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MY ⭐️ RATING: 3.25/5
Format: GraphicAudio
BOOK DESCRIPTION
Detective Mina Harker has built a reputation as the sharpest mind in the New Orleans Police Department, closing cases no one else can crack.
But the case that’s been haunting her for years is unlike anything else in her files. The victims leave behind no forensic evidence, no witnesses, and not a single drop of blood in their bodies.
When FBI Special Agent Jon Weston enlists Harker to help track a serial killer who’s striking in New Orleans, she knows two things: he’s closer to the truth than he knows—and she can’t let him get too close. Because the truth isn’t just about the killer. It’s about her too.
Five years ago, Harker survived an encounter that should have killed her. What it left behind still torments her, and it’s getting harder to control. And as victims turn up across New Orleans, and a shadowy figure from her past tightens his grip on the city, Mina is running out of time to decide: is she the hunter or the prey?
MY REVIEW
When I saw that this was a full-cast drama starring Christina Ricci and free on Audible, I didn’t waste a moment to download it, I mean, I go would pass up a deal with such a lead li that? Well… what I was hoping was a good retelling of Dracula ended up falling a bit short of those expectations. I didn’t think this was horrible, but there was a reason Harker was free. At best, it was fine for a three hour listen. I would describe this as a detective noir Dracula meets Vampire in Brooklyn meets Anne Rice.
Yeah, that’s a lot. The Anne Rice parts include the setting, using New Orleans as the backdrop helps bring that creole, southern gothic feel while also exploring a bit of becoming the monster you’re trying to hunt down. Wes Craven’s Vampire in Brooklyn starring Eddie Murphy, Angela Bassett and Kadeem Hardison feels like a major focus of how this story is built. Harker is a detective same as Rita (Bassett), seeking out Reese aka Dracula same as Maximillion (Murphy), who has a comedic relief sidekick in Warren Fields same as Julius (Hardison.)
Harker is a fast-paced story told in two timelines. Harker’s past that lead her to New Orleans in the present. There wasn’t really much about the story that really felt like New Orleans though. I think Mr. Patterson as well as the cast and production failed to make this feel like Nawlins, with the exception of Marcus Henderson who voiced Warren Fields. The production was great, especially in the final thirty minutes, which made Reese, who was voiced by David Oyelowo, feel extremely evil.
Unfortunately from there, the star of this GraphicAudio, Christina Ricci, phones in her performance, which was quite sad. There were times where it was good, but for the most part, she was reading lines while the rest of the cast performed to the best of their ability. There was also a small cameo by author James Patterson which made me giggle. It was a fine story that had some misses, some eye-rolling parts, but also some good humor that helped it out.
Wolfmantula.com 