Title:The Daemoniac Author:Kat Ross
(A Dominion Mystery, #1)
Publication date: October 12th 2016
Genres: Historical, Mystery, Young Adult
It’s August of 1888, just three weeks before Jack the Ripper will begin his grisly spree in the London slum of Whitechapel, and another serial murderer is stalking the gas-lit streets of New York. With taunting messages in backwards Latin left at the crime scenes and even more inexplicable clues like the fingerprints that appear to have been burned into one victim’s throat, his handiwork bears all the hallmarks of a demonic possession. But consulting detective Harrison Fearing Pell is convinced her quarry is a man of flesh and blood. Encouraged by her uncle, Arthur Conan Doyle, Harry hopes to make her reputation by solving the bizarre case before the man the press has dubbed Mr. Hyde strikes again. From the squalor of the Five Points to the high-class gambling dens of the Tenderloin and the glittering mansions of Fifth Avenue, Harry and her best friend, John Weston, follow the trail of a remorseless killer, uncovering a few embarrassing secrets of New York’s richest High Society families along the way. Are the murders a case of black magic—or simple blackmail? And will the trail lead them closer to home than they ever imagined?
Author Bio:
Kat Ross worked as a journalist at the United Nations for ten years before happily falling back into what she likes best: making stuff up. She lives in Westchester with her kid and a few sleepy cats. Kat is also the author of the dystopian thriller Some Fine Day (Skyscape, 2014), about a world where the sea levels have risen sixty meters. She loves magic, monsters and doomsday scenarios. Preferably with mutants.
Ladies and gentlemen, I'm pleased to announce you that Kat Ross just delivered another great book!
Seriously, I don't know how she manages to craft wonderful book after wonderful book.
Somehow she has knack for creating not just great stories but also terrific characters that impossible not to love.
Seriously, I don't know how she manages to craft wonderful book after wonderful book.
Somehow she has knack for creating not just great stories but also terrific characters that impossible not to love.
This time around we have a fantastic duo to lead the scene,
Harry & John. Harry is kick-ass in the"terribly smart" sense (although, when it comes to feelings she can also be terribly blind *smirks*). John it is just the perfect companion, one that definitely lights
the mood.
I found Harrison (aka Harry) exceptionally smart but also very funny and totally likeable (not at all annoying like her sister Myrtle which I really hated)
It took me a few chapters to get into it but I was hooked soon enough. The book starts with Harry accepting a mysterious case
under the pretense of being the famous detective Myrtle - which happens to be her sister - . A lot of sleuthing ensues, complete with a supernatural twist and
a masterful wink to Sherlock Holmes and to Arthur Conan Doyle.
While the case evolves in very weird directions we are
introduced to the cool and strange Mr. Keylock and the SPR aka the Society for Psychical Research for which Harry yearns to work for. At this point (I must confess that, in my mind, Mr. Keylock has the face of
the Sherlock Holmes played by Jeremy Brett. If you are not old enough - Gosh I feel a granny now! - to know him go and Google the guy please!)
Keylock aside , we are also introduced to one of the bad guys (or is he?) a crime lord (and a sort of gentleman) named James Moran...and yes, I've now a complete
crush on him. *swoons* I can't even begin to explain the charm of his, you will have to read the book (sorry-not-so-sorry).
One of the most chilling parts of the book happens during the séance (I loved it!). Then again the creepiness of the scene should have not come as a surprise since the Queen of Creepers' brother was involved !(for information
concerning who/what is the Queen of Creepers head over to this review).
But this is not all! Throughout some great classics like "The Tell-Tale Heart", "Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde" and "A Study in Scarlet" were named,a fact I appreciated since those were/are some of my
favorite books ever. In fact "The Daemoniac" remind me of Sherlock Holmes at his best, plus a kick-ass heroine with a worthy side-kick/friend at her side, plus a thrilling supernatural mystery case.
The book had a very British feeling to it, even though it is
set in New York, and often then not I felt compelled to drink a
cup of tea while reading it (So you are forewarned ha-ha).
The Daemoniac was greatly entertaining, fun, thrilling,
at times chilling and with tiny and light hint of romance. I have no word left to say, only "perfect".
Just go and read it...you won't be disappointed, that I assure you.
4+ blossoms
This sounds like such a creepy read! I love it! Great review, Laura! :)
ReplyDeleteOh, thanks so much, Laura! Coming from a serious Sherlock Holmes fan, I am even more thrilled that you enjoyed it and all the little references to the canon. And yes. Mr. Kaylock=Jeremy Brett. Perfection!
ReplyDelete