The Jekyll Legacy

by Robert Bloch, Andre Norton

After arriving in England to claim her inheritance, Hester Jekyll, niece of Dr. Henry Jekyll, discovers she gets nothing, and suddenly her friends are untrustworthy and aloof. Hester becomes entangled in her uncle's mysterious past, and a series of brutal deaths cause her to wonder if London's seen the last of Dr. Jekyll--or Mr. Hyde.

Genres: Horror, Fiction, Mystery

248 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1990

About the author

Robert Albert Bloch was a prolific American writer. He was the son of Raphael "Ray" Bloch (1884, Chicago-1952, Chicago), a bank cashier, and his wife Stella Loeb (1880, Attica, Indiana-1944, Milwaukee, WI), a social worker, both of German-Jewish descent.

Bloch wrote hundreds of short stories and over twenty novels, usually crime fiction, science fiction, and, perhaps most influentially, horror fiction (Psycho). He was one of the youngest members of the Lovecraft Circle; Lovecraft was Bloch's mentor and one of the first to seriously encourage his talent.

He was a contributor to pulp magazines such as Weird Tales in his early career, and was also a prolific screenwriter. He was the recipient of the Hugo Award (for his story "That Hell-Bound Train"), the Bram Stoker Award, and the World Fantasy Award. He served a term as president of the Mystery Writers of America.

Robert Bloch was also a major contributor to science fiction fanzines and fandom in general. In the 1940s, he created the humorous character Lefty Feep in a story for Fantastic Adventures. He also worked for a time in local vaudeville, and tried to break into writing for nationally-known performers. He was a good friend of the science fiction writer Stanley G. Weinbaum. In the 1960's, he wrote 3 stories for Star Trek.

Reviews

[Jayaprakash Satyamurthy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel gets off to a bit of a slow start, all over-long scene-setting sentences marching in a row in a rather self-conscious manner, but it soon hits its stride. Young Hester Lane, transplanted from Canada to England, finds herself face-to-face to with moral corruption and a troubling legacy. Turns out she's the niece of Dr. Jekyll, and it seems as if Mr. Hyde is on the loose once again. Someone had a major hard-on for the Salvation Army while writing this. Nothing pathbreaking but an enjoyable enough riff on an iconic story.

[Jean-Pierre Vidrine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting continuation of the original novel as well as an expansion on its themes. The idea of people having a duel nature is examined here as people hiding their true selves or becoming more than they seem at the onset. Along the way the author's take a hard look beyond the veil of the trappings of polite society. Though set in a bygone era, it's still easily (sadly) relevant today.
At the heart of it all is a mystery that may not be a true whodunit, but it as compelling as that of the original was when it was new.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel has the distinction of containing both gothic elements, and considerable common sense on the part of the protagonist. Though I benefitted from first reading The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, I think someone could enjoy this book without having first read that one- though you would probably want to read it afterward. The Jekyll Legacy has the same way of making you want to go get a thick blanket to wrap around your neck to keep off the sinister chill, yet the ending is much more positive in some ways.

[Catherine · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was well written. Without a doubt, we’ll written.

However, it was also boring and a little anticlimactic. For me at least!

As always, I encourage everyone to read because my experience won’t be your experience!

[Brian Gaston · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing wrong with this ....

[Trentrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two great writers team up, and the result isn't as good as you'd hope for two great writers teaming up. Still a pretty entertaining yarn, though.

[E.R. Everett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed it. Nice detective story with some serious plot twists. Definite sci fi undertones. Reads a bit like Night of the Ripper.

[Larry · Rating 3 out of 5]

A gothic mystery set in the London of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Nice plot twist near the end.

[Kerry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Published in 1990. This was a collaborative effort between Bloch and Andre Norton (better known for scifi). It's short. 248 pages, and tight in plot. It won't add anything substantial to the actual Jekyll story. Most of the heroine's efforts and activities actually aren't even in relation to that. It does have some curious insights to England at the time of social change. Between Bloch and Norton I think one could have expected more.

[Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think that if Bloch had lived to finish this, it would've been really great. The only thing is that I've never heard of Andre Norton, and I think there's a reason. Either have a better writer finish it, or just put it to sleep. The Cunning (or was it something else, I think it was The Cunning) would've made a fine last novel.

[Mandy · Rating 2 out of 5]

A "sequel" Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde, eh? The story was formulated well enough, I guess. A shocking ending, but not surprising. The writing was decent, but not amazing. Overall, I'm not that impressed.

[Sean McDonough · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good horror and a nice twist at the end overshadowed by 200 pages of Victorian historical drama.