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The Night Crossing
Bram Stoker kept secret a tale even more terrifying than Dracula . It begins among the Carpathian peaks, when an intrepid explorer discovers a mysterious golden box. She brings it back with her to the foggy streets of Victorian London, unaware of its dangerous power…or that an evil beyond imagining has already taken root in the city. Stoker, a successful theater manager but frustrated writer, is drawn into a deadly web spun by the wealthy founders of a mission house for the poor. Far from a safe haven, the mission harbors a dark and terrifying secret. To save the souls of thousands, Stoker―aided by the explorer and a match girl grieving the loss of her child―must pursue an enemy as ancient as the Saharan sands where it originated. Their journey will take them through the city’s overgrown graveyards and rat-infested tunnels and even onto the maiden voyage of the world’s first “unsinkable” ship…
439 pages, Hardcover
First published September 18, 2018
1708 people are currently reading
5940 people want to read
About the author
Robert Masello
34 books615 followers Robert Masello is an award-winning journalist, TV writer, and the bestselling author of many novels and nonfiction books. In addition to his most recent book, THE HAUNTING OF H.G. WELLS, he has written the #1 Amazon Kindle bestseller, THE EINSTEIN PROPHECY, and many other popular thrillers, including THE JEKYLL REVELATION, THE NIGHT CROSSING, BLOOD AND ICE, THE MEDUSA AMULET, and THE ROMANOV CROSS.
He is also the author of two popular studies of the Occult -- FALLEN ANGELS AND SPIRITS OF THE DARK and RAISING HELL: A CONCISE HISTORY OF THE BLACK ARTS.
His books on writing include WRITER TELLS ALL, A FRIEND IN THE BUSINESS, and the classroom staple, ROBERT'S RULES OF WRITING.
His TV credits include such popular shows as "Charmed," "Sliders," Early Edition," and "Poltergeist: the Legacy."
A native of Evanston, Illinois, he studied writing at Princeton University under the noted authors Robert Stone and Geoffrey Wolff, and served for six years as the Visiting Lecturer in Literature at Claremont McKenna College.
He now lives and works in Santa Monica, CA.
He is also the author of two popular studies of the Occult -- FALLEN ANGELS AND SPIRITS OF THE DARK and RAISING HELL: A CONCISE HISTORY OF THE BLACK ARTS.
His books on writing include WRITER TELLS ALL, A FRIEND IN THE BUSINESS, and the classroom staple, ROBERT'S RULES OF WRITING.
His TV credits include such popular shows as "Charmed," "Sliders," Early Edition," and "Poltergeist: the Legacy."
A native of Evanston, Illinois, he studied writing at Princeton University under the noted authors Robert Stone and Geoffrey Wolff, and served for six years as the Visiting Lecturer in Literature at Claremont McKenna College.
He now lives and works in Santa Monica, CA.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 280 reviews
June 25, 2019
”He had to stagger backward, the lantern waving wildly. In its crazy orbits he saw an upturned face—brown and wizened—and a mouth whose lips and teeth had been eroded by centuries of desert wind and sand. Bony hands clawed at the hem of his coat, and he had to back up again, just in time for the other creature to lurch out of the shadows and, arms outstretched, snatch at the light. Its eyes were open now, and the sundered stitches hung from its lips…”
When Bram Stoker sees a young woman hurl herself off a bridge into the turgent water below, he doesn’t hesitate to jump in after her. He hauls her brick laden body to the shore and has no idea that saving Lucinda Watts from drowning will have far reaching consequences in his life beyond wet clothes and the ensuing sniffle.
Lucinda recently lost her son and is dying from what is called a phosphorus jaw that was caused from working with dangerous chemicals in a matchstick factory. “She stuck a finger in her mouth and found the bad tooth wobbling in its socket. A painful jolt shot through her jaw, but she knew it would only get worse, and so she yanked on it. The tooth came away instantly, and she tossed it as far behind her as she could, spitting a wad of blood in the same direction.”For those who think that we don’t need unions and don’t need laws protecting workers, please do read about the working conditions of people before workers started demanding protection from greedy owners. You won’t have to go all the way back to Victorian England to find rampant exploitation and outright carelessness with the lives of workers to enhance already inflated profits.
The circumstances under which Lucinda’s son died are rather strange, and Stoker soon finds himself intrigued to find out what really happened to the boy. He joins forces with Mina Harcourt, who has recently returned from an archaeological exploration in the Carpathian Mountains with a mysterious Golden Box. Bartholomew and Winifred Thorne, the owners of the matchstick factory, are not only taking advantage of poor people for cheap labor but also seem to be taking something much more important from the weakest among them...their souls.
Bram and Mina find themselves battling zombie mummies, giant scarabs, an ancient demonic presence, and the viciousness of the Thornes, who feel they are entitled to take whatever they desire. Bram may have been a frustrated writer before these adventures began, but by the end he has more than enough paranormal experience to stir up his imaginations.
“Death be all that we can rightly depend on . . . Maybe it’s in that wind out over the sea that’s bringin’ with it loss and wreck, and sore distress, and sad hearts. Look! Look!” he cried suddenly. “There’s something in that wind and in the hoast beyont that sounds, and looks, and tastes, and smells like death. It’s in the air; I feel it comin’.” —From Dracula, published 1897
I recently read Something in the Blood by David J. Skal, which put some flesh on the bones of the mysterious Bram Stoker. Unfortunately, his wife burned a lot of correspondence, so there are gaps in what can be known about Stoker, which does allow a novelist room to fill in the gaps. Robert Masello mentions in the afterward that he had read Skal’s book as well, and most likely that book inspired this book. Normally, I don’t have any issue with real life people playing themselves in the land of fiction. I can even tolerate a novelist changing certain events to fit what they need. I felt that, towards the end of the novel, Masello went over a line with how he used Stoker as a fictional character.
Otherwise, I had a jolly good time racing about Victorian England with Bram Stoker and his feisty companion Mina Harcourt working to thwart the plans of the villainous Thorne siblings.
If you wish to see more of my most recent book and movie reviews, visit http://www.jeffreykeeten.com
I also have a Facebook blogger page at:https://www.facebook.com/JeffreyKeeten
When Bram Stoker sees a young woman hurl herself off a bridge into the turgent water below, he doesn’t hesitate to jump in after her. He hauls her brick laden body to the shore and has no idea that saving Lucinda Watts from drowning will have far reaching consequences in his life beyond wet clothes and the ensuing sniffle.
Lucinda recently lost her son and is dying from what is called a phosphorus jaw that was caused from working with dangerous chemicals in a matchstick factory. “She stuck a finger in her mouth and found the bad tooth wobbling in its socket. A painful jolt shot through her jaw, but she knew it would only get worse, and so she yanked on it. The tooth came away instantly, and she tossed it as far behind her as she could, spitting a wad of blood in the same direction.”For those who think that we don’t need unions and don’t need laws protecting workers, please do read about the working conditions of people before workers started demanding protection from greedy owners. You won’t have to go all the way back to Victorian England to find rampant exploitation and outright carelessness with the lives of workers to enhance already inflated profits.
The circumstances under which Lucinda’s son died are rather strange, and Stoker soon finds himself intrigued to find out what really happened to the boy. He joins forces with Mina Harcourt, who has recently returned from an archaeological exploration in the Carpathian Mountains with a mysterious Golden Box. Bartholomew and Winifred Thorne, the owners of the matchstick factory, are not only taking advantage of poor people for cheap labor but also seem to be taking something much more important from the weakest among them...their souls.
Bram and Mina find themselves battling zombie mummies, giant scarabs, an ancient demonic presence, and the viciousness of the Thornes, who feel they are entitled to take whatever they desire. Bram may have been a frustrated writer before these adventures began, but by the end he has more than enough paranormal experience to stir up his imaginations.
“Death be all that we can rightly depend on . . . Maybe it’s in that wind out over the sea that’s bringin’ with it loss and wreck, and sore distress, and sad hearts. Look! Look!” he cried suddenly. “There’s something in that wind and in the hoast beyont that sounds, and looks, and tastes, and smells like death. It’s in the air; I feel it comin’.” —From Dracula, published 1897
I recently read Something in the Blood by David J. Skal, which put some flesh on the bones of the mysterious Bram Stoker. Unfortunately, his wife burned a lot of correspondence, so there are gaps in what can be known about Stoker, which does allow a novelist room to fill in the gaps. Robert Masello mentions in the afterward that he had read Skal’s book as well, and most likely that book inspired this book. Normally, I don’t have any issue with real life people playing themselves in the land of fiction. I can even tolerate a novelist changing certain events to fit what they need. I felt that, towards the end of the novel, Masello went over a line with how he used Stoker as a fictional character.
Otherwise, I had a jolly good time racing about Victorian England with Bram Stoker and his feisty companion Mina Harcourt working to thwart the plans of the villainous Thorne siblings.
If you wish to see more of my most recent book and movie reviews, visit http://www.jeffreykeeten.com
I also have a Facebook blogger page at:https://www.facebook.com/JeffreyKeeten
November 22, 2019
The novel started fine with a mysterious box found in Transylvania and the ongoing Egypt craze in London. Lyceum Theatre, Bram Stoker, Henry Irving, the miserable conditions in a workhouse and the bizarre Egyptian rituals Thorne and his sister perform. Problem is there simply are too many details, free interpretation of history and an author who somehow over the pages lost his line. Originally he wanted to tell the tale of the Sphinx in the Carpathians (even that sounds a bit far fetched) but then he loses himself in too many characters and locations. What about the box? Why is Thorne the real Dracula or gave inspiration for Stoker's character? Sorry, but that was a bit unconvincing to me. When there was a showdown on the Titanic between an aged Bram Stoker and Thorn who changed his name into North the story completely fell apart for me. The author described the terrible tragedy of the sinking of the Titanic. Why didn't he stick to his original story? To me there were many fine parts (e.g. when the story was set in London, Lucinda/Davey) but then the story became overburdened, tedious and extremely implausible. Historical fiction is fine but not if it is done in a too free form changing the actual facts. Maybe it would have been better not to tell another background story how Stoker was inspired for his Dracula. At the end I felt a bit disappointed what started as a very promising read.
August 5, 2024
The Titanic Finally Sank this Novel
THE NIGHT CROSSING by Robert Masello
Spoilers ahead, so read at your peril.
2 stars.
I found it hard to finish this loooooong novel. I don't mind a long story if the characters and plot are compelling...
This novel was slow-moving and a sorry attempt at a Victorian with many avenues of unconnected storylines...
The story begins in the Carpathian mountains...
There is a sphinx with glowing eyes and a mysterious gold box found in a cave that opens at dusk and closes at dawn...
A sinister shadow escapes the box nightly to... I don't know! It was never completely explained...
The tale next veers off to London and an evil brother/sister team who owns a match workhouse for the poor...
This particular sequence, the bulk of the book, was a complete waste of time. I kept reading thinking we'd get back to the box, which was barely mentioned at all the rest of the story...
The gold box does come up every now and then but without the mystery (or a satisfying explanation for its existence)...
Finally...
The Titanic becoming part of the story in the last 25% has been overused in many novels. It was so trite and frankly done better in other books such as AMANDA/MIRANDA...
BLIOD AND ICE by this author is a much better story.
THE NIGHT CROSSING by Robert Masello
Spoilers ahead, so read at your peril.
2 stars.
I found it hard to finish this loooooong novel. I don't mind a long story if the characters and plot are compelling...
This novel was slow-moving and a sorry attempt at a Victorian with many avenues of unconnected storylines...
The story begins in the Carpathian mountains...
There is a sphinx with glowing eyes and a mysterious gold box found in a cave that opens at dusk and closes at dawn...
A sinister shadow escapes the box nightly to... I don't know! It was never completely explained...
The tale next veers off to London and an evil brother/sister team who owns a match workhouse for the poor...
This particular sequence, the bulk of the book, was a complete waste of time. I kept reading thinking we'd get back to the box, which was barely mentioned at all the rest of the story...
The gold box does come up every now and then but without the mystery (or a satisfying explanation for its existence)...
Finally...
The Titanic becoming part of the story in the last 25% has been overused in many novels. It was so trite and frankly done better in other books such as AMANDA/MIRANDA...
BLIOD AND ICE by this author is a much better story.
May 22, 2023
There are certain touchstones that have shaped my development as a hardcore, horror fanatic. I can tell you that those touchstones have been multi-mediated via books, television, cinema, music, and comic books and even though King, Carpenter, and The Walking Dead come to mind, Bram Stoker is not far behind. The Night Crossing is a terrifying tale that takes the fictionalized character of Bram Stoker and communicates a harrowing experience that pits the intrepid author against an affluent Egyptologist consumed with overcoming the barrier of death. On Stoker’s side, he has an archaeologist, tomb raider of sorts, Mina Harcourt, and on the side of the monster is his sister, who also pretends to be a benefactress to the city’s impoverished. The story is initiated by a walk through a London fog, where a young lady is seen attempting to take her own life by jumping from a pier into the ocean. Stoker jumps into the water after her, and leaps into a story that will have him crossing the Atlantic to pursue this vampiric-human evil that disguises himself as a paragon of virtue. This story is harrowing and scary. I have never read anything like this and loved its gothic, gaslight qualities. If you can deal with a bit of a slow burn, you will like this. Four and a half Grey Geeks for my blog, but 4 stars for Goodreads.
September 6, 2018
4/5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
ARC provided by NetGalley and 47North in exchange for an honest review.
Set primarily in Victorian London, The Night Crossing by Robert Masello is a gothic tale following Bram Stoker; a struggling writer currently managing one of the local theaters, and Minerva "Mina" Harcourt; an "intrepid" explorer who brings back a mysterious box from the Carpathian peaks, unaware of it's dangerous powers, and the evil that has already taken root in the city. Throughout this novel the pair must work together alongside Lucinda Watts; a match girl grieving the loss of her child, to save the city from an enemy as ancient as the Saharan sands where it originated.
Pros:
❇️This was unlike anything I've ever read before! I have to admit-going into this I wasn't sure WHAT to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised. The writing was easy to follow, and I enjoyed the setting and overall story-line as it made for an atmospheric (not quite, but almost fall) read. 🍁
Cons:
❇️It took me several chapters to fully immerse myself in the story. I didn't necessarily love all of the p.o.v's that we were given. I went back and forth between which p.o.v I enjoyed the most, but for the most part I enjoyed Bram's the most and felt as though certain chapters weren't really necessary.
Final Thoughts/Comments:
❇️This title is expected to release on the 18th of September, 2018. If you're looking for a unique story this fall to spook things up a bit, I would definitely suggest giving The Night Crossing a shot!
ARC provided by NetGalley and 47North in exchange for an honest review.
Set primarily in Victorian London, The Night Crossing by Robert Masello is a gothic tale following Bram Stoker; a struggling writer currently managing one of the local theaters, and Minerva "Mina" Harcourt; an "intrepid" explorer who brings back a mysterious box from the Carpathian peaks, unaware of it's dangerous powers, and the evil that has already taken root in the city. Throughout this novel the pair must work together alongside Lucinda Watts; a match girl grieving the loss of her child, to save the city from an enemy as ancient as the Saharan sands where it originated.
Pros:
❇️This was unlike anything I've ever read before! I have to admit-going into this I wasn't sure WHAT to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised. The writing was easy to follow, and I enjoyed the setting and overall story-line as it made for an atmospheric (not quite, but almost fall) read. 🍁
Cons:
❇️It took me several chapters to fully immerse myself in the story. I didn't necessarily love all of the p.o.v's that we were given. I went back and forth between which p.o.v I enjoyed the most, but for the most part I enjoyed Bram's the most and felt as though certain chapters weren't really necessary.
Final Thoughts/Comments:
❇️This title is expected to release on the 18th of September, 2018. If you're looking for a unique story this fall to spook things up a bit, I would definitely suggest giving The Night Crossing a shot!
September 18, 2018
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
An intrepid explorer discovers a mysterious golden box in the Carpathian Mountains. She is unaware of the danger it poses and she takes it home to Victorian London - unaware that evil has already started to take root in the city. Bram Stoker, a theater manager and frustrated writer, finds himself pulled into the nefarious plan of the rich owners of a mission house for the poor. The shelter isn't the safe haven it promises to be, but instead harbors a horrific secret. Stoker, the explorer, and a mission resident grieving the loss of her child must work together to save their city from ancient Egyptian enemy, but first they'll have to survive London's overgrown graveyards, rat-infested tunnels, and even the maiden voyage of the Titanic.
I'm so pleased to find out I was approved to read this novel - I mean, how could you go wrong with a historical fantasy horror featuring the legendary authors Bram Stoker and Arthur Conan Doyle? As it turns out it works out really well with only a few minor issues. Like I know I've mentioned before, historical fantasy is one of my favorite genres to read and I love how Masello combines real history, and real facts about Bram Stoker and Arthur Conan Doyle with awesome fantasy elements. I've always been interested in Egyptian mythology and it's pretty interesting how the author integrates that with real world Victorian London. My only major issue with this story are in the number of POVs. They all move pretty quickly and held my interest once I got into the swing of the style, but I only found myself truly invested in Bram Stoker's perspective chapters. Honestly, I could have done without at least one fewer POV - the novel may have flowed a little more without it. I will say, though, that I enjoyed how things begin to come together with Stoker at the lead.
Overall, The Night Crossing by Robert Masello is a creative and unique scary historical fantasy novel. It is definitely must-read for fans of the author Bram Stoker, who begins to find inspiration in the horrific events going on around him for what eventually becomes Dracula. Even though I had a few minor complaints I was still quite addicted and on the edge of my seat to see what would happen. This is my first experience reading Masello, but I'm going to have to read more from him in the future and I believe I'll have to start with The Jekyll Revelation.
Thanks again, NetGalley!
An intrepid explorer discovers a mysterious golden box in the Carpathian Mountains. She is unaware of the danger it poses and she takes it home to Victorian London - unaware that evil has already started to take root in the city. Bram Stoker, a theater manager and frustrated writer, finds himself pulled into the nefarious plan of the rich owners of a mission house for the poor. The shelter isn't the safe haven it promises to be, but instead harbors a horrific secret. Stoker, the explorer, and a mission resident grieving the loss of her child must work together to save their city from ancient Egyptian enemy, but first they'll have to survive London's overgrown graveyards, rat-infested tunnels, and even the maiden voyage of the Titanic.
I'm so pleased to find out I was approved to read this novel - I mean, how could you go wrong with a historical fantasy horror featuring the legendary authors Bram Stoker and Arthur Conan Doyle? As it turns out it works out really well with only a few minor issues. Like I know I've mentioned before, historical fantasy is one of my favorite genres to read and I love how Masello combines real history, and real facts about Bram Stoker and Arthur Conan Doyle with awesome fantasy elements. I've always been interested in Egyptian mythology and it's pretty interesting how the author integrates that with real world Victorian London. My only major issue with this story are in the number of POVs. They all move pretty quickly and held my interest once I got into the swing of the style, but I only found myself truly invested in Bram Stoker's perspective chapters. Honestly, I could have done without at least one fewer POV - the novel may have flowed a little more without it. I will say, though, that I enjoyed how things begin to come together with Stoker at the lead.
Overall, The Night Crossing by Robert Masello is a creative and unique scary historical fantasy novel. It is definitely must-read for fans of the author Bram Stoker, who begins to find inspiration in the horrific events going on around him for what eventually becomes Dracula. Even though I had a few minor complaints I was still quite addicted and on the edge of my seat to see what would happen. This is my first experience reading Masello, but I'm going to have to read more from him in the future and I believe I'll have to start with The Jekyll Revelation.
Thanks again, NetGalley!
May 6, 2021
At first I thought I might not end up finishing this book although interesting it dose have some slow chapters I don't even know how far I went into this book before I needed to know what happens next and then before I knew it I was finished and I have to say I'm glad I keept reading.
July 10, 2019
The combination of the fantasy of Egyptian curses and the historical aspect of the Titanic seemed a bit over the top, but the historical accuracy of Bram Stoker's life made it a fascinating read and well worth it.
September 9, 2018
Friends, I was so excited to receive an advanced copy of The Night Crossing for review as I love spooky stories and historical fiction. A mysterious golden box, London in the late nineteenth century, and an evil that must be overcome are all ingredients that I love and I had high hopes for this book. Unfortunately, my expectations were not met: I found the writing a to be a bit lackluster and I struggled to connect with the characters. While I found the overall plot to be interesting, I struggled to find the desire to read... and the last 25% of the book infuriated me to no end.
This is a difficult book to rate for me because I experienced so many different feelings towards the book while reading it. I was sucked in straight away with Mina's adventure in the Carpathian mountains, but as the plot progressed I become less and less engaged with it and the characters. It was at about 75% when my attitude shifted from apathy to anger, and is a feeling that very much has stuck with me 2 days after finishing the book. I didn't like the shift in focus to Stoker being inspired to write Dracula and I found the nineteen year jump to 1912 to completely pull me out of any engagement that I had. I was no longer invested in the story since so much time had passed, and the whole Titanic thing just irked me for some unknown reason.
I think I struggled most with the dual/multiple perspectives. I was most interested in the archaeological mystery and thus was more drawn to Mina's POV. We all know that I appreciate strong female characters, and Mina is that in spades as well as smart and compassionate. Stoker's narrative felt the most disjointed for me - as the plot progresses, his POV becomes more and more obsessed with immortality and writing something that will achieve that (which I suppose is an interesting mirror for the antagonist's obsession with immortality). The Night's Crossing starts with Mina and Stoker perspectives, but more are added in as the story progresses - some are one-offs and others stick around - which contributed to my struggles connecting with the characters and plot.
My review is definitely in the minority here, and this book is not without its strengths. I appreciated the balance of the social injustices of the period with the main characters' response to them, especially as it relates to racism. Often times in historical fiction, authors choose to depict harmful taboos, words, and characteristics that would not be appropriate in fiction today and hide behind the historical accuracy without ever challenging those beliefs. I was very happy to see that wasn't the case here.
Overall I found The Night's Crossing to be a very interesting story that was a little bogged down by a lot of ideas. I was disappointed that the purpose of the book seemed to shift from the actual story to Stoker's desire for immortality and his inspiration for and writing of Dracula; it felt abrupt to me and detracted from the "main storyline" for me. While this book ultimately wasn't for me, I think people with an interest in history, the lengths that people will go to achieve immortality, archaeological mysteries and curses, and strong female characters will enjoy this book.
Many thanks to the publisher for providing me an electronic advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Quotations taken from an uncorrected proof and may change upon final publication. The Night Crossing will be released on September 18, 2018.
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This is a difficult book to rate for me because I experienced so many different feelings towards the book while reading it. I was sucked in straight away with Mina's adventure in the Carpathian mountains, but as the plot progressed I become less and less engaged with it and the characters. It was at about 75% when my attitude shifted from apathy to anger, and is a feeling that very much has stuck with me 2 days after finishing the book. I didn't like the shift in focus to Stoker being inspired to write Dracula and I found the nineteen year jump to 1912 to completely pull me out of any engagement that I had. I was no longer invested in the story since so much time had passed, and the whole Titanic thing just irked me for some unknown reason.
I think I struggled most with the dual/multiple perspectives. I was most interested in the archaeological mystery and thus was more drawn to Mina's POV. We all know that I appreciate strong female characters, and Mina is that in spades as well as smart and compassionate. Stoker's narrative felt the most disjointed for me - as the plot progresses, his POV becomes more and more obsessed with immortality and writing something that will achieve that (which I suppose is an interesting mirror for the antagonist's obsession with immortality). The Night's Crossing starts with Mina and Stoker perspectives, but more are added in as the story progresses - some are one-offs and others stick around - which contributed to my struggles connecting with the characters and plot.
My review is definitely in the minority here, and this book is not without its strengths. I appreciated the balance of the social injustices of the period with the main characters' response to them, especially as it relates to racism. Often times in historical fiction, authors choose to depict harmful taboos, words, and characteristics that would not be appropriate in fiction today and hide behind the historical accuracy without ever challenging those beliefs. I was very happy to see that wasn't the case here.
Overall I found The Night's Crossing to be a very interesting story that was a little bogged down by a lot of ideas. I was disappointed that the purpose of the book seemed to shift from the actual story to Stoker's desire for immortality and his inspiration for and writing of Dracula; it felt abrupt to me and detracted from the "main storyline" for me. While this book ultimately wasn't for me, I think people with an interest in history, the lengths that people will go to achieve immortality, archaeological mysteries and curses, and strong female characters will enjoy this book.
Many thanks to the publisher for providing me an electronic advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Quotations taken from an uncorrected proof and may change upon final publication. The Night Crossing will be released on September 18, 2018.
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July 9, 2018
Publishing Date: September 2018
Publisher: 47 North
ISBN: 9781503904101
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 3.7/5
Publisher’s Description: It begins among the Carpathian peaks, when an intrepid explorer discovers a mysterious golden box. She brings it back with her to the foggy streets of Victorian London, unaware of its dangerous power…or that an evil beyond imagining has already taken root in the city. Stoker, a successful theater manager but frustrated writer, is drawn into a deadly web spun by the wealthy founders of a mission house for the poor. Far from a safe haven, the mission harbors a dark and terrifying secret.
Review: I had read ” The Jekyll Revelation” or rather gave it a DNF due to some perceived inconsistencies. I was surprised to find that I really enjoyed this work, due to the well built characters and shifting movement. The world building is great as is the era in which it is depicted.
“So why you no give 5 stars!!?”. Without giving too much away, the last third of the novel takes a shift into an area (place in time) I was not a fan of. It is purely a personal preference and most assuredly will not echo others sentiments.
You can read all of my reviews, here.
Publisher: 47 North
ISBN: 9781503904101
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 3.7/5
Publisher’s Description: It begins among the Carpathian peaks, when an intrepid explorer discovers a mysterious golden box. She brings it back with her to the foggy streets of Victorian London, unaware of its dangerous power…or that an evil beyond imagining has already taken root in the city. Stoker, a successful theater manager but frustrated writer, is drawn into a deadly web spun by the wealthy founders of a mission house for the poor. Far from a safe haven, the mission harbors a dark and terrifying secret.
Review: I had read ” The Jekyll Revelation” or rather gave it a DNF due to some perceived inconsistencies. I was surprised to find that I really enjoyed this work, due to the well built characters and shifting movement. The world building is great as is the era in which it is depicted.
“So why you no give 5 stars!!?”. Without giving too much away, the last third of the novel takes a shift into an area (place in time) I was not a fan of. It is purely a personal preference and most assuredly will not echo others sentiments.
You can read all of my reviews, here.
June 20, 2018
This story is like the old saying "I love when a plan comes together"! Masello has braided three main story lines that concludes with good winning over evil. Archaeologist Minerva (Mina for short) is focused on getting a photo of a sphinx known to have glowing eyes only one day a year and only at dusk. Bram Stoker is a London theater manager with writing goals. Lucinda is a victim of despair over the death of her child in a despicable match making factory. Additional characters fill the pages with wit and charisma during 1895 London. Quickly paced and filled with page after page of paranormal events and heart rendering prose. Excellent book and an author that makes it possible. "A copy of this book was provided by 47North via Netgalley with no requirements for a review. Comments here are my honest opinion." Love the cover art.
February 22, 2022
This has been placed in my top ten books of all time. A supernatural historical fiction, with all the feels. I highly recommend reading this one as soon as possible.
August 28, 2020
3.5 stars.
Okay, I'm finally getting around to catching up on writing some reviews. It's taken an age. So, apologies.
I bought The Night Crossing based purely on the cover and the premiss on its sleeve. I still love the cover. The novel itself is divided into two sections. The second part of the book jumps forward a number of years to 1912, and covers events surrounding the sinking of the Titanic.
This was a strange book to rate. One-hundred-and-eighty pages in this was headed towards a five star rating. The opening focuses on Mina Harcourt, and it surrounds a mysterious box she finds in Transylvania. After returning to London, Mina encounters Bram Stoker and gets embroiled in the Egyptian antiquities craze sweeping London.
Honestly, what could be better than introducing the characters of Bram Stoker and Henry Irving, or observing the miserable conditions endured in workhouses, or the bizarre Egyptian rituals being carried out by the middle classes, while all the time trying to figure out a mystery surrounding a small coffin-like box?
Unfortunately though, after such an incredible build-up, the horror element slipped firmly onto the back burner. The box itself turns out to be something of a MacGuffin, and the intriguing details of the entity it contains is never fully visited.
The novel turns into a slow paced study of Bram Stoker's life and the times in which he lived.
The second part of the novel jumps forwards in time. Bram is now an older man, and events see him and Mina boarding the ill fated Titanic. I put off reading this section, because I was still smarting that a novel touted as "the events that influenced Stoker's creation of Dracula" had absolutely nothing to do with the vampire mythos.
Actually, most of the mytery within the pages of The Night Crossing is centered around ancient Egypt. and hence should have been lauded as a marker for Stoker's novel Jewel of Seven Stars. Of course, it is Dracula for which Stoker is most renowned, and hence this was the title used as a lure.
Likewise, I could see no viable reason for jumping forwards in time and linking Stoker with the sinking of the Titanic, other than that the man died within weeks of its sinking. Honestly, though, this part actually supplied a really nice wrap-up for the novel. I thoroughly enjoyed this section of the book.
Summary: I'll definitely read more by Robert Masello. The man can write. If you enjoy historical mystery, but with a touch of (very) quiet horror, then The Night Crossing is probably a good fit for you.
Okay, I'm finally getting around to catching up on writing some reviews. It's taken an age. So, apologies.
I bought The Night Crossing based purely on the cover and the premiss on its sleeve. I still love the cover. The novel itself is divided into two sections. The second part of the book jumps forward a number of years to 1912, and covers events surrounding the sinking of the Titanic.
This was a strange book to rate. One-hundred-and-eighty pages in this was headed towards a five star rating. The opening focuses on Mina Harcourt, and it surrounds a mysterious box she finds in Transylvania. After returning to London, Mina encounters Bram Stoker and gets embroiled in the Egyptian antiquities craze sweeping London.
Honestly, what could be better than introducing the characters of Bram Stoker and Henry Irving, or observing the miserable conditions endured in workhouses, or the bizarre Egyptian rituals being carried out by the middle classes, while all the time trying to figure out a mystery surrounding a small coffin-like box?
Unfortunately though, after such an incredible build-up, the horror element slipped firmly onto the back burner. The box itself turns out to be something of a MacGuffin, and the intriguing details of the entity it contains is never fully visited.
The novel turns into a slow paced study of Bram Stoker's life and the times in which he lived.
The second part of the novel jumps forwards in time. Bram is now an older man, and events see him and Mina boarding the ill fated Titanic. I put off reading this section, because I was still smarting that a novel touted as "the events that influenced Stoker's creation of Dracula" had absolutely nothing to do with the vampire mythos.
Actually, most of the mytery within the pages of The Night Crossing is centered around ancient Egypt. and hence should have been lauded as a marker for Stoker's novel Jewel of Seven Stars. Of course, it is Dracula for which Stoker is most renowned, and hence this was the title used as a lure.
Likewise, I could see no viable reason for jumping forwards in time and linking Stoker with the sinking of the Titanic, other than that the man died within weeks of its sinking. Honestly, though, this part actually supplied a really nice wrap-up for the novel. I thoroughly enjoyed this section of the book.
Summary: I'll definitely read more by Robert Masello. The man can write. If you enjoy historical mystery, but with a touch of (very) quiet horror, then The Night Crossing is probably a good fit for you.
December 17, 2018
Dracula, Bram Stoker’s masterpiece, has been a cornerstone of literary horror since its publication in 1897. In the intervening 121 years, Stoker’s novel has inspired plays, motion pictures, television series, and other novels and short stories. But what was Stoker’s inspiration for the book? That is the intriguing question addressed in Robert Masello’s new novel The Night Crossing.
In 1895, Bram Stoker was working for actor Henry Irving and managing the Lyceum Theatre in London’s West End. He enjoyed his work, but continued to pursue writing. He dreamt of writing a significant story—something that would captivate readers, and imbue his life and career with a sense of literary immortality.
While walking home from the Lyceum, Stoker noticed a young woman standing on the embankment of the Thames. He sensed what she was about to do, and after she threw herself into the river, he dove in after her and pulled her to safety (struggling against the stones she placed in her pockets). The act of saving the young woman set in motion a series of events that would involve mummies, giant scarabs, mystical forces, and evil of an all too human nature. And it is those events that would ultimately provide the inspiration for his masterpiece, Dracula.
In The Night Crossing, Robert Masello weaves a marvelous tale that blends historic people and events with the fantastic. He masterfully uses the Egyptomania that was sweeping London during the late 1800s to marvelous effect, drawing fascinating connections between Egypt, London and Eastern Europe that result in an exciting, and sometimes harrowing, adventure for Stoker and a young female archaeologist. He also references the burgeoning social upheaval and discrepancies between the very rich and the very poor at the time, creating a compelling backdrop for the action of the story.
The characters, many of whom are based on known historical figures, are nicely drawn. Of particular note is a character of Masello’s creation: Mina Harcourt. The daughter of a British Egyptologist and a woman of Roma descent, Mina offers a window into the difficulties faced by adventurous young women and people of color at this point in history. She is continually questioned regarding her position in society as a woman whose skin is brown instead of white. And while Mina is clearly the intellectual equal of any of the male experts in archaeology with whom she interacts, she is repeatedly dismissed, belittled or underestimated. Masello reminds us not only of how far we have come, in more than a century since this story is set, but also of the changes that still need to occur, so that women like Mina Harcourt can thrive like their male counterparts.
The Night Crossing is a rollicking adventure, filled with great characters and events that push just to the limit of believability. It is a page turning novel that readers will want to believe happened—even when they know what they are reading did not actually occur.
Reviewed by Daryl M., Librarian, West Valley Regional Branch Library,
In 1895, Bram Stoker was working for actor Henry Irving and managing the Lyceum Theatre in London’s West End. He enjoyed his work, but continued to pursue writing. He dreamt of writing a significant story—something that would captivate readers, and imbue his life and career with a sense of literary immortality.
While walking home from the Lyceum, Stoker noticed a young woman standing on the embankment of the Thames. He sensed what she was about to do, and after she threw herself into the river, he dove in after her and pulled her to safety (struggling against the stones she placed in her pockets). The act of saving the young woman set in motion a series of events that would involve mummies, giant scarabs, mystical forces, and evil of an all too human nature. And it is those events that would ultimately provide the inspiration for his masterpiece, Dracula.
In The Night Crossing, Robert Masello weaves a marvelous tale that blends historic people and events with the fantastic. He masterfully uses the Egyptomania that was sweeping London during the late 1800s to marvelous effect, drawing fascinating connections between Egypt, London and Eastern Europe that result in an exciting, and sometimes harrowing, adventure for Stoker and a young female archaeologist. He also references the burgeoning social upheaval and discrepancies between the very rich and the very poor at the time, creating a compelling backdrop for the action of the story.
The characters, many of whom are based on known historical figures, are nicely drawn. Of particular note is a character of Masello’s creation: Mina Harcourt. The daughter of a British Egyptologist and a woman of Roma descent, Mina offers a window into the difficulties faced by adventurous young women and people of color at this point in history. She is continually questioned regarding her position in society as a woman whose skin is brown instead of white. And while Mina is clearly the intellectual equal of any of the male experts in archaeology with whom she interacts, she is repeatedly dismissed, belittled or underestimated. Masello reminds us not only of how far we have come, in more than a century since this story is set, but also of the changes that still need to occur, so that women like Mina Harcourt can thrive like their male counterparts.
The Night Crossing is a rollicking adventure, filled with great characters and events that push just to the limit of believability. It is a page turning novel that readers will want to believe happened—even when they know what they are reading did not actually occur.
Reviewed by Daryl M., Librarian, West Valley Regional Branch Library,
June 13, 2018
5 stars
Bram Stoker lives in London at the turn of the 19th Century. He manages a theater called the Lyceum that is putting on a shocking and spectacular production of a Faustian play. One evening he saves a young woman drowning by suicide in the Thames River. He is hailed as a hero, much to his chagrin.
Meanwhile, in the Carpathians, Mina and her crew of three porters fight their way up to a mountain where she captures the image of a Sphinx on the mountaintop. As they fight their way down the mountain, the weather turns treacherous and they take cover in a cave. Two of the porters leave in the night. Inside the cave, Mina finds a skeleton and other artifacts.
These two scenarios begin the story about which Mr. Masello wishes to tell the reader. It is a wonderful and adventurous story, primarily starring Bram Stoker and Mina Harcourt. The book is populated with some well-known figures of the time such as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Oscar Wilde. While there are some vague parallels to Stoker’s famous book Dracula, it stands alone as a great story in its own right. It is very well written and plotted as are all of Mr. Masello’s novels that I have thus far read. It is fraught with danger and action. I especially appreciated the vivid descriptions of the sinking of the Titanic. I have had a fascination with the sinking of the “unsinkable” ship ever since I was a child, and was thrilled to find such wonderful descriptive pictures of the tragedy in this book.
I want to thank NetGalley and 47thNorth for forwarding to me a copy of this remarkable book to read, enjoy and review.
Bram Stoker lives in London at the turn of the 19th Century. He manages a theater called the Lyceum that is putting on a shocking and spectacular production of a Faustian play. One evening he saves a young woman drowning by suicide in the Thames River. He is hailed as a hero, much to his chagrin.
Meanwhile, in the Carpathians, Mina and her crew of three porters fight their way up to a mountain where she captures the image of a Sphinx on the mountaintop. As they fight their way down the mountain, the weather turns treacherous and they take cover in a cave. Two of the porters leave in the night. Inside the cave, Mina finds a skeleton and other artifacts.
These two scenarios begin the story about which Mr. Masello wishes to tell the reader. It is a wonderful and adventurous story, primarily starring Bram Stoker and Mina Harcourt. The book is populated with some well-known figures of the time such as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Oscar Wilde. While there are some vague parallels to Stoker’s famous book Dracula, it stands alone as a great story in its own right. It is very well written and plotted as are all of Mr. Masello’s novels that I have thus far read. It is fraught with danger and action. I especially appreciated the vivid descriptions of the sinking of the Titanic. I have had a fascination with the sinking of the “unsinkable” ship ever since I was a child, and was thrilled to find such wonderful descriptive pictures of the tragedy in this book.
I want to thank NetGalley and 47thNorth for forwarding to me a copy of this remarkable book to read, enjoy and review.
January 29, 2020
By the middle of the book, I loved it, but it lost a bit of impetus towards the end. The end itself did redeem it somewhat.
March 9, 2019
I love Dracula, I love anything Ancient Egyptian related, and while I thought it was odd to combine the two I figured I would give it a shot. The results were...odd.
First and foremost, I found it rather odd that rather than saying these events influenced Stoker's Jewel of the Seven Stars, he went with Dracula. Maybe he did it because Dracula is the most well-known of Stoker's works and he wanted the name recognition. Maybe he wanted to write a fresh, new take on the inspiration behind Dracula, and while he certainly did that, it really doesn't make much sense in the long run. Why, after witnessing an Egyptian ritual about prolonging one's life--which was poorly explained, btw--does Stoker decide that he needs to go to Transylvania? Masello attempts to make this seem like a natural progression by having the book start out with the character of Mina exploring in Romania and finding what I assume is supposed to be the tentative bridge between the two ideas, the Great Bucegi Sphinx, but outside of telling us that it's foreboding and there is this sense of evil that surrounds it, that plot never really goes anywhere.
Speaking of Mina, she is one of several callbacks to Dracula. Brillian, beautiful, headstrong, she's a a woman who is clearly supposed to be ahead of her time, and serves as Stoker's basis for Wilhemina Harker. (And if this isn't clear enough, one of the villains will later list all of the callbacks, allusions, etc. later on in the novel. You know, because they weren't obvious enough.) The other callback is a woman named Lucinda who really only resembles Lucy in name only; that, and I suppose the fact that both of them serve as the catalyst for the action of both stories? Lucinda is a tragic figure who seems to be put through the ringer and never really gets a happy ending. In fact, in the second part of the novel, she's dropped entirely.
And that's the thing, there are a lot of ideas sprinkled throughout that are entirely dropped like Masello had no idea what to do with any of them. There's the golden box that Mina found while in Romania that contains a spirit, but that's really all we know about it. Who the spirit is/was is pretty much inconsequential, but hey, everyone loves a possessed object, right? The box doesn't really play that big of a role in the story. Sure, characters keep trying to steal it, but by the end I don't know what the point of including it really was. A character is able to speak to a deceased loved one, whose only role seems to be to drop two plot details and then be forgotten about entirely. There's also maybe some sort of creature living in the villain's underground lair? We don't know and Masello doesn't really care to tell us. All of these are potentially interesting ideas if he had just taken the time to expand upon them. Flesh out these ideas and actually make them matter to the story instead of just little tidbits that are just kind of there.
Perhaps the biggest "why was this included?" moment of the book is the whole adventure on the Titanic. Yes, you read that right, the last portion of the novel takes place on the Titanic for no other reason than because why not? (Apparently, Masello was inspired by the fact that Bram Stoker died not long after the sinking of the Titanic.) There's just something so eye-roll enducing about using the Titanic as a plot device, especially since it seems like Masello had no idea how to end his story, so he just decided to let the sinking of the ship do it for him. I cannot stress enough how there is really no reason to include the Titanic, it's so out of left field that it's actually pretty funny.
Overall, this book reads like Masello cobbled together several different ideas because he didn't know how to flesh any of them out for their own standalone story. It's a shame because as I've said, there was potential littered throughout the book if he just bothered to expand upon pretty much anything that happened. It still wouldn't have been a great book, but it would have been more interesting. If nothing else, I can say that I kept reading it, if only to see where exactly he was going with any of this.
First and foremost, I found it rather odd that rather than saying these events influenced Stoker's Jewel of the Seven Stars, he went with Dracula. Maybe he did it because Dracula is the most well-known of Stoker's works and he wanted the name recognition. Maybe he wanted to write a fresh, new take on the inspiration behind Dracula, and while he certainly did that, it really doesn't make much sense in the long run. Why, after witnessing an Egyptian ritual about prolonging one's life--which was poorly explained, btw--does Stoker decide that he needs to go to Transylvania? Masello attempts to make this seem like a natural progression by having the book start out with the character of Mina exploring in Romania and finding what I assume is supposed to be the tentative bridge between the two ideas, the Great Bucegi Sphinx, but outside of telling us that it's foreboding and there is this sense of evil that surrounds it, that plot never really goes anywhere.
Speaking of Mina, she is one of several callbacks to Dracula. Brillian, beautiful, headstrong, she's a a woman who is clearly supposed to be ahead of her time, and serves as Stoker's basis for Wilhemina Harker. (And if this isn't clear enough, one of the villains will later list all of the callbacks, allusions, etc. later on in the novel. You know, because they weren't obvious enough.) The other callback is a woman named Lucinda who really only resembles Lucy in name only; that, and I suppose the fact that both of them serve as the catalyst for the action of both stories? Lucinda is a tragic figure who seems to be put through the ringer and never really gets a happy ending. In fact, in the second part of the novel, she's dropped entirely.
And that's the thing, there are a lot of ideas sprinkled throughout that are entirely dropped like Masello had no idea what to do with any of them. There's the golden box that Mina found while in Romania that contains a spirit, but that's really all we know about it. Who the spirit is/was is pretty much inconsequential, but hey, everyone loves a possessed object, right? The box doesn't really play that big of a role in the story. Sure, characters keep trying to steal it, but by the end I don't know what the point of including it really was. A character is able to speak to a deceased loved one, whose only role seems to be to drop two plot details and then be forgotten about entirely. There's also maybe some sort of creature living in the villain's underground lair? We don't know and Masello doesn't really care to tell us. All of these are potentially interesting ideas if he had just taken the time to expand upon them. Flesh out these ideas and actually make them matter to the story instead of just little tidbits that are just kind of there.
Perhaps the biggest "why was this included?" moment of the book is the whole adventure on the Titanic. Yes, you read that right, the last portion of the novel takes place on the Titanic for no other reason than because why not? (Apparently, Masello was inspired by the fact that Bram Stoker died not long after the sinking of the Titanic.) There's just something so eye-roll enducing about using the Titanic as a plot device, especially since it seems like Masello had no idea how to end his story, so he just decided to let the sinking of the ship do it for him. I cannot stress enough how there is really no reason to include the Titanic, it's so out of left field that it's actually pretty funny.
Overall, this book reads like Masello cobbled together several different ideas because he didn't know how to flesh any of them out for their own standalone story. It's a shame because as I've said, there was potential littered throughout the book if he just bothered to expand upon pretty much anything that happened. It still wouldn't have been a great book, but it would have been more interesting. If nothing else, I can say that I kept reading it, if only to see where exactly he was going with any of this.
July 13, 2023
Author Robert Masello’s latest travels back for another go of historical fiction set in Victorian London. Two years back, Masello had Robert Louis Stevenson stalk Jack the Ripper in The Jekyll Revelation. Upping his game, Masello bites into the most-enduring of all horror stories, Dracula. The Night Crossing exhumes Bram Stoker’s background as he investigates, of all things, an ancient Egyptian curse that is the potion needed for his famous novel’s origin. Along the way he is enamored, and ably assisted, by a regal Gypsy lovely who possesses knowledge of that most desolate of lands, Transylvania. Yes, that plot summary is as heavy-handed as the novel itself and unfortunately comes nowhere near a hopeful Dracula vs the Mummy crossover.
Instead of MST3K-worthy schlock, Masello writes an intriguing and well-documented piece of work, truly making his fiction as historical as possible. He doesn’t craft Stoker as a retread of a hero, rather as a fiery Irishman who is solely attempting to do something good, albeit for the sake of gathering story material. Tales of Victorian virtue don’t always make for the most gripping of literary devices, so in Stoker’s quest for doing the right thing, the plot jumps around as ungrounded lightning. The current is there, both bright and hot, but the straight flash of the story becomes lost. Carpathian adventures, a cemetery ghost story, unification of labor workers, a cursed gold box, and a certain trans-Atlantic voyage wraps The Night Crossing within several layers of heavy gauze, entombing the sure-shot tale into a deeply buried sarcophagus. Gothic horror and Victorian crime is a genre ripe for blood-letting. Masello needed to abandon the historical plight of man and let it flow. Less of the theater backstage, and more of the spectacle, please.
Masello is asking his readers to take a ransom cab with him and explore Stoker’s inspiration for Dracula. The story is sound, and the ride a fun one - dark and creepy with fog and large insects - but impaling the Egyptian Book of Dead with the legend of Vlad Dracul was an unexpected mashup that required an unnecessary amount of explanation. The beginning for Dracula should be as easy and smooth as an Irish car bomb. Whisky. Guinness. Done. Anyway, didn’t the Lore podcast already cover Drac’s origin tale?
Garlands of garlic and fangs of thanks to both NetGalley and 47North for the ARC. And hey, Masello… I’m truly a fan (check out my reviews). Looking forward to your next book.
Instead of MST3K-worthy schlock, Masello writes an intriguing and well-documented piece of work, truly making his fiction as historical as possible. He doesn’t craft Stoker as a retread of a hero, rather as a fiery Irishman who is solely attempting to do something good, albeit for the sake of gathering story material. Tales of Victorian virtue don’t always make for the most gripping of literary devices, so in Stoker’s quest for doing the right thing, the plot jumps around as ungrounded lightning. The current is there, both bright and hot, but the straight flash of the story becomes lost. Carpathian adventures, a cemetery ghost story, unification of labor workers, a cursed gold box, and a certain trans-Atlantic voyage wraps The Night Crossing within several layers of heavy gauze, entombing the sure-shot tale into a deeply buried sarcophagus. Gothic horror and Victorian crime is a genre ripe for blood-letting. Masello needed to abandon the historical plight of man and let it flow. Less of the theater backstage, and more of the spectacle, please.
Masello is asking his readers to take a ransom cab with him and explore Stoker’s inspiration for Dracula. The story is sound, and the ride a fun one - dark and creepy with fog and large insects - but impaling the Egyptian Book of Dead with the legend of Vlad Dracul was an unexpected mashup that required an unnecessary amount of explanation. The beginning for Dracula should be as easy and smooth as an Irish car bomb. Whisky. Guinness. Done. Anyway, didn’t the Lore podcast already cover Drac’s origin tale?
Garlands of garlic and fangs of thanks to both NetGalley and 47North for the ARC. And hey, Masello… I’m truly a fan (check out my reviews). Looking forward to your next book.
September 24, 2018
I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.The nitty-gritty: Full of mystery and adventure, The Night Crossing offers up fascinating history and supernatural eeriness in equal measure.
I had no idea what to expect when I started reading The Night Crossing , only that real life author Bram Stoker was the main character in the story. I was sort of expecting a tale about vampire mythology—because when I hear the name “Bram Stoker” my brain immediately goes to vampires—however, there was not a whiff of vampires to be found anywhere, much to my surprise and delight. Masello has written a fast-paced mystery with Egyptian mythology at the center of the action, a twisty, cinematic story complete with engaging characters, evil bad guys, and one mysterious gold box that might be cursed. Best of all, this book is full of history and real life characters from the Victorian era, 1895 to be precise, and I ate up every detail of Bram Stoker’s life, which is mostly true, although the author mentions in his Afterword that several events are fictionalized and added to move his story forward. And who can blame him for that?
The story alternates among several key characters. Minerva “Mina” Harcourt has trekked to the Carpathian mountains in order to witness a mystical event, and during her trip she unwittingly takes possession of a small gold box, which she brings back to London with her. The box appears to be empty, yet its clasp opens and closes by itself. Mina is fascinated by ancient artifacts and sets out to learn more about the origins of the box. Meanwhile, would-be author Bram Stoker is currently the house manager of the Lyceum Theatre in London by night, but yearns to leave his mark on the world with a piece of fiction that will make him a household name and pull him out of his melancholy life. His wife is no longer interested in him, and she doesn’t believe he has it in him to write a novel. But Bram is full of ideas and he knows there’s a novel inside him somewhere, if only he could find the right inspiration.
One night after leaving the theatre, Bram happens upon a destitute woman who is about to throw herself into the Thames. He rescues her and offers his help, even as she’s rambling on about her dead son Davey. Her name is Lucinda Watts, and she’s been living and working at the Thorne Mission House, barely surviving the harsh conditions of making matches. But her tale, when she finally reveals to Bram what’s happened, is shocking. She claims her son Davey was killed by none other than the Matron of Thorne House, Winifred Thorne.
As the stories of Mina, Bram and Lucinda come together, they discover the evil lurking behind the altruistic facade of Bartholomew and Winifred Thorne and join forces to stop them. With Victorian London as the backdrop, they will encounter all sorts of odd and dangerous things in the eerie and fog-shrouded streets, including Egyptian mummies, ghosts, hidden tunnels and more.
If you love historical mysteries, then you will probably love this book. Masello draws out the suspense of the gold box and its true purpose for most of the story, as well as the nefarious actions of the Thorne siblings and the purpose behind them. He also nails the Victorian flavor, infusing his tale with Gothic details and plenty of atmosphere. The Egyptian elements made this such an interesting story, from the Carpathian Sphinx to the idea of hiding treasurers in a mummy’s gauze wrappings to the mythology of the mummy’s curse, there is plenty to discover if you love the mysteries of ancient Egypt.
Because Bram Stoker is the focus of The Night Crossing , I especially loved all the details about how he got his inspiration for Dracula, which would become his most famous novel. If you haven’t caught on already, “Minerva” and “Lucinda” will turn out to be “Mina” and “Lucy” in Dracula, as well as several other acquaintances of Stoker who become characters in the novel. When the story opens, Stoker is questioning his self-worth as a writer, and it was interesting to peek behind the curtain and watch him discover the seeds of what would become the famous classic horror tale. Although the supernatural elements are fictional, Masello throws in plenty of real-life historical accuracy in his story, as Stoker rubs elbows with such people as Arthur Conan Doyle, Florence Nightingale, and even Charles Darwin. Stoker did actually work at the Lyceum Theatre in London, and I could tell that Masello did lots of research, because the details felt authentic.
I was fascinated and horrified by some of the history of the Victorian time, in particularly the process of making matches and the facial disfigurement called “phossy jaw,” after the phosphorus used in making the tips of matches, a poisonous substance that affected mostly the women and children who worked in match factories. I was also interested to see that Mina is caught up in the burgeoning suffragette movement which becomes a passion of hers.
There were a couple of things that didn’t quite work for me, however. This story is so stuffed full of characters, events, subplots and history, that at times it felt like a little too much. Masello’s pacing is fantastic, however, which saved the story from actually feeling bogged down by these extra details. There’s also a very strange and unexpected time jump in the last 20% of the story that I thought wasn’t going to work for me. Luckily, it all comes together in the end and makes sense, but I have to admit it was jarring at first. Masello also tackles yet another famous historical event in this section—which I won’t mention here as it could be considered a spoiler—and even though it was a bit over-the-top for my tastes, I thought the storyline and the writing in particular during this section were very well done.
Overall, this was such a fun and exciting read. History buffs, and fans of Victorian era fiction in particular, are going to love the detail that Masello put into his story. I glad I’ve finally read something by this talented author, and I’ll be seeking out more of his work soon!
Big thanks to Wunderkind PR and the publisher for supplying a review copy.This review originally appeared on Books, Bones & Buffy
I had no idea what to expect when I started reading The Night Crossing , only that real life author Bram Stoker was the main character in the story. I was sort of expecting a tale about vampire mythology—because when I hear the name “Bram Stoker” my brain immediately goes to vampires—however, there was not a whiff of vampires to be found anywhere, much to my surprise and delight. Masello has written a fast-paced mystery with Egyptian mythology at the center of the action, a twisty, cinematic story complete with engaging characters, evil bad guys, and one mysterious gold box that might be cursed. Best of all, this book is full of history and real life characters from the Victorian era, 1895 to be precise, and I ate up every detail of Bram Stoker’s life, which is mostly true, although the author mentions in his Afterword that several events are fictionalized and added to move his story forward. And who can blame him for that?
The story alternates among several key characters. Minerva “Mina” Harcourt has trekked to the Carpathian mountains in order to witness a mystical event, and during her trip she unwittingly takes possession of a small gold box, which she brings back to London with her. The box appears to be empty, yet its clasp opens and closes by itself. Mina is fascinated by ancient artifacts and sets out to learn more about the origins of the box. Meanwhile, would-be author Bram Stoker is currently the house manager of the Lyceum Theatre in London by night, but yearns to leave his mark on the world with a piece of fiction that will make him a household name and pull him out of his melancholy life. His wife is no longer interested in him, and she doesn’t believe he has it in him to write a novel. But Bram is full of ideas and he knows there’s a novel inside him somewhere, if only he could find the right inspiration.
One night after leaving the theatre, Bram happens upon a destitute woman who is about to throw herself into the Thames. He rescues her and offers his help, even as she’s rambling on about her dead son Davey. Her name is Lucinda Watts, and she’s been living and working at the Thorne Mission House, barely surviving the harsh conditions of making matches. But her tale, when she finally reveals to Bram what’s happened, is shocking. She claims her son Davey was killed by none other than the Matron of Thorne House, Winifred Thorne.
As the stories of Mina, Bram and Lucinda come together, they discover the evil lurking behind the altruistic facade of Bartholomew and Winifred Thorne and join forces to stop them. With Victorian London as the backdrop, they will encounter all sorts of odd and dangerous things in the eerie and fog-shrouded streets, including Egyptian mummies, ghosts, hidden tunnels and more.
If you love historical mysteries, then you will probably love this book. Masello draws out the suspense of the gold box and its true purpose for most of the story, as well as the nefarious actions of the Thorne siblings and the purpose behind them. He also nails the Victorian flavor, infusing his tale with Gothic details and plenty of atmosphere. The Egyptian elements made this such an interesting story, from the Carpathian Sphinx to the idea of hiding treasurers in a mummy’s gauze wrappings to the mythology of the mummy’s curse, there is plenty to discover if you love the mysteries of ancient Egypt.
Because Bram Stoker is the focus of The Night Crossing , I especially loved all the details about how he got his inspiration for Dracula, which would become his most famous novel. If you haven’t caught on already, “Minerva” and “Lucinda” will turn out to be “Mina” and “Lucy” in Dracula, as well as several other acquaintances of Stoker who become characters in the novel. When the story opens, Stoker is questioning his self-worth as a writer, and it was interesting to peek behind the curtain and watch him discover the seeds of what would become the famous classic horror tale. Although the supernatural elements are fictional, Masello throws in plenty of real-life historical accuracy in his story, as Stoker rubs elbows with such people as Arthur Conan Doyle, Florence Nightingale, and even Charles Darwin. Stoker did actually work at the Lyceum Theatre in London, and I could tell that Masello did lots of research, because the details felt authentic.
I was fascinated and horrified by some of the history of the Victorian time, in particularly the process of making matches and the facial disfigurement called “phossy jaw,” after the phosphorus used in making the tips of matches, a poisonous substance that affected mostly the women and children who worked in match factories. I was also interested to see that Mina is caught up in the burgeoning suffragette movement which becomes a passion of hers.
There were a couple of things that didn’t quite work for me, however. This story is so stuffed full of characters, events, subplots and history, that at times it felt like a little too much. Masello’s pacing is fantastic, however, which saved the story from actually feeling bogged down by these extra details. There’s also a very strange and unexpected time jump in the last 20% of the story that I thought wasn’t going to work for me. Luckily, it all comes together in the end and makes sense, but I have to admit it was jarring at first. Masello also tackles yet another famous historical event in this section—which I won’t mention here as it could be considered a spoiler—and even though it was a bit over-the-top for my tastes, I thought the storyline and the writing in particular during this section were very well done.
Overall, this was such a fun and exciting read. History buffs, and fans of Victorian era fiction in particular, are going to love the detail that Masello put into his story. I glad I’ve finally read something by this talented author, and I’ll be seeking out more of his work soon!
Big thanks to Wunderkind PR and the publisher for supplying a review copy.This review originally appeared on Books, Bones & Buffy
February 12, 2019
“The Night Crossing” is a suspense-filled historical fantasy about the events that inspired Bram Stoker’s “Dracula.”
The novel follows in the wake of Masello’s “The Jekyll Revelation,” which tells the secret story that inspired Robert Louis Stevenson’s “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.” Both stories involve famous writers, Stevenson and Stoker, as main characters who become involved in supernatural events that are eerily similar to their most famous works. In “The Night Crossing,” Stoker is an aspiring novelist fascinated with the occult. But after he comes to the aid of a young woman whose child died under suspicious circumstances, he finds himself drawn into a deadly mystery involving spirits, the undead, and Egyptian necromancy.
As the mystery begins to unravel, Stoker discovers that someone in London is using ancient Egyptian magic to achieve immortality by feeding off the souls of dying children. Just like a vampire feeds off the blood of his victims. Stoker soon takes on the role of his fictional vampire hunter, Abraham Van Helsing. He is joined by a brave and beautiful archeologist, aptly named Mina, who ends up inspiring another character in Stoker’s famous tale. Even more, Mina has a history with the killer, who may have murdered her father to obtain the occult magic he uses on his victims. Together, Stoker and Mina, like Van Helsing and Mina Harker, become determined to hunt down the killer and put an end to his evil ways.
The story gripped me from the start and kept me turning the pages into the wee hours of the night. Robert Masello is a master of suspense, but it’s his use of magical and supernatural elements that I enjoy the most. This was true of “The Einstein Prophecy” and “The Jekyll Revelation,” and “The Night Crossing” did not disappoint! If you like historical fantasy filled with mystery and suspense, you’ll love The Night Crossing.
The novel follows in the wake of Masello’s “The Jekyll Revelation,” which tells the secret story that inspired Robert Louis Stevenson’s “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.” Both stories involve famous writers, Stevenson and Stoker, as main characters who become involved in supernatural events that are eerily similar to their most famous works. In “The Night Crossing,” Stoker is an aspiring novelist fascinated with the occult. But after he comes to the aid of a young woman whose child died under suspicious circumstances, he finds himself drawn into a deadly mystery involving spirits, the undead, and Egyptian necromancy.
As the mystery begins to unravel, Stoker discovers that someone in London is using ancient Egyptian magic to achieve immortality by feeding off the souls of dying children. Just like a vampire feeds off the blood of his victims. Stoker soon takes on the role of his fictional vampire hunter, Abraham Van Helsing. He is joined by a brave and beautiful archeologist, aptly named Mina, who ends up inspiring another character in Stoker’s famous tale. Even more, Mina has a history with the killer, who may have murdered her father to obtain the occult magic he uses on his victims. Together, Stoker and Mina, like Van Helsing and Mina Harker, become determined to hunt down the killer and put an end to his evil ways.
The story gripped me from the start and kept me turning the pages into the wee hours of the night. Robert Masello is a master of suspense, but it’s his use of magical and supernatural elements that I enjoy the most. This was true of “The Einstein Prophecy” and “The Jekyll Revelation,” and “The Night Crossing” did not disappoint! If you like historical fantasy filled with mystery and suspense, you’ll love The Night Crossing.
March 1, 2020
This was surprisingly excellent! I was surprised because I haven’t previously been impressed with the books available from Amazon Prime Reading.
I really enjoyed this historic fiction that revolved around actual literary notables like Bram Stoker, Sir Henry Irving, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Oscar Wilde’s mother with a good deal of the action taking place in and near the Lyceum Theatre.
I found the depiction of these actual historic characters interesting and believable. The fictional characters were well-developed, and the story which suggested a “real” supernatural mystery that inspired Stoker’s Dracula was compelling.
I really enjoyed this historic fiction that revolved around actual literary notables like Bram Stoker, Sir Henry Irving, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Oscar Wilde’s mother with a good deal of the action taking place in and near the Lyceum Theatre.
I found the depiction of these actual historic characters interesting and believable. The fictional characters were well-developed, and the story which suggested a “real” supernatural mystery that inspired Stoker’s Dracula was compelling.
August 24, 2018
I won and then received my advance reader's copy of Robert Masello's historical fiction work posthaste. I think he's done a fine job with his complex weaving of fact and fiction and fantasy, "The Night Crossing", which officially is published Sept. 18. As a reader who was enthralled with not the comic versions of "Dracula" by Bram Stoker, who's the hero of Masello's new historical novel, I really enjoyed this book and recommend it. Don't want to give away the "spoilers", though. Get it and take your time reading this one.
January 9, 2022
This is an immensely readable bit of speculative supernatural history.
Combing they mysterious Carpathian Sphinx which is real https://wassupromania.com/the-carpath... although not man made
And the life of Bram Stoker - the author of Dracula while still managing The Lyceum theater
and fictionally the people who would become characters in his most famous work and some very creepy people who have their own version of immortality in mind....
The author weaves together a fascinating tale that keeps you guessing until almost the last page.
Combing they mysterious Carpathian Sphinx which is real https://wassupromania.com/the-carpath... although not man made
And the life of Bram Stoker - the author of Dracula while still managing The Lyceum theater
and fictionally the people who would become characters in his most famous work and some very creepy people who have their own version of immortality in mind....
The author weaves together a fascinating tale that keeps you guessing until almost the last page.
October 17, 2018
An excellent story of historical fiction on characters of which I knew little. Characters with similar names from Bram Stoker’s Dracula was a great addition to the storyline. The settings of Romania, foggy England, and the Titanic were all perfect for this scenario and just in time for Halloween season. The characters were well developed and the story easy to follow. One of my favorite books by Masello so far, though I have enjoyed all of his books that I’ve read.
June 12, 2018
This book was full of mystery and adventure from start to finish. I really enjoyed reading this one and couldn't believe the amount of twists and turns this tale had. Fabulous writing style and very accurate of its time.
November 5, 2018
I’m a sucker for Victorian England, and even more of a sucker for books that place Arthur Conan Doyle, Bram Stoker, etc. as important characters. So this was a win/win for me. Really enjoyed it, and will now go look for any other books written by this author!
September 19, 2018
I received a complimentary ARC copy of The Night Crossing
by Robert Masello from NetGalley and 47North in order to read and give an honest review.
The Night Crossing is a well written and intriguing gothic novel that blends historical fact, paranormal twists and a mystery, to create a tale that will keep you flipping pages. There are three main plot lines running through this story which all blend together into a fantastical tale that takes a very unexpected tangent about two-thirds the way through the book.
Following in her father’s footsteps, Egyptophile and archaeologist Mina sets out on an expedition to the Carpathian Mountains to visit and document a mysterious phenomenon of a Sphinx which when the sun sets appears to come to life. Mina and her guides climb a mountain to get a perfect vantage point to capture a photograph of the Sphinx. After getting the shot they start on the journey down the mountain when an unexpected storm forces them to seek shelter in a cave. Too dark to continue they decide to set up camp in the safety of the cave. Mina awakens to find two of the guides have abandoned them during the night. She retraces their footprints which leads her to the back of the cave where a skeleton whose hands have been damaged after an artefact of some sort had been forcibly removed. Mina finally tracks down the artefact, a mysterious gold box, to a gypsy camp but when she arrives they are in the throes of the funeral and can’t give Mina back the box quickly enough.
Aspiring writer, Bram Stoker working as the manager of the Lyceum Theatre in 19th century London has his life turned upside down when he stops to rescue a young waif, Lucinda, who has jumped off a bridge on the Thames River in an attempt to take her life. Being a kind gentleman, he continues to care about this young woman, her body ravaged by chemicals from working making matches in a mission house where she and her son resided. Lucinda’s suicide attempt was a result of being distraught over the death of her young son Davey and the guilt she feels not knowing what happened to his body. Stoker becomes a friend and a father-like figure to her and offers her kind words and support. When Lucinda returns to work at a mission house she is intent to find out what happened to the body of her son, but nothing can prepare her for what she finds. When Mina, Bram and Lucinda cross paths, a family-like bond is formed and together they fight an evil that could be the death of them.
In Night Crossing, Robert Masello creates an interesting well-rounded cast of characters with a few familiar names such as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and the “Unsinkable Molly Brown”. I was impressed by the intelligence, strength and resiliency displayed by his female characters as well as genuinely evil villains who the reader can’t help but despise. The author also tackles some of the social issues prevalent at the time such as racism and sexism which he addresses accurately and with class.
As a writer, I also enjoyed the way Mr Masello gives us insight into the fictional inspiration behind Stoker’s Dracula. Although I found the tangent as well as the time jump of 19 years a bit frustrating at first, I eventually grew to appreciate the author’s unique way of tying two very different storylines together making it fairly cohesive once it unravels.
All in all an interesting read that I would recommend to those looking for a gothic thriller with threads of the paranormal.
by Robert Masello from NetGalley and 47North in order to read and give an honest review.
The Night Crossing is a well written and intriguing gothic novel that blends historical fact, paranormal twists and a mystery, to create a tale that will keep you flipping pages. There are three main plot lines running through this story which all blend together into a fantastical tale that takes a very unexpected tangent about two-thirds the way through the book.
Following in her father’s footsteps, Egyptophile and archaeologist Mina sets out on an expedition to the Carpathian Mountains to visit and document a mysterious phenomenon of a Sphinx which when the sun sets appears to come to life. Mina and her guides climb a mountain to get a perfect vantage point to capture a photograph of the Sphinx. After getting the shot they start on the journey down the mountain when an unexpected storm forces them to seek shelter in a cave. Too dark to continue they decide to set up camp in the safety of the cave. Mina awakens to find two of the guides have abandoned them during the night. She retraces their footprints which leads her to the back of the cave where a skeleton whose hands have been damaged after an artefact of some sort had been forcibly removed. Mina finally tracks down the artefact, a mysterious gold box, to a gypsy camp but when she arrives they are in the throes of the funeral and can’t give Mina back the box quickly enough.
Aspiring writer, Bram Stoker working as the manager of the Lyceum Theatre in 19th century London has his life turned upside down when he stops to rescue a young waif, Lucinda, who has jumped off a bridge on the Thames River in an attempt to take her life. Being a kind gentleman, he continues to care about this young woman, her body ravaged by chemicals from working making matches in a mission house where she and her son resided. Lucinda’s suicide attempt was a result of being distraught over the death of her young son Davey and the guilt she feels not knowing what happened to his body. Stoker becomes a friend and a father-like figure to her and offers her kind words and support. When Lucinda returns to work at a mission house she is intent to find out what happened to the body of her son, but nothing can prepare her for what she finds. When Mina, Bram and Lucinda cross paths, a family-like bond is formed and together they fight an evil that could be the death of them.
In Night Crossing, Robert Masello creates an interesting well-rounded cast of characters with a few familiar names such as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and the “Unsinkable Molly Brown”. I was impressed by the intelligence, strength and resiliency displayed by his female characters as well as genuinely evil villains who the reader can’t help but despise. The author also tackles some of the social issues prevalent at the time such as racism and sexism which he addresses accurately and with class.
As a writer, I also enjoyed the way Mr Masello gives us insight into the fictional inspiration behind Stoker’s Dracula. Although I found the tangent as well as the time jump of 19 years a bit frustrating at first, I eventually grew to appreciate the author’s unique way of tying two very different storylines together making it fairly cohesive once it unravels.
All in all an interesting read that I would recommend to those looking for a gothic thriller with threads of the paranormal.
November 12, 2018
The Night Crossing by Robert Masello was a pleasant surprise I stumbled across while browsing Amazon's Kindle Unlimited Library for books about the dybbuk box. While this had nothing to do with the dybbuk box, the unique plot and familiar cast of characters easily entranced me and drew me into the story, which began on Samhain in the Carpathian Mountains at a temple resembling the Egyptian sphinx.
One of the main characters of this book was, interestingly enough, Bram Stoker, during his playwright days in London prior to authoring Dracula. Bram's involvement with certain members of London society (other writers such as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, explorers, historians, etc.) led to him being in "the right place at the right time" when explorer Mina Harcourt surfaces with a supposedly cursed object recovered from the Carpathian sphinx on All Hallows Eve. Bram finds himself invested in uncovering the mysteries surrounding Mina's ancient relic and meanwhile discovers that dark forces are at play in London... devouring the souls of the unfortunate in exchange for immortality.
One of the main characters of this book was, interestingly enough, Bram Stoker, during his playwright days in London prior to authoring Dracula. Bram's involvement with certain members of London society (other writers such as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, explorers, historians, etc.) led to him being in "the right place at the right time" when explorer Mina Harcourt surfaces with a supposedly cursed object recovered from the Carpathian sphinx on All Hallows Eve. Bram finds himself invested in uncovering the mysteries surrounding Mina's ancient relic and meanwhile discovers that dark forces are at play in London... devouring the souls of the unfortunate in exchange for immortality.
October 7, 2021
It has been some time since I've read anything as well rounded and fulfilling as I found this book to be. The Night Crossing weaves a fictional horror tale with historical events and Egyptology, along with an honest look at the suffering of the lower classes. Definitely worth a read if you're a fan of history, Egypt, and the late 1800's and turn of the century!
February 26, 2023
Intriguing
I’ve always loved stories involving real people and events. Who’s to say some of the stranger things in this story didn’t actually happen??
I also love the references in this story to works written by Stead. Of course I had to look them up and add them to my “must read” list.
Thank you for the adventure, Mr Masello
I’ve always loved stories involving real people and events. Who’s to say some of the stranger things in this story didn’t actually happen??
I also love the references in this story to works written by Stead. Of course I had to look them up and add them to my “must read” list.
Thank you for the adventure, Mr Masello
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