The Album of Dr. Moreau

by Daryl Gregory

[Quirky Cat]

I sincerely think that The Album of Dr. Moreau is the most fun I've had while reading a novella in a long time. Quite possibly, ever. So thank you to both Daryl Gregory and Tor.com for making this highly entertaining read possible.

The year is 2001, and the WyldBoyZ are making what is quite possibly the last tour. However, that statement doesn't work as well when they've essentially been on tour their entire career. This is a band known for its loud songs, intense lyrics, and outstanding antics.

Oh yeah, and the fact that they are all genetically engineered human-animal hybrids. That probably doesn't hurt things either. Their producer is known as Dr. M, and their career path is about to change when he's found brutally murdered within his hotel room.

"I don't want to be the one to tell her," Matt said to Tusk. "Maybe we could send a card. 'Condolences on the Murder of Your Scumbag Husband.'"

I went into The Album of Dr. Moreau expecting a quick and entertaining read. What I got was so much more. This novella was an absolute delight to read, one that had lots of comedy, surprise twists, and a few heavier moments to balance it all out.

In short, it was perfect. There are several perspectives to help carry this narrative forward. Each of the WyldBoyZ gets a chance to share their thoughts (literally), starting with Bobby, the ocelot. Following him, we have Matt the megabat, Tim the Pangolin, Devin the bonobo, and Tusk the elephant, plus the detective that has to put this case into some semblance of order: Luce Delgado.

I actually love that each chapter had a different perspective. It helped to keep the mystery going while giving us a chance to know the different personalities that made up this very unusual band. Each boy is wildly (no pun intended) different, and that in itself left plenty of room for interest and a bit of humor.

The final twist was unexpected but actually ended up making quite a lot of sense, which I appreciate. This moment, along with several others hinted throughout, succeeded in breaking my heart, at least just a little bit—one more reason to love The Album of Dr. Moreau and everything it had to offer.

Thanks to Tor.com and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Check out more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks