Rating: 
Summary: Secret Life of Rod Anscombe
Review: A first rate novel with an eminently appropriate title. Little touted, little advertised, it seems to be unknown, as is the author. Written in a style that closely approximates that of the mid- and late 19th century. Shows knowledge of European history and the history of medicine and, in particular, knowledge of the Austro-Hungarian empire in that era. But, of course, it is the literary style and the characterization that is of central importance. It is surprising that a writer so skilled is so little known. Of course, I may simply be uninformed.
Rating:
Summary: Secret Life of Rod Anscombe
Review: A first rate novel with an eminently appropriate title. Little touted, little advertised, it seems to be unknown, as is the author. Written in a style that closely approximates that of the mid- and late 19th century. Shows knowledge of European history and the history of medicine and, in particular, knowledge of the Austro-Hungarian empire in that era. But, of course, it is the literary style and the characterization that is of central importance. It is surprising that a writer so skilled is so little known. Of course, I may simply be uninformed.
Rating:
Summary: Great Book, I will never think of Dracula the same again
Review: Basically this book is about Laszlo, a Count who was sent to boarding school because of his parents death. He studies at a Medical School in Paris where he meets a young woman named Stacia, a lunatic patient, who catches his attention. He attaches himself to her, eventually she breaks his heart and he ends up murdering for the very first time. He flees Paris, turning down the love of his cousin. Soon enough this talented young Count begins to murder. Many dont suspect him but then again who would? He is a Count.
After his brothers death, he must get married to his brothers wife and live at the castle where he grew up. He falls in love with the mayors daughter. They have an affair. He kills her also for breaking his heart by cheating on him. Soon enough more murders occur. But who is getting blamed for them?
I believe this book is one of the greatest I have ever read. It changed my thinking about Count Dracula and made me think about my reading skills more then ever. I don't believe that he was a great guy but I do think that this author has shown the real story behind this man and made it clear to me how dark this world is.
Rating:
Summary: An Amazing Psychological Horror
Review: I have to strongly disagree with all who claim that this book is not scary. While the book takes a (welcome) turn from the mythical and supernatural vampire lore, it is anything but tame. The beauty and horror of Laslow is that it could actually have happened. Roderick Anscombe takes you inside the mind of the famous Translyvanian serial killer allowing you to glimpse what drives him to his deeds and also the disgust he feels for his own actions. He fights his dark desires while he can, but his "hunger" for blood always wins in the end. His pyschological obsession for it overcomes even the physical need portrayed in classical Vampire legend. All in all and excellent read, mind expanding and thought provoking. Silence of the Lambs meets Hamlet.
Rating:
Summary: An Amazing Psychologial Thriller
Review: I have to strongly disagree with all who claim that this book is not scary. While the book takes a (welcome) turn from the mythical and supernatural vampire lore, it is anything but tame. The beauty and horror of Laslow is that it could actually have happened. Roderick Anscombe takes you inside the mind of the famous Translyvanian serial killer allowing you to glimpse what drives him to his deeds and also the disgust he feels for his own actions. He fights his dark desires while he can, but his "hunger" for blood always wins in the end. His pyschological obsession for it overcomes even the physical need portrayed in classical Vampire legend. All in all and excellent read, mind expanding and thought provoking. Silence of the Lambs meets Hamlet.
Rating: 
Summary: An entertaining story from a psychiatrists perspective
Review: I must say that I have mixed feelings about this book. It is well written although in places strangely out of context with the time the story is supposed to take place (as already noted by other reviewers) All in all I did enjoy the book and it was even more interesting to read if you keep in mind that the author is a trained psychiatrist. You do get the feeling and understanding what a person of this nature thinks. This added to the impact of the events and dialog and overall created a defenate erie quality to the narrative.
The points where the language was clearly not of the period did not so much disturb me as were a number of anachronisms. For example, one of the characters comments that the murders resemble that committed by Jack the Ripper. According to the journal this was said in April 1888, whilst the actual murders occured in the fall of that same year. The only reason I bring this up is because the writer is an academic and I would expect more from such a person. Maybe this was corrected in the final version and what I noticed was only a result of the fact that I read an advanced readers copy.
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Summary: The REAL life of Count Dracula
Review: I read this book a few years ago and I couldn't put it down. I loved it! It was wonderfully written. It tells the story of how Count Dracula became Count Dracula in his own point-of-veiw. Robert Anscombe did a teriffic job of writing this book!
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Summary: Interesting twist on vampire novels
Review: I've long since had an obsession with novels and movies based on Dracula. This is one of the most unique books I've read. It's nothing like any of the Dracula books. It's written in such a way that it brings the main character down to earth. More like a possible non-fiction than a vampire novel. All of the characters seem more life like than a figment of someone's imagination. It's written much like Brom Stoker's dracula, as in diary format, but without jumping from character to character. The diary of one man. It's one book that keeps you coming back for more. I'd generall prefer watching a movie than reading a book, but this book I just could not put down. I highly recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: My Opinion
Review: Like most of the other reviewers, I agree that this is a tremendously good book. Let me reiterate, the story is terrible because of its plausibility. Anscombe excludes the supernatural to scare you with reality.
One important thing the other reviewers omitted is the self-delusion of the narrator Laszlo. Laszlo presents his perspective, but his view is sometimes distorted and misleading. He attempts to present himself as a victim of his own passion, completely sane but completely out of control.
One reviewer complained that Laszlo begins normally, and then just starts killing without impetus. The justification is there though, however subtly placed- Laszlo is psychotic right from the beginning!
Rating: 
Summary: And lo at daybreak, I yawneth.
Review: My Goodness what a snoozefest. I bought this book years ago while in a vampire craze. I quickly discovered that this was not going to be a vampire story, and I was okay with that at first. It seemed richly worded, well written.But then I got to a page and read something that stopped me cold. One of the characters in this story that takes place hundreds of years ago actually said to another one "What's up?" Any pretense of being in that era, transported to that time melted away instantly, and I realized that the author was a pseudo-intellectual hack with a flair for fancy words and a sloppy mind. That the story never amounted to anything didn't help either. This seemed like a book by a man who while quite intelligent, felt the need to prove it by writing a snobbish testament to his own perceived level of sophistication, and even on that level, failed miserably.
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