The Pierced Heart by Lynn ShepherdMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
In my opinion The Pierced Heart is Lynn Shepherd's best work to date. I was surprised to find the story on average 100 pages shorter than her previous three books, but as so often the reader is reminded that it isn't really about the length of the book that defines its quality. With only ca. 230 pages the author created a story of suspense, grotesque, eeriness and the possibility of the supernatural. As with all books in a series, it is impossible to review this book in a standard manner, since various elements of the overall story may be the focus while others are left for later installments.
The plot: as with all of the author's stories in this series, she decides to focus on one particular classic literary work and creates a story that encompasses elements of the classic. Having said that, the author's decision to focus on Bram Stoker's Dracula for this installment provided the perfect bridge and vehicle to further the overall story arc that includes the main character. As an avid admirer of the classic literary works, I appreciated the intricate weaving of the traditional Dracula elements (that are responsible for the eerie mood) with the details of the detective's story. It was a well-paced story that focused more on the actions than the overall narration of the characters the reader knows so well by now.
The characters: as mentioned above, this story is not really character-driven, which at this point in the series is not a bad thing to do. We are; however, left with an interesting twist at the end of this story that provides for greater character focus in future installments. To be quite honest, personally I did not mind the story-driven approach the author adopted.
The narration: I find it remarkable how skilled the author is in including elements of the classic literary work she uses as a foundation for her stories, not only with respect to the plot, but also in her writing style. It showcases her knowledge of the classic as well as her competence as a writer.
I was a bit surprised to find rather medicocre ratings for all books in this series. I admit that the writing style the author uses does not allow for a quick and easy read, but a rich reading experience that takes time and focus. It places great value in the authenticity of the story, instead of the quick fix entertainment kick.
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