It's 1858, and Theodora Lestrange is an independent woman who is
ready for an adventure. What better expedition could she set upon
but one to Transylvania, a land filled with legends, lore and
mysteries galore? When she leaves behind Edinburgh, Scotland, to
visit her boarding school friend, Cosmina, and attend Cosmina's
wedding, she is filled with excitement and anticipation. She has no
idea what horrors or delights await her in this strange land.

Theodora would rather do just about anything other than live
with her happily domestic sister, Anna, and her domineering
brother-in-law, William, after the death of their beloved
grandfather. When the invitation from Cosmina arrives, it is the
answer to her prayers. Not even the trepidation of her family and
close friend, Charles, is enough to sway her from making this trip
to see her old friend. Even though Charles has asked her to be his
wife, there is little that repulses Theodora more than a quiet life
of respectable domesticity. A writer needs experiences and exposure
to new things, and Theodora will let nothing stand in her way.

When she arrives in Transylvania, Theodora is in awe of the
majestic castle that has been left to run to rack and ruin. In
spite of its downtrodden state, Theodora can see remnants of the
magnificence and opulence that once made this fortress shine. The
1,400 steps that lead up to the castle set high atop the Carpathian
Mountains alone, the Devil's Staircase, is enough to deter any but
the most determined visitors.

Despite the macabre setting, Theodora receives a warm welcome
from Cosmina, the aging and fragile countess, and most
particularly, Count Andrei Dragulescu. Try as she might to fight
it, Theodora discovers an instantaneous spark between herself and
her close friend's intended. How can she follow her heart without
betraying her dearest friend?

While the spooky, wooded land and tales of vampires and wolves
lend themselves wonderfully to Theodora's writing, things begin to
happen that reveal to her that these are more than just
centuries-old legends. When a castle maid is found murdered, with
two bloody punctures upon her breast and the blood sucked from her
body, Theodora is bewildered and terrified. Could it be that the
dead Count Bogdan really has risen from the dead to claim all who
inhabit the castle as his victims so that he lives forever? As the
mysteries deepen and Theodora's attraction to Count Andrei
blossoms, she has to wonder if she will be able to leave the beauty
and mystery of Transylvania with not only her heart but her very
life intact.

THE DEAD TRAVEL FAST is an enchanting and engrossing story woven
by a master storyteller. Deanna Raybourn, the RITA Award-winning
author of the highly successful Lady Julia Grey series,
has surpassed even her previous riveting novels with this
stand-alone work. Before I was halfway through the book, I was
looking online to plan a trip to Transylvania and see the land she
brought to life so vividly on these pages.

Theodora Lestrange is a strong yet endearingly human character
with an overwhelming desire for a man she should run away from
rather than run to, and Count Andrei is a man who even the most
strong-willed woman would have trouble banishing from her heart and
mind. THE DEAD TRAVEL FAST will easily find its way onto the keeper
shelf of many a reader.