The Daemoniac by Kat Ross

The Daemoniac (Gaslamp Gothic, #1)

by Kat Ross

Sherlock Holmes meets The X-Files in this acclaimed paranormal mystery series from the author of the Fourth Element Trilogy

It's August 1888, just three weeks before Jack the Ripper will terrorize Whitechapel, and another serial murderer is stalking the streets of New York. His handiwork bears the hallmarks of a demonic possession—but amateur sleuth Harrison Fearing Pell is certain her quarry is a man of flesh and blood. And she 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 follows 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 closer to home than she ever imagined?

Reviewed by Eve1972 on

4 of 5 stars

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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...



So ya, where to begin...I REALLY REALLY REALLY loved this book. It's like Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde got together and had a baby. The setting of 1800's New York City was fantastic. It's detailed and so atmospheric. It's almost like the setting is another character. The mystery kept me hooked (though I will say I DID figure out who the baddie was from early on.) It was full of interesting and well developed characters. The writing was fantastic. The plot was interesting and kept me turning the pages.

Not much else to say other than I enjoyed the heck out of this one and look forward to the next book in the series.



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  • Started reading
  • 7 October, 2016: Finished reading
  • 7 October, 2016: Reviewed