4 stars! I had a great time with this book, the worlds of Dracula and Sherlock Holmes as stated in the description are certainly relatable throughout the book. London & Paris! Yes please, I was transported to this amazing time period with intricate details (apothecary cabinets, iron chains, a carriage and venetian mirrors) all while going straight into the plot. Overall I think the plot was executed wonderfully, the pace of the book was cohesive with the investigation and the main characters' partnership growth making it perfect.

The characters & monsters upfront are enticing, though the main characters Sam and Hel are incredible. I enjoyed their dynamic especially during the drama/action scenes and I cherish how their partnership grew beautifully by the end. Sam and Hel clearly have a unique connection, I look forward to reading more about them and the monsters they encounter in their work adventures.

Thank you so much Netgalley and Bindery books for the approved arc.

'It is a dangerous business hunting monsters.'

Wow! Gothic horror, atmospheric Victorian fantasy world -just the right balance of poetic and macabre. This was such a delight to read and just tickles my fancy! So well-written, it is hard to believe this is a debut novel. I am impressed with the author's writing and I'm looking forward to more of her works.
I wasn't prepared to be intrigued, captivated and enchanted with the story. I am once again transported into another familiar yet somehow refreshing new realm as it is described. A feminist gothic tale/supernatural murder mystery about two powerful women who had to work together to find and capture 'the beast'. What initially piqued my interest is that one of the protagonist, Sam Harker, is Mina and Jonathan Harker's daughter. Now as a fan of the Bram Stoker's Dracula film starring Winona Rider, it is both nostalgic and fun to imagine who would be starred as her daughter if this should be made into a film or a miniseries *cross fingers*. I digress..
Going back to Sam, I really like her character. She's a 'channel' and that means she is susceptible to the influence of evil. She gets visions from monsters, like her mother (Mina) did. It is both a blessing and a curse. It can lead her astray and can endanger her loved ones. Now the other woman, her partner- Doctor Hel Moriarty, is also a mysterious and interesting character. All of her hunting partners end up dead. Can Sam trust her? 💭


Thanks to NetGalley and Bindery Books for the arc. 🖤

As a lover of nineteenth century dark fiction, I loved how this book tied in the characters and lore of stories like Dracula and Sherlock Holmes. Immediately this had a phenomenal atmosphere — dark, gothic, and lush. I also appreciated how the magical monster element was woven into the real world and easy to understand. The mystery grabbed me from page one and kept me reading, all the moreso as the romantic tension between Sam and Hel grew. It sometimes felt like the mystery elements were simply answered with little work or payoff, making some confusing points, but I didn’t find that negatively impacting my reading all in all.

Ok. Um. WOW. Is all I can really say right now. I devoured this book in two days and I am still thinking about it. The dynamic between the two main characters in this book were phenomenal, in my opinion. I fell in love with almost every woman in this book and I can't say anything about the men in this book (nothing that is nice at least). Either way, this was a wonderful addition to my Sapphic September reads. Dracula, Sherlock, lesbians what else could I ask for?

“If everyone else thought you were mad- did it matter that you weren’t?”

“Strange Beasts,” by Susan J. Morris

This was a fun and unique book. I loved the mashup of Sherlock Holmes retelling and the Dracula retelling. This is a perfect book for people who love mystery and investigation books that have supernatural aspects. I liked the complications between the two female characters and the build of their relationship. The ending was surprising in a good way, and I was fully invested in the entire story. 4 out of 5 stars.

-Sherlock Holmes Retelling
-Dracula Retelling
-Supernatural
-F/F

Thank you for the ARC, Netgalley.

Susan Morris has brilliantly engineered a darkly atmospheric Victorian fantasy world, complete with monster hunting, secret underground societies, mystical alchemy, and a thrilling monster and mouse investigation surrounding a supernatural murder mystery in her debut novel, Strange Beasts!

Samantha Harker is a researcher at the Royal Society for the Study of Abnormal Phenomena in London, England. It’s the beginning of the 20th century but the end of life as Sam knows it. She feels the most at home in her library of tomes or laboratory of alchemy, but she hungers for more. All her life she had been conditioned to believe she was especially susceptible to evil because of her supernatural channeling ability--- she can see into the minds of monsters. To offset the risk of merely existing, she must not use her gifts for fear of corruption, like what happened to her mother under Dracula’s enthrallment. Sam is convinced she is a weakness, a liability, and a potential danger to everyone around her. Sam grapples with using these gifts, feelings of inadequacy, and navigating a society where women are only one misstep away from being declared insane and institutionalized. Sam expertly negotiates her way onto a beastly assignment with Dr. Helena Moriarty, a field agent for the Royal Society. Hel is the daughter of Sherlock Holmes’ notorious nemesis, Professor Moriarty, and her time at the institute has earned her a confounding reputation, as sterling as it is tarnished. She’s brilliant, but ominously, her partners always end up dead. Together, these women will traverse a bloody killing field in hot pursuit of a serial killer on the prowl in Paris, France and face insurmountable odds while racing against the clock on the count down for the next murder. Unlocking the truth will become the heart of the matter for both the investigation and for Sam and Hel’s tenuous relationship as partners. Sam and Hel cannot afford to trust each other, but should they fail to do so, it could cost them everything and swiftly lock them inside a deadly game filled with monstrous secrets, shifting shadows, and masterful subterfuge. Consequently, we as the reader must deduce that failure isn’t an option, but understandably, neither is a clean kill.

I consumed this book in just two days. Obviously, readers who enjoy classic horror, such as Dracula or Frankenstein, and detective novels, like Sherlock Holmes, would love this book, but I also think more contemporary readers of gothic, feminist re-imaginings, such as An Education in Malice or A Dowry of Blood both by S. T Gibson, would also relish the opportunity to sink their teeth into this story! I ended up losing large chunks of time getting lost inside the pages of this book. It was absolutely thrilling to pick up and lamentable when life required me to come back to reality. Morris is making quite the debut with this book! Her writing whisks you away inside a gothic fantasy where you will be fighting tooth and nail with beasts and men, examining dead bodies, analyzing crime scenes, channeling dizzying visions from the monsters responsible, and running through the bowels of the Paris Catacombs on the hunt for a killer! I obsessively read this book at breakneck speed, and I absolutely need more. I loved Hel and Sam together, and how they bring out the best in each other. Their chemistry together is undeniable and totally addictive. The thematic presence of feminine strength and resiliency in open rebellion against the systemic and prolific patriarchy of the time was exhilarating and profoundly satisfactory. If history teaches us anything, it’s this: the real monsters are always men. I will be on the hunt for more books from this author, and I hope another book will be in the works very soon! I could for sure see this becoming a series following Hel and Sam on their thrilling adventures! Read this book. It’s a monstrously good time…

Thank you so much Net Galley and Bindery Books for the ARC and the opportunity to share what I think! All opinions are my own. I will be posting this review on my Goodreads and Instagram accounts. Publication day is October 15th!
I will be posting this review to Goodreads and my Instagram accounts. Links are provided on my Net Galley profile page.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bindery Books for the advance reader copy.

This was a fresh take on the classic horror story but coming from those who came after the well known characters.

Were introduced to Mina Harkers daughter and Moriarty’s daughter who both work for a branch of the government dealing with supernatural forces.

I found the book interesting and also the mystery that you read about. I think that for a debut novel this was a lot better than I expected.

Overall an enjoyable read and I look forward to reading more by the author. This is a 3.5 rounded up to 4.

This became a book I was rushing to finish, and not because I wanted to know how it ended. Even with an enticing premise, the story and characters could not hold up. There is too much going on with a mixture of Dracula lore-which with some characters are based on-that adds nothing. I found the whole book uninteresting. Plots and reveals were too complicated or at times not meaningful/panned out to nothing. It was too much and too little all at once. The lesbian romance doesn’t have enough real build-up, and only hints of attraction happen at 70% in or so. Overall, not a book I would recommend.

This was a accidental find and I'm a bit obsessed, somehow it managed to snag my love of Gothic horror, Sherlock Homes, dark mysterious circumstances and that Dracula feel.

This book had me so sucked into it, every twist I'm like what's next???

Lady M, be still my heart ✨🥰

This was so good, and to be first in the series, im ready for the next please.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

This was an incredibly atmospheric and intriguing mix of historical fantasy, magic, and mystery, with strong feminist vibes. The main characters are all rooted to the gothic classics Dracula and Sherlock Holmes. While I am admittedly not a fan of said classics, I absolutely adored this story. Sam Harker is a researcher at the Royal Society for the Study of Abnormal Phenomena, but there is a particular case that piques her interest. Sam requests to be assigned as a field agent in the case of the beast that is stalking well-connected men in Paris. The case has already been assigned, so Sam is paired with Dr. Helena Moriarty, the notorious Lady M, who has a reputation to be both respected and feared. Hel's last three partners have died, but when Sam survives the trip to Paris, she soon finds out that maybe she was just sent along to spy on Hel.

I don't want to say any more because I was delighted with every unexpected twist and turn of this magical mystery, but I definitely need more adventures with Sam and Hel in my life! Thank you to Netgalley, Bindery Books, and Susan J. Morris, for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of Strange Beasts.

For fans of Dracula and Sherlock Holmes. Samantha Harker, a researcher, and Dr. Helena Moriarty, a field agent, work for the Royal Society for the Study of Abnormal Phenomena. Together, they travel to Paris on the case of the Beast.

I loved this book. A combination of monsters and mystery. The characters are great. The plot is interesting. That Van Helsing's son is an antagonist is entertaining. I really hope this author writes another for a series.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Bindery Books for the ARC.

I think where this book thrives most is the atmosphere. I may be biased because I love detectives and France, which are at the heart of this book. The adventures through France in the early 1900s is so comforting, oddly enough. The combination of stories of Dracula and the enemy of Sherlock Holmes was really creative and unexpected. I did watch Dracula for the first time in the break I took from reading this book, so alot more made sense to me once I did continue reading. I will say that is something I struggled with while reading. It was hard for me to comprehend everything happening because I was unfamiliar with the monsters/folklore included in the book. Around the half-way mark is when it started to pick up for me and I was really invested into what was happening.
I think the character development was also pretty good and it was easy to understand why are characters were acting a certain way. I love Hel's hardened exterior (but maybe a little bit softy interior) because of how whack her family is. I really enjoyed seeing Sam recognize, acknowledge, and honor her rage. I think these 2 balanced each other really well and I am dying for them to be together like actually. MORE KISSING!!!!! I really hope this becomes a series so that their storyline gets continued, but I am also very invested in knowing how Hel will confront her family. I think that's gonna be sick.
The biggest issue I took with the book was that for me the mystery/storyline was hard to follow at times. I can't quite pinpoint why. I know part of the reason was because I had no background knowledge of the lore included. I think we jumped from suspect to suspect too much and it got kinda muddy somewhere in the middle. It definitely is a mindfuck but I personally love that.

Moral of the story- I love girls kissing girls and feminine rage!

thank you netgalley for the ARC! <3 love ya

Love the Gothic atmosphere and bit of dark fairy tale and if Harker had and Vanhelsing their own children, sprinkle secret society's and libraries you get the makings of a fun mystery story. Ohh abd don't for get chapters from Sherlock. Mystery and monsters make this even more fun read. Let me not for get to mention wonen fighting back against misogyny in this one too.
I felt there was some pacing issues the story dragged and felt too fast at times.
Over all very fun read I enjoyed for the most part.

I've just finished this book, in MOMENTS, so I may need to edit my review when I have more words because I am speechless!

One of my favourite books of the year, and I swear if this isn't the first book in a series I may go feral!

Loved the gaslight fantasy if it all with a feminist spin in the world's of Sherlock and Dracula. The sapphic romance, EVERYTHING!

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.

Let's start with the obvious: the cover is gorgeous. This story sounds interesting and I was intrigued at the mentions of Dracula and Sherlock. I wasn't certain how it would work, but I was interested nonetheless. This story has good bones and the author has potential but I feel some elements needed more development and some parts needed to be left out.

I didn't find either character that compelling. I think the author gave them unique personalities but I never felt a connection with the characters. Sam is a researcher who is taking to the field to chase a secret and of course she's making bad choices and nearly getting killed every few chapters. Dr. Helena, or Hel (my god what a terrible nickname), is the daughter of Moriarty and has a history of her work partners dying. She's very confident, believes she's always right, and isn't always upfront with Sam. Also, there's no chemistry between these two. I mean, I felt nothing. It really seemd Sam had more banter and flirtation with men in this story. Her relationship with Helena just seemed like a mentor and student. But there's a kiss, so I guess you can call it sapphic.

I felt the world was chaotic. Sam is from the US, Helena from the UK but they go to France to solve crimes and that's never really explained why someone in France doesn't do it. It seems this author really loves Paris (which is fair, I love Paris, also) but I just wish there was a reason why they were called to France. Also, the random French phrases and there is no direct translation in the text or in the back of the story. I was not wasting my time trying to translate what was said, but it was annoying that it happened so often. Also, with the beasts and magic, it was never made clear how they fit into the world. Like Helena does magic in front of someone and she's surprised they don't call it witchcraft. They're hunting these beasts--one of which is a werewolf--and there's other beasts mentioned and various magic and it's just never well-explained.

Overall, it's a decent story. I think with character work and a focus on developing the world and magic system, this could be stronger. It seems there will be another, so hopefully that one is better. I don't have a desire to continue though.

Did I mention that I was annoyed reading 'Hel'? Because I was.

Samantha Harker and Dr. Helena Moriarty team up to catch a Strange Beast in this gothic debut, which combines the worlds of Dracula and Sherlock Holmes and delivers exactly the vibe you’d expect; dangerous, haunted, and sensual.
I adored the feminist themes, the lush worldbuilding (so many explorations of folklore!), and the vivid imagery. The writing style was a hit for me, and it added so much to the overarching mysterious vibe.
The only major thing that was lacking was the romance subplot. I wanted so much more chemistry and romantic tension from Sam and Hel. But I do think the ending made up for it a little bit.
Overall, I really enjoyed this and I’m already itching for more!
Thank you to NetGalley and Bindery Books for this eARC.

I do love a good mystery book, and give it a bit of a gothic, fantasy/horror twist AND add paranormal creatures like vampires and werewolves and I'm sold! One thing I didn't know going into this is that it's actually the first in a series, I was definitely under the impression this was a standalone but the way this ended is very much set for a series.

I liked the way the identities of the characters fit in with famous literary characters, like Sam is the daughter of the man who killed Dracula and Helena (Hel) is the daughter of Professor Moriarty, and of course Sam grew up with the son of Van Helsing!

I was drawn into the story pretty quickly and I really enjoyed how dark the story was.

This was marketed as a sapphic mystery and there really wasn't much romantic chemistry at all between Sam and Hel and I definitely was ready to read some pining or at least a little bit of attraction between the characters. If you're going into this expecting there to be a romance, you should maybe temper your expectations.

The one other thing that kept me from giving a full 5 stars was regarding Sam's abilities. I realize that this is most likely going to end up being a series, but I wanted a little bit more information regarding the whole 'channels go mad' thing. Hel kind of implies that it's really just something that men say to keep powerful women down, and I'm inclined to agree with that, but I wish we saw more evidence or proof, or even Sam looking for more information on her abilities.

Overall this was fun, and I'm definitely curious to see if there will be a second book or not!

Strange Beasts is a thrilling blend of gothic mystery, historical fiction, and paranormal intrigue set in early 1900s Paris. The novel follows Sam Harker and Dr. Helena Moriarty, two strong female protagonists who work for the Royal Society for the Study of Abnormal Phenomena, investigating a series of brutal murders committed by a mysterious creature. With Sherlock Holmes and Dracula references woven throughout, the story combines slow-burn romance with an atmospheric, gritty murder mystery that keeps readers on the edge of their seats.

The chemistry between Sam and Hel is electric, making their dynamic both engaging and emotional. The novel masterfully balances the slow-burn sapphic romance with the dark, suspenseful plot, making the romantic tension feel like a natural part of the story’s progression rather than the central focus. The exploration of gender roles, societal expectations, and the characters’ complex backstories add depth to the narrative, making their journey compelling beyond the mystery itself.

What stands out most is the world-building, which seamlessly blends familiar 1900s settings with mystical creatures and macabre elements. The use of folklore, mythology, and literary references adds a layer of intrigue, while the fast-paced plot and witty dialogue ensure that the reader is hooked from start to finish. Overall, Strange Beasts is an exceptional debut that will appeal to fans of supernatural thrillers, slow-burn romance, and richly detailed gothic worlds.

I’m so sad, I wanted to love this book so bad. On paper it’s everything that appeals to me, but I struggled with it. The beginning was hard for me to get into and it just hindered my reading experience.

“It’s a dangerous business, hunting monsters.”

A terrifying beast is killing wealthy men in Paris, and Samantha Harker and Dr. Helena Moriarty from the Royal Society for the Study of Abnormal Phenomena are on the case. With a secret paranormal power of her own, Samantha Harker must learn if there is a single Moriarty to be trusted… 3.5 stars.

I absolutely love the premise, Samantha Harker, and Helena Moriarty solving paranormal monster crimes in Paris?!?

It is a gorgeous debut, and I’m excited to see the author’s growth. It is all there - the bones are fantastic. The writing just needs the slightest bit of restraint and refining, as I do personally think it attempted to do too much, in too short a time.

The story has so many great building blocks, however, the rules of the world are never spelled out for the reader. Monsters are clearly known entities, but public opinion and management aren’t ever made clear. Unfortunately, the murderer themself was quite predictable down to the method. A few more red herrings, or them to be a little more subtly included in the fold, would perhaps help that.

I also very much noticed that the book is heavily sprinkled with the authors personal passions, including many references to additional folklore monsters/mythological creatures, Greek mythology, and then Paris itself. And well these are all subjects I heavily enjoy, these more factual textbook based pieces of the story made the holes in the newly created plot more apparent to me. These pieces seemed so solid, while the rest seemed not quite finished.

One more note - more towards the marketing; this is an extremely slow to almost non-existent burn. Word of warning if that’s what you are going in for.

I feel like I’m being harsh, but I think it’s because I see how absolutely amazing this author is and how much she is going to grow with her writing and worldbuilding over time. This, maybe unfairly, has me holding it to a very high standard. I did quite enjoy the story, and I also see how much this could develop as a series.

Thank you Bindery Books, Susan J. Morris and NetGalley for an advanced electronic copy in exchange for an honest review. Strange Beasts comes out October 15th.