Unholy Awakening

Set in a nineteenth-century world where people truly believed in vampires, this historical thriller pits a rational detective against violent superstition.

A woman's body has been found at the bottom of a well. The death wounds are startling: two small, round punctures to the jugular vein. . . .

Vampire fever is spreading throughout the countryside, and suspicions soon fall on the recently arrived Emma Rimmele. Investigator Hanno Stiffeniis must do everything he can to find the true culprit before the mob's hysteria reaches its breaking point and turns violent.

Praise for Michael Gregorio's Hanno Stiffeniis's series:

“Outstanding . . . Written in the understated and often leisurely tradition of Bram Stoker's Dracula and Elizabeth Kostova's The Historian, this mystery pits the rational scholarly thought of the day against ancient superstition. For historical fans seeking a page-turner with bite.” —Library Journal

“Maintains suspense and an authentic period feel throughout.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Characters are fascinating, the setting superb, and the deduction is highly intelligent.” —The Globe and Mail (Canada)

“A compelling whodunit rich with the kinds of psychological insights typical of the work of such contemporary crime masters as Ruth Rendell and Minette Walters.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Sherlock Holmes himself would struggle to keep up with the master sleuth Gregorio brings to life . . .in this compelling historical mystery.” —Booklist (starred review)

“One of those literary thrillers that . . . provide both intellectual and visceral pleasures for readers.” -The Washington Post

“[For] readers who seek substance along with thrills in their mystery reading.” -Houston Chronicle