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.

4.5 stars!

A 1900s whodunit, with fantasy horror elements featuring the descendants of huge literary names the likes of Harker, Moriarty and Van Helsing? How could I not dive in with the highest anticipation and expectations, especially when it is also sapphic? This is so incredibly ambitious but I think the author did an exceptional job, especially with the elusive and quite frankly terrifying Moriarty. I thoroughly enjoyed the literary references even though I have not read the original texts of Dracula or Sherlock Holmes. I think this book is motivating me to read them though!

While the pacing felt a little rough; long-winded in parts and abruptly quick during epiphanies, I very much enjoyed this mashup of horror, fantasy and crime/mystery. This book also felt like a massive setup for a series building towards a huge final showdown, which is incredibly exciting. Absolutely please throw more unique monsters, criminal masterminds and sapphic romances my way.

Thank you Bindery Books, the author and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. I leave this review voluntarily.

This one really grabbed me, in the way that campy novels and good fanfiction does. I think queer fans of Deanna Raybourn will like this one— it’s got this strange aura of being a slightly cozy magical murder mystery, despite the gore and plot being fairly mounstrous and gory. It feels like watching an episode of a good 2000s era case of the week show, where it blends the romance and fun effortlessly with darker topics.

Strange Beasts is the sapphic, magical murder mystery of your dreams. Perfect for fans of Stalking Jack the Ripper and Deanna Raybourn.

Strange Beasts By Susan J Morris is a fun, adventurous, gothic mystery set in the early 1900s. Sam Harker, the daughter of Dracula’s killer, and Helena Moriarty, daughter of Professor Moriarty, partner up to solve a string of brutal murders. Sam and Hel both have their own secrets and as they get closer and closer to solving the crime, more secrets are revealed, causing the two women to have to learn to trust each other in order to not only solve the crime but stay alive.

This book is different than most books I read, but it sounded really interesting so I wanted to check it out. Overall, I really enjoyed the story! It was interesting, fast paced, and full of adventure. I loved the empowerment that Sam and Hel had (and developed throughout the story). Anyone who likes mysteries, Sherlock Holmes, or mythical creatures would enjoy this book!

this was so lush and atmospheric, i genuinely loved it so much. i was instantly compelled to read this from the title and cover, and it definitely held up. the writing was solid and the storytelling was absolutely captivating. highly recommend reading in the fall season!

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.

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.

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.

This is a lovely little book. There’s plenty of Sherlock Holmes vs Dracula stuff out there, but Morris went with the enemies of both and teamed them up.

There are some really lovely turns of phrase throughout, particularly in dialogue. I love the rage, the organic feminist themes, and the ridiculously slow burning romance that had me struggling to remember if this book had been labeled as queer or not. I’m absolutely salivating for a sequel.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

From the moment I finished the first page, I knew this was a book I wouldn’t want to put down.

Strange Beasts transports you to 20th century Paris, where a Beast is ravaging the city, murdering the elite and stirring rumours of the return of the lycanthropes. Only one woman can stop this savagery, Dr Helena Moriarty. Oh, and her perfume obsessed partner, Samantha Harker, the daughter of Dracula’s killer, with a secret of her own that might be the key to solving this case. Hel isn’t used to working with partners, her last three were mysteriously murdered - will Sam be the exception?

With thrilling chases through catacombs and the streets of Paris, and unmistakeable sapphic undertones, Strange Beasts had me on the edge of my seat. I felt immersed in the 20th century monster-filled world that Susan J. Morris has built. I really enjoyed learning about the monsters that call this world their home, but are the monsters really that much worse than the men?

I’m usually a slow reader but managed to finish Strange Beasts in just two days. Easily my favourite read of 2024 so far, I’d pick up another book following Hel and Sam in a heartbeat.

Exhilarating, grisly, and irresistibly atmospheric, this turn-of-the-twentieth-century, gothic vibing, sapphic DEBUT NOVEL blew my socks right off, in a very quick and commanding way.

I’ll be honest and admit the synopsis for this story had me immediately at “the worlds of Dracula and Sherlock Holmes collide”—and it was just a bonus that the author absolutely delivered on that arc-divergent promise, creating a very masterfully written, paranormally-tinged, murder-mystery story, set across (and under) the streets of Paris in 1903.

I loved, loved, loved how the backstories and identities of the two female MCs—bookish Samantha Harker and monster hunter Dr. Helena Moriarty—cleverly tied in with famous literary characters and events of multiple classic novels of that time (again, Dracula and the Sherlock Holmes series, for those unaware of the Harker and Moriarty names). It was a very crafty character and story concept, building off the beloved in a unique and revitalising way.

I won’t go into plot details because it was so rewarding going into a virtually mysterious plot, but I was delighted by how quickly and entirely I was drawn into this story and the world of these keenly drawn characters. I’m no expert in folklore or mythology, but I find myself often obsessed and riveted by stories of this kind—one’s that mix the supernatural with a whodunnit-type crime-hunting narrative, especially when they’re historical set and have strong queer representation.

The story itself is kind of darker and grittier than I expected, honestly, but if you enjoy/can handle a little captivatingly macabre, gothic storytelling, you’ll be just fine. Think novels written by the likes of Jordan L. Hawk or K.J. Charles and you’ll get this whole vibe and what to expect.

I can only begin to hope this story finds its audience, and in a big way, because I’m already crossing my fingers and toes that we get a sequel, pretty keen am I to continuing the monster-hunting adventures of Sam Harker and Hel Moriarty.


***A special thanks to Bindery Books (via Netgalley) for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Bindery and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

With an unique way of evocating the soul of Paris during 1903. We follow the journey of Samantha Harker (Sam for friends) a young researcher of the Royal Society for the Study of Abnormal Phenomena and Lady Helena Moriarty, Lady M or Hel (last one reserved only for those who don't get killed before they reach the place of the murders mind you) who will venture deep into the French capital to uncover the killer behind a brutal set of murders known as the Beast.

Morris really knows what she was writing when she went all out while describing the Parisian soil at that time. For the historical terms to the very garments the madams used while going around. And I won't even start talking about the Catacombs.

The murders were funny innovative, mixing that pinch of magical fantasy dark creature that made the book even better, each monster we encountered gave me shivers by how real it felt.

What didn't make this a 5 star was how the original worlds of Dracula and Sherlock Holmes were intertwined. Not saying it wasn't good, just that I thought that it would have been more taken into consideration as both main characters and another recurring one were officially bornfrom those universes. I do hope that we'll have more answers in book 2, because there has to be book two after that ending.

TW:
-Gore, detailed gore.
-Blood
-Dark thoughts
- Mentions of mentally unstable woman patients with hysteria.
-Mentions of sex (indirect. but still present).

4.25 ⭐️ 0🌶️

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Strange Beasts by Susan J. Morris is a third person-POV Queer historical paranormal mystery. Samantha Harker, the daughter of Jonathan and Mina Harker of Dracula fame, is tasked by The Royal Society for the Study of Abnormal Phenomena with solving a series of murders in Paris that appear to be linked to werewolves. Her assigned partner is Helen Moriarty, the daughter of Sherlock Holmes’ old nemesis and is every bit as unusual as her father and his rival.

Drawing from classic British literature and folklore, the worldbuilding has grindylow, allusions to events that happened in Dracula and Sherlock Holmes, and carries that further with the Parisian setting and utilizing the catacombs. Because she was conceived in Dracula’s castle, Sam is a channel, someone who can see into the minds of monsters. In a lot of ways the story felt like a love letter to classic literature but also updated with Sam’s POV and her and Hel’s relationship.

One of the things I really liked was how Sam was both a researcher and someone interested in feminine things. She pays attention to fashion and make-up and the different shades that the midinettes (Parisian shop girls and seamstresses who were also the mistresses of powerful men in Parisian society) wear after one of the most fashionable in their group is seen wearing it. An interest in feminine things is given value as a possible clue when looking for suspects.

Hel and Sam’s relationship is something of a slowburn, as Hel comes to grips with her feelings a lot earlier based on little hints of jealousy threaded throughout but Sam isn’t really paying attention. It’s subtle, but it is definitely there. Hel also does try to kind and understanding but it doesn’t always come across well, which can lead to some tension between her and Sam.

I would recommend this to fans of classic British literature and mysteries, readers looking for a Sapphic mystery set around the time of Sherlock Holmes, and those looking for a paranormal historical mystery with female leads

Think Sherlock Holmes X fantastic beasts X supernatural with a sprinkle of van helsing.

Where do I begin, I loved this book! I would love a second... or even better, a TV series!
I didn't predict the ending which is a first for me, I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery unravelling with a trail of clues.
I loved the characters and honestly just want to know more about them, perhaps more romance in a second book? 🙏🏻

I would've loved more creatures/monsters and a touch more gore but I'm not complaining.

Fast paced, wonderfully descriptive writing, it was like a TV show playing in my head I could picture it so well.

Thank you so much Netgalley and Susan J Morris for gifting this book in exchange for an honest review, I've already pre-ordered a copy 🖤

I will definitely purchase the book once its out because it has basically everything I love in a book plus a gorgeous Cover!

As an avid fan of Arthur Conan Doyle and everything related to Sherlock Holmes I really enjoyed this read and I'm glad I also read Dracula before to appreciate all the mentions of Sams family and Van Helsing.

I enjoy a good fantasy mystery and even though I had my suspicions the suspense was still well delivered.
The end felt a bit rushed so I could definitely see a potential sequel in the future but it could also very well function as a stand alone (but as a nosy person I would love to read more about their adventures in this world).

Over all a great debut novel!

To say that I enjoyed this book would be an understatement. This novel was such a fun read that I read it three times! The monsters were great, the mystery was even better and the ending punched me in the gut! Loved Every Second of it!

Sam & Hel were just fantastic. I loved the mix of mystery and Sherlock Holmes with Monsters! My heart for this novel!

This book has everything you want from historical fiction, and a perfumer to just die for! Like I need all these perfumes!
Truly enjoyed every word! Phenomenal job.

Strange Beasts was an adventurous story with enjoyable characters. I loved the supernatural vibes and the mysterious plot. I would recommend Strange Beasts to my friends! I'm looking forward to reading other works by Susan J. Morris.

If you have ever thought "I want Sherlock Holmes and Dracula to have a baby, and the writing style to be like St. Gibson" then this book is for you. I was hooked since page one and really vibed with the whole book. If you love gaslamp fantasy and Gibson and Kingfisher style prose, I think you'll like this.

This was surprisingly good. And once you factor in that it's a debut? Really bloody good. I'm definitely looking forward to future installments in the series (because no way we don't get to see their next adventure).

Vibes:
This is an era of gaslights and trillbys and women needing permission from the local governing body to be allowed to wear pants in public. The primary setting is Paris and while it flirts with the beautiful dresses and fancy perfumes and dazzling stages, it spends much more honest time with the poor on the street or deep in the catacombs with the monsters and the grime.

As such, there's a fair amount of class warfare and social commentary-- though particularly as it pertains to women: virtuous wives vs vile seductresses, mousy researchers who are underestimated, masking to appease the powerful men so they can see exactly what they expect, and finally the liberation of knowing and embracing oneself despite society's rules.

Characters:
Our two main leads are an heir of Van Helsing with inherited magic (channeling) that she got from her mother. She's very much Evie from The Mummy type, but with the lingering threat that her channeling could allow the demons to someday take control of her-- essentially a powder keg (in the minds of the men in her family, anyway).

And then there's Hel, daughter of the notorious Moriarty. She's got some neurodivergent tendencies, not a single spoon leftover to play into the expectations and niceties of society, and one metric fuckton of baggage from her abusive and manipulative father.

Though they very rarely have a moment of rest to share in banter (their lives are quite often under threat), I really enjoyed the way these two characters played off each other and challenged each other throughout the book. Not to mention that it's so rare to see women supporting women storylines in a way that's both understated and yet more impactful and true.

There's also a host of other background characters, some stronger than others, who make a lively setting. And damn if Cyprien isn't the suavest motherfucker. That dude has some lines.

Moriarty:
I think that Moriarty presents an interesting and sinister threat to the series. Because of his famed intellect, many things can be attributed to him in a game of 4D chess where if you haven't planned your next step 17 years ago, then you're already behind-- that type of villain where y0u almost have to be impressed and give him a nod for the forethought and subtle manipulation he's employed.

I look forward to seeing his machinations in further installments, and only hope he's never fully explained so he can maintain his enigmatic air.

Magic & Monsters:
The canon of monsters here is very European but not from the common S tier. Grindylows and wills-o-wisp and werewolves (or are they?) and alchemists. Not to mention the channeling of the primary protagonist (mostly involving feelings and premonitions from touching objects).

I think they manage to be interspersed enough that it constantly feels like you're reading a Fantasy novel in a Fantasy world, while still being off the beaten path enough that it can be set in our world following its normal historic trajectory. But it also allows for a moody and dark atmosphere-- some of the descriptions are quite macabre.

Overall:
I was surprised by how much I really enjoyed this one. And because I don't have anywhere else to put it: GIVE ME MORE HEATHCLIFF IN ALL HIS MANY ITERATIONS. and also give him all the cheese because he deserves it :3

A really impressive debut novel. This had the perfect mix of murder mystery, gothic horror, fantasy and historical fiction. I really enjoyed the main character duo Samantha Harker and Dr. Helena Moriarty and found their dynamic really entertaining. Honestly I'm ready for a whole series of them investigating murders and supernatural phenomena.

Thank you to Susan J. Morris, Bindery Nooks and NetGalley, for the amazing opportunity to read : Strange Beasts as an ARC.

Key words : Lesbians / Paris 1900s / mystery / magical creatures

This book is a mix of Sherlock Holmes and Dracula but wlw with mystical beasts.

A monster seems to be targeting only young men from the high Parisian society. Hel and Sam will have to discover what it really is.

This book was really good. As a native french reader I expected the French to be a bit strange but it was perfect without any mistakes. it made sense and even the translations regarding idioms etc were good. I was really happy to read a mystery with fantastic creatures. Some parts of the plot were kinda expected but others like the parfume related ones weren’t.
I also didn’t expect the relationship between two characters to take this twists and I hope we will get more of it.
I loved to explore Paris with them, the catacombs, hotels and cabarets. Explaining a bit more of Paris in the 1900s.

Rating : 4 ⭐️

Thanks to Bindery Books and Susan J. Morris for the ARC.

'Strange Beasts' is a queer gothic mystery inspired by Dracula and Sherlock Holmes, to create an intriguing historic tale around a dangerous beast that is more than it seems.

I enjoyed the novel and the way it intertwined the inspiration of Dracula with the Harkers and the Van Helsing, and Sherlock Holmes with the Moriarty's, while still being able to create a unique mystery with surprising plot twists. Both the main characters, Samantha Harker and Helena Moriarity are incredibly likeable, with how nuanced they are, and their struggles and flaws are realistic to read. I like the way they both fit and deflect against the stereotype of being a 'woman', playing around with the concept of a female detective in gothic literature. Their relationship as well is fun to read about, the development feels natural and well-paced.

Their interactions with side characters are meaningful, especially with the midinettes, I liked the way that misogynist and feminist themes when it comes to being the 'victim' and the 'mistress' in the book, it fits the time period but also is a refreshing take. The Beast itself and other mythical creatures are described and treated in such a way that adds a sense of foreboding horror in the mystery, but also so nicely intertwined with the main plot of the novel.

Overall, 'Strange Beasts' is a recommended read for the way it is a unique and brutal mystery perfectly balanced with a queer slow-burn romance and feminist themes.

Historical queer fantasy horror you say? Where do I sign up? This was my immediate reaction on reading the synopsis for this debut novel by Susan. J. Morris.

For lovers of the Gothic, this book hits perfectly. It's spooky, moody and written in beautifully evocative prose that leaves you shivering in the early 20th century catacombs of Paris, right along with its characters.

A perfect read for your spooky season.

This is an incredibly entertaining, cannot-put-it-down, sapphic murder mystery within a magical realism setting (1903 Paris) - and just as an aside, the romance angle is relatively slow-burn & very unspicy, which suited me perfectly. I truly loved this book and cannot thank Bindery Books & NetGalley enough for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

First of all, the cover - a beautiful piece of art by Zach Meyer with so much depth, I cannot stop staring at it & finding all the subtle details taken from the story. And the beauty of the cover art absolutely matches the beauty of the language Susan Morris uses in her storytelling, with spectacular turns of phrase, intoxicating visual descriptions and plenty of witticisms throughout.

Fair warning that if you don't speak much French, there may occasionally (genuinely, it's only occasionally) be moments when you don't know what certain characters/signs say without googling - but most of the plot-significant phrases are translated or explained at the time, and I think that even if you sometimes aren't sure what's been said, that only helps add to your understanding of Sam also being totally lost!

Aside from the obvious Dracula & Sherlock Holmes references, there are also quite a few very astute references to Greek mythology that I absolutely loved. And the sheer amount of knowledge the author imparts about a wide variety of mythical beings is amazing, she really knows her stuff.

The main characters felt well-developed and 3-dimensional; I felt I understood and cared about the complexities of their values/choices very easily. The relationship between the two FMCs was especially engaging to read, and the championing of women's voices throughout the story was really moving. I think some of the two MCs' relationships with other secondary characters could have been explored more thoroughly (particularly the antagonistic ones), but perhaps that's still to come in a future follow-up novel.

I really enjoyed this book, and found the mystery elements of it very satisfying - I think it was just the right balance of solvable-but-not-easy, at least based on my personal deduction skills. Some of the smaller nuances of the mystery do require a certain degree of suspension of disbelief, but then again, this is book where ghosts are real, so perhaps we as the target audience go into it expecting to suspend some disbelief throughout.

I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an LGBT+ magical murder mystery, and I am so excited to see what else Susan Morris has in store for us.

Finally, there aren't many major Content Warnings I think need giving, but I am including some here for those who find them helpful.

So STOP READING HERE TO AVOID MINOR SPOILERS:

**Content Warnings**

- Mental health mistreatment (in the context of early 1900s British/French treatment of women re: hysteria etc)
- Misogyny (similar context to the CW above)
- Police corruption, possibly also triggering for police brutality
- Violence, body mutilation, blood & gore

4⭐️

ARC kindly provided by publisher via NetGally in exchange for an honest review.

A turn of the century murder mystery with a slow burn sapphic romance involving Dracula and Sherlock lore?? yes please!! this was the perfect way to start off the fall season. it had everything i was hoping for and more. this was a thrilling and sometimes eerie debut novel by Susan J. Morris and i cannot wait to read the next book!

Strange Beasts is a twisted web that spun me in the wrong direction more than once. The use of our knowledge of literary figures like the Harkers (Dracula), Moriarty (Sherlock Holmes), and Van Helsing (Dracula) help efficiently build up our knowledge of the world and its characters very quickly. And Morris eloquently adds to that world as the story goes on.
I enjoyed the twists and turns this book took me on even if the tension stressed me out more than once.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Actual Rating:: 4.5/5

Strange Beasts was exactly what I was looking for in regards to a paranormal historical fiction. This was interesting story with real stakes that had me hooked from the beginning. The Mystery element was fascinating, and I enjoyed following Dr. Helena Moriarty and Samantha Harker as they tried to solve the case.

Helena and Samantha were both equally charming especially when they were together, and while this is a sapphic book it is incredibly slow burn, and I wish I had a little more of their relationship together but with how this book ends I think this has the protentional to a series of books follow Harker and Moriarty solve crimes related to the Paranormal while also trying to thwart Moriarty's brother and Father.

Overall, I hate a lot of fun while reading this and kept me on the edge of my seat.

A dark and thrilling murder mystery chasing mythic creatures from the luxurious heights of Paris to the depths of its catacombs.

sapphic | gaslamp mystery | slow-burn | atmospheric | Sherlock x Watson dynamic | paranormal fantasy | bi mc

I found this book exciting and compelling, it was truly hard to put down. For hardcover mystery fans, I found one or two points a bit predictable but genuinely enjoyed it and I'm looking forward to any sequels and other books written by Susan J. Morris!

A really great debut novel. This had the perfect mix of gothic horror, fantasy and historical fiction. I really enjoyed the main character partnership of Samantha Harker and Dr. Helena Moriarty and found their dynamic really entertaining. I'm impatiently waiting for a whole series of them investigating murders and supernatural phenomena.

The occult detective team-up I didn’t know I needed! This novel is an absolute delight, doing justice to the authors and stories it is building off of, while creating something unique and fun. The characters are complicated and feel remarkably well-situated, the world-building is simple yet exciting, and the story itself is fun and keeps you guessing.
The world is a really enticing one, a 20th century Europe where the governments fund societies to track and control supernatural phenomena in public, because everyone acknowledges the existence of the supernatural, the strange, the fantastic. In these stories such societies usually work in secret, in the shadows, so that simple twist is enough to have a ripple effect on what the world feels like. Both the main characters feel like real people, both tormented by their pasts and their respective family inheritances. They are strong and vulnerable, both, and were really exciting to get to know. Similarly, the supporting characters, while fitting a little more into expected archetypes, still feel multi-dimensional and help make this world feel more grounded. Since our narration follows Samantha our experience of the other characters is through her perspective, and we get to know an interiority with her character that we don’t in others, which worked well for this story, for the sense of un-knowing and adventure. In future books it might be fun for the perspective to switch back and forth between the two leads, but it made sense in this story for it to be focused on Sam’s journey, including her doubts about her new partner. The writing is wonderful, it never feels rushed but it also doesn’t lag, it simply moves along at a good clip. There are moments of flourish and color, but these are usually to emphasize the characters’ emotional states, otherwise the writing is mostly straight-forward. The bulk of the story does take place in France, and I appreciated the occasional use of French without translation, letting the reader experience the same disorientation as the character.
There is nothing wildly new or inventive about this mystery, once you settle into the interesting characters and the world. That isn’t to say it is boring, though, or feels stale. On the contrary it feels quite fresh and new, even though it has the same flavor as other mysteries. Having two strong women at the helm, and having them actively questioning the parochial and patriarchal system that is complicit in the harm and violence they’re trying to resolve, brings a different type of tone to the story. There is an analysis of privilege in terms of both gender and class that might be a little heavy-handed at times but also gets to the core of the mystery and how these two particular agents are equipped to do this job differently than others. Additionally, the story explores ideas of righteousness indignation and revenge (or, some would say, justice) that are definitely weightier than a simple detective story would need to. On top of that both of our main characters have been defined by society by their family lineages, and it is interesting to see how that shapes their understanding of themselves as they fight against inheritance and legacy. Situating the protagonists as marginalized members of society we get a different exploration of monstrosity than other similar stories.
The story does follow a somewhat expected structure, but it has some clever twists and tweaks that, even when you see them coming, are fun reveals, as the seeds are deftly planted throughout the story. It is almost an odd couple story, with the two leads being so different that they balance each other out while at the same time having narrative friction, which keeps it fun. I did feel like some of the relationship building felt a little rushed at the end but given the plot mechanics I understand why it was done that way, and it didn’t diminish my joy in the story. Ultimately, this novel is able to explore a somewhat common and expected story using a fresh lens, making for a fun, engrossing, mostly cozy supernatural mystery filled with people you’re rooting for. It was easy and a lot of fun to read, the kind of story you don’t want to put down. The conclusion was satisfying and also open-ended enough to let you know there are many more adventures to come, and it leaves you excited to go on them with these characters.

(Rounded up from 3.5 stars)

I want to thank the author, the publisher Bindery Books, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This book was fantastic! The moment I saw a blurb about it, I ran to NetGalley to request an ARC and I was so excited to get one. This is the perfect book for anyone who loves a puzzley mystery, badass ladies, and a dark atmosphere. This book hooked me from the first pages, and following Hel and Sam was so much fun. It was such a great premise to bring in the next generation of so many well known names from fiction and flesh them out as people in their own right, while simultaneously grappling with the effect their famous parents have had on their lives and choices. I am DESPERATELY hoping this is the first in a series, and I’ll be able to follow Sam and Hel on many more adventures together.

Be still, my heart! And stuff my nose! What an excellent, deftly written novel. Bookworm Sam and aloof Hel Moriarty, Ph.D. (?) team up to tackle murders and mayhem against a lush, monster-filled alternate London at the turn of the last century. I enjoyed the character- and world-building, the reimagined Dracula slash Sherloack Holmes lore, and swift pace. Now, the main baddie was a little too easy to guess, and the sudden sapphary was ... well, too sudden. Or maybe Sam just has the hots for everyone? I couldn't make sense of her various orientations, especially when she's painted as an uninitiated wallflower. Ah, well! I expect the next book to refine this already superb start.

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!

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.

“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.

I did not want to put thos down! I don't know what I was hoping for but this book far exceeded my expectations. Dark, atmospheric and characters I simply couldn't get enough of

What if the characters of classic lit were real and lived in the same world? And what if the monsters and magic of those books were also real? Well, you’d get this book if you also threw in a murder mystery!

This was engaging and entertaining. The beginning felt a little like League of Extraordinary Gentlemen as we’re introduced to the Harkers and Van Helsings from Dracula and Moriarty’s daughter from the world of Sherlock Holmes. We also get monsters like vampires, werewolves, grindylows, and more. (The Phantom from the Opera is also real!).

Sam Harker is our sunshine and Helena Moriarty is our grumpy, and they must work together to solve some brutal murders in Paris, while also dealing with the baggage from their parents. There is the slowest of burns with their relationship, and I’m definitely hooked to see where it goes in future books.

The muster itself was well done with tons of red herrings and plenty of danger. I did figure out the murderer before the climax, so I was proud of myself for that. But Professor Moriarty himself looms over everyone in the background.

I would recommend for a great supernatural mystery and plenty of classic lit references for fans. I’ll absolutely pick up future books.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the preview. All opinions are my own.

I've seen this book described as a gothic, sapphic Sherlock meets Dracula. Definitely a very intriguing premise to me! I think it accomplished some of those elements better than others. The gothic vibes were definitely there. I'd say it's a feminist gothic mystery with elements of Sherlock and Dracula.

The main characters being the daughters of major players from the aforementioned books was a fun and intriguing plot point. I enjoyed the mystery, though it ended up being predictable, I liked being along for the ride. The misdirections had me questioning myself at times for who I suspected. I liked the idea of this paranormal society who is out and open among the public. I do question why it seems to only have one headquarters in at least Western Europe in 1903, with agents having to travel to other countries. I'd have loved some further world building on The Royal Society for the Study of Abnormal Phenomena!

Sam and Hel brought their own unique strengths and weaknesses to their partnership and I think they complemented each other well as work partners, especially once they learned to trust each other.

The sapphic element is where it missed the mark for me. Look, I love slow burn. I LOVE it. However, to accomplish a successful slow burn you need chemistry, tension, yearning, build-up, etc. I didn't sense any of that between these characters. While I liked them both, at no point was I envisioning them together, nor did I care if they ever got together. Somehow more chemistry was written between Sam and all the toxic men in her life.


One other small gripe: as someone who doesn't speak any French, I don't want to have to manually get the translation for dialogue in a book written in English more than a few times. I appreciate using the local language of the setting, but that became tedious.

3.5 rounded up.

Thank you so much Bindery and NetGalley for the eARC!

𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗦: 𝙵𝙰𝙽𝚃𝙰𝚂𝚈. 𝙷𝙾𝚁𝚁𝙾𝚁. 𝙼𝚈𝚂𝚃𝙴𝚁𝚈. 𝙷𝙸𝚂𝚃𝙾𝚁𝙸𝙲𝙰𝙻. 𝚀𝚄𝙴𝙴𝚁. 𝙶𝙾𝚃𝙷𝙸𝙲. 𝙳𝙴𝙱𝚄𝚃.


"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."

𝗦𝗨𝗠𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗬:⁠
After reading the synopsis , there was no way I was missing out on this one. And when I started it, it was not hard to get in because there is something enticing about Helen's character. Sam is also interesting but Hel is something sapphic and I loved her so. The plot is interesting and the sci-fic with a historical touch was really good. It is not really sci-fic but dark magic. Sam's abilities would be intriguing to see especially since there was a hint of vampire effect to them. And Hel with her revolver and suits... definitely enticing.

𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗦:⁠
Hel and her remarks to all the male species in this book was my Roman Empire. I can't really picture how she looks like because I have a problem with that but in any way, every time she pulled her gun, I just know she looked absolutely alluring. That ending could lead one to think that there will be more and if there will be, I will come around.


𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙍𝘾 𝙘𝙤𝙥𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙫𝙞𝙖 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙜𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙮 𝙨𝙤 𝙄 𝙖𝙢 𝙫𝙤𝙡𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙡𝙮 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙮 𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬.

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 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.

Strange Beasts fell like a giant, cozy, gothic hug for me. It's Penny Dreadful meets Emily Wilde with a sprinkling of the Parasol Protectorate by Gail Carriger.
This book yall. It hit all the marks. Dark, delightful, clever, educational, romance, mystery, scandalous. I had so much fun reading this book, looking up all the places mentioned. By 60% it was unputdownable. The twist threw me, which was very enjoyable. I loved how multi-layered the characters were, how much empathy was clearly evident, as well as how human they were. I would have loved to have had more beasts make appearances! I am glad that I read this book on my kindle and could make use of the translation feature as I didn't feel like there were obvious hints in the text as to what some of the French phrases were.

Being who you are and not what other people think of you was a huge theme throughout this book and I didn't know that I was missing in my reading journey. I fell in love with Sam and Hel, and wanted to string Van Helsing up by his boots.
Please oh please let this continue as a series!! I will not be patiently waiting,.

Dracula mixed with Sherlock Holmes characters with offspring of evil Dr. Moriarty Hel, Mina Harkers daughter Samatha & Jakob Van Helsing. They are all working for A Royal Society For The Study Of Abnormal Phenomena in different capacities researcher for ___ & investigators to capture or hit people with later two, of magical creatures & dealers with the malignant solving cases & keeping the mundane safe in Great Britain branch. The duo [with the male third of society sneakily following them] travel to Paris to find a loupe de gaurou or individual acting like one, slaughtering prominent promiscuous men there. What this story also lightly paints is the treatment of women in that point in time & how independent intelligent women were, as still now, considered a threat while at the same time the expendable quality they held for women. Women as the victims did nothing more than create a basic check point if murdered by others outside social norms while it was quite okay to ignore the same by spouses or even those in high positions.
I has some delightful twists & turns that are unexpected, wonderful dialog, an interesting level of society of Paris & the western European as well as US mores & beliefs in the early [1902] 1900s and on to even now. Don't let them drag us back into time in reality in the manner politically they are trying to. I feel this is the beginning of a series I would gladly dive into & hope it becomes one as was thoroughly enjoyable.

I loved this book so much!
Fantasy murder mystery. Two bad-ass women. Paris. Mythical creatures, Magical abilities. This book has it all, and I ate it up.

Sam and Hel are both agents of the Royal Society for the Study of Abnormal Phenomena. They enter into an unlikely partnership to solve a string of gruesome murders in Paris. But of course, nothing is as simple as it seems. The convoluted case leads them all over Paris, from the grand Palais Garnier all the way down to the ancient catacombs. And of course, Sam and Hel both have personal motives for solving this case, motives they strive to keep hidden from the other. Can they work together when they don't fully trust each other?

✨

Sam and Hel are both so well-written. Their backstories are slowly revealed throughout the book, and you get to understand how their upbringing shaped them and made them into the person they are. They both have a lot of growing to do, and I loved how we got to see all of that play out. Their dynamic was interesting to read, with Hel being more experienced in the field, more hardened to the gruesome realities of their job, while Sam is new to all of it. As a researcher, Sam is used to getting information from books. But when what she finds in the field is so different from what she's read, she has to grapple with what it means for her and for how the Society operates.

The mystery element kept me hooked. I could not put the book down because I really wanted to get to the bottom of it. The clues were there, as were the red herrings, and when Sam and Hel find the answers, it felt so so so satisfying.

Van Helsing though. Yeah, I don't like him, But he is also a product of his upbringing. Is it weird that I also want to learn more about him? And why he is the way he is?

Reading Strange Beasts by Susan J. Morris was such a fun time. This is definitely a perfect addition to your spooky or Halloween TBR.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the digital ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bindery Books for an advance copy of Strange Beasts by Susan J. Morris! I so, so wanted to be able to read this book and was extremely thankful for the opportunity.

Sam, a researcher for the Royal Society for the Study of Abnormal Phenomena (with some unique family history) wants an opportunity to go out into the field hunting monsters, as she believes a case that the Society is investigating relates to the long-ago disappearance of her dear grandfather. She gets paired with Hel, a no-nonsense detective who also has some unique family history, which has resulted in her being a ruthless and suspicious person; not the most easy working relationship to start off with. On top of that, every partner Hel has been assigned to before has died under mysterious circumstances.

Cue the drama! Sam and Hel go on a wild and dangerous adventure through Paris in an effort to catch "the beast" who is murdering men and leaving a gruesome scene and a mysterious puzzle behind at each murder. The story is equal parts the development of Sam and Hel's partnership, and their work in catching the mysterious killer. There's a full cast of characters, a lot of twists and turns, and numerous revelations that have you guessing until the last page. I loved the writing, the characters, and the mystery; a great combination of some of my favorite things.

The "attraction" mentioned in the description of this book is another reason I was interested in reading this story. I loved the idea of a more unique romance unfolding, besides the classic man/woman we're partners, now we're in love trope. I will say I'm not sure how I felt about how this actually landed in this book. It felt like the author either needed to fully dive in, or just leave this out. That said, the ending of the novel does seem like a setup for a sequel, which I would be interested in for many reasons, not least the opportunity for Sam and Hel to determine a clearer relationship with one another, whatever that means.

Overall, loved this combination of detective story, adventure novel, fantasy, and romance. Very thankful I got to read it, highly recommend, and hoping for a sequel in the future.

I really enjoyed this book!! It’s set in a beautifully atmospheric, turn-of-the-century Paris, where all your favorite monsters and classic literary characters feel like they’ve leapt off the page. Samantha Harker, the daughter of Dracula’s killer, has this unique ability to tap into the minds of monsters, which gives the story an extra layer of intrigue. Teaming her up with Dr. Helena Moriarty—yes, the daughter of Sherlock Holmes’ nemesis—was such an amazing pairing!

The relationship between Sam and Hel was one of my favorite parts. The way their dynamic slowly builds from distrust to something deeper was so satisfying to watch unfold. Both women are incredibly complex, and the way they complement each other, despite their differences, really drew me in. The slow burn between them was perfect and when they finally begin to open up, it feels well-earned and heartwarming. I found myself rooting for them both as partners and as something more.

The pacing of the story was just right, keeping me hooked without feeling rushed. And the setting of gothic Paris was so richly described, it almost felt like a character in itself. I could practically feel the dark, shadowy streets and the eerie catacombs beneath them. The mystery and supernatural elements are well-balanced, and if you love stories that mix Holmesian detective work with a supernatural edge, you’ll love this.

I was honestly surprised to learn this is the author’s first book—it’s so well-crafted! I really hope there’s a sequel because the ending left me wanting more of Sam and Hel’s world. If you’re into gothic mysteries, slow-burn romance, and a touch of the supernatural, I highly recommend giving this one a read!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was a great Gothic mystery that was very atmospheric and immersive. The story was compelling but I felt like the author could've put a little more focus on the characters themselves so we as readers would be able to connect to them more. I loved the writing style and will definitely check out the author's other work.

This book takes place in the early 1900s and features are royal Society dedicated to hunting down supernatural beasts. The daughter of Jonathan and Mina Harker works as a researcher at the society and his desperate to become a field agent. When a suspected werewolf runs in France. She jumps at the opportunity to become partners with the daughter of Dr. Moriarty. Can the two discover if there is a werewolf in Paris or is it the machinations of something more sinister?
Thank you to NetGalley and Bindery books for the opportunity to read and review this in exchange for my honest review and I’m giving this 3 1/2 stars.
This was a fast paced not super gory horror With two likable main characters. One of my favorite aspects of this book was the developing relationship between Samantha and Helena. My least favorite aspect of this book would be the fact that the ultimate bad guy was predictable and pretty easy to guess. I have already posted my review of this book on my social media, TikTok and YouTube and will recommend as a spooky season read.

This was excellent! An utterly compelling duo, complex clues, and lush historical details combine with a page-turning mystery and plenty of folklore sprinkled throughout. Strange Beasts is both compelling and enjoyable, and I'm delighted that while the mystery is wrapped up satisfyingly in this installment, there's plenty of room for a sequel--I'll be first in line to read the next book in the series!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc! Opinions are my own.

Last year I've finally watched Sanctuary, the 2008 TV show, and after I was done I wished so badly there was a book I could read that felt similar to the show or had a similar concept. I had no idea that Stranger Beasts was exactly the book I was looking for.

This story follows Dr Helena Moriarty, the daughter of the famed professor Moriarty, and Sam, the daughter of Mina Harker. They both work for a Society that deals with hunting monsters and this time the monster is a beast murdering people of Paris.

I'll admit I wasn't fully sold on the idea of taking children of characters from two books that everyone knows and putting them in a new world together but Susan J. Morris makes it work and makes this world completely her own. The mystery is a fun mix of your typical Sherlock Holmes story with supernatural aspects but it never feels tired. I could honestly read countless of adventures that these two women find themselves in. I even had a moment of dissatisfaction when the characters mention other cases they were on and I didn't get to read about them.

There are plenty of more or less predictable plot twists in this story but the book for me was so much fun that I didn't even care if it was predictable or not.

The one thing I could complain about is that I wish the romance was a little more built up. I mean it wasn't the focus of the book so I wasn't that bothered, I just wish there were some larger hints dropped earlier in the story.

I need this to become a series, with at least 10 books. But for now I'll impatiently wait for a sequel.

The mix of Dracula legend and Sherlock Holmes stories came to be the great entertaibment for me. I loved both the mystery and the characters, not only our main protagonists but also side characters too, even Jacob Van Helsing who I find an interesting person who can be both an enemy and an ally in the future. From how this ended I assume the author is going to write continuation and I am looking forward to it.
Strong 4 stars.

"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?"

Has a distinct Penny Dreadful vibe. I love that.

Look at me—reading mystery-thrillers in every genre known to man: literary fiction, historical fiction, epistolary, science fiction, fantasy, YA, I've gotten to them all this year. Next up on the list is...a historical fiction gothic classic retelling. It's a mouthful, but it delivers a brilliant and engaging story.

Susan J. Morris stands on the shoulders of giants to bring to life the daughter of Dracula’s killer, Samantha Harker, and the daughter of Sherlock Holmes' nemesis, Dr. Helena Moriarty in a world rife with magic, murder, and monsters. Oh, how I fell in love with the flowery, redolent aesthetic of this novel. Speaking as someone who has read and reread all of Sherlock Holmes compulsively, and read quite a few gothic novels as a kid, I loved the opportunity to sink into those worlds again. Morris also stitches a lot of European folklore into the novel. All the pieces of tales I love and feel a tinge of nostalgia about, weaved into a brand new world with finesse, with a completely feminist perspective (I'm actually in love). Coming to the mystery, I guessed a large portion of the reveal, which usually means I mark the book low, but this one was an aesthetic experience and I was mesmerized. When do we get Book 2 and the movie adaptation??

Thanks to Netgalley and Bindery Books for a copy of the ARC in exchange for an honest review! Strange Beasts will be published on October 15th, 2024.

Thank you NetGalley and Bindery Books for giving me early access to this book! All opinions are my own.

Strange Beasts is absolutely phenomenal. Top tier writing, amazing story, and the characters make me want to hug them and never let go. I’m not normally into the gothic style of story, but I loved the edginess of darkness and mystery that is throughout this book. The little nods to Sherlock and Dracula were amazing as well! I cannot wait to see if there are follow up books to this one. 5 ⭐️

Such a great story! Loved reading this just in time for halloween! Overall a cute and quick read for halloween

POV: Third Person Limited

Nothing makes me happier than reading (and yapping about) a book with a promising premise that actually delivers on the premise and keeps me up at night and has me pacing around while internally screaming.

Poetic and mysterious to its core, Strange Beasts is a sapphic feminist murder mystery that is a perfect cross between Enola Holmes (or the story's more familiar counterpart, Sherlock Holmes) and Impossible Creatures (the beautifully written mythical creature fantasy by Katherine Rundell).

It pulls you into an atmospheric gothic world from the very first page and leaves you guessing, guessing and putting pieces of a puzzle together only to steal half the puzzle pieces away just when you were almost done. The red herrings? Susan J. Morris you are a genius for writing this I will forever be in AWE.

I could've never seen the plot twists coming, I was screaming and screeching and glued to the pages throughout, so engrossed and so in love with the way the mystery was woven. The writing style is magnificent as is the theatre scene in 1900s Paris, and and and I see the potential for a sequel okay???

The characters? So beautifully written and their interactions are so raw and real? I NEED to see more of both the MCs families and I need to read more about Hel and Sam solving mysteries together AND I need more of the mythical creatures.

PS: This is a fanclub for Heathcliff the rat. If Hel and Sam don't raise him together and give him a cheese wheel—

Also can we talk about that magnificent cover? And the way it is an elegant nod to the Paris catacombs and the theatre/opera. Genius.

PPS: To anyone picking this book for the queer rep, know that it is a very very subtle slow burn.

(Thank you Netgalley, Bindery Books & Inky Phoenix Press for the e-ARC!)

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.