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The Daemoniac

(Gaslamp Gothic #1)

Kat Ross (Goodreads Author)

really liked it 4.00 · Rating details · 909 ratings · 159 reviews

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 ...more

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Published October 12th 2016 by Acorn

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Sep 07, 2016 Eve (Between The Bookends) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

It's August of 1888 when a couple hoping to hire the infamous Myrtle Fearing Pell to discreetly look for their missing friend pay a visit to 40 West Tenth Street. Instead of Myrtle they are greeted by Harry Fearing Pell, younger sister to the infamous detective, and her good friend (DR. in training) John Weston.

Taking it upon herself to impersonate her famous sister, Harry and John take the case. What follows is a twisted and depraved tale of magic, murder and mayhem...

description

So ya, where to begin...I ...more

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Sep 30, 2016 Dannii Elle rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantastic-fabrications, mysterious-miasmas, historical-highness

I received this in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. Thank you to the author, Kat Ross, and the publisher, Acorn Publishing, for this opportunity.

When approached by a couple in need of a private detective to help find their missing friend, Harry Fearing Pell takes it upon herself to impersonates her infamous sister, Myrtle Fearing Pell, as a leading female in the industry. The passageways into depravity this initial puzzle takes the characters on was unprecedented. Devil worshiping, ...more

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Oct 08, 2016 Lonna | FLYLēF rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: first-reads, 2016-challenge

Original Post: The Daemoniac at FLYLēF (www.flylef.com)

Kat Ross has awaken my dormant interest for the mystery and crime genre!

Her new series debut, The Daemoniac (A Dominion Mystery 1), pulled me in, and I must say, I was spooked a few times! But to clarify, I avoid horror books like the plague and jump at my own shadow. Nevertheless, Kat Ross creates an atmospherically haunting story that centers around a grimoire (check out the gorgeous cover), and intricately unravels a tale of murder an ...more

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Oct 11, 2016 Shannon (It Starts At Midnight) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-for-review, 2016, october-2016

You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
I have realized lately that I have become quite a fan of historical fiction. And while I don't gravitate toward mysteries in contemporary books, I sure do love one in a historical setting. Or, maybe the ones I have read (like this one!) have just been so well done that I now enjoy them? Either way, I found The Daemoniac to be absolutely fascinating and delightful!

Let's talk about what ...more

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Oct 11, 2016 Michelle rated it really liked it · review of another edition

**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**The Daemoniac is the first book in the Dominion Mystery series by Kat Ross. Earlier this year I read The Midnight Sea by Kat and I really enjoyed it. It was more of a high fantasy action adventure. This book felt completely different and I really liked this one too. Kat Ross is a very talented author. I am very happy that both of the books I have read by her have been so diverse and so excellent in their own regard. **You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**The Daemoniac is the first book in the Dominion Mystery series by Kat Ross. Earlier this year I read The Midnight Sea by Kat and I really enjoyed it. It was more of a high fantasy action adventure. This book felt completely different and I really liked this one too. Kat Ross is a very talented author. I am very happy that both of the books I have read by her have been so diverse and so excellent in their own regard.

The Daemoniac is a young adult detective mystery story with a flair of the paranormal. It felt like the anime Ghost Hunt (which I am super upset is no longer on Netflix! Why does Netflix keep taking all the good shows off? But I digress, that is a rant for another day.) mixed with the Jackaby series by William Ritter, and a touch of Penny Dreadful. I loved the atmospheric setting paired with all of the paranormal elements. I can't wait to read more in the Dominion Mystery series. I think it might be my favorite series yet by Kat Ross. It takes place in the late 1800s and 19 year old Harry is Author Conan Doyle's neice, and she paired with her friend John, are a detective duo I loved reading about. I am really on a sherlock type story kick and The Daemoniac really hit the spot.

I never know what is toot little or too much to divulge in reviews of mystery books, so I will leave the plot out of it and stick to some general highlights of the story. I loved how the story unfolded. I thought Kat Ross did an excellent job laying clues out, but at the same time making this one feel like a dark adventure. But my favorite of all is the setting. I felt like we were on the dreary streets of London in 1888, with the fear of Jack the Ripper looming and the people didn't even know about it. It was very well done. I was instantly transported to that time. There are a lot of characters to keep up with. Maybe a tad too many, however I feel like they will mostly be reoccurring characters, which will make it easier to keep track the more we see them. At times, I did wish we could strip out some of the superfluous secondary characters and focus more on just Harry and John.

Bottom line: The Daemoniac is a great read. Perfect for fans of the Jackaby series and of the Netflix tv show Penny Dreadful. I really enjoyed the ride this mystery took me on. Read it in the fall for a great atmospheric mystery.

This review was originally posted on Book Briefs ...more

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Oct 10, 2016 Erin Dunn rated it it was ok · review of another edition

http://angelerin.blogspot.com/2016/10...

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free ebook copy of The Daemoniac By: Kat Ross in exchange for an honest review.

Short Review Summary:
Meh, but I'm the odd man out on this one.

The Daemoniac started off interesting, but then it lost me about a quarter of the way in. At first I wasn't sure if I couldn't focus or if the book was boring. Since I then stopped and read two more books quickly, I figured out that it was the book. I got to thinking and I fina http://angelerin.blogspot.com/2016/10...

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free ebook copy of The Daemoniac By: Kat Ross in exchange for an honest review.

Short Review Summary:
Meh, but I'm the odd man out on this one.

The Daemoniac started off interesting, but then it lost me about a quarter of the way in. At first I wasn't sure if I couldn't focus or if the book was boring. Since I then stopped and read two more books quickly, I figured out that it was the book. I got to thinking and I finally realized that I've read something somewhat similar to this recently. Stalking Jack the Ripper and this one have a few similarities, but Stalking Jack the Ripper is way better. If it wasn't for the fact that I just read that perhaps The Daemoniac would have been a little better for me.
#LostInterest

Another issue that I had with The Daemoniac is the lack of character connection. That was majorly missing for me and it's a shame because I really wanted to like Harry! I don't feel like I got to know her well enough. I really wanted the writing to be...richer. That's the only word I can think of right now to describe it because the writing is a bit flat. I did like some of the story line though and I love the classic detective/Sherlock feel mixed with Jack the Ripper. I wanted to find out all the answers to the mystery and that's the only thing that kept me reading.
#SherlockMeetsJackTheRipper

Overall The Daemoniac is an okay novel, but it's not great. I had a hard time with this one, but it wasn't absolutely horrible either. At first I couldn't decided whether to give this book 2 or 3 stars. I finally had to go with 2 stars because I ended up feeling too meh about the book as a whole. Honestly, this novel is pretty middle of the road for me and I have zero desire to continue with the series.
#UnpopularOpinion

I can't personally recommend The Daemoniac. However, other than my own review I've only seen super positive reviews for it. So if you're a fan of classic detective books and this sounds good to you then give it a try!
#ForSherlockHolmesFans! ...more

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Sep 24, 2016 Laura P. rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

*I received a free copy of the eBook by Xpresso in exchange for an honest review*

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.

This time around we have a fantastic duo to lead the scene, Harry & John. Harry is kick-ass in the"terribly smart" sense *I received a free copy of the eBook by Xpresso in exchange for an honest review*

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.

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 my review of Blood of the Prophet).

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. ...more

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Oct 04, 2016 Nina ✿ Looseleaf Reviews ✿ rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: e-books, 2016-release, supernatural, mystery, xpresso-book-tours, serial-killer, arc, debut-author

*I received an ARC of the book from Xpresso Reads in exchange for an honest review*

The Daemoniac is a charming-yet-eerie mystery perfect for young fans of Sherlock Holmes, Jekyll and Hyde, and other such dark mysteries.

The story follows teenager Harry Pell, the niece of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, whose older sister, Myrtle, is an investigator and the inspiration for their uncle's Sherlock Holmes. Having always lived in her sister's shadow, Harry jumps at the opportunity to take on a murder case of *I received an ARC of the book from Xpresso Reads in exchange for an honest review*

The Daemoniac is a charming-yet-eerie mystery perfect for young fans of Sherlock Holmes, Jekyll and Hyde, and other such dark mysteries.

The story follows teenager Harry Pell, the niece of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, whose older sister, Myrtle, is an investigator and the inspiration for their uncle's Sherlock Holmes. Having always lived in her sister's shadow, Harry jumps at the opportunity to take on a murder case of her own, but when it turns dangerously towards the occult, she realizes she may have taken on more than she can handle.

Ross has written a great twist on the classic mystery genre. Set in the late 1800's with a teenage female lead, there's a lot of girl-power and badassery going on that makes Harry a great protagonist. Without going into spoilers, there are many (possibly?) supernatural twists that, much like the Sherlock Holmes books, leave you wondering if everything can truly be explained with logic or if there's something more sinister going on.

The plot had plenty of twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat. I did guess the who-done-it early on, but there were so many new revelations that had me second-guessing myself constantly. It was way harder to solve than most YA mysteries I've read!

The book is also very witty in its nods to classic literature. Aside from the obvious ACD tie-in and the murderer being named Mr. Hyde, there are several name drops (an actress named Vane, a priest named Alighieri) that tie this in with the dark and the occult (and some of my favorite books!)

With so much going on, unfortunately what I missed was attachment to the characters. Aside from Harry, her housekeeper, and a street-kid named Connor, there were too many characters to get attached to in a fairly short book. Even two of Harry's cohorts, John and Edward, felt out of place to me at times. The biggest gap to me was that Harry's sister, Myrtle, whose existence hovered over Harry for the entire book, never had any dialogue in the book.

Despite those shortcomings, this book was a wild ride! The mystery was exciting and the implications of the occult could be genuinely terrifying. 3.5/5 stars! ...more

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May 27, 2017 Tony Parsons rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Robert Aaron Straker (family friend, former Army, orphan) had mysteriously disappeared.
Leland Brady (Harding & White real estate agent, 90-94 Maiden Lane, former Army) & Elizabeth Brady (wife) wanted to hire Ms. Myrtle Fearing Pell (26, sister, amateur sleuth) to find him.
Robert lived in/at Five Points, Tenderloin, NY (Anthony, Cross, Orange St., Lower East Side).
Harrison Fearing Pell (brother, narrator) & John Weston (Harry’s BMF, Columbia’s College of Physicians & Surgeons) had went to see Be ...more

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Sep 02, 2016 Barb (Boxermommyreads) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2016

What a wonderful discovery! Review will be posted closer to release date.

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Sep 18, 2016 Avery (Book Deviant) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

See more of my reviews on my blog the Book Deviant

I would like to thank the people at Acorn Publishing for allowing me to have an ARC of this book via NetGalley.

You know Sherlock Holmes, right? Most people have. The only way I can describe this book is "Sherlock Holmes + supernatural + badass ladies = THIS BOOK".

Supernatural twists to an old-time classic

I found all the little nods to Sherlock Holmes so charming, I found myself gasping at little things. Some of the characters were reminiscent of ...more

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Sep 15, 2016 Pili rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Well, Kat Ross has done it again! A switch of genres and she's won my undying love! I simply couldn't put this one down! I was supposed to read another of her books first (blog tour commitments) but the moment I started reading this one I was captivated & enthralled and I only stopped reading when I had to leave for work!

A wonderful mix of murder mystery with paranormal strikes and a very fresh retelling/reimagining of Sherlock & Watson!

I loved having a female reimagining of Sherlock, a male Wat ...more

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Jan 11, 2017 Angelina rated it liked it · review of another edition

This concept of the book was so intruiging....

Just the titled of it made me want to read it...

I find some similarities to other books I loved which was a plus for me...

But it has some flaws too, I couldn't connect with the main character and that had as a result not to care so much for the even't that took place on the book.

Overall I enjoyed it and it left me with a happy feeling but not a memorable one. ...more

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Nov 30, 2016 Alexis (TheSlothReader) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 52-books-2016, review-books

RTC because it's 5:25 in the morning and I'm on my phone

I received an ARC of this book via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. ...more

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Dec 01, 2018 Devann rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: c-free, 2-5-star, z-18-wheelathon-iii, g-historical-fiction, 0-abandoned-series, a-young-adult, cr-angels-and-demons

actual rating: 2.5

I feel like my shelf is just full of 2.5 star books that I rounded up because they weren't *bad* ...but they were fairly boring. Unfortunately this is another one where I pretty much lost interest about halfway through.

The setup is good - we've got a teenage girl whose sister was the in-universe inspiration for the Sherlock Holmes books who wants a chance to prove herself as well, her doctor-in-training Watson stand-in, and a future adversary / current frenemy in James Moran - ...more

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Aug 09, 2019 Kelly rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Ok, this book has so many nods & sometimes not so subtle winks to many items it's going to be hard to explain it, so just read the book😉. The main character Harry is the niece of sir Arthur conan doyle. Her best friend & fellow sleuth is a John Weston. This series takes place in NYC near the dawning of the 1900's. It brings a time of mysticism, spiritualism, skeptics, charlatans, & inherent prejudice. Harry's sister Myrtle is a Pinkerton detective. She takes a case in her sister's steed, just to ...more

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Sep 07, 2016 Alysa H. rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley

A thoroughly well-researched historical fiction murder mystery with surprisingly light supernatural elements, given the title, cover, and description.

Miss Harrison "Harry" Fearing Pell, the younger sister of Myrtle Fearing Pell -- a renowned detective of Sherlockian bent who looms more largely here in her absence than in her brief presence -- wants to prove herself by taking on a missing-person case. A case that turns out to be connected to a rather gruesome string of murders. Harry traipses al A thoroughly well-researched historical fiction murder mystery with surprisingly light supernatural elements, given the title, cover, and description.

Miss Harrison "Harry" Fearing Pell, the younger sister of Myrtle Fearing Pell -- a renowned detective of Sherlockian bent who looms more largely here in her absence than in her brief presence -- wants to prove herself by taking on a missing-person case. A case that turns out to be connected to a rather gruesome string of murders. Harry traipses all around late-19th century New York and its environs, enlisting the help and council of various friends and acquaintances along the way, including some real-life figures such as Nellie Bly and even, by trans-Atlantic telegram, "Uncle" Arthur: family-friend Sir Arthur Conan Doyle himself, just to lend the novel extra bits of intertextuality and verisimilitude. There's even a connection to London's Whitechapel murders (i.e., Jack the Ripper), although I found that to be a step to far, and at odds with the novel's inherent systematic debunking of its own supernatural components.

I commend Ross for her attention to historical detail. She brings her Old New York to life in depictions of the El trains, the society mansions, the slums, and Harry's simple trips around town and country from points A to B.

But I did, unfortunately, find this book slow. I think this was partially due to a tonal disconnect between the "plucky young woman and her friends" base story, and the murder mystery story. It sometimes felt like I was reading two different books, one light and one grim, that didn't always mesh well. Also, the purely-fictional characters were a little stereotypical (Edward the fop, Connor the a street urchin, et al), and there are a few logic jumps that seemed to come out of left field.

As I have said, the supernatural elements are minimal and largely debunked by the end (with the one notable exception remaining, and linking to Jack the Ripper). This makes them seem almost gratuitous. It may be a case of my own expectations -- quite reasonable, given the title, cover and description -- but although I was expecting more (of the supernatural/demonic, I mean), I would have happily settled for less had the rest of the plot been more compelling.

This is not a long book, but it took me over a week to read; I just never did get excited about it.

** I received a Review Copy of this book via NetGalley ** ...more

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Oct 07, 2016 Alyssa Janine Busia rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, 5-stars, reviewed-2016, mystery, historical

PERFECT! This novel is one of my best books of this year!

I’m lost for words that I can use to describe how good this book is. I’m very amazed by the author’s way of writing a very fantastic story that will really make me love it. I might not like a mystery that much but this one really hooked me to the point that I’m getting eager to lay my hands on the next installment of the series.

The mystery that surrounds the place and how the author connected it to the infamous Jack the Ripper of London ar ...more

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Oct 20, 2016 Gerardo Delgadillo rated it it was amazing

5 out of 5 shining stars.

One word defines this novel: Smart!

The Daemoniac has quite a complex plot, but it never gets confusing or weird. The opposite as the story is quite compelling, and Harry--the narrator--is so likable, it hurts.

I enjoyed this novel a lot--such a talented writer.

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May 16, 2017 Leslie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery, action, cops, historic, horror, medical-thriller, fun, paranormal

I simply adored this book! Set in NYC in 1888 the main character is an intrepid girl 'consulting detective' name Harry. Harry is the younger sister of a famous young female consulting detective the Famous Myrtle Fearing Pell. Luckily for Harry and us Myrtle is out of town when the newest clients appear. So Harry and her unofficial partner John Weston accept a missing persons case. A missing person and Murder..... The person went missing following an occult ritual...

Harry is a rich deb so she ha ...more

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May 10, 2020 Zaara rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: series

Kat Ross is, without a doubt, one of my favourite writers. It's her style that gets to me, that way she has with words. She could literally write about farming and I'd find a way to enjoy her work.

With The Daemniac, she shows again how adept of a writer she is. This sort of book isn't usually up my alley and unfortunately the plot itself didn't interest me much. The only reason I kept reading is because the writing itself pulls me in.

The characters in The Daemoniac seem very genuine and realist ...more

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Aug 15, 2019 Coco.V marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: freebie

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (8/15/2019)! 🎁

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Oct 14, 2016 Jennifer Y. rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2016-reads

*I received a digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

When I first saw the cover for this book, I have to admit that I wasn’t sure what to expect. To be honest it certainly wasn’t the wonderful historical mystery filled with tension and suspense that The Daemoniac turned out to be.

I am a big fan of mysteries and I am an even bigger fan of historical fiction. I have long been fascinated by the past and the people who came before us. And when an author can combine fact with fic *I received a digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

When I first saw the cover for this book, I have to admit that I wasn’t sure what to expect. To be honest it certainly wasn’t the wonderful historical mystery filled with tension and suspense that The Daemoniac turned out to be.

I am a big fan of mysteries and I am an even bigger fan of historical fiction. I have long been fascinated by the past and the people who came before us. And when an author can combine fact with fiction to create an enjoyable and well-written story, that really hooks my interest and makes me want to read more. And Kat Ross has managed to just that with The Daemoniac. The fact that it also has a fantastic and intriguing mystery with a plucky heroine only added to my enjoyment of the book as I am a longtime fan of books with smart female detectives (and male ones, too, if I have to be honest).

Kat Ross definitely has a way with words. Reading this book was like stepping back in time. Rich with historical details including real-life famous figures of the time, you can tell that the author did a lot of research for this book. I often found myself jotting down names and cases mentioned in the book to look into later just to see if they truly existed and to my delight they did!

Set in the 1880s, Harrison, or rather Harry as she prefers to be called, is tired of living in her infamous detective sister’s shadow, so what better way to prove herself than to pretend to be her sister to help clients find a missing friend. But as Harry and her interesting band of cohorts delve deeper into the disappearance of the missing man, the case becomes more dangerous as a possible serial killer with a disturbing and bizarre M.O. enters the picture. Harry ends up with more questions than answers as she enters a world of séances, demons, and more, but she remains determined to prove herself and solve the case with the help of her friends before it’s too late.

The plot, setting, writing, characters, just about everything about this book was so well-done. Kat Ross’s words paint disturbing and vivid images of crimes scenes and danger, but I like that she didn’t hold back. It made the story more real and easier for me to put myself in Harry’s shoes and see things from her perspective. And her use or mention of real-life figures, events, and facts from that time period in this story really just made it all the more real. Everything and everyone mentioned appeared to have a purpose or reason for being mentioned, whether it was research for the case or just to set the scene for the time period and remind readers where and when the story was taking place. While it may be too much or distracting for some readers, it led to some interesting side reading for me.

There were definitely some surprising twists in this tale of murder, mystery, and intrigue…some I couldn’t quite wrap my head around. But overall, I enjoyed The Daemoniac and look forward to reading more of Kat Ross’s books.

...more

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Oct 11, 2016 Katherine Paschal rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: supernatural, mystery, read-to-review

Harry is tired of living in her famous older sister Myrtle’s shadow, so when a potential client knocks on the door, Harry can’t resist pretending to be Myrtle. Harry is hired to look into a missing person, her first case ever and she attacks it full force. But when bodies start accruing and paranormal elements arise, the very fact-based/ scientific-minded Harry is not sure what to believe. Can she solve her first case before Myrtle comes home and before more bodies are found?

This was a really Harry is tired of living in her famous older sister Myrtle’s shadow, so when a potential client knocks on the door, Harry can’t resist pretending to be Myrtle. Harry is hired to look into a missing person, her first case ever and she attacks it full force. But when bodies start accruing and paranormal elements arise, the very fact-based/ scientific-minded Harry is not sure what to believe. Can she solve her first case before Myrtle comes home and before more bodies are found?

This was a really fun read, which I know is a strange thing to say about a murder mystery with potential demonic activity and harsh real life issues. But still, it was (for me at least). The story was a nice mix of quirky well developed characters, be it Harry or her hodge podge cast of sidekicks, as well as a good mystery that I was not fully sure who the villain was, some perhaps paranormal surprises and a ton of action/suspense. All the elements are good on their own, but together they created a very engaging fun story.

The one negative I had about the book was the overload of history of early New York at times. I am sure that some people won’t mind it a bit, but I felt that it was too much (for me). The book would be in the middle of some action or a trip Harry was taking and the story would give a history of the place and what it could potentially be, which made me disengage a little bit from the story. At times the story would talk about what would happen to a location or an idea in the future instead of staying in the here and now moment, which did not really fit with the investigation (it was as if Harry could see into the future, or if this was a memoir of her case files). I am sorry if I sound nitpicky, but this was honestly the only complaint I have with the book at all.

I loved that the author had famous fictitious as well as historical elements woven into the plot. There was reference to Jekyll and Hyde, Arthur Conan Doyle and Sherlock Holmes with his Doctor companion, as well as Jack the Ripper throughout the book. The way the ideas were used was so very new and unique I was excited to see how the author would bring everything together for such a cohesive story.

I thought Harry was a lot of fun with her spunk, big attitude and fearlessness, and her companions (especially John…but Connor and the Housekeeper as well). The way the story ended wrapped this mystery up (as well as could be with such a mystery as Jack the Ripper) but gave a great segue to more mysterious adventures to come. I do have to say that Harry’s detective skills may need a little help if she can’t see John’s feelings, which were ever so apparent to me. I am very interested to see how (if at all) that will play out in the next book, and I am completely rooting for John.

I received this title in return for my honest review.
For more reviews visit my blog at http://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/ ...more

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Oct 02, 2016 Lipsy rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: ya, arcs, read-in-2016, crime, historical-fiction, mystery, horror-october-2016

https://lipsyy.wordpress.com

Let’s face it. I was interested in this book from the title and cover. Perfect for Horror October, I thought. And then I read the synopsis and I was completely intrigued! What an amazing idea!? I’m still a bit jealous that I didn’t think of it.

Our protagonist is Harry, who is niece to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and younger sister to Myrtle, a highly regarded private detective. Harry, feeling constantly overshadowed by her ‘brilliant’ sister decides to impersonate her whe https://lipsyy.wordpress.com

Let’s face it. I was interested in this book from the title and cover. Perfect for Horror October, I thought. And then I read the synopsis and I was completely intrigued! What an amazing idea!? I’m still a bit jealous that I didn’t think of it.

Our protagonist is Harry, who is niece to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and younger sister to Myrtle, a highly regarded private detective. Harry, feeling constantly overshadowed by her ‘brilliant’ sister decides to impersonate her when a client comes asking for help and so Harry, with the help of her best friend John jump into her sister’s shoes.

The case of course, turns out to be a little more than they bargained for and leads Harry and John to all manner of dark, dingy, and down-right bizarre places.

I don’t really want to give away much more of the plot – and the synopsis says it better than I could anyway – because it’s one of those if I tell you one thing then I’ll have to explain another and so it goes on until I’ve given it all away!

I felt like The Daemoniac was a love letter to the classic detective/mystery genre. The way the protagonists are led through this story bit by bit, clue by clue, was certainly reminiscent of them, but I loved that it was unique too.

I mean, there’s quite a few teen(ish) girl detective books out there (Flavia de Luce, Ruby Redfort, Nancy Drew to name but a few), but this felt different, darker, I guess.

It wasn’t a perfect book for me though, that’s for sure. Whereas I found it entirely entertaining, I also found myself getting lost quite a bit; often being confused as to why/how they ended up somewhere, and how Harry gets away with imitating her sister for so long. I also felt like I needed to know the characters a bit better in order for me to get more invested in the story.

The Daemoniac was however, a truly great read despite all of these things. It flowed nicely, and the pace was quick, and there was always something surprising lurking around the corner.

I thought the way the author used the brilliance of Sherlock Holmes, and the horror of Jack the Ripper together was a great combination, and certainly like nothing I’ve read before. ...more

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Oct 06, 2016 Christy rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Mystery. Supernatural. Historical fiction. YOU RANG????

YOU GUYS. This book. Oh, this book. What a glorious and perfect addition to your October TBR. If you're into mood reading with Halloween in mind, this is for you.

Meet Harry, our skeptical teen gumshoe who isn't going to let being a woman in the 1800s stop her from doing what she so loves. In true Veronica Mars fashion, she's using her family name as leverage to get the info she needs. She's on the hunt for a serial killer with call signs tha ...more

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Sep 21, 2016 BookLoversLife rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: for-review, for-blog-tour

Harry's sister, Myrtle, is a renowned female detective and has solved a lot of crime, and Harry longs to be like her. She get's her chance when a couple approach her thinking her to be Myrtle, and ask her to help find their missing friend. Harry doesn't correct the couple and thinks this is her chance to show people she can do exactly what Myrtle does. What follows is an adventure into the deepest darkest secrets that New York has to offer!

I loved this authors first book and immediately on seein ...more

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Oct 10, 2016 Lauren - SERIESous Books rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: high-anticipation, met-expectations, blog-tour

--Read my full review of the book at seriesousbookreviews.com! Spoiler Free!

**I received a copy of this book from Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and not influenced by my source.**

I'm a sucker for a good mystery story--especially if it has anything to do remotely with Sherlock Holmes. And this story does not disappoint!

If you've ever read a Sherlock Holmes' story, you'll be right at home with this book. All the copious detail that is a staple of a Con ...more

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Sep 26, 2017 Cheryl rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This is a 4.5 star read.

You never quite know what you're going to get when you download a book via Instafreebie with no synopsis given. I thought this might be your average demon centred paranormal tale, but it was so, SO much more!

I was completely delighted to find that the author had written this novel as an historical mystery with a sniff of the paranormal you're not quite sure about. Is the paranormal explanation a con or is it real? The end is quite chilling.

The story is written like a Sher ...more

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Oct 10, 2016 AK Mama Reads rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This was quite a departure from the other books I've read by Kat Ross thus far (The Midnight Sea and recently released The Blood Prophet) but I really enjoy when an author can switch up their genres and still make me fall for the book. And fall I did. The synopsis and cover had me all kinds of interested, but in no way prepared for what truly lay in store. Honestly I almost expected this to be a horror story, but what we have is a truly gorgeous gothic mystery and a bit of a psychological thr ...more

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About Kat Ross

Kat Ross

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I've always loved to read more than anything in the world, especially so-called genre stories—mysteries, fantasy, sci-fi, thrillers, horror. I like books that take you by the hand and lead you out of the mundane. That ease back the curtain and show you the wondrous and dark and unexpected lurking just around the next corner. I worked in journalism for a long time before I returned to writing ficti ...more