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?
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I intend to read the whole set
Excellent novel- She is a great author!
Clever tie to Arthur Conan Doyle character
Enjoyed this Victorian-era mystery set in New York as Harry tracks down a killer. References to Sherlock Holmes and Jekyll and Hyde add to the cleverness of the story.
I really enjoyed it couldn’t put it down. Just kept me guessing.
I highly recommend The Daemoniac and its author! The story drew me in from the very start, and I loved Ms. Ross’s authentic descriptions of New York City in the late 1800’s, from the mansions near Central Park to the squalor of the tenements and slums in the Five Points.
Her prose sequed so smoothly from chapter to chapter and character to character that it was easy to follow the action and become totally involved with Harry, John, Mrs. Rivers, and Connor as they moved forward investigating the mysterious murders.
I’m so glad to have discovered Kat Ross and will definitely be adding her to my new favorite authors list! I also cannot wait to read the other three books in this four-book set and would recommend The Daemoniac to anyone interested in a wonderfully great mystery read!
Firstly, I just want to say how much I loved this book. It’s not my usual type of genre, and yet it had me hooked within the first few pages. Not only did it remind me of Sherlock Holmes (the tv show has got to be the best I’ve seen in a long time), but it even mentions the book.
A woman, wanting to make her mark in the world of investigative services in the 20th century is given a task to investigate some spooky goings on. Usually, it would be her sister taking on these cases but this is her chance to prove she has the skill to complete this task.
Coupled with her best friend and a young boy as her helpers, she embarks on a journey into the supernatural filled with witches and the undead.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys suspense, thriller and mystery with just a touch of the paranormal.
With an abundance of characters, I sometimes lost my way. I enjoyed the Victorian setting and the not-so-sly allusion to Sherlock Holmes, one of my favorite detectives.
The Daemoniac moved a little slow for me, even though there was a lot going on. I felt like the mystery was overly convoluted. There was so much running around that it seemed fairly aimless at times, with nothing to show for their trouble. When the mystery is finally solved, it was somewhat anticlimactic. I expected something massive and huge, and it just seemed to fizzle in my opinion.
The characters were a lot of fun though. Harry, the younger sister of a famous detective, takes on a case, enlisting the help of her friend, John Weston. The banter between these two characters is great. I looked forward to their conversations, both about the case and not.
I don’t think I’ll be continuing the series. However, the book is very well written with excellent characters. If you enjoy a more drawn out mystery, this may be one for you.
*I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of this book*