Overview

Ellen's just sixteen, but she's dying and nobody knows why. So when she's sent to her Gran's house she's relieved to find a distraction in the form of her great-grandmother's diaries, written when she was Ellen's age. As Ellen reads, she becomes increasingly embroiled in the fascinating story of her life. Who is the enigmatic and seductive Count her great-grandmother was supposed to marry? And why is it that Ellen and her great-grandmother resemble each other so much that they could be twins? But Ellen's condition is worsening, and it's becoming more and more difficult for her to distinguish her own life from the nightmarish events recorded in the diaries. Is the past destroying her, or do the diaries hold the key to Ellen's survival?

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9781741635737

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Reviews

Rees knows how to make your blood curdle. -- South China Sunday Post Had me hooked from page one. -- Amazon Ellen has been ill for months, and no amount of testing can diagnose her illness. As she stays with her grandmother and reconnects with a childhood friend, this plucky, if sickly, teen discovers her ancestor's private diaries and learns that vampires are no legend. Shirley Barthelmie's narration is strong enough to articulate the flashbacks between present-day England and the Victorian era, so the listener can easily follow both story lines. Her Transylvanian accent is thick yet clear and falls just short of campy - which is perfectly appropriate for the story. Barthelmie's pace and emotional tones enhance a novel that balances horror, mystery, and romance. -- AudioFile Magazine

Author Information

Celia Rees was born in Solihull in the West Midlands and now lives in Leamington Spa, UK. Before she became a full-time writer, Celia was a teacher and her pupils helped inspire her to start writing. She is now an award-winning author well known for her bestselling historical novels, and for her unique fiction for young adults that combines 21st-century realism with a disturbing strand of psycho-horror. Shirley Barthelmie studied drama at East 15 Acting School in London. She has a love of theatre and the spoken word which has led to voiceover and audiobook work since emigrating to Australia. She especially enjoys pantomime and has toured with children's shows throughout the UK. Shirly had narrated a number of Kathy Lette books including Altar Ego as well as Blood Sinister and The Cunning Man by Celia Rees.

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