Set mainly in Paris at the beginning of the twentieth century, this alternate history murder mystery fantasy novel packs a lot into it's nearly 400 pages.

Working for the Royal Society for the Study of Abnormal Phenomena Samantha Harker (yes, the daughter of Dracula's killer) and Dr Helena Moriarty (yes, her father is the Moriarty) are teamed up to solve why werewolf-like beasts attack men in Paris, France. Shadowed by Van Helsing (the younger, a childhood friend of Sam's) the two soon find a promising lead that involves chasing through the Paris catacombs, placating ghosts and not getting murdered, or incarcerated themselves.

I would love to give this debut novel more than 3 stars, but there were a few too many things that I struggled with. While the main characters are fleshed out with warts and all, most of the secondary characters lacked depth, which made it easy to determine which characters mattered for the murder mystery and which didn't; so, not enough red herrings. I was fairly certain I knew who was behind the murders early on, which might be the reason why I thought the plot was a bit convoluted.

All in all, a good start to a new series. I'm looking forward to reading the next instalment.

I really enjoyed a lot about this book – the atmosphere is amazing, I love the two main characters and the world being filled with monsters is just so cool. The only thing that lost me over time was the plot, unfortunately.

The concept of this book is incredible – set in historical Paris but in a world filled with different beasts and combining the tales of Dracula and Sherlock Holmes, plus there's even some sapphic romance!
For the most part, it was really well executed, I especially loved the writing. It really transported me into the scenes and it had the distinct feel of novels like this. I can't really describe it but if you've read other historical fantasy/fiction novels set in the 1800s and 1900s, you probably know what I mean.

The characters were good, I loved the main characters and I enjoyed the cast of characters overall, though I can't really say that I was very into any of the side characters.

What knocked off a star for me was the plot and also the worldbuilding. While I loved the world, I think the worldbuilding could have been stronger, as it felt a bit convoluted at times. Sometimes I also felt like I was missing knowledge, which didn't necessarily disrupt my reading experience, but it made me feel a bit disconnected.

The murder mystery plot was quite complex, which I love, however, it was rather obvious to me from the beginning who we are looking for. I think that's why I felt a bit frustrated at the plot at times as there was so much happening and new revelations and clues that all made the story feel a bit convoluted. Obviously a novel like this can't have straightforward case solving, of course it needs twists and turns, but I just found that how it was done didn't quite work for me.
It was just a bit confusing, and as I said before, I felt like some explanations were missing to help fully understand everything going on in the world.

I would definitely still recommend the book as I quite enjoyed it. I debated whether I should give it 3 or 4 stars, but ultimately I pick up a book like this hoping to love the mystery and to get really invested in it. Since this wasn't quite the case here because I loved everything surrounding the plot more than the plot itself, I settled on a three-star rating.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC.

When I saw the premise for this, I knew it was something that I had to read. I mean, Dracula? One of my favourite novels growing up and has stayed that way. Sherlock Holmes? Who doesn’t like that? And who wouldn’t love a crossover?
Ok…so obviously, they’re not the original characters, the ones featured in this book are descendants of them, but it stands to read that certain characteristics will be passed on.
After reading Strange Beasts, I can honestly say, I wasn’t disappointed.
The author has done an excellent job in setting the scene, you really get a sense of the atmosphere in the book, the descriptiveness really allows the reader to feel immersed in the story.
Although this is clearly a fantasy novel, the author successfully managed to combine real situations that could and did happen to women in those times, with the fantasy elements of the story. This could have been quite jarring if it weren’t for the skill of the author.
The plot, although not too deep, was interesting and was great watching it unfold and to see the characters come to life and each shine in their own ways.
I’d have no problem at all in recommending this novel, I’m now eagerly awaiting to read more from this world and this author.
Thank you for my arc. .
.

I do love a good fantasy and this one grabbed my imagination and ran away with it. 'In Belle Epoque Paris, a monster is murdering powerful men. Stopping it may be a woman's job.' I love that description and loved this book. It took me on a ride with its fantasy, its historical aspect and of course its strange beasts.

Although a book on the longer side I never struggled to stay interested and invested and I enjoyed every minute of it. The writing was wonderful, the descriptions fantastic and the characters really made it. I was entertained, amazed and enthralled. Great read. Loved it.

Thank you NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

3.5 stars

Fandoms unite in this Sherlock x Dracula crossover - get ready for a monster hunting murder mystery above and below historical France!

Sam Harker is a researcher, but after pushing to be put onto a new and complex serial murder case sweeping Paris, she must quickly adapt to the dangers that face a field agent. Unfortunately, her partner Hel, daughter of the notorious Moriarty, is not much help as she keeps disappearing to do her own investigations...

I was worried this would come across as an extended fan fiction, and while it often does, it's also an interesting detective story in its own right. I enjoyed the process of uncovering clues and seeing how events came together. I guessed the Villain pretty quickly, but it still left me guessing which was excellent. This has a slow build and remains pretty steady in pace which felt realistic as everything only really occurs over the span of a handful of days.

My main issue was the relationship. I kept waiting for some sort of build up or progress as I knew a romance was part of the story, but there wasn't really anything which meant the eventual kiss felt super abrupt. Maybe there will be a sequel and this rocky foundation will be addressed in some way? As of now, I was disappointed with its delivery.

Nothing was 100% resolved at the end either... Did the villain get found guilty? Are they a couple? Does Van Helsing regret his behaviour and actions? Is the bureau compromised? Does Mina know more than she's letting on? What is the extent of Sam's powers? So many questions, but no conclusive answers. While ambiguity can work really well, too much is left open here.

The atmosphere of this story is where things shine though. I loved the variety of scenes - Montmarte, underground passages, secret labs, decadent opera houses, dodgy alleyways... Everything was constantly moving and changing which kept things fresh as well as tense. The catacombs were especially eerie!

Overall this was an enjoyable book, but I did feel like I was left on a cliffhanger with no promise of more. However, I had a good time working through the mysteries, and it was fun having a new generation of monster hunters to read about.

I'm not even sure if I read the summary when I requested a review copy via Netgalley. I saw the insanely beautiful cover, I saw gaslamp fantasy and I saw slow burn romance and I was sold. Luckily Hodderscape granted me a review copy. I was even more excited when I discovered that this book was starring Mina and Jonathan Harker's daughter and Dr. Moriarty's daughter. I really don't know how I had missed that when I requested my copy.

After a quarter of the book was sold. I already knew I needed a physical copy to display on my shelves, despite the fact that the copy was quite expensive. This book is everything I had wanted it to be and then a million things more. That already starts with the heroine of this story. Sam is wonderful. She's the right amount of relatable, the perfect amount of clever and a good amount of brave. It's easy to identify with her AND to root for her.

This book also has a lovely murder mystery. Paris is of course a great setting for a story like this. The city has the catacombs, the famous Montmartre and a history of an ongoing fight between the elite and the people. Our heroines are running all over Paris to get some very important clues and I love how their steps feel logical. Every time I thought someone could have done it, they came to the same conclusion. And although I had the culprit on my radar, I liked how brilliant the reveal was.

However, this book is not just a fun murder mystery with monsters. The author also did a great job discussing some really important issues, especially concerning the position of women. I would love to say that all of those issues are in the past, but we all know that's not the case and we all know that the remnants of everything that happened at the time this story takes place are still very visible in our world.

I will now wait very impatiently for the sequel to release.

4 stars
TW; toxic family dynamic, sexism, death and gore, injury, childhood trauma and processing loss through death

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital copy to review. All thoughts are my own.

Strange Beasts isn't just a fantastic story aligning Dracula and Sherlock vibes into a gaslamp fantasy set in 1900s Paris. It's a tale about two women connecting despite men trying their best to intervene. Sam and Hel are fabulous characters to follow as they uncover the mystery around the gruesome "beast" attacks. I thoroughly enjoyed how Morris weaved this together, from the setting of Sam and Hel's jobs at the Royal Society for the Study of Abnormal Phenomena and how two unlikely members of the office come to work on the case together, to the self-discovery and learning to trust another in an otherwise deadly and dark world of social ranking, greed, and alchemy.

There was lots to like about the world-building. I felt immersed in the Paris of this time, with the historical elements being curated perfectly. I appreciated the exploration of the districts, social standings, and the characters that served the story well, especially with the secret orders and gang-like nature of the Wolves. Everything felt full and interesting, and the element of the supernatural aided the historical nature of experiments with alchemy during this time period. It was cleverly done and was my favourite part about the story parameters. One thing to add here was the delivery of women living in a patriarchal society. I loved how these characters challenge the way men think of them throughout this book, and how they use the ignorance of men to their advantage at times.

The suspense of the mystery carried the story well, and whilst I had suspicions about the perpetrator throughout, it was done well to make me second guess my assumption that it could be another, and that is something I love when it comes to these types of stories. Even if I had fully committed to my instinct of the one behind the murders and beasts, it was very intriguing to the end.

The romance subplot between Hel and Sam is woven in well. I liked that it didn't overwhelm the storyline or detract from the mystery elements. Further, I enjoyed how much of a slow burn it was, and how both women were trying in their own ways to reach out to the other. When things didn't go well between them, they didn't shy away from having mature conversations and calling the other out for their unjust actions. It made for a believable pairing, and I look forward to reading how Morris builds upon this in the sequel.

I do have a small critique of the Dracula/Sherlock references in this book. It assumes the reader knows of the lore and whilst this is its own world, it lacks in explanation to some of the references made about characters or situations. It didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story entirely, but I would have appreciated a bit more building around this lore for it to work more seamlessly.

I adored this story from the first page! It absolutely hooked me with its premise, and it was so wonderfully atmospheric I felt as if I were traipsing through gaslight London, and Paris. Helena and Sam’s relationship was exquisitely built up to, and I really wished we could have seen more of characters like Officer Berchard and Eulalie — what we did see of them, however, was enough to drive me to tears as part of the perfect whole. This was easily one of my top three books of the year, and I can’t wait for Susan J Morris’ next works! Thank you so, so much for the ARC!

Thankyou Hodderscape for the e-arc! Really enjoyed this read and it'll be one i'll recommend to fans of gothic fantasy, fiesty FMCs and the supernatural.

I loved the relationship between Sam and Hel and how this was woven perfectly into the mystery plot. I also love how the author wrote the setting of Paris, it was the perfect backdrop!

The book is intriguing, mysterious and it has so many secrets and layers. But there is more than mystery and secrets. The characters are really good but each of them go through all kind of emotions. The investigation is spot on and loved the setting of Royal Society and Paris. As soon as secrets come out and mystery unveils, they must stop the killer. A monster who is on a quest to eradicate powerful men. I liked the bond between Hel and Sam. The characters of Dracula meets the characters inspired by Sherlock holmes’s This is a gothic fantasy. Go for it, if you like strong female leads, mystery, secrets and characters from Dracula and Sherlock Holmes.

Thanks to the publisher and Author

This book is perfect for those who enjoy case solving mystery.

We travel back in time and follow the main female characters, Sam and Dr Helena Moriarty (Hel) as they travel to Paris to solve their mysterious case.

This book was fast paced, which kept me drawn to the storyline and made it so easy to dive into. A perfect combo of Sherlock Holmes and Dracula.

I really hope this is going to be the first in a long series of books. I absolutely loved this thrilling tale. The characters and the settings are tremendous. Hel and Sam really need more adventures. I need to know what is going to happen in Dublin.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

What a brilliant read! This was the thrilling gaslamp fantasy mystery I dearly needed. The academic supernatural vibes of Emily Wilde with a much darker edge, this was the perfect marriage of Dracula and Sherlock Holmes. Both worlds collide in the best way. I loved Sam and Hel, enjoyed every moment spent with them investigating the dark streets and glittering opera houses of 1900s Paris. While I accurately guessed the perpetrator, I thoroughly enjoyed the journey to discovery anyway! 100% recommend to anyone who loves a good mystery with a supernatural twist. I can't wait to read more!

Title: Strange Beasts
Author: Susan J Morris
Pages: 384
Rating: 5/5

Arc Copy (gifted) - review left voluntarily
Publish date - 17th October 2024

"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."

I am so sad that this has come to an end and I really hope that this won't be the end of Sam and Hel!

The intense slow burn between the characters had me hooked. Hel almost reminded me of @craigschaeferbooks
Harmony Black with her no nonsense attitude, black suit and red tie wardrobe and a point to prove. The difference is that Hel isn't afraid to merge the lines when it comes to doing things by the book.

The plot was well composed. I loved how things were based on scent and you could smell what was happening between the pages! SJM really did trigger all those sensory points. From the descriptors of the underground, the scent of the perfumes, the vibrancy of the colours. It was pure perfection.

This is a world I want to continue reading. I want to read more about Hel and Sam's relationship. What happens to Van Helsing. I just need MORE!

You'll love this book if you like
- paranormal reads
- gothic fantasy
- historical fantasy
- vampires and werewolves
- strong female characters
- slow burn, will they, won't they?

Thank you netgalley, hodderbooks and hodderscape for allowing me to review.

Will you be putting this on your tbr? Have you read it already, what were your thoughts??

I received a ARC e-book of this novel from Net Galley, and the following review hasn't been influenced by Net Galley, the author and/or the publisher.

I adored how this book was more than it appeared. It was horror/supernatural/adventure and a touch of romance. In this alternative history, the characters I love from historical fiction are present, but given a twist. While they aren't front and centre in the book, the characters borrowed are still a seemingly omniscient, deadly threat to Sam, who has ties to Dracula, and Helena Moriarity, daughter of the infamous nemesis of Sherlock Holmes. The author's ability to weave two original characters into a world where the fictional horror world is real took my breath away. This is a world that I can not only imagine, but has depth that surprises me time and time again.

I don't think I can state how brilliant this book is. It ticks all the boxes for me: great world building, believable and 3-D characters, and a plot that yanks the reader off their feet continuously. I never knew what would happen next. I loved each time a new character entered the story. The way Paris was explored made me want to travel back in time and experience it for myself. I am thrilled that the author kept me guessing, and how I was completely wrong with who was the antagonist in this book.

This is a book that I've ordered the audiobook for, and I want a proper kindle book. The editing and formatting is perfect in the proof, but I want to give the author my money and own the final version of this. I don't have much shelf space, but I am deeply tempted to own a physical copy of this book as well.

5 Stars! Highly recommend.

Please buy this book and fall into a world that is amazing!

This is such fun Victorian detective mystery. Many of the characters are children of various famous fictional characters from the Dracula and Sherlock Holmes books.

I loved the atmosphere and feel of the books. It felt like a fantasy Sherlock Holmes book. It's set in Paris and the author does a really good job of bringing the reader into that world.

I enjoyed the main plot. It was easy to work out the main culprit but it didn't ruin the read. In fact, it was interesting seeing the main characters figure it out.

The author does a good job of showing how difficult it was for all women in those days. Especially the asylum chapter. It was sadly true for so many women when their husbands wanted a new wife.

I would like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read and honestly review an advanced reader’s copy of this book.

I went into this one a bit uncertain, not really sold on the idea. A wolf monster in Paris, killing rich men. The daughter of Dracula’s killer and the daughter of Professor Moriarty in an unlikely partnership to find out the truth. It’s a weird premise!

It sure worked for me though!! The characters were strong; Sam as a main character is very easy to follow along with, the mystery unfolds in a very satisfying way, and the ending sets up perfectly for a sequel.
The pacing was very good in this; we follow Sam and Dr Helena Moriarty (Hel) as they travel to Paris, start to learn to trust each other, chasing clues through the city, into the catacombs and back to the opera; all while being threatened by many sources. (Including Van Helsing’s son? This mismash of characters should not have worked, but it truly did.)

Yeah, loved it, very different to the stuff the current fantasy market is saturated with; more please!

Strange Beasts by Susan J. Morris is a veritable smörgåsbord of dark and nerdy references. It's a bit of Sherlock Holmes, a bit of Dracula, a bit of Supernatural, a bit of feminism, and a lot of fun!

When a monstrous Beast is wreaking havoc among rich, powerful men in Paris, the city turns to the Royal Society for the Study of Abnormal Phenomena for aid. What they don't expect is being sent researcher Samantha Harker (yes, that Harker), who usually prefers the company of books to that of people; and Dr Helena Moriarty (yes, that Moriarty), who is one of the Society's best, but usually works alone, since her partners have a nasty habit of dying on the job. The two women must now learn to trust one another with their deepest, darkest secrets, and try to work together in order to solve the murders.

When I first started reading Strange Beasts, I thought I'd stumbled upon a piece of fan fiction, but this book is so much more than that! I was immediately drawn into the plot and fell in love with the main characters in their struggles against early 1900's misogynist views (many of which live on to this day). Sam and Hel are in many ways quite relatable and it was easy getting involved in their story.

Throughout this book, I also got to visit some of my favourite places of Paris, like the dark mines and catacombs, as well as a haunted opera house. Combined with the glamour of the Belle Époque, it is the perfect setting for a story this intense.

I usually don't go for murder mysteries, since most of them have a pretty obvious solution and don't really get interesting until the last 100 or so pages, but Strange Beasts had me hooked from start to finish! If you enjoy dark, tense, queer stories and appreciate references as much as I do, you're going to love this book.

* * *
Huge thank you to Hodder & Stoughton for making this book available through NetGalley. An even bigger thank you to Susan J. Morris for writing it.
All opinions are my own.

A star rating because I have to. I lasted about 30% into this book. Love the premise and parts of the backstories invented for Moriarty but I suspect the mystery is the strongest part of it. The relationship between the MC qnd Moriarty is something that moves awfully fast given the context, I couldn't read beyond a point.

This book is a meeting of Sam, an ordinary librarian, and Hel, simply a hunter of "strange beasts". Assuming that is that being a librarian for the Royal Society for the Study of Abnormal Beasts and being the daughter of Dracula's killer is "ordinary". Equally, while Hel is simply the hunter of these Abnormal Beasts, she is actually the daughter of the infamous Professor Moriaty…!! Sam, not a field agent, wants to go on a case in Paris allocated to Hel (also known as Lady M). However Hel doesn't want partners as they all seem to die. Scene set!

This is the world in 1903 with some very odd and dangerous beasts in it - they are nearly killed by a Grindylow who attacks their coach while they are heading to the ferry to France. I guess more accurately Sam is nearly killed. Anyway, this follows the investigation into a series of particularly nasty murders in Paris. Sam wants to be there as she feels there may be a connection with her grandfather (who she thinks is dead) but there is something about the case that seems to connect with her grandfather's love of morse and radiotelegraphy.

Woven into this story are some interesting real places and ideas. I hadn't come across midinettes but the idea was well used. The Paris catacombs feature well too. The concept of wolfssengers is introduced which does seem to have some slight history as well. All in all a nice range of ideas and settings. Paris of the early 1900s makes a very good location for the main part of this book.

The pace and tension here is very good. Never a dull moments certainly sums it up and it proved to be a book that was far easier to keep reading than to stop. I liked the main characters and a number of the more peripheral ones were pretty good too. The general story line worked well and - without giving anything much away - there is clearly the plan for another book. I for one will be reading that. 4.5/5

As a librarian Sam finds that real life is more complicated than in books!