Book Review: The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova

The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love books that manage to combine all my favorite things...mystery, the supernatural, suspense, history, and romance. Although this book is really long, it moves quickly and keeps you guessing.

The premise is a hunt for the real Dracula, Vlad the Impaler. The mystery takes the characters (and readers) across the globe- America, Turkey, Bulgaria- all over Eastern Europe, really. As the historian follows clues taken from actual historical fact, danger follows him and those who assist him on his mission.

Kostova uses private correspondence liberally throughout to provide emotion and as a way to reveal secrets. A similar strategy was used in The Swan Thieves, another novel by the same author. This is very effective in breaking up the narrative and letting the reader see different sides to the characters.

Overall, a suspenseful story steeped in history. Highly recommended.

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