Review: The Death & Life of Lucy Westenra

 

What desperate steps will Lucy Westenra take to save her own life?
Hillingham in Hampstead, once the home of the well-to-do Westenra family, is now divided into apartments. When teacher Kate Balcombe sets about renovating her flat in the attic, she finds an unsent letter written 130 years before by Lucy, the nineteen-year-old daughter of the house.

You may know Lucy from Bram Stoker’s Dracula... a pretty, flirtatious girl with three ardent suitors, she is Mina Harker’s best friend. When Lucy falls mysteriously ill and dies, Van Helsing identifies her as a victim of the vampire.

But what if the monsters who hunt Lucy are much closer to home?

As Kate begins to investigate Lucy’s story, she meets James Harker, Mina’s great-great grandson, and together they uncover a long-hidden story of deception and murder. 

Review

I am a sucker for a vampire story.  I read Dracula during high school and fell in love with the lore of the undead. From Vlad the Impaler to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, I've delved into each interpretation of the myth. So, I was very happy to be asked to review Lucy's story. 

In this novel, we look at vampire lore through a very human lens. Lucy's descendants discover her writings and decide to explore the reasons behind her death. Lucy comes to life in as both victim and conqueror of misdirected beliefs. The fresh perspective creates suspense and drama that keep the pages turning, even if you're familiar with the basic plot of Lucy's story. 

The author deftly guides the reader through Lucy's transformation, giving everyone a fresh look at a very old tale. In the end, we are all aware that the truth may be hard to find. Kate Balcombe summarizes the journey well from her perspective. "The truth is often buried beneath layers of lies, and sometimes, the deadliest monsters are those we trust the most."

Purchase Links

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Death-Life-Lucy-Westenra-ebook/dp/B0F3Q4GZK6/

https://www.amazon.com/Death-Life-Lucy-Westenra-ebook/dp/B0F3Q4GZK6/

Author Bio –

Rosie Fiore is the author of eight published novels, including Wonder Women, After Isabella and What She Left, as well as The After Wife, written as Cass Hunter. She is a teacher of creative writing and a Royal Literary Fund Fellow. She lives in North London with her family, and can frequently be found wandering on the Heath or haunting a churchyard.

 Social Media Links – 

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