Dracula

Narrators David Horovitch, Jamie Parker, Joseph Kloska, Alison Pettitt and cast adopt the identities of the well-known characters of Bram Stoker’s classic: Jonathan Harker, Mina, Lucy, the Count and others. As the story is told in a series of diary entries and letters, Dracula himself comes off as both charming and caring – until his true form is revealed. Highlights of this production include a childlike portrait of Mina and a bone-chilling portrayal of Harker and Van Helsing as the tension of the twisted plot rises and Dracula’s sinister powers and needs are revealed. Fans of the genre will be reminded just how psychically unsettling this horror story is.

R.O., AudioFile

Read by a full cast of British stage and screen actors, this mesmerising production brings new life to this familiar and timeless horror classic, which follows a mysterious Transylvanian count’s attempt to establish a foothold in England and the terror and death that ensue. The novel, told through letters, diary entries, and news reports, documents Count Dracula’s activities and chronicles the efforts of a small group to destroy him. The power of the story stems from the ability of the actors to generate the increasingly ominous tone, and the fine cast excels in capturing each character and establishing this growing dread. From the first excerpts from lawyer Jonathan Harker’s journal, Jamie Parker reflects the growing unease in his voice as he travels to Transylvania to meet Dracula and to facilitate his move. Soon the terror is palpable as he shakily recounts the vision of Dracula climbing up and down the castle walls. Back in England, Harker’s fiancée, Mina, and vampire-hunter van Helsing battle for the body and soul of Lucy, Mina’s friend and Dracula’s victim. A breathless urgency builds as the cadre tracks Dracula down to destroy him. With occasional diverting interludes involving colourful locals to balance the somber mood, this audio makes a splendid choice for fans and for those new to the novel.

Pam Spencer Holley, Booklist