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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I enjoyed this book. I thought it was a really strong debut. Pacing got a little slow in some parts, but overall I enjoyed the story and would read the another book by this author.

I felt like this dragged a bit for me. I realize that's the trend of gothic novels such as this one. Maybe they're just not for me.

This book, another of the freshman set of books from Bindery, worked much better for me than the other one that I read, which I'm relieved about because one of my book subscriptions chose this book, meaning I get to keep it. This book takes copious inspiration from turn of the century gothic fantasy, horror, and mystery like Dracula and other such works with the main character being the daughter of Jonathan and Mina Harker and her new coworker/partner being the daughter of Sherlock Holmes' infamous archenemy, Moriarty. The main character (whose name I have, as usually, unfortunately forgotten) works in the research department of an agency devoted to maintaining order over magical monsters like grindylows and recently - supposedly - eliminated werewolves. She, herself, is a channel which leaves her vulnerable to manipulation from monsters yet evidence discovered at the scene of grisly murders in Paris compels her to force herself onto the case, ending up partnered with Helena Moriarty. (I have no idea why I remember her name and not the main characters.) I really enjoyed this book which blends fantasy, horror, and murder mystery. These types of genre blends tend to work well for me.

My Selling Pitch:
Rizzoli and Isles but it’s free use-er, public domain. Perfume: The Story of a Murderer, werewolf edition.

Pre-reading:
Obsessed with this cover. God, I hope this is good.

(obviously potential spoilers from here on)
Thick of it:
A me! A Sam! Out of Dracula or?

Oh yes, bitch, I’m in charge.

Diorate

HAVE I MENTIONED, I’M IN.

Glaistig

So like a Capricorn?

I do love the library, but time to Nancy Drew this bitch. Have I mentioned I’m so in?

Also, what a library VIBE. Matches my bedroom art

She said penetration in chapter one but no eye contact. Absolutely me.

Oh shit, is this gay?

Rizzoli and Isles but it’s free use-er public domain.

I hope they don’t make Watson evil or something.

Oh, there's a tv show with that touch and relive their last moments schtick. Was it Theo in Hill House or- (What am I thinking of? I’m too lazy to google.)

Can you cry enough to smell the salt? I can't smell.

Apottopaic

This is def for the Emily Wilde girlies.

Is she Dracula spawn? Like yes, please.

Dude, have I mentioned SO IN.

Trasgu

Duende

Live laugh LOVING

AND THERE’S WEREWOLVES. HELL. YES.

Grindylow

The chapters end like commercial breaks, and I've always liked that style of writing.

Did not have this level of gore on the bingo board but like slayyy.

This might genuinely be five stars.

A bead-so a woman, so a good for her werewolf?

Secret passage is obviously in the coat room. This is not my first rodeo.

What’s with this bitch’s nose? Is she a sniper sniffer…of blood?

I'm already like I hope this is a series.

Reminds me of that perfume a murder story or whatever it’s called lol. (So close, yet so far.)

Hi daddy (Samantha jail.)

Let’s go lesbians!

Dude, I’m so IN.

Oh okay. Not daddy.

Give you that dick-er strap on.

This reads like a pilot episode.

I hope we get a sequel with the brothers fuckin’.

Reminds me of The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue.

It’s reading like more than cousins lmao.

This could be faster.

Bier

Oh look, the door’s open.

Is it not the perfume guy? Like that's literally the only other character.

Is no one questioning why there's a random fucking pig in the house? (Apparently, we chalked that up to rural France.)

I'm sure the perfume guy is gonna transform the opera singer, no?

The yellow silk is just giving the sand snakes from GOT.

I need Samantha to grow the fuck up sometimes.

Different smell

Why the hell is there math?

I like how it’s kind of an homage to a Study in Scarlet and the Hound of the Baskervilles.

But what about the guy that didn’t have eyeshadow on him? Because he was with a man? Not that men can't wear eyeshadow, but- I was so positive it was the perfumes combining with the dudes’ colognes.

live laugh loving

This is such a pilot, like give me a whole ass series.

Personal enjoyment 5 stars. It could be snappier and have more banter, and like sometimes it’s too melodramatic, but I'm having so much fun.

How is she reapplying perfume in a mental asylum?

Frankenstein? (Negative.)

There's the fresh suit that Hel asked about, but that's a hell of a long game. (Me fully convinced she planted her brother to rescue her girlfriend and that’s just not at all what happened.)

Let’s go lesbians!

We love a sharky blonde.

It really does read like TV.

Me absolutely cackling at the piney boy cliche.

Also, I was fully like damn, I got it wrong, but no, I was correct the whole time. I opened this book, and I said it’s a copy of that perfume one, and I was correct.

Do I know how perfume works with visions and magic? No? Do I care? Also no.

Cenote

This book is really fixated on biceps lol

Please god, a whole series.

It’s obviously hiding her from daddy Dracula!

Post-reading:
Ma’am. Spectacular, amazing, gimmie 14 of them right now. It’s got that Evie from The Mummy ‘I am a librarian’ energy, and I will eat it up every single time.

This is a debut, and at parts, it reads like it. The pacing is off. This should be snappier. There could be more banter and flirting. There’s too many lines that read like teenage melodrama.

But goddammit, it’s fun. I think the series will grow stronger if it leans into its inherent campiness. The angry, eyerolling feminism is already there. It’s balanced.

I clocked whodunnit from the jump, but the plot was still satisfying. It’s a fair play detective novel. You’re given ample opportunity to solve it yourself.

It’s nothing groundbreaking. This has been done before. It reads like polished fan fiction, or like the pilot of a sitcommy procedural. It knew what it wanted to accomplish, and it did it. I feel like the Emily Wilde girlies who dig a mystery will eat this up. I’m already chomping at the bit for the sequel. Definitely worth picking up.

Who should read this:
Emily Wilde fans
Detective procedural fans

Ideal reading time:
Anytime

Do I want to reread this:
I think I’ll just remember it, but I’ll definitely be continuing the series.

Would I buy this:
Absolutely. Hope this gains popularity, and we get a special edition set of the series.

Similar books:
* Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Suskind-classic that clearly inspired this book, psychological horror
* Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett-light academia, cozy fantasy
* Lucy Undying by Kiersten White-Dracula retelling, queer romance
* This Ravenous Fate by Hayley Dennings-YA urban fantasy, queer romance
* The Phoenix Keeper by S. A. MacLean-cozy, urban fantasy, queer romance
* The Ornithologist’s Field Guide to Romance by India Holton-cozy, light academia, urban fantasy romance
* A Dark and Drowning Tide by Allison Saft-dark academia, fantasy, mystery, queer romance
* House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas-urban fantasy romance, mystery
* The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzie Lee-historical queer romance
* The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Aly Carter-campy mystery, contemporary romance
* Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson-campy mystery

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A wonderful debut from Susan J Morris, featuring the daughter Mina Harker and the daughter of Moriarty, two of my favorite fictional properties combined. The book is spooky and atmospheric, perfect for a gothic murder mystery. While I was able to clock the culprit before the reveal, there's enough intrigue to keep you guessing.

There were parts that seemed to slow down a bit, but overall, I enjoyed this book and will pick up the sequel.

Strange Beasts
By Susan J Morris
Narrated by Emily Woodmans Zeller
4.5 ⭐️

This has been on my tbr for several months. I’m mad I didn’t pick it up sooner. 🤦‍♀️. I really enjoyed the overall concept of this story and its characters. The mystery had many solid twists. I’m generally a terrible literary sleuth, like 3/10 range. I was able to pick up some clues where I felt accomplished; I was also very along for the reveal ride. This read as a standalone than could be stretched into a series if the author chooses to. The audiobook was entertaining and kept me present in the story.

What is it?
- Historical fiction set in Europe
- Characters from Dracula and Sherlock Holmes intertwine with new backstories. Their adult children are the mains for this story.
- Alchemy, fantasy creatures, and a he who must not be named run amuck in a mystery that has Paris clutching their pearls.

I did receive an eARC of this book (thank you NetGalley, Susan J Morris, & Bindery books). I also purchased my own copy prior to reading it.

This book drips with atmosphere—haunted halls, whispered secrets, and a darkness that feels almost alive. Every page is laced with beauty and dread, pulling you deeper into a world where the line between the living and the dead is perilously thin. By the end, you won’t know whether you’ve escaped or if the story has claimed you as its own.

Susan J. Morris builds a shadowy and atmospheric world full of libraries, catacombs, and opera houses, where monsters creep behind corners, in the ether, and within ourselves. With a narrative centered on themes of rage, family, and the intense drive to prove oneself, Strange Beasts gives the reader two compelling protagonists in the shapes of Sam Harker (daughter of Mina and Jonathan Harker of Dracula fame), and Dr. Hel Moriarty (daughter of Professor Moriarty of Sherlock Holmes infamy). The mystery these two set out to unravel brings the reader through an occult Edwardian adventure, and if I couldn’t always follow the leaps of logic the characters made in solving this mystery, I was still more-than entertained throughout. If Morris intends to publish more additions to this world, I will eagerly read and recommend them!

A Whimsical and Thought-Provoking Adventure
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Strange Beasts by Susan J. Morris is a delightful and imaginative tale that combines whimsy with deeper themes of discovery and belonging. From the first chapter, the story pulls you into a vibrant world filled with peculiar creatures and fascinating characters, all wrapped in a sense of wonder and mystery.

Morris’s world-building is a highlight, brimming with creativity and originality. The strange beasts themselves are vividly described and feel like characters in their own right, each with unique traits and quirks that make the story come alive. The protagonist’s journey of self-discovery and connection with these creatures is heartfelt and engaging, leaving you rooting for them every step of the way.

While the plot is compelling, at times, it feels a bit meandering, with certain scenes dragging slightly longer than necessary. However, the richness of the world and the charm of the characters more than make up for this. Morris’s prose is beautifully written, balancing humor and heart with ease.

Overall, Strange Beasts is an enchanting read that offers both lighthearted adventure and meaningful exploration of relationships and identity. It’s perfect for fans of whimsical fantasy who enjoy losing themselves in a world of endless imagination. A truly magical read, just shy of perfection

Now this was a perfect retelling for Sherlock Holmes and Dracula mix set in the historical era. What a wonderful book and what wonderful writing.

I fell in love with both protagonists and so much fun I had reading this book. I laughed out loud so many times. There's daughter of Mina Harker — Samantha "Sam" Harker and then of notorious Dr Moriarty, Helena "Hel" Moriarty and then murders are happening of some high level bereaucreats. And they look like attacks from werewolves but werewolves are extinct or the world believes so.

Who is exactly killing the people?

The book was so good to read, rich in prose and equally good in humour. The quirkiness and dry humour of Hel kept me intrigued and Sam is just so sweet and naive but she is smart and innovative. The pairing was too good. I was able to figure out the mystery in the very start coz maybe I'm just too good at it now after reading so many mysteries but it was really good.

Ending was perfect but overall book had marvellous prose rich and supple and the story brilliant. I can't recommend it enough. Must read.

Thank you Netgalley and bindery books for the amazing ARC in exchange of an honest review.

Okay, so this book is cool. Imagine the worlds of Sherlock Holmes and Dracula are real and overlap. Then imagine that the daughter of Mina and Johnathan Harker and the daughter of the notorious Professor Moriarty had to team up to uncover the person or creature behind horrific murders in Paris. Add in some alchemy, sapphic tension, monsters, and some not-so-secret societies, and you have...Strange Beasts.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It was engaging from start to finish, and the setting of early 1900s Paris was amazing, particularly because I read this after visiting Paris! Samantha Harker and Helena Moriarty are fascinating, and the mystery kept me guessing all the way through.

While the ending wrapped up nicely, I really hope there is at least one more book to come because I would love to be immersed in their world again!

I enjoyed this sapphic Sherlock Holmes inspired story. There characters were interesting and the plot was fast moving. I am not sure I believed the romance between the two main characters though. The scenes in the catacombs and opera were so fun.

STRANGE BEASTS was a five-star prediction for me and, while it didn’t quite hit those lofty heights, it came pretty damn close. The comp titles for STRANGE BEASTS are basically Dracula meets Sherlock Holmes – and honestly, I cannot think of a more perfect way to describe it. My only gripe is that I perhaps wanted it to lean more Dracula where it leans more Sherlock Holmes, but that’s entire my pre-assumptions and preferences rather than a flaw in the book.

Morris’ writing is beautiful. It has a plush, descriptive and lyrical quality that perfectly fits the high-society setting. There are so many wonderful early-twentieth century Parisian elements – an opulent opera house (complete with menacing phantom), young midinettes, asylums, and labyrinthine catacombs - that are vividly described, completely bringing the era and world to life. The sapphic romance is a long, slow-burn, that isn’t completely resolved by the end of this adventure. It took me a while to see the chemistry between Hel and Sam, but I was sold by the end.

The reason STRANGE BEASTS wasn’t a five-star read for me was simply that I needed more of what it already does well – more romance in the romance, more gothic in the gothic vibes, and a little more horror in the horrific moments. I think those are all things that will naturally build in a sequel, so I’ll be looking out for that to release and fully expecting it to be an absolute five-star hit.