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.

3.5 stars

Strange beasts is a mystery novel that takes place in a world where monsters are real. Sam is a researcher for the Royal Society for the Study of Abnormal Phenomena. She’s also a bit abnormal herself. Sam is a channel, which means she can channel into the minds of monsters. She decides to become a field agent and partner up with the elusive Dr. Helena Moriarty, daughter of a criminal mastermind. All of her past partners have died mysteriously, so Sam doesn’t know if she can trust her. Men are being brutally murdered in Paris by a monster and the investigation is proving to be complicated. Sam and Hel have to figure out who is behind the murders. Is it a man or a beast?

The premise of this book is really interesting. I love the idea of monsters from stories being real and having a society that hunts them down. The early 1900’s time period for the story was also great. My biggest problems with the book was that sometimes the story felt very disjointed. People did or said things that didn’t make sense. Also, the “romance” aspect didn’t feel very natural to me. It honestly felt forced. I like the idea of Sam and Hel together though. I think they would balance each other out very nicely. I just wanted more I guess. I kept waiting for it to happen, and when it did, I just felt disappointed.

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.

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 ⭐️

Thank you NetGalley and Bindery Books for the ARC. This was a 3.25-3.5⭐ read for me; I still can't decide *exactly*, but I do know I didn't love it enough to be a 4-star.

I DID like Strange Beasts and its sapphic main characters though. Samantha Harker & Helena Moriarty are compelling characters who went through their own respective character growths in the book that interested me: Sam with her insecurities and lack of confidence in herself as a researcher-turned-field-agent; Hel with learning to trust another person given the odds stacked against her with her notorious father. The romance was definitely a SLOWburn, but that's always infinitely better to me than a rushed insta-attraction. These women actually grew to be friends and confidants first, which made the kiss that finally happened all the more earned.

Sapphic romance aside, oh how I do root for a book that encompasses feminine rage. Microaggressions galore plague our heroines, and I enjoyed reading the solidarity and comfort that they find in each other as women navigating patriarchal institutions. They stand up for each other, such as Sam correcting that it's "Dr. Moriarty" and not Miss. Hel also sidesteps the tired trope of ""Progressive"" Woman Looking Down on Femininity by end of the book; even when she didn't see the value in the same feminine interests as Sam, like perfumes and fashion, it doesn't come off as aggravatingly malicious or sneering. Rather, she operates on utility over aesthetic, but learns to appreciate them after time spent with Sam, while not giving up her own personality and likes.

I do also very much appreciate having a protagonist that doesn't villainize the necessary violence that revolutionaries are forced to utilize to enact tangible change in an oppressive system. Instead, she empathizes with the underprivileged's grievances.

The plot itself—a mystery revolving around a beastly creature behind serial murders—was intriguing. The middle part of the book did fall into a glacial pace that I struggled with, especially with the meandering investigation that had me put this down every few chapters ... but the final 20% was incredible. All the twists kept me guessing that I couldn't put it down. I may not necessarily love this book, but I did fall in love with Sam & Hel and would definitely pick up future adventures of them in this world!

Strange Beast is a fantasy that transports us to the 1900s to accompany Samantha and Helena to the streets of Paris to solve the mysterious deaths of different men at the hands of a beast.

Over the course of the story we will be able to learn about the origins of both protagonists, which add more magic and intrigue to the plot.
I mean, who doesn't jump out of their seats when they see that Helena is the daughter of the infamous Dr. Moriarty or that Samantha is the daughter of Dracula's assassin?

So it was definitely a book that stood out for its ingenuity with its main characters, an attractive but easy-to-follow mystery and a dream-like setting.
Also, I love the message of empowering the protagonists in a world full of sexism.

However, there were also things that I did not like, such as the fact that their families do not have great relevance in the story other than to introduce us to the prejudices that society has regarding them.
And finally, the fact that I was expecting a romance and... in my point of view it felt very forced because throughout the plot there are no indications that that feeling exists between the two.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC and much success to the author :)

Summary: 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?

Review: Found the historical background, not exciting at all. Also we are seeing too many books with this same setting. Reads quite young.

I really enjoyed the characterisation as well as the setting of the book. The pacing was also good.

Did not particularly enjoy this book, found it too boring to get into. The historical background was not as exciting as I had hoped.

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

Strange Beasts is a gothic mystery set in the early nineteen hundreds, recreating a world of murder and monsters with characters from classic books such as Dracula and the Sherlock Holmes series.

I enjoyed the grit of this book, from the plot to the main characters, and fantasy elements were intertwined with the world Morris created. The nods to Stoker’s Dracula throughout the story were also fun.

This book was somewhat marketed as a sapphic romance, but when reading I picked up on little to no attraction between the two female main characters. The romantic interactions they had at the end of the book felt like a second thought. Although the story was gruesome and very serious at times, a bit of banter or some kind of flirtation between Sam and Hel would have gone a long way in developing the believability of their relationship. There was also a lot of ‘telling’ rather than ‘showing’ at times, making some parts of the story wordy and repetitive.

Overall an enjoyable read with good pacing, especially the rollercoaster of an ending. It left off in a great place for a sequel. Thank you to Netgalley and Blindery Books for the eARC.

A fast-paced mystery, chock full of monsters and secret societies. The descriptions were gorgeous, but the characters fell a bit flat for me.

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.

3.5 Off to a Good Start Stars

Admittedly, I have a penchant for anything related to Sherlock Holmes so when the blurb stated such, I was immediately intrigued.

This starts off with Samantha Harker, daughter of the infamous Jonathan and Mina Harker who faced off and killed Dracula, and it’s no surprise that her interests involve all things that go bump in the night, inevitably finding herself as a researcher for the Royal Society for the Study of Abnormal Phenomena. What many don’t know is that she’s also a channel, a touch sensitive to objects associated with monsters, and she has a personal stake in a series of grisly murders plaguing Paris. When Sam worms her way into being the newest partner of hunter Dr Helena Moriarty, estranged daughter of notorious criminal mastermind of the same name, both must learn to trust each other amidst subterfuge, secrets, and mortal danger.

This is a world full of all the creepy creatures you could want ranging from grindylows to giant snail monsters to shifters, not to mention social inequality and underground terrorists that are intricately tied to the supernatural murders of the French elite that Sam and Helena are investigating.

This had a distinct atmospheric feel to its historic gothic setting along with a hint of sapphic leanings threaded throughout a mystery containing a good amount of gore and horror. The darkness is not too mired down in the macabre due to the sunshiny outlook of Sam as she pursues her personal mission while trying to figure out if partner Helena is a friend or foe.

Again, I like any association with Sherlock Holmes no matter how remote, and the mashup of other literary characters (Harker, Van Helsing, Moriarty) gave a League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (minus the gentlemen) vibe.

Overall, a promising start and should the author continue Sam and Helena’s adventures, I’d be more than willing to go along with them!

Thank you to Bindery Books via NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review posted to GoodReads - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6782853470?book_show_action=false

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.