Review of Hamlet in Baltimore

[Erin Dydek]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Hamlet in Baltimore" by Pavel Cerny.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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Something sinister lurks in the shadows beneath the stage of the Swan Theater in Baltimore. As the cast prepares for the opening night of their production of Shakespeare's Hamlet, five-year-old Edgar Allen Poe watches his parents practice their roles with wide-eyed rapture. But the performance on stage is not the only spectacle that has captured the future poet's attention. The terrifying experience near the coffin-like box—the vanishing theater cat followed by the broken lantern—has left the horror-story enthusiast reluctant to leave the safety of the well-lit dressing rooms. What terror lies in wait at the theater? Who will be left standing for the final curtain call? Read Hamlet in Baltimore to find out!

Pavel Cerny brings to life the wonderful world of Shakespearian theater over the backdrop of the classic Bram Stoker vampire story in this fictional tale surrounding a young Edgar Allen Poe. I loved how Cerny used the ongoing drama within the theater to hide the subtle clues about what was going on among the players. It was fun to solve the mystery of the strange black cat and discover the vampire's identity within the group. I loved the foreshadowing worked into the descriptions and the elements of gothic literature throughout the narrative.

The dynamic cast of characters provided a realistic tale of human woe. I loved the elements of unrequited love and the use of storytelling to create the dramatic nature of this short horror story. Edgar's nursemaid, Letitia, told her haunting tale to Edgar as a bedtime story and set the tone for the events to come. The climax was an exciting rush of events that corresponded well with the tension played out during the opening night of the lengthy production of Hamlet. The open-ended yet conclusive ending was also a thought-provoking treat to contemplate long after the drama was over.

I also appreciated the screenplay-like nature of the writing. The author directed the characters and the setting with cues and accurate timing to make it easy to follow the events. While one or two spots in the last pages lacked a clear transition, they were not enough to find fault within this delightful classic tale of the macabre. I noticed two minor errors that were hardly distracting in this otherwise well-edited work. I give Hamlet in Baltimore four out of four stars.

I would highly recommend this book to those who love classic vampire stories and the works of Shakespeare. Hamlet in Baltimore should also appeal to those who enjoy fan fiction surrounding the life of Edgar Allen Poe. The presence of black cats, ravens, and the full moon may put readers into the spirit of the Halloween season as they enjoy this riveting tale.

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Hamlet in Baltimore
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[Iqra Rafiq 1]

Classic plus horror.I like the combination .thanks for detailed review

[Amy Luman]

I love Edgar Allen Poe. It’s nice to see this about him even though it is fiction. Thanks for the review.

[Chinaza Nnabuenyi]

I love the theme of this book. Theatre art is one captivating career aspect. Great review!

[Gabriella1997]

I love to read about theater arts, am definitely reading this book, beautiful review.

[Luchris_michael]

Whenever I see a mystery/horror book I'm usually happy. I like the author's perspective. Good review.

[NetMassimo]

This seems like a fascinating novel taking inspiration from Edgar Allan Poe to tell a vampire story. Thank you for your great review!

[Salah bourouba]

seems like a must read thriller, and the bed time story is a fresh add to the common theme, interesting book, great story