This Jane Austen-vampire mash-up is a clever use of the familiar and the macabre. Of all the Austen novels one might add some horror to, Northanger Abbey is the perfect choice, because it is about "horrid" thrillers and their avid readers. Anderson makes excellent use of the characters and situations provided by Austen and then adds a gothic layer, turning some of well-known characters into vampires and others into vampire hunters. Catherine Morland is her usual self: the atypical heroine we happily root for even though she lacks the traits she thinks all heroines require. Throughout, we worry if she will wind up with her beloved Henry, uncertain if she will live long enough to do so.

Austen fans will love this re-interpretation of Northanger Abbey because the characters stay true to their original conception while tackling entirely new territory. Anderson uses phrases lifted from other Austen novels that fans will recognize, but they don't irritate at all. They are added with a wink and smile, to remind us that everything we are reading is all in fun. I don't know how vampire fans will feel. I enjoyed it because the author never takes himself too seriously. There are some lovely jokes and light-hearted moments to keep this book from getting too dark or grim. I think Ms. Austen would approve.

In this variation, Northanger Abbey meets vampires and other monsters. The same characters are still there as in the original but with something extra. The book (a long book) is certainly an enjoyable romp as the gothic horror unfolds.