What Rough Beast

by H.R. Knight

When occult debunkers Harry Houdini and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle get together to expose infamous occultist Maximillian Cairo as a fraud, they soon discover that Cairo wields a terrifying all-too-real power that unleashes a diabolical evil on the foggy streets of London, and they must race against time to stop the nightmare haunting the helpless city. Original.

Genres: Horror, Paranormal, Mystery, Fantasy

374 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 31, 2005

Reviews

[Quirkyreader · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting match up between Houdini and Arthur Conan Doyle.

[Dianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can the creator of the world’s greatest sleuth and the world’s greatest escape artist uncover the evil behind mystery and mayhem terrifying London? Discover the answer in H. R. Knight’s What Rough Beast, an historical look at the occult, unlikely allies and what happens when a dark god is unleashed on Earth.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Harry Houdini team up to expose the dark medium, Max Cairo for the fraud he is, by using the detective skills of Sherlock Holmes and magical skills of the Great Houdini. What they uncover is far more deadly and dangerous than either could have imagined. Even the smoke and mirrors used to pander to grieving relatives desperate to connect with their loved ones across the veil pales in comparison to the darkness unleashed. Can they stop this evil entity before it destroys London and beyond? Will its evil be manifested as a madness in it victims?

Told with the atmosphere of Old London, H. R. Knight does a wonderful job of creating a world that feels dark and foreboding, dank and evil. From the sounds of horses’ hooves the ever-present fog and drizzle, London comes to life. Conan Doyle is the image of his fictional Holmes and Harry Houdini is like a child often needing attention and praise until his skills are needed, then he is all business. Perhaps a little too sure of his infallibility but a delightful character! Doyle has his own personal shadows and pain in his life, as well as a guilty conscience for things left behind in search of the answers to his latest mystery.

Take a trip into the past, feel the darkness envelope you and watch the masters at work as they unravel this mystery! But my advice? Think twice before holding a séance!


I received this copy as part of the What Rough Beast Review Tour Stopping at Tome Tender November 17, 2014.

Publication Date: September 8, 2014
Publisher: H. R. Knight
ISBN: 0843954566
Genre: Adult Historical Paranormal Mystery
Print Length: 320 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Reviewed for: http://tometender.blogspot.com

[Bandit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read, this book uses real historical figures that have always held a great deal of interest to me, Like Arthur Conan Doyle and Houdini & Jack the Ripper.

[Heather York · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the unique blend of historical figures and dark fiction that author uses to bring us this intriguing mystery. Not only does he give you a story that makes you think and manages to scare the beejesus out of you at the same time, but describes the settings and atmosphere so clearly you feel as if you're walking in 1900 London. The idea of Arthur Conan Doyle and Harry Houdini working together was enough to grab my attention but once you start reading it, you discover a tale that refuses to let go of you until you reach the final page. Definitely an author to add to my watch-for list.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

A completely original combination of dark magic, well respected literary and entertainment figures and a baffling mystery. Interesting thoughts on the human condition and how easily influenced people are.

This is not a light read. It takes focus and dedication to red through to the end the book.
Written in the manner of classic Holmes and other much appreciated novels of previous centuries.

[Murky Nosh · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a book you read for the sheer fact that Arthur Conan Doyle and Houdini team up to solve a supernatural mystery.

[Ayman Ibrahim · Rating 5 out of 5]

That's a very interesting novel with mix of occult and bizarre events, i really enjoyed each chapter.

[John Bruni · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a great deal of fun. Ordinarily, I don't like works of fiction that take real life people and pit them against supernatural forces, but Knight did so well at imitating Sir Arthur Conan Doyle that I couldn't help but love it. I also liked the way his Houdini conducted himself. I kind of wish this was a true story, it felt so wonderful. And they are accompanied by a great cast of characters, most notably Maximillian Cairo, who I kept imagining as a young Christopher Lee. Best of all, though, is how this is treated like a Sherlock Holmes mystery, in particular how Conan Doyle works through this odd whodunit. And then there's the excellently ambiguous ending . . .

[Rain Kump · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't fancy the ending, but still a good read. Dark, mysterious, and fun. All in all, read if you have the time, but don't seek it out. I wouldn't re-read.
Normally not a fan of period pieces for this exact reason: there are annoying sexist comments from the protagonist as the author tried to keep with the "period piece" feeling. Personally, I think it was unnecessary and just made me uncomfortable not to mention making it harder for me to connect to the protagonist. Other than that, I liked the mythology references.