescu castle. I only wish she'd given the plot that much forethought and effort.
Theodora Lestrange (no, I'm not kidding - that's her name) is an independent Victorian authoress on her way to Transylvania to visit an old school friend and get inspiration for her latest novel. Insert a handsome brooding count, echoes of vampire stories, and a few mysterious occurrences and you have The Dead Travel Fast. What would have been an otherwise enjoyable story was ruined by its lack of dedication to one single idea. The heroine is skeptical of the rumors of vampires, but she does nothing towards investigating them (as she might in a mystery novel). The hero and the heroine share overwhelming chemistry, but the hero doesn't appear to be as interested in the heroine's feelings as she is in his (as he might be in a romance novel). Actually, he's kind of callous. Finally, there is an awful lot of talk about vampires and werewolves, and not a single appearance by either of them (so much for a horror story). The ending is swift and unsatisfying - hardly any questions were really answered and whatever emotional conclusion that has been drawn for the characters is unbelievable and forced. In short, this story is a deeply detailed description of a very roughly-drafted plot, and the book suffers for it.
I loved the amount of detail Ms. Raybourn put into the landscape of Transylvania and the Dragulescu castle. I only wish she'd given the plot that much forethought and effort.
December 5, 2013
This book reminded me of one of those classical gothic tales. It moved at a leisurely pace as the story unfolded slowly with interesting details. I enjoyed the atmosphere of the castle in Transylvania, the descriptions of the neighboring countryside, the many characters within the story and the heroine's will to be independent. However, I wish I had a better grasp of the hero in the story. Got glimpses of him, but they were just that, glimpses. I never really felt the character was totally fleshed-out.
Anyway, I would recommend this book to read on a dark and story night :)
Anyway, I would recommend this book to read on a dark and story night :)
March 6, 2019
A true gothic tale.
I'd have liked the ending to stretch a little more.
I'd have liked the ending to stretch a little more.
April 13, 2022
Theodora Lestrange has just lost her grandfather and thinks this would be a perfect time to take control of her own life. With a modest inheritance, she decides to visit an old school friend in the Carpathians to work on finishing her novel. She leaves behind her publisher who would very much like to be her husband. But Theodora does want a life of domesticity when she can have a life of adventure.
She arrives at an isolated castle complete with an ailing countess, her companion, the companion's son who is the steward, and her school friend Cosmina. Also present is the new master of the castle Count Andrei Dragulescu who is back from his life in Paris now that his father has died.
This story is filled with Gothic goodness. From the werewolves in the woods to vampires in the castle, all the elements are here. From a hero who has spent years seducing women in Paris to a heroine who has plans for a career and an independent life, the characters also run the gamut.
The story has elements of horror, a murder, an exhumation of the former count's body, and elements of romance as our heroine lets herself be seduced by and fall in love with the count. I enjoyed the setting and atmosphere of this story. I thought the writing was both descriptive and engaging. Charlotte Perry did an excellent job in bringing the author's words to life with her narration.
She arrives at an isolated castle complete with an ailing countess, her companion, the companion's son who is the steward, and her school friend Cosmina. Also present is the new master of the castle Count Andrei Dragulescu who is back from his life in Paris now that his father has died.
This story is filled with Gothic goodness. From the werewolves in the woods to vampires in the castle, all the elements are here. From a hero who has spent years seducing women in Paris to a heroine who has plans for a career and an independent life, the characters also run the gamut.
The story has elements of horror, a murder, an exhumation of the former count's body, and elements of romance as our heroine lets herself be seduced by and fall in love with the count. I enjoyed the setting and atmosphere of this story. I thought the writing was both descriptive and engaging. Charlotte Perry did an excellent job in bringing the author's words to life with her narration.
October 16, 2017
Actual Rating: 3.5 Stars
I'm conflicted, much like I was when I read my very first Deanna Raybourn book, Silent in the Grave. I'm conflicted because Deanna Raybourn's ability to create vivid imagery and atmospheric narrative is just so excellent. But at the same time, she tends to spend a lot of time either building the story, or dragging out certain events in the story.
So I don't know how I feel about this book, exactly, because aside from the few scenes that felt dragged, I had a hard time really liking any of the characters, even Theodora.
And the mystery... was actually quite predictable and I had it figured out, even if there was a bit of a twist in the end that I didn't see coming. But that's just me.
I'm still trying to put my thoughts together, so a more refined review might be forthcoming.
On an aside, I listened to the audio book version of this book, narrated by Charlotte Parry, which was absolutely excellent!
I'm conflicted, much like I was when I read my very first Deanna Raybourn book, Silent in the Grave. I'm conflicted because Deanna Raybourn's ability to create vivid imagery and atmospheric narrative is just so excellent. But at the same time, she tends to spend a lot of time either building the story, or dragging out certain events in the story.
So I don't know how I feel about this book, exactly, because aside from the few scenes that felt dragged, I had a hard time really liking any of the characters, even Theodora.
And the mystery... was actually quite predictable and I had it figured out, even if there was a bit of a twist in the end that I didn't see coming. But that's just me.
I'm still trying to put my thoughts together, so a more refined review might be forthcoming.
On an aside, I listened to the audio book version of this book, narrated by Charlotte Parry, which was absolutely excellent!
May 19, 2024
I loved the gothic, atmospheric setting of this novel but it was so hard for me to become invested. I couldn’t connect to any of the characters. I wish there had been more development and lore of the ‘popa’ and strigoi. That ‘legend’ of a storyline fell really flat for me.
March 24, 2025
So happy to find a Deanna Raybourn book I hadn’t read! Standalone book, not in a series …. But I literally could see the heroine in a series of her own! A+
November 12, 2018
A current author's interpretation of the gothic novel complete with atmospheric Transylvanian castle, brooding Count and mystery to be solved. I really enjoyed it... and must get to Transylvania one day!
September 27, 2012
PER NIENTE MALE
finalmente sono riuscita a leggerlo...e mi ha catturato da subito.
Lei scrive benissimo fa di quelle descrizioni che ti catapultano letteralmente nel libro..
All'inizio è tutto descrizini e chiacchiere..ma poi..ecco che arriva il mistero..la prima morte...il soprannaturale, l'amore, il sospetto..e ... (continua)
finalmente sono riuscita a leggerlo...e mi ha catturato da subito.
Lei scrive benissimo fa di quelle descrizioni che ti catapultano letteralmente nel libro..
All'inizio è tutto descrizini e chiacchiere..ma poi..ecco che arriva il mistero..la prima morte...il soprannaturale, l'amore, il sospetto..e insomma un pò di tutto...
é stata una piacevole lettura...scorrevole, intrigante e oscura al punto giusto...
unica pecca poca suspance da brivido...mi aspettavo qualcosina in più...più gotico ecco...con un pò più di spiegazioni delle usanze lì in transilvania...dei loro miti...e da questo punto di vista è un pò superficiale..ma mi è piaciuto è stato leggero per nulla pesante...godibilissimo.
La trama...ve la devo dire?
ma si dai..
allora parla di questa ragazza single scrittrice che vive in casa della sorella e del marito, ce viene invitata da una sua amica in transilvania per il suo matrimonio con il conte Draguelscu (ma il cognome inganna) e da qui in poi si svolge tutto il resto...
per chi ama un pò di brivido con passio e descrizione del paesaggio mozzafiato!
finalmente sono riuscita a leggerlo...e mi ha catturato da subito.
Lei scrive benissimo fa di quelle descrizioni che ti catapultano letteralmente nel libro..
All'inizio è tutto descrizini e chiacchiere..ma poi..ecco che arriva il mistero..la prima morte...il soprannaturale, l'amore, il sospetto..e ... (continua)
finalmente sono riuscita a leggerlo...e mi ha catturato da subito.
Lei scrive benissimo fa di quelle descrizioni che ti catapultano letteralmente nel libro..
All'inizio è tutto descrizini e chiacchiere..ma poi..ecco che arriva il mistero..la prima morte...il soprannaturale, l'amore, il sospetto..e insomma un pò di tutto...
é stata una piacevole lettura...scorrevole, intrigante e oscura al punto giusto...
unica pecca poca suspance da brivido...mi aspettavo qualcosina in più...più gotico ecco...con un pò più di spiegazioni delle usanze lì in transilvania...dei loro miti...e da questo punto di vista è un pò superficiale..ma mi è piaciuto è stato leggero per nulla pesante...godibilissimo.
La trama...ve la devo dire?
ma si dai..
allora parla di questa ragazza single scrittrice che vive in casa della sorella e del marito, ce viene invitata da una sua amica in transilvania per il suo matrimonio con il conte Draguelscu (ma il cognome inganna) e da qui in poi si svolge tutto il resto...
per chi ama un pò di brivido con passio e descrizione del paesaggio mozzafiato!
March 18, 2011
Having finished all four in the lady Julia series, I went on to The Dead Travel Fast because I wanted to see what Ms. Raybourn would do away from the same group of characters. It was worth it.
What Raybourn does best is gothic (I'd add a gothic shelf if I weren't too lazy), and here she really comes into her own. The atmosphere is well done, and the feeling of uncertainty -- is the menace real or not? and if it is, is it supernatural or just somebody using local legends to literally get away with murder? -- is almost perfectly executed.
Add to this the fact that the hero of this book is even more of a Heathcliff than Raybourn's detective, and the Dead could rise all the way to four stars level. What kept it at three were some details. Number one, having glommed the Raybourn oeuvre, I could identify the culprit before the murder was even committed -- it's a really easy formula to follow. Number two, a Hungarian/Rumanian family had the last name Frankopan (you have to be from Croatia to get this one.) And, finally, the romance ending was totally tacked-on and unconvincing, carrying the emotional strenght of a pack of M&M's. No, I don't know why I chose that particular comparison either, but it seems to work.
All in all, if you've never read any Raybourn, this is a good place to start. Provided you love gothic mysteries, you'll have a good time, too.
What Raybourn does best is gothic (I'd add a gothic shelf if I weren't too lazy), and here she really comes into her own. The atmosphere is well done, and the feeling of uncertainty -- is the menace real or not? and if it is, is it supernatural or just somebody using local legends to literally get away with murder? -- is almost perfectly executed.
Add to this the fact that the hero of this book is even more of a Heathcliff than Raybourn's detective, and the Dead could rise all the way to four stars level. What kept it at three were some details. Number one, having glommed the Raybourn oeuvre, I could identify the culprit before the murder was even committed -- it's a really easy formula to follow. Number two, a Hungarian/Rumanian family had the last name Frankopan (you have to be from Croatia to get this one.) And, finally, the romance ending was totally tacked-on and unconvincing, carrying the emotional strenght of a pack of M&M's. No, I don't know why I chose that particular comparison either, but it seems to work.
All in all, if you've never read any Raybourn, this is a good place to start. Provided you love gothic mysteries, you'll have a good time, too.
March 12, 2010
When her father dies, Theodora Lestrange travels to a cold and decaying castle in the Rumania where she is haunted by tales of vampires and werewolves. She is dangerously attracted to the dark Count Dragulescu who begins to seduce her upon arrival: is he what he seems, or something inhuman and unnatural? I am a fan of Raybourn's Lady Julia series, so I really looked forward to this book...and was sadly disappointed. In the "Silent" series, Raybourn shines as she creates a seamless Victorian world...I marvel at the dialog and descriptions of culture. But "dead" was a dischordant mixture of modern and period which kept me from fully immersing in the tale. I have a personal vendetta against literature which glorifies unhealthy relationships, and the "hero," Count Andrei, is a horribly unhealthy man who brags of his womanizing, indulges in opium and is an imperialistic ogre! When he touches Theodora I find it repulsive, not seductive, when I think of where those hands have been!!! I also abhor fatalistic love stories where the heroine seems unable to break away from the hypnotic attraction of her lover. Theodora's inability to resist the Count makes her a weak heroine: despite all her modern ideals, she is ruled by her hormones, not her head!
April 7, 2010
I must say that this book was quite a surprise and I absolutely loved it from page one to the very end. I am not a mystery reader and that is where the story took me by surprise but it was a good surprise. It's supposed to be a paranormal romance but I would say it's more of a paranormal mystery with a dash of romance to wet the appetite.
Our heroine Theodora has just lost her grandfather a few months past and is working with her sister and brother-in-law to settle up his estate when Theodora gets a post from an old friend from when she was in school requesting that she come to Transylvania for the friends upcoming wedding. Theodora decides to go and this is where the journey will take her from a comfortable secure life to a life of beauty, hardship, horror, murder, love and a who-dun-it mystery rich in folklore and superstition.
The story kept me guessing right up until the end and the murderer was not who I would have ever expected it to be. The narration was wonderful and the story was richly descriptive to make you feel all the emotions that our heroine is experiencing. Sight, scenery, taste and smell are all there in their glory. I will most certainly be checking out more of what this author has to offer after such a delightful experience.
Our heroine Theodora has just lost her grandfather a few months past and is working with her sister and brother-in-law to settle up his estate when Theodora gets a post from an old friend from when she was in school requesting that she come to Transylvania for the friends upcoming wedding. Theodora decides to go and this is where the journey will take her from a comfortable secure life to a life of beauty, hardship, horror, murder, love and a who-dun-it mystery rich in folklore and superstition.
The story kept me guessing right up until the end and the murderer was not who I would have ever expected it to be. The narration was wonderful and the story was richly descriptive to make you feel all the emotions that our heroine is experiencing. Sight, scenery, taste and smell are all there in their glory. I will most certainly be checking out more of what this author has to offer after such a delightful experience.
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