Creative and gothic reimagining of the Jekyll/Hyde trope - with Celtic superstition thrown in the mix, as our police detective Hyde tries to wade through murder investigation while wading through is spotty memories, "seizures" and almost surreal events. A must for those that like this trope

This was interesting and different from my normal reads. I 'm glad to have tried it even though it isn't usually my taste. I found the characters interesting and the mystery compelling.

Started off a bit slow and a bit fantastical but once it got going it roared. Well written, intelligent, violent , suspenseful and with a good sense of history - this Jekyll and Hyde story has plenty of surprises and packs a punch. It could have been shorter and better if some of the folk lore and supernatural stuff was omitted but I will read all of his books.

I just adore Craig Russell and his writing style, atmosphere, and story ideas. The Devil Aspect is an all time fav thriller of mine so I was highly anticipating this book. I absolutely loved the retelling aspect of the story and the atmosphere, setting, and mystery. While I do prefer The Devil Aspect, I was not expecting any book to top how much I loved that one. But this is such a great follow up and I can't wait to read more from this author!

For years now, I have read and greatly enjoyed Russell's novels. Recently, he has turned to more historical mysteries and this re-imagining of Robert Louis Stevenson's classic novel is fantastic. It feels fresh and exciting. There are secret societies, murders most horrific - and of course, it delves into the duality of human nature. It's fast-paced and quite well-written. The characters all spring to life and the backdrop provides an added layer that is really fantastic!

I appreciated the twist to the plot and while some readers may be more surprised than others, I thoroughly loved reading this one. I really enjoyed the writing style - the frame and structure of the story works so well here. I really enjoyed the way Russell weaves in the political landscape as well as some mythology into the storyline. And I especially appreciate that nothing is left dangling at the end! The conclusion fits perfectly together and I really just loved reading this! I am definitely looking forward to seeing what Russell will write next!

Thank you, NetGalley, Craig Russell, and Constable Publishing for the opportunity to read this book!

“The duality of human nature, you say?’ asked the other,
‘Although we pretend otherwise,’ said the frail man, ‘we are all manifold. There are bright angels and dark demons in each of us. It is a subject that has consumed me since childhood. You know I inherited that dresser–that one carpentered by Deacon Brodie–from my late father. It is such a beautifully crafted piece and, as a child, I would stare at it in the daylight wonder–but at night…oh at night the thought of it sitting there is the dark filled me with dread, thinking that the ghost of the other Brodie, the night-time Brodie, would steal into our house with his gang and murder us all in our sleep.”

HYDE
Hyde by Craig Russell takes readers to Victorian Edinburgh. Captain Edward Hyde solves murders, but most are quite simple–crimes of passion, theft, gangs. But then he finds a body, hung upside down, heart missing. It shows the signs of a Celtic ritual. This is sinister. Then a young woman, heir to her father’s business goes missing. Are the cases linked? Hyde is also struggling with an illness that his doctor has diagnosed as epilepsy. He loses time. Could he be the monster he is hunting? Little does he know that this case will spawn a legend.

This book hooked me from the very beginning! Two men, sitting together, discussing the complexities of humans and the monsters within. One man’s name is Hyde, the other…Robert Louis Stevenson–the man who would write one of the most recognizable classic horror stories, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The book could have been reduced by 50 pages, some scenes didn’t feel necessary, but I just couldn’t put the book down. The references, the history, the lore…everything is immersive. The police procedure in Victorian times is unique because science is starting to rise and change the way they investigate cases. I laughed out loud when the doctor said his assistant Dr. Conan Doyle had moved to London to write his detective novels. Very clever, Mr. Russell. I really enjoyed each little reference.

The mystery isn’t shocking, but I don’t think it was supposed to be shocking. The duality of human nature is a prominent concept from the very first chapter. The author laid the clues for readers very frequently. Be forewarned, this book is pretty graphic and there are some pretty creepy moments. Russell really wanted to bring in the “beast” factor to the story. Overall, this is a great read, and I can’t wait to see what Craig Russell comes up with next. 4 out of 5 stars.

3.5 stars rounded up. As soon as I read the prologue of Hyde, I knew I was in for a treat: Edward Henry Hyde, chief detective of the City of Edinburgh Police, sits down with his good buddy Robert Louis Stevenson to tell him a strange tale. But rather than this being a straight retelling of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Craig Russell's new novel is a complete re-imagining of Stevenson's story. Set in Victorian Edinburgh, Scotland, Russell's tale centers on a violent murder involving the ancient Celtic rite of the Threefold Death. Addressing themes of duality and featuring a detective with a strange affliction, Hyde is steeped in Celtic folklore and Highland legends.

Just like Russell's previous novel, The Devil Aspect, Hyde is atmospheric and Gothic and supernatural, with plenty of creepy moments and narrative twists and an ending that took me by surprise. Folklore is a huge area of interest for me, and I loved that so many creatures and aspects of Celtic myth and the occult were featured in this book. Russell clearly did a lot of research into Victorian Scotland as well, and it was so interesting to read about the society and science of the time period.

Russell is an incredible storyteller and a gifted writer, but this isn't a book you can read quickly or while you're distracted. Like the classic novels of the time period in which it's set, Russell's prose in Hyde is flowery and dense and requires concentration and focus on the part of the reader. I found myself losing track of the story's course at times due to the way it was told. Overall, though, I thought Hyde was clever and imaginative, and I think it will appeal to readers who enjoy a dark Gothic thriller. Thank you to Doubleday Books and NetGalley for my digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

In Victorian Edinburgh, Captain Edward Hyde finds himself at the scene of a horrific crime with no recollection as to how he got there. While investigating the murder, and the several other murders and a kidnapping that are connected to it, Hyde is forced to deal with secrets he himself has kept hidden: he often loses time, suffers from hallucinations and nocturnal seizures. These hallucinations and seizures often have his mind roaming the "otherworld" and he finds the images he sees are spilling out into the real world and into his investigation.

I really enjoyed this book. Author Craig Russell is an excellent writer. His style is descriptive and dense, yet his action flows smoothly and fast. The chapters of Hyde alternate character POV and Russell does an excellent job keeping the timelines organized and engaging, flowing effortlessly between each POV. The story was enthralling, had me turning the page to see what happens next; what new discovery or piece of evidence would come to light. I enjoyed a lot of characters in this book, which I found to be three dimensional and well developed. I certainly appreciated who the actual killer ended up being, as it was someone I didn't entirely expect and felt went against type for a gothic novel of this nature.

My only qualm about this novel is how Hyde is treated. This character is based off of Robert Louis Stevenson's "Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde." It is supposed to be about a man who is fighting with his split personality; one being good natured, and the other a violent beast. "Hyde" feels like it's a origin story of sorts. We have Captain Hyde trying to figure out what happens during the moments he loses time. Does he become another person and commit heinous crimes? He spends the entire book trying to figure this out. It's not up until the final few chapters that he understands what truly happens to him. This aspect and discovery in the plot felt extremely drawn out and didn't come to the outcome that I was expecting, nor hoping for. I feel like it was mentioned in moments and then forgotten in for several chapters. I truly felt as if it had no impact on the storyline or the outcome of the plot at all. A missed opportunity in that respect.

Overall, I would recommend this novel to other readers who are looking for an interesting spin on a classic that could stand on it own. A gothic novel that is entertaining and imaginative, with a few frights thrown in. I want to thank DoubleDay Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy!

I was really looking forward to this after enjoying Craig Russell's previous gothic thriller, The Devil Aspect. I don't think Hyde was quite as good as The Devil Aspect, but it does have a nice gothic tone to it. I also liked the slight connection to Robert Louis Stevenson! This is not an exact retelling of Jekyll & Hyde, but I thought it had some nice nods to that story.

The pacing was alright overall. I do think it was a bit slow to start because it's hard to figure out what exactly is going on, but it does pick up by the end. Generally, the mystery of these murders was enjoyable, though I do wish it had gone in a different direction (more like The Devil Aspect). We also have some involvement of Celtic mythology and folklore which was really great! I enjoyed this and would have actually preferred for it to lean more heavily into this. The book obviously deals with this idea of an alter ego, and I thought this was fascinating to explore. I certainly didn't predict everything that happened here, so the mystery kept me guessing!

Hyde is a police captain here in charge of investigating these murders. He has a condition where he has mysterious gaps in his memory and goes into this "otherworld" where he hallucinates and sees things that aren't really there. I was certainly intrigued by this idea, but I'm not sure how satisfied I necessarily am with the answers we get. In terms of some of the side characters, I really liked Cally Burr. She's a female doctor, and she's somewhat looked down upon because at this time, there are not a lot of female physicians. I thought she was smart and helpful, and I really liked seeing her interact with Hyde. Of course, we have some more menacing people who deal with the occult as well. I found them to be interesting enough, but I did want more from them.

Overall, this was enjoyable enough but not perfect for me. I'd recommend it if you're looking for a nice gothic mystery.

My video review can be seen on my booktube channel (around minutes 0:18-3:25 of this video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TEP2aIRsrw

This is a terrifically atmospheric and twisty tale that spins away from the classic and into the mind of Captain Edward Hyde, a tortured man if ever there was one. Written as a tale told by Hyde to Robert Louis Stevenson, it takes the reader down previously unexplored and Gothic paths in Edinburgh during the resign of Victoria. Hyde suffered a head injury, one of the consequences of which is a form of epilepsy which leads to amnesia. This amnesia is troubling but equally troubling are his dreams. Now he's investigating a gruesome murder that he worries he might have committed. There's a missing heiress, the manifestation of Celtic myths, and so much more. The novel is complex, complicated and one where the reader must pay attention. Don't worry if you either missed Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde or if you read it and have strong feelings about it- this stands on its own merits. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. It's a great read.

The author did a good job or replicating the Gothic style and the end of this book has real suspense.

Hyde is the kind of historical fiction/mystery/supernatural thriller that gets harder and harder to put down as one reads. Craig Russell knows how to build suspense. He knows how to move between narrative threads in ways that are simultaneously frustrating and tantalizing. He also knows how to surprise readers. These are genuine "I. Did. Not. See. That. Coming." surprises of the sort that mean anyone sitting in the same room as the reader is going to be hearing a lot about the book.

This novel is built around The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, but is much more than a retelling. Russell takes the character Hyde and transforms him in powerful ways. He also adds some interesting, capable female characters to the mix. And—keep your eyes open Holmesians!—there's even a little nod to Arthur Conan Doyle. Russell also weaves in some consideration of colonialism that adds to the narrative rather than feeling like a political agenda he's forced the tale into.

If Hyde sounds at all interesting to you, I recommend reading it. Hyde is one of those titles that can delight a variety of readers. I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley; the opinions are my own.