Susan J. Morris

3.5 Off to a Good Start Stars

Admittedly, I have a penchant for anything related to Sherlock Holmes so when the blurb stated such, I was immediately intrigued.

This starts off with Samantha Harker, daughter of the infamous Jonathan and Mina Harker who faced off and killed Dracula, and it’s no surprise that her interests involve all things that go bump in the night, inevitably finding herself as a researcher for the Royal Society for the Study of Abnormal Phenomena. What many don’t know is show more that she’s also a channel, a touch sensitive to objects associated with monsters, and she has a personal stake in a series of grisly murders plaguing Paris. When Sam worms her way into being the newest partner of hunter Dr Helena Moriarty, estranged daughter of notorious criminal mastermind of the same name, both must learn to trust each other amidst subterfuge, secrets, and mortal danger.

This is a world full of all the creepy creatures you could want ranging from grindylows to giant snail monsters to shifters, not to mention social inequality and underground terrorists that are intricately tied to the supernatural murders of the French elite that Sam and Helena are investigating.

This had a distinct atmospheric feel to its historic gothic setting along with a hint of sapphic leanings threaded throughout a mystery containing a good amount of gore and horror. The darkness is not too mired down in the macabre due to the sunshiny outlook of Sam as she pursues her personal mission while trying to figure out if partner Helena is a friend or foe.

Again, I like any association with Sherlock Holmes no matter how remote, and the mashup of other literary characters (Harker, Van Helsing, Moriarty) gave a League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (minus the gentlemen) vibe.

Overall, a promising start and should the author continue Sam and Helena’s adventures, I’d be more than willing to go along with them!

Thank you to Bindery Books via NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review show less

What I like most about this series is that it shares a Sherlock/Moriarty adjacent history and links it with paranormal lore that encompasses the infamous Harker and Van Helsing family lines.

This story pretty much picks up where Strange Beasts ended. Our intrepid heroines Samantha Harker and Helena Moriarty (along with ever the watchdog Jakob Van Helsing) must go to Ireland for a very important case. What starts off as a missing persons conundrum soon turns into a multiple murder show more investigation, and Sam and Hel must figure things out quickly while also avoiding Professor Moriarty’s diabolical machinations.

I had several niggles about this second installment. Know that the mystery is convoluted with too many characters and threads at play. Jakob for the most part is frustratingly one note in his shoot first, ask questions later mentality. Sam herself admits she has very little survival skills/instinct which makes her ill equipped to be a secret paranormal agent despite her impressive smarts. Hel continues to be elusive and closed off, something that is perpetuated as she and Sam must outwardly show they’re not attached so that Hel's father doesn’t use their feelings against them.

However, points for monsters that go bump in the night where the fae take center stage here. Samantha’s own supernatural abilities are further explored which is a good thing. Again, just like its predecessor, this is full of sapphic longing, socioeconomic issues, and rampant misogyny. Add in touches of horror to keep things lively along with the ever omniscient presence of the Moriarty patriarch, as he’s the true fascinating thing about this series.

Overall, this continues in the same vein as the first book which has its pros and cons. I want more growth from this trio of characters and their interpersonal relationships, and though we see baby steps, there is a very long way for them to go to reach their full dynamic potential. It’s promising that we will get that in the next installment as this ends on an intriguing set up which will surely bring readers back for more!

Thank you to the author and Bindery Books via NetGalley for a copy to review honestly show less

Thank you Bindery and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

With an unique way of evocating the soul of Paris during 1903. We follow the journey of Samantha Harker (Sam for friends) a young researcher of the Royal Society for the Study of Abnormal Phenomena and Lady Helena Moriarty, Lady M or Hel (last one reserved only for those who don't get killed before they reach the place of the murders mind you) who will venture deep into the French capital to uncover the show more killer behind a brutal set of murders known as the Beast.

Morris really knows what she was writing when she went all out while describing the Parisian soil at that time. For the historical terms to the very garments the madams used while going around. And I won't even start talking about the Catacombs.

The murders were funny innovative, mixing that pinch of magical fantasy dark creature that made the book even better, each monster we encountered gave me shivers by how real it felt.

What didn't make this a 5 star was how the original worlds of Dracula and Sherlock Holmes were intertwined. Not saying it wasn't good, just that I thought that it would have been more taken into consideration as both main characters and another recurring one were officially bornfrom those universes. I do hope that we'll have more answers in book 2, because there has to be book two after that ending. Oh who am I kidding I want more Hel x Sam moments, the single kiss wasn't even remotely enough. ONLY ONE KISS YOU HEARD ME.

TW:
-Gore, detailed gore.
-Blood
-Dark thoughts
- Mentions of mentally unstable woman patients with hysteria.
-Mentions of sex (indirect. but still present).

4.25 ⭐️ 0 show less

Series Info/Source: This is a stand alone book. I got an eGalley of this from NetGalley for review.

Thoughts: I enjoyed this. This is a Victorian paranormal mystery with strange killings happening. It features two strong women who venture into the dark depths of Paris, France to unravel a series of killings that look like they have been done by a werewolf or some other sort of beast

Sam is a researcher for the Royal Society for the Study of Abnormal Phenomena but this time she wants to help show more with field work. She has a personal mystery that she thinks ties in to the mystery of the Beast. Since the Beast appears to be targeting only men Sam is given approval to help on the case and is paired with Dr. Helena Moriarty. Helena's partners have a habit of turning up very dead despite Helena's strange success rate on her cases. Can Sam survive her partnership with Helena, Sam keep her secret powers as a channel hidden, and unravel this gruesome mystery?

This is in a fairly generic paranormal Victorian setting. There is a bit of history around werewolves being extinct, but there isn't a lot of depth to the world building here. I did very much enjoy our two main characters; they are both tough and resourceful women.

The mystery unravels slowly here and has a very Sherlock Holmes feel to it. The story was witty and entertaining with many twists and turns that kept me engaged.

There are some paranormal aspects with Sam's strange channeling powers and some odd alchemy. There is a heavy theme of feminism and woman's rights as well. Additionally, there is a hint of romance but I honestly found this to be a bit abrupt and odd in the way it played out. I didn't dislike the way it played out, it just felt forced.

My Summary (4/5): Overall I enjoyed this but didn't love it. I did love the characters, the twisty turny mystery and the Victorian Parisian setting. I would have liked more depth to the world building and a mystery that moved at a faster pace. I also felt like the side characters could have used more development. I definitely enjoyed this and would love to read more adventures with Sam and Helena and see this world developed a bit more. show less