Someone help me find a way to crawl inside this book and never leave.

I’ve talked a lot in other reviews about how mashups of iconic stories and characters almost never work in new fiction, but every once in a while somebody finds just the right recipe, and the result is exquisite.

Such is the case with Strange Beasts, which is a little bit Stoker, a little bit Conan Doyle, and most definitely a lot of Susan J Morris and her gorgeous ability to spin a story.

I really loved the plot of this, but where it really excels in in its atmosphere and sense of place, and in its wrenching and wonderful story of friendship and trust, and of finding your person in the world, be they a romantic partner or a friend or a partner in crime, or in this case, all three.

I can’t get over how well-rendered the atmosphere is in this story, whether it’s the creeping dread of being lost in the catacombs or the ominous splendor of the Palais Garnier (special thanks to the author for the Phantom of the Opera nod. We don’t see nearly enough LeRoux dropping in on modern Fantasy, in my opinion).

All of that said, the mystery itself is also a gem that keeps you guessing and keeps you on the edge of your seat while reading. The book is somehow eerily laconic and delightfully slow to unfold, yet at the same time propulsive. The next book in this series can’t arrive soon enough.

I won't be reading this. I've tried multiple times and haven't gotten into it. Thank you though for the opportunity. If I read it in the future I will come back and change this review.

Looking for a sapphic, Victorian era fantasy that has dark twists and turns? “Strange Beasts” by Susan J. Morris is an adult murder mystery and historical fiction that honestly captured my heart.

“Strange Beasts” takes the daughter of Dracula’s killer and the daughter of Moriarty, of Sherlock Holmes, and pushes them together to solve a grisly series of murders. They must fight misogyny, as well as mythical beasts using their intellect and their many talents to solve the mystery.

Morris has a clever attention to detail while setting the scenes in the streets and underground of France. The mystery was juicy and complex with shifting elements weaving throughout the plot, and it made every twist and turn truly enthralling. The characters were well-developed as they navigated complex family trauma and societal pressures, while learning to trust each other and understand the different nuances of each other’s behavior.

I am truly excited to see this story continue and watch these characters grow into their own.

Sorry I am late (I had a kid.), but thanks to NetGalley and and Bindery Books for the ARC!😅

The Gothic, sapphic book I've been yearning for. It's like Penny Dreadful (show) meets Van Helsing (movie) in all the best ways. I absolutely loved it, and I am very excited to see it's a series and not a standalone. Very intrigued to see where these characters go. Basically, this was a smart reinterpretation of classic literary characters, and I ate it up.

I did not manage to read all the way through because life got in the way but I am finally ready to give a verdict on what I read. The first thing I noticed was the writing style, the type of narration used in this book immediately got my attention and I connected with it. You could tell that the author knew what themes were relevant nd was molding the atmosphere to accomodate their development. Regarding the characters, I also found them to be quite interesting. The mystery had me intrigued and I very much enjoyed the chemistry between our two leads. For what I was able to read, I found this books quite enjoyable.

A gothic adventure in two of my favorite books? Yes please. I've already told a number of my friends to pick this book up. In a sea of hetero books that are strictly in the tropes of romantasy, it's nice to know there's something for my sapphic-loving folks!

Thank you, Netgalley, for giving me a free copy of this book for an honest review.

Another Netgalley book that I allowed to languish unread for much too long. "Strange Beasts" is a 'who-dun-it' murder mystery book like none other, as the two lead detectives are the daughters of famous (or infamous) murderers. Sam Harker's daddy famously killed the notorious Dracula, while Dr. Hel Moriarty's pop was responsible for the death of Sherlock Holmes.

With heritages such as these, our two ladies find themselves travelling the streets, opera houses, and catacombs of Paris, looking for the clues to a series of grisly murders that may or may not be the work of a werewolf. It's all fun and goth, and even perfumed, as these two women slowly learn to become friends, trust one another, and join their besotted mutual admiration society. The side characters are great, particularly the son of Van Helsing with his arrogant cowboy boots and attitude. But in my heart, Sam stole the show.

The book ends with a potential set up for the continuing adventures of these two detectives of the paranormal. I will certainly be reading on if this is the case.

thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

that was a mysterious, atmospheric book, with characters that are a bit cold but also charming. the romance is subtle and minimal without becoming the focus of the story at any point. the chapter where the killer was introduced peaked my interest right from the start. the beasts were properly scary, and the locations mixed with the murder mystery made Paris look maybe even cooler than it really is.

Strange Beasts features Samantha Harker (daughter of Jonathan & Mina) and Helena Moriarty (daughter of Dr. Moriarty) who work for the Royal Society for the Study of Abnormal Phenomena studying and hunting mythical beasts. Samantha is more of a researcher while Helena is a field agent. However Samantha wants to find her grandfather, and the latest case in Paris is where she needs to be. Helena has had three partners die on her in odd accidents so isn't happy when Samantha is assigned to her new case in Paris. This was a fun adventure, with Samantha and Helena both being well fleshed out characters who are actually suited to each other in working together. I enjoyed the author's take on fictional characters and beasts and will definitely pick up the follow up book. Also, whoever designed the skull/staircase cover deserves a raise.

Unfortunately had to DNF. I didn't really like any of the characters and didn't really find myself caring about the story.

Also didn't like having to Google all the monsters mentioned and French phrases.

Probably didn't help that I haven't read Dracula or Sherlock Holmes!

Giving this 2 stars as although not for me, it's not a badly written book and the cover is stunning.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC.

Dracula was the classic I fell in love with as a child, so I was intrigued by a book featuring the child of Mina Harker but also the child of Moriarty (I read Sherlock Holmes a lot as a kid too)
Unfortunately I didn't enjoy anything about this
The single star is for baby Van Helsing's clip cloppy cowboy books
I received this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Strange Beasts by Susan J. Morris pulled me in right away with its eerie atmosphere and clever twists on classic lore. I loved following Samantha Harker through a fog-drenched Paris as she hunted a killer that might be more than human. The mix of gothic horror, strong female leads, and historical fantasy was right up my alley—it felt fresh, dark, and deeply compelling.

Rating: 5/5
I received a eARC of audio for my honest opinion.

If you like reading fantasy that has mystery, magic, magical creatures, gothic vibes, with a great LGBTQ rep. Oh and did I forget to mention that it has Sherlock Holmes and Watson vibes? The world building was fantastic, I found the characters to be easy to connect with, and I was able to relate to a lot of the feelings that Sam had. I loved getting to see the character development throughout the book, but one character really shined at the ending, Hels. Throughout the book you will be trying to figure out who is using magic and these creatures to kill people, but every time you think the characters have figured it out, this author brought up a new plot twist.

I loved getting to watch these characters go through the grim of the city trying to find clues and answers to all the deaths that were happening, and at the same time you have Sam who is trying to figure out Hel. Is Hel really trustable or is she helping the other side? I loved getting to know Sam more throughout the book and I think the inner dialog really helped to bring the readers to understand her fears, her wishes and her dreams. Plus, I loved that she is a strong character but she still has her flaws, and she admits that she may not know everything but she is willing to learn. I found the romance in this book to be the perfect definition of a slow burn romance, wow it took a minute to see the kiss finally but once it happened, I was so happy for them, but that slow burn throughout the plot really helped to keep the readers wondering.

I can’t wait to read what Morris will put out next.

I want to thank NetGalley and Bindery Books for the opportunity to review this book.

Strange Beasts by Susan J. Morris captivated me with the promise of a Sherlock Holmes meets Dracula murder mystery. Then it proved to be a thrilling mystery exploring power, monstrosity while giving a perspective of female empowerment and sexuality. The vibes of this books were immaculate and i found the plot to be fantastic. Morris writing is sharp and elegant and she was able to create a lingering sense of unease throughout the book. I loved the horror portrayed in this book since it was more psychological than grotesque. There was a certain tension in the darkness created by the author. I absolutely loved this book and i'm the very lucky owned of a Goldsboro special edition.

A dark, grisly and atmospheric tale in a Victorian fantasy world with Gothic vibes and a rich historical setting full of mystical creatures, cults, secret underground societies and murder.

Not only was this incredibly well and beautifully written for a debut novel but the author also knew how to create an otherworldly and lush world and I was quickly and entirely drawn into the story from the very first page.

A murder mystery with two daughters of legendary literary characters, along with that gorgeous cover art? Sign me up.

Sadly, I was fully invested for the first half of the story but then the pacing seemed to stall. Too much of the investigation was just Sam touching things (channeling) and being scared. Hel was my favorite character for the most part until she, along with every other character, started to feel kind of one note the closer we got to the end. The mystery at times was intriguing and the tension was thick in some scenes (particularly one in a tunnel with a snake/snail monster) but overall it felt lackluster by the time we find out whodunit.

I think I was hoping this story would be more campy, but it takes itself just a little too seriously.

Thank you to Bindery Books & NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Strange Beasts enticed me with the promise of a Sherlock Holmes meets Dracula murder mystery. But I was immediately entranced by Dr. Helena Moriarty (sigh).

Susan J. Morris dares to answer the question we've all been asking ourselves: what if Professor Moriarty and Mina Harker both had daughters and those daughters were monster hunting investigators thwarting supernatural serial killers in Paris during the late 1800s? Also, importantly, what if they were gay? The answer Morris provides is a thrilling mystery exploring monstrosity and power, female empowerment and sexuality, folk tales and urban legends, and more.

The vibes are immaculate, the plot is fantastic, the romance is lovely, and Dr. Helena Moriarty is my world. Also want to give props to Morris for Sam being such a well-written bisexual character. I am so excited for the sequel. I need more of this kind of Hel—and this kind of Hel alone—in my life.

Strange Beasts by Susan Morris is a mesmerizing, genre-blurring tale that sinks its claws in and doesn’t let go. Part speculative fiction, part psychological portrait, the novel explores the tangled connections between identity, transformation, and the monstrous—both literal and metaphorical. Morris’s writing is sharp and elegant, with a haunting lyricism that makes even the most surreal elements feel deeply human. From the first chapter, there’s an eerie intimacy to the story that creates a lingering sense of unease in all the right ways.

One of the novel’s greatest strengths lies in its ambiguity. Morris isn’t interested in easy answers—she lets mystery breathe, lets characters remain complicated and unresolved. The speculative elements are rich and layered, but never overwhelm the emotional heart of the story. Her portrayal of metamorphosis—physical, emotional, societal—feels fresh and unsettling, offering a kind of horror that’s more psychological than grotesque, and all the more powerful for it. Every page hums with tension, and yet, there's a strange beauty in the darkness she conjures.

I loved how dark and atmospheric the setting was. It really helped make the story feel more mysterious and fantastical, and have a feeling of unease as they questioned people. I enjoyed that there were secret underground tunnels and pathways with secret societies, monster hunting, and alchemy. The mystery of who the monsters are and who is making them was so much fun to figure out. I loved Sam’s character and her inquisitiveness, and the thought she put into her investigating, as well as how Hel and her communicated. This book was a solid detective novel, and I had a fun time with it. Thank you to Bindery Books and Netgalley for providing this eARC in exchange for our honest review.

I was not able to read this book and review it before its publishing date but now that I read it I have given it 5 stars.