STOKER'S MANUSCRIPT

The Stoker Manuscript is a thrilling debut novel about an American manuscript dealer commissioned to buy the final, lost chapters of Bram Stoker’s classic Dracula, only to discover that his clients are the imperial Romanian family of Dracul, and that they may know not only the secrets of the original Stoker manuscript, but a few long-hidden truths about the protagonist’s family as well.

When Joseph Barkeley, manuscript and handwriting expert, receives a call enlisting his services to authenticate the original draft of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, he is intrigued. The promise of a huge commission, regardless of the outcome of his findings, is quite enticing. But the real draw is a trip back to his childhood home of Romania. With the prospect of a large payday and lifelong question marks clouding his vision, Joseph fails to heed the warnings of family and friends alike and accepts the job, soon finding himself on his way back to the place he was orphaned almost a quarter century ago. One there, he discovers he is dealing with entirely inhuman forces: the remaining members of the Imperial Dracul family. His buyer is one of Dracula’s two brothers, stuck in a centuries-long stalemate with the other brother. The original Stoker’s Manuscript holds the key to either brother’s power… and Joseph is the key to deciphering it. • Truly Terrifying Horror Story: Filling a void left in traditional vampire-loving audiences in the wake of urban fantasy and supernatural romance, STOKER’S MANUSCRIPT is a hair-raising return to the creepy gothic tale. • Elaborate Historical Mystery: Like The Thirteenth Tale or The Historian, STOKER’S MANUSCRIPT combines historical mystery with the looming presence of the preternatural to keep readers at the edge of their seats. • Compelling Sequel to a Classic: Created with the intention of echoing and completing Bram Stoker’s Dracula, this is a captivating continuation of a classic tale. • Fascinating Setting, Eerie Atmosphere: Through detailed research, Prouty richly captures the beautiful but untamed nature of rural Romania as the perfect backdrop for this bone-chilling tale. Patrick Prouty is a CPA, business consultant, and Harley-Davidson enthusiast. He and his wife live in Southern California. This is his first novel.