A deliciously detailed gothic murder mystery where Dracula meets Sherlock Holmes? Sign me up.

The case - In Paris in 1903, men are being gruesomely murdered by a beast in elite clubs, catacombs and the opera but the police are at a dead end with no leads.

The daughters of Dracula's killer (Samantha Harker) and Professor Moriarty (Dr Hel Moriarty) are by far the best female main characters I've read in awhile, oh and to top it off they work for the Royal Society for the Study of Abnormal Phenomena.

Strange Beasts is exactly what it says on the tin but the beasts Sam and Hels are on the hunt for might not be the only ones they uncover. A dark yet fun mystery of the societal constrains and assumptions on women in the 1900's, Morris manages to weave in the story of two women who are chasing after truths, a chance to prove they are more than their gender and a passion of the occult and extraordinary.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bindery Books for the eArc in exchange for an honest review.

After reading the blurb, I was very very excited for the book, but it didn't really catch me as I would have hoped. I couldn't get into the book at all, though it was fairly easy to read, I just didn't get sucked into the book as I'd hoped.

First off, I want to say thank you to Net Galley and Susan for providing me with the opportunity to read this book. I love a good gothic fantasy, especially one with unique elements I have not read.

Things that I liked:
- two strong female lead characters
- murder mystery meets fantasy
- a unique concept of turning women into killers through alchemy

Things that fell short:
- There were numerous unanswered questions. At times, it felt like some elements, such as what happened to her mother and the mysterious numbers, might be left unresolved. This gave the impression that the book might be setting up a sequel. However, I haven't found any confirmation that this is intended to be a series. If it is a stand-alone, it would have been preferable to have a more complete resolution. If it is part of a series, a few more hints or a clearer connection to subplots would have been appreciated

📚 Book Review 📚

Strange Beasts tells the tale of Dr. Helen Moriarty, the daughter of the infamous arch enemy of Sherlock Holmes and Samantha Harker, the daughter of Jonathon Harker and the love of Dracula’s life, Mina.

The pair are united in the search for the killer of a number of men in Paris, who are found horribly murdered. The gothic backdrop to the beautiful setting of the city of Paris, glimmers seductively in the background against the horrifying events which unfold.

The mystery of finding out the identity of the killer is good to read and has a number of twists and turns along the way. The paranormal elements are good too and it’s exciting to read. The inclusion of famous literary characters throughout history is a nice touch.

There is a lot of plot to this though, which ended up being a bit confusing at times and there are a lot of characters. At one point, I lost my way a bit; there were just too many options about potential killers and so many characters, I didn’t feel there was a great deal of depth. If it was more of a mystery I think the story would have been more exciting. Having said this though, I still enjoyed the read and would want to read another by this author or in this series.

I’d like to thank Bindery Books, NetGalley and the author for the arc and the fantastic opportunity, in exchange for my honest feedback 😊

Book released on 15th October 2024

⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book was so good I can’t believe it’s a debut novel!

The story followed Sam and Hel on a journey to investigate a killing rampage caused by a beast in France in the early 1900s.
There were supernatural creatures and set in the gothic setting.
The book was very well written, fast paced and easy to understand.

The characters were very likeable.
Sam was smart, sensible and empathic. Hel was broody and aloof but determined and possessive. I can’t think of anyone else better fitted for them!
I loved seeing how Sam and Hel’s relationship progressed slowly through the book! Witty banters and the slow burn!

Also I just want to say that I really like the US cover. I think it is well designed and well done. It has captured the story very well.

Early 20th century London and Paris. Samantha Harker is the daughter of the famous couple that helped to bring about Dracula's downfall, Jonathan and Mina Harker. Sam works as a researcher for the Royal Society for the Study of Abnormal Phenomena and she loves her job. But the abrupt disappearance of her beloved grandfather and subsequent cryptic message left behind by him force her out of the comforts of her familiar library and into the field. She is paired up with none other than Dr. Helena Moriarty - daughter of the INfamous, diabolically genius James Moriarty. The problem is, Sam has absolutely zero know-how when it comes to field work, and her new partner, though brilliant and capable, has had a bad habit of getting all her previous partners killed.

I was completely charmed by this book and I cannot wait for the sequel to come out. Sam and Hel are wonderfully complementary and I caught myself smiling now and again during their interactions. I enjoyed that each of the MCs was distinctly unique while not being over-the-top, gritty heroines. (Morris wisely has Sam balk at violence and use of weapons because Sam's expertise is in books after all; Hel is tough and aloof but it fits with her upbringing, and while she rescues Sam a fair amount of the time, she doesn't hold her hand and act the cringy, hyper protective guardian.)

I loved the intricate mystery and the number of folkloric creatures woven throughout, although for the level of complexity I do wish some scenes and explanations had been more coherent. I was also a bit thrown by some of the character development. For instance, Sam's abrupt decision to trust Hel with a potentially deadly secret she had been keeping all her life after only knowing her a short amount of time. But hey, go with your gut.

This book checked all the boxes for me: Victorian-era setting, monsters, mystery, and some Sapphic will they / won't they. Highly recommend to any of my fellow readers.

Thank you to Susan J. Morris, Bindery Books, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Strange Beasts will be published and available on October 15th.

OMG, this was fun. It was a unique idea to do a mystery-horror classic mashup. The daughter of Mina Harker (think Wionna Ryder from Bram Stroker's Dracula) and the daughter of Professor Mortiary (think Sherlock's Andrew Scott) work together to solve the mystery of the Monster Murders. Sam Harker is a researcher from the Royal Society for the Study of Abnormal Phenomena. She finds that she can channel the monsters. Van Helsing is a character as a member of the same society. Dr. Helena Moriatrty (Hel) is a detective, but your days are numbered if you are her partner.

The story is undoubtedly a creature feature with all your favorites. Set at the dawn of the twentieth century in Paris, the story has compelling characters and intricate plot—the narrative moves from the elite clubs to the dark, eerie catacombs for mystery and action. Sam and Hel have great chemistry. Hel is a distrusting and mysterious woman, the opposite of Sam. They both carry the weight of their families' legacy and reputation. They encounter several monsters and spirits responsible for their challenges. The investigation forces them to navigate a world of men with hidden agendas. Readers enjoy an action-packed, creepy mystery and will be hooked from beginning to end.

I received an ARC ebook for my honest review. Thank you, NetGalley and Bindery Books.

4.75 stars

I loved this book! The story was wonderful and the characters were great. Im going to be honest and say I have not read Sherlock Holmes or Dracula but loved seeing the familiar names in tis story. I loved all of the different lores on the supernatural creatures Sam and Hel encountered.

I enjoyed the mystery aspect of the story and the fact that they got to go all over Paris. Bringing Sam and Hel together because they each have family involved in these murders. I also really enjoy the relationship that developed between Hel and Sam.

I am excited to see the next step in this story. I did not realize this was a debut novel for the author, and I loved it from start to finish.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!!!

I really enjoyed this! I’m not usually one for period books but the mystery and character development and action made up for all of it! This is the first book I’ve ever read by this author and I loved it!!

This was DELISH.

Admittedly, I'm not a huge fan of Sherlock Holmes nor have books that reference him ever been my cup of tea, but Strange Beast's beautiful cover and promise of a sapphic romance pulled me in and didn't let me go. Unsurprisingly to all, I actually do like Holmes-inspired mysteries now, and it's because of this book.

Morris is a debut novelist to watch out for. Her prose is evocative and her worldbuilding is stellar. It's always such a pleasure to come across a well researched novel, and I was blown away at how seamlessly monster mythos was woven into early 20th century France. You could feel the passion for these topics and themes on each page, and it made the reading experience ten times better than it already was.

On top of that, Sam and Hel were such fascinating characters and I loved watching their dynamic shift and develop as they uncovered new clues -- both about the case and each other. I would have killed to have a few POV chapters from Hel, but I'm really looking forward to the potential of getting that in what I assume is going to be a second book. As someone who really loves the Cassandra myth, I couldn't help but enjoy the (albeit sometimes tragic) parallels between everyone's favorite oracle and Sam. Feminine rage is always something that I'll enjoy within a book, and Sam delivered by the end of it.

At its core, Strange Beasts is a novel about gender, what constitutes a monster, and the empowerment of the self. In less words: it's an absolute gem.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Where do you start when attempting to review a book such as this?
<takes a deep breath and wipes brow>

This was an amazingly clever read that kept me guessing right until the end.

There is so much to take in as you journey through the story with Sam and Hel, and I admit to reading it a second time and noticing things I hadn't seen during my first read! (Would YOU follow the wills-o'-the-wisps as they appear throughout the book?)

The historical accuracy of the portrayal of England and Paris at the start of the 1900s is amazing, and I enjoyed being immersed in this turn of the century, "New World" feel that Europe faced as the Victorian era ended. This was a time of exploration and experimentation, of discovery and advancement.

'Strange Beasts' is a story of daughters striving to walk their own paths, escaping the weight of their family's legacies and the weight of the patriarchal world around them. It's a story of hunting and conquering beasts, both within and without. It's a story of women claiming both feminine and masculine power from their misogynistic working environment and socially assigned gender roles.

Sam Harker, the daughter of Mina and Jonathan Harker, is assigned by 'The Royal Society for the Study of Abnormal Phenomena' to work with Helena 'Hel' Moriarty... the daughter of <i>that</i> Dr Moriarty. Given this premise, the main characters could have been predictable and extremely surface-level. Thankfully, they are not. Both Sam and Hel are women who have fears, doubts, and scars to heal. Their relationship is adorable as they lean into their masculine and feminine power, learn how to trust, and allow themselves to be vulnerable with each other as they work to solve their case.

The only reason I dropped a star from my review is because this is the first book in a series, and whilst there is a conclusion... there are many unanswered questions that I'm hoping will be answered in the next book(s).

*I received an advanced review copy via Netgalley, and I'm voluntarily leaving a review.*

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

The premise of this book through me at first because all of the main characters are the children of characters from classical novels. The main character, Sam, is the daughter of Jonathan Harker from Dracula while her partner Helena, is the daughter of Moriarty from Sherlock, for seemingly no reason until around half way through the book.

But once I had gotten over that hurdle I found myself really enjoying this book. It's fast paced and really intriguing with red herrings at every turn, no one is how they first seem and its great.

I believe, well I hope, that this book gets a sequel because there are definitely some unresovled ploots points but overall this book was a good time.

Strange Beasts by Susan J. Morris is a gothic fantasy, full of monsters, and a murder mystery conspiracy. Samantha Harker works for The Royal Society for the Study of Abnormal Phenomena. She goes from being a researcher to working in the field with Dr. Helena Moriarty (Hel) to investigate the murder of men in Paris. Sam and Hel find themselves in a dangerous game of cat and mouse with the Beast and other dangerous creatures that takes them into the catacombs of Paris.

I would recommend this book for historical fiction and gothic readers. I felt immersed in the details of the story, throughly enjoyed the clever story with feminist characters and terrifying monsters, and was left wanting another book immediately. It’s a perfect book for fall, this cover is amazing!

Thank you Bindery Books and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.

Strange Beasts by Susan J. Morris is a intriguing mix of historical fantasy and gothic mystery. Set in early 1900s Paris, it follows Samantha Harker, who can connect with monsters, and Dr. Helena Moriarty, a detective with a wild reputation. They team up to solve a set of creepy murders. The book is a blend of Dracula and Sherlock Holmes, making it a thrilling read about power and relationships. Morris’s writing pulls you right in, and the characters are really well done.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of Strange Beasts.

This book just didn't do it for me unfortunately. I really wanted to like it. It had a lot of elements that I was excited about like alchemy, mystery, monsters, and badass female detectives.

But, I had problems with the pacing, the characters, and the relationships in this book. For the pacing, I felt like there were too many misdirects to keep me interested. It was decently predictable but just too much going on. I felt like every other chapter was focused on the idea of someone else being the villain. I was pretty much forcing myself to continue up until the 50% mark where it did pick up. I did like both Sam and Hel but didn't quite get their connection. It felt like they barely knew a thing about each other but were put in dangerous situations together and that's where the attraction came in. I didn't quite understand the goals. It just felt a bit convoluted. There were a lot of characters but none that we got to know to any extent. Van Helsing just felt like a weird random side character. Hel's father and brother were supposedly running like the whole thing but we literally knew nothing about them.

That said, I can see how other people would like it. I definitely don't think it was a bad book. It just wasn't for me at the present time. I think I might be interested in other books by this author because I do think some of her prose was really well done.

Overall, 3 stars.

I thought it was a standalone book, but I guess it's the first in a series. The mystery is wrapped up nicely, but the background leaves so many questions open that I expect a few more books to follow.
The rule-abiding librarian and researcher Samantha Harker and the unconventional free spirit of Helena Moriarty couldn't be more opposite and they need a long time to find their dynamics. Both are full of secrets and not ready to share but forced to trust each other.
I enjoyed the slow but steady development and will look out for the next instalments.
The atmosphere of Gaslight Europe is described beautifully and the magic blends in seamlessly.
It's advertised as sapphic but it's only very light and I hope their relationship will deepen in the future.

I'm torn about this book - there was a lot to enjoy, but it also didn't wholly hang together in a satisfying way for me.

Things I liked:
- Fun semi-historical romps through turn of the century London and Paris, with lush descriptions of the cities, fashions, and culture
- Hel! Love an awkward super-competent ice queen haunted by her past
- The incorporation of folklore and mythical beasts

Things I struggled with:
- The mystery was not so mysterious; for some reason I twigged whodunnit pretty much right away, so didn't get any juicy tension as the story progressed
- Sam. She wasn't a _bad_ character but her channelling and fear of being 'broken' did not land for me, perhaps because I didn't fully understand the actual dangers involved
- The 'romance'. Without wanting to spoil things, I found it extremely perfunctory and unsatisfying. There were SO MANY opportunities where the 'slow burn' could have burned (the wound tending scene! the lift out of the catacombs! dressing for the theatre!) that were completely cold; meanwhile Sam's remarking how dreamy all the male characters are.

Maybe part of this is down to the tropification of book marketing these days; maybe it's down to this being an obvious set up for book 2 and not wanting to play all the cards at once. Either way, I wish we could've had more of the promised sapphic romance, which is still woefully underrepresented in popular fiction.

I'll definitely check out Susan J Morris' next books, though I'll be careful to avoid getting my hopes up based on the marketing!

Sherlock Holmes vibes, a bit of queer romance, and monsters? Oh heck yeah! I absolutely enjoyed this novel and the two FMCs who made this story amazing. Not only did I enjoy the slow burn between Sam, daughter of Dracula's killer and Hel, daughter to Sherlock Holmes' nemesis- Moriarty, but I absolutely loved them solving the murder mysteries together! I have to say, the murders were pretty brutal, and that was also a selling point for me.

Gaslamp fantasy has become one of my favorite genres and this was did not disappoint! A lush gothic tale that’s part historical fantasy and part mystery with a cover that’s to die for!

Samantha Harker is the daughter of Dracula’s killer and Dr. Helena Moriarty, daughter of Sherlock Holmes nemesis team up together in an action packed adventure to stop a monster from a string of brutal murders in Paris.

This was such a fun story with a slow burn saphhic romance. and dazzling whodunnit mystery. The author gives us a fantastic gothic atmosphere that still lingers on the historical side and the relationship between Sam and Hels was so much fun to unravel along with their individual secrets from each other. Definitely a great book for the autumn season with gothic paranormal Sherlock Holmes vibes!

4.5 stars

Strange Beasts by Susan J. Morris

"This is what happened to channels. Channels got visions from monsters, and those visions led them astray."

Our author, Susan J. Morris, delivers an atmospheric novel in old-world France. A genre-splitting endeavor is finding purchase in both the horror and who-dun-it genres. Our main protagonist, Samantha Harker, is blessed (or cursed)with the ability to channel past and future visions of beasts. Instead of toiling around in the research library for the Royal Society for the Study of Abnormal Phenomena, she barters her way to a position in the trenches.

After partnering with Hel Moriarty, daughter of the infamous Professor Moriarty, they are en route to find answers to a supernatural killing in France. As the story progresses, a kinship bonds between the two. While both women have endured scarring from their upbringings, their differences cultivate a formidable investigative team. The killings continue with hidden messages that spark visions from Samantha, compelling them to examine all they come in contact with.

Hatching a plan to corner a beast thought to be responsible for the deaths, Samantha intuitively envisions an outcome before it happens. Although morally the right decision, she attempts to stop the attack before it happens, but the situation goes awry and ends in a compromising position.

"If everyone else thought you were mad-did it matter that you weren't?"

There was a riveting mix of interpersonal relationships, one that questioned the fabric of loyalty throughout. It kept the reader guessing as to the motivations of every character involved. I enjoyed the cleverness of how our antagonist drew forth upon social hierarchy to invoke revenge. The unabashed use of such a simple item drew out the beast to do their bidding and was brilliant in context.

In my experience, there was a lack of seamlessness in the story, or possibly this was just my perception. There were times when I felt as though I had lost the plot. However, I found that by the end, the story made sense.

To summarize, it took a bit of will to get over the hump, but I felt rewarded by the author who connected the dots in its conclusion. Overall, I had an enjoyable experience and look forward to seeing where this investigating tandem takes us. This gets 4 out of 5 stars!

Thanks to NetGalley and Bindery Books for free access to this title for an honest review. All opinions are my own.