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.

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!

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.

Let's start with the obvious: the cover is gorgeous. This story sounds interesting and I was intrigued at the mentions of Dracula and Sherlock. I wasn't certain how it would work, but I was interested nonetheless. This story has good bones and the author has potential but I feel some elements needed more development and some parts needed to be left out.

I didn't find either character that compelling. I think the author gave them unique personalities but I never felt a connection with the characters. Sam is a researcher who is taking to the field to chase a secret and of course she's making bad choices and nearly getting killed every few chapters. Dr. Helena, or Hel (my god what a terrible nickname), is the daughter of Moriarty and has a history of her work partners dying. She's very confident, believes she's always right, and isn't always upfront with Sam. Also, there's no chemistry between these two. I mean, I felt nothing. It really seemd Sam had more banter and flirtation with men in this story. Her relationship with Helena just seemed like a mentor and student. But there's a kiss, so I guess you can call it sapphic.

I felt the world was chaotic. Sam is from the US, Helena from the UK but they go to France to solve crimes and that's never really explained why someone in France doesn't do it. It seems this author really loves Paris (which is fair, I love Paris, also) but I just wish there was a reason why they were called to France. Also, the random French phrases and there is no direct translation in the text or in the back of the story. I was not wasting my time trying to translate what was said, but it was annoying that it happened so often. Also, with the beasts and magic, it was never made clear how they fit into the world. Like Helena does magic in front of someone and she's surprised they don't call it witchcraft. They're hunting these beasts--one of which is a werewolf--and there's other beasts mentioned and various magic and it's just never well-explained.

Overall, it's a decent story. I think with character work and a focus on developing the world and magic system, this could be stronger. It seems there will be another, so hopefully that one is better. I don't have a desire to continue though.

Did I mention that I was annoyed reading 'Hel'? Because I was.

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.

I’m so sad, I wanted to love this book so bad. On paper it’s everything that appeals to me, but I struggled with it. The beginning was hard for me to get into and it just hindered my reading experience.

“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

Detective Abby is back, y'all, and this book reminds me why I love fantasy murder mysteries.

Strange Beasts is a historical fantasy mystery novel with one of the most unexpected crossovers I've ever seen in a book: Dracula and Sherlock Holmes. I haven't read either original piece, so I might have missed some easter eggs, but I think I knew enough about them in general to understand the backstories of the characters. I really liked the gothic vibes, and even though I'm typically not a fantasy of monster-hunting tropes, I actually enjoyed it in this book. Also, I've said it so many times recently but you have to forgive my current game obsession...this gave Betrayal at the House on the Hill vibes.
The story follows Sam (the daughter of the woman who killed Dracula) and Hel (Moriarty's daughter) as they navigate the streets of Paris on the hunt for a murderous beast. The pacing was well done, and the book kept my interest the whole time. The story is peppered with plot twists, and although I called most of them (including the main killer), I only called the twists a few chapters before they happened. The ending was satisfying, and it leaves the potential for a sequel, which I would definitely be interested in.
The cast of characters was quite interesting. I really liked Sam and how her visions of monsters helped with the mystery. I also liked the development of Sam and Hel's relationship dynamics. Hel reminded me a lot of Alice Quicke from the Talents trilogy, and I really liked her air of mystery and how it related to the case. I can't say much about side characters to avoid spoilers, but I didn't hate Cyprien, and I found most of the other side characters to be rather intriguing.
If you're in the mood for a gothic historical fantasy and murder mystery for the upcoming spooky season, be sure to check out Strange Beasts.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the free e-ARC!

4/5

What a tale! So many monsters. Love where you least expect. All the sights of Paris, above & below ground. Enjoy the hunt!

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.

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.