Strange Beasts

Field Agent, Hel Moriarty (Helena), and Sam Harker (Samantha) Research Librarian. for the Royal Society of Abnormal Phenomena are sent to Paris to solve a series of murders that seem to be the work of a werewolf.

Paranormal mystery, very light same sex elements, strong feminist theme.

I always enjoy a good monster story! I love all the different monsters and lore behind them, intertwined with the overarching mystery. I felt both the Sherlock Holmes and Dracula influences, and it does a good job of paying homage to them. The characters were compelling with lots of twists and turns. The dynamic between Sam and Hel was definitely a highlight and I enjoyed how their relationship slowly progressed. The author did a great job of making this monster-ridden, bloody Paris feel very real. All in all, a highly enjoyable read.

This was a gripping read, I thought the characters were intriguing and I'm going to keep an eye out for more from this author.

Okay I loved it. I'm such a sucker for anything Sherlock Holmes and Dracula. This was so well written and just adored the characters

I rated this book 5 stars because I loved every single second of it. Such a unique story and fabulous characters. Everyone please read this asap.

My kindle formatting was unfortunately broken. I wasn't able to read so leaving five stars. I saw a note about "EPUB available late May" so I will try downloading again later in the month.

Good luck to Inky Phoenix Press on your first launch!! Rooting for you :)

Samantha 'Sam' Harker wants to get out of research and into the field, but to do so she must work with the dangerous Dr Helena Moriarty, the daughter of Sherlock Holmes' nemesis.

As they investigate a monster killing men in Paris ,both are keeping secrets....

Really interesting world building going on. We have the Holmes stuff, Dracula, and the monster hunters Sam and Hel work for. It's also written well in a modern style, thankfully. It is primarily a supernatural mystery novel, and if you were expecting a romance you'd be disappointed.

I read this and sat a few days on it to gather my thoughts. I’ve decided that as a stand-alone book, it’s okay. However, as the beginning of a series, it’s great. I was left wanting to know more about the characters and their relationship. The mystery itself was relatively easy to follow, I just wish I saw more growth with the characters and with each other

a fabulous historical fiction with gothic vibes and strong female leads! what's not to love! loved the paris setting and atmosphere.

Its dark and moody, which we all love! I didn't think I would like this in all honesty. Im not into anything remotely real world or taking place in an actual "world" I dont like renditions and I dont like vampires. Usually. lol I loved this! I was thinking about this book when I was not reading, and Ive been stalking the author for more! Thank you for allowing me a chance to read this beauty before the mass of the world.

I read this and and thought I must have hallucinated because it was exactly like a sapphic fanfictionish fantasy that I wished existed but obviously never would. The femme daughter of Mina Harker and the butch daughter of Professor Moriarty team up to solve a string of supernatural murders? They start to fall in love? It looks like the start of a Holmes-Watson style fantasy series?

And, most importantly...IT'S FUN!! A great old-fashioned murder mystery but with magical beasts and will-o'-wisps and feminine rage. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. I loved Sam, wanted more of Hel's thoughts and feelings, and am ravenous for the sequel and more of the Moriarty crime family. The only reason I would dock a star is because I think this debut set up the sequel a little too much (like the scene with Hel's brother didn't go anywhere, just introduced him as an important character in the future), but whatever, it worked on me, I want a sequel now. I give the star back for enjoying myself so much.

Also just the image of the son of Van Helsing walking around in jingling cowboy boots and thinking he's the hottest thing in Europe was 10/10

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was an interesting little supernatural mystery. An urban fantasy whodunit set in 1900s Paris featuring descendents of the characters from Dracula and the tales of Sherlock Holmes.

The mystery hit a good balance between not being extremely obvious very early on and still giving the reader enough clues to piece it together before the protagonists might as the story goes on, if they were paying attention.

The mystery was inventive and the story made interesting use of folklore. 1900s Paris was both a atmospheric backdrop as well as a deeply important aspect of the story the book tells.

My only real issue is that the story felt a little too exposition heavy in the first part, with every interaction initially having several breaks to deliver exposition. This does get better as the plot gets moving and the book settles into a smooth pace.

Samantha and Helena were pretty enjoyable characters to follow and their burgeoning relationship is cute, though perhaps a little too subtle beyond the exposition. It'll be interesting to see where it goes.

Overall, Strange Beasts is an entertaining work of urban fantasy that borrows from some classics to deliver a intricate and well written mystery. If you enjoy Holmesian mysteries with a supernatural twist, I'd highly recommend picking this up.

This one really shocked me how much I liked it, loved loved loved the Dracula & Sherlock influence!!

Great monster story and look forward to more from this author in the future.

Strange Beasts is a fitting title for Susan J. Morris’s debut novel. It is indeed strange because I hadn't encountered anything like it before, and it is a beast of a story that gripped me from the first page by the throat and didn't let go until the end.

I won’t delve too much into the plot because this book is an experience everyone should have without any prior knowledge. But I must mention the atmosphere and the characters. The vibes of gothic Paris were masterfully done, so much so that the setting almost manifested itself on the pages as I was reading. This is perfectly complemented by Sam and Hel, an incredible duo who were fierce enough to be awe-inspiring, yet vulnerable enough to be relatable.

Susan J. Morris’s debut is a witty, intelligently written story that will both dazzle the reader and give them chills. It’s one of those stories that will reinvigorate your love for fiction by reminding you that there are still talented authors out there who can offer something new and unique.

So this book very much struct me as a fantastic beasts and Sherlock Holmes smashed together.

There's plenty blood and gore!

I wouldn't say this has a title of a vampire book as there's very little actual vampire action which I was sad about as it seemed promised.

In a sentence this book is a who dunnit with beasts and a slow burn love story!

4*

I wouldn't say that historical fiction is an apt genre for this book, but it was still a fantastic read! Initially, I thought the mixing of literary characters and figures from different time periods would be too much of a melting pot, but it ended up being just the right amount of crossing over, along with new material. The characters are relatable and the plot has great twists and turns that kept me guessing. It is, at the end of the day, a kind of "whodunnit" piece, but definitely stands out thanks to the unique premise and masterful writing. I'm really hoping there is a sequel!

I loved loved loved this one. A mystery in the spirit of Sherlock Holmes with Dracula energy? Yes, please. The character development and slow burn romance were perfect. I want more Sam and Hel! Will be recommending to my friends., for sure.

I absolutely loved this! Who doesn't love a 1900s romantic whodunit with mystical creatures and Sherlock Holmes vibes? This book had everything. It was well written, and the storyline was beautiful as well as disturbing (up my alley, for sure).

Sam and Hels, two affiliates of the Royal Society for the Study of Abnormal Phenomenon in London, are dispatched to Paris to solve a string of brutal murders. All of the victims are wealthy men yet no valuables have been taken. It is apparent that the culprit is not human, but what is it? Sam and Hels are both no stranger to mysterious phenomenon. Sam is hiding secrets of her own. Hels has a bad reputation - all of her previous partners have died in the field. Who or what is killing these men and why?

Sam and Hels were the perfect sleuthing duo. I enjoyed the slow burn romance throughout the book but the mystery of solving brutal murders was my favorite part.

Thank you to netgalley and Bindery books for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

League of extraordinary gentlemen meets Sherlock and homes.
I enjoyed it - would have preferred a touch more spice. Could perhaps be cut down a smidge.

A nice paranormal mystery driven by the daughter of Mina Harker and the daughter of Moriarty !
Sam, a quiet girl, is used to work at the library and is not a field agent, and Hel is a badass heroin with a nefarious reputation. Both have secrets and are searching for more than the Beast who kills people in Paris. And yes, they will go to France to investigate and find the monster.
As a French girl, I really enjoyed the historical accuracy of the story and the french dialogues, always perfect - which is so rare ! (I must admit, I even learnt few things).
The slow burn romance was sweet and I'm really impatient to meet again Hel and Sam in book 2 !

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.
Already desperate for a sequel. This book is very action-packed and you are thrown straight into it. I loved the characters and their relationships, loved how the author merged the fictional universes of Dracula and Sherlock Holmes and still added so much, loved the Belle Epoque Paris setting... I loved pretty much every single thing about this book. The fact that this is a debut is insane to me. It was so well crafted, extremely engaging, the pacing was perfect and the author nailed the slow-burn romance. The only reason why I'm not rating it 5 stars is because I found the ending predictable and knew the character was guilty (and the method they used) as soon as they were introduced.
4.75 stars

This was EVERYTHING.

I’ve never been one for mysteries as I tend to find them too predictable and makes the overall experience… boring. Here, I completely forgot that there was something I should even be looking for! The atmosphere, the characters, the book as a whole creates it’s own pace and secrets where I found myself not wanting to solve the mistery myself but rather watch Sam and Dr. Moriarty do it.

The underlying topics like class struggle and misoginy made it all feel more real and round even tho we are talking about monsters.

I can’t wait to have it on my shelves (and make my friends buy it) when it comes out!

Dracula meets Sherlock Holmes meets fierce, independent women, meets a gothic Parisian atmosphere in the early 1900s, meets Fantastic Beasts, meets murder mystery... AND it's sapphic? Yes. Sign me up. Take my money. Put my name on the roster.

I thoroughly enjoyed Strange Beasts!

The world building, though minimal, was easy to understand. This is a world where monsters and/or paranormal beings exist and are known.

I loved watching Sam and Hel's relationship blossom. To me it felt authentic, and I am very much looking forward to seeing it develop further in a sequel.

I very much want to give this five stars, however I have a small gripe: throughout the book, there is French dialogue without translation and as I don't speak French, this was mildly irritating! My choices were either Google translate it as I went or just push through and assume it wasn't super important. I went with the latter most of the time, and while I don't feel I missed a whole lot, I would have liked to know what they were saying.

This was well written, well researched, and well plotted. Highly recommend. 4.5 stars.

Thank you to The Bindery team and to NetGalley for this ARC! This review contains spoilers.

FINALLY a good horror/mystery/crime book! With a good narrator! Interesting characters! And where it wasn't clear who was the villain from the start!
I really liked this book and read it in three days. The setting of Paris, the catacombs, everything weaved together was so satisfying to read. Needless to say, I need book two. I am begging. I want to know what Hel and Sam will get up to in Ireland. Will they meet Hel's family? Will they kiss again? I have to say, I didn't give the book 5 stars because to me the romance between Hel and Sam felt like it wasn't fleshed out the way it should have been. What I mean with that is that from the comments Hel makes (e.g. when she says something along the lines of Cyprien won't be able to resist her in that dress, she looks good etc.) one can clearly see that she likes her. Sam on the other hand never really mentions being attracted to her. That felt a bit off to me. I would have liked for Sam to give little indications (before the kiss) that she was indeed also interested in Hel, romantically. But ah, nevertheless, I enjoyed this story so much!

HONESTLY, THIS DELIVERED EVERYTHING WE WERE PROMISED FROM THE SYNOPSIS AND I ATE THE FUCK OUTTA IT. like good lorddd, a must read for enjoyers of horror/thrillers and lesbians 10/10.

<i>Strange Beasts</i> is everything you could want from a murder mystery. It leaves you guessing again and again, leading you to think you've figured the puzzle out, only to divert your expectations entirely. Aside from that, it immerses you in a perfectly gothic, almost whimsical world of mythical creatures and catacombs and potions. This is the type of book you forget you're even reading, because it's just that good.

Don't even get me started on the slow burn sapphic romance. That one kiss was not enough for me. Give me a second book please!!!!

A truly beautiful story that takes place in a equally as beautiful world. This is a great gothic mystery that takes place a world in which all of your favorite monster stories and classic English literature characters are real. Think the Van Helsing movie, but much less campy and a little more serious. It was so atmospheric and all of the decisions--from the lore of the werewolves and various other creatures, to setting the story in early 20th-century France, to Sam's fantastical abilities--created a very beautiful and uncanny world.

I also really liked how Sam and Hel came from "famous" families and how those backgrounds created compelling personal journeys and mysteries for the two MCs. Without spoiling too much, it was really interesting to see how Morris approached the very different family lives of the two. Sam came from a family with a dark history, and while they were very loving and obviously cared deeply for Sam, they also coddled her too much, not allowing her to fully learn to control and explore her abilities, which ended up hurting her in the end. On the other hand, Hel came from a loveless family that used each other as pawns and only saw the value in each other if they were strong and intelligent. While this obviously emotionally stunted Hel, it did turn her into a very strong and independent woman. I also like how each family has their own mystery that's threaded throughout the book, but never overtakes the main plot, just enhances it. There definitely needs to be a sequel just to see how these storylines end.

My only complaint is that I just didn't really feel the romance. I do think Sam and Hel would be a great couple and compliment each other well, but throughout most of the book, it was completely platonic with almost no mention of interest on either side. There wasn't any romantic tension between the two since they were so focused on solving the case, which is obviously fine, but if I hadn't read the synopsis before reading the book, I don't think I would have even known that Sam was into women. It's a shame because the little romantic development that we did get towards the end was very well done and set the stage for a very sweet relationship.

While this was obviously a very serious story with some darker scenes, the book was also just fun. I really like when author's don't take their stories too seriously and just allow their characters to be human. This was a great read and I cannot wait to read more from Morris (especially if this ends up being a series to tie up all those loose ends).

A story where the world of Dracula meets the world of Sherlock Holmes, set in Paris at the dawn of the twentieth century and make it a supernatural murder mystery? Well, yes, you got me!

Following Sam Harker and Dr. Helen Moriarty on this adventure was a wild ride through 'monster' infested Paris, hunting down in the famous catacombs all while trying to solve the puzzle of several impossible seeming murders.

I adored the way Sam and Hel had to work to find a basis and trust in their partnership and how each of them has their own gifts and how they make the perfectly imperfect team. The slow burn between them is wonderfully balanced and when they finally open up more to each other it is beautiful.
I also loved how scents played a big part in the murder mystery and how Morris described them.

What I would have liked more of was actually Sam's childhood friend and later rival Jakob Van Helsing. He was an intriguing antagonist in the scenes he was in and how dare he get such a fun design to just be almost criminally underused in the overall story?

In the end though Strange Beasts is a great book, the writing is amazing and the characters shine. Even the side characters were written well and with some of them you might wish to see more of.

Thank you to Susan J. Morris, Broken Bindery and NetGalley for this eARC!
#StrangeBeasts #NetGalley

thank you to netgalley for the eARC.

historical fiction is often a toss up for me. some times i really enjoy it and other times i just can’t get into it, but i really liked this one.

i normally warm up to the mysterious characters more quickly compared to their optimistic partners, but i was drawn to sam from the first page. i think her being a channel made her really interesting that had me questioning how she’d play her role while keeping it hidden from a very intelligent character whose job is a famous detective. it was really nice to see hel be met with her match even if she didn’t realize it at first.

the tone felt very sherlock holmes. not sure about dracula as i’ve never read the book, but the mystery of it all was very present throughout the whole book.

i love slow burn romances, they might be my favorite, but i think the romance was lacking. when there was a moment between them, i forgot there was meant to be a romance between them. i don’t think it harmed the story overall as it was very strong on its own, but i think the build up between sam and hel could’ve been better.

one thing i really loved was that hel’s flaws weren’t all resolved by the end. she made gradual growth and by the end, she acknowledged that she wasn’t what sam could want and needed more time to better herself. i really enjoyed that aspect since i don’t see it often.

the ending let it open for a second book, and i believe there will be one, but i actually like the ending enough for it to be the end of them. though i did really enjoy sam and hel, i’m not sure if i would want more of them. maybe i need some time to really sit with the book, but i’m unsure if i’d come back for the next.

Love love love love. 

The main characters were lovely, the vibe came across perfectly and the mystery kept me on my toes until the very end.

Even though there wasn't that much romance it felt real and I hope there will be a sequel to further explore the romance and Hel's story.

The story felt very real and all the problems adressed in it were handled well in my opinion. I'd really recommend this book to readers of dark fantasy or mystery books.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advance copy of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.

First and foremost, the fact that this is a debut novel is astounding to me. Susan J. Morris, you are very talented indeed! Fans of slow burn romance are absolutely going to eat this up, as well as anyone that enjoys a good "whodunit" mystery! I seriously loved Sam and Hels so much, I'm seriously hoping we will see much more of them in the future. Again, kudos to the author on such interesting and fun debut novel!

I was in a reading slump and DNF'd about 4 books and when I started this one I knew I finally found one that I would finish!

I LOVE old school European stories especially when monsters are involved.

Here we have a fun twist of Dracula and Sherlock Holmes.
We follow Sam Harker who is the daughter of the woman who killed Dracula, but it may have come at a cost. We also have Hel who is the daughter of Moriarty, the nemesis of Sherlock Holmes.
They must come together to find out what monster is behind the gruesome murders popping up in Paris and neighboring towns.

I love the world building and the MCs.
I do wish the relationships in the book were a little more developed and the ending left me feeling like there should have been more.

But overall I really enjoyed this read.

This book was so much better than I could have even expected from the already interesting description. The cover is absolutely stunning and the writing is just as great. I want to read more from this author in the future and definitely need to grab a physical copy! Such a lovely read. Absolutely loves the characters and story line.

3.5 stars - Samantha Harker, daughter of Johnathan and Mina Harker, is a researcher for the Royal Society for the Study of Abnormal Phenomena. Usually she's buried in the library working to assist the Society's many field agents, but this time she's managed to talk her way on to a case. Teaming up with Dr. Helena Moriarty, the daughter of the infamous professor, Sam sets off for Paris to investigate a recent string of gruesome murders. Though Sam quickly finds she might be a bit out of her league in the world of field work, she's not as useless as some might think, for much like her mother before her, Sam is a channel and can see into the minds of the monsters they're hunting.

Set in and underneath the streets of Paris at the turn of the century, Strange Beasts was a wonderfully entertaining tale of mystery, murder, and monsters. Initially filled with suspicion and secrets, it was fun to watch Sam and Hel's relationship change as the story progressed, as well as learn why each woman chose to pursue this case. Although currently a standalone, it's clear this is a world made for more adventures, and I would not be surprised, or sad, to see a sequel in the future.

I love a good who-dun-it murder mystery and this one hit the spot! Add in a little bit of sapphic romance to sweeten it up between our two investigator FMCs to make things more entertaining. I love Sam and Her together- thing were a bit terse at first and towards the end, but they clicked together and work SO well. As much as I enjoyed the slow burn romance between the two of them, the brutal murders and discovering with them who did it was enthralling to read. I wish there was more on Hel's family, as there was, and still is, so much potential on following the trail to them. Although it did take a couple chapters to get a feel for the world and the monsters in it, but it was a quick and enthralling read. I hope Morris decides to come back to this world because there's so much potential for more!

Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this book from the start. With nods to Dracula and Sherlock Holmes, I was hooked from the start. Add in two female sleuths - both with their their own storied histories -- and this is a great read.

With mixes of gothic horror, historical fantasy, and mystery, this is a super fun read!

Thank you to Netgalley and Bindery Books for the arc. The cover really caught my eye and the premise intrigued me as it wasn’t exactly what I usually read and was a great exploration into the different genres of fantasy and murder mystery.

I really enjoyed this book! The premise was really interesting and I never found myself bored by the plot. It constantly kept you on your toes wondering what Sam & Hel would experience next. I don’t read many murder mysteries but found myself really enjoying it, even with the occasional gore- the gothic and murder aspects were great for a novice like me sticking their toe into the genre. I (embarrassingly) have never read Dracula & Sherlock Holmes, so I didn’t initially understand the references at all to either of the books characters and googled it in order to immerse myself more into it. I imagine having read them would add even more experience to this book- however I didn’t feel like it was necessary in me enjoying it which I think is great when referencing as I was compelled enough to keep reading.

There is so much to love about the two main characters in this book. I love how the author explored different characterisations that may seem stereotypical to people but highlight how fleshed out people can be even if they fit (or don’t fit) certain stereotypes within their gender identity. I adored Sam and how she was the reclusive reader but also was a blonde fashionista that fit into the archetype of a more ladylike character from the time- and played the part of ditzy when it was in her advantage! I loved the banter between Hel and Sam. The chemistry was incredible and I loved their characters so much, their dialogue and wit were entertaining. I wish we had more scenes of romantic tension, just because I loved them so!

I love the authors take on monsters- however do not want to spoil anything for any readers- but just want to highlight that their exploration into monsters was unique in its depth.

There is so much to love about this book and the ideas explored within it, the ideas of women-hood, victimisation, identity, gender, (especially gender identity + gendered roles), how the era impacts all of these concepts and how this is all explored through a compelling and thoughtful murder mystery fantasy. A 4.5 read for me.

I tend to divide perfect books in two categories. There are those that flawlessly accomplish what they're set out to. Then there are those that are riveting, breathtaking, surprising and ambitious. The kind of books that I'll be thinking long after I've read them.

Strange beasts falls under the latter category.

I don't usually read mystery, never been a fan of the genre, but Strange Beasts, being both mystery and fantasy, intrigued me. And once I picked it up, I literally could not put it down. Strange beasts didn't include ANY of those things I dislike about mystery books (and there are a lot), nor did it have any of those issues that fantasy books so often have. The novel balanced perfectly between the genres, with a splash of horror in there as well.

PLOT
The plot is flawless, with more and more layers of the mystery unfolding over time, keeping me constantly on my toes yet without getting overwhelming. I honestly had no idea who the killer was, yet when I found out, it made sense. Every twist made me feel like 'aww man, I should've seen that coming!' In other words, perfection.

WORLDBUILDING
Set in early 1900's Paris, the book had just the amount of worldbuilding I like: the world is constantly present without drawing attention from the story. The author's descriptive style made me feel as if I was actually there.

CHARACTERS
The two main characters, Sam and Hel, feel like completely real people instead of mere characters. They're both flawed, yet strong in their own ways. I especially liked how there remained a certain amount of mystery around Hel all through the book.

FAVORITE THING?
My favorite thing was, in one word, the lore. Strange Beasts draws influence from classic novels and folklore of Western and Northwestern Europe, from Shakespeare to Arthur Conan Doyle, from Will-o'the'wisp to the Beast of Gévaudan. All of this in a dark, Parisian setting? The atmosphere is astounding. The author has done an incredible job at researching and learning about these things.
Another favorite thing: The themes. Feminism, morality, different types of strength and so on. YES.

LEAST FAVORITE THING?
That I can't read the second part right away. How can I wait?

This book is amazing. Definitely cracks top 3 reads of the year and top 10 reads of my life. I highly recommend.

For the most part, I really, really enjoyed this. It gave me vibes of the 2003 Van Helsing movie meets Theodora Goss's The Extraordinary Adventures of the Athena Club series plus maybe a dash of Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries (wrong time period, I know, but I was thinking more the banter). All of this added up to something exactly for me. I liked Sam and Hel's relationship from reluctant partners to "Oh no I think I like this person??". Definitely a bit more of a slow burn, even if it doesn't exactly end up as a romance yet.

There are just a few things keeping this from being a 5-star for me:
1. I feel like there was a lot of build-up and the ending wasn't quite as satisfying for me. I'm not sure exactly what would have made it more satisfying exactly. I don't think the way things ended up was unsatisfying, more I think I wish the way to get there was a little less hurried?

2. There were a few moments, especially at the end, where the revelations felt a bit more heavily telegraphed than I felt was warranted. I think it's more a debut author thing because these moments felt very much like "I have to clarify things for the reader or else they may not understand". It felt a little like hesitance on the author's part to fully trust in both the writing and the readers' abilities to pick up on the finer details. Like, there was a lot of reiteration on certain facts where it started to feel repetitive rather than something for dramatic effect.

Overall, though, I really enjoyed this and hope that it's a series because I'm fully locked-in and invested in where this could potentially go.

I absolutely could not put this book down! I love the premise of having these descendents from classic monster stories fight their own monsters. Not only is the cast and story well though out, but the writing is phenomenal. I found myself actually laughing out loud multiple times, and so many of the sentences are just beautifully crafted- very quotable. I have been telling everyone I know about this book because I just can't help myself and I dont think ill be stopping anytime soon.

“Men are entirely too quick to call a woman mad or monstrous just because she can do something they can’t.”

Strange Beasts was a fun read with a great story, a fair share of blood and violence, and really enjoyable FMCs. I really enjoyed the ties to Sherlock, nods to classic monster villains like werewolves and vampires, and the banter between Hel and Sam kept the dialogue engaging and relatable.

There were sometimes that the minor magic felt a bit unfounded. There could have been a little more backstory to help the reader more fully understand and believe the magic involved, but overall, I really enjoyed this story, and will definitely be reading any future books from Susan J. Morris.

Thank you to NetGalley, Inky Phoenix Press, and Susan J. Morris for allowing me the opportunity to review this digital ARC of Strange Beasts.

This book had it all! I've read quite a few fictional detectives who were themselves inspired by fictional works, and this is easily one of the best that I can recall. In this book, Sam Harker and Helen Moriarity are trying to find a murderer. Sam is particularly invested as there is a connection to her long-lost grandfather, while Helen is just trying to make sure her dad isn't behind everything. They are initially skeptical of each other, but a believable relationship grows between them through the course of the book. The mystery itself was entertaining, steeped in lore, and while I guessed parts of it, I didn't guess all of it. Anyway, I enjoyed the character development, worldbuilding and plot, and would generally recommend this to mystery readers (it's pretty gorey, so probably not for the cozy folks).
 
Side note: This was fun enough that it made me question whether or not I've read Dracula (results: inconclusive) and I think I might actually (re)visit that classic. And as a general rule, I do not have the highest opinion of tHe CLaSsiCs (it varies, and I love some of 'em but I think many are highly overrated), so that's like very high praise indeed. Anyway, the ending of the book sets up a sequel and I shall be checking it out. 4 stars - I really enjoyed it.

4.5 rounded up. Samantha Harker (Sam) is a researcher and daughter of Jonathan and Mina Harker; her world is the library and books. Dr. Helena Moriarty (Hel) is a field agent and daughter of the infamous Professor Moriarty; she's had three partners die suspiciously on previous cases and doesn't want a partner. Both work for the Royal Society for the Study of Abnormal Phenomena in the London Field Office and Strange Beasts has then reluctantly partnering up to investigate the suspected paranormal murders of wealthy and powerful men in Paris just after the turn of the century. Sam is a channel is has to contend with Van Helsing's son, her former friend and colleague, trying to get her sent back to London. Can they track down the Beast before it takes another victim?

I wasn't quite sure what to expect going in to this book, knowing that the protagonists are based off the children of renowned literary characters, but I was pleasantly surprised. The story is historical fiction/fantasy, but it finds non anachronistic ways to feel current that so not feel contrived. I can see where this story has been set up to allow for a sequel and I'd love to see more. You can expect a fair number of magical monster mentions or appearances: grindylow, werewolf, boggart, will o the whisp, etc.

Thank you to Bindery Books for an ARC on NetGalley. All opinions are my own. This book is due to be published 10/15/24.

Morris’s novel contains many aspects I love: folklore, monster hunting, murder mysteries, Victorian/Edwardian era Europe as a setting – in other words, I went into this book already knowing I’d probably like it. No surprise, then, when I did!

Sam and Hel are both engaging, complex characters. Sam, the 3rd person POV readers follow, has a great mixture of knowledge from being the Harkers’ daughter, a paranormal researcher and librarian, a psychic channel, and a fashionista. Hel is a paranormal investigator and daughter of Professor Moriarty, a doctor of chemistry, and special-disposition-to-wear-pants-in-Paris badass. Their professional relationship and budding friendship were both well done, as was their investigation.

The folklore used was not-the-most-commonly referenced, which made for a much more interesting read. The mystery was well done, equally balancing exciting adventure with clue finding and cognitive leaps. One aspect of the novel that stood out to me was that women and their concerns were always centered in the narrative, not just with Sam and Hel, but with others they meet along the way. That helped, I think, to make it feel more contemporary and less male-centric like classics of that era tended to be.

The portion of the book that I am iffy about regards the romance between Sam and Hel. While I’m a fan of slowburn and non-sexual relationships, there was nothing throughout the book that indicated Sam had, or was developing, romantic interest in Hel. Sam shows a flirtatious level interest in a man, so readers have that for comparison. While Sam’s relationship with Hel is much more engaging as it develops, it’d be a stretch to call it romantic before a sudden kiss.

From the other end, Hel’s interest is very subtle to the point it could be argued it doesn’t exist. It’s easier to forgive this subtlety since Sam’s POV is used and Hel is a less emotionally expressive character, but it still felt incomplete. Likewise, Hel’s gender non-conforming dress, demeanor, and overall attitude are not commented on much. Having more explicit discussions of her gender identity and sexual orientation, or the presence of more gender non-conforming and sapphic characters interacting with our protagonists, would have been helpful in cementing how this universe handles Queer folx.

The romance aside, I loved this book, and if there is a sequel, I’ll definitely read it.

I loved this book, I was maybe expecting a bit more of the sapphic romance but I think there are more books planned with these characters (the daughters of Moriarty from Sherlock, and Mina Harker from Dracula). I also enjoyed that the book had me going: Oh I know the perp, wait do I, no I do, but are you sure until the end. I did know, but I never second guessed my instinct before like that.

ARC Reviewer! Thanks to NetGalley and Bindery for approving me!

What an absolutely fabulous way to debut! I enjoyed this whole novel beginning to end. I had so much fun trying to figure out who was behind the killings and never guessed it. I was left surprised in the best way!

Strange Beasts features the daughter of Dracula, Sam, who is on a mission to find her mysterious disappearing grandfather. When a lead catches her attention, she leaves the comfort of her library position at The Royal Society for the Study of Abnormal Phenomena and convinces Hel, the daughter of Professor Moriarty (Sherlock's nemesis), to let her be her partner on the case she is on. This could prove dangerous, however, because Hel's last three partners have all mysteriously died out in the field. Hel, or Dr. Helena Moriarty, and Sam, or Samantha Harker, set out to find who is killing all of these men. They run into an underground society, fashionistas, Van Hel Sing's son, a baker, a perfumer, and an opera cast with a rivalry. Each with only a piece of the puzzle. Will they be able to put the pieces together in time? Will Sam survive this case and find her grandfather? Susan J. Morris will keep you guessing!

This story has a little bit of everything: Fun world building, a clever and twisty plot, interesting characters, interesting villains, interesting herrings in various shades of red, and some really great lines and descriptors:

“The first man was young, his eyes bright with drink. Nature had failed to furnish him with a chin, but he made up for it with a roguish scruffiness and a floral scarf around his neck.” and “She had a kind face, round cheeked with laugh lines and soft brown eyes that were currently contemplating the brass knuckle knives on her hands, the gentleman’s ear caught between two of the blades like a scrap of meat between teeth.”

Told from Samantha’s point of view, the book doesn’t let the reader get into the head of Helena “Hel” Moriarty, which I think it just as well. Like her famous father, Hel is supposed to be smarter, quicker, and more cunning than everyone else — everyone but her brother and father — and that’s a hard ask for any author. As it is, Sam’s admiration, vexation, indignation and reliance upon Hel’s skills gives enough of a shape to Hel’s character, and I think is very well done.

Sam, herself, is soft hearted, unused to physical efforts and violence, and it shows. Her sympathy for the women she meets, her use of soft power — making friends, playing up her womanly helplessness, even against Hel — net her better results than a gun or a knife. All in all she’s a very well done character.

The plot is nice, solid and well constructed, but the writing is what really worked for me. The difficulties of being a woman agent in a world where women are often seen as either workers, wives or mistresses and rarely as people of influence or authority lends a frustrating element to Sam and Hel’s efforts, and I enjoyed the various monsters scattered through the adventure.

The romance … well, I will say it worked for me, but it might not for everyone. Sam’s thoughts are so full of Hel, and her various feelings towards her, but because the book never shows Hel’s thoughts, I’m left having to judge her on her actions. (And that kiss!) It’s clear Hel is socially awkward and may be neurodivergant coded — that, or just really not good with people; her manner of speaking, her behavior isn’t that of someone courting a lover or someone falling in love, but it’s clear Hel comes to rely on Sam for the emotional support, for the quiet understanding, for being one of the few, and maybe only people in Hel’s life to look at her as being worth anything.

It’s a slow burn, and by the end of the book they’re only just starting to figure out what it is between them. So if you’re after something with more romance than plot, this book might not work for you. I want to thank Net Galley and the publisher for granting me access to an advanced reader copy

This caught me so off guard, it was intriguing with a dark mystery involving beasts and gruesome murders. This is set in the olden days with characters such as Moriarity and van helsing who work for a supernatural hunters type guild investigating abnormal situations. This story kept me on my toes, I didnt quite guess why this was all happening but who was behind it was a little predictable, this doesnt take away from the adventure of the plot though.

Fast paced, eerie atmosphere, monsters and a murder mystery with a little romance. This book has it all.
I can't wait for more.

I read this courtesy Net Galley. Harker, van Helsing, Moriarty—as soon as I began reading this historical fantasy and recognized these names, I was intrigued and then sucked into this story and world. Samantha (Sam) Harker, the daughter of Jonathan and Mina, does research for the Royal Society for the Study of Abnormal Phenomena, but she yearns to be a field agent. She also has a secret: she can talk to the monsters the Society hunts—but admitting to that could result in her being one of the hunted. She gets her chance to be an investigator when she teams up with Helena Moriarty, daughter of the infamous James Moriarty, but since Hel’s previous partners have all died under odd circumstances, Sam knows there’s a reason to be wary. Then there’s Jakob van Helsing—the son of Abraham—who also works for the Society, and he doesn’t seem to be on their side (or at least on Sam’s side). For that matter, what’s going on at the Society? There are mysteries upon mysteries, secrets upon secrets. This book was a fun, absorbing read.
#StrangeBeasts #NetGalley #HistoricalFiction #Fantasy #Dracula #SherlockHolmes

This is such a beautiful gothic tale, full of twists and turns! It is pitched as being Sherlock Holmes meets Dracula, and that holds true for this story. Every chapter kept me wondering and wanting more. I absolutely cannot wait for the second book, and more of Sam and Hel!

Read if you love:
•Gothic tales
•Mysteries
•Paranormal
•Slow burn sapphic romance
•Feminine rage

This was such a fun book! With Sherlock Holmes-like sleuthing and hints of the supernatural filling the pages, Strange Beasts was a perfect mix of mystery and magic.
I always love murder mysteries set in the 1900’s but what particularly stood out to me in this novel were our two main characters. I love that authors are giving readers more well-written, strong female detectives. And the slow-burn romance between Hel and Sam was wonderfully done. It was great to read such a good sapphic romance during pride month.
If you are a fan of gothic novels or TV shows like Penny Dreadful where characters from Victorian ghost stories come to life, this book is for you.

STRANGE BEASTS by Susan J. Morris

‘It takes a monster to hunt a monster’

In this dark, gothic, murder-mystery story, Professor Helena Moriarty and Samantha Harker must work together to catch the beast that’s murdering men in early 20th century Paris, while secrets from both their pasts push them into a game of clues, pawns and betrayals. If you enjoy dimly lit alleyways, catacombs and tea parlors intertwined with mythical creatures, Strange Beasts is the book for you.

When I first picked up this book, I was under the impression that it was a standalone. At the 60% mark, I was sad that I’d never get to see these characters again, since I’d fallen in love with them and felt like the story had so much more to explore. However, at the end, I happily found out that it was in fact the first instalment in a series (whether it’s a duology or longer, I don’t know yet). What I mean to say by this is that Strange Beasts was so good that it made me, someone who absolutely prefers standalones, want a sequel. And if you’re wondering about a cliffhanger: the mystery plot in this book is resolved by the end, while the overarching plot will continue in the next one (think Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries -type of ending).

The plot, brimming with plot-twist as more suspects appear, has an evident feminist undertone: Hel and Sam constantly struggle against society’s expectations for them as women, not only in terms of looks, but especially for their ability to hunt down the beast of Paris. Sam and Hel are two women hunting monsters in a society that strives to make monsters out of all women.

Hel and Sam were perfect foils for each other –the latter bubbly and soft, the former aloof and secretive. Sam especially reminded me of Cassandra of Troy, cursed (or blessed) with clairvoyance, yet dismissed or punished by men for her knowledge. While the sapphic romance elements were few (I’m sure these will be expanded in the next book), it was lovely to see their friendship develop as they both started to put their trust in each other.

Strange Beast was a thoroughly enjoyable read, and I will be (im)patiently waiting for the sequel.

**Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review**

@librisinetenebris (Instagram)

Ancient beast , mythical tales and combine that with the offspring of Van Helsing , Professor Moriarty, Jonathan and Mina Harker made this feel fresh with its new characters but giving a sense of comfort.

It was beautiful written and I could picture each monster, area and imagine smells described. I enjoyed we was set in Paris for most of the book instead of London. Which isn't a problem but for the type of book Strange Beasts is , it makes a change.

If your looking for a LGBT romance then this isn't the book for you. I feel like if there was a book 2 (which I hope ) there could be some massive character development. Sam and Hel are our main characters and even though there was a moment which come up once at the very end of the book , it was honestly unexpected and I didn't feel any short of slow burn. Sam blushed around men and had a very attractive man illude her thoughts but she never had this with Hel. I could sense Hel cared for her but I wasn't getting the feels of her pining after Sam. So for me this fell very flat and some of the reviews I read made me go back through some chapters to understand if I missed something but I feel like I didn't. Slow burns are my favourite books but this wouldn't make it to my slow burn list.

However it is an amazing Fantasy / PG Horror and I loved the duo. I could she a second book of stollen glances , lust and embracing moments. Obviously filled with monsters , magic and research.

The front cover of this book is so stunning. I find myself keep going back looking at it.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Author for an arc copy.

Continuing my excellent luck with NetGalley ARC Reviews - Strange Beasts is just completely WOW. Honestly its a bit annoying that its far easier to criticize books in words, but trying to express how great this book is is very difficult. I'm going to have to get on Tik-Tok or some BS just to gush and compliment Morris on this masterpiece.

About the only thing I can think of that could potentially be a probably is if you're simply not looking for this genre! Strange Beasts is a sort of Victorian Urban Fantasy, its set in that kind of 'League of Extraordinary Gentlemen' type universes where literary character are all real - for example the MC is the daughter of Dracula's Mina Harker, her partner Hel is Moriarty's daughter. Now this sort of thing can always fail on execution, but Morris pulls it off. I think because the story would be strong without everyone being a walking literary reference, but the added detail gives the story a lot of flavour.

And flavour this story has - Mein Gott - the pacing is just immaculate. I was saying to a IRL book friend that its odd to read a novel without some part or element that drags a wee bit, or feels like you have to read that section to get through the whole book - Strange Beasts never had me bored, or disinterested. Not only was there an adequate variety of action, it felt like each scene was carefully crafted to perfection.

I am beyond overjoyed to have had the opportunity to read this, and doubly so that this (should) have a sequel. I normally hate sequel-bait but the threads of the future story and the current tensions are carefully interwoven to not create and sense of disappointment but rather anticipation. (not to mention the relationship dynamics, what I really like with Strange Beasts is the relationships feel human, despite the supernatural backdrop and strike the perfect balance of being intriguing and titillating without distracting from the main plot and/or being melodramatically perfect - this doesn't feel like an attention seeking romantasy to me)

Suppose now I have to wait for the sequel :( Thanks so much Netgalley for giving me access to this book and thanks a TONNE to Morris for penning this spectacular piece - I'm looking forward to the movie!

Thank You Susan Morris, Bindery Books and Netgalley for the ARC.
I rate this book a solid 3.5 / 5
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Synopsis
In this fresh-yet-familiar gothic tale―part historical fantasy, part puzzle-box mystery―the worlds of Dracula and Sherlock Holmes collide in a thrilling exploration of feminine power.

At the dawn of the twentieth century in Paris, Samantha Harker, daughter of Dracula’s killer, works as a researcher for the Royal Society for the Study of Abnormal Phenomena. But no one realizes how abnormal she is. Sam is a channel into the minds of monsters: a power that could help her solve the gruesome deaths plaguing turn-of-the-century Paris―or have her thrown into an asylum.

Sam finds herself assigned to a case with Dr. Helena Moriarty, daughter of the criminal mastermind and famed nemesis of Sherlock Holmes and a notorious detective whom no one wants to work with on account of her previous partners’ mysterious murders. Ranging from the elite clubs of Paris to the dark underbelly of the catacombs, their investigation sweeps them into a race to stop a beast from its killing rampage, as Hel and Sam are pitted against men, monsters, and even each other. But beneath their tenuous trust, an unmistakable attraction brews. Is trusting Hel the key to solving the murder, or is Sam yet another pawn in Hel’s game?
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The synopsis describes the plot well and I enjoyed the read. The sub 400 pages felt good and not bloated. Knowing Montmartre reasonably well and having spent many hours of my life stood in queues for the catacombs it was nice to hear these names in the story rather than the usual Paris departments and landmarks. In the time-zone of the book, the cheeky little gift shop at the end of the Catacombs (The best part of the attraction to be honest) was not mentioned 😊

Going in to the book I was apprehensive about the mention “thrilling exploration of feminine power.” But thankfully we got a normal woman with a love of her revolver and a mastery of Raising her eyebrows. With the mention of Dracula, Van Helsing and Moriarty, I was also thinking we might get some very Sherlock Holmes sleuthing, this was not the case and we ended up with a more Magnum PI type of investigation. This is not a dig at the book but not sure why it was really necessary to have big well known names and then not go full Sherlock (Just an observation)
The 2 main ladies Hel and Sam were likeable enough and they got us through the plot nicely. Both ladies were involved in Romantic undercurrent stories but it stayed low key which I am grateful for as I am not a fan of Romance, I prefer Monsters and battles which is why I picked this book.

Some French was used regularly throughout the book. I think having the translation would be nice no matter how trivial the phrases used. I couldn’t help but think I was missing out on something when French was written.

I believe this is the authors first novel. I would happily read the next book as I presume there is a part 2 with the way this book ended.

I really enjoyed this book! It had mystery, adventure, suspense. And monsters! The story line was great and it had really good character development. I loved Hel and Sam’s relationship and hope it will be explored more in another book. Man, I hope there is another book!

It was a story I was not expecting. The writing style was great. I really loved it. Truly. It was worth the read. Would definitely read it again.
10/10

Dracula is one of my favourite classic novels, so the blurb for Strange Beasts by Sarah J. Morris immediately appealed. The novel is a compelling dive into a fantastical extension of the Dracula universe, featuring a fresh and intriguing protagonist, Sam Harker, the daughter of Mina and Jonathan Harker, and detective Dr. Helena Moriarty, daughter of the formidable enemy for the fictional detective Sherlock Holmes. This book blends gothic horror and fantasy with an atmospheric narrative that pulls readers into a world filled with dark magic, monstrous creatures, and hidden secrets.

One of the standout elements is Sam Harker herself. As Jonathan and Mina Harker's daughter, she inherits not just her parents’ legacies but also a set of unusual powers. Her character is well-developed and relatable, balancing vulnerability and strength as she navigates the dangers surrounding her. Morris explores Sam's internal and external struggles, making her a captivating and dynamic heroine alongside her partner.

The setting of the Paris catacombs adds a wonderfully eerie backdrop to the story and enhances the novel's gothic atmosphere. The catacombs, with their claustrophobic passages and haunting history, serve as the perfect stage for the unfolding supernatural occurrences.

Another highlight is the inclusion of monsters and fantastical elements. Morris doesn't shy away from exploring the macabre, creating a sense of tension and suspense. The creatures that inhabit this world touch on myth and legend, contributing to the novel's historic allure.

Van Helsing’s son Jakob was another appealing addition, albeit in a deuteragonist role. The conflict between Sam Harker and Jakob Van Helsing added another layer of complexity and excitement to the story. However, I would’ve liked to see more of Jakob.

Strange Beasts is a well-written and thoroughly engaging novel. Morris's prose is tidy and immersive, perfectly capturing the gothic tone. The atmosphere she creates is thick with tension and foreboding, making it easy for readers to lose themselves in this darkly enchanting world.

In conclusion, Strange Beasts by Sarah J. Morris is an intriguing read for gothic horror and fantasy fans. Its strong connection to the Dracula legacy, compelling characters, and richly atmospheric setting make it an enjoyable addition to the genre. I hope to see a sequel.

I LOVED THIS!!!!!

Sherlock x Dracula x Feminine Pursuits series

It was a perfect balance of Sherlock-style supernatural murder mystery with historical details and fun characters taking you on a perfectly-paced adventure. I loved how I couldn't guess a lot of the twists and I really hope it gets a sequel because there is SO much more to be done with these characters and the universe, especially the hints to Helena's past and parentage.

I was utterly captivated by this book! Who can resist a romantic mystery set in the 1900s featuring mystical creatures and a Sherlock Holmes-esque atmosphere? It honestly had everything. The writing was excellent, and the story was both beautiful and unsettling, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

The plot was solid and well-crafted, but the writing truly stood out. The challenges women agents face in a society that typically views them as workers, wives, or mistresses—and rarely as influential or authoritative figures—added a compelling frustration to Sam and Hel’sHel'sney. I also appreciated the various monsters encountered throughout their adventure.

The story unfolds gradually, and by the end, the characters begin to understand their feelings for each other. This might not be the best fit if you are for a book with more romance than plot. I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced reader copy.

Samantha Harker and Helena Moriarty are sent to investigate a strange series of murders in 1903 Paris.
Yes, they are the daughters of Mina and Jonathan Harker from Dracula and Sherlock Holmes's nemesis. Yes, I loved that.
What I loved even more is how the real life history and daily life from early XX century gets intertwined with fantasy elements (even referencing the Beast of Gévaudan, which sent me down a rabbit hole a couple of years ago, and the Phantom of the Opera).

The plot is quite intricate, full of twists which you may or may not see coming – I definitely didn't. The characters are strong and quite well defined, it's easy to love them. I found myself reading very little in fear of having to let Sam and Hel go, but that means I am soo ready for the sequel. And the romance, oh god, I loved it! Being quite a fan of slow burn, I was sooo happy to not have them declare their love by the first half of the book. I can't wait to see more.

Another thing I really liked were the descriptions, whether it was of the ambience and the setting or the physical ones. They are done in such a clever and vivid way, you can really see the scene as if you were there.

To sum up, I really enjoyed this book and I was so surprised to find out it's a debut novel. I will be definitely reading the next books in the series and I cant't wait to follow Sam and Hel!

(little note: I went down another rabbit hole about strange things that happened in European history and I would LOVE to know what Sam and Hel think about the dancing plagues.)

3,5 stars.
Sam Harker and Hel Moriarty need to find a monster, and things take many shapes (pun intended) and twists.
Set in Paris in the 1900s, Strange Beasts contains some strange beasts.
Sam has a lot to learn, and both women have a lot to unfold.
The pros: Paris catacombs have a role in this story, although a bit annoying at times, Sam and Hel are interesting characters, and show agency, the mood and the atmosphere is lovely, the romance subplot does not overshadow the macabre elements.

The mystery and some of the descriptions were not %100 effective for me, but overall, this was an enjoyable read.

Concept: 4.5
Characterisation: 4
Prose: 3
Prose for the mood and worldsetting: 4
Dialogue: 3.5

Strange Beasts was an incredibly fun and witty read. I couldn't put it down! The characters were fun to get to know and the mystery was interesting with a fun feminist spin. I wasn't able to guess who was the culprit ahead of time!

The one thing keeping this from being a five star rating was that I would often get confused about where the characters were or how they got there. It felt like they'd be in a conversation and suddenly the entire location shifted without me realizing they were moving. I would often have to reread certain passages to figure out what was going on location-wise.

Overall, really enjoyed this book. Already recommended it to a friend!

Strange Beasts is a fantastic debut and I can't wait to see what the author puts out next! The two main characters are the children of very famous classic characters, Dr. Moriarty from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Mina and Jonathan Harker from Bram Stoker. These two ladies work together to solve a series of murders that are suspected to have been done by a sort of beast. Their relationship starts from mutual distrust but slowly builds into much more and it is such a wonderful ride!

This book was very atmospheric and the setting was icing on the cake that is this book. The characters, setting, pace, writing….i wouldn’t change anything.

I'm going to be honest - I put this book off for a moment. I was contemplating whether or not this would really be my style to read. I am so glad I didn't put it off for too long because I loved this book.
It starts with the introduction of some interesting literary legends. We have the daughter of Mina from Dracula and the daughter of Moriarty from Sherlock Holmes. What could go wrong?
We add a bit of spice with the fantasy element. As first I thought this was going to be a little more steampunk and focus on the murder mystery, but I was pleasantly surprised when we met mythological creatures (some of which were out to kill them!).
The romance between the two women was also really well written and very realistic. I liked how the main character seemed to be more interested in men until push came to shove and she realised. I also love how a big deal wasn't made about it. Even in those times were homosexuality wasn't common (and often illegal), it was just part of their lives and the story the author had created.
Really well done!

///// English /////

*Disclaimer: I had received a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 9/10 – 4,5 stars out of 5
Genre: Mystery, thriller, fantasy, romance

You have to be a monster to hunt them… or not.

I really loved this story. We have the perfect mix between Sherlock Holmes vs. Dr. Moriarty, a little bit of a slow burn romance, a social critic against patriarchy, the 20th Century and fantasy with monsters like Dracula or werewolves.

There are some things I would change, as some problems of misunderstanading, but it gives the plot a lot of sense.

I loved the dinamics between Hel and Sam, the descriptions of the monsters and the inclusive part in the romance. The apparition of Dracula, Van Helsing and Dr. Moriarty are awesome and really enjoyable.

The mystery was well-written, not as much previsible (only a little bit) and intense.

The romance is not the principal plot here, and it’s more a friendship the most of the time. They are the person that trust on you when you don’t. There are some child traumas that have the characters in conflict, but they are part of their personalities.

It was really cool and I am waiting for the second part.

Men are afraid of what a woman with power can do. And they will define you as a monster instead of it.




///// Español /////

Puntuación: 9 / 10 – 4,5 estrellas de 5
Género: Misterio, policíaco, fantasía, romance

Hay que ser un monstruo para cazarlos... o no.

Esta historia me ha encantado. Tenemos la mezcla perfecta entre Sherlock Holmes vs. el Dr. Moriarty, un poco de romance a fuego lento, una crítica social contra el patriarcado, el siglo XX y fantasía con monstruos como Drácula o los hombres lobo.

Hay algunas cosas que cambiaría, como algunos problemas derivados de malentendidos, pero le dan mucho sentido a la trama.

Me gustó la dinámica entre Hel y Sam, las descripciones de los monstruos y la parte inclusiva en el romance. Las apariciones de Drácula, Van Helsing y el Dr. Moriarty son increíbles y realmente disfrutables.

El misterio estuvo bien escrito, no es tan previsible (solo un poco) y es intenso.

El romance no es la trama principal aquí, y es más una amistad la mayor parte del tiempo. “Es la persona que confía en ti cuando tú no lo haces”. Hay algunos traumas infantiles que tienen a los personajes en conflicto, pero son parte de sus personalidades.

Me gustó muchísimo y ya estoy esperando la segunda parte con ansias.

Los hombres tienen miedo de lo que puede hacer una mujer con poder. Y en vez de eso la definirán como un monstruo.

“Supernatural” meets “Sherlock” in this new gas-lamp fantasy book by Susan J. Morris that was optioned with TheInkyPhoenix and published through Bindery Books. The time period and locations were described beautifully. The characters were believable and the journey was filled with as many twists and turns as the catacombs depicted. I hope this becomes a series! I love strong female leads and that Hel and Sam can hold their own, without their family intervening or keeping them from their full potential.

A gothic story, with beasts, strong women, mentions of Sherlock Holmes and Dracula and a sapphic subplot? I'm in
This book was a very enjoyable read, there are a few things that could've made it better, like a deeper focus on the worldbuilding and a more in depth analysis of the characters.
But it's very good as a cozy mistery, it's well written so it's an easy read and there are many cool aspects that keeps your attention, like references to Dracula and Moriarty, the catacombs of Paris and the romance subplot that are done great because they don't take away space from the storyline of the mistery and just adds to the gothic vibes
I'll recommend this book, especially during spooky seasons!
Very thankful to NetGalley and the publishers that gave me the opportunity to read this book in exchange of an honest review

Let me first say that I was 100% pulled to this book because the cover is beautiful and I read somewhere that the description was “Dracula, Sherlock Holmes and lesbians”. Obviously it is a must read? I am SO happy that I was given an ARC of Strange Beasts. I DIVOURED it. This book is *chef kisses*

Samantha Harker is quickly submersed into the real world of monsters and beasts when she demands to be apart of a case that she believes will lead her to her grandfather, who mysteriously vanished. She is put on a case in Paris with the notorious Dr. Helena Moriarty who is an amazing investigator but who is being watched by the Royal Society for the Study of Abnormal Phenomena (their work) due to her partners that keep ending up dead on the job. Even though Sam has zero field work, she is determined to be on this case and give Hel the benefit of the doubt.
We soon find out that there is layers to this story. Sam has secrets about who she is, Hel has secrets of who her family is and what that means for her partners. The police in Paris are keeping secrets, even though they want to solve the murders of high society men in their town. Discovering all the pieces to the puzzle was so much fun, especially with the setting of this book.
I really enjoyed all the layers to this novel and all the twists. When you think you know where the story is going, it switches you in another direction in the best way.

I gave this story 5 stars for multiple reasons. It was a fast pace read that kept me entertained the entire time. I loved all the different parts of this book, the lore, the love, the mystery and of course, the murder. The setting of this book was also amazing. I loved the catacombs, miner tunnels, theater and fancy hotels. I loved the fancy dresses and the impeccable descriptions of them. Over all this book as so much fun and is such a vibe. Highly recommend!

I liked this novel a lot. I wasn’t sure what to expect given that the blurb has a LOT going on (a theme that continued into the novel for sure) but I was pleasantly surprised by what I found. This novel does an excellent job in weaving together a lot of different elements of mythology and fantasy into a unique and yet familiar story. There is a LOT going on in this story, with many interwoven elements and plotlines, and the author pulled it off very well. The characters were particularly great, being well developed and feeling like real, living, genuine people. I would recommend this novel for sure!

This novel had action, mystery, fantasy, and a lot of other elements. It wasn’t just one single thing and I think it would be hard to pin it down into one genre. Thankfully they did a good job of everything attempted in this novel, and it didn’t feel like there was too much crammed into the pages.

There is a romantic plotline, but it is very minor. For some reason I was expecting more of a romance in this novel but that might be my own bias as I have been on quite the romance kick for a while.

I don’t know if there is a plan to make sequels to this, but I certainly hope so. This novel definitely has the “first in a series” feel to it with plenty of room for future development. At the same time, this novel would stand perfectly fine as a standalone novel if that’s the case.

I think the reader would benefit from knowing the two stories of origin of our protagonists, however its not essential.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Samantha, daughter of Jonathan and Mina Harker (yes, those ones), joins Helena, Professor Moriaty’s daughter (yes, that one) to hunt down maybe-werewolves in Paris. Sam and Hel (who are just platonic partners in crime and nothing else, obviously) are attacked by half the cast of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find them, including a very thirsty grindylow. Even more dangerous than the giant man-eating snail slithering about the catacombs is THE PATRIARCHY, because our daring duo live in a time where wearing a perfume with more than one flower scent brands you as a shameless harlot, and women can and will be involuntarily hospitalised for expressing an emotion. God forbid a woman pour a vat of pig’s blood on her cheating husband. At least there’s a cute rat called Heathcliff to lighten things up.

3.5 stars. Strange Beasts brings about feelings of Sherlock Holmes style mystery, which is no surprise considering our biggest supporting character is Helena Moriarty, who is trying to distance herself from her father's reputation. Our main character is a delight in an exploration of feminine empowerment, particularly that power we get from supporting one another.
My only fault to the book is that some small side character stories don't make particular sense due to just abruptly ending or being somewhat contradicted by the way the main story is continued. I hated that nothing was said about Hel and Sam sending for the woman at the asylum's friend, and there was an entire section about Clotilde, but we never find out about where she ends up. There was a bit about how if it came to light that the Wolves of God hadn't committed the murders, the leadership would fall through, but then they could get their help at the end to block tunnels, but it didn't even seem like they were actually even around in the catacombs.

What an enjoyable book! I really did like this.
It started out so so well, it was so so intriguing, I kept going! The middle was kind of slow for me, but overall, a very enjoyable light read, yet dark and mysterious, and very feminist, all of my facourite things! I highly recommend you give it a read!

Strange Beasts is a rather dark and unexpectedly sapphic historical fantasy based mainly in Paris. It had a really enjoyable setting, with scenes ranging from the cabaret and theatre, to the morgue and the catacombs. Basically everything you would want from an intriguing, historical Parisian murder mystery with a monstrous twist.

I loved Sam and Hel. I have to say Hel was my absolute favourite and I adore a strong female character that you are left questioning their motives. Sam was a really interesting main character and I loved seeing her grow throughout. I think she had a very compelling backstory and thought the magical elements added an additional mystery and helped drive the plot forward.

I would definitely recommend this to lovers of historical fantasy with a captivating twist.

The story takes place in Paris and follows Sam Harker, a channel that is plagued by visions of monsters, giving her a special insight in murder cases. She can see what happened when touching what has been touched by these monstrous beings.

She joins The Royal Society for the Study of Abnormal Phenomena for investigation purposes and in hopes of finding the truth about what happened to her grandfather.

She gets assigned to a special case led by the famous Dr. Helena Moriarty.

A series of gruesome murders are taking place in the french capital and no one knows who is behind it, but the targets are clearly wealthy men. Together, the two women must fight their way in a maze of mysteries and danger putting their lives and sanity at risk.

This book mixed elements of fantasy, mystery and gothic literature and it was very pleasant to read. Feminism was a clear and important theme to the plot. Altogether, I had a lovely time reading this story and seeing how it ends, I am expecting another tome. I think it's a great debut.

Thank you to Bindery Books and Netgalley for the ebook advanced copy.

I loved this book. The world, the locations, the time period, everything about the setting was perfect. I loved that the mystery of it was high stakes while still maintaining a cozy vibe that continued pulling readers along throughout early 20th century Paris. The characters were interesting and fresh. There were a few hiccups in pacing, but I don't feel it greatly affected the overall story arc. It was a fun and spooky read that I enjoyed cozying down with.

I absolutely adored this debut novel, with aspects of sherlock and moriarty meets Dracula, werewolves and other paranormal beings it is a unique murder mystery unlike anything ive ever seen before. From powerful female characters in the forms of Hel and Sam, we see the tracking an unknown killer across paris which in turn connects them and their pasts.

Not too much can be said about their pasts without completely spoiling the plot but its safe to say it was completely unpredictable but also heartwarming with the bonds that developed between the two and the subtle hints at them being sapphic. Overall, it was a thoroughly engaging book and takes cues from all sorts of myths, legends and lore but was a thoroughly worthwhile read and a great debut from our author. With how it ended I am excited to see this world potentially further grow and develop in future.

Strange Beasts by Susan J Morris will be one of the first releases from the pioneering publishing group Bindery, a publisher powered directly by the bookish community. This is Inky Phoenix Press’s debut release under their Bindery imprint and Morris’s debut adult novel was an absolutely stellar choice.
We follow Sam Harker as she teams up with Helena Moriarty to solve a series of grisly murders in Paris, supposedly committed by a famed Beast. This is a gas lamp murder mystery that burrows into Paris’s cunning underbelly, unearthing cults, creatures, and a shedload of period-accurate misogyny towards our badass leading ladies. However, they soon prove that they are more than up to the task of tracking down the elusive killer. Sam has strange (but helpful) abilities that she desperately tries to keep to herself, while Helena has an extensive network of connections and the natural consequences of being raised by the infamous Professor Moriarty on her side.
This story was everything I wanted it to be and more. It’s a slow-burn sapphic romance that dips into all of the most interesting elements of Paris in this era: private clubs, theatre performances, perfumeries, the catacombs, and so much more. It even has a healthy dose of fantastical creatures which I was pleasantly surprised by.
The setting and the plot were the stars of this show for me. The mystery had some complex twists and plenty of red herrings that I thought I had gotten the better of, but I was the one left gasping in the end. Morris does a fantastic job of keeping the explanations organic and easy to understand, while still keeping the tension taut throughout the story. Paris is a looming beauty in the background of the story and the smattering of French dialogue felt like it had been written by a native speaker rather than put through Google translate, and avoided the easy clichés. Morris’s prose is deft and effective, and spirits you into the Paris nightlife in the space of a breath.
I would highly recommend this story to anyone looking for sapphic or women-centred stories set in the Holmesian era that isn’t afraid to dabble in fantasy elements. Fans of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen or The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter will also adore this novel and I cannot recommend it highly enough. Strange Beasts comes out on 15th October 2024.

Strange Beasts is a delicious adventure and mystery wrapped in threads of gothic paranormal fiction and gives us a fresh look at stories we have loved before. Here, the children of Professor Moriarty and Mina Harker (of Sherlock and Dracula fame), Hel and Sam, are women working for the Royal Society for the Study of Abnormal Phenomena out of London. Sam is a researcher out of her depth trying to outrun a family curse. Hel is a field agent that no one trusts due to her parentage. But in this case, they end up as reluctant partners.

As with all great mysteries, both women have secrets they’re trying to keep while tracking down the Beast who’s gone on a killing spree in Paris. At every turn they are met with resistance and tricks, often at the hands of people they know well. Forming a tenuous alliance filled with tension and faint whispers of trust, they must work together to reach a resolution that will leave both of them alive.

The writing was sharp, the tension and secrets played out well, and the atmosphere was rich and inviting. You felt like you were in the salons and catacombs of Paris. The dynamic between Hel and Sam is perfection, and the end sets us up for a continuation of the world and the underlying mysteries that go beyond the Beast murders the women were sent to solve. We also have a slow-burn romantic tension between Hel and Sam that is lovely to see unfold. They are the definition of opposites attract, and I would love to see more of their story unfold.

What a refreshing and unique take on both the words of Dracula and Sherlock Holmes! Here we have the daughters of Jonathan and Mina Harker and Professor Moriarty working together as part of an Association that Studies Abnormal Phenomena (think part X-Files and part Harry Potter). What ensues is a delightful, and sometimes gory, gothic journey to investigate a series of gruesome deaths in Paris, possibly attributable to a werewolf, even though werewolves are considered extinct. The author builds an amazing world where paranormal creatures do exist and both Samantha Harker and Hel Moriarty are fully developed, interesting characters. There were a few points in the story where the investigation logic lost me on how they were getting from point A to point B, but that in no part took away from the story. This is the first book I've read this year where I thoroughly enjoyed every page and cannot wait for the next book in what I hope will be a lengthy new series.

Thank you to NetGalley for letting me read this ahead of time!

"All you need is one", Sam persisted. A friend believes in you when you don't believe in yourself. Who challenges you when you're being unfair, and doesn't require you to be anything other than exactly who you are."

This vivid historical fantasy retelling kept me absolutely enthralled the entire time. Firstly I love the idea of our storybook characters being real and interacting with each other. Sam is the daughter of Johnathan and Mina Parker who defeated Dracula and Hel is the daughter of Professor Moriarty from the Sherlock Holmes universe. They both work for the Royal Society for the Study of Abnormal Phenomena, Sam is a researcher and Hel is a field agent with a mysterious background. Thrust into the field together, each with their own agenda we travel with them to the vibrant 1900s Paris.

The world building in this is really detailed and brilliant, as there are monsters we get a lot of important descriptions of them which helps to visualise but what I loved most was the clothing descriptions. It’s something I love and with historical books it really helps to build a sense of the time period.

The plot was a rollercoaster and I honestly couldn’t guess what was going to happen which I loved!! I was hanging on to every word and flew through this trying to put the pieces together and that definitely means you have a good mystery on your hands.

The romance between the two main characters was so much fun to read too, its a reluctant working together situation with a grumpy sunshine trope but each character has so much depth and little by little we see the ways they come to trust each other and that slow burn relationship building is a favourite type of romance for me.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and I hope so much there is a sequel!! This is just such a fantastic idea for a world with the children of traditional classic horror or mystery it makes me excited for what could come next. I also need to see what happens with Sam and Hel! I highly recommend picking this up if you like mystery, historical fantasy, retellings, slowburn romance or sapphic books!

A mix of Dracula and Sherlock Holmes in Paris? Sign me up! Elements of suspense, fantasy, horror, mystery -- what a great story this was.

Thank you to Netgalley for this eARC gift in exchange for my honest review.

Gothic historical fantasy/mystery novel. Set in the 1900s with aspects of romance and disturbing themes.

Samantha Harker (daughter of Dracula's killer) and Helena Moriarty (daughter of Sherlock Homles' nemesis) are both assigned to a series of murders in Paris seemingly committed by a non-human being. Their investigation bring them closer to one another but also life threatening danger.

I loved the dynamic of Sam and Hel, their banter and slow burn was written so well - I truly enjoyed it. But my favorite part was the slow unraveling of mystery and intrigue as the two figure out who the murderer is.

This book was so good! It has adventure, mystery, gothic vibes, paranormal aspects and tension. This story was very unique and very interesting to me! The atmosphere was very inviting and rich in history.

this was such an intriguing story filled with monsters and secrets stored in the world of paris!

sam and gel’s foray into paris to uncover the truth about murders taking place was so fun, their dynamic and intensity kept me so hooked, especially with the sherlock holmes x dracula vibes. sam grows as a person so much, learning more about her channeling as well as coming to understand the power that women can have (and starting to unravel her own misogyny due to the way society has functioned - cue hel wearing suits 24/7, how sexy). the world of monsters and beasts is so intriguing, a monster that kills men, devious men and the secret networks of women made for such a great time!

i was absolutely rooting for sam and hel, and whilst it is a subplot and we barely see them together in the romantic sense, the pining and working together just ramped up the tension and desire to see them get together!!!!

i did love the exploration of paris in this, the different worlds that exists within it and how everyone interacts together (there are quite a few phrases in french that could do with having a translation next to them, as a french person i understood them but can see people having an even better understanding should a translation be there)

A gaslamp fantasy and a murder mystery set amidst 1900s Paris with a supernatural twist? I couldn't have asked for more.
Things I loved:
the writing. so immersive when it comes to worldbuilding, realistic when it comes to characters, yet never too flowery or too simplistic.
the character development. we were along for the ride and saw hel and sam's journeys of trusting each other, of sam's expectations of her employers changing and of her resilience growing.
the slow burn sapphic romance that does not impede the plot.
the sherlock-and-watson-esque feel.
the perfume and chemistry based fantasy - this might be my favourite thing! I learned a little about perfume, and the way the mysteries were solved was just immensely satisfying.
the plot twists - not so outlandish that you never saw them coming, but just far enough ahead of you that they make you happy to read.
I would read the sequel of this without question if it came out. [I just want to see these two Talk to each other ugh]
thank you to netgalley, the author and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

What a terrific and magical debut novel! I loved the gothic setting and the characters were fascinating. A riviting book and a wonderful story!

4 stars.
League of Extraordinary Gentlemen meets classic murder mystery.
Our story starts with Sam Harker (Dracula) and Hel Moriarty (Sherlock Holmes) who are co-workers in a supernatural society; they are sent to Paris where there are murders afoot. This duo team up, becoming their own Sherlock and Watson, to solve the case. Featuring psychic powers and alchemy this blends murder mystery with fantasy in an urban setting.
I love the elements of gothic horror; Paris catacombs setting with a little Lovecraftian twist tied in with a vague Jack the Ripper feel to the crime scenes.
I read from cover to cover, only setting this aside for sleep. I'm hoping to see what Sam and Hel do next!
Thank you to BinderyBooks and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this.

I loved this so much, as soon as I got into it I had to stay up all night reading it!

Each character had such a strong personality, and I loved the plot. The atmosphere was amazing too. I'll definitely be recommending this :)

Strange Beasts by Susan J. Morris is an enthralling read, a wonderful blend of historical fiction, fantasy, and mystery that will have you eagerly turning pages. The main characters, Samantha Harkins and Dr. Helena Moriarty are unique characters, inspired from Dracula and Sherlock Holmes stories, with Sam being the daughter of a vampire hunter who had ties to Dracula and Hel being the daughter of Sherlock Holmes's nemesis, James Moriarty.

Sam works as a researcher for The Royal Society for the Study or Abnormal Phenomena, however, when brutal murders start happening in Paris, she feels compelled to work in the field, believing she can solve this case and find who is summoning these beasts. She trusts her extensive knowledge along with her unique gifts of channeling and her strong sense of smell can help her crack the case. She teams up with Hel and together they set out to solve this mystery.

This book has a very creative and unique premise, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I love historical fiction, but also love fantasy just as much, so this book was the ideal book for me and kept me engaged the entire read! It has light romance, fantasy creatures, monsters, paranormal beast hunters, mentions of Dracula, Holmes, and Van Helsing, and has an overall gothic feel to it which was all executed perfectly. The pacing does drag on at times though, with the middle being the slowest part. Overall, I would recommend! 4 stars!

Thank you NetGalley, Bindery Books, and Susan J. Morris for this ARC!

I really enjoyed this book! Taking the children of well known gothic literature characters, with names like Van Helsing and Moriarty, and putting them in a world where they work for a fantastical association that hunts down inhuman monsters, its a tale both familiar and brand new. 1903 Paris, and the now adult children of these characters are trying to work together and find out if they can trust each other as they attempt to solve the vicious and animalistic murder of rich society men.
The book was a great length and very enjoyable. The story walked a great line between being based in the real world and the existence of creatures that share the earth alongside humans.

This debut novel was an exciting mysterious read. I loved the way that this played off of Sherlock Holmes novels, and gave us a new cast of dynamic characters to follow. The addition of magic and the magical beasts was also really well done- I appreciated how set-in-stone they were. It all felt more analytical and science-y, which I thought fit with the rest of the universe really well. I’m not usually into mysteries, but I loved the dynamic between Sam and Hel. It was very fresh, and I liked how it focused mostly on the mystery with some other AMAZING elements sprinkled in. I’m really excited for the next installment in this series, and really excited to see what Susan J. Morris does with these characters next! Thank you to Netgalley and Bindery Books for this ARC!

A gorgeously haunting and Gothic book that immerses you in the story and mystery immediately. The aura that surrounds this world is very discernable and distinct. I hope to reread this again soon.

What a refreshing book this is! Granted that I have been a long time fan of Sherlock Holmes and anything to do with the fandom that it was with a bias that I picked the Strange Beasts from Netgalley without any hesitation. Of course, world of Sherlock Holmes + Fantasy with magical beasts involved= COUNT ME IN PLEASE! And here, take my money!

Sherlock Holmes, was of course, not present in this book but rather it’s a story of two determined and goal-oriented ladies who are working for the Royal Society for the Study of Abnormal Phenomenon (RSSAP) in London, Researcher Samantha Harker and Field Agent Dr. Helena Moriarty (Yes, she is the daughter of the ). While the blurb can make one doubt about this novel being a rehashed version of the Sherlock Holmes stories, worry not because the Strange Beasts is totally a different beast (pun intended!) Here, we are thrown into the 1900s wherein supernatural threats are widely accepted as a normal every day happening. And thus, organizations such as the RSSAP came to existence to address, regulate, and terminate concerns and threats related to anything paranormal.

Samantha a.k.a Sam Harker, one of our heroines, is employed in the organization is a researcher who spends most of her time poring over books, reading and filing reports and who is likely to be tagged as bookishly boring. What a lot of people doesn’t know is that there’s more to her than being the uninteresting researcher. While she’s thoroughly happy and contented being drowned in books on a daily, she suddenly gained an appetite to be deployed in the field where mademoiselles like her have no business as she’s just so incompetent in terms of physical survival. And so, this is where our story started.

After manipulating the head of the RSSAP, Sam finally got her wish and got partnered with the overly mysterious but renowned Field Agent Dr. Helena a.k.a Hel Moriarty. This partnership has somewhat burst Sam’s bubble of happiness because while Hel is an outstanding Field Agent, all her previous partners died due to peculiar circumstances. So the question is, is Sam going to be the next casualty?

While I was busy figuring out whether Sam would die or not or, other equally suspenseful things are happening as our duo must solve a horrendous case of serial killings involving some sort of lycanthrope attacks. But that’s only scratching the surface for our duo because on the background, Sherlock’s archenemy and Hel’s father, Professor Moriarty, is also running a game of his own to trap Hel into his own clutches once again.

Written with sophistication, this book did not leave any room for breathing. There’s just a lot of action, a lot of brow raising scenarios happening that it’s just so hard to put this book down even for the occasional toilet and snack breaks. The atmosphere that Susan J. Morris wrought made me feel like I was also accompanying our characters in their search for the truth. The 1900 version of France, the setting of the Strange Beasts, became alive with Morris’ beautiful writing.

When I read the author’s bio, I was pleasantly surprised to know that Strange Beasts is her debut novel because this book was so perfectly written that I had a hard time believing such fact. So yes, I love this book. I love how it was written, I love how the characters were developed and their dynamics (hehehe), I love how the author made the plot so intricate and yet, not irritating me with infodumps and dragging the story with verbosity. Whether you are a fan of Sherlock Holmes or not, give this book a try.

PS. AND WHY IS THIS NOT A SERIES? THERE’S NO WAY THAT IT JUST ENDED LIKE THAT!

I read an eARC of this book so thank you to the author, publisher and Net Galley.

This book combined so many things I absolutely love and it was great fun! We take elements from Sherlock Holmes and Dracula, with a story of the descendants of recognisable characters from those two books. We follow the daughter of Mina Harker and the daughter of Moriarty as they must work together to solve a series of murders. Their investigation starts in London but takes them to Paris. They work for an agency that covers magical occurrences and creatures and I loved some of the folklore references that were woven throughout this story.

This was a really compelling mystery that was well-paced, interesting and with plenty of twists and turns. We see our investigators facing interference from villains, their own colleagues and troubling people from their pasts. We see them battle with the misconceptions and prejudice around women and the difficulty of trying to convince people of serious information who don’t care to listen.

The setting was fantastic and I loved the time period this was set in and the themes explored. It was a really evocative and entertaining novel.

Strange Beasts is the successful blend of Sherlock Holmes, Bram Stoker, and Patrick Süskind. It features endearing characters whose psychology is well-captured by the author, leading us at a frantic pace through a dark, mysterious, and very strange adventure where literary and folkloric worlds intertwine. I particularly enjoyed seeing Van Helsing, but in a very different light, and as a French reader, I appreciated the various inserts in my native language as well as in Latin, and the nod to Gaston Leroux and his Phantom of the Opera! A gothic adventure full of references and dark magic.

Sam and Hels were a great sleuthing team. I love the characters. I love the plot of the book.. i love a good murder mystery. The slow burn romance was good as well. I love the way the author wrote the book. Here is a summary of the book. Sam and Hels, two affiliates of the Royal Society for the Study of Abnormal Phenomenon in London, are dispatched to Paris to solve a string of brutal murders. All of the victims are wealthy men yet no valuables have been taken. It is apparent the culprit is not human. What is it?

You'll have to read the book to find out! Thanks netgalley

This was quite the ride! As a mom of two littles, I love books I can adventure in, and this book was perfect. It mixes historical fiction, fantasy, and mystery in a way that kept me hooked.

The story is set in a gothic world and follows Sam Harkins and Dr. Helena Moriarty, who are the daughters of characters from Dracula and Sherlock Holmes. Sam can channel monsters, and Hel wants to be nothing like her evil father. They team up to solve some brutal murders in Paris. Their relationship is really interesting and fun to read about. Their conversations and growing trust are well written.

I liked how the author explored gender roles and identity in the story. Sam is both a serious researcher and a stylish blonde, which breaks away from common stereotypes. Hel, with her mysterious past, adds depth to their partnership.

The pacing of the story is good, though it slows down a bit in the middle. But the rich setting and engaging plot make up for it. The mix of gothic atmosphere, paranormal elements, and historical references kept me interested.

If you’re looking for a book with mystery, fantasy, and a bit of romance, this is a great choice. It’s a wonderful escape that explores themes of identity, strength, and friendship.