In this creepy intertextual tale of professional jealousy and possible madness, Wilkie Collins tells of his friendship and rivalry with Charles Dickens, and of the mysterious phantasm named Edwin Drood, who pursues them both. Drood, cadaverous and pale, first appears at the scene of a railway accident in which Dickens was one of the few survivors; later, Dickens and Collins descend into London�s sewer in search of his lair. Meanwhile, a retired police detective warns Collins that Drood is responsible for more than three hundred murders, and that he will destroy Dickens in his quest for immortality. Collins is peevish, vain, and cruel, and the most unreliable of narrators: an opium addict, prone to nightmarish visions. The narrative is overlong, with discarded subplots and red herrings, but Simmons, a master of otherworldly suspense, cleverly explores envy's corrosive effects.

In celebration of our month's theme of Mystery books, I will be taking this book to the Calgary BookCrossing Meet-up Group at the Joshua Tree Café to either find a new reader or leave on the book shelf!
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DEAR FINDER,
Welcome to BookCrossing.com, where we are trying to making the whole world a library!

If you have not already done so, please make a journal entry so we know this book has found a new home. You don't need to join BookCrossing and you can remain completely anonymous. However, we encourage you to join so that you can follow this book's future travels. It's fun and free, and your personal information will never be shared or sold. If you decide to join, consider listing Fracula as referring you.

Take your time reading the book, and after you finish, please make another journal entry to record your thoughts about it. This book is now yours, and you can keep it if you choose, though we would love for you to share it. If you pass it along, please make a release note to let others know where you left it.

I hope you enjoy the book!

Between Fracula's lukewarm review and Minerva101's glowing praise, at 900+ pages, I'm hoping this book is worth the risk of sprained wrists trying to read it. :)

I was hooked by the first chapter, snickered throughout at the satire and witty dialogue, and enjoyed the pleasure of a great story that I couldn't put down until the last page. I have 'Hyperion' by this author on my TBR pile that I hope will be as entertaining. Thanks for the great book, Fracula.

Took the book to the Calgary BC Meetup at the Joshua Tree Cafe today.

Picked up this book at the Calgary BookCrossing May meet-up. My gosh, this book is huge. I'm definitely taking this one on my vacation.

I have to admit I've never read anything by Charles Dickens. My only familiarity with him is from an episode of Doctor Who (which, incidentally, offered their own take on how The Mystery of Edwin Drood would end). But I didn't need to be familiar with his books to enjoy the book. I'm kind of sad I've never heard of Wilkie Collins. I'm kind of tempted to check out The Moonstone. But anyway, you can really see Collins' relationship with Dickens fall apart as the story progresses. It highlights how obsession can lead to ruin. I'm kind of iffy about the ending, but aside from that, Dan Simmons does not disappoint.

Releasing this book at the Calgary BookCrossing July meet-up. If it didn't go home with someone, it's on the bookshelf.

Are you in the Calgary area? Why not meet up with other Calgary BookCrossers! Please check out our Facebook group, "BookCrossing Calgary" for details on how. Meeting are held on the second Saturday of every month at the Joshua Tree Café starting at 11am. Just look for the people with the piles of books.