Fun adventure/mystery with unexpected twists and turns. Love the historical context. Slow build at first, but when it all starts to come together it's really great!

“At night, the shadows run free.”

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. I found it a little frustrating to have side characters introduced with a couple of chapters in their perspective only to disappear, never to be mentioned again.

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 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 is a Gothic tale featuring Bram Stoker and his encounters with Mina Harcourt and Lucinda Watts, (the former an explorer who finds a gold box with an ethereal aura, the latter a mother who seems to be able to communicate with her dead son). This leads Stoker to the world of Egyptology, and the pursuit of achieving eternal life, which comes at a nefarious cost.

This tale switches (third person) perspective from Stoker, Mina and Lucinda, with a time jump near the end of the story. The pacing was well executed, with historical figures and events blended into the fictional tale of mystery, horror and history. The time jump in the last third of the story to April 1912, while untrue, was a brilliant way to hypothesize the cause of the sinking of the Titanic.

It's not too difficult to see how the events of The Night Crossing could have actually inspired Stoker to write Dracula.

This book was full of mystery and adventure from start to finish. I really enjoyed reading this one and found it extremely ineresting I couldn't believe the amount of twists and turns this tale had. Fabulous writing style and very accurate of its time.

A pure delight! Just when you think you've found every GREAT author in existence.. POOF!! Out of the blue.. you're bowled over by one of the best books you've laid your hands on. I was gobsmacked by this fabulous story about Bram Stoker!! I know that it was fiction.. but, I SO want to believe that it's true. This is a must read for Halloween. I love how the author was able to bring about the events that lead to one of the greatest stories every told in the past hundred years. Even better.. is how the story does not have one vampire in it. Not one. Weaving in Egyptian folklore and blending it with a real life author fictional account of how he came to write the story... Just BRILLIANT!!

I know have the pleasure of finding that the author has penned a great many books.. and that I need to get busy buying and reading them! I may be a Johnny come lately to the party.. but, ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh.. am I about to have so much fun!!

This book turned out to be nothing like I expected. It was so much better. I expected a weird mash-up of Bram Stoker and some kind of vampire story. It was not that at all. It was excellently written. Masello was able to intertwine some very distinct story lines masterfully. Throw the Titanic in there, and I was hooked. There was enough of a supernatural twist to keep you interested, but it did not overtake the plot. If you've read any of Masello's other work and enjoyed it, you will not be disappointed in this one!

Thank you NetGalley for the chance to review this book

Mr Masello's forte is the writing of historical novels with a touch of the supernatural included. "The Night Crossing" is no exception. It is set in England during the late 1800s and early 1900s and features the author Bram (Abraham) Stoker. Stoker contributed more than a few books to the world of literature but is most remembered for "Dracula" a novel about an undead Vampire living in Transylvania but than migrating to London spreading his horrors there.

The story opens when Mina an intrepid explorer seeking out old ruins working in the Carpathian mountains discovers a beautiful golden box and brings it back with her to England completely unaware of it's evil power. She meets Stoker who is working as the manager of a successful theater and attempting part time to establish himself as a major author. Mina and Bram meet while becoming involved in a deadly plot that the wealthy owners of a safe haven for the poor have going for them. It is discovered that what these people who are brother and sister are engaged in is using ancient Egyptian methods in forestalling the aging process while using people staying at their safe haven as objects to utilize in their methods

The couple own a factory making matches using the poor as low or no paid workers to do so. The methods involve taking their souls and incorporating them into their own while killing the donor. Stoker and Mina are approached by Lucinda who is an employee of the factory and mother to one of the children used to harvest the soul. They begin their investigation and in determining what is going on Mr Masello makes the insinuation that in thinking about the possible eternal life gained by the couple and the source of Mina's find of the golden box Stoker conceives the basic idea of the "Dracula" novel.
One of the coincidences of the period the novel is set in in real life is that Bram Stoker died five days after the headlines of the sinking of the Titanic appeared. Masello takes advantage of this and places Stoker and Mina aboard the doomed Titanic in their pursuit of the non aging couple they have chased for many years. The ship's fate is chronicled faithfully indicating a good deal of research and an interest in it's fate by the author. The description and the inclusion of people that actually were present makes for a very well done final setting to an excellent novel by Mr. Masello and adds to the story rather than steering it in another direction. The presence of Bram Stoker on the Titanic is literary license- he never set foot upon her.

I’m so disappointed. On paper, this book is right up my alley, but something was stopping me from getting into it. I reached a third of the way through and decided that, unfortunately, it wasn’t for me. It has intrigue, fascinating characters, and it’s written really well. I just couldn’t connect with it. However, if you’re a fan of late 19th century authors, there’s references aplenty, and if you love when worlds collide then you’ll probably like this. This is a tale of three characters’ stories intertwining.

The Night Crossing is a chilling gothic adventure in the vein of supernatural classics Dracula and Frankenstein.  But as in many such tales the most horrifying monsters were once human. An intrepid explorer and Egyptian expert (Mina), a courageous writer fascinated by the occult (Bram Stoker), and a young woman seeking the truth behind her son’s death come together to face a malevolent power stealing the life essence of the poor, the people that no one will miss.  But evil hides itself well, and wealth encourages society to look away, making it all the more difficult to challenge. Rich in atmosphere, The Night Crossing captures the feel of London at the time - the fascination with the paranormal, the love of Egyptology, the huge division between rich and poor.


Although Robert Masello indicates that Bram Stoker’s adventures within the pages of The Night Crossing form the foundation of his novel Dracula, the novel is not derivative.  Masello has done an excellent job of creating a unique adventure with a foe who is not a vampire, but has enough similarity in nature to believably suggest a vampire.


I was very impressed by the breadth of The Night Crossing.  It is a suspenseful gothic adventure that possesses characters of believably strong emotion going against a powerful and cunning set of adversaries.  Readers empathize with the leads and understand their need to challenge a foe likely to be their death. I highly recommend The Night Crossing to anyone who enjoys gothic Victorian adventures.


5 / 5


I received a copy of The Night Crossing from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.


-- Crittermom

This book was full of mystery, intrigue, and historical detail, three things I love! It tackled a few different storylines and wove them together seamlessly. We had three main characters, Mina, Stoker, and Lucinda. Each of their stories was engaging and as they all intertwined, it simply got better and better. The setting was another reason that this novel was just right up my alley. 1895 London? Can there really be a better setting for a book such as this one? It was a magical novel that had the right amount of everything!

This is a nice book. I can't say much more because, while being well written and somewhat captiving, it didn't hold my attention completely: it was like watching one of those no-brain shows where you don't have to devote your whole attention to it.
The plot is, again, well written and flows really nicely, the characters are well shaped and the setting is fascinating.

Great horror thriller from Masello. In the style of Dracula, he invokes an atmospheric read that keeps you turning pages

I expected this book to be tolerably mediocre. Pretty but somewhat generic cover art, non-specific title, blurb plot that seems familiar. That's not a very sparkly assessment when beginning a book, is it? As readers, we understand that it's simply too much to expect that every book is going to be a 5/5. Sometimes, we just hope that it's a 3. We can settle for a 3.

The Night Crossing happily contradicted that initial impression!

Beginning in 1895, archaeologist Mina is in the Carpathian mountains racing to procure the perfect shot of an incongruous Egyptian Sphinx before a storm hits. They race to take cover in a cave to ride out the storm, only to discover a skeleton cradling a mysterious golden box. The story then jumps to London, where Bram Stoker presides over the Lyceum theater. On his walk home, he happens upon match girl, Lucinda attempting to throw herself in the Thames river to drown. These three characters are from different walks of life, yet somehow their stories are then masterfully woven together in a journey fraught with danger and adventure, to triumph over evil.

I adored all three characters. Mina is determined and brave. She's intelligent and forthright in a time when women were expected to be wives and nothing else. She's had an unusual childhood but looks back on it fondly, never regretting a moment. She faces adversity, pulls herself up by her bootstraps and continues on. Bram is a gallant, considerate, and introspective man. He's a true north, noble and committed to doing the right thing. Lucinda, at first, seems like someone to be pitied, but this couldn't be further from the truth. She has an inner strength and fire that drives her to continue despite her many trials and tribulations.
Their relationships are beautifully believable and honest. Each of the characters grows over the course of the novel. While I hesitate to give away spoilers, let me just say I was very sad when it was over.

The pacing is perfect. It starts with a bang and continues at the same romp the entire book. Even though initially the author jumps back and forth from character to character, you are never left with situational vertigo. I also love when a book not only encourages me to ferret out unknown word definitions (and Google horrid medical conditions) but invites me to learn about historical facts of which I previously had no knowledge. The author has taken real people and built a supernatural plane upon what we know to be historically true of their lives. For example, Bram Stoker, the author of Dracula, really did manage the Lyceum Theatre, and we've all heard of the Unsinkable Molly Brown, famed survivor of the Titanic. Meet them and many others in The Night Crossing.

While I expected to completely underwhelmed by this book, I was blown away. It quickly emerged as one of my favorites of 2018, teaching me to not judge a book by its cover.

If you are looking for a stunning story of mystery and peril, peppered with some menacing supernatural baddies, pick up a copy of The Night Crossing!

A wonderfull. eery tale. Dark, twisted and very spooky. I really enjoyed reading it.
For my longer review in German please check my Goodreads account

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.

Actual rating: 5 stars

I loved this book so much. It has most definitely earned a spot on my favorites shelf. Everything about this book was amazing. The characters were superb, the plot was unique and brilliantly written, and the history behind the whole novel was perfectly interwoven.

Characters

Bram: Bram was all around a good guy and great character. His willingness to help anyone and his self-sacrificing nature was refreshing; he was by no means arrogant and self-centered as some main characters sometimes are. I loved Bram’s loyalty to all his friends and towards those he cared for such as Lucinda and Mina. The relationships that Bram formed with each character were genuine and very realistic for instance his paternal feelings towards Lucinda were very understandable and life like even if they were a little unconventional. Even Bram’s rocky relationship with his wife was believable and understandable given the circumstances and the differences between their characters. Throughout the novel I came to care for Bram and even though the end to his story was slightly unexpected I felt that it was appropriate and satisfying.

Lucinda: When I was first introduced to Lucinda I felt sorry for her. From the very first scene she is in there is such intense emotions and sorrow contained within her. As time went on and her character developed I realized just how strong she was after all she lost, but she was able to continue and better her life with a little help from Bram and Mina. When it came time to confront the antagonist Lucinda was right there ready to bring them justice. I must admit that the end of Lucinda’s arc in the story was a little disappointing. I think that she could have been useful in the final battle. I also wish that I could have read a little bit more about her history and how she came to be in her position. Overall Lucinda was a great character. I saw amazing character growth and found her to be a well-rounded character.

Mina: Mina was my favorite character. I felt that I could relate to her and at times I was envious of her adventures and all the things that she had seen and done. Mina was incredibly brave and had a keen sense of adventure. I personally adored her brilliance when it came to anything related to Egypt or ancient history in general. I loved her willingness to help, her patients, and her wits when it came to solving problems that arose throughout the entire novel. Mina experienced many issues throughout the duration of the novel, but she never let them get in the way of her living her life. When she ran out of money she didn’t complain. Instead she found a way to overcome her obstacle and continued on with her day to day business. This is how she dealt with any obstacle that arose. Mina was such an amazing character that I only wish I had seen more of her story. I wish I could have read about her travels with her father or her life as a child growing up. Overall Mina was an absolutely delightful character. I think that her beginning and ending was perfect even if it was not what I had expected.

Antagonists: I do not want to ruin the surprise as to whom the bad guys are, but I shall say that they are quiet evil. They had no regard for human life and did everything within their power to ensure that they remained on top even if it meant exploiting the less fortunate.

Plot

The plot of this novel was perfect and satisfied my every need. It not only contained mystery but also supernatural elements, ancient history, and intrigue.
The plot immediately started with a bang and didn’t slow down till the very end. The mystery behind the whole thing did not lack in any regards and I had no difficulty finding my pacing. In fact I devoured this novel within a day because of it unique plot and characters.

I think the parts that I enjoyed the most were the aspects of the book related to the supernatural and ancient history. They were so perfectly intertwined that I was in a state of suspended disbelief the entire time. In fact I had difficulties reminding myself that such things cannot actually happen in the real world.

The relationships forged throughout the plot line were very believable and were very unique. They were so unique that I could not find a single major cliché hidden within the plot and the small almost insignificant clichés did not bothered me bit. I loved the fact the relationships changed and grew they did not simply remain stagnant the entire plot of the story.

This novel was amazing and completely unique compared to any other I have read. I think just about everybody who reads this novel will agree with me. I would strongly recommend this book to a mature audience looking for a novel with a little mystery, some amazing history, and a fair amount of creepy supernatural stuff.

A uniquely fresh take on the vampire stories of old. Reminiscent of the original Bram Stoker novel. This is not your modern vampire-human teenage romance; this is well-written chilling tale of Victorian Era vampires and the horror they bring to an innocent period of history. A truly wonderful story combining all the elements to keep you enthralled until the end.

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.

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.

Deep in the Carpathian mountains a golden box is unearthed and carried to Victorian England. Stoker is a frustrated author who’s just learned a terrible truth – a mission home for the poor is not offering comfort and succor, it’s offering unspeakable evil and death. Stokes sets out on a journey (with some unusual companions) that will carry him across the globe to face an enemy as old as time. Masello is a sharp, clever writer and his re-imagining of Bram Stoker and his Dracula saga is nothing short of ingenious