Today is my turn to tell you about this fascinating new historical mystery, The Daemoniac!
Keep reading to find out more about the book and to see my review of it!
And be sure to enter the giveaway!
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About the book
The Daemoniac
Kat Ross
(A Dominion Mystery, #1)
Publication date: October 12th 2016
Genres: Historical, Mystery, Young Adult
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?
Author Bio:
Kat Ross worked as a journalist at the United Nations for ten years before happily falling back into what she likes best: making stuff up. She lives in Westchester with her kid and a few sleepy cats. Kat is also the author of the dystopian thriller Some Fine Day (Skyscape, 2014), about a world where the sea levels have risen sixty meters. She loves magic, monsters and doomsday scenarios. Preferably with mutants.
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My Review
Title: The Daemoniac
Author: Kat Ross
Format: Digital ARC
Source: Xpresso Book Tours
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 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.
My Rating: 4 Stars
*I received a digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
GIVEAWAY!
Enter below to win an ebook copy of The Midnight Sea by Kat Ross (INTL)
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Be sure to check out the rest of The Daemoniac Blog Tour stops!
You can find them by clicking here!
Enter below to win an ebook copy of The Midnight Sea by Kat Ross (INTL)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Be sure to check out the rest of The Daemoniac Blog Tour stops!
You can find them by clicking here!
The mix of mystery and history is just so interesting. I don't read historical books unless it's a Gothic or mystery type - there's just something unique about them. Plus the setting can be so atmospheric and wonderful! Great review, Jennifer! This sounds right up my alley!
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