Descendant

by Graham Masterton

Book Overview

A supernatural thriller from the master of suspense Californian James Falcon's compelling Romanian mother told him so many folk stories that by the time he reaches college in 1943, he is something of an expert on the strigoi, the legendary, undying vampires who infested the most isolated forests of Wallachia. Mostly as a joke, he writes a term paper on the strigoi. But the joke turns serious when US counterintelligence approach him to recruit his expertise. James hunts down strigoi murderers in war-ravaged Europe, Nazi assassins hired to run down run down the French and Belgian resistance in exchange for Transylvanian independence, although the principal one, the terrible Dorin Duca, continues to elude him. In the Cold War, he must fight once more, as Duca goes on the rampage, spreading his strigoi infection all across London, England. With Jill, a police dog handler of great beauty and resilience, James is assigned to Britain's MI6 to go on the hunt again. But even after thethreat is driven away, James will still uncover more secrets about the immortal predators ? secrets that come ever closer to home

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0727863800
• ISBN13: 9780727863805
• Release Date: February 2007
• Publisher: Severn House
• Length: 216 Pages
• Weight: 0.96 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.7" x 8.8"

Customer Reviews

Well Done Ancestors

Masterton crafts books like a Master. Now and again he will draw out one that is reminiscent of a superbly written Agatha Christie book, except that he scares the hell out of you, and weaves a brilliant Supernatural Narrative. This time, as he has his Character re-tell what has happened, he crafts characters in such detail, he spends time hammering out the sculptured purity of the tale. As he still does, this is a tale written in Blood, gore and sex, and yet, he manages to take it one step beyond, showing that he has brought his craft to the tip of excellence. But, always a crowd pleaser, he manages to bring out the most stunning, the most brilliant plot twists that make it a tale so very difficult, as they say, to put down; this is more of the Master Chill-Smiths Brilliance.

One of the best Masterton novels I have read

One of the best novels Masterton has written as well as being one of the best vampire novels I have read. Great twists on the vampire mythos. In the Masterton way of course.

Entertaining summer read

Fast paced and has a couple of jolts this story is an easy two day read. Good twist in the end makes this worthy of purchase.

Solid entertainment

Another solid entertainment from Graham Masterton. I'm not a fan of vampire stories, but I did enjoy this one.

Strong entry from the veteran horrormeister

James Falcon is a young and outwardly unexceptional American but he does have one area of unusual expertise -his grandmother and mother were Romanian in origin and have inculcted in him a deep knowledge of " strigoi"-Romanian undead ,close kin to the nosferatu .He is approached in 1943 by US Intelligence who have use for his knowledge -the Nazis have secured the services of the "strigoi" who are revealing to them the names of key members of several European resistance groups .After basic training he is despatched to Europe in puruit of the strigoi leader -the saturnine Duca .We first see him in full on vampire slaying mode in Antwerp, Belgium but despite success Duca eludes him We then move to 1957 when he is again pressed into service by US intelligence -Duca was not killed but captured by the US who hoped to enlist his services on their side in the coming conflict with Russia .His plane crashed and when it was recently dicovered Duca was resurrected and is now wreaking havoc in London .Falcon is sent to Britain to co-operate with British Intelligence in tracaking down and killing Duca and his acolytes The action is swift and bloody but he still finds time for an amorous dalliance with Jill his main contact with the British services and events move to a showdown with Duca on board the "Queen Elizabeth" as it readies for sailing to New York .There is however a bitter sweet codocil to the novel which adds depth to the novel.Duca is a suitably nasty villain and James an engaging hero with a wry sense of humour The main emphasis is action and this is well described and compelling but there is also some quite culture clash comedy as Falcon struggles to come to terms with British life in the mid 50's -warm beer ,shepherd's pie and draconian licencing laws in pubs Masteron is a consummate pro and this is a very readable and entertaining book .It is unreservedly recommende to all horror lovers and those enjoying a well plotted and swiftly executed tale by an experienced practitioner