Mary Jekyll, alone and penniless following her parents’ death, is curious about the secrets of her father’s mysterious past. One clue in particular hints that Edward Hyde, her father’s former friend and a murderer, may be nearby, and there is a reward for information leading to his capture…a reward that would solve all of her immediate financial woes.
But her hunt leads her to Hyde’s daughter, Diana, a feral child left to be raised by nuns. With the assistance of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, Mary continues her search for the elusive Hyde, and soon befriends more women, all of whom have been created through terrifying experimentation: Beatrice Rappaccini, Catherin Moreau, and Justine Frankenstein.
When their investigations lead them to the discovery of a secret society of immoral and power-crazed scientists, the horrors of their past return. Now it is up to the monsters to finally triumph over the monstrous.
I had absolutely no idea what I was in for when I started this book. I liked the cover, someone recommended it, so I went in with no real expectations, and I ended up loving it.
Reading it felt like Jane Austen writing a Sherlock Holmes style mystery, with a whole cast of familiar monsters from classic literature taking centre stage. On paper, this should be an absolute mess. In reality, it works far better than it has any right to.
I usually hate characters breaking the fourth wall, but here it was such a fun and quirky addition that it became one of my favourite parts of the book. Book characters writing a book about their own adventures was just pure joy to me. The banter, the quibbling, the interruptions, all of it gave the story so much charm and made the reading experience feel playful and alive.
The voice of the book is what really carries it. Not that nothing is happening, there is plenty going on, but even if there had been very little plot, I would happily have kept reading just for the tone and the dialogue. The way the characters interact, argue, and support each other is endlessly entertaining.
I also adored the new interpretations of classic monsters. I have read some, but not all, of the original books being referenced, and that was never a problem. The story is easy to slip into even if you do not know every source. For the ones I did recognise, the little nods and Easter eggs were an extra treat rather than a requirement.
The almost all women cast was a big strength for me, both in principle and especially within a time period where men usually drove most of the world. More than anything, though, this is a found family story. The loyalty, the warmth, and the shared sense of purpose mattered far more to me than the mystery itself.
Charming, witty, and deeply character-driven, this Victorian-era mystery reimagines classic literary monsters through a warm, modern lens. With a strong focus on found family, sharp dialogue, and a playful narrative voice, it delivers a satisfying story wrapped in humour and heart, and leaves you with a cosy, feel good feeling long after the last page.
