My book reviews for the Harker & Moriarty series by Susan J. Morris, starting with Strange Beasts. Please be aware that the review for the second book contains spoilers.

In Belle Epoque Paris, a monster is murdering powerful men. Stopping it may be a woman's job.

When the Gendarmes ask the Royal Society for the Study of Abnormal Phenomena for help, they don't expect them to send Samantha Harker.

She's a researcher, more used to papercuts than knife fights. Sam is also the daughter of Dracula's killer and can see into the minds of monsters. It's a perilous power, one that could help her crack this case ─ or have her thrown into an asylum.

Dr Helena Moriarty is Sam's reluctant partner, the Society's finest agent who has forged a formidable path in her notorious father's shadow. Professor Moriarty is in hiding, but he still makes his presence known: Hel's partners have a way of dying in mysterious circumstances.

From Paris' glittering opera house to its darkest catacombs, the investigation pits Sam and Hel against magic, monsters, and men. And beneath their tenuous partnership, something else is growing . . .

But is trusting Hel the key to solving the murders? Or is Sam just another pawn in a Moriarty game?

With characters drawn from the worlds of Dracula and Sherlock Holmes, Strange Beasts is a twisty puzzle box of a historical fantasy ─ perfect for fans of Genevieve Cogman, Theodora Goss, Freya Marske, T. Kingfisher, and Gail Carriger.

This book was provided for free by NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this book!

Content Warnings:

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The worlds of Dracula and Sherlock Holmes collide in the Harker & Moriarty series by Susan J. Morris. In Strange Beasts, Sam, the daughter of Van Helsing and Mina Harker, joins up with the daughter of Moriarty, Helena, to solve a series of brutal murders. Sam is a researcher at The Royal Society for the Study of Abnormal Phenomena. After exhausting the Society’s library, she’s determined to spend time in the field to learn more. She manages to convince the director to let her investigate a series of murders in Paris, however, there’s a catch: someone else has already been given the case.

The agent in question is the “notorious” Lady M, aka Helena Moriarty, the daughter of Sherlock Holmes’ infamous nemesis. It isn’t just Helena’s parentage that has made her notorious; her dislike of partners is well known, as is the rumour that she is responsible for the deaths of her previous partners. No one wants to work with Helena, and that’s just fine for her-until Sam comes along.

Both women have secrets to keep; Sam has supernatural abilities that would land her in jail if found out, and Helena is carrying the weight of her partners’ murders. As the two women grow closer, as investigating partners and friends, they begin to make headway with the case that has other investigators scratching their heads. But Helena’s actions start to make Sam question where her allegiance truly lies; can she trust Hel, or is she as bad as everyone says?

As a fan of Victorian and supernatural horror, Strange Beasts was an absolute blast to read. Morris blends the best of both in this Edwardian Gothic masterpiece. The characters are wonderfully written, and I loved the relationship between Sam and Hel as it evolved from strangers to friends, and eventually lovers. Both women are complicated, and Morris does a fantastic job of showing their strengths and their vulnerable sides. The result is a compelling story of two women finding their place in the Society, and alongside each other.

While I love a well-written London setting, the Paris setting was a nice change of pace, and it was clear that Morris had done a lot of research. I like learning new things, and found the information about French society and perfumes fascinating. The information enhances the story rather than becoming info-dumping.

Finally, the world-building was top-notch, drawing from the wealth of Dracula and the Sherlock Holmes stories as inspiration. Morris successfully echoes the vibes of Victorian and Edwardian horror, albeit with more diversity. Strange Beasts is the first book in the Harker & Moriarty series, and I hope there will be several more adventures with Sam and Hel!

In the cities and untamed wilds of Ireland, monsters are rising up against Unionists. Luckily. Sam and Hel aren't English.

Samantha Harker and Dr. Helena Moriarty might have solved the Paris case, but that doesn't mean the Royal Society for the Study of Abnormal Phenomena trusts them. Sam's power to see into the minds of monsters is a slippery slope to corruption. Worse, Hel's uncanny habit of turning up wherever her notorious father's hand is felt has the Society questioning whether he exists at all . . . or whether it's been Hel all along.

So when Special Branch requests aid in Ireland, the heart of Professor Moriarty's hidden empire, they send another agent to monitor them: Van Helsing, who is perpetually suspicious of Sam and a bit of an arse.

Their investigation takes them from ancient ruins to the clandestine clubs of the rich and powerful, untangling the mysteries of magic, monsters, and men. But even as Sam and Hel fall deeper into each other's orbit, the secrets between them multiply. Things Hel can't bear to confess; things Sam doesn't dare confide. Things which not only put Sam in terrible danger from Van Helsing, but leave her haunted by death omens, mysterious black feathers, and a song no one else can seem to hear. And, as ever, Professor Moriarty lurks in the shadows, waiting to make his next move . . .

This book will be released in 2026.

Thanks for reading my book review for the first book in the Harker and Moriarty series, Strange Beasts by Susan J. Morris!

Don’t forget to check out the rest of my reviews if you’re looking for some more book recommendations 🙂 You can also now sign up for my newsletter to get an email each month with a list of my new reviews!

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