''Merrick'' is a 2000 horror novel by American writer

Anne Rice Anne Rice (born Howard Allen Frances O'Brien; October 4, 1941 – December 11, 2021) was an American author of gothic fiction, erotic literature, and Christian literature. She was best known for her series of novels ''The Vampire Chronicles''. B ...

, the seventh book in her ''

The Vampire Chronicles ''The Vampire Chronicles'' is a series of gothic horror novels and a media franchise, created by American writer Anne Rice, that revolves around the fictional character Lestat de Lioncourt, a French nobleman turned into a vampire in the 18t ...

'' series. The novel includes some characters who cross over from Rice's ''

Lives of the Mayfair Witches ''Lives of the Mayfair Witches'' is a trilogy of supernatural horror/fantasy novels by American novelist Anne Rice. It centers on a family of witches whose fortunes have been guided for generations by a spirit named Lasher. The series began i ...

'' trilogy (1990–1994).

Plot summary

Louis de Pointe du Lac Louis de Pointe du Lac is a fictional character in Anne Rice's '' The Vampire Chronicles'' series. He begins his life as a mortal man and later becomes a vampire. He is the protagonist who tells his story in ''Interview with the Vampire'' (1 ...

is being haunted by the spirit of Claudia, a child who, like Louis, had been turned into a

vampire A vampire is a mythical creature that subsists by feeding on the Vitalism, vital essence (generally in the form of blood) of the living. In European folklore, vampires are undead, undead creatures that often visited loved ones and caused mi ...

Lestat de Lioncourt Lestat de Lioncourt () is a fictional character appearing in several novels by Anne Rice, including ''The Vampire Lestat'' (1985). He is a vampire and an antihero in the majority of '' The Vampire Chronicles''. Publication history Lestat is in ...

but was destroyed long ago. With the help of former

Talamasca The Talamasca, sometimes known as the Order of the Talamasca, is a fictional secret society described in the works of Anne Rice. It features in both '' The Vampire Chronicles'' and '' Lives of the Mayfair Witches'' series. It is described as a se ...

leader-turned-vampire

David Talbot David Talbot (born September 22, 1951) is an American journalist, author, activist and independent historian. Talbot is known for his books about the "hidden history" of U.S. power and the liberal movements to change America, as well as his p ...

, Louis asks the beautiful witch

Merrick Mayfair The following is a list of characters from Anne Rice's ''The Vampire Chronicles'', which began with the 1976 novel ''Interview with the Vampire''. The series primarily follows the antihero Lestat de Lioncourt, a French nobleman turned into a vampi ...

to use her spiritual powers to contact Claudia's ghost. Merrick is also a former agent of the Talamasca, and shared many adventures with David in the past. Flashbacks introduce Merrick's malevolent sister, Honey Isabella or Honey in the Sunshine; Merrick's mother, Cold Sandra; and the Great Nananne, a powerful witch whose very presence is enough to frighten and instill respect in David. Merrick and David recall their journey to a cave in Central America which contained malevolent spirits protecting an ancient jade mask, which allows people to see spirits as if they were corporeal. Merrick retrieves Claudia's diary from the Talamasca vaults, and makes it possible for Louis to speak with Claudia. The spirit's harsh words confirm the negative feelings for Louis that Claudia expressed in her diary, and a despairing Louis attempts suicide by exposing himself to the sun. Made a vampire by Lestat, Louis is too powerful to be destroyed in this manner, and his burned body is restored with vampiric blood bestowed by Lestat, David, and new vampire Merrick. She reveals that from the beginning, she used her magic to lure David and Louis to her in hopes of receiving the Dark Gift of vampirism. The turning of Merrick into a vampire infuriates the Talamasca, but in a letter David advises that they not wage war against the vampires because Lestat is too formidable a foe.

Crossovers

Some characters from Rice's ''

'' trilogy (1990–1994) appear in ''Merrick'', and later ''

Blackwood Farm ''Blackwood Farm'' is a 2002 horror novel by American writer Anne Rice, the ninth book in her '' The Vampire Chronicles'' series. The novel includes some characters who cross over from Rice's ''Lives of the Mayfair Witches'' trilogy (1990–1994 ...

'' (2002) and '' Blood Canticle'' (2003).

Audiobooks

In 2000, Penguin Random House Audio released an abridged audiobook adaptation of ''Merrick'', narrated by

Derek Jacobi Sir Derek George Jacobi (; born 22 October 1938) is an English actor. He has appeared in various stage productions of William Shakespeare such as ''Hamlet'', ''Much Ado About Nothing'', ''Macbeth'', ''Twelfth Night'', ''The Tempest'', ''King ...

, as well as an unabridged version, narrated by Graeme Malcolm.

Critical reception

''Merrick'' debuted at No. 2 on ''The New York Times'' Best Seller list, and remained in that position for two weeks, spending a total of 10 weeks on the list. ''

Publishers Weekly ''Publishers Weekly'' (''PW'') is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers, and literary agents. Published continuously since 1872, it has carried the tagline, "The International News Magazine of B ...

'' wrote, "This volume merges several long-running plots; the first chapters sag with the weight of their exposition, and the prose seems overheated even for Rice ... Displaying her imaginative talents for atmosphere and suspense, Rice creates a riveting scene that shows Merrick's awesome magic at work."

References

{{Anne Rice The Vampire Chronicles novels 2000 American novels Alfred A. Knopf books