Fred Saberhagen (1930–2007)

At least it was a quick read. Yeah. I'm a sucker for gothic horror and mix that with some gaslight detective shenanigans and I'm there. This came suggested over social media after I posted my review of [b:Sherlock Holmes vs. Dracula|1963165|Sherlock Holmes vs. Dracula|Loren D. Estleman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1340751070l/1963165._SY75_.jpg|1966254]. However, to be honest, I definitely liked that one better than this one. Not to say that I disliked this one, I definitely liked it but it kind of put Dracula more forward than the detective and presented a familial connection between them that I thought was unnecessary and kind of stupid. Although, I liked the twins born of vampire love affairs with human women idea where one is a savage monster in-waiting and the other fully human, poor J.Harker.
I would rather have had holmes facing off with the count rather than Dracula be primarily and somewhat personally involved in the plot which eventually brings together the great detective and the ancient fiend as awkward allies. I didn't buy that part of it at all. The plot to ransom London or unleash plague rats into its sewers was cheesy goodness but seemed to me that maybe a higher-caliber villain (not sure about Moriarty though) rather than a character from Bram Stoker's Dracula would have been more fitting. The plot also involves (however briefly) a monster plague-carrying rat from abroad with a penchant for human flesh. That one is gold mind you and should have had some more to do with the story than it did. I have to tell you, that I was supremely disappointed that a book involving Dracula and a plague-rat plot did not feature a swarm of hideous rats overwhelming some poor clod and munching them down to a bloody skeleton. Ah, what could have been?
Overall, it wasn't bad, I did like it but as to checking out the rest of this 'series' of books, probably not though I do have [b:The Dracula Tape|930315|The Dracula Tape (Dracula, #1)|Fred Saberhagen|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1567905107l/930315._SY75_.jpg|70163] in my to-read stack, so there's that. Would I suggest it? Well, if you've already read Sherlock Holmes vs. Dracula and are looking for something similar then - yes. Otherwise, I would steer you to that book before this one.… (mer)