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.

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

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 ⭐️

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.

'It is a dangerous business hunting monsters.'

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


Thanks to NetGalley and Bindery Books for the arc. 🖤

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

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

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

“Strange Beasts,” by Susan J. Morris

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

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

Thank you for the ARC, Netgalley.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lady M, be still my heart ✨🥰

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

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

thank you netgalley for the ARC! <3 love ya